Written Answers of 16 February 1999

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Whipps Cross-Redbridge Relief Road
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1999,Official Report, column 252, if he will require from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency an explanation for the cause of the delays and cost arrears in respect of the Whipps Cross-Redbridge Relief Road; and if he will publish this explanation. [70070]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Kerman to Mr. David Amess, dated 11 February 1999:

  The Minister for Transport in London has asked Lawrie Haynes, the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Contract 4 of the A12 Hackney to M11 Link Road. I am replying in his absence from the office.

  The start on this contract was initially delayed by protest action and, as I said in my last letter, the procurement and installation of additional specialist mechanical and electrical equipment has proved difficult.

  The increase in costs is due to protester action and increases in statutory undertakers costs. The additional mechanical and electrical works required for the safe operation of the George Green tunnel also cost more than originally anticipated.

  Regional Planning Guidance
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will publish its new draft guidance on preparing regional planning guidance. [71422]

  Mr. Caborn
  Draft Planning Policy Guidance Note 11 on "Regional Planning" will be published on Monday 15 February.

  Copies will be placed in the Library and made available in the Vote Office.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total cost of accommodation and internal travel for the Minister for the Environment and those who accompanied him to the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica. [67977]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 28 January 1999]: Travel costs from New Zealand to Antarctica and return, internal travel and accommodation costs in Antarctica were paid for by the New Zealand Government.
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  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many(a) civil servants and (b) political advisers accompanied the Minister for the Environment to the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica; and what was the total cost of their airfares; [67978]

  (2) what was the cost of the flights for the Minister for the Environment to attend the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica; and in what class he travelled. [67979]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 28 January 1999]: I attended an informal meeting of Ministers and senior Government officials from Antarctic Treaty Nations at the invitation of the New Zealand Government. Some 24 countries were represented. The main focus of the meeting was to look at the way the continent has been affected by environmental changes from climate change to ozone depletion. I was accompanied by one civil servant. No political adviser accompanied me.

  The cost of the two return business class flights to New Zealand was £8,709. Flight costs from New Zealand to Antarctica were paid by the New Zealand Government.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what use the Minister for the Environment made of RAF aircraft to travel to and from the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica. [67980]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 28 January 1999]: None.

  Ministerial Flights
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 1999,Official Report, column 335, if he will list (a) the departure and arrival points for the RAF plane and helicopter flights on (i) 3 May 1997, (ii) 23 July 1997, (iii) 22 January 1998, (iv) 23 March 1998 and (v) 26 September 1998 and (b) the RAF units to which the planes or helicopters were attached. [69098]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 4 February 1999]: The information requested is in the table.

  Departure point

  Arrival point

  RAF Unit

  3 May 1997

  Wembley

  Kensington Palace

  N.32 Squadron

  23 July 1997

  Northolt

  Manchester Airport

  N.32 Squadron

  2 January 1998

  Northolt

  Riga

  N.32 Squadron

  23 March 1998

  Humberside

  Brussels

  N.32 Squadron

  Airport Brussels

  Northolt

  26 September 1998

  Stanstead

  Blackpool

  N.32 Squadron

  Ministers are required under the Ministerial Code to always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

  In 1997–98 this Government spent £6.1 million on Ministers' visits overseas. The spend on overseas visits between April and December 1998 is £4 million. This compares to £7.8 million and £6.9 million for the last two years of the previous administration.

  Waste Management Licences
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications by operators to surrender waste management licences in each of the last three years have been(a) made and (b) granted. [70211]

  Mr. Meale
  The figures for applications made to the Environment Agency under section 39 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are as follows:

  1996–971

  1997–981

  1998–991,3

  Applications made under section 39 of the 1990 Act

  2—

  201

  247

  Applications accepted under section 39 of the 1990 Act

  2—

  128

  109

  Applications rejected under section 39 of the 1990 Act

  2—

  10

  2

  1 1 April-31 March

  2 No reliable figures are available for 1996–97. Following the transfer of responsibility from waste regulation authorities the central collection of statistics by the Environment Agency commenced in 1997–98.

  3 For the first 9 months of the year

  Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that British haulage operators do not face unfair competition as a result of tax increases proposed on vehicles running at an 11.5 tonne drive axle weight on roads in Britain. [70103]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his pre-Budget statement on 3 November 1998,Official Report, columns 681–702, vehicle excise duty rates for goods vehicles with 11.5 tonne axle weights will be set to discourage strongly the use of such vehicles, in view of the additional road damage that they cause. The Integrated Transport White Paper stated that the Government would seek to encourage the use of goods vehicles with a maximum weight of 41 tonnes on 6 axles, which have the same payload as 40 tonnes on 5 axles but cause significantly less road wear.

  The Government firmly believe that the best way to help industry, including hauliers, is to create a climate of sustainable economic growth and long-term investment in business. The last Budget included a number of general measures from which hauliers could benefit: main corporation tax will be reduced to 30 per cent. from 1 April 1999, and small companies' corporation tax rate will be cut to 20 per cent. from 1 April 1999.

  Local Government Reform
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the encouragement his Department is giving to local authorities to consult with the public in connection with the White Paper on local government reform. [70377]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Our local government White Paper makes it clear that the Government attach the highest importance to councils consulting local people as they take forward their plans to modernise. We shall shortly 602
  publish for consultation a draft Bill to transform the political management and ethical framework of councils. We expect all councils to lead a full local debate on these issues in their area.

  Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the expenditure was on press, radio and television awareness advertising to warn of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning for the last five and the current financial years. [70366]

  Mr. Meale
  Estimated figures for the Government's spend on press, radio, TV and other forms of Carbon Monoxide awareness material for the last five and current financial years are given in the table.

  £

  Financial Year

  Expenditure

  1993–94

  10k

  1994–95

  1m

  1995–96

  600k

  1996–97

  1.25m

  1997–98

  238k

  1998–99

  270k

  The peaks in expenditure in 1994–95 and 1996–97 are explained by the major TV, film and national press advertising campaigns mounted in those years. Total spending for the period is approaching £3.5 million pounds. In addition the gas supply industry has assisted in this awareness-raising effort by including advice with gas bills mailed to consumers.

  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many deaths occurred as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in houses of multi-occupation in the period 1993 to 1998. [70368]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There are no specific records available for deaths from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

  However, I can advise my hon. Friend that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) record all gas-related deaths from CO poisoning, and whether they occur in rented or owner-occupied housing.

  On average HSE have recorded 30 deaths each year since 1993. Of these, approximately one third occurred in rented accommodation.

  HSE's records do not include no-gas related CO deaths (such as those caused by CO inhalation from solid fuel) which do not fall within the scope of gas safety legislation enforced by HSE.

  Essential Car Use
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he received on possible exemptions from charges for essential car users in response to his consultation paper, "Breaking the Logjam". [70727]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  As at 11 February 1999, my Department has received 36 responses to "Breaking the Logjam", of which 18 raised the issue of exemptions from
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  charges for essential car users. The issue has also been raised in general correspondence on a number of occasions. The closing date for responses to the consultation paper is 31 March 1999.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence he has assessed that genetically modified crops have caused(a) deaths and (b) health damage to humans. [70754]

  Mr. Meale
  I am not aware of any evidence that genetically modified crops have caused(a) deaths or (b) health damage to humans.

  Aggregates
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) on what date London Economics completed its field work for the second research contract into the environmental costs and benefits of the supply of aggregates; [71704]

  (2) on what date he received the final conclusions of the second research contract carried out by London Economics into the environmental costs and benefits of the supply of aggregates; [71705]

  (3) on what date he communicated the final conclusions of the second research contract carried out by London Economics into the environmental costs and benefits of the supply of aggregates to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [71706]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The fieldwork was completed on Friday 5 February. London Economics are preparing their final report which will include the conclusions of the project. We have not yet received the final conclusions and have therefore not communicated these to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Housing Associations (Rents)
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the housing associations identified by the Housing Corporation as having rents above their recommended levels and in each case the percentage by which their average rents exceed the Housing Corporation's recommended levels. [71139]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Housing Corporation's requirement that year-on-year rent increases by registered social landlords (RSLs) should not exceed RPI+1 per cent. came into effect from 1 April 1998.

  Published data on RSL rent increases relate to 1997–98, the year before the Corporation's performance standard became operative. The information is set out in a Corporation research publication (Source 32) a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Rent increases are shown for individual RSLs with more than 250 homes in ownership or management.

  The Corporation has recently visited a number of RSLs with forecast rent increases in 1998–99 above RPI+1 per cent. as well as some which had high outlying rent levels compared to other RSLs as at 31 March 1998. The purpose of these visits was to establish the reasons for the rent variations and whether
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  strategies were in place to achieve compliance with the Corporation's performance standards. The result of these investigations will be published shortly by the Corporation. I will ensure a copy is placed in the Library.

  London Underground (Consultants Fees)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the total fees his Department has paid to date to consultants engaged in the financial and operational restructuring of London Underground; what additional sums he expects to pay consultants on this work; which consultants have been employed on the restructuring project; and if he will make a statement on progress made so far with the project. [71179]

  Dr. Reid
  The Department has not paid any money to consultants engaged in the financial and operational restructuring of London Underground. However, London Transport has spent money on such consultants and I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Brake) by my hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London on 13 January 1999,Official Report, column 212. It is not normal practice to publish forecasts of total costs, for the good reason that publicising such information could undermine the public sector's ability to manage the costs of advisers.

  The main consultants employed by London Transport are:

  PricewaterhouseCoopers (financial)

  Freshfields (legal)

  Ove Amp and Partners (engineering)

  Arthur Andersen (operations entity design)

  PA Consulting (Infrastructure entities design and financial modelling)

  Horngold and Hill (project management)

  Richard Ellis (property)

  Sedgwick (insurance)

  Bacon & Woodrow (pensions)

  Work on restructuring London Underground into one operations entity and three infrastructure entities is proceeding. London Transport expect to invite expressions of interests from potential bidders shortly.

  Millennium Dome (Transport)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the contingency plans presented to his Department by London Underground last month for access to the Millennium Dome, in the event of the Jubilee Line extension not being open on time. [71419]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have, through my Millennium Access Co-ordination Group, recently examined in detail London Underground's proposed contingency plans to manage problems on any of the main transport links to the Dome. We are now close to endorsing their proposals, but I have asked London Underground to undertake further work on certain aspects before they formally move to the next stage of mobilising the plans. A summary of the finalised plans will be placed in the Library as soon as this further work has been completed and the plans have been formally endorsed.
  605

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what controls exist on the trade in endangered species between states of the European Union. [71418]

  Mr. Meale
  The trade in endangered species is regulated by Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) within the European Union. Certificates are required to enable the sale or commercial use of species listed in Annex A of the Regulation and to allow the movement of wild taken specimens of these species. Certificates are also required to enable the re-export of CITES specimens by other EU Member States and owners of CITES specimens may at any time be required to provide evidence to confirm that these were lawfully imported or acquired.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make an assessment of how his policy on investment in the railway infrastructure by Railtrack is affected by Railtrack's policy on dividend payments to shareholders. [71494]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  While recognising that Railtrack is a private sector company and must make a profit, the Government have made it clear that they are not convinced that enough of Railtrack's profits are being invested back into the network. Railtrack receives substantial public subsidy through the access charging regime. We need to be sure that the taxpayer is getting proper value for money.

  Greater London Authority
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the best value regime will apply to the component parts of the GLA. [71105]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Local Government Bill applies the best value regime to both the Greater London Authority, so far as it exercises its functions through the Mayor, and the four functional bodies which will deliver the main London-wide services (Transport for London, the London Development Agency, the Metropolitan Police Authority, and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority).

  The Bill also allows for the Secretary of State to provide, by Order, for the GLA to be a best value authority in relation to specified functions of the Authority which it does not exercise through the Mayor, and specified functions which are not functions of the Authority but are functions of another best value authority.

  The Secretary of State may also specify, by Order, modifications to the way in which best value would apply to these functions. Any such Orders would be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure in Parliament.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the proportion of GLA expenditure which will be(a) self-financed and (b) met by grants. [71107]
  606
  Mr. Raynsford
  In the White Paper "A Mayor and Assembly for London" published on 25 March 1998, we estimated that the annual costs of the Mayor, Assembly, their support staff and some central services would be about £20 million a year. We made it clear that the Government had decided to meet most of the cost themselves through grant and that London council tax payers would contribute about three pence a week on a Band D council tax bill.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish an indicative budget for the GLA setting out(a) the component budgets, (b) any central support costs and (c) income from (i) grants, (ii) council tax and (iii) charges. [71106]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I will publish the GLA's budget for 2000–01, including the information requested, following the local government finance settlement in February 2000. Publication of later years budgets will be a matter for the Mayor.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations and on what timetable his Department is undertaking to inform the preparation of the GLA's first budget. [71108]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The GLA will not exist at the start of the financial year 2000–01, so their budget for that year will be set by the Secretary of State. Detailed transitional arrangements for the GLA's first year budget have yet to be settled. My Department will be consulting interested parties widely over the coming months, to enable the GLA's budget for 2000–01 to be prepared in provisional form by the end of November 1999 and finalised by the end of February 2000, in line with the timetable for local government finance generally.

  Funerals
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what discussions his Department has held with(a) the Confederation of Burying Authorities and (b) the National Association of Memorial Masons regarding changes to legislation affecting funeral arrangements; [71502]

  (2) when he proposes to reply to the letter from the National Association of Memorial Masons sent to him last November. [71503]

  Mr. Raynsford
  No discussions have yet been held. But my Department will discuss with both the Federation of Burying Authorities and the National Association of Memorial Masons the suggested legislation. I have now written to the National Association of Memorial Masons confirming the assurances which they received from my Department in December that they would be included in the discussions.

  Norwegian Aviation Tax
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if agreement has been reached with the Norwegian Government concerning the liability of British airlines to pay Norwegian aviation tax; and if he will make a statement. [70940]
  607
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government believe that the tax on aviation fuel, introduced by Norway on 1 January 1999, is in breach of the UK/Norway Air Services Agreement, signed in Oslo on 26 January 1979, which exempts aviation fuel for international flights from tax. Officials wrote to the Norwegian authorities on 4 January drawing attention to this apparent breach and asking them to rescind the tax. I understand that the Norwegian Government are currently reviewing the position, in the light of this and other similar representations received.

  In principle, the Government are in favour of an aviation fuel tax, but we believe this should be agreed at international level. Action by individual states or by groups of states would infringe existing international agreements, distort airline competition and could have environmental disbenefits.

  Bus Services (Fuel Duty)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the eligibility criteria for rebate of fuel duty in respect of bus services. [71739]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The eligibility criteria for fuel duty rebate are reviewed from time to time.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received urging him to include bus services within the fuel duty rebate where they are specifically designed to convey pupils to school. [71740]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have received very few representations on this matter. Bus services specifically designed to convey only pupils to school, rather than the general public, are not eligible for fuel duty rebate. However, services provided or secured by a local education authority are eligible for rebate providing that seats on the vehicles concerned are normally available to members of the general public and are regularly used by them.

  Vehicle Fuel Bills
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the average annual fuel bill for(a) privately owned motor vehicles, (b) company cars and (c) commercial vans and lorries. [71665]

  Dr. Reid
  I regret that information has not been published in the form requested, although related information on the use of vehicles and expenditure is available from a number of published sources.

  Information on the relative mileage of company and private cars is available from the national Travel Survey, and published in "Focus on Personal Travel", 1998 edition. The most recent estimates are that private cars average 8.3 thousand miles per year compared to company cars' 22.6 thousand. However, on average only 11.4 thousand of that mileage is for business purposes, the remainder being for private purposes.

  Information on average mileage and fuel consumption estimates are published in The Transport of Goods by Road for heavy goods vehicles, and in The Survey of
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  Small Commercial Vehicles for smaller vans and lorries. Information on expenditure on private motoring is available from the Family Expenditure Survey.

  However, I will undertake to use the relevant sources to provide estimates in the form requested and write to the Hon. Member. I will arrange for copies of the letter to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  British Waterways
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the Government's decision on the status and future of British Waterways. [71947]

  Mr. Meale
  An announcement on the future for British Waterways will be made on Thursday 18 February. Copies of all the relevant documents will be placed in the Library of the House on that day.

  Raptors
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in assessing the impact of raptor numbers on game bird and racing pigeon interests; and what future work is planned. [71948]

  Mr. Meale
  In an answer to a Parliamentary Question on 14 January 1998,Official Report, column 229, my predecessor reported on the work of the Raptor Working Group which was set up in 1995 to investigate this matter.

  In the last 12 months, the Group has taken forward the programme of work outlined in the Parliamentary Answer. It has concentrated on formulating possible solutions to the conflicts arising between certain birds of prey and game and pigeon interests. The Group submitted an interim report to Ministers in November 1998.

  The Working Group intends to complete this year its programme of work which will include the following:
  to consider the results and implications of the 1998 national survey of hen harriers; assess the results and implications of the research on raptor predation of red grouse as influenced by moorland management practices; review the findings of the Langholm management trial; assess the results of the research on interactions between racing pigeons and birds of prey and consider practical mechanisms for the resolution of any problem in this area; review outputs from Scottish Natural Heritage's Moorland Working Group and other fora; consider means to assess why illegal killing of birds is still prevalent.

  It will then produce a final report and recommendations to Ministers in late 1999.

  Ports Policy
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's ports policy. [71995]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government look to the ports industry to play an important role in the development of their integrated transport policy. This will involve the promotion of environmental sustainable transport and the regeneration of local communities in which ports have traditionally made a contribution.
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  We believe that all ports should be publicly accountable for their statutory powers and duties. Accountability must become a much more open process than at present, and shared with all stakeholders, not just users.

  Safety cannot be left to chance. Lives and property must be protected. So, too, must port environments because many port facilities are close to important and sensitive habitats. There must be a more considered approach to port safety if acceptable standards are to be achieved throughout the industry.

  We must ensure that trust ports fulfil their obligations to all the interests entrusted to them. A separate consultation paper has been issued on these proposals and responses are now being considered. The Government believe, however, that trust port status confers special obligations on these ports to operate openly and with full regard to the interests of their local communities. Without open accountability, it is not clear how fully this is achieved; the evidence suggests that in many cases it is not.

  The Department is preparing a comprehensive ports policy paper and an invitation to comment has been released today. I have placed a copy of the consultation document in the Library.

  Development Plans
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the draft revision of Planning Policy Guidance Note 12 on development plans. [72141]

  Mr. Caborn
  I am pleased to announce the publication tomorrow of a fully revised public consultation draft of PPG12 on Development Plans.

  Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Attorney-General what changes he proposes for the Crown Prosecution Service's cash and running cost limits for 1998–99. [71998]

  The Attorney-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for Class VIII Vote 4 will be increased by £1,007,000 from £228,926,000 to £229,933,000 and the gross running costs limit for Class VIII Vote 4 will be increased by £1,007,000 from £220,920,000 to £221,927,000.

  The cash limit increase of £1,007,000 consists of an increase of £1,300,000 and a decrease of £293,000. The increase is required to fund the early departure costs of senior lawyers who are leaving the CPS on structural grounds as a result of implementing the move to a new 42 Area structure. The decrease results from the need to transfer £227,000 to the Treasury Solicitor's Department in respect of the balance of the cost of the Glidewell review and a transfer of £66,000 to the Home Office, which represents a CPS contribution towards the cost of Integrating Business and Information Systems in the Criminal Justice system (IBIS) initiative. The increases
  610
  will be offset by transfers and a change to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Departmental Cash Limits
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals there are to change the 1998–99 cash limit or running cost limit for the work of HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor. [71999]

  The Attorney-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for Class VIII Vote 6 will be reduced by £411,000 from £6,257,000 to £5,846,000. The gross running costs will be increased by £771,000 from £26,763,000 to £27,534,000 whilst the running cost limit will be increased by £529,000 from £8,031,000 to £8,560,000.

  The running costs limit increase is partially due to initial early retirement costs (£350,000) associated with the closure of the Government Property Lawyers' Agency which was announced to Parliament on 11 November 1998. This will be met from end year flexibility provision as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1998, Official Report, columns 131–36. The increase is also due to the residual costs of the Crown Prosecution Service Review (£227,000) and the costs associated with the extension of powers relating to Unduly Lenient Sentences (£7,000) falling on this Vote. These will be offset by PES transfers from the Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Office respectively. A further increase in running costs is due to classification changes of European Fast Streamers income and VAT refunds.

  The reduction in the cash limit is due to the increase in running costs being more than offset by lower VAT payment to Customs and Excise (£900,000), greater than expected VAT refunds on contracted out services (£55,000) and receipts from various Government Departments for services provided by the Lawyers' Management Unit (£40,000).

  The increases will be offset by transfers and charged to the Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

DEFENCE

  Overseas Commitments
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to tackle problems of overstretch, following the increase in the United Kingdom's overseas defence commitments. [70394]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Blaydon (Mr. McWilliam) and for South Ribble (Mr. Borrow) on 25 January 1999,Official Report, column 4. The matter of overstretch is very carefully considered when operational commitments are entered into.
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  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71445]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Ministry of Defence Press Office issues all press notices on defence policy matters. For the period in question it has issued the following number:

  Number

  1990

  136

  1991

  145

  1992

  306

  1993

  186

  1994

  178

  1995

  147

  1996

  170

  1997

  231

  1998

  333

  In addition to the MOD Press Office, the various regional military public relations offices issue press notices covering routine local issues, as well as copies of centrally issued press releases which they may consider to be relevant to their region. Precise figures for those press notices issued by all of the regional offices, which take account of such "duplicate" releases, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The two Defence Agencies which issue their own press notices are the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and the Met Office. The number of press notices they have issued in the period are as follows:

  DERA

  Met Office

  1990

  —

  —

  1991

  —

  32

  1992

  —

  43

  1993

  —

  62

  1994

  —

  24

  1995

  20

  52

  1996

  23

  54

  1997

  13

  49

  1998

  14

  44

  Press notices covering appointments to MOD-sponsored non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are issued centrally by the MOD press office. NDPBs do issue their own press notices from time to time covering routine matters; complete records are not held centrally, however, for the period in question.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71460]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Rules governing the work of the Government Information and Communication Service are laid down in the Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing and issuing of press releases is given in the 612
  Working Guide for Government Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House. For the period in question, the cost to my Department of distributing press releases centrally was approximately £31,000. Figures covering the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, the Met Office and non-departmental public bodies are not separately identified within their budgets.

  Iraq
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the cost in each year of the enforcement of the no fly zones over the(a) North and (b) South of Iraq. [71388]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Enforcement of the northern and southern no-fly-zones over Iraq began in 1991 and 1992 respectively. The annual additional costs of each operation since that time are as follows:

  £ million

  North

  South

  1991–92

  2.6

  —

  1992–93

  4.2

  5.3

  1993–94

  9.6

  6.5

  1994–95

  10.5

  4.6

  1995–96

  5.9

  4.7

  1996–97

  2.3

  4.1

  1997–98

  2.3

  3.4

  1998–99

  3.2

  7.6

  The figures for 1998–99 are estimates. The Southern no-fly-zone estimate in this year takes account of the deployment of RAF aircraft to Kuwait as well as Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the legal authority for the imposition and enforcement of the no fly zones over the(a) North and (b) South of Iraq. [71387]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Coalition patrols of the Northern and Southern no-fly zones in Iraq are in support of UNSCR 688. They are justified under international law on the basis of overwhelming humanitarian necessity. They prevent Saddam Hussein from using his air force against the Iraqi people in the north and south and enable us to monitor the actions of his forces on the ground. In responding to the threat from Iraqi air-defence systems, coalition aircraft have responded in self defence in a proportionate manner. This action is justified under international law on the basis of self defence.

  RAF Flights (Staverton)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what risk assessment he has carried out or has received from the RAF of flights over the North Cotswolds to the North East of Staverton Airport in Gloucestershire; what information he has received from the RAF regarding the precautions they are taking to avoid mid-air collisions in that air space; what information the RAF supplies about its flights to the authorities at Staverton Airport; what minimum height above ground level is permitted for(a) RAF fighters,(b) Hercules transport planes and (c) Chinook helicopters; and if he will make a statement. [71194]
  613
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Safety in the air is a key priority in all military flying activities. No specific risk assessments have been carried out in the area north-east of Staverton Airport, but my Department has carried out a detailed study into the effectiveness of 'see and avoid', the primary means of collision avoidance in open airspace. The results of this study were published on 2 February 1998,Official Report, column 469, and copies of the report placed in the Library of the House.

  There is no requirement for the authorities at Staverton Airport to receive information about military low-flying sorties outside their aerodrome traffic zone; military aircraft wishing to pass through the zone must, however, seek permission from Staverton Airport Air Traffic Control before doing so.

  The minimum separation distance for RAF fighters and Hercules aircraft between themselves and the ground, any structure or any other aircraft except those in the same formation is 250 ft. Chinooks are permitted to fly down to ground level.

  Submarines and Fishing Boats
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to modify the regulations contained in the Submarine/Fishing Vessel Interaction Code of Practice; and if he will make a statement. [66470]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 20 January 1999]: The Code of Practice is regularly improved by modifications following annual Fishing Industry Liaison Meetings of representatives from the Fishing Industry and Government Departments.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many allegations concerning a breach of the Submarine/Fishing Vessel Interaction Code of Practice have been brought to his notice in the past 15 months; and if he will make a statement. [66471]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 20 January 1999]: Two confirmed incidents have been reported to Ministers and I am aware of three further allegations, which were later shown not to be breaches of the Code. No damage or injury has resulted from any incident since the full implementation of the Code of Practice and it continues to provide an effective safety mechanism.

  RN Base Faslane
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 1999,Official Report, column 460–61, on RN Base Faslane, on what occasions radiation supervisors have been required to carry out the work of radiation monitors in each of the last five years; and on how many occasions all duty supervisors were carrying out such work. [69086]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There are no prescribed occasions when a Supervisor has to carry out the work of a monitor, however, supervisors can enter radiological areas as part of their duties. The number of occasions when duty supervisors carried out the work of a monitor cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.614
  However, the number of times supervisors have entered radiological areas in each of the last five years is as follows:

  1994: 257

  1995: 219

  1996: 264

  1997: 184

  1998: 38.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 1999,Official Report, column 331, on replies to parliamentary questions, how many times Exemption 2 in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information was used by his Department in replying to questions on the subject of the Territorial Army, to justify withholding information in the last 12 months. [69397]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Once.

  Civil Servants (Misconduct)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the offences or acts of misconduct under which a civil servant in his Department could have his pension removed or reduced; and how often this has happened during the last five years. [70784]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office.

  RAF Innsworth
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with personnel at RAF Innsworth, Gloucestershire, about plans to reduce the level of policing of the MOD area at Innsworth; and if he will make a statement. [70892]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  None. However, policing arrangements at RAF Innsworth have been reviewed recently. On present plans, the present complement will be retained for the next two years. Any proposals for subsequent changes will be subject to consultation in the usual way.

  RAF Brize Norton
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the implications are for(a) staffing and (b) resources at RAF Brize Norton of (i) replacing the fleet of VC-10s and Tristars and (ii) the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme; and if he will make a statement; [71576]

  (2) what proposals he has under consideration for the transfer of staff and resources from RAF Brize Norton to Boscombe Down as a result of the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme. [71578]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The MOD is in only the initial stages of discussions with a wide range of organisations interested in bidding PFI solutions to meet the requirement for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
  615
  (FSTA). We have yet to receive any proposals. It is, accordingly, far too soon to speculate on implications for any particular location.

  Defence Estate Organisation
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to set targets for the Defence Estate Organisation for 1999–2000. [71905]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We expect to be able to announce the key 1999–2000 performance targets for Defence Estate Organisation at the end of next month.

  Army Cadet Force (Chorley)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the Army Cadet Force detachment at Chorley will be accommodated in the future. [72142]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I am pleased to announce that, following consultation with the territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Association, I have decided to reprovide the facilities currently afforded to the Army cadet Force detachment at Chorley, within the curtilage of the Territorial Army centre in which they are currently based. This will provide the cadets with up to date facilities and minimise disruption over the period of change. The remainder of the site will be disposed of, as originally announced, once the facilities for the cadets have been provided. We will, of course, liaise with the local authorities on this matter.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Long-stay Patients
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many long-stay patients there are in medical wards in(a) Antrim Hospital and (b) Whiteabbey Hospital. [70200]

  Mr. McFall
  There were 10 patients in medical wards in Antrim Hospital and 6 patients in medical wards in Whiteabbey Hospital who, on 9 February 1999, had been in-patients for more than 4 weeks.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for how long the longest-stay patient has been in a medical ward in(a) Antrim and (b) Whiteabbey hospitals. [70202]

  Mr. McFall
  The patient with the longest stay in a medical ward in Antrim Hospital was admitted on 16 November 1998. The patient with the longest stay in a medical ward in Whiteabbey hospital was admitted on 1 July 1996.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many long-stay patients assessed as being ready for discharge to nursing home care are in medical wards in(a) Antrim Hospital and (b) Whiteabbey Hospital. [70207]

  Mr. McFall
  There were 4 patients in medical wards in Antrim and 2 patients in medical wards in Whiteabbey who, at 9 February 1999, were assessed as ready for discharge to nursing or residential home care.
  616

  Nursing Care (Costs)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average weekly cost of providing nursing care in(a) private sector accommodation and (b) a hospital in Northern Ireland. [70201]

  Mr. McFall
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  No separate assessment has been made centrally of the cost of providing nursing care in private sector accommodation.

  Costing information on providing "nursing care" in a hospital is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Public Consultations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish her Department's collation and assessment of responses to all the Government's public consultations. [69767]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Service First Unit in Northern Ireland proposes to publish a Northern Ireland version of the guide, "How to conduct written consultation exercises" for Departments and Agencies in late March 1999. The guide will include a provision that, where circumstances permit, a summary of views and information collected from a consultation exercise will be made available, unless the respondents have requested confidentiality for their comments.

  Portadown
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) arrests and (b) convictions have been made in relation to illegal pro-Orange Order demonstrations in Portadown since July 1998. [70212]

  Mr. Ingram
  There have been 135 arrests and 33 persons convicted during the period July 1998 to January 1999 in connection with illegal parades in Portadown.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been(a) arrested and (b) charged in connection with the destruction of Catholic-owned businesses in Portadown since July 1998. [70209]

  Mr. Ingram
  There have been no persons arrested or charged to date in connection with the destruction of Catholic-owned businesses in Portadown, where the religion of the owner is known, since July 1998.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many arrests have been made in connection with the intimidation of Catholic families in the Craigwell area of Portadown by pro-Orange Order demonstrators. [70301]

  Mr. Ingram
  One person has been arrested for incitement to hatred at Craigwell Avenue. Three persons were arrested at Corcrain Bridge, close to Craigwell Avenue, for Public Order offences. Twenty one persons were arrested resulting from a riot situation at Corcrain Bridge/Charles Street.
  617

  Paramilitary Violence
  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if paramilitary beatings are included in the factors which she has to take into account in determining whether a paramilitary organisation has ended violence permanently. [70144]

  Mr. Ingram
  Yes. Parliamentary beatings are a relevant consideration, among others, in coming to the judgment the Secretary of State makes under section 3(8) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the factors which she will take into account in determining whether to invoke her powers to review the list of organisations under section 3(10) of the Act in respect of an organisation not specified under section 3(8) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 which is involved in paramilitary beatings, mutilations and shootings. [70135]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Secretary of State is under a duty from time to time to review the list of organisations which are specified organisations. In forming her belief whether the criteria in section 3(8) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 are satisfied in relation to an organisation not yet specified, she takes into account the factors set out in section 3(9) of that Act and other factors relevant in the circumstances.

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports she has received from the RUC on the involvement of members of paramilitary organisations not specified by order under section 3 (8) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 in paramilitary beating, mutilations and shootings in Northern Ireland; and what assessment she has made of these reports. [70139]

  Mr. Ingram
  Reports are frequently received from the Royal Ulster Constabulary on these attacks. The Secretary of State takes them into account in assessing the state of ceasefires under section 3(8) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what factors she will take into account in determining whether paramilitary beatings carried out by organisations not specified by order under section 3(8) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 constitute a breach of the ceasefires; [70136]

  (2) what factors she takes into account in reaching the judgment that a paramilitary ceasefire is complete and unequivocal. [70145]

  Mr. Ingram
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State takes into account the factors set out in section 3(9) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 and such other factors as are relevant in the circumstances to the judgment she makes, for the purposes of section 3(8) of that Act, as to whether a ceasefire has been established, and is being maintained, which is complete and unequivocal.

  Prisoners
  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons convicted of a618
  qualifying offence set out in the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 have been released from prison under the Accelerated Release Scheme. [70143]

  Mr. Ingram
  To date, there have been 241 prisoners released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. This is drawn from information received by the Secretary of State as at 9 February 1999 from the Sentence Review Commissioners to whom prisoners apply for early release.

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons released from prison in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, were serving(a) a fixed term sentence of at least five years and (b) imprisonment for life. [70142]

  Mr. Ingram
  In order to be eligible for release under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, persons must be serving fixed term sentences of 5 years or more, or imprisonment for life. All those released fall into these categories. A breakdown is given.

  This is drawn from information received by the Secretary of State as at 9 February 1999 from the Sentence Review Commissioners to whom prisoners apply for early release.

  Life sentence/fixed term

  Total

  Lifers

  74

  Fixed term

  167

  Grand total

  241

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons convicted of qualifying offences will be eligible for accelerated release from prison under the terms set out in the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. [70224]

  Mr. Ingram
  To date, there have been 241 prisoners released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, with a further 150 prisoners who have successfully applied to the Sentence Review Commission and who have received Substantive Determinations with a release date in the future. This gives a total of 391 eligible prisoners. This is drawn from information received by the Secretary of State as at 9 February 1999 from the Sentence Review Commissioners to whom prisoners apply for early release.

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons convicted of a scheduled offence, including murder, and serving a fixed term sentence of at least five years will still be in prison two years from the date of the commencement of the Accelerated Release Scheme set out in the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. [70141]

  Mr. Ingram
  Persons eligible for consideration for the Accelerated Release Scheme who will still be in prison two years from the date of the commencement of the Accelerated Release Scheme will include:those who have not applied to the Sentence Review Commission
  those who, although eligible to apply, and having made application, have failed to satisfy the criteria for release
  those who at the second anniversary of the commencement of the Scheme will not have served the minimum period required under Section 10(7) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.
  619
  At this point in time it is not possible to quantify how many eligible persons may still be in prison on the date in question.

  Security Arrangements
  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has had on the normalisation of security arrangements in Northern Ireland with those Northern Ireland parties represented in the Assembly. [70269]

  Mr. Ingram
  None. Individual normalisation measures are operational decisions for the Chief Constable to take in the light of his assessment of the threat at the time and the advice of the General Officer Commanding. Local MPs are consulted as appropriate. The Secretary of State is responsible for developing the Government's overall strategy and has not had discussion with Northern Ireland parties represented in the Assembly on the strategy paper she intends to publish soon.

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the removal of security installations in Northern Ireland since 10 April 1998. [70274]

  Mr. Ingram
  Since 10 April 1998, nine security installations (two sangars and seven Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints) have been demolished, one Army Base has been vacated and is being demolished and seven Patrol Bases have been vacated and closed down.

  The decisions to demolish and vacate these installations were based on the operational assessment of the Chief Constable consistent with the threat level.

  The following are the nine installations which have been demolished:
  Sangar at Crumlin road, Belfast and the Hill top sangar overlooking the former PVCP on the main Belfast-Dublin road at Cloghogue, Newry; and
  Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints at Bessbrook (3), Aughnacloy, The Hump, Strabane, Muff, Londonderry and Letterkenny road, Londonderry.

  The Fort Whiterock Army base in West Belfast has been vacated and is presently being demolished.

  >The following are the seven Patrol bases in Co. Fermanagh which have been vacated and closed down:

  Mullan bridge

  Roscor bridge

  Wattle bridge

  Gortmullan

  Annaghmartin

  Killyvilly

  Clonatty Bridge.

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what progress has been made in the reduction of the numbers and role of armed forces deployed in Northern Ireland since 10 April 1998; [70273]

  (2) if she will list the de-escalation in security measures in Northern Ireland that has taken place since 10 April 1998. [70137]
  620
  Mr. Ingram
  Since the reinstatement of the Provisional IRA ceasefire in July 1997, the Chief Constable has announced a progressive reduction in security measures in the Province. Each step has been fully consistent with the level of threat and taken after a review of the security situation.

  From 10 April to the end of August, key factors which influenced the levels of security across the Province included attacks on security forces, the marching season and terrorist incidents, the most serious being the bomb in Omagh.

  However, from September, the following measures have been taken:

  Base Reductions

  October

  Vacation of Letterkenny, Muff and Hump vehicle checkpoints

  Demolition of Crumlin Road Sangar

  Demolition of R16 Road Sangar

  Announcement of closure of Fort Whiterock

  November

  Demolition of three PVCPs at Bessbrook

  Work started (and continues) to demolish Letterkenny vehicle checkpoint

  January 1999

  Work started (and continues) to demolish Fort Whiterock Army Base

  Closure of 7 Fermanagh Base Patrols

  February 1999

  Demolition completed of Muff vehicle checkpoint

  Demolition completed of Aughnacloy vehicle checkpoint

  Demolition completed of Hump vehicle checkpoint

  Troop Movements

  September

  The last remaining company of the Rural Reinforcement Battalion (RRB) returned to the Mainland

  October

  The last remaining company of the Urban Reinforcement Battalion (URB) returned to the Mainland

  November

  Drumadd Roulement Battalion (DRB) returned to the Mainland

  Military Patrol Support to RUC

  September

  Military patrols ceased in Belfast Region

  Military patrols ceased in South Derry

  October

  Military patrols ceased in Waterside and City side, Londonderry

  Military patrols ceased in RUC G Division

  November

  Military patrols ceased in the Strabane Sub Division.

  Health Board Funding
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the capitation formula for the health boards was last determined; and what changes to the funding formula per board are proposed over the current planning period. [70099]
  621
  Mr. McFall
  The current Regional capitation formula was determined in September 1997 and was first used to inform the 1998–99 allocation to Health and Social Services (HSS) Boards.

  The following changes, which will apply to all HSS Boards, are proposed over the current planning period:

  (i) the updating of the age and sex expenditure weights currently used in the formula;

  (ii) the development and implementation of Northern Ireland specific indicators of need in those parts of the formula which currently have interim weightings based on English research.

  £000

  Financial year

  Northern HSS board

  Southern HSS board

  Eastern HSS board

  Western HSS board

  Total

  1993–94

  206,711

  169,130

  411,015

  145,838

  932,694

  1994–95

  222,059

  181,762

  423,774

  154,446

  982,041

  1995–96

  238,619

  193,290

  448,641

  166,096

  1,046,646

  1996–97

  252,246

  194,613

  434,200

  181,369

  1,062,428

  1997–98

  261,667

  203,320

  452,228

  189,586

  1,106,801

  Fracture Service
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from what budgets the recently announced £4 million for an improved fracture service in the Northern Ireland Health Service will be funded; and how much will be distributed to each health board. [70096]

  Mr. McFall
  The announcement on 20 January 1999 of £4 million for improved fracture services related to a capital scheme to enable the centralisation of fracture and accident and emergency services on the Royal Victoria Hospital site. The funding will provide enhanced and extended facilities and equipment at the Royal Victoria Hospital. The project will also involve additional investment of £1.1 million per year to provide additional scheduled theatre lists on the RVH site, increased outreach clinics in Antrim and

  Table 1: Number on inpatient waiting list by specialty, June 1994 to September 1996

  Quarter ending

  Specialty

  June 1994

  September 1994

  December 1994

  March 1995

  June 1995

  September 1995

  December 1995

  March 1996

  June 1996

  September 1996

  General surgery

  8,381

  8,348

  8,275

  8,442

  8,187

  8,825

  9,166

  8,698

  9,023

  10,367

  Urology

  2,647

  2,691

  2,886

  2,509

  2,750

  2,923

  2,901

  2,668

  3,015

  3,389

  T & O

  3,124

  3,134

  3,010

  2,753

  2,906

  3,171

  3,427

  3,570

  4,158

  4,579

  ENT

  5,478

  4,836

  4,764

  5,117

  5,516

  5,243

  5,168

  5,561

  5,768

  5,688

  Opthalmology

  4,988

  4,621

  4,519

  4,340

  4,064

  3,897

  4,036

  3,807

  4,079

  4,204

  Oral Surgery

  835

  734

  751

  832

  942

  1,027

  938

  884

  943

  911

  Paediatric dentistry

  103

  135

  127

  101

  106

  74

  57

  70

  64

  71

  Neurosurgery

  267

  246

  232

  231

  247

  271

  302

  296

  308

  347

  Plastic surgery

  2,401

  2,323

  2,283

  2,658

  2,829

  2,643

  2,557

  2,463

  2,511

  2,552

  Cardiac surgery

  521

  449

  443

  398

  395

  460

  471

  495

  539

  521

  Paediatric surgery

  1,706

  1,586

  1,477

  1,534

  1,623

  1,411

  1,251

  1,231

  1,277

  1,341

  Thoracic surgery

  88

  135

  138

  155

  135

  130

  142

  153

  171

  183

  Accident and emergency

  0

  0

  5

  7

  6

  4

  6

  9

  8

  3

  Anaesthetics

  504

  485

  469

  369

  359

  355

  414

  456

  483

  544

  General medicine

  213

  251

  293

  456

  386

  584

  468

  549

  610

  672

  Gastroenterology

  131

  169

  252

  313

  275

  263

  269

  318

  338

  446

  Endocrinology

  0

  0

  22

  19

  27

  15

  24

  28

  25

  28

  Haematology (Clin.)

  0

  0

  2

  1

  4

  11

  8

  5

  4

  15

  Cardiology

  702

  666

  713

  685

  722

  121

  758

  781

  890

  956

  Dermatology

  124

  374

  345

  370

  466

  478

  300

  268

  287

  300

  Thoracic Med

  0

  25

  15

  29

  29

  23

  41

  30

  30

  31

  Nephrology

  2

  5

  6

  7

  6

  —

  8

  3

  —

  2

  Neurology

  94

  81

  86

  80

  95

  92

  102

  112

  116

  127

  622

  (iii) the development and implementation of weightings designed to compensate Boards in respect of the possible additional need for, and additional cost of, providing services in rural areas; and

  (iv) the development and implementation of an improved methodology for adjusting Board allocations based on the capacity of each Board's residents to fund (in total or in part) their own care.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding was given to each of the health boards in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. [70101]

  Mr. McFall
  Details of the Health and Personal Social Services (HSS) Board allocations for 1993–94 to 1997–98 for the purchase of health and social care are shown in the following table:

  Craigavon Hospitals and additional consultant sessions for outpatients. Both these sums will be met from the CSR settlement for the HPSS which I announced on 15 December 1998.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were on waiting lists in each month in the past five years in the Northern Ireland Health Service for each recorded speciality. [70098]

  Mr. McFall
  The number of people on waiting lists in the last five years in the Northern Ireland Health Service for each recorded speciality are not available monthly. Data are available on a quarterly basis from June 1994 and are set out in the table.
  623

  Table 1: Number on inpatient waiting list by specialty, June 1994 to September 1996

  Quarter ending

  Specialty

  June 1994

  September 1994

  December 1994

  March 1995

  June 1995

  September 1995

  December 1995

  March 1996

  June 1996

  September 1996

  Rheumatology

  39

  114

  135

  159

  189

  259

  257

  293

  300

  296

  Paediatrics

  0

  0

  6

  31

  39

  41

  28

  22

  25

  13

  Paediatric Neurology

  0

  0

  0

  6

  4

  3

  2

  5

  2

  5

  Geriatric med

  31

  46

  39

  36

  16

  24

  19

  26

  29

  32

  Dental medicine specialties

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gynaecology

  3,299

  3,283

  3,514

  3,315

  3,369

  3,511

  3,616

  3,511

  3,513

  3,598

  Clinical oncology

  70

  67

  75

  62

  60

  59

  67

  65

  58

  69

  Haematology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Histopathology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Other

  31

  0

  63

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  All specialties

  35,779

  34,804

  34,945

  35,015

  35,752

  36,524

  36,803

  36,377

  38,574

  41,290

  Number on inpatient waiting list by specialty, December 1996 to December 1998

  Quarter ending

  Specialty

  December 1996

  March 1997

  June 1997

  September 1997

  December 1997

  March 1998

  June 1998

  September 1998

  December 1998

  General surgery

  11,685

  12,549

  12,624

  13,445

  13,933

  12,568

  12,465

  11,970

  11,612

  Urology

  3,338

  3,566

  3,489

  3,662

  3,546

  3,389

  3,744

  3,521

  3,509

  T & O

  4,754

  4,952

  5,232

  5,237

  5,333

  5,336

  4,939

  5,278

  5,500

  ENT

  5,148

  6,154

  6,289

  6,027

  6,138

  6,174

  6,389

  6,153

  5,819

  Opthalmology

  4,368

  4,307

  4,502

  4,344

  4,580

  4,517

  4,781

  4,745

  4,623

  Oral Surgery

  884

  801

  499

  532

  468

  502

  542

  662

  594

  Paediatric dentistry

  91

  96

  108

  101

  105

  134

  126

  102

  133

  Neurosurgery

  360

  406

  404

  405

  403

  419

  425

  422

  413

  Plastic surgery

  2,514

  2,587

  2,887

  2,939

  2,966

  2,773

  2,587

  2,378

  2,307

  Cardiac surgery

  528

  550

  573

  533

  529

  512

  463

  437

  473

  Paediatric surgery

  1,390

  1,430

  1,554

  1,558

  1,625

  1,421

  1,182

  1,042

  794

  Thoracic surgery

  192

  228

  205

  207

  197

  186

  201

  186

  195

  Accident and emergency

  3

  7

  7

  11

  2

  0

  0

  5

  11

  Anaesthetics

  558

  557

  552

  627

  644

  729

  814

  837

  868

  General medicine

  748

  838

  871

  734

  940

  1,135

  1,154

  1,058

  1,255

  Gastroenterology

  458

  446

  455

  476

  494

  472

  528

  619

  568

  Endocrinology

  24

  23

  14

  20

  31

  29

  26

  21

  27

  Haematology (Clin.)

  2

  1

  1

  3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  23

  Cardiology

  877

  947

  892

  949

  1,012

  973

  1,026

  997

  979

  Dermatology

  276

  277

  214

  294

  298

  247

  262

  333

  413

  Thoracic Med

  21

  16

  25

  3

  10

  5

  4

  1

  1

  Nephrology

  1

  3

  68

  62

  84

  75

  114

  120

  117

  Neurology

  146

  203

  223

  210

  235

  244

  283

  229

  156

  Rheumatology

  267

  319

  320

  358

  302

  406

  338

  311

  395

  Paediatrics

  15

  15

  21

  18

  11

  16

  11

  11

  15

  Paediatric Neurology

  2

  3

  3

  2

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Geriatric med

  13

  15

  39

  15

  20

  18

  19

  15

  15

  Dental medicine specialties

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  9

  0

  0

  Gynaecology

  3,901

  4,415

  4,414

  4,650

  4,758

  4,619

  4,779

  4,912

  4,853

  Clinical oncology

  50

  58

  57

  39

  66

  97

  69

  59

  57

  Haematology

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  4

  3

  4

  2

  Histopathology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Other

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  All specialties

  42,614

  45,769

  46,543

  47,461

  48,740

  47,005

  47,283

  46,428

  45,727

  Source

  CH1

  Action for Community Employment
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many (i) men and (ii) women aged(a) 18 to 24 and (b) over 25 years old were employed under the ACE programme each month during 1998; [70074]

  (2) how many jobs have been lost under the ACE programme in each of the past 12 months; [70072]

  (3) how many people moved from the ACE programme into permanent jobs in each of the past five years; [70071]

  (4) how many (i) men and (ii) women aged (a) 18 to 24 and (b) over 25 years old were employed under the ACE programme in each of the last five years; [70075]
  624
  (5) when the ACE programme is to be terminated. [70073]

  Mr. Ingram
  Responsibility for these issues has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Malcolm Moss, dated 15 February 1999:

  Parliamentary Questions 70071–70075

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your questions about the Action for Community Employment (ACE) programme.
  625
  Parliamentary Question 70071

  Details of the number of people moving from ACE into permanent employment are derived from a biannual survey of those who have left the programme. The flow into employment is therefore based on those who respond to the survey. The figures for the last five years for which data is available are:

  Year

  Into employment (percentage)

  1993

  35

  1994

  38

  1995

  38

  1996

  37

  1997

  44

  Parliamentary Question 70072

  During 1998 there was a net reduction in the number of jobs provided by ACE but in some months there was in increase. In December 1997, 4,334 jobs were provided and the movements over the following 12 months:

  Month

  Increase/Reduction

  January

  -33

  February

  +18

  March

  -36

  April

  -11

  May

  -.09

  June

  -.19

  July

  -.63

  August

  -81

  September

  +12

  Average occupancy

  18–24 years old

  Over 24 years old

  Totals

  Year

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Grand Total

  1994–95

  1,123

  1,188

  3,406

  3,575

  4,538

  4,762

  9,301

  1995–96

  1,154

  1,136

  3,477

  3,422

  4,631

  4,559

  9,189

  1996–97

  920

  820

  2,769

  2,466

  3,689

  3,286

  6,975

  1997–98

  701

  559

  2,111

  1,678

  2,812

  2,237

  5,049

  1998–991

  194

  189

  2,206

  1,311

  2,400

  1,500

  3,900

  1 Estimated outturn figures

  I hope you find this reply useful.

  Arms Decommissioning
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information she has obtained on public attitudes in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland towards (i) decommissioning of arms and (ii) punishment beatings. [71582]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Secretary of State is fully aware of the attitudes of the majority of people in Northern Ireland towards decommissioning and paramilitary attacks. The Government are committed to implementing all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement.

  Obtaining information on public attitudes in the Republic of Ireland is a matter for the Irish Government.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money from the National Lottery
  626

  Month

  Increase/Reduction

  October

  +44

  November

  +20

  December

  +62

  Number of jobs at end of December 1998: 3939

  Reduction over 12 month period: 496

  Parliamentary Question 70073

  The ACE programme will be phased out during 1999 and its replacement, Worktrain, will become operational in August 1999. Transitional arrangements will be made for those remaining in ACE beyond July 1999.

  Parliamentary Question 70074

  Details of the number of participants by age group in the ACE programme were not collected prior to the introduction of New Deal.

  Since early 1998, approximately 25 per cent. of ACE participants were aged between 18 and 24. Following the introduction of the New Deal for 18–24 year olds, recruitment of people in this age group into ACE was discontinued. Numbers have now reduced to 194 females and 189 males. I expect that by April 1999 there will be no 18 to 24 year olds participating in ACE.

  At the end of December 1998 there were 2,111 females and 1,344 males (total 3,455) in the 25+ age group participating in the ACE programme.

  Parliamentary Question 70075

  As I explained in my answer to question 70074, prior to the introduction of New Deal, information on the age of ACE participants was not collected. However on the assumption that approximately 25 per cent. of participants were in the 18–24 years group, (as was the situation whenever New Deal was introduced) and 7.1 per cent. were over 25 years, then the following estimates apply:

  Distribution Fund has been paid to (a) environmental, (b) educational, (c) health and (d) tourism programmes in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. [70100]

  Mr. Banks
  I have been asked to reply.

  To date the Lottery distributing bodies have made 1,634 awards to the value of £497 million in Northern Ireland. The table shows a breakdown by Good Cause. Many of these projects are likely to contribute to the environment, health, education and tourism of Northern Ireland but these cannot be separately identified in the way requested.

  The National Lottery Act 1998 created a new good cause allowing Lottery money to fund innovative projects in health, education and the environment. These initiatives will be run by a new distributor, the New Opportunities Fund (NOF). NOF has begun to invite applications and will be making its first awards this spring.

  Details of Lottery awards for Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are listed on the Department for Culture, Media and Sports website at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk.
  627

  £

  Distributing body

  Number of awards

  Value of awards

  Arts Council for Northern Ireland

  426

  27,142,851

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  406

  30,455,505

  National Lottery Charities Board

  672

  38,353,915

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  93

  27,168,986

  Millennium Commission

  37

  374,722,232

  Total

  1,634

  497,843,489

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the President of the Council if she will list the parliamentary constituencies which she has visited in an official capacity in the past 12 months. [71338]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: Both myself and the Parliamentary Secretary have undertaken a number of visits to regions since taking up office at the Privy Council. Records for official visits are not held on a constituency basis, and most will have taken in more than one constituency at a time. The following cities or regions were visited:

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  Welwyn Garden City

  Lincoln

  Skegness

  Newcastle

  Doncaster

  Darlington.

  Additionally, we have visited a number of constituencies in London as part of our official duties.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Norman Shaw Buildings
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how long the temporary arrangement is due to last for the provision of a passage between the House and the Norman Shaw buildings. [70996]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: As part of the agreement with London Underground Ltd. for the development of Westminster station and Portcullis House, they have built a new public subway under Bridge Street which opened last week. The next stage is for London Underground to refurbish the old subway, which will then provide a direct and private link between the Palace and the outbuildings to the north of the Street.

  It is anticipated that the subway will re-open in the latter part of 2000.
  628

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  ASSIST Programme
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs about the ASSIST programme. [71057]

  Clare Short
  I have discussed the ASSIST programme with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with a view to ensuring that we take a consistent approach across government to security sector issues.

  Officials of my Department have also discussed the ASSIST programme with officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Arms Exports
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions the full interdepartmental working group on overseas development co-operation has met at ministerial level since 25 September 1998; and what discussions it has held on arms exports. [71043]

  Clare Short
  The Interdepartmental Working Group on Development (IDWG) last met on September 25 1998. A further meeting will be held in the spring.

  The IDWG has discussed broad issues of security sector reform but has not specifically discussed arms exports.

  Ministry of Defence
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence about the new Defence Diplomacy Mission; [71058]

  (2) what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the Ministry of Defence's outreach assistance programme and the use of the British Military Assistance Fund. [71059]

  Clare Short
  There are close contacts at Ministerial and official level between my Department and the Ministry of Defence. These cover a wide range of Defence Diplomacy and related issues, including Outreach and the use of the Defence Military Assistance Fund.

  Security Sector Reform
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on using the European Community Development Budget funds to finance security sector reform activities and initiatives to remove small arms from circulation. [71044]

  Clare Short
  The possibility of using EU development funds to finance security projects is a difficult issue from a legal point of view. The Commission enjoys competence in the field of development co-operation under the EU' s first pillar, competence on conflict prevention and resolution
  629
  rests with Member States under the EU' s second pillar (known as the Common Foreign and Security Policy). We are making progress, however, in advancing the principle that wherever possible, development assistance should contribute to the prevention of conflict; the November 1998 Development Council agreed conclusions to this affect.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by her Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71465]

  Clare Short
  Rules governing the work of the Government Information and Communications Service (GICS) are laid down in the Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing and issuing of press releases is given in the Working Guide for Government Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House.

  Since May 1997, the Department for International Development has issued 110 press releases. The total cost of these press releases is approximately £13,000. The costs include postage and wire service.

  The Commonwealth Development Corporation has issued 42 press releases since May 1997. The total cost of these press releases is approximately £6,000. The costs include postage, wire service, photocopying and consultancy services.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many press releases have been issued by her Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71450]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development has issued the following number of press releases in each of the years 1990 to 1998:

  Year

  Number

  1990

  114

  1991

  102

  1992

  111

  1993

  94

  1994

  106

  1995

  71

  1996

  50

  1997

  58

  1998

  74

  The only relevant agency or non-departmental body to issue press releases is the Commonwealth Development Corporation which has issued the following number of press releases in each of the years 1990 to 1998:

  Year

  Number

  1990

  no figures available

  1991

  no figures available

  1992

  no figures available

  1993

  no figures available

  1994

  no figures available

  630

  Year

  Number

  1995

  9

  1996

  20

  1997

  16

  1998

  28

  Sudan
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if her Department has provided or offered assistance(a) bilaterally and (b) through Operation Lifeline Sudan, to (i) the Government of Sudan, (ii) the rebel movement in Sudan and (iii) non-Governmental organisations active in Sudan, for de-mining projects in Sudan. [71768]

  Clare Short
  While a state of civil war continues to exist, we will not offer assistance for de-mining projects in Sudan.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the facilities at Malakal, El-Obeid and Khartoum airports were first offered by the Government of Sudan as air transport centres for Operation Lifeline Sudan humanitarian relief flights; when Sudanese airport facilities started to be used by Operation Lifeline Sudan; for what reasons these internal Sudanese facilities were not used earlier by Operation Lifeline Sudan; and what are the estimated savings to Operation Lifeline Sudan of using El-Obeid and Khartoum airports. [71686]

  Clare Short
  The Government of Sudan have offered for some years the use of airports in the north of the country for relief flights to the south, but donors have preferred to operate from an independent base in Kenya. Northern Sudanese air strips were used last year for the first time because of the greatly increased need due to the crisis. The difference in cost is not yet known, but a major independent study of Operation Lifeline Sudan, undertaken in 1996, concluded that it would be marginal.

  The cost of delivering food by air in Sudan last year was approximately 15 times the World Food Programme's average world wide food delivery cost. Real savings for the relief effort will come from maximising land routes, including rail, for delivery of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable areas of southern Sudan. We are pressing the UN to make progress on this.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the non-Governmental organisations working in Sudan which have received funding from her Department, or its predecessor, over the past eight years; and what the level of funding for each was in those years. [71765]

  Clare Short
  This information is included in the following table.
  631

  £

  NGO expenditure

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–991

  Total

  Aain

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65,584

  374,608

  33

  —

  —

  440,225

  ACORD

  1,800,000

  750,000

  290,000

  365,000

  203,356

  71,925

  59,531

  50,000

  50,000

  3,639,812

  Across

  —

  208,904

  —

  100,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  40,000

  348,904

  Action Disability and Development

  18,612

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  18,612

  Aicf

  —

  —

  —

  —

  250,000

  450,000

  —

  —

  —

  700,000

  Aktion Afrika Hilfe

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  50,000

  133,961

  —

  183,961

  Amref

  39,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  39,000

  British Red Cross

  1,000,000

  184,558

  —

  289,360

  608,179

  200,000

  —

  —

  250,000

  2,532,097

  CAFOD

  300,000

  —

  634,976

  329,750

  1,786,978

  —

  105,404

  —

  4,000

  3,161,108

  CARE

  2,998,486

  6,365,553

  3,305,186

  1,997,676

  1,724,974

  511,327

  896,201

  1,127.042

  716,694

  19,643,139

  Christian Aid

  400,000

  2,196,320

  554,601

  216,666

  441,804

  —

  —

  —

  334,330

  4,143,721

  Christian Outreach

  310,000

  245,682

  175,000

  221,000

  143,850

  150,000

  35,000

  —

  —

  1,280,532

  CONCERN

  161,000

  344,475

  224,244

  272,737

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,002,456

  GOAL

  —

  21,744

  6,909

  245,000

  322,290

  —

  75,681

  16,433

  511,355

  1,199,412

  Health Unlimited

  —

  —

  9,515

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9,515

  Help the Aged

  60,000

  60,000

  60,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  180,000

  ICRC

  —

  184,558

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,000,000

  1,184,558

  IFRC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  315,000

  —

  315,000

  International Extension College

  150,000

  153,785

  100,000

  100,000

  100,000

  100,000

  —

  12,097

  —

  715,882

  Islamic Relief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  59,945

  59,602

  59,125

  —

  —

  178,672

  Merlin

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  731,418

  731,418

  MSF

  —

  —

  62,000

  —

  447,323

  —

  589,028

  274,172

  2,608,775

  3,981,298

  Ockenden Venture

  258,268

  145,217

  272,172

  199,950

  118,000

  201,050

  231,585

  68,492

  —

  1,494,734

  Oxfam

  —

  —

  100,000

  10,000

  740,854

  439,635

  183,256

  880,801

  87,000

  2,441,546

  Plan International

  267,998

  44,000

  49,500

  55,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  416,498

  SCF

  1,720,799

  2,135,414

  2,107,767

  2,930,062

  1,800,265

  964,892

  1,137,716

  1,323,923

  636,055

  14,756,893

  SOS Sahel International

  49,210

  43,969

  27,605

  34,579

  36,062

  17,689

  —

  —

  —

  209,114

  Tear Fund

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  94,408

  —

  25,540

  119,948

  Vetaid

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  106,800

  198,419

  —

  —

  305,219

  World Vision

  —

  31,250

  —

  —

  50,074

  394,090

  186,296

  72,352

  233,393

  967,455

  You and Me

  40,000

  32,446

  36,800

  —

  32,700

  34,250

  20,000

  14,000

  —

  210,196

  Total

  9,573,373

  13,147,875

  8,016,275

  7,366,780

  8,932,238

  4,075,868

  3,921,683

  4,288,273

  7,228,560

  66,550,925

  1 Estimated

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many personnel within Operation Lifeline Sudan directly monitor food aid diversion. [71789]

  Clare Short
  The World Food Programme has increased the number of food aid monitors to 125 as part of its response to the joint OLS/SRRA/SPLA Task Force Report.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidelines have existed for Operation Lifeline Sudan's procurement of food supplies for its emergency food aid programmes; and if Operation Lifeline Sudan is procuring food from within Sudan itself. [71767]

  Clare Short
  Operation Lifeline Sudan itself does not procure food. This is the responsibility of the UN World Food Programme, international agencies and non-governmental organisations operating in Sudan who have a full range of policies and procedures for the procurement of food and related services. Food is purchased from within Sudan when this represents the most cost effective option.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his staff monitor food aid diversion in Sudan. [71799]

  Clare Short
  Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) monitors food aid diversions. We regularly raise this and other humanitarian issues with the SPLA both bilaterally and in concert with OLS. It was discussed most recently on 25 January in London with SPLA's UK representatives and on 26 January in Nairobi at a joint OLS/Donor 632
  meeting with John Garang, leader of the SPLA. At both meetings, assurances were given that action against food aid diversions would be taken.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will estimate the amount of food aid misappropriated by combatants in southern Sudan; [71796]

  (2) what estimate she has received from Operation Lifeline Sudan of the amount of food aid misappropriated by combatants in southern Sudan. [71797]

  Clare Short
  No definitive figures are available and the scale of diversions by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and government supported militias vary with location. During November and December, the UN World Food Programme estimated that 3.47 per cent. of food aid delivered was diverted overall. It is suspected that further losses occur after the food has been distributed.

  The Task Force report on a mission carried out jointly by Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS), the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Association (SRRA) and the SPLA in August 1998 identified a number of cases of diversion. Copies of this report are being deposited in the House of Commons Library.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what official reports she has received on food aid diversion in southern Sudan in the past 12 months. [71792]
  633
  Clare Short
  We received the report of the OLS/SRRA/SPLA Joint Targeting and Vulnerabilities Task Force in SPLA Controlled Areas of Bahr el Ghazal in August 1998. Copies are being deposited in the House of Commons Library.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the effect on the population of the floods in Sudan in 1998, and the effectiveness of the response of the Government of Sudan and the international community to the floods. [71685]

  Clare Short
  Many thousands of people were adversely affected by the floods in Sudan last year. We contributed £250,000 towards the flood relief efforts of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies which were timely and well targeted. We have made no assessment of the response by the Government of Sudan or the rest of the international community.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff within the European Community Humanitarian Office monitor food aid diversion in Sudan. [71800]

  Clare Short
  Three EC staff are involved with the ECHO programme in southern Sudan. Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) is responsible for monitoring food aid diversions.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has received from the European Community Humanitarian Office on the amount of food aid misappropriated by combatants in southern Sudan. [71798]

  Clare Short
  We have received no such estimates from the European Community Humanitarian Office.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many sites in southern Sudan are currently served by Operation Lifeline Sudan; and how many were so served in(a) January 1998 and (b) January 1997. [71766]

  Clare Short
  In November/December 1998, the most recent period for which information is available, 103 rebel held areas were served by the UN World Food Programme in southern Sudan. In addition, deliveries were made to Government of Sudan held locations. More detailed information is not readily available.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the amount of British aid to southern Sudan which has been misappropriated in order to purchase weapons and war material. [71790]

  Clare Short
  No definitive figures are available on the amount of food aid diversions in southern Sudan. It is important that the peace process is pursued vigorously in parallel with humanitarian relief to minimise the danger of such assistance feeding the war economy. We and the international community are supporting the efforts of the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (1GAD) to broker a long-term agreement and are pressing both sides of the conflict to undertake serious negotiation towards a lasting and just peace.
  634
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list all the agreements and arrangements made to date between Operation Lifeline Sudan and all parties to the conflict in order to facilitate relief operations and humanitarian assistance in affected parts of Sudan. [71684]

  Clare Short
  This information is not readily available.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the efficiency, transparency and effectiveness of Operation Lifeline Sudan. [71769]

  Clare Short
  Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) expanded its response in 1998 in very difficult circumstances as the crisis in southern Sudan unfolded. The UN and donors have learned several lessons from the experience. We are in close touch with the UN to improve the effectiveness of the operation and are working with them.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the work of food aid monitors within Operation Lifeline Sudan; how many monitors are in the field; and where they are based in southern Sudan. [71791]

  Clare Short
  The role of the World Food Programme (WFP) food monitors is to oversee food distribution. They are effective at ensuring that food aid is allocated fairly at distribution points, but less so in preventing some of the food from being diverted between distribution and its eventual delivery to vulnerable households. Since the recent crisis, we have been pressing for firmer action on diversion. WFP has increased the number of food aid monitors to 125. Monitors shift from location to location, depending where food aid deliveries are to be made.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions she has had on food aid diversion in Sudan with her fellow development Ministers in the European Union; [71793]

  (2) what representations she has made on food aid diversion in Sudan at meetings of the Development Council/General Affairs Council in Europe. [71794]

  Clare Short
  Discussions with development and foreign ministers have focused on the main cause of the suffering in Sudan, the civil war, and on how to work with the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the IGAD Partners Forum to achieve a long-term and just peace settlement. Action on food aid diversion needs to be led by the UN System. I have discussed the problem with the appropriate agencies.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to relocate staff in(a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which she is responsible to the regions of the United Kingdom with the highest levels of unemployment; and what plans she has further to decentralise the location of her Department and its agencies. [70462]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development (DFID) operations are already decentralised. We have two offices in the UK: 414 staff are located in East Kilbride and 755 in London. In addition DFID has offices
  635
  abroad in Bangkok, Harare, Bridgetown, Dhaka, Delhi, Nairobi, Pretoria and Suva employing, mainly under contract, 207 UK-based and 280 locally recruited staff.

  I also refer my hon. Friend to "Civil Service Statistics 1998" which is available in the Library of the House and which provides a regional breakdown of staff.

  In April 1998 my Department announced that 43 jobs from DFID's London office would be moved to East Kilbride. I have no plans to relocate any further parts of my Department. My Department has no agencies.

  Aid Schemes (Former Soviet Union)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the British aid schemes currently operating in the former states of the Soviet Union giving assistance to the educational and health care systems; what private or semi-private British aid initiatives are operating in conjunction with these; and if she will make a statement. [71175]

  Clare Short
  We are operating a wide range of know-how fund projects in the countries of the former Soviet Union in the health and education sectors. I will place a list in the Library of the House. These projects are undertaken with a variety of partners. They are usually implemented on a contractual basis with UK or other organisations. A variety of health care professionals contribute their time for free to our Health Small Partnerships Scheme in Russia and Ukraine.

TREASURY

  Pensions (LISAs)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if LISA style pensions are to be used as freestanding top-ups to existing(a) personal and (b) occupational pension plans. [69890]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury's proposal, currently under consultation, is for an investment vehicle to help launch stakeholder pensions. As the Chief Secretary stated in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Ms Lawrence) on 3 February 1999,Official Report, column 677–78, this financial instrument could also be used by any other kind of pension: personal pensions, occupational pensions and additional voluntary contributions to occupational schemes.

  Office for National Statistics
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what consultations he has had with trades unions representing the staff of the Office for National Statistics regarding the current review of that department; [69679]

  (2) what plans his Department has to privatise the work of the Office for National Statistics. [69849]

  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in reviewing the way the Office for National Statistics delivers its outputs in order to ensure that it makes the best use of the resources available. [71996]

  Ms Hewitt
  I am today releasing the findings of a review of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
  636
  This has concluded that there is scope within ONS to achieve efficiency savings rising to around £20 million per year. The review has been guided by a Steering Group under the Chairmanship of Peter Ellwood, Group Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB, and draws on work carried out by the consultants KPMG.

  ONS has achieved significant efficiency savings since its creation three years ago. The review identified ways of building on its forward efficiency plans through further streamlining of activities within ONS and the development of closer working arrangements with appropriate private sector organisations. The proposed changes would allow ONS to focus professional resources and management attention where they can add most value.

  These findings will be made available to staff in the ONS. I will invite the trade unions to give me their reactions to the findings before making any decisions on the way forward.

  Sierra Leone (Weapons)
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action HM Customs and Excise is taking to investigate recent allegations that two British companies have been involved in supplying weapons to rebels in Sierra Leone. [70663]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The investigation of alleged breaches of United Kingdom export controls is a matter for the Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise. It is not the Commissioner's general practice to comment publicly about the existence or nature of such investigations.

  Euro Exchange Rate
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the current exchange rates for the euro on the balance of trade with Euroland. [70615]

  Ms Hewitt
  The trade balance reflects a variety of factors and it is difficult to isolate the effects of the exchange rate. In the three months to November 1998, shortly before the introduction of the Euro, the UK had a trade in goods deficit with the Eurozone economies of £1.8 billion, compared with £1.5 billion in the previous three months.

  Financial Services Authority
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on(a) the use of and (b) the cost of focus groups by the Financial Services Authority for its advertising campaigns. [71129]

  Ms Hewitt
  This is a matter for the Financial Services Authority.

  Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total amount of Government expenditure by Malawi on debt servicing in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) the latest available year. [71392]
  637
  Ms Hewitt
  The World Bank publication Global Development Finance: Country Tables 1998 gives the following figures for 1980, 1989, 1990, 1995 and 1996. It does not give data for 1985.

  Year

  Debt service paid (US$m)

  1980

  68

  1989

  58

  1990

  103

  1995

  105

  1996

  68

  Pensions Mis-selling Advertisement
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Ice Cream Alliance regarding the Financial Services Authority advertising campaign on pensions mis-selling. [71132]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Chief Executive of the Ice Cream Alliance wrote to the Chancellor and the Financial Secretary on 2 February.

  EMU Preparations Standing Committee
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the most recent meeting of the Standing Committee on Preparations for EMU. [71945]

  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer held the most recent meeting of the Standing Committee on 27 January 1999. I have arranged for copies of the minutes to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Pensions Mis-selling
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress in the review of personal pensions mis-selling. [71946]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Personal Investment Authority (PIA) has confirmed that it is satisfied that all 41 major firms are devoting sufficient energy and resources to the review of personal pension mis-selling. It judged that all the firms monitored by the Treasury have made sufficient progress towards their priority review targets to be removed from the published list. The Treasury has acted on the PIA advice and suspended publication of figures.

  However, firms will still be monitored and expected to conclude the priority review, and make swift progress with phase 2. The Treasury reserves the right to resume publication of information about firms' progress should it prove necessary.

  The regulators' advertising campaign for phase 2 of the pension review is now well under way. Younger people should take the opportunity of finding out whether they might be due redress for mis-selling. Anyone who receives a letter from their pension firm should read it carefully and decide whether they wish to put their case forward for review.

  Fuel Duties
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the Exchequer's average receipt from(a) a small and medium-sized enterprise and (b) a company with
  638
  more than 100 employees arising from (i) the increase in the road fuel escalator to 6 per cent., announced in the 1997 Budget, (ii) the indexation of vehicle excise duty, announced in the 1997 Budget, (iii) the bringing forward of fuel duty increases, announced in the 1998 Budget, (iv) the increase in diesel duty differential, announced in the 1998 Budget, (v) the increase in duty on super-unleaded petrol duty, announced in the 1998 Budget and (vi) the increase in company car fuel tax, announced in the 1998 Budget. [71664]

  Ms Hewitt
  The effect of these measures across enterprises and companies will vary considerably; this reflects the differing circumstances of individual enterprises and companies.

  VAT
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the EU legislative provisions which permit a reduction in the rate of VAT from 17½ per cent. to five per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [71000]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Under the provisions of Article 12(3)(a) of the Sixth VAT Directive, Member States have the option of applying one or two reduced rates of VAT, at not less than 5 per cent., to any of the goods and services specified in Annex H of that Directive.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses were affected by the landfill tax announcement in the 1998 Budget; and if he will estimate the average cost per business. [70670]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: It is not possible to identify how many businesses send their waste to landfill instead of to another waste disposal option such as recycling or incineration. It is therefore not possible to given an average cost per business.

  Trading Loss Carry Back
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses have been affected by the 1997 Budget measure to restrict trading loss carry back to one year. [70675]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The restriction on carry back of trading losses could affect up to 20,000 companies a year but the numbers will vary from year to year depending on trading conditions.

  Driving Costs
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional revenue the average(a) private motorist and (b) company car driver will have contributed to the Exchequer as a result of the 1997 and 1998 budgets. [70681]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The effect of Budget measures on private motorists and company car drivers will vary considerably; this reflects the differing circumstances of individual private motorists and company car drivers.
  639

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households were affected by the reduction of VAT on fuel in the 1997 Budget; and what is the average change in(a) electricity and (b) gas bills. [70673]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: Approximately 24½; million households benefited from the reduction of VAT on fuel.

  The cut in the VAT rate on domestic fuel from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent. in September 1997 is estimated to have reduced the bill for a typical household in 1998 by £7.50 for electricity and by £9.00 for gas.
  640

  Civil Service Pay Awards
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average percentage increase in salaries of non-industrial civil servants, excluding members of the senior civil service, in his Department for 1998–99; and to what extent the pay awards were staged. [69508]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The headline pay settlement was 2.95 per cent. on the pay bill and together with the additional funds from staff turnover, staff in post received performance related increases averaging 3.9 per cent. The increases were not staged.
  641

SCOTLAND

  Sports Funding
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate the Scottish Sports Council has made of the total revenue financial support provided by Scottish councils for sport in 1998–99 and in each of the previous five years. [69713]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The Scottish Sports Council does not make separate estimates for this but uses figures on local authority expenditure on leisure and recreation collected by the Scottish Office. The figures, which are not available at a more disaggregated level, are as follows:

  Net local authority revenue expenditure on leisure and recreation

  Year

  £000

  1998–99

  1286,310

  1997–98

  2294,612

  1996–97

  303,832

  1995–96

  307,048

  1994–95

  289,803

  1993–94

  282,346

  1 Estimate

  2 Provisional

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

  New Housing Partnership
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the budget is for the New Housing Partnership scheme in 1998–99,1999–2000,2000–01 and 2001–02. [70309]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Following is the information requested:

  £ million

  New Housing Partnerships selected for funding in May and October 1998

  New Housing Partnership bids currently under consideration

  1998–99

  35

  —

  1999–2000

  30

  23

  2000–01

  20

  95

  2001–02

  5

  160

  I will be making an announcement shortly about the selection of bids currently under consideration for funding.

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

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the process is by which bids for funding for the New Housing Partnership scheme are scrutinised. [70312]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Bids for funding are being assessed by the New Housing Partnership Advisory Group against the criteria set out in the Department's letters of invitation. The Group has sought clarification, from some local authorities, on aspects of their bids. The Group will shortly be making recommendations to me on the merits 642
  of the bids, and I will make an announcement shortly. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who sits on the panel that scrutinises bids for the New Housing Partnership scheme; and how and for what reason they were chosen. [70313]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The members of the New Housing Partnerships Advisory Group are:M

  Scottish office

  David Belfall (chair)

  John Breslin

  Rod Merrall

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Albert Tait

  Kenny Simpson

  Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

  David Orr

  Chartered Institute of housing

  John Perry

  Alan Ferguson

  Scottish Homes

  Stuart Nichol

  Chief Executive, Broomleigh Housing Association

  Keith Exford

  The Group provides advice to Ministers on bids received from local authorities for New Housing Partnerships funding.

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

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the criteria are that local authorities have to meet to be entitled to funding from the New Housing Partnership scheme. [70311]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The criteria for New Housing Partnership funding have been set out in letters issued by the Scottish Office Development Department. A copy of the Department's letter of 24 August 1998, which invites bids for the period 1999–2000, has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

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

  Council House Debt
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the total level of council house debt, including capital debt, by local authority area in Scotland; [70310]

  (2) what are the expected levels of council house debt, including capital debt, by local authority area for 1998–99,1999–2000,2000–01 and 2001–02. [70315]
  643
  Mr. Macdonald
  Information on local authority housing debt is collected annually from local authorities. The most recent estimates available, as at 1 April 1998, are shown in the table.

  Authority

  Debt (£)

  Aberdeen City

  134,682,000

  Aberdeenshire

  150,821,000

  Angus

  34,655,914

  Argyll and Bute

  53,594,327

  Clackmannanshire

  26,589,900

  Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

  44,629,236

  Dumfries and Galloway

  107,598,933

  Dundee City

  117,916,400

  East Ayrshire

  83,426,996

  East Dunbartonshire

  45,574,000

  East Lothian

  43,554,000

  East Renfrewshire

  25,643,300

  Edinburgh City

  283,591,341

  Falkirk

  90,976,000

  Fife

  208,240,991

  Glasgow City

  914,638,203

  Highland

  222,559,000

  Inverclyde

  97,559,900

  Midlothian

  25,138,104

  Moray

  50,066,031

  North Ayrshire

  86,772,000

  North Lanarkshire

  231,658,606

  Orkney Islands

  4,769,000

  Perth and Kinross

  47,759,926

  Renfrewshire

  143,943,035

  Scottish Borders

  69,226,695

  Shetland Islands

  60,157,961

  South Ayrshire

  60,397,134

  South Lanarkshire

  230,800,643

  Stirling

  45,625,903

  West Dunbartonshire

  92,236,590

  West Lothian

  69,886,114

  Scotland

  3,904,689,183

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

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the time scale is, by local authority area, for the repayment of council house debt; and by when he expects all council housing debt to be repaid. [70328]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Information about the time scale for repayment of council housing debt is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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

  Housing Debt
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what extra funding he plans to provide to assist local authorities to repay housing debt. [70320]

  Mr. Macdonald
  We have indicated that, in certain circumstances, we will be prepared to provide assistance with housing debt to councils which tranfers their housing stock into community ownership. This assistance will be available where the transfer represents good value for money and is selected to proceed under the New Housing Partnerships initiative. Detailed arrangements will need to 644
  be agreed in individual cases and be affordable. The resources necessary will be found from within the funding available under the New Housing Partnerships initiative.

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

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on homeless initiatives on in 1996–97,1997–98 and 1998–99. [70316]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Expenditure by The Scottish Office on homeless initiatives in 1996–97, 1997–98 and provision for 1998–99 is set out in the table:

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Scottish Office grants to voluntary bodies

  354,000

  454,000

  577,000

  Rough sleepers initiative

  —

  2,173,000

  3,331,000

  Total

  354,000

  2,626,000

  3,908,000

  In addition, local authorities in Scotland and Scottish Homes commit resources to help meet the needs of the homeless through their ongoing housing programmes.

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

  Rough Sleepers Initiative
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which organisations will be responsible for spending the extra funding for the Rough Sleepers Initiative announced on 16 December 1998. [70319]

  Mr. Macdonald
  These additional resources will be available in 2000–01 and 2001–02. Decisions about their use will be a matter for the Scottish Administration and Parliament.

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland from which budget the extra funding for the Rough Sleepers Initiative announced on 16 December 1998 was funded; and from what programmes funding has been taken as a result. [70317]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The additional funding for the Rough Sleepers Initiative announced on 16 December 1998 was identified following the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review. It has not been taken from resources previously allocated to other programmes.

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

  Sheriff Courts
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from lawyers about a decline in their work at sheriff courts because of changes in administrative practice. [70344]

  Mr. McLeish
  None.

  From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  645
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of changes in the last five years in the(a) number and (b) proportion of cases that are going to the Sheriff Court as a result of changes in administrative practice. [70343]

  Mr. McLeish
  The long-term trend has been for growth in business in the Sheriff Courts. In the past 5 years, the general trend in summary and solemn business and in civil business has been for a small reduction in the number of cases and for a small increase in the average of length of cases going to trial or proof. Many factors influence trends in court business but there is no evidence that administrative practice in the courts has significantly affected the national picture.

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

  Fiscal Fines
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the financial return from fiscal fines in the last recorded year and the distribution of fines by amount. [70342]

  Mr. McLeish
  Information provided by the district courts shows that in 1997–98 approximately £527,000 was collected from the payment of fiscal fines. Information on the amount of fines by value is not held centrally.

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

  Health White Paper
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the White Paper on improving Scotland's health will be published; and if he will make a statement. [71997]

  Mr. Dewar
  The White Paper "Towards a Healthier Scotland" is being published on 17 February. Copies will be laid before the House and will be available in the Library of the House and the Vote Office.

  The White Paper sets out the Government's strategy for improving health for all in Scotland, and builds on the positive response to the Green Paper "Working Together for a Healthier Scotland", published in February 1998.

  Our drive to better health includes a coherent attack on the roots of ill health such as poverty, unemployment, and a polluted environment, combined with action to encourage healthier lifestyles and to address Scotland's key health problems. An over-arching aim is to tackle health inequalities. There is a specific focus on measures to improve the health of children and on new initiatives against Scotland's 2 major killing diseases—cancer and coronary heart disease. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of a concerted approach to health improvement across Government, and involving the National Health Service, local authorities, voluntary and other bodies whose policies and actions impact on health.

  From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  646

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 9 February 1999,Official Report, columns 173–74, on education expenditure, if he will list the figures for 1996–97 and 1998–99 in 1997–98 prices. [71475]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The following table shows the final outturn for 1996–97 and 1998–99 at 1997–98 prices. Final outturn figures for any year are generally higher than the budget estimates.

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

  Local authority education spending

  £000

  (at 1997–98 prices)

  1996–97

  1998–99

  Councils

  Final outturn

  Budget estimates

  Aberdeen, City

  89,341

  85,849

  Aberdeenshire

  112,428

  108,748

  Angus

  49,212

  48,531

  Argyll and Bute

  50,745

  47,781

  Clackmannanshire

  24,686

  24,524

  Dumfries and Galloway

  69,220

  68,752

  Dundee

  72,078

  67,317

  East Ayrshire

  60,566

  59,034

  East Dunbartonshire

  54,677

  52,479

  East Lothian

  38,496

  36,867

  East Renfrewshire

  43,711

  42,963

  Edinburgh, City

  163,076

  159,645

  Eilean Siar

  24,181

  23,945

  Falkirk

  64,331

  62,503

  Fife

  171,942

  162,655

  Glasgow City

  297,819

  280,488

  Highland

  116,861

  112,712

  Inverclyde

  43,894

  44,286

  Midlothian

  41,639

  40,132

  Moray

  42,935

  40,600

  North Ayrshire

  66,870

  67,062

  North Lanarkshire

  165,163

  160,818

  Orkney

  15,756

  14,947

  Perth and Kinross

  57,593

  57,221

  Renfrewshire

  84,710

  82,385

  Scottish Borders

  49,522

  46,425

  Shetland

  24,483

  23,183

  South Ayrshire

  53,847

  45,889

  South Lanarkshire

  149,232

  137,007

  Stirling

  41,655

  38,478

  West Dunbartonshire

  50,896

  51,861

  West Lothian

  85,289

  77,231

  Scotland

  2,476,854

  2,372,320

  Note:

  All figures are net current expenditure excluding loan and leasing charges as returned by the individual local authorities to The Scottish Office, adjusted to 1997–98 prices using the GDP deflator.

  Scottish Parliament (Income Tax)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 9 February 1999,Official Report, column 172, on income tax and the Scottish Parliament, if he will estimate for (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03 the extra money which would be paid into the Scottish Consolidated Fund from a decision to raise income tax by one penny by the Scottish Parliament (i) gross and (ii) net of deductions. [71476]
  647
  Mr. Dewar
  It is currently estimated for 2000–01 that the yield from a decision to increase the basic rate of income tax by one penny for Scottish taxpayers is as follows:

  £ million

  Gross

  Net1

  180

  175

  1 Net of income-related benefits: Working Families Tax Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  Projections are not available for later years.

  Personal Social Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) by social services authority and (b) in total (i) the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1998–99, (ii) the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1999–2000, (iii) the difference between the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, (iv) that difference expressed as a percentage of the 1998–99 figure, (v) the special transitional grant for 1998–99, (vi) the difference between the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1999–2000 and the standard spending assessment for personal social services for 1998–99 combined with the special transitional grant for 1998–99, (vii) the difference between the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1999–2000 and the standard spending assessment for personal social services for 1998–99 added to the special transitional grant for 1998–99 and expressed as a percentage of the 1998–99 figure and (viii) the indicative level of specific and special grants for 1999–2000. [71318]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The Social Work Services Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocations for authorities relating to items (i) and (iv) are set out in the table. There has been no direct equivalent to the Special Transitional Grant in Scotland. Specific Grants for training and mental illness totalling £22.2 million in 1999–2000 are included n the GAE figures shown.

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

  Social Work GAE

  £ million

  1998–1999

  1999–2000

  Change

  Change Percentage

  Aberdeen City

  43.0

  44.9

  1.9

  4.4

  Aberdeenshire

  36.8

  37.8

  1.1

  2.9

  Angus

  22.9

  23.7

  0.8

  3.5

  Argyll & Bute

  19.9

  20.7

  0.8

  3.8

  Clackmannanshire

  9.0

  10

  1.0

  11.3

  Dumfries & Galloway

  27.2

  29.7

  2.5

  9.2

  Dundee City

  35.4

  37.5

  2.1

  5.9

  East Ayrshire

  24.9

  26.6

  1.7

  6.9

  East Dunbartonshire

  15.4

  16.2

  0.8

  5.2

  East Lothian

  16.8

  18.3

  1.5

  8.8

  East Renfrewshire

  13.7

  14.4

  0.7

  4.8

  Edinburgh, City of

  99.4

  100.5

  1.1

  1.1

  Eilean Siar

  7.7

  7.5

  -0.2

  -2.3

  Falkirk

  28.7

  29.8

  1.2

  4.1

  Fife

  67.1

  72.1

  5.0

  7.4

  Glasgow City

  174.2

  179.1

  4.8

  2.8

  Highland

  37.9

  40.2

  2.3

  6.1

  Inverclyde

  19.6

  20.5

  0.9

  4.3

  Midlothian

  13.3

  14.3

  1.0

  7.6

  Moray

  14.5

  15.3

  0.7

  5.1

  North Ayrshire

  28.9

  31.3

  2.4

  8.5

  648

  Social Work GAE

  £ million

  1998–1999

  1999–2000

  Change

  Change Percentage

  North Lanarkshire

  63.0

  67.9

  4.9

  7.8

  Orkney Islands

  3.5

  3.7

  0.2

  4.6

  Perth & Kinross

  25.0

  26.6

  1.6

  6.4

  Renfrewshire

  35.4

  27.0

  1.6

  4.4

  Scottish Borders

  21.0

  22.2

  1.2

  5.5

  Shetland Islands

  4.3

  4.3

  0.0

  0.3

  South Ayrshire

  23.0

  24.1

  1.1

  4.9

  South Lanarkshire

  55.9

  58.6

  2.7

  4.9

  Stirling

  16.1

  16.9

  0.8

  4.9

  West Dunbartonshire

  20.6

  22.0

  1.4

  6.7

  West Lothian

  26.2

  27.5

  1.4

  5.2

  Scotland Total

  1,050.2

  1,101.0

  150.8

  14.8

  1 In addition £0.5 million (0.3 per cent.) is being transferred from local to central training

  Salmon
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the procedures adopted in Norway to deal with infectious salmon anaemic outbreaks. [71439]

  Mr. Macdonald
  ISA has been present in Norway since the mid–1980s, and new outbreaks of the disease have persisted in recent years. The Norwegian authorities require fish to be withdrawn from sea cages when a specified level of mortality has been reached. In other respects their controls are similar to those applied in the UK, notably the requirement for infected farms to be fallowed for up to 6 months. The Secretary of State continues to believe that the eradication of the current outbreak of ISA in Scottish waters is a realistic and desirable objective, and current measures are directed to that end, in line with EU legislation. The Norwegian authorities have been very helpful in offering information and advice, and regular contact is being maintained.

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

  Closed Circuit Television (Witnesses)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases at(a) the Sheriff Court and (b) the High Court closed circuit television equipment has been employed in the examination of vulnerable witnesses in each of the past seven years; and if he will make a statement. [70250]

  Mr. McLeish
  Figures shown in the table are for the use of closed circuit television equipment in the relatively small number of cases which proceeded following successful application. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  High Court

  Sheriff Court

  19911,2

  0

  0

  19921

  8

  1

  19931,3

  5

  2

  1994

  3

  6

  1995

  1

  4

  1996

  2

  0

  1997

  5

  0

  1998

  3

  7

  1Edinburgh and Glasgow only

  2October to December

  3January to May

  649
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sheriff courts which are equipped with closed circuit television; and if he will make a statement. [70249]

  Mr. McLeish
  The sheriff courts which are equipped with closed circuit television are:

  Aberdeen

  Airdrie

  Edinburgh

  Falkirk

  Glasgow

  Greenock.

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

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) of 9 February 1999,Official Report, column 170, on Scottish Enterprise, if he will ensure that a copy of the letter from the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise is placed in the Library. [71325]

  Mr. Dewar
  A copy of the letter from the Scottish Enterprise Chairman will be placed in the Library in due course. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amount spent by Scottish Enterprise on graduate placement schemes in the most recent year for which figures are available. [71385]

  Mr. Dewar
  Expenditure on the delivery of graduate placement schemes is an operational matter for the Scottish Enterprise network. I have asked the Scottish Enterprise Chairman to write to the hon. Member. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total cost to Public funds of the Metropolitan police in 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [72144]

  Mr. Straw
  The Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District has estimated that net revenue expenditure for the Metropolitan police for 1999–2000 will be £1,880,068,000 and he intends to issue precepts which would result in a council tax for police purposes of £77.44 for a property in valuation Band D.

  I have discussed this with representatives of local authorities in the Metropolitan police district.

  I have informed the Receiver that I am content with the estimates and the proposed precept.
  650
  In Inner London, the Receiver's precepts cover also the Inner London Magistrates Courts Service and the Inner London Probation Service. His proposals would result in council taxes for these services of £6.40 and £8.78 respectively for a property in valuation Band D.

  Compared with the current year, the proposed precepts would result in an increase in the Receiver's council tax of 5.2 per cent. in Inner London and 9.5 per cent. in the rest of the Metropolitan police district.

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give further details about the operation of the asylum seeker support arrangements for which provision is made in Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Bill. [72145]

  Mr. Straw
  On 17 February, I will place in the Library a draft Process Manual which describes the way the Home Office proposes to discharge its responsibilities for supporting asylum seekers, and what they may expect. The draft Manual will be revised and may be expanded as more detailed elements of the scheme are designed and settled. Once its policy is in final form, it will be sub-edited into clearer English.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the towns and cities where accommodation will be provided for asylum seekers under the terms of the Immigration and Asylum Bill; what estimate he has made of the cost of such accommodation; how many places will be made available; what kind of accommodation will be provided; what standards will be required; and if he will make a statement. [71670]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No towns or cities have been identified at this stage. Asylum seekers will be dispersed to cluster areas. No cluster areas have yet been designated, but the intention is that such areas would have available accommodation (without resorting to sink estates) and placements would take account of the value of linking to existing communities and the support of voluntary and community groups.

  No estimate has been made of the cost of the accommodation alone. As a result of the comprehensive spending review provision of £350 million in 1999–2000, £300 million in 2000–01 and £250 million in 2001–02 was added to the Home Office baseline to cover the overall asylum support costs. The project team which has been set up to take forward the asylum support provisions in the Immigration and Asylum Bill are currently considering the development of cluster areas, the amount and type of accommodation which will be needed, and associated standards.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in considering the cases of those applicants for political asylum who entered the country prior to July 1993 indicating how many cases had been(a) considered, (b) granted indefinite leave to remain and (c) personally interviewed; what checks are made on whether an applicant is a genuine refugee; and if he will make a statement. [71671]
  651
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information on the outcome of asylum applications made before 1 July 1993 was given in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Coleman) on 1 February 1999,Official Report, column 422.

  Where these cases are dealt with under the measures announced in July 1998 the substantive asylum claim is not considered. However, the cases of applicants who do not qualify to be considered under the backlog clearance measures, or who claim that they have been disadvantaged by the grant of indefinite leave rather than asylum, will be considered in the normal way against the criteria in the 1951 United Nations Convention.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made in considering the cases of those applicants for political asylum who made applications between 1 July 1993 and 31 December 1995. [71669]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  About 88,0001 applications for asylum were made between 1 July 1993 and 31 December 1995. The status of those cases which had been decided at 31 December 1998 is set out in the table.

  An estimated 20,000 cases remained undecided, but this estimate is likely to be reduced following a recent count of Immigration and Nationality Directorate's outstanding work.

  1Excluding dependents.

  Percentage of total decisions1

  Granted Asylum

  6

  Granted Exceptional Leave

  13

  Refused after full consideration

  69

  Refused on 3rd country grounds

  4

  Paragraph 340 refusal2

  8

  1Percentages are estimates rounded to the nearest whole number.

  2Paragraph 340 of the Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support an asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assumptions he has made as to when his proposed new system for supporting asylum seekers as set out in the Immigration and Asylum Bill will come into operation; how many staff will be recruited to operate the system and from where they will be drawn; what will the likely cost of the new system; what will be its budget; and if he will make a statement. [71726]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Our current plans are that the new asylum support system will come into effect on 1 April 2000. But much depends on the progress of the Immigration and Asylum Bill through Parliament, the necessary planning arrangements, and the provision of support services.

  The Home Office is currently considering the number of staff required in the Asylum Support Directorate, which will be the new body set up to administer the new asylum support arrangements.

  Information on the source of those staff, likely costs and the budget is not known at this stage because it is to some extent dependent on Parliamentary progress.
  652
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct checks at(a) Heathrow and (b) Dover, to determine how many political asylum seekers are now arriving in Britain without documents; and if he will make a statement. [71727]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Comprehensive immigration checks are already in place at Heathrow and Dover. All arriving passengers are examined by an Immigration Officer and are required to hold valid travel documents including visas where necessary. In addition to normal immigration controls there are regular surveillance operations at Heathrow and Dover.

  The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 is also applied and financial charges under that Act are levied on carriers who bring inadequately documented passengers to the United Kingdom. Statistics on these passengers are recorded by the Immigration Service.

  Immigration Service
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the impact of the refurbishment works at Lunar House on the operation of the Immigration Service. [71728]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 3 December 1998,Official Report, column 251.

  Freedom of Information Bill
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of work on the draft Freedom of Information Bill. [70864]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) on 10 February 1999,Official Report, columns 257–59.

  Parentline and Childline
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much (a) core and(b) project funding he is providing in the current financial year for (i) Parentline and (ii) Childline; and how much he is providing for Childline's work on bullying in schools. [70707]

  Mr. Boateng
  In the current financial year, the Home Office is providing £108,000 to Parentline to help them expand the service they provide into a national freephone helpline for parents. This is in addition to £25,000 from the Department of Health under their section 64 grants programme and £35,000 funding from the Department for Education and Employment to the National Stepfamilies Association for a joint project with Parentline.

  The Home Office does not fund Childline.

  Asylum and Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the(a) average, and (b) longest time taken by his Department t o grant leave to enter or remain to a person whose asylum appeal had

  653
  been allowed in 1998; and if applicants were entitled to (i) benefits and (ii) family reunion as a refugee pending the grant of such leave. [70718]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that information regarding the time between a final appeal outcome and a subsequent decision to grant leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  A person whose asylum appeal has been allowed is not entitled to benefits of family reunion until leave as a refugee has actually been granted. Once such leave has been granted benefits will be backdated to the date they ceased.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many decisions to deport made under section 3(5)(6) of the Immigration Act 1971 with a right of appeal not limited by section 5 of the Immigration Act 1998 have been(a) made, (b) withdrawn after an appeal against the decision was allowed and (c) withdrawn in other circumstances since the introduction of section 5 of the 1998 Act. [70728]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Section 5 of the Immigration Act 1988, as amended, places certain restrictions on the right of appeal where a decision is taken to make a deportation order against a person under section 3(5)(a) or section 3(5)(aa) of the Immigration Act 1971, or under section 3(5)(c) against a family member of such a person.

  Information at the level of detail requested could be obtained only through the examination of individual records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many final decisions on asylum applications were taken by an officer of administrative officer grade in 1997 and 1998, broken down by (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful applications. [70733]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information on how many final decisions on asylum applications taken by an administrative officer grade in 1997 and 1998 could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact which delays to the development of the new casework system are having on the processing of asylum claims and other services provided by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [70908]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate caseworking operation is at present being reorganised and new ways of working are being introduced as part of the business change and modernisation initiative. The disruption has caused a temporary reduction in service standards and in numbers of casework decisions.

  Under the privately financed contract for the Casework Programme the financial risk of late delivery of elements of the Programme is carried by Siemens Business Services. There is no reason to believe the delay in delivery of the full casework information technology application will reduce casework decisions or service standards over the contract period.
  654

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were removed as illegal entrants in each year from 1993 to date. [70736]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information is given in the table.

  Removals and voluntary departures as a result of illegal entry action, 1993–First Half 1998 1

  Number of persons

  Removed as illegal entrant

  Departed voluntarily2

  1993

  3,410

  380

  1994

  2,740

  550

  1995

  2,570

  590

  1996

  2,860

  540

  1997

  3,690

  820

  19981

  1,990

  420

  1 1998 figures relate to the first half year, 1 January to 30 June.

  2 Persons departing 'voluntarily' after illegal entry action had been initiated against them.

  Note:

  All figures are rounded.

  Leave to Remain Applications
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for further leave to remain have been(a) made in the prescribed form and (b) treated as invalid because they were not made in the prescribed form for each quarter since prescribed forms were introduced. [70729]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 25 November 1996, it has been obligatory for persons wishing to make an application to vary the duration and/or conditions of their leave in the United Kingdom to use the application forms prescribed for this purpose. Statistical information on the total number of applications received was recorded from February 1997 onwards, but this did not record individual categories. Information on the total number of applications received and the number of applications deemed invalid is given in the table. It is not possible to provide a more detailed breakdown between the different types of application forms received.

  Valid applications

  Invalid applications

  1997

  Ql

  18,639

  13,264

  Q2

  20,395

  11,059

  Q3

  23,162

  9,309

  Q4

  29,628

  8,180

  1998

  Ql

  27,115

  6,822

  Q2

  26,858

  5,711

  Q3

  27,563

  4,625

  Q4

  22,904

  3,754

  1 Counting during Quarter 1 did not begin until part way through the quarter

  The figures recorded relate to postal applications only.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on granting family reunion to persons with
  655
  exceptional leave to remain for less than four years in the United Kingdom where they are unable to maintain and accommodate family members. [70734]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  People with less than four years' exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom, whether or not they are able to satisfy the maintenance and accommodation requirements of the Immigration Rules, are not normally allowed to be joined by their pre-existing spouse or minor dependent children under the terms of the family reunion concession.

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain for an indefinite period on the grounds of marriage to a British or settled spouse from(a) women and (b) men were (i) granted and (ii) refused in (x) 1996, (y) 1997 and (z) 1998 to the latest convenient date; and of those refused, for each year, how many were refused because his Department was not satisfied (1) that the couple intended to stay together permanently as husband and wife, (2) that there was adequate accommodation available, (3) that there was adequate maintenance available and (4) other grounds; and of those refused for reason (1), in how many cases domestic violence was alleged. [70710]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information is given in the table. Allegations of domestic violence are not separately recorded.

  Grants and refusals of applications for indefinite leave to remain on the grounds of marriage 1996–98

  1996

  1997

  19981

  Women

  Grants

  17,570

  16,160

  18,300

  Refusals:

  No intention to live together

  380

  250

  160

  Other reasons

  10

  10

  20

  Men

  Grants

  11,900

  10,700

  12,900

  Refusals:

  No intention to live together

  430

  190

  160

  Other reasons

  20

  20

  10

  1 Provisional

  Pagers (Security Service)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what controls exist to regulate the interception by MI5 of signals from pagers. [71492]

  Mr. Straw
  In accordance with section 5(b) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, members of the Security Service may, in the course of their duty as Crown Servants, use wireless telegraphy apparatus to obtain information as to the contents, sender or addressee of any message sent by means of pager. They may do so only in the performance of the Service's functions as laid down in the Security Service Act 1989, and as with any other kind of information obtained by the Service, the disclosure of the product from such interception is regulated by the terms of that Act. In addition, the interception of such messages is subject to the mechanisms established by the Act for dealing with complaints.
  656

  Au Pairs
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter his Department's recommendation of £35 to £40 as a reasonable weekly allowance for au pairs working a maximum of 25 hours under rule 88 of the Immigration Rules. [71735]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  With effect from 1 April, overseas nationals living in the United Kingdom as au pairs will be subject to the National Minimum Wage provisions.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage members of the Afro-Caribbean community to register to vote in elections. [70133]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Government carry out an annual advertising campaign to encourage all electors to register, but particularly targeted at the young and members of ethnic minorities. The Home Office also has regular contact with Operation Black Vote. In addition, my Working Party on Electoral Procedures has been considering how to maximise registration, and will shortly be issuing guidance to electoral registration officers.

  Human Rights Act 1998
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have for a public information campaign about the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998. [70134]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We are considering this, alongside other priorities, and will announce our decision as soon as we can.

  Visas (Teachers)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many working holidaymaker visas were issued to overseas teachers in the last three years for which figures are available; [71440]

  (2) how many working holidaymaker visas are currently issued to overseas teachers; and how many of these are known to be staying in (a) London and (b)the rest of the United Kingdom. [71441]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information requested is not available in the form requested.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71449]

  Mr. Straw
  The information for my Department and its agencies is as follows:

  Year

  Home Office

  Prison Service

  Forensic Science Service

  1990

  475

  —

  1991

  1452

  —

  1992

  340

  —

  1993

  319

  56

  657

  Year

  Home Office

  Prison Service

  Forensic Science Service

  1994

  314

  68

  1995

  308

  61

  1996

  404

  57

  1997

  386

  67

  11

  1998

  524

  73

  17

  1 Figures include any press releases issued for the Passport Agency and Forensic Science Service (FSS) until April 1997. Thereafter, FSS figures are shown separately.

  I shall ask the Chief Executives of the non-departmental bodies to write to the hon. Member shortly with information about any press releases they may have issued.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71464]

  Mr. Straw
  Rules governing the work of the Government Information and Communication Service are laid down in the Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing and issuing of press releases is given in the Working Guide for Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the Library.

  The primary costs of issuing press releases relate to their electronic distribution, which is carried out through the Central Office of Information, and postage. The estimated total of these costs is £36,124. No central record of other costs which may be involved (e.g. faxing, e-mail etc.) is available.

  Asylum and Immigration (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1995; and how many have resulted in convictions. [70735]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Section 8 of the 1996 Act came into force in January 1997. No prosecutions were brought in either that year or in 1998.

  Our general approach towards the enforcement of this section remains as in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 27 October 1998, Official Report, column 119.

  Marriages of Convenience
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the scale of abuse of the immigration system by those entering into marriages as a means of obtaining settlement in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [71654]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Precise figures to reflect the use of a sham marriage to obtain settlement in this country are not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. The perception of some agencies most involved in tackling this abuse is that it is considerable and widespread.
  658

  Appointments (Police Authorities)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police authority(a) the number of names submitted to him for appointment as independent members to serve from April 1999, (b) the number of existing police authority members included in those names, (c) the number of names returned by him to the police authority concerned and (d) the number of existing members of police authorities included in the list returned by him. [71191]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information is provided in the table for the 37 police authorities (established under section 3 of the Police Act 1996) to which I have returned names so far. I have added column(e) to show the number of independent member vacancies for each police authority.

  Police authority

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  Avon and Somerset

  12

  2

  6

  1

  3

  Bedfordshire

  20

  2

  10

  2

  5

  Cambridgeshire

  20

  3

  10

  2

  5

  Cheshire

  20

  2

  10

  2

  5

  Cumbria

  16

  4

  8

  2

  5

  Derbyshire

  11

  2

  5

  1

  3

  Devon and Cornwall

  20

  2

  10

  2

  5

  Dorset

  20

  5

  10

  3

  5

  Durham

  16

  3

  8

  2

  4

  Dyfed-Powys

  23

  5

  11

  3

  6

  Essex

  16

  3

  8

  2

  4

  Gloucestershire

  20

  2

  10

  2

  5

  Greater Manchester

  24

  3

  12

  2

  6

  Gwent

  20

  4

  10

  3

  5

  Hampshire

  12

  3

  6

  2

  3

  Hertfordshire

  20

  4

  10

  2

  5

  Humberside

  16

  3

  8

  2

  4

  Kent

  16

  3

  8

  2

  4

  Lancashire

  12

  1

  6

  1

  3

  Leicestershire

  20

  2

  10

  2

  5

  Norfolk

  20

  5

  10

  3

  5

  Northamptonshire

  19

  4

  9

  4

  5

  Northumbria

  20

  3

  10

  2

  5

  North Wales

  20

  3

  10

  2

  5

  North Yorkshire

  16

  3

  8

  1

  4

  Nottinghamshire

  16

  3

  8

  2

  4

  South Wales

  16

  3

  8

  2

  4

  South Yorkshire

  20

  5

  10

  3

  5

  Staffordshire

  20

  3

  10

  3

  5

  Surrey

  20

  4

  10

  2

  5

  Sussex

  16

  3

  8

  2

  4

  Thames Valley

  20

  3

  10

  2

  5

  Warwickshire

  10

  1

  5

  1

  4

  West Mercia

  20

  5

  10

  3

  5

  West Midlands

  16

  3

  8

  2

  4

  West Yorkshire

  20

  5

  10

  3

  5

  Wiltshire

  20

  3

  10

  2

  5

  Homosexual Advance Defence
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the first report of the New South Wales Attorney General's Department's Homosexual Advance Defence Working Party; and if he will make a statement. [71084]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Final report of the Attorney General of New South Wales (Australia) Department's review of the Homosexual Advance Defence was issued in September 1998. The report concluded that it must be a standard of the law that claims of non-violent homosexual advances can neither excuse fatal violence nor mitigate
  659
  any offence of violence. It makes a number of recommendations, including legislative reform to exclude a non-violent homosexual advance from forming the basis of the defence of provocation. It is not clear whether the Government of New South Wales have accepted this recommendation.

  We have no current plans to review the law on provocation as it applies in England and Wales.

  Immigration Applications
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average applicants(a) for leave to remain for a year on the grounds of marriage, (b) for indefinite leave to remain on grounds of marriage, (c) for indefinite leave to remain as a child of a parent or parents settled here, (d) for indefinite leave to remain as the parent of a child or children settled here,

  Average length of time (in months) taken to decide applications

  applications decided in quarter ending:

  March

  June

  September

  December

  March

  June

  September

  December

  Application made for:

  1997

  1997

  1997

  1997

  1998

  1998

  1998

  1998

  Leave to remain for a year on the grounds of marriage

  9

  9

  8

  8

  10

  10

  8

  5

  Indefinite leave to remain on grounds of marriage

  2

  3

  3

  3

  4

  4

  4

  2

  Indefinite leave to remain as a child of parent(s) settled here1

  4

  6

  5

  5

  5

  7

  6

  5

  Indefinite leave to remain as the parent of child(ren) settled here1

  4

  4

  4

  5

  5

  5

  7

  5

  Extension of stay as a student

  4

  4

  3

  3

  3

  3

  4

  2

  Asylum when the person was recognised as a refugee (pre-1993 Act applications)2

  56

  58

  61

  62

  66

  69

  79

  81

  Asylum when the person was recognised as a refugee (post-1993 applications)2

  22

  22

  22

  20

  21

  19

  19

  20

  Asylum when the person was granted exceptional leave to enter or remain (pre-1993 act applications)2

  63

  73

  73

  79

  85

  85

  87

  90

  Asylum when the person was granted exceptional leave to enter or remain (post-1993 act applications)2

  12

  15

  14

  14

  13

  15

  13

  15

  Naturalisation as a British citizen on the grounds of residence

  16

  17

  19

  21

  20

  21

  22

  21

  Naturalisation as a British citizen on the grounds of marriage to a British citizen

  15

  16

  18

  20

  20

  21

  21

  20

  Registration of a minor as a British citizen

  7

  7

  7

  7

  8

  9

  7

  7

  1 Excluding decisions where indefinite leave to remain was refused

  2 ie The asylum and immigration appeals act 1993

  Asylum Detainees
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many people detained under the Immigration Act powers he has (i) demanded and (ii) received the expenses of detention under(a) Schedule 2 paragraph 19(1) and (b) Schedule 2 paragraph 20(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 from the carrier, in each year since 1993 to the latest convenient date in 1998; and what is the annual total of moneys received. [70709]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Records show that for each of the financial years between 1 April 1993 and 31 March 1998, the Immigration Service demanded payment for:

  7,219 people in 1993–94

  5,226 people in 1994–95

  10,868 people in 1995–96

  15,182 people in 1996–97

  19,126 people in 1997–98

  Payments were received for:

  6,495 people in 1993–94

  4,506 people in 1994–95

  660
  (e) for an extension of stay as a student, (f) for asylum when the person was recognised as a refugee, (g) for asylum when the person was granted exceptional leave to enter or remain, (h) for naturalisation as a British citizen on the grounds of residence, (j) for naturalisation as a British citizen on the grounds of marriage to a British citizen, (k) for registration of a minor as a British citizen, whose applications were decided at the end of (i) March 1997, (ii) June 1997, (iii) September 1997, (iv) December 1997, (v) March 1998, (vi) June 1998, (vii) September 1998 and (viii) December 1998 had waited since applying; and how long a person applying in January 1999 in each of these categories may expect to wait for a decision. [71414]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information is given in the table. No target times have been set for the completion of applications in these categories made during January 1999.

  9,796 people in 1995–96

  13,537 people in 1996–97

  13,168 people in 1997–98.

  The figures shown are for Schedule 2 paragraph 19(1) and 20(1) cases. A separate breakdown between these categories could be produced only at disproportionate cost. The monies received for each of the financial years shown is as follows:

  £767,760 in 1993–94

  £291,063 in 1994–95

  £373,101 in 1995–96

  £709,199 in 1996–97

  £1,360,690 in 1997–98

  EU Nationals
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of each European Union country have been given temporary admission on arrival in the UK, in each year from 1993 to the latest date for which figures are available. [70745]
  661
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is available for the 12 largest ports, and is given in the table. The data relate to persons whose European Union nationality was initially in doubt but later found or assumed to be correct.

  European Union Nationals given temporary admission

  Year

  Nationality

  Number1

  1993

  France

  1

  Greece

  1

  United kingdom

  12

  14

  1994

  united kingdom

  8

  1995

  Italy

  1

  Portugal

  3

  United kingdom

  24

  28

  1996

  France

  2

  Greece

  1

  Italy

  1

  Portugal

  6

  United kingdom

  10

  20

  1997

  france

  6

  Greece

  1

  Italy

  2

  Netherlands

  1

  United kingdom

  2

  18

  1998

  France

  1

  Italy

  1

  Netherlands

  1

  Portugal

  2

  United kingdom

  13

  18

  1 Data relate to Heathrow (4 terminals), Gatwick (2), Manchester (2), Dover east, Harwich, Stansted, Waterloo.

  Airside Transit Visas
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people of which nationalities required to hold an airside transit visa were(a) granted and (b) refused such visas in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998. [70737]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information by nationality is not centrally recorded. The available information, which is in the Library, is by region and relates to the British diplomatic post where the visa was applied for, which is not necessarily in the country of which the applicant is a national. Data for 1996 and 1997 are given in the table. No data are yet available for 1998.

  Grants and refusals of applications for direct transit visas, by geographical of place of application,1996–97

  1996

  1997

  Region

  Issued

  Refused

  Issued

  Refused

  Equatorial Africa

  2,330

  150

  2,670

  100

  Southern Africa

  70

  100

  90

  1—

  Near East/North Africa

  40

  1—

  70

  10

  Middle East

  4,950

  40

  7,120

  100

  Far East

  1,930

  20

  800

  20

  South Asia

  860

  20

  1,490

  20

  South East Asia

  650

  2—

  220

  2—

  Australasia/South Pacific

  10

  2—

  20

  2—

  Western Europe

  3,230

  10

  3,570

  20

  Central Europe/FSU

  380

  1—

  280

  10

  662

  Grants and refusals of applications for direct airside transit visas, by geographical region of place of application, 1996–97

  1996

  1997

  Region

  Issued

  Refused

  Issued

  Refused

  Southern Europe

  2,040

  20

  2,980

  10

  North America

  6,130

  1—

  9,380

  10

  West Indies and Atlantic

  270

  10

  240

  10

  Latin America

  310

  2—

  100

  1—

  Global Totals

  23,200

  280

  29,000

  300

  1Negligible(i.e. five or fewer)

  2Nil

  Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought under the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 regarding conspiracy in this country to commit terrorist attacks abroad. [70750]

  Mr. Straw
  Section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998–Conspiracy to commit offences outside the United Kingdom came into effect on 4 September 1998. Information on prosecutions from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database will begin to become available in the Spring of this year.

  Mounted Police
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police forces which have mounted sections; how many horses there are in each case; and what plans he has to ensure that present numbers are maintained.[71042]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information on police mounted sections is not collected centrally. Under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, the allocation of resources within a force is decided locally by the chief constable. The decision whether to maintain a mounted section is an operational matter for the chief constable to decide.

  Drugs Misuse Programme
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of his Department's budget has been allocated to implementing the Government's Drugs Misuse Programme. [70806]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In 1998–99, estimated expenditure on specific programmes to tackle the misuse of drugs represented about 0.65 per cent. of total central expenditure in the Home Office. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement this figure will rise to over 1.5 per cent. in 1999–2000 with the allocation of an additional £34 million.

  Mediation UK
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department received an application for funding from Mediation UK; what evaluation he has made of it; and what action he proposes to take. [70206]

  Mr. Boateng
  An application for funding by Mediation UK was received by the Home Office in September 1998 and was duly considered. It was concluded that, when compared with some 70 competing bids, a sufficient case
  663
  had not been made for support. The Director of Mediation was informed of the decision last month. A number of right hon. and hon. Members have since made representations to the Home Office. These will be considered and taken into account. I have agreed to meet the Director of Mediation UK to discuss future funding.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 December 1998,Official Report, column 604, if he will list the expenditure not included in his answer incurred (a) by task forces and review bodies, (b) by focus groups, (c) on market research and (d) for publications and publicity; and if he will list the bodies which incurred the expenditure. [71011]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that the systems in use by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [71091]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate information technology (IT) systems have been audited for millennium compliance. A programme of upgrade, replacing or decommissioning different systems is in progress and on course to ensure that all necessary IT support continues into the year 2000.

  South Wales Police Force
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are employed by South Wales Police; and what the figure was in May 1997. [71296]

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

  Total officer strength

  30 September 1998

  2,946

  30 September 1997

  2,990

  30 March 1997

  2,976

  The figures exclude officers seconded to National Crime Squad, or central services such as National Criminal Intelligence Service and National Police Training.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Petrol Taxation
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the average retail price of petrol per litre in each country of the European Union, the tax element in these prices and the proportion of the final price accounted for by taxation in each case. [70762]
  664
  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The information requested for unleaded petrol prices in mid-December 1998 is as follows:

  Average price. (pence per litre)

  Total

  Of which taxes

  Percentage of tax

  United Kingdom

  63.9

  53.5

  83.7

  Austria

  54.7

  38.2

  69.9

  Belgium

  58.5

  45.7

  78.2

  Denmark

  56.3

  43.0

  76.4

  Finland

  61.0

  50.3

  82.5

  France

  62.7

  52.1

  83.1

  Germany

  55.4

  42.8

  77.3

  Greece

  41.1

  28.3

  68.8

  Ireland

  51.3

  35.5

  69.1

  Italy

  62.0

  47.4

  76.4

  Luxembourg

  42.6

  28.9

  67.9

  Netherlands

  64.3

  49.9

  77.6

  Portugal

  54.9

  40.8

  74.4

  Spain

  44.1

  31.7

  71.8

  Sweden

  58.5

  44.7

  76.4

  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the representations which his Department has received objecting to the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment; and if he will make a statement. [71320]

  Mr. Wilson
  Negotiations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment are no longer taking place. The Department received a number of representations during the course of the negotiations, which we took carefully into account.

  Postal Charges
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations(a) his Department and (b) the Royal Mail undertook with the Periodical Publishers Association concerning changes to postal charges announced on 14 January; and what notice was given of the proposed changes. [71109]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My Department has had no consultations with the Periodical Publishers Association about the proposed postal tariff changes, which are primarily a matter for the Post Office in consultation with the Post Office Users National Council. I understand from the Post Office that they are in regular contact with major trade associations about long term strategy for postal services.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the total number of staff(a) in his Department and (b) in each of the agencies for which he is responsible and their location in (i) London, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) each of the English regions. [70471]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: Information on the topic is published in "Civil Service Statistics 1998", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
  665

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he will publish detailed guidance on the National Minimum Wage Regulations. [71737]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  A preliminary guidance booklet is already available and we have set up a telephone helpline to deal with specific inquiries. Definitive guidance on the National Minimum Wage will be published shortly.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received in response to the consultation on the draft National Minimum Wage Regulations. [71738]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Department of Trade and Industry received some 300 written responses to the consultation exercise on the draft National Minimum Wage Regulations. In addition, officials from the Department also met representatives from a number of interested bodies, including the CBI, TUC, EEF, NFU, LGMB, UNISON, GMB, FRES and NESTOR.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated date of commencement for the National Minimum Wage Regulations. [71736]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The National Minimum Wage Regulations were laid before Parliament today and take effect on 1 April.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors underlie the delay in laying before the House the National Minimum Wage Regulations. [71731]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  There has been no delay.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when the drafting of the National Minimum Wage Regulations was completed; [71734]

  (2) on what date he intends to lay the National Minimum Wage Regulations. [71733]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The drafting of the National Minimum Wage Regulations has been completed and the Regulations were laid before Parliament for approval today.

  South Asia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the way in which the UK is advancing its policies on sustainable development through international trade with South Asia. [70998]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The Department of Trade and Industry, in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development (DfID), consistently work together with the Governments of South Asia to promote sustainable development in the region through both international trade and overseas investment.

  Trade liberalisation and increased international trade have also enabled developing countries such as those in South Asia to derive more benefit from access to overseas markets and from inward investment. This in turn increases prosperity and enables developing countries to raise their standards of environmental and social
  666
  protection. We will continue to support actively this process both bilaterally and through international fora such as the WTO and EU where we work to enhance access for trade from South Asia.

  The UK is a major trading and investment partner for the countries of South Asia. An area critical to sustainable development is that of infrastructure. In this regard the Department works closely with the private sector and other bodies, such as DfID, the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Commonwealth Development Corporation, to maximise the UK's contribution to the development of South Asia.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons he was not able to provide a figure for expenditure on public opinion research in his answer to the hon. Member for Bath of 28 January 1999,Official Report, column 315; and for what reasons this did not apply to his answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) of 17 February 1998, Official Report, columns 567–69. [70669]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: Information on the cost of public opinion research is not separately identified. The list of surveys and cost given in the answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 17 February 1998, Official Report, columns 567–69 included all surveys which involved an element of public opinion gathering but it is not possible separately to identify the costs of that element.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each web site (i) the topics covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each web site for each of the next three years. [70965]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: Management of the web sites of my Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies, and Government Offices for the Regions is devolved to those with responsibility for particular areas. The costs associated with setting up and on-going operation of sites are not held or collected centrally and therefore the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The same is true both for future expenditure plans and for information on final costs versus initial budget estimates.

  In terms of topics covered, the DTI site and associated sites now offer information on nearly every area of the Department's responsibilities and the central DTI site (those within the Web domain "www.dti.gov.uk") received an average of just over 3,000,000 hits per month over the last six months. Again, hits for all the sites for which my Department is responsible could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 1999,Official Report, column 315, if he will list the expenditure not included in his answer incurred by (a) his

  667
  agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (b) the Central Office of Information for relevant work carried out for his Department. [71018]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: Expenditure on direct mail and advertising incurred through the COI and not included in my previous answer was £26,000 and £1.14 million respectively.

  Chief Executives of the Department's Executive Agencies have been asked to write to the hon. Member direct. Expenditure for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 1999,Official Report, column 315, if he will list the expenditure not included in his answer incurred (a) by task forces and review bodies, (b) by focus groups, (c) on market research and (d) for publications and publicity; and if he will list the bodies which incurred the expenditure. [71019]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: Information on expenditure by task forces, review bodies and focus groups is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Expenditure from DTI' s centrally-managed budgets for publications and all other forms of publicity, except advertising and direct mail, since May 1997 has been £6.59 million.

  Privatised Research Establishments (Sale)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what restrictions apply to the sale of privatised research establishments to new owners. [69663]

  Mr. Battle
  Because research establishments provide a wide range of outputs and services, Government considered the details of each potential sale on a case by case basis. Restrictions relating to the re-sale of privatised researched establishments will depend on the original terms of sale of each privatised research establishment.

  St. Kilda
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the potential impact on the natural environment around St. Kilda following the decision to grant a licence for oil exploration. [70990]

  Mr. Battle
  The advice of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC, the Government's statutory advisers on environmental matters) was fully taken into consideration in the decision about which blocks should be offered for licence in the 17th Round of offshore petroleum licensing. In the light of the JNCC's advice, no blocks were offered for licence within 25 miles of St. Kilda. In the event, the nearest block for which a licence was awarded is 45 miles from the island.

  Any deep drillings, as well as developments for the commercial extraction of oil or gas and the construction of pipelines, are also subject to project-specific consent under the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1998. These implement the Environmental Impact Assessment
  668
  Directive (85/337/EEC) across the whole of the UK Continental Shelf. They require that before making any decision about the granting of consent for specific petroleum projects, the Secretary of State must consider the likely environmental impact of those projects. Under the Regulations, the JNCC and the relevant fisheries departments are consulted about all applications for consent and where they recommend that a full environmental statement be required, that statement must be made available to the public for their comments and the Secretary of State must take into consideration any comments when making his decision about consent for the relevant project.

  Companies carrying out seismic surveys on the UK Continental Shelf are required to follow guidelines produced by the JNCC to reduce the possible impact of noise during surveys. Reports of cetaceans sighted during these surveys are published by the JNCC annually.

  Assisted Area Status (Ystradgynlais)
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will designate the Ystradgynlais area in Powys as having assisted area status under derogation 92/3c. [71323]

  Mr. Wills
  No decisions have been taken on the review, but careful consideration will be given to the needs of all areas.

  Business Excellence Model
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Government policy on the use of the Business Excellence Model in SMEs. [70150]

  Mr. Wills
  The Government are supporting the use of the Business Excellence Model as a framework for businesses to adopt a systematic approach to business improvement. DTI is a founder member of the British Quality Foundation, which is responsible for developing and disseminating the model in the UK. DTI best practice materials have been developed around this model and also promote its use. Furthermore, the Department is encouraging Business Links to use the Business Excellence Model in their work with SMEs and it will also form part of the recently announced CBI/DTI "Fit for the Future" campaign.

  Unsolicited Faxes
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects details to be announced of the scheme to enable corporate subscribers to opt out of receiving unsolicited direct marketing faxes. [71068]

  Mr. Wills
  Under the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) (Direct Marketing) Regulations 1998, the Office of Telecommunications (OFTEL) is responsible for establishing a scheme to enable corporate subscribers to opt out from receiving unsolicited direct marketing faxes. The Director General
  669
  of Telecommunications has issued invitations to tender to run the scheme, and expects to award a contract at the end of March. The successful tenderer will announce details of the scheme shortly thereafter.

  Unsolicited Telephone Calls
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to regulate unsolicited direct marketing telephone calls to private individuals. [71069]

  Mr. Wills
  The Government have addressed this issue in the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) (Direct Marketing) Regulations 1998, which come into force on 1 May. The Regulations establish an "opt-out" scheme for individual subscribers (private individuals and sole traders in the UK, as well as partnerships in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) who do not wish to receive unsolicited direct marketing calls. The Office of Telecommunications (OFTEL) is responsible for establishing the opt-out scheme. The Director General of Telecommunications has issued invitations to tender to run the scheme, and expects to award a contract at the end of March.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Legal Services
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the London barristers' chambers and (b) the London solicitors' firms that have performed services for his Department (i) since I May 1997 and (ii) in the equivalent period preceding that date, indicating the remuneration paid in each particular case. [70036]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General appointed Philip Sales as First Junior Treasury Counsel (Common Law) and Jonathon Crowe as First Junior Treasury Counsel (Chancery) to advise and represent the Government in their important civil cases. In addition, the Attorney-General maintains at present two London panels of junior Counsel whom departments are expected to use for the rest of the government's civil litigation. The panels currently comprise 103 banisters from 42 different sets of chambers. The Attorney-General will shortly appoint a third panel of very junior banisters. The Attorney-General's individual nomination is required before a barrister who is not one of the approved panels can be instructed to appear for the government in litigation.

  DSS executive NDPBs

  Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority

  Pensions Compensation Board (PCB)

  Voluntary

  Statutory Requirement

  Voluntary

  Statutory Requirement

  Have a statutory base?

  yes

  yes

  Admit members of public to all board or committee meetings?

  Not practicable

  —

  1Not practicable

  —

  Hold public meetings?

  No

  —

  No

  —

  Have lay or consumer representatives on their boards?

  2—

  —

  2—

  —

  Operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure?

  3Yes

  —

  —

  4Yes

  Subject to investigation by the parliamentary commissioner?

  —

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  670
  Departments may use firms of solicitors in addition to the Treasury Solicitor and their Departmental legal advisers, for example where the relevant expertise lies in the private sector. The relationship is subject to the usual confidentiality which operates between lawyer and client.

  On 1 September 1995 the DSS established framework agreements for the supply of legal services with three firms of solicitors—Bird & Bird, Dibb Lupton & Allsop, and Wansboroughs Willey Hargrave. Under that framework agreement the DSS HQ and its Agencies have used those firms for major information technology contracts, some of which are continuing. However specifying sums of money paid to them would involve disproportionate costs.

  The framework agreements have recently been re-let, the successful solicitors being Bird & Bird, Dibb Lupton & Allsop, Simmonds & Simmonds and Eversheds.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) 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; [69979]

  (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; [69959]

  (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; [69830]

  (4) 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; [69910]

  (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. [69944]

  Mr. Timms
  This Department sponsors two executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs). The information for these bodies is set out in the table.
  671

  DSS executive NDPBs

  Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority

  Pensions Compensation Board (PCB)

  Voluntary

  Statutory Requirement

  Voluntary

  Statutory Requirement

  Publish minutes of meetings?

  No

  —

  No

  —

  Publish agendas and documents for those meetings?

  No

  —

  No

  —

  Publish a register of members' interests?

  5Yes

  —

  5Yes

  —

  1 PCB meets when there is a claim for compensation and will potentially be considering commercially confidential information. The board may hold oral hearings to gather information and these could be held publicly if parties agree.

  2The OPRA and PCB boards are made up of representatives nominated, according to the requirement of the legislation governing the bodies, from various parts of the pensions industry, and organisations such as the TUC and CBI. However, the board members do not serve in any type of representative capacity, and in discharging their functions each board member is required to set aside any vested interests.

  3 OPRA'S three-stage complaints procedure is explained in their leaflet 'putting things right—a guide to how we handle complaints'. Complaints which are not resolved either by a complaints officer (stage 1) or the chairman (stage 2) are referred to an independent complaints adjudicator.

  4 PCB'S complaints procedure is explained in 'the pensions compensation board (determinations and review procedures) regulations 1997'

  5 Both the OPRA and PCB boards have agreed codes of conduct based on the model code issued by cabinet office. A register of board members' interests is held and updated on a regular basis. Copies of the register are available from the secretary of each board.

  This Department sponsors five advisor NDPBs. The information for these bodies is in the table.

  DSS Advisory NDPBs

  Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions (CACWP)

  Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board (DLAAB)

  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC)

  Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC)

  War Pensions Committees (WPC)

  Admit members of public to all board or committee meetings?

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Hold Public meetings?

  No

  1No

  No

  No

  No

  Have lay or consumer representatives on their Boards?2

  3Yes

  4Yes

  5—

  6—

  3Yes

  Publish minutes of meetings?

  7Yes

  No

  8Yes

  No

  9Yes

  Publish agendas and documents for those meetings?

  7Yes

  No

  No

  No

  9Yes

  Publish a register of members' interests?

  10Yes

  10Yes

  10Yes

  10Yes

  10Yes

  1 DLAAB meets representatives from groups involved in working with and for people with disabilities. Through this contact the Board is able to gain a different perspective of the needs of people affected by various conditions and take into account their concerns.

  2 These activities are undertaken by a statutory requirement, all other activities are undertaken on a voluntarily basis.

  3 The legislation which governs CACWP and the WPCs requires there to be representatives of ex-service organisations or persons with ex-service experience.

  4 The legislation which governs DLAAB requires there to be at least one member with personal experience of caring for disabled person, and six or more who are disabled persons.

  5 The legislation that governs IIAC requires that the members other than the chairman shall include an equal number of persons appointed by the Secretary of State, after consultation with such organisations as he thinks fit, to represent employers and employed earners respectively.

  6 The legislation that governs SSAC requires that one member must be appointed after consultation with organisations representative of workers, one after consultation with organisations representative of employers, one after consultation with the head of DHSS Northern Ireland, and one member must have experience of work among chronically sick and disabled people and should preferably but not necessarily be a chronically sick or disabled person. However, these members do not act in a representative capacity.

  7 Both the minutes and the agenda/associated papers of CACWP meetings are publicly available. They are circulated to a wider audience than just Committee members, i.e.: all War Pensions Committees and certain ex-service organisations not represented on CACWP. Copies are also available to others on request.

  8 A summary of meetings will be made available on IIAC's website.

  9 Both the minutes and agenda/associated papers of WPC meetings are available on request.

  10 Each Board have agreed a code of conduct, and complied a register of Board members' interests that is available for public inspection.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the additional costs which would be incurred by including in his package of measures to tackle pensioner poverty the annual uprating of the Minimum Income Guarantee in line with average earnings in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [71481]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]The additional costs of uprating the Minimum Income 672
  Guarantee in line with average earnings is estimated to be £260 million in 2000–01 and £560 million in 2001–02.

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  2. The figures are based on forecasts of pensioners in receipt of Income Support consistent with estimates provided for the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings he estimates will be achieved in
  673
  the social security budget for 1999–2000 as a result of the introduction of the national minimum wage within (a)the northern region and (b) the city of Sunderland. [70369]

  Mr. Darling
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Estimates of the effect on DSS benefit expenditure of the introduction of the national minimum wage

  £ million (1999/2000)

  Benefit

  Savings

  Income Support

  10

  Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based)

  10

  Housing Benefit

  110

  Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit

  185

  Council Tax Benefit

  25

  Total

  340

  Notes:

  1. Savings figures are calculated by raising the earnings of current benefit recipients to the level of the National Minimum Wage. No other factors are taken into account.

  2. Estimates are based on the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey, imposing the 1999–2000 tax and benefit structure, assuming 1998–99 levels of caseloads, prices, benefit rates and earnings. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Pensioners (Income Support)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many pensioners would receive income support in each of the next five years assuming(a) that the April 1998 level of income support was indexed to prices and (b) that the Government implement their proposed minimum income guarantee for pensioners. [70596]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Thousand

  Estimated number of pensioner units receiving income support assuming:

  (a) Price indexation of income support

  (b) Implementation of MIG

  1999–2000

  1,495

  1,560

  2000–01

  1,608

  1,673

  2001–02

  1,722

  1,787

  Notes:

  1. Pensioner benefit unit means a single person aged 60 or over, or a couple where one member is aged 60 or over.

  2. Figures are not available for years beyond 2001–02. The figures are estimates of the average number of cases in each financial year. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  3. Figures given for part (b) are consistent with those published in the November 1998 pre-budget report.

  4. The figures exclude pensioners in residential care and nursing homes.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 January 1999,Official Report column 222, what assumptions about post-retirement indexation of (i) the basic state pension, (ii) the state second pension and (iii) the minimum income guarantee underlie his estimates of the numbers of pensioners on income support. [70803]
  674
  Mr. Timms
  The estimates provided assume that the basic State Pension and State Second Pension are indexed in line with prices when in payment, and that the Minimum Income Guarantee is indexed in line with the growth in average earnings (assumed to be 1.5 per cent. per year above the growth in prices).

  The actual level of indexing of the Minimum Income Guarantee in future years will depend on the prevailing economic conditions. We have stated that our long-term objective is to increase the Minimum Income Guarantee in line with average earnings, as resources allow, so that even the least well off pensioners can share in rising national prosperity.

  Departmental Asset Sales
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the items sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies from those listed in the National Asset Register of November 1997; if he will give in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total cash raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [70409]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: The National Asset Register published in November 1997 showed the assets held by the Department, its agencies and associated public bodies to be 195 freehold properties, 54 historic leasehold properties, 59,500 personal computers, 24,400 printers and 2,853 vehicles.

  In the period to the end of January 1999 the Department sold a relatively small percentage of its personal computers and printers. 746 vehicles were sold realising £2,223,458.

  The Department's freehold and historic leasehold properties were transferred to the private sector as part of two Private Finance Initiative deals. On 8 January 1998 the Department transferred the six properties in the Newcastle Estate (Newcastle Longbenton, Gosforth Broadway West, Newcastle Ponteland Road, Washington Emerson House, Newcastle Tyneview Park and Washington Durham House) to the Newcastle Estate Partnership. The Department did not receive a cash sum but will be charged rentals at a reduced rate for the period of the contract. On 1 April 1998 the remainder of the Department's estate was transferred as part of the Private Sector Resource Initiative for Management of the Estate (PRIME). The Department received cash consideration of £250 million. The National Audit Office have performed Value For Money studies on both of the contracts. The reports are due to be published later this year.

  The estimated total cash raised from such sales to date is £252,223,458.

  Civil Servants (Misconduct)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the offences or acts of misconduct under which a civil servant in his Department could have his pension removed or reduced; and how often this has happened during the last five years. [70783]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the right hon. Member to the Written Answer from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 569.
  675

  Single Gateway
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what additional resources will be made available to fund interviews taking place under the Single Gateway system proposed in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill. [71189]

  Angela Eagle
  The Single Work-Focused Gateway will be piloted in 12 areas, commencing in June 1999. A total of £79.5 million in additional resources has been allocated, from the Invest to Save Budget, to fund these pilot exercises. An important reason for piloting the Single Work-Focused Gateway is to measure the costs in order to inform decisions about national implementation.

  Bereavement Benefits
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if widowers who become eligible for widowed parent's allowance or bereavement allowance will have payments based upon their own, or their spouse's national insurance contribution record; and if he will estimate the annual costs of making benefit payments based on the best of either their own or their spouse's record. [71415]

  Angela Eagle
  In line with the contribution conditions currently applied to Widows' Benefits, entitlement to bereavement benefits for widowers will be calculated on the National Insurance contribution record of the spouse.

  Information on annual costs of calculating entitlement based on the best of either the widowers own or their spouses contribution record is not available. However, if entitlement to bereavement benefits were based on widowers own contribution record, the estimated extra benefit cost would be of the order of £40 million a year in the first three years of the scheme (there would also be additional administrative costs).

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are presented net of income-related benefit offsets, in line with those in the consultation document "A new contract for Welfare: Support in Bereavement".

  2. Income-related benefit offsets were estimated using the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey and the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries.

  3. The underlying contributory benefit effects have been provided by the Government Actuaries Department.

  4. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million and provide broad orders of magnitude.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will break down the estimated savings to be made on changes to incapacity benefit into those from(a) the clawback on occupational payments and (b) the introduction of new contributory rules. [71417]

  Mr. Bayley
  The proposed modernisation of Incapacity Benefit for new claimants, with reformed contribution conditions and taking into account 50 per cent. of amounts of occupational and personal pensions over £50 a week, will reduce benefit expenditure. It is estimated that it will be reduced by £70 million in the first year (£45 million due to occupational pensions and £25 million to contribution conditions), £255 million in the third year (£190 million due to occupational pensions and 676
  £60 million to contribution conditions) and £700 million per year after 10 years (£550 million due to occupational pensions and £150 million to contribution conditions).

  Notes:

  1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  2. Savings from taking account of occupational and personal pensions allow for overlap with savings from reformed contribution conditions.

  3. 10 year figures are rounded to the nearest 50 million which reflects the greater degree of uncertainty in the longer term.

  Single Parents (Income Support)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the numbers of single parents claiming income support since 1994, broken down into those claimants who are(a) single, (b) widowed, (c) separated and (d) divorced; and if he will also list the number of children of single parents in each of these categories. [71416]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available as details on the marital status of Income Support claimants is not collected.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71454]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.

  The number of press releases issued by the department and its agencies from 1990 to 1998

  Year

  HQ

  Benefits Agency

  Contributions Agency

  Child Support Agency

  1991

  198

  7

  —

  —

  1992

  219

  21

  2

  —

  1993

  229

  25

  26

  18

  1994

  211

  29

  26

  1

  1995

  180

  29

  20

  2

  1996

  294

  34

  21

  1

  1997

  291

  60

  50

  10

  1998

  311

  42

  28

  4

  Notes:

  1. During the year 1990 the Department was part of the Department of Health and Social Security. Figures are not available for that year.

  2. Prior to 1992 the Department's HQ Press office distributed press releases concerning information on National Insurance Contributions.

  3. Press Releases for the War Pensions Agency and Information Technology Services Agency are included in the figures given for Headquarters.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71469]

  Mr. Timms
  Rules governing the work of the Government Information and Communications Service are laid down in the Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing and issuing of press releases is given in the
  677
  Working Guide for Government Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the Libraries of the House.

  The total cost of press releases issued since May 1997 is as follows.

  Copies of Headquarters Press Notices1 are distributed to the media electronically on our behalf by the Central Office of Information (COI). From May 1997 to December 1998 the total cost of distribution via the COI was £36,693.

  Benefits Agency total cost £6,595.

  Contributions Agency total cost £4,810.

  Child Support Agency total cost £1,866.56.

  1 The costs of press releases issued by the War Pensions Agency and Information Technology Service Agency are included in the total for Headquarters.

  Pensions
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate(a) the proportion of the working age population and (b) the number of people of working age, with (i) an occupational pension and (ii) a personal pension; and if he will give the same estimates for each year from 1992; [71651]

  (2) if he will estimate (a) the proportion of the working population and (b) the number of people of working age who have (i) an occupational pension and (ii) a personal pension and who are only paying in levels of contributions equal to or lower than their National Insurance rebates. [71653]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out here.

  There are about 35 million people of working age in Great Britain. About 10.5 million (30 per cent.) of these people are members of an occupational pension scheme. It is not known how many of these only pay contributions equal to or lower than their National Insurance rebates.

  There were about 5.6 million holders of appropriate personal pensions (APPS) at the end of September 1997. Of these about 3 million pay no further contributions into their APP in addition to the National Insurance rebate. However some holders of these plans may also make payments into other personal pension plans.

  In total there are about 10 million personal pension plans held at present, although some plan holders will have more than one plan. Information on the amounts paid into these plans is not available.

  Information on the numbers of people with occupational and personal pensions are not available for each year since 1992.

  Customer Satisfaction Surveys
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what surveys of customer satisfaction have been carried out by(a) the Benefits Agency, (b) the Employment Service and (c) the Child Support Agency since 1992; and if he will place copies in the Library. [71652]

  Angela Eagle
  The Benefits Agency carried out national customer satisfaction surveys in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995. The Child Support Agency carried out national customer satisfaction surveys in 1992, 1993,678
  1994 and 1995. The Employment Service carried out surveys of the satisfaction of Jobcentre users in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997.

  Copies of all surveys have been placed in the Library.

  Since 1995 this Department has conducted further research and surveys on customers' views of service delivery. These concentrate on aspects of service where information is limited—for example, because there have been changes to service or where potential issues, or areas for improvement, have been identified. Research is also conducted to monitor Charter standards.

  Disabled Claimants
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to ensure the provision of(a) suitable training for interviewers to handle sensitive the special requirements of the physically and mentally disabled, (b) measures to ensure full disabled access to all buildings in which claimants will be interviewed and (c) a sufficiently flexible time limit requirement for attending interviews to meet the needs of claimants with particular disabilities before the implementation of his welfare reform proposals relating to the disabled. [71583]

  Mr. Bayley
  We will ensure that advisers are equipped with sufficient skills and knowledge to deal effectively and sensitively with people who are physically or mentally disabled. This will include identifying where more specialist help and support is necessary and making arrangements to enlist that support on behalf of the individuals concerned.

  We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have unrestricted access to services and sites. Accordingly, we will ensure that the Single Work-Focused Gateway will be delivered from sites offering full access. We will also ensure that disabled people are given sufficient time to make arrangements to attend an interview; are given sufficient opportunities to attend; have access to specialist communicators where necessary and have the opportunity for the interview to take place in their home where necessary.

  Lone Parents (Single Gateway)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the interview and single gateway for lone parent families; and if he will make a statement. [71711]

  Angela Eagle
  Officials from this Department have met with representatives of national organisations representing lone parent families. They have expressed general support for the principles which underpin the Single Work-Focused Gateway and officials are currently working to ensure that any concerns expressed by the organisations are recognised in the ongoing development of the gateway.

  Disabled People (Single Gateway)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the interview and single gateway for disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [71712]
  679
  Angela Eagle
  Following publication of "A New Contract for Welfare: The Gateway to Work" (Cm 4102), this Department has received a total of 342 responses, 150 of which made representations on the Single Work-Focused Gateway in relation to disabled people. In addition, officials from the Department have met with representatives of national organisations representing disabled people. They have expressed general support for the principles which underpin the Single Work-Focused Gateway and officials are currently working to ensure that any concerns expressed by the organisations are recognised in the ongoing development of the gateway.

  Lone Parents (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average number of hours that lone parents in receipt of income related benefits work per week in Portsmouth. [69852]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of income related benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 15 February 1999:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average number of hours is that lone parents in receipt of income related benefits work per week in Portsmouth.
  The information requested is only partially available. The main income related benefits for working families are Family Credit (FamC) and Disability Working Allowance (DWA). Details are available from a 5 per cent. sample of claims in payment for FamC and a 100 per cent. scan of the DWA claims in payment. The latest information available is for August 1998 and shows that the average number of hours worked are 24 for FamC and 25 for DWA.
  There are other income related benefits which families may receive, notably Income Support, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Benefit. Unfortunately details of the number of hours worked cannot be obtained.
  I am also able to inform you that the scan of FamC and DWA cases indicated that there were approximately 1,400 lone parents receiving FamC (rounded to the nearest 100) and 29 receiving DWA in the Portsmouth Local Authority District.
  I hope that you find the above information useful.

  Family Credit (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) for how many hours on average the main earners in couples receiving family credit work per week in Portsmouth; [69682]

  (2) how many families receive the maximum family credit benefits in Portsmouth. [70275]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 15 February 1999:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking, how many hours the main earners in couples receiving Family Credit work per week, and how many families receive the maximum family credit benefits, in Portsmouth.
  The information is not available in the format requested. Family Credit is a national benefit and is administered centrally by the Family Credit Unit and statistics are produced on a national basis.
  680
  However, a periodic scan of the computer system is conducted which obtains details from a 5% sample of the claims in payment. As at August 1998, this indicated that the main earners, in couples receiving Family Credit, worked on average 31.3 hours per week, and that there were 1,100 families (rounded to the nearest 100) in receipt of the maximum amount of Family Credit, in the Portsmouth Local Authority District.
  I hope you find this reply useful.

  Tobacco and Alcohol Smuggling
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disability claimants have had their benefits withdrawn by the Benefits Agency because they have been found to be smuggling or bootlegging tobacco and alcohol; and how much money was saved in 1997–98. [70014]

  Mr. Timms
  The administration of benefits is the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Peter Mathison. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mrs. Jacqui Lait, dated 15 February 1999:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many disability benefits claimants have had their benefits withdrawn by the Benefits Agency (BA) because they have been found to be smuggling or bootlegging tobacco and alcohol; and how much money was saved in 1997–98.
  The information is not available in the format requested because it is not possible to identify how many claimants of any particular benefit have had their benefit or benefits stopped or withdrawn specifically because of bootlegging or smuggling activities, and how much money was saved in such cases.
  However I can tell you that we have specific activity going on in the Channel area. David Riggs wrote to you on my behalf on 25 March 1998, following an earlier Parliamentary Question you tabled, and let you know about the BA Ports project. The Ports Project achieved savings of £1.24m in the year 1997/98 and its success led to our decision in April 1998 to create a separate unit to carry on with the work. In the current year to date, this team known as Port Fraud Investigation Team, has achieved savings of £1.49m.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Working Parents
  Audrey Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the extra child care provisions put in place since the launch of the plan for Parents at Work by the Benefits Agency in May 1998. [70171]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Audrey Wise, dated 15 February 1999:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if I will list the extra childcare provisions put in place since the launch of the plan for Parents at Work by the Benefits Agency (BA) in May 1998.
  I am pleased to have the opportunity to give you an update on progress with our Nine Point Plan for Parents at Work. It may be helpful if I briefly outline the actions we have taken so far.
  Our main objective has been to set up a comprehensive network of Childcare Champion posts that have now been filled, with the last Champion taking up post in December last year. We know from the major review of childcare provision which we undertook in the BA in 1997 that there is a significant demand from staff for childcare but not enough holiday playschemes in operation.

  681
  The first task of the Childcare Champions is to establish the areas of greatest need for playschemes. Approximately thirty possible schemes have already been identified and we expect ten of these to be up and running by Summer 1999. East new scheme will receive initial funding of up to £3000. We aim to have a further forty schemes established by March 2001. The Childcare Champions will also consider whether any of the holiday playschemes can be extended to provide after-school clubs but we expect the scope for this to be fairly limited.
  Participation on management committees for the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships has been secured by some of the Childcare Champions. This will help the Agency play an active part in local childcare planning alongside Local Education Authorities and Training Enterprise Councils etc. We will also be looking to encourage other employers from the public, private and voluntary sector, to join us in partnership with the aim of improving childcare provision for all working parents in the community.
  As you will be aware, the Nine Point Plan also highlighted areas for improvement of the BA's Family Friendly policies. There has been considerable progress in this area with provision made to allow staff paid leave to sit on local Out of School Development Committees. A "Family Friendly" booklet has been produced and distributed to staff setting out the range of family friendly and childcare policies available.
  To ensure that managers and staff fully understand the real business benefits of effective family friendly policies, a further booklet "The Business Benefits of Family Friendly Policies" with examples of good practice for all line managers has also been produced and distributed. Also an article entitled "Parents at Work" has been published in the Agencies "BA Newsletter" and seminars have been held country wide to launch the initiative positively and gain the understanding and support of managers at all levels.
  The Agency already has family friendly policies, providing 325 nursery and 1,350 holiday playscheme places for staff, which compares favourably with external organisations. Our commitment to full implementation of our Nine Point Plan will go even further towards helping all our staff balance more effectively their work and family lives.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Miss H. McNulty
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what contact was made with Walsall Social Services before Miss H. McNulty, of Walsall, reference JP/4L/JKM was refused a Social Fund payment for a mobility scooter; and if he will make a statement; [70445]

  (2) for what reasons Miss H. McNulty, reference JP/4L/KJM in Walsall was refused a social fund payment for a mobility scooter; [70447]

  (3) if Miss H. McNulty, of Walsall, reference JP/4L/JKM was seen by officials prior to a decision being made that she should not receive a Social Fund payment for a mobility scooter; [70444]

  (4) what circumstances were taken into account when deciding that a Social Fund payment for a mobility scooter should be refused in the case of Miss H. McNulty, of Walsall, reference JP/4L/KJM; [70446]

  (5) if he will ensure that the local Benefits Agency office in Walsall reconsiders the application by Miss McNulty; and if he will make a statement. [70768]
  682
  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Social Fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Winnick, dated 15 February 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Benefits Agency (BA) refusal of a Social Fund payment to Miss H McNulty, in particular whether contact was made with Walsall Social Services before a decision was made; for what reasons a payment was refused; if Miss McNulty was seen by officials prior to the decision; what circumstances were taken fully into account; whether the local office intends to send an official to see Miss McNulty; and if the local office in Walsall will reconsider the application.
  Neither the Social Fund Officer, Social Fund Review Officer or Social Fund Inspector made any contact with Walsall Social Services prior to making their respective decisions to refuse a Social Fund payment to Miss McNulty for a mobility scooter. It is not the practice of the BA to approach Social Services without the express permission of the customer. The application form which Miss McNulty completed asked if there was anyone she would like contacted in connection with the application, but the offer was declined.
  Miss McNulty was refused a Community Care Grant for a mobility scooter on the grounds of insufficient priority. Although the eligibility and qualification criteria for a Community Care Grant [Social Fund directions 25 and 4 (a) (ii)] were met, the demands on the district grants budget are such that only high priority grant applications can be met. The Social Fund Officer, Social Fund Review Officer, and Social Fund Inspector decided that Miss McNulty's need for a mobility scooter was not of high priority in her circumstances.
  The eligibility and qualification criteria for a Budgeting Loan [Social Fund directions 8 and 2] were also met. Again, the demands on the district loans budget are such that only high priority loan applications can be met. The Social Fund Officer, Social Fund Review Officer, and Social Fund Inspector decided that Miss McNulty's need for a mobility scooter was not of high priority in her circumstances, so a Budgeting Loan was refused.
  A Crisis Loan was refused because the Secretary of State has excluded mobility needs from consideration for a Crisis Loan [Social Fund direction 23].
  The mobility scooter was not considered to be a medical item as it does not treat, cure, alleviate, prevent, or diagnose a medical condition. [Medical items are excluded by the Secretary of State from Social Fund payments].
  McNulty was not seen by officials of the Benefits Agency or Social Fund Inspectorate prior to the decision to refuse her a Social Fund payment. However she received copies of all papers relating to her application and replied to these papers with her own comments.
  There is no provision in the Social Fund scheme for the local office to reconsider the application after it has been subject of a decision by a Social Fund Inspector, therefore there is currently no intent to visit Miss McNulty in connection with the application in question.
  I empathise with the difficulties faced by many of our customers, particularly our vulnerable and disabled customers such as Miss McNulty. I am satisfied that my staff have given full consideration of the facts but accept a home visit could have been carried out.
  There are two possible ways forward: Miss McNulty could either make another application for a payment from the Social Fund for a mobility scooter, but an immediate repeat application would be excluded by Direction 7 (if this was made within 26 weeks of her former application); or she could apply for a judicial review of the first decision if she thinks that there was an error in law in the processing of the application.
  I am sorry I could not be of more help on this occasion.
  683

WALES

  Task Forces
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the(a) task forces, (b) review panels and (c) advisory groups within his Department; and if he will state, in respect of each, (i) the remit, (ii) the membership, (iii) details of members' principal employment and (iv) the level of members' remuneration. [70042]

  Mr. Michael
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Environmental Enhancement Works
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans the Welsh Development Agency has for environmental enhancement works for(a) the urban corridors from Queensferry to Connahs Quay, Deeside and (b) Buckley, Flintshire; and if he will make a statement. [70917]

  Mr. Hain
  This is an operational matter for the Welsh Development Agency and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend directly. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Civil Servants (Misconduct)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the offences or acts of misconduct under which a civil servant in his Department could have his pension removed or reduced; and how often this has happened during the last five years. [70778]

  Mr. Michael
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 569.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amounts in his Department's budget for 1998–99 can be attributed to spending on disabled people; and what proportion this represents of total departmental spending. [71281]

  Mr. Michael
  Welsh Office expenditure on programmes targeted at supporting people with learning disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities and mental health problems totalled £46.6 million in 1998–99. Other expenditure related to people with disabilities is incurred in other programmes and by the Department as an employer but this is a normal and integral aspect of business which is not separately identified. For this reason the full proportion of departmental spending on people with disabilities cannot be identified.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons are currently registered homeless in Wales; and how many were so registered for the quarter ending June 1997. [71297]
  684
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information is not collected centrally on the number of individual people estimated to be homeless. Information on homeless households is shown in the following table.

  Homeless households: Wales1

  April-June 1997

  July-September 1998

  Unintentionally homeless and in priority need

  1,137

  1,208

  Intentionally homeless and in priority need

  87

  81

  Homeless but not in priority need

  1,020

  95

  1 Excludes households not eligible for assistance under the Housing Act 1996

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

  A4042
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he held regarding the bridging of A4042 during his recent visit to Croesyceiliog. [71164]

  Mr. Hain
  The visit was arranged by my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Edwards) and I have since had discussions with Welsh Office officials.

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

  Aggregate External Finance
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is estimated amount of aggregate external finance excluding specific grants for local government in 1999–2000; and how this figure compares with each year since 1992. [71650]

  Mr. Michael
  The figures requested are given in the following table.

  Aggregate external finance in Wales, net of specific grants

  Year

  £ million

  1992–931

  2,156.6

  1993–94

  2,139.5

  1994–95

  2,204.1

  1995–96

  2,238.3

  1996–97

  2,280.1

  1997–98

  2,333.4

  1998–99

  2,443.1

  1999–2000

  2,570.2

  1 Includes funding for Further Education. £124 million was transferred out of the local authority sector in 1993–94 when Further Education funding became the responsibility of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales.

  Following the transfer of functions, this matter will become one for the National Assembly.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated aggregate external finance as a percentage of the total standard spending of local government in 1999–2000; and what was the equivalent percentage in each year since 1992. [71649]
  685
  Mr. Michael
  The requested figures are given in the following table.

  Aggregate external finance as a percentage of total standard spending, net of specific grants

  Year

  Percentage

  1992–93

  89.4

  1993–94

  89.3

  1994–95

  88.5

  1995–96

  87.6

  1996–97

  86.7

  1997–98

  86.8

  1998–99

  86.3

  1999–2000

  86.1

  Following the transfer of functions, this matter will become one for the National Assembly.

  National Assembly
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost of the opening ceremony of the National Assembly. [71154]

  Mr. Michael
  An estimate of the costs involved in the Opening Ceremony of the National Assembly is currently being made, and details will be sent to the hon. Member when they are available.

  National Carers Strategy
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each local authority(a) the amount of grant that will be payable in each year to support the National Carers Strategy, (b) the estimated number of carers and (c) the product of dividing (a) by (b). [71103]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The information requested is not yet available. We are consulting widely with carers, their representatives and local authorities about how the National Strategy for Carers, announced by the Deputy Prime Minister on 8 February, should be implemented in Wales. Final decisions will be taken by the National Assembly for Wales.

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

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71472]

  Mr. Michael
  Rules governing the work of the GICS are laid down in the guidance of the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing and issuing of press releases is given in the "Working Guide for Government Information Officers". Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House.

  The cost of press releases issued by my Department, Agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997 is not kept centrally, but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
  686
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71457]

  Mr. Michael
  The number of press releases issued by my Department in 1990 is not held centrally, but the figures for each of the years from 1991 to 1998 are:

  1991: 622

  1992: 668

  1993: 759

  1994: 644

  1995: 631

  1996: 599

  1997: 650

  1998: 774

  So far this year—147.

  The number of press releases issued by the Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies in those years is not kept centrally, but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Personal Social Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) by social services authority and (b) in total (i) the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1998–99, (ii) the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1999–2000, (iii) the difference between the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, (iv) that difference expressed as a percentage of the 1998–99 figure, (v) the special transitional grant for 1998–99, (vi) the difference between the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1999–2000 and the standard spending assessment for personal social services for 1998–99 combined with the special transitional grant for 1998–99, (vii) the difference between the standard spending assessment for personal social services in 1999–2000 and the standard spending assessment for personal social services for 1998–99 added to the special transitional grant for 1998–99 and expressed as a percentage of the 1998–99 figure and (viii) the indicative level of specific and special grants for 1999–2000. [71319]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  In Wales, standard spending assessments (SSAs) are not identified against specific service blocks as in England. Nor is there an equivalent of special transitional grant. Instead, each year since 1993, the Secretary of State has identified for each authority the additional indicative amount attributed to care in the community in its total SSA. The final tranche of £21 million was included in the 1998–99 general revenue settlement. Details are given in the following table.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 3 February 1999, Official Report, column 610, the local government settlement for 1999–2000 included £5 million to modernise and improve children's services. Again details of how these resources are to be distributed are given in the following table.

  In addition, the Welsh Office is making available, through specific grant, £2.4 million in 1999–2000 to provide training support for personal social services.
  687

  Additional resources included in standard spending assessments for 1998–99 and 1999–200

  £000

  County or county borough council

  Additional resources for care in the community 1998–99

  Additional resources for Utting 1999–2000

  Blaenau Gwent

  533

  130

  Bridgend

  917

  228

  Caerphilly

  1,158

  343

  Cardiff

  2,092

  672

  Carmarthenshire

  1,343

  231

  Ceredigion

  489

  101

  Conwy

  935

  146

  Denbighshire

  731

  137

  Flintshire

  941

  214

  Gwynedd

  920

  156

  Isle of Anglesey

  494

  100

  Merthyr Tydfil

  435

  128

  Monmouthshire

  560

  101

  Neath Port Talbot

  1,093

  256

  Newport

  920

  304

  Pembrokeshire

  800

  174

  Powys

  887

  144

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  1,766

  425

  Swansea

  1,685

  441

  Torfaen

  615

  184

  Vale of Glamorgan (The)

  790

  213

  Wrexham

  898

  207

  Total county and county borough councils

  21,000

  5,033

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

  Lucas SEI Factory, Ystradgynlais
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will designate through the planning process the site of the Lucas SEI factory of Ystradgynlais in Powys as dedicated for manufacturing purposes. [70999]

  Mr. Hain
  This is a matter for the local planning authority. The adopted Powys Structure Plan already seeks to protect such sites from other forms of development. However, I am talking with Welsh Office officials, the Welsh Development Agency and others to provide alternative job opportunities involving manufacturing.

CABINET OFFICE

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants in each Government Department have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week on 17 consecutive weeks; how many civil servants in each Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost, broken down by department, of compliance with the Directive. [70994]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  This information is not held centrally, and is obtainable only at disproportionate cost.
  688

  New Deal
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the numbers of New Deal participants currently working in each Government Department. [71187]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I refer the right hon. Member to the written answer my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Mudie), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) on 19 November 1998,Official Report, column 755. Updated figures will be available towards the end of April.

  Joint Consultative Committee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his answer of 10 February 1999,Official Report, column 229, if he proposes to set a target end date for completion of the review of the work of the Joint Consultative Committee. [71730]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  No.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Football Task Force
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what response he has made to the Football Task Force report, Investing in the Community. [71993]

  Mr. Banks
  I fully support the practical recommendations made in the Task Force's report on football and the community. I have written today to the bodies identified in the report as having a role to play in implementing the relevant recommendations.

  There are several recommendations which are for Government to consider. One is to assist with the 'Players in the Community Days' which the Task Force has recommended the Professional Footballers' Association consider. The Government will offer whatever assistance is needed with this scheme in the light of their response.

  The other four recommendations relate to Government funding for football, in particular at the grass roots level. My Department is carefully considering the proposals made by the Task Force in this area, especially how they relate to the overall objectives of the Department in relation to sport as a whole. I will be consulting other Government Departments where necessary.

  Football plays a significant part in the community life, and footballers can play a key role in supporting community schemes and setting standards of behaviour. The Government will offer whatever assistance they can to help in the development of football in the community and at the grass roots level.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which of the advisory
  689
  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. [69838]

  NDPB

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agenda's etc.

  Publish register of interests1

  Statutory requirements

  Advisory Committee for the Public Lending Right

  3No

  No

  No

  No

  Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites

  5No

  No

  No

  No

  Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Advisory Council on Libraries

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art

  4No

  No

  No

  No

  Royal Fine Art Commission

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Theatres Trust

  No

  No

  2Yes

  No

  Treasure Valuation Committee

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Football Taskforce

  No

  No

  6No

  No

  1 All NDPBs either have, or shortly will have a register of interests in place. This is in line with the commitment given in "Quangos: Opening the Doors".

  2 Members interests published in the Theatres Trust annual report.

  3 Reports on the work of the PLR advisory committee appear in the Registrar's annual review.

  4 The Committee publishes an Annual Report, which contains a summary of cases heard.

  5 The ACHWS publishes an annual report which gives an account of the work of the Committee in the previous year.

  6 The Football Taskforce register is available for inspection.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [69952]

  NDPB

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agenda's etc.

  Publish register of interests1

  Statutory requirements

  Arts Council of England

  2No

  No

  Yes

  No

  British Library

  No

  No

  No

  No

  British Museum

  No

  No

  3No

  No

  British Film Institute

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  British Tourist Authority

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Broadcasting Standards Commission

  4No

  No

  5No

  No

  Crafts Council

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  English Heritage

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  English Sports Council

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  English Tourist Board

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Football Licensing Authority

  No

  No

  6No

  No

  Geffrye Museum

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Historic Royal Palaces

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Horniman Museum

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Imperial War Museum

  No

  No

  7No

  No

  Library and Information Commission

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Millennium Commission

  No

  No

  8No

  No

  NFTS

  No

  No

  9No

  No

  National Lottery Charity Board

  No

  No

  10Yes

  10Yes

  New Millennium Experience Co. Ltd.

  11No

  No

  Yes

  12Yes

  Museum of London

  No

  13No

  Yes

  No

  Museums and Galleries Commission

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  National Gallery

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  National Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

  No

  No

  14No

  No

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  No

  No

  15No

  No

  National Maritime Museum

  No

  No

  16No

  No

  National Museum of Science and Industry

  Yes

  Yes

  17No

  No

  National Portrait Gallery

  18Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  Natural History Museum

  19No

  19No

  20No

  No

  NESTA21

  No

  No

  No

  No

  NOF

  Yes

  No

  10Yes

  10Yes

  Public Lending Right

  Yes

  No

  n/a

  No

  Royal Armouries

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  690
  Mr. Chris Smith
  My Department fully supports the proposals on "Quangos: Opening the Doors" and is determined that the public bodies that it sponsors comply with its recommendations for greater openness at the earliest opportunity. The information requested about current practice is contained in the following table:

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My Department fully supports the proposals on "Quangos: Opening the Doors" and is determined that the public bodies that it sponsors comply with its recommendations for greater openness at the earliest opportunity. The information requested about current practice is contained in the following table:
  691

  NDPB

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agenda's etc.

  Publish register of interests1

  Statutory requirements

  Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England)

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Sir John Soane's Museum

  No

  Yes

  22No

  No

  Tate Gallery

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  UK Sports Council

  No

  No

  23No

  No

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  No

  No

  24No

  No

  Wallace Collection

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  1 All executive NDPBs are expected to have a register of interests. The majority of DCMS executive do have one, or are in the process of establishing one. The majority are available for inspection by the public but are not necessarily published.

  2 A summary report is produced, excluding commercially sensitive information. This is distributed to ACE staff, national and local newspapers, regional arts boards and advisory panels.

  3 The British Museum has a register but this is not published.

  4 Minutes of meetings are not published as a matter of course; however, the Commission does publish its findings on complaints and all its research reports.

  5 The BSC does maintain, for internal reference only, a register of Members' interests.

  6 The Football Taskforce has a register but this is not published.

  7 The IWM register of interests is not published but its availability is publicised.

  8 The Millennium Commission does maintain, for internal reference only, a register of Members' interests.

  9 A register of NFTS Directors is available from Companies House.

  10 A register of interests is required by the National Lottery Act 1998.

  11 NMEC is required by Companies Acts legislation to allow the inspection of the minutes of meetings.

  12 As a public sector company NMEC is required to follow the requirements in the Companies Acts.

  13 The Museum of London does publish some documents arising from meetings.

  14 The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester does have a register of interests but does not publish it.

  15 The National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside register of interests is not published but is available for inspection on request.

  16 The National Maritime Museum register of interests is not published but its existence and availability is made known in the NMM annual accounts.

  17 The NMSI register of interests is available by application to the Committee Manager.

  18 Minutes of meetings are published on the National Portrait Gallery website.

  19 The agendas, minutes and documents for the Natural History Museum are available to be inspected by appointment in the Museum library.

  20 The Natural History Museum register of interests is available on request.

  21 NESTA is a new body established by the 1998 National Lottery Act. It is still finalising its operating procedures and processes.

  22 The Sir John Soane's Museum register of interests is not published but is available for inspection on request.

  23 The UKSC maintains a register of members' interests but does not publish it.

  24 Interests are recorded in the V&A annual accounts.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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

  NDPD

  Admit the public to all meetings

  Hold public meetings

  Have lay or consumer board members 16

  Operate a form of appeal or complaints procedure

  Statutory requirements

  Arts Council of England

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  British Library

  No

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  British Museum

  No

  No

  1Yes

  Yes

  No

  British Film Institute

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  British Tourist Authority

  No

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Broadcasting Standards Commission

  No

  9Yes

  10Yes

  11Yes

  12No

  Crafts Council

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  English Heritage

  No

  No

  5Yes

  Yes

  No

  English Sports Council

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  English Tourist Board

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  Football Licensing Authority

  No

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Geffrye Museum

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  No

  Historic Royal Palaces

  No

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Horniman Museum

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  Imperial War Museum

  No

  Yes

  2Yes

  Yes

  No

  Library and Information Commission

  No

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Millennium Commission

  No

  19No

  No

  Yes

  No

  National Film & Television School

  13No

  No

  No

  14No

  No

  National Lottery Charity Board

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  New Millennium Experience Co Ltd

  No

  17Yes

  18No

  Yes

  20Yes

  Museum of London

  No

  No

  6Yes

  Yes

  No

  Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  692
  some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69975]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1999, c. 468–70]: Due to an error, the footnotes in my previous Answer were incomplete. The following table gives the information required:
  693

  NDPD

  Admit the public to all meetings

  Hold public meetings

  Have lay or consumer board members 16

  Operate a form of appeal or complaints procedure

  Statutory requirements

  Museums and Galleries Commission5

  No

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  National Gallery

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  No

  Yes

  No

  15Yes

  No

  National Maritime Museum

  No

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  No

  3No

  No

  Yes

  No

  National Museum of Science and Industry

  No

  Yes

  7Yes

  Yes

  No

  National Portrait Gallery

  No

  No

  4No

  Yes

  No

  Natural History Museum

  No

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  NESTA

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  NOF

  No

  Yes

  No

  Yes

  No

  Public Lending Right

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Royal Armouries

  No

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts

  No

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England)

  No

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Sir John Soane's Museum

  No

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Tate Gallery

  No

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  UK Sports Council

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  No

  No

  No

  Yes

  No

  Wallace Collection

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Notes:

  1 The British Museum say that all their Board Members are visitors and users. Those Trustees that sit on the External Relations and Public Services Committee have particular responsibility for consumer interests including disability issues.

  2The Imperial War Museum say that none of its Board is a museum professional: all are "lay" and may ask questions as consumers.

  3The NMGM have agreed in principle to hold one open meeting a year beginning in 1999

  4The National Portrait Gallery do not allow non-Trustees to attend Board meetings

  5English Heritage advise that one commissioner has been a recipient of a grant and can be described as a "consumer". As not all Commissioner are experts in the fields they represent they can be described as lay members

  6 The Museum of London say that its Board is made up of people from a wide number of backgrounds who include people with lay or consumer representations.

  7 The National Museum of Science and Industry say that the Board is composed of individuals appointed by Government selected from those with interests and expertise which will assist and advise the Museum both with regard to visitors and care of the collections. These unpaid individuals provide a wide range of scientific, visitor, management and educational experience

  8 The English Tourist Board holds three public meetings with Regional Tourist Boards annually which are also open to the industry and public

  9 Members of the public who are complainants on fairness in broadcasting are invited to attend Commission hearings in which their complaint is being considered. However, meetings of Commission members are not usually open to the general public. The Commission does hold public meetings throughout the country in the form of consultation groups.

  10 Members of the BSC are appointed on merit and we aim to ensure that its membership has a wide representation of skills to enable the Commission to fulfil its remit.

  11 As part of its remit, the Commission deals with complaints from the public on fairness and standards in broadcasting. There is no formal appeals system against its decisions.

  12 The BSC was created by the Broadcasting Act 1996, which lays down some general rules about the Commission's membership and function.

  13 The NFTS sees its public as its students and tutors whom are allowed to attend all board meetings if they so wish.

  14 The NFTS complaints procedure is for use by its student and tutor representatives.

  15 The NHMF operate a Review and Complaints Committee for applicants to the Heritage Lottery Fund who are unhappy with the way their application has been handled.

  16 All DCMS appointments are made in accordance with guidance from the Commissioner for Public Appointments. A field of candidates is identified in every case against an agreed role specification, and an element of independent scrutiny is always included in the process.

  17 As part of the NMEC Section 106 Planning Agreement with the London Borough of Greenwich, the NMEC are obliged to hold a public meeting for local residents. Two meetings have so far taken place.

  18 NMEC has formed a number of advisory committees which are comprised of lay/consumer people.

  19 Staff from the Millennium Commission hold meetings with the public.

  20 As a public sector company NMEC is required to follow the requirements in the Companies Acts.

  Public Consultations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish his Department's collation and assessment of responses to all the Government's public consultations. [69772]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  When the DCMS issues a public consultation paper it will, in line with central guidance issued by the Cabinet Office, either publish a summary of the views collected or make the results available on request (in each case subject to respecting confidentiality requested by those responding).
  694

  Concessionary Television Licence Fees
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will assess the benefits of providing television licences free of charge for(a) pensioners and (b) disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [70989]

  Janet Anderson
  The current review of the future of the BBC licence fee after 2002 will include a consideration of the structure of the existing concessionary television licence scheme and whether a suitable alternative structure could be available. The independent review panel will report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the
  695
  end of July this year. There will then be a period of public consultation on the panel's recommendations. It would not be right for the Government to preempt the outcome of the review.

  Theme Parks
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants are available for the creation of rides at theme parks in the North West from the English Tourist Board. [71490]

  Janet Anderson
  There are no grants available from the English Tourist Board (ETB) for this purpose.

  The North West, like all parts of the country, benefits from the work of the British Tourist Authority and of the ETB. A significant part of the grant to the ETB is passed on to the ten regional tourist boards for local programmes and marketing.

  New support structures announced on 14 December, as part of the results of the DCMS Departmental Spending Review, will ensure that in future more effective use is made of public spending on tourism in England, with a greater proportion going to the regions.

  World Cup Bids (2006)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to establish that the bidding process for the 2006 World Cup will be free from bribery. [68459]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 1 February 1999]: The Government expect bids to bring international events to this country to be pursued with openness and integrity. I take a close interest in ensuring this is so, and following controversy about Olympic bids have received assurances from the Football Association that the bid for the 2006 World Cup naturally will comply fully with the published guidelines, and will certainly be free from recourse to bribery. I accept those assurances and will continue vigorously to assist with the FA campaign for the 2006 bid, whose strength and viability rest on its quality against bidding criteria.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each web site (i) the topics covered,(ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each web site for each of the next three years. [70976]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: My Department's main web site (www.culture.gov.uk) costs £2,000 per annum to run and did not incur any set up costs. The web site has on average 130,000 'hits' per month and contains information about the work of the Department, contact details for Ministers and public inquires, and a range of publications, consultation papers, and links to sponsored bodies.
  696
  The National Lottery Awards web site cost £42,000 to set up and has, on average 5,000 'hits' per month.

  The Royal Parks Agency have a web site hosted by the CCTA and from January this year costs £500 per annum to run. The web site contains information on each of the Royal Parks. There is no information on the number of `hits' for this site.

  We do not hold information on our non-departmental public bodies web sites and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Television Subtitles
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 1999,Official Report, column 31, what specific policies his Department intends to bring forward to improve the level of subtitling on cable and satellite television following the meetings his officials have held with broadcasters and subtitle providers. [69645]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: My officials have had a useful series of meetings with the cable and satellite broadcasters, those representing viewers with sensory disabilities and subtitling providers. I met the RNID on 20 January. We are now considering in the light of the information from those meetings how we can encourage the cable and satellite broadcasters to improve on a voluntary basis the current provision of subtitling on their services.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates his Department has made of how long it will be before digital set top boxes are able to support subtitling. [69644]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: I understand from the Independent Television Commission that all services within the six digital terrestrial multiplexes are providing subtitles with the exception of a small number of ITV companies within the Channel ¾ multiplex who expect to commence very shortly.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if his Department intends to make recommendations to the ITC about how its annual targets for subtitling for deaf and hard of hearing people should be calculated, with particular reference to digital television. [69643]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The Broadcasting Act 1996 requires the Independent Television Commission (ITC) to draw up a code on promoting the understanding and enjoyment of programmes by persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. The code must include specified minimum targets which are laid down in the 1996 Act, which also gives the Commission the power to set interim targets. Under the provisions of the Act, it is solely a matter for the ITC to draw up the code. The Act places a statutory duty on the Commission to consult those bodies or persons who represent the interests of people with sensory disabilities, before drawing up their code.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates his Department has made of the proportion of subtitled programmes for deaf and
  697
  hard of hearing viewers (a) at present and (b) in five years time for (i) digital terrestrial, (ii) satellite, digital and analogue and (iii) cable television. [69642]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: For digital terrestrial services, the Broadcasting Act 1996 requires that by the tenth anniversary of the introduction of any digital terrestrial television programme service, not less than 50 per cent. of non-excluded programme hours broadcast in any service should be subtitled. The Act gives the Independent Television Commission the power to set interim targets and the Commission has set an interim requirement of 5 per cent. for the first year and 25 per cent. for the fifth year and no programmes are to be excluded. Existing broadcasters obligations on subtitling under the Broadcasting Act 1990 will of course apply to their simulcast digital services. The Commission will monitor broadcasters' progress towards meeting those requirements.

  There are no similar statutory requirements on cable and satellite broadcasters to provide subtitling on their analogue or digital services. My officials have asked cable and satellite broadcasters their plans for provision of subtitling on their digital services and those who responded have indicated a willingness to transmit the subtitling commissioned for digital terrestrial television on other delivery platforms.

  After-school Sports Clubs
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the amount of money which the New Opportunities Fund will spend on after-school sports clubs. [70650]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said in his reply to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 16 November 1998, Official Report, column 350, no specific amount has been earmarked for providing children with sporting opportunities at after-school clubs, but activities offered may include sporting and outdoor learning activities, and structured, learning-oriented play. The amount allocated for these activities will be determined by the New Opportunities Fund in response to the applications received.

  The New Opportunities Fund will commit £400 million to out of school hours activities during the current licence period to September 2001. Of this, £180 million will be committed to education activities, £200 million to child care, and £20 million to projects combining child care and education.

  Out of school hours education projects should involve at least half of all secondary schools, at least a quarter of all primary schools, and at least half of all special schools by 2001. Out of school child care projects should provide places for 865,000 children by 2003.

  The Prime Minister also announced an extra £400 million for the New Opportunities Fund between now and 2001. We have consulted on how this money
  698
  should be spent and have proposed that part of the additional amount should be committed to an expansion of the existing out of school hours initiative, to enhance the contribution made by summer schools not only to literacy, numeracy and opportunities for arts, but also to sport.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government will take to encourage physical exercise as part of its new after-school care programme. [70295]

  Mr. Banks
  Through the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) we have committed £400 million of National Lottery money to out of school hours activities during the current licence period to September 2001. Of this, £180 million has been committed to education activities, £200 million to child care, and £20 million to projects combining child care and education. Out of school hours education projects should involve at least half of all secondary schools, at least a quarter of all primary schools, and at least half of all special schools by 2001. Out of school child care projects should provide places for 865,000 children by 2003.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has also announced an extra £400 million for the New Opportunities Fund between now and 2001. We have consulted on how this money should be spent and have proposed that part of the additional amount should be committed to an expansion of the existing out of school hours initiative, to enhance the contribution made by summer schools not only to literacy, numeracy and opportunities for arts, but also to sport.

  The Policy Directions issued to NOF ensure that it takes into account relevant national and local strategies in relation to each initiative. For out of school hours learning this includes Extending Opportunity: a national framework for study support (In England) and any similar guidance produced elsewhere. Study support is learning activity outside normal lessons and embraces many activities, including sports, games and adventurous outdoor activities.

  The National Lottery Act 1998 required NOF to draw up a strategic plan containing its assessment of needs and its priorities in dealing with them, on which it must consult the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. This ensures that there is a proper strategy for distributing Lottery proceeds. No specific targets have been allocated to NOF for providing physical exercise opportunities at after-school clubs, but in reviewing NOF's strategic plan we shall ensure that the projects it supports promote young people's well-being through a range of activities, including sport and creative activities.

  Staff Travel
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the mileage rates currently applicable to staff, indicating what changes have been made to encourage staff to switch from cars to public transport and other less polluting forms of travel. [70955]
  699
  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The mileage rates currently applicable to staff within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and The Royal Parks Agency are:

  Pence per mile

  Per mile

  Up to 1500cc

  1501–2000cc

  Over 2000cc

  Car—Standard rate

  Up to 4,000 miles

  —

  34

  43

  47

  Over 4,000 miles

  —

  19

  23

  31

  Public transport rate

  23

  —

  —

  —

  Passenger supplement

  First passenger

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Others

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Equipment supplement

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Pence per mile

  Per mile

  Up to 125cc

  Over 125cc

  Motor cycles—up to 4,000 miles

  Third party insurance

  —

  14.6

  22.1

  Comprehensive insurance

  —

  16.2

  25.3

  Over 4,000 miles

  —

  6.1

  9.0

  Bicycles

  Mileage allowance

  6

  —

  —

  DCMS and RPA offer season ticket loans for public transport and loans to assist in the purchase of bicycles. My Department is aiming to meet the Government targets on green transport by March 1999. It will seek to identify practical measures aimed at promoting greener travel including reviewing car mileage rates.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to relocate staff in(a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible to the regions of the United Kingdom with the highest levels of unemployment; and what plans he has further to decentralise the location of his Department and its agencies. [70469]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: I have not relocated staff and have no plans to do so. However, I will be establishing a new post for my Department in each of the Government Offices in the English regions in the next financial year. I am also encouraging the decentralisation of work to all the English regions from a number of the national bodies sponsored by my Department and located in England.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the total number of staff(a) in his Department and (b) in each of the agencies for which he is responsible and their location in (i) London, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) each of the English regions. [70483]
  700
  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to "Civil Service Statistics 1998" which is placed in the Libraries of the House. This includes regional information. Staff at the Royal Parks Agency are all based in the London area.

  English Tourist Board
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to change the name of the English Tourist Board. [71729]

  Janet Anderson
  On 14 December 1998 we announced in "A New Cultural Framework" that we would establish a new streamlined, more strategic body to support tourism in England. An implementation Team is looking at all aspects of the body, including its role, detailed remit and name.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received about genetically modified crops from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes; and if he will make a statement. [68629]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 1 February 1999]: All advice received from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes is published in their Annual Reports. Copies of these have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has held with English Nature about genetically modified crops. [68066]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  On 16 November my hon. Friend the Minister of State met the Chairman of English Nature to discuss genetically modified crops. In addition my officials and those of English Nature have attended recent meetings at which this subject has been discussed.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the circumstances in which food and food ingredients containing, or produced using, genetically modified organisms or micro-organisms must be labelled. [69875]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: Provision for labelling novel foods is described in article 8 of Regulation 258/97. This requires that the consumer is informed of any characteristic or property of the food, such as composition, nutritional value or intended food use, which renders a novel food or food ingredient no longer equivalent to an existing food or food ingredient. In addition, the food must be labelled if it could have health implications for certain population sectors, contains ingredients that raise ethical concerns or contains a genetically modified organism.

  Finally, Regulation 1139/98 on labelling genetically modified (GM) soya and maize sets a precedent for the labelling of all food ingredients containing or produced from genetically modified organisms where they contain GM material (protein or DNA).
  701

  Genetically Modified Food
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the information held by his Department on consumers' attitudes towards genetically modified food. [68089]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  My Department encourages all its research contributors to publish details of their work in peer reviewed scientific journals.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information held by his Department about consumers' attitudes towards genetically modified food was released to(a) Monsanto, (b) Novartis and (c), other companies wishing to introduce genetic modification into Britain. [68090]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Research sponsored by my Department on consumer attitudes towards biotechnology is available for public viewing in the library of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Its availability, as with other research projects, is announced in the Food Safety Information Bulletin.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what discussions he has held with retailers about consumers' attitudes towards genetically modified food; [68088]

  (2) what discussions he has held with retailers about consumers' attitudes towards genetically modified food. [68062]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Ministerial colleagues and I have held meetings with retailers on a variety of matters including genetically modified food. In relation to genetically modified food we have stressed the importance we attach to safety and labelling.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on(a) genetically modified organisms and (b) the biotechnology industry from the US Administration. [66682]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I met US Trade Representative, Ambassador Barshefsky, on 23 October 1998. The Ambassador expressed some concerns about the way genetically modified organisms were being dealt with in the
  EU. I reassured her that the UK Government was committed to a science-based approach which protected human health and the environment.

  Consultation Exercise
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the dates and venues of the meetings which he will be holding or attending which form part of his consultation exercise Towards a New Direction for UK Agriculture. [66904]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Following the conference on Agenda 2000 CAP reform on 11 January, further consultation meetings are being arranged by MAFF Regional Service Centres. Details of these are being suitably publicised at local level.
  702
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date or dates the decision was taken to launch the consultation exercise, Towards a New Direction for UK Agriculture. [66908]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 16 November 1998,Official Report, columns 624–26, announcing a package of aid measures for livestock farmers. In the course of that statement I mentioned that the Government would be undertaking—in consultation with all interested parties—a thorough review of the rural economy and consulting widely on a range of issues over the coming months.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many responses his Department has received as part of the consultation exercise Towards a New Direction for UK Agriculture; and if he will publish them. [66905]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Details of numbers of forms received in response to the consultation exercise will be published in due course, along with an analysis of their content. Unless the authors object, copies of letters (though not individual forms) will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the consultation exercise Towards a New Direction for UK Agriculture cost(a) to produce and (b) in postage. [66909]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The costs for the consultation exercise "Towards a New Direction for UK Agriculture" were as follows:

  (a) to produce—£41,000

  (b) postage—£37,000.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what mechanisms have been devised(a) to collate and (b) to utilise the responses to the consultation exercise Towards a New Direction for UK Agriculture ahead of the deadline for the conclusion of Agenda 2000 negotiations. [66907]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The exercise of handling the responses to the consultation exercise has begun and appropriate mechanisms for data input are being put in place. Regional meetings are being arranged in the next few weeks to highlight the issues at stake and further encourage informed comment. Responses received will be utilised to help ensure that informed decisions are made about future agricultural policy so as to take full account of UK farming interests, along with those of consumers and the environment.

  Foodstuffs
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those cases in which a Member State has sought to invoke Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 (restricting or suspending trade in and use of food or food ingredients) in addition to an examination by the European Commission within the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs under that Article. [69870]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: Article 12 has yet to be invoked by any member state.
  703

  Novel Foods
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the requests submitted to him and to other Member States in connection with the placing on the market of genetically modified novel foods or novel food ingredients, pursuant to Article 4(1) of Regulation

  Applications under Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council

  Applicant

  Description of food or ingredient

  Initial assessment carried out by

  Application date

  Initial assessment

  1. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Laboratory of Plant Physiology B-3001 Heverlee

  Stevia rebaudiana (plant and dried leaves)

  Hoge Gezonheidsraad RAC—Esplanadegebouw 7e verdieping Pachecolaan 19 bus 5 B-1010 Brussels

  7 November 1997

  6 February 1998; answers to additional questions on 23 January 1998 24 April 1998; Initial assessment report 13 July 1998 Translation into English Forwarded to Member States on 18 August 1998 Additional assessment SCF plenary 9 December 1998

  2. Belovo scrl Zone industrielle, 1 B-6600 Bastogne

  Phospholipids from egg yolk

  Hoge Gezonheidsraad RAC—Esplanadegebouw 7e verdieping Pachecolaan 19 bus 5 B-1010 Brussels

  9 February 1998

  9 June 1998 Initial assessment report forwarded to Member States on 29 September 1998 Further information by Belgium on 29 October 1998 at the CPDA Deadline for comments/reasons objections 28 December

  3. Zeneca Jealott's Hill Research Station Jealott's Hill, Bracknell, UK, Berkshire RG42 6ET

  Genetically Modified Processing Tomatoes

  UK Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes

  3 March 1998

  2 June 1998 Initial assessment report arrived 8 June 1998. Transmission to Member States: June 1998. Comments and reasoned objections made by Member States forwarded to Member States on 22 October 1998. Additional assessment SCF plenary 9 December 1998.

  4. Bejo-Zaden PO Box 50, NL-1749 Warmenhuizen

  Transgenic Radicchio rosso with male sterility

  The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)

  —

  Initial assessment forwarded to Member States on 27 October 1998

  5. Bejo-Zaden PO Box 50, NL-1749, Warmenhuizen

  Transgenic green hearted Chicory with male sterility

  The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)

  8 April 1998

  7 July 1998 Initial assessment forwarded to Member States on 27 October 1998

  6. Unilever Research & Engineering Division, Unilever UK, Central Resources Ltd., Unilever House, Blackfriars, UK. London EC4P 4BQ

  Yellow fat spreads with added phytosterol-esters

  The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)

  28 May 1998

  15 September 1998 Initial assessment forwarded to Member States on 8 January 1999

  7. E. I. DuPont Nemours & Co. Agricultural Enterprise Optimum Quality Grains L. L. C.

  High Oleic Soybean Sublines derived from transformation event 260–05

  The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)

  25 July 1998

  15 November 1998

  Registration and Regulatory Affairs Europe, Ebertstr. 4, D-07743 Jena

  8. Biomin Pharma GmbH Provinostr. 15, D-86153 Augsburg

  Vit-Enzym

  Bundesinstitut fur gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veterin&#228;rmedizin

  23 June 1998

  23 September 1998 suspended

  9. Monsanto Services International S. A. Ave. de Tervuren 270–272, B-1150 Bruxelles

  Roundup Ready Maize line GA21

  The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)

  24 July 1998

  5 November 1998

  704
  (EC) No. 258/97, by (a) company, (b) product, (c) modified trait, (d) the Member State to which the submission was made and (e) its date. [69877]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: Details of applications under the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97) are as follows:
  705

  Applications under Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council

  Applicant

  Description of food or ingredient

  Initial assessment carried out by

  Application date

  Initial assessment

  10. Groupe Danone 7, rue de Téhéran, F-75381 Paris, cedex 08

  Use as human food of fruit preparations pasteurised using a high pressure treatment process

  1) Conseil supérieur d'hygiène publique de France 2) Commission de technologie alimentaire

  3 December 1998

  3 March 1999

  11. M Yvan Jobert La Meillade n065, F-34150, Montpeyroux

  Noix de nangailles

  Conseil supérieur d'hygiène publique de France

  9 December 1998

  9 March 1999

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the names, interests and positions of the members of the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs which has functions under Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients. [69868]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The Standing Committee on Foodstuffs is composed of officials from member states. Its composition varies from meeting to meeting.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the initial assessments in connection with the placing on the market of genetically modified novel foods or novel food ingredients, pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97, required an additional assessment, pursuant to Article 6.3. [69873]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The application under the Novel Foods Regulation for GM tomato products, for which the UK's Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes provided the initial assessment in June 1998, required an additional assessment. In addition, the application for Stevia rebaudiana, for which the Belgium competent authority (Hoge Gezonheidsraad RAC) provided the initial assessment, required a further assessment, but was ultimately rejected by all member states. All other applications are still under consideration.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rules have been adopted for the protection of the information referred to in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97; and if he will place a copy of those rules in the Library. [69885]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The European Commission have yet to act on this matter. The Government will continue to pursue this with the European Commission.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the measures adopted by the European Commission under Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients; and if he will place a copy of those measures in the Library. [69869]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The European Commission has yet to adopt measures under Article 13.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of the additional assessments in connection with the placing on the market of genetically modified novel foods or novel food ingredients, pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97, the 706
  authorisation decision, by (i) company, (ii) product, (iii) modified trait, (iv) the relevant member state, (v) date and (vi) the scope of the authorisation. [69872]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: An additional assessment will be required for Zeneca GM tomato products which have been modified to delay ripening. The original assessment was carried out by the UK.

  BSE
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he expects the BSE Inquiry to be completed by 30 June. [72143]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The Committee of Inquiry has indicated that it needs an extension of time beyond 30 June 1999 in order to enable it to complete its work. Discussions are under way on the additional period that will be required to allow the Inquiry to do this. A further announcement will be made as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Nurses (Work Permits)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applications from hospital trusts for work permits for nurses have been(a) refused and (b) reduced in duration by his Department in each of the last five years. [68581]

  Ms Hodge
  The specific information requested is not available as work permit records do not identify the type of employer. The numbers of work permit applications for nurses which were refused in each of the last five years are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1994

  171

  1995

  151

  1996

  182

  1997

  93

  1998

  144

  These figures show each application refused, not each person. They therefore include a number of nurses for whom several applications were made, including applications for renewals and transfers to another employer.
  707
  Work permit records show the period approved, not the period requested. It is therefore not possible to give the numbers of permit applications which were approved for a shorter period than requested. The period requested would only be reduced where the business reasons given in the application did not justify the longer period.

  Astra Pension Scheme
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to compensate future pensioners of the Astra pension scheme for their loss of benefits. [70757]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Department continues to press the Astra liquidators and the pension fund trustees to ensure that future pensioners suffer no loss of benefits. Current pensioners are already receiving their full entitlements.

  Childline
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he last met the Chief Executive or Chairman of Childline to discuss funding. [70708]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I last met the Chief Executive in February 1998 to launch the Childline in Partnership with Schools (CHIPS) project but have not had a meeting specifically to discuss funding.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much his Department spent on promotional literature between(a) 1 May 1997 and 1 January 1999 and (b) 1 May 1995 and 1 January 1997. [70443]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: Within the Department's Advertising and Publicity Budget the total spend on publications was:

  (a) £1.96 million between 1 May 1997 and 1 January 1999

  (b) £3.02 million between 1 May 1995 and 1 January 1997.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each web site (i) the topics covered, the current average number of hits per month and the estimated expenditure on each web site for each of the next three years. [70974]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The costs of setting up and operating the Department's website since it began in 1995 have not been held centrally and figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The website provides information and advice to parents, teachers, schools, employers and jobseekers about the Department's policies and responsibilities. It receives approximately 950,000 hits per month.

  The cost of developing and running the website for the next three years is estimated to be in the region of £100,000 per year plus staff costs, which are not possible to separate out for work associated with the website.
  708
  The Employment Service has a separate website which provides more detailed information for employers and jobseekers and about ES services. It receives approximately 7,500 hits per month. In 1998–99 it cost approximately £15,000 to run the website. This will rise to £23,600 next year to enable important enhancements and thereafter costs will fall to about £10,000 per year.

  The New Deal website is again separate from the Department's and gives information for employers and potential participants of the New Deal. The site has an average of 12,000 hits per month. The cost to date of the New Deal website is £167,000. Decisions on the future costs and development of the website have not yet been made.

  The Teacher Training Agency had two websites until the end of last year. The first aimed at those involved in Teaching and the second aimed at potential teachers. The average number of hits per month for the two sites is 223,340. The cost to date of setting up and operating the websites is £205,000. The cost for ongoing development and maintenance is estimated at £32,000.00.

  Skin Cancers
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures have been taken to offer school children and staff guidance on, and protection from, the dangers of excessive exposure to sunlight and its linkage with skin cancers. [70365]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department recommends that schools include sun awareness as part of their health and safety policy, and that information is provided to pupils and parents.

  The Department has publicised the Health Education Authority's Sun Awareness Campaign in "Spectrum," a publication that is sent to all schools. This includes "Sun Known-How" safety guidelines for schools, which include advice on putting policies in place, practical information and ideas for activities involving pupils.

  Didbrook School
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the increased gross cost of upgrading Didbrook School following the proposed closure of Toddington School; if Gloucestershire County Council has indicated that it is to reconsider its decision to amalgamate the two schools on the basis of cost; and if he will make a statement. [70893]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  It is for Gloucestershire County Council to estimate the gross cost of these proposals and to submit the relevant financial information to the Department as part of the statement of case. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received no indication from Gloucestershire County Council that it intends to reconsider its decision to amalgamate the schools. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 26 January 1999,Official Report, column 229,.

  Legal Services
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list(a) the London banisters' chambers and (b) the London solicitors' firms that have performed services for his Department (i) since

  709
  1 May 1997 and (ii) in the equivalent period preceding that date, indicating the remuneration paid in each particular case. [70030]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General appointed Philip Sales as First Junior Treasury Counsel (Common Law) and Jonathan Crow as First Junior Treasury Counsel (Chancery) to advise and represent the Government in their important civil cases. In addition, the Attorney-General maintains at present two London panels of junior Counsel whom Departments are expected to use for the rest of the Government's civil litigation. The panels currently comprise 103 barristers from 42 different sets of chambers. The Attorney-General will shortly appoint a third panel of very junior banisters. The Attorney-General's individual nomination is required before a barrister who is not on one of the approved panels can be instructed to appear for the Government in litigation.

  Departments may use firms of solicitors in addition to the Treasury Solicitor and their departmental legal advisers, for example, where the relevant expertise lies in the private sector. The relationship is subject to the usual confidentiality which operates between lawyer and client.

  "Public Relations Toolkit for Employers"
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many copies of the New Deal "Public Relations Toolkit for Employers" have been produced; and at what cost. [71366]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  30,000 copies of the New Deal "Public Relations Toolkit for Employers" were printed, at a total cost of £41,856.

  Carers (Students)
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what support is available for carers who wish to enter further or higher education; and if he will make a statement; [70794]

  (2) what is the maximum educational award available to (a) a carer in receipt of invalid care allowance, (b) a disabled student and (c) students released from employment; [70795]

  (3) how the fact that invalid care allowance is a taxable benefit affects the assessment of a carer's entitlement to an educational award and its value; [70796]

  (4) if carers in receipt of invalid care allowance have to pay tuition fees; [70797]

  (5) if carers in receipt of invalid care allowance are entitled to receive a maintenance grant when entering higher education. [70799]

  Mr. Mudie
  Someone with caring responsibilities who is in full-time higher education is, subject to personal eligibility, entitled to support towards tuition fees and living costs on the same basis as other students. For students entering before 1998–99, 50 per cent. of that support was available as grant and 50 per cent. as student loan, and students were not required to contribute to their 710
  tuition fees. From 1998–99 most new entrants are liable for a contribution to their tuition costs, according to their ability to pay. From 1999–2000, the support available to new entrants will be in the form of 100 per cent. loans.

  Currently, the first £3,030 of any Invalid Care Allowance is disregarded in assessing the support available. If the person being cared for is financially dependent on the student, the student may also be eligible for a Dependants Allowance of up to £2,025. Additional support may be available through the Access Funds and the Hardship Loans.

  The maximum maintenance support available to full-time students in higher education will depend upon the student's personal circumstances. For most students living away from the parental home, the maximum support available through grant and loan is currently £3,545. Disabled students are eligible for additional grants as follows:

  (a) in respect of a non-medical personal helper, up to £10,000 annually

  (b) in respect of major items of specialist equipment as the authority consider appropriate, up to £3,955 for the duration of the course

  (c) in respect of any other expenditure, up to £1,315 annually.

  Someone who is a carer wishing to enter further education will be eligible for the range of support available to all students in that sector. This support has been transformed from September 1999 so that it is more evenly distributed across the country and better targeted on those most in need. Provision will be mostly through an expanded access fund administered by colleges, which will provide assistance for such expenditure items as travel, fees, books and equipment. There will be additional support available for child care and for those need to study away from home. Colleges when considering individual applications for access funds will take account of other sources of support, including benefits and allowances. It is up to each college to determine the level of payment appropriate to the individual circumstances of the student concerned. Most students over age 18 will be liable to pay tuition fees, but students no in employment are generally exempt and there is further discretion to assist other groups.

  Filipina Nurses
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultation the Overseas Labour Service had with the Department of Health over obtaining work permits for Filipina nurses to come to work in the United Kingdom and what efforts he took to satisfy himself that they could not recruit suitable persons within either the United Kingdom or the EEA; what evidence was provided by the Department of Health that the jobs could not be done equally well by someone resident in the EEA; how many work permits have been issued and under which category; and if he will publish the current register of occupations which he considers to be in short supply nationally and likely to be so within the EEA. [70372]

  Ms Hodge
  The Department's Overseas Labour Service and the Department of Health discuss skill
  711
  shortages and agree work permit policy on nursing on a regular basis. There has been no specific consultation about work permits for Philippine nurses. The views of the Department of Health are not sought on each work permit application for a nurse. The work permit arrangements require the employer who applies for a work permit to show that they have been unable to employ a suitably qualified applicant from the resident labour market. This requirement is set aside for those occupations where there is a recognised acute shortage.

  Recognised shortage occupations for work permits are currently: Actuaries, Chartered Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, Veterinary Surgeons and nursing posts in the following specialisms—Intensive Care, Theatre, Paediatric Intensive Care, Mental Health, Neo-natal and Learning Disabilities.

  Applications1 to initial teacher training courses, by level, gender, phase and subject, in England and Wales, academic year of entry 1996–97 to 1998–99

  Academic year of entry

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Postgraduate2

  Undergraduate3

  Postgraduate2

  Undergraduate3

  Postgraduate2

  Undergraduate3

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Primary

  2,383

  10,200

  14,221

  78,072

  2,491

  10,726

  11,597

  66,520

  2,303

  10,431

  9,203

  56,212

  Secondary

  Mathematics

  1,140

  733

  350

  400

  921

  658

  314

  275

  737

  551

  227

  162

  English

  937

  2,260

  247

  518

  863

  2,241

  148

  288

  868

  2,273

  168

  495

  Science

  1,877

  1,821

  349

  291

  1,661

  1,604

  278

  239

  1,331

  1,547

  213

  192

  Languages

  540

  2,140

  33

  151

  539

  2,022

  25

  84

  520

  1,922

  19

  67

  Technology

  840

  709

  982

  695

  870

  735

  908

  584

  811

  784

  653

  540

  History

  1,114

  903

  23

  52

  1,044

  857

  0

  0

  949

  844

  0

  0

  Geography

  662

  635

  21

  20

  572

  616

  13

  16

  532

  532

  12

  25

  Physical Education

  711

  434

  5,037

  4,095

  828

  544

  4,374

  3,469

  819

  587

  3,858

  3,442

  Art

  227

  712

  20

  50

  395

  1,108

  16

  47

  381

  1,025

  21

  55

  Music

  250

  344

  117

  234

  251

  298

  40

  38

  221

  323

  52

  23

  Religious education

  375

  470

  41

  101

  347

  479

  17

  60

  322

  515

  12

  45

  Other

  384

  436

  1,339

  1,094

  297

  324

  1,226

  1,003

  199

  311

  695

  739

  Total secondary

  9,057

  11,597

  8,559

  7,701

  8,588

  11,486

  7,359

  6,103

  7,690

  11,214

  5,930

  5,785

  Overall total

  11,440

  21,797

  22,780

  85,773

  11,079

  22,212

  18,956

  72,623

  9,993

  21,645

  15,133

  61,997

  1 UCAS count up to six applications per applicant, whilst GTTR count one application per applicant

  2 Postgraduate figures exclude applications made directly to the ITT provider

  3 Undergraduate figures exclude applications made at the clearing stage

  Source:

  Undergraduate applications—Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

  Postgraduate applications—Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)

  Local Government Finance (Westminster and Kensington)
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the(a) grants and (b) other financial support given by his Department to (i) Westminster City Council and (ii) the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, other than through

  Grants to Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea

  £000

  1997–98 (actual)

  1998–99 (estimated)

  1999–2000 (planned)

  Grant

  Westminster

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Westminster

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Westminster

  Kensington and Chelsea

  VA Capital Grant1

  729

  92

  595

  152

  375

  139

  New Deal for Schools Capital

  313

  244

  988

  527

  2—

  2—

  Nursery Education (4 year olds) 3

  1,209

  806

  486

  356

  2—

  2—

  Standards Fund4

  796

  610

  1,698

  978

  4,290

  2,551

  Travellers Grant5

  —

  34

  —

  35

  —

  48

  712
  The number of work permits issued for nurses from the Philippines in 1998 was 202. This figure includes initial permits, extensions and transfers to another employer.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each of the years(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98 the total number of applications to (i) primary and (ii) secondary teacher training courses, including PGCE by (1) gender, (2) age and (3) subject. [69901]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table shows the total number of applications to primary and secondary initial teacher training courses by phase, gender and subject for entry years 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99. Age of applicant is not available.

  the RSG settlements, in (1) 1997–98, (2) 1998–99 and (3) planned for 1999–2000; and for what purposes the funds were allocated. [70159]

  Mr. Mudie
  Details of the grants and other financial support paid by my Department to Westminster City Council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 1997–98 and 1998–99, and planned for 1999–2000, are set out in the following tables.
  713

  Grants to Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea

  £000

  1997–98 (actual)

  1998–99 (estimated)

  1999–2000 (planned)

  Grant

  Westminster

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Westminster

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Westminster

  Kensington and Chelsea

  TVEI6

  43

  —

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Supported Employment

  33

  23

  33

  23

  2—

  2—

  Child care

  n/a

  n/a

  55

  51

  7172

  7145

  1 Grant paid to the governors of VA schools maintained by the authority.

  2 To be decided.

  3 Figures for 1997–98 and 1998–99 are not comparable due principally to changes in the handling of funding for private and voluntary providers.

  4 Total programme expenditure; includes LEA contributions. 1998–99 figure also includes two capital grants for Energy Efficiency Initiative and Removal of Outside Toilets. Expenditure for these grants amounted to £45k for Westminster and £27k for Kensington and Chelsea.

  5 Figures relate to total expenditure; grant is paid at the rate of 65 per cent. 1999–2000 figure includes £12.7k for development work.

  6 Funding for TVEI ended in 1997–98.

  7 Amounts allocated but not yet agreed.

  Other financial support to Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea

  £000

  Credit approvals

  Other Annual capital guideline

  Formula minor works allocation1

  Schools access initiative

  PFI credits

  1997–98 (actual)

  Westminster

  608

  46

  51

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  84

  18

  7

  —

  1998–99 (estimated)

  Westminster

  70

  —

  35

  up to 25,000

  Kensington and Chelsea

  123

  —

  35

  —

  1999–2000 (planned)

  Westminster

  183

  —

  2—

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  101

  —

  2—

  —

  1 Issued as Supplementary Credit Approvals in 1997–98 only.

  2 To be confirmed.

  Linux Computer Operating System
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the Linux computer operating system and its potential for reducing the costs of school computer systems. [70178]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: The Government are aware of this system which, with other relevant products available for educational use, is being kept under review by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency. Their recent publication, "Connecting Schools, Networking People", offered guidance to schools on good practice in the purchasing and deployment of advanced technologies. It will be updated in future to ensure that it remains relevant to schools.

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what opportunities are available for objectors to plans to sell school playing fields to make known to him their opposition to a sale prior to a decision being taken. [70360]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: The Department has recently consulted widely on the criteria against which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will consider applications for his consent to sell, or change the use, of school playing fields.
  714
  Although it is for applicants to decide the details of any local consultation, they should bear in mind that it was local concerns that prompted legislation to protect school playing fields. Draft procedures published on 1 October 1998 set out my right hon. Friend's expectation that applicants should consult locally and inform him of the responses they receive. The Department expects that local consultation should include the direct views of parents of pupils attending the school, as well as any other school which uses the field for school purposes. A minimum consultation period of 8 term-time weeks is recommended to allow sufficient opportunity for objections to be made known.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the procedures that schools have to pursue before selling school playing fields under the regulations governing such sales. [70361]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: I assume in the light of the hon. Member's previous questions that this question concerns the sale of playing fields by school governing bodies that own their playing fields, as is generally the case for grant-maintained schools, rather than the sale of school playing fields by local authorities.

  The governing body of a grant-maintained school must obtain the written consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State before selling any land, including

  715
  buildings and playing fields. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act, which came into force on 1 October 1998, requires the governing bodies of other maintained schools of obtain the consent of my right hon. Friend before selling, or changing the use of, any school playing field that they own. The procedures to be followed are set out in the Department's consultation document. These include completion of an application form and local consultation.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State examines any application to dispose of school playing fields carefully, bearing in mind the provision of playing field space at the school and any shortage of playing fields at other local schools. It is necessary to ensure that following a disposal, there would be sufficient playing field area to meet the requirements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999, and also that there is sufficient land retained to accommodate the possibility of reasonable future expansion of the school.

  Where land has transferred to a grant-maintained school from a local authority, my right hon. Friend has power under section 298(2) of the Education Act 1996 to direct that all or part of such land should be returned to the local education authority, or its successor. The return of such land is subject to the payment to the grant-maintained school of whatever consideration, if any, is considered appropriate. Alternatively, my right hon. Friend may direct that some or all of the proceeds of sale should be paid to the local education authority. Each application is considered on its merits.

  Engineering Students
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the percentage of female engineering graduates with(a) first degrees and (b) second degrees who gain employment related to their field of study. [70701]

  Mr. Mudie
  In 1996–97, the total number of women graduating from UK higher education institutions with first degrees in engineering was 2,206. Of those who stayed in the UK after graduation, 34 per cent. went into employment in occupations related to their field of study.

  In the same year, 650 women completed post-graduate degrees in engineering. Of those who stayed in the UK after graduation, 39 per cent. went into employment in occupations related to their field of study.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what resources for access funds will be made available for engineering students in further and higher education in England in 1998–99. [70702]

  Mr. Mudie
  In the current academic year (1998–99) £9 million was allocated to general Further Education Access Funds and £44 million to general Higher Education Access Funds. We have allocated a further £2.8 million this year for fee remission for further and higher education students on part-time courses who have lost their job since beginning their course. The criteria for issue of funds are general and take no account of course subject.
  716

  Literacy
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact on standards of literacy in infant, junior and primary schools of the literacy hour. [71067]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Literacy Hour began in infant, junior and primary schools in September 1998. The vast majority of teachers are teaching the daily hour, which has had a considerable impact on teaching methods and organisation of lessons. Evaluations of the pilot National Literacy Project, published in December 1998 by OFSTED and the NFER, confirm that the Literacy Hour is based on teaching methods that will raise standards. Children who started some way below the national average in their reading scores made 8 to 12 months progress above what would normally be expected, in less than two years.

  New Deal (Wansdyke)
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young unemployed people aged 18 to 25 years within each local enterprise company area in Wansdyke have entered the New Deal Gateway. [71071]

  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 Richard Foster to Dan Norris, dated 12 February 1999:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked Leigh Lewis to reply direct to your question about New Deal for 18–24 year old participants in Wansdyke. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr. Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying in his absence.
  I should say straightaway that it is not possible to give data broken down by local Training and Enterprise Council areas as data is collected by Employment Service Unit of Delivery areas.
  The latest Government Statistical Service figures to the end of November 1998 and Provisional Management Information to the end of December 1998 shows that, 634 young people have entered the New Deal for 18–24 year olds in the North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset Unit of Delivery which covers Wansdyke falls under.
  I hope this is helpful.

  New Deal (Schools)
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many pupils aged five to 16 years are being educated in schools in the(a) Bath and North East Somerset and (b) South Gloucestershire Council area which have benefited directly from capital building projects under the Government's New Deal for Schools programme; [71074]

  (2) how many schools in the (a) Bath and North East Somerset and (b) South Gloucestershire Council area have benefited directly from capital building projects under the Government's New Deal for Schools programme. [71073]
  717
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Number of School which have benefited under New Deal for Schools

  Estimated number of pupils ages 5–16 years 1 attending schools which have benefited under the New Deal for schools

  Bath and North East Somerset

  85

  21,357

  South Gloucestershire

  12

  4,019

  1 The number of compulsory school age children as at January 1998 aged 4 to 15 as at 31 August 1997

  New Deal (Translation Services)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the cost of providing information and advisory services on the New Deal in (i) Vietnamese, (ii) Chinese and (iii) all languages other than English and Welsh. [71093]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  It is impossible to give the cost for providing information in each individual language as most publications produced in languages other than English and Welsh are a compilation of English and seven languages. These are Bengali, Cantonese (Chinese), Gujerati, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and Vietnamese. The cost of producing the publications was £73,395.

  The cost of providing advisory services to New Deal clients is not broken down by detailed ethnic group.

  New Deal (Advertising Costs)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total cost of advertising and marketing of the New Deal programme to date. [71188]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The cost of advertising and marketing New Deal up to 12 February is £12,872,815.

  New Deal
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what money was spent on advertising and publicity(a) in total and (b) on television for the New Deal by 31 December 1998. [70548]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: Out of a total of £12,501,848 spent and allocated on New Deal marketing and publicity up to 31 December 1998, a sum of £7,897,713 has been spent on television advertising.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what money he plans to spend on advertising and publicity for the New Deal in 1999. [70549]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: Plans have still to be finalised for 1999. £1.75 million is provisionally allocated for marketing, advertising and publicity.
  718
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many New Deal participants who had moved into employment were no longer in employment on 31 January; [70551]

  (2) how many New Deal participants who moved into subsidised employment have left that employment within nine months; [70556]

  (3) how many New Deal participants who moved into subsidised employment have left that employment within six months. [70557]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: 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 Richard Foster to Mr. Damian Green, dated 16 February 1999:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your questions on the employment of participants on New Deal for 18–24 year olds. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr. Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying in his absence.
  Unless an individual returns to the Jobseeker's Allowance, the Employment Service does not have a record of destinations after they have left New Deal from the subsidised employment option or gone into unsubsidised employment. They may, for example, have stayed with the company which provided their placement or moved to another job.
  In response to your specific questions we do not therefore hold information on those New Deal participants who have left unsubsidised employment within nine months nor those who were no longer in employment on 31 January. I am, however, able to confirm that of the 12,492 who started on the Employment option between January 1998 and end November 1998, 2041 (16%) left that option within six months of starting it. As you will be aware, the reported statistics are revised to exclude those who do not stay in a New Deal job for 13 weeks—that is they are subsequently not counted as moving into employment.
  As part of the overall evaluation of the New Deal we will however be looking at the numbers of young people who have left New Deal and have not returned to Jobseeker's Allowance, using the Evaluation Database. The number of young people who are in jobs 6, 12 and 18 months after they leave the New Deal will be one of the core measures of each area's success.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Art Foundation Students
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many art foundation course students are undertaking a course in 1998–99 who will subsequently undertake a degree course commencing in 1999 and will be liable to pay tuition fees. [71802]

  Mr. Mudie
  The data requested are not currently available. Information on the number of students who are undertaking an arts foundation course in 1998–99 will be available in April this year from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students have benefited from the exemption from tuition fees for Gap year students. [71801]
  719
  Mr. Mudie
  The latest available figures from UCAS show that 18,960 UK domiciled students deferred entry to full-time and sandwich undergraduates courses from 1997 to 1998. However, not all of these students will necessarily have their fees paid as part of their mandatory award without reference to their income. The gap year concession applies only to those students who, by 1 August 1997, had received a firm offer of a place on a course deferred until 1998–99, or a conditional offer which was then confirmed when the student met the terms of that offer.

  Youth Workers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures the Government will take to ensure an adequate supply of youth workers. [70298]

  Mr. Mudie
  The supply of trained youth workers is a matter for the relevant training institutions and employing local authorities.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps the Government will take to reduce the geographical disparity in the ratio of youth workers to young people. [70296]

  Mr. Mudie
  It is for each local authority to decide its priorities and the level of funding for each of the services for which it is responsible, including the youth service, in the light of local needs.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set up a Youth Work Ethics Committee to regulate the youth worker profession. [70297]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Government have no plans to set up a Youth Work Ethics Committee.

  Further Education
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria will be used to allocate money to further education colleges in 1999–2000 from funds designed to replace discretionary grants previously paid to students by local education authorities. [70987]

  Mr. Mudie
  The criteria for allocating student support funding to colleges in 1999–2000 are still being developed. These will be made clear when allocations are made to colleges in April.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many discretionary awards were made by each local education authority for students in further education in each of the last five years; [70984]

  (2) how much was the total allocation of discretionary awards to students in further education by each local education authority in each of the last five years; and what is the budgeted figure for 1998–99 for each authority. [70986]

  Mr. Mudie
  The numbers of, and expenditure on, discretionary awards made to students in further education by local education authorities in England and Wales in academic years 1992–93 to 1996–97 (latest available) are 720
  published in the annual "Statistics of Education, Student Support Volume, England and Wales"—copies of which are in the Library. The publications for 1992–93 and 1993–94 give data on numbers of further education awards in table 10 and data on expenditure in table 11; the equivalent tables for 1994–95 to 1996–97 are 9(a) and 9(b). Information on the budgeted figure for 1998–99 for each authority is not held centrally.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the money allocated to further education colleges in 1999–2000 from funds designed to replace discretionary grants previously paid to students by local education authorities will be ring-fenced for that purpose. [70985]

  Mr. Mudie
  I can confirm that funding will be allocated to colleges in 1999–2000 specifically for student support and must be used for that purpose.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if all further education colleges will receive an allocation of money from funds designed to replace discretionary grants previously paid to students by local education authorities; [70981]

  (2) how much further education colleges in each local authority area will receive in 1999–2000 from funds designed to replace discretionary grants previously paid to students by local education authorities; [70982]

  (3) if he will estimate how many colleges will receive money in 1999–2000 to replace discretionary awards previously made by local education authorities, the local authority for which has discontinued discretionary awards; [70983]

  (4) how much money will be allocated to further education colleges in Portsmouth from funds designed to replace the money previously paid as discretionary grants. [70988]

  Mr. Mudie
  Information on the allocation of funding to colleges for student support in 1999–2000 will not be available until April.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current average hourly rate for part-time teaching staff working in further education colleges(a) employed by agencies and (b) employed by further education colleges. [69583]

  Mr. Mudie
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current range of(a) starting salaries and (b) salaries at the highest point of the scale for teachers in further education colleges. [69581]

  Mr. Mudie
  At March 1997, the latest year for which information is available, 80 per cent. of new full-time further education staff in England were paid between £14,000 to £22,200.

  Information for the highest paid full-time lecturers in further education cannot be identified because the data available to my department do not distinguish between lecturers and senior staff in further education colleges.
  721
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the average salary of teachers in further education colleges for each of the last three years. [69580]

  Mr. Mudie
  The median salary of full-time lecturers and senior staff in further education colleges in England for each of the last three years for which figures are available were:

  March 1995: £21,300

  March 1996: £22,400

  March 1997: £22,900.

  Information on the salaries of part-time lecturers is not available centrally.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of all teaching staff in further education colleges have been employed on part-time or pro-rata contracts in each of the last five years. [69725]

  Mr. Mudie
  The proportion of part-time teaching staff in further education colleges in England is as follows:

  Percentage

  Part-time

  1994–95

  59

  1995–96

  61

  1996–97

  62

  It is not possible to provide data for the last five years as prior to 1994–95 the data were not collected in the format requested.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the proportion of all teaching staff in further education colleges employed on the senior lecturer grade in each of the last five years. [69724]

  Mr. Mudie
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  School Performance
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to commission research on the impact of socio-economic factors on school performance tables. [66603]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 20 January 1999]: We are currently considering our programme for future research. The impact of socio-economic factors upon school performance is one of the subjects under consideration in this programme.

  Secondary School Teachers
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, following implementation of the School Teachers' Review Body's recommendations on salaries for secondary school teachers, what will be the pay differential between the salaries of secondary school teachers and further education college lecturers at the lowest, mid-point and highest points of the salary scale. [69582]
  722
  Mr. Mudie
  Comparable information on scales in the school and FE sectors is not current available.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the total number of staff(a) in his Department and (b) in each of the agencies for which he is responsible and their location in (i) London, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) each of the English regions. [70481]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: A regional distribution of DfEE staff, including staff in the Employment Service, can be found in Table 3 of "Civil Service Statistics 1998". A copy of this publication is in the Library.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to relocate staff in(a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible to the regions of the United Kingdom with the highest levels of unemployment; and what plans he has further to decentralise the location of his Department and its agencies. [70467]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: About half of DfEE staff are located outside London in Sheffield, Darlington, Runcorn and Regional Government Offices. Employment Service staff are located throughout England, Scotland and Wales serving the needs of the unemployed. The appropriate location of DfEE work across the department sites is kept under regular review. The Employment Service is by its nature already decentralised.

  Schools (Surplus Places)
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the numbers and percentages of surplus places are in each local education authority in England; and if he will make a statement on his policy on surplus places in schools. [69657]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [pursuant to his reply 4 February 1999, c. 709]: There was an error in the primary figures for Lambeth local education authority. Lambeth has 3,442 surplus primary school places, representing 17 per cent. of total capacity, and 10 primary schools with a surplus of 25 per cent. or more, representing 14 per cent. of all schools. This means there were 762,329 surplus school places in January 1998 and 2,530 schools with a surplus of 25 per cent. or more.

  Building Works (VAT)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local authority-partnership schools have basic needs capital building projects starting after 1 April; and what arrangements are in place for local authority-partnership schools to reclaim VAT paid on these projects. [71358]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department does not hold information on how many such schools have basic need projects starting after 1 April 1999. The Department provides additional funding where a local education authority (LEA) can demonstrate that there will be a shortfall of places in an area in the medium term. It is, however, for each LEA to decide how to meet that
  723
  shortfall, including how many of its existing schools to extend or adapt and what new schools to build. The Department itself provides grant directly to governors of voluntary aided and special agreement schools. We expect to fund 28 projects to meet Basic Need starting after 1 April 1999.

  The VAT treatment of capital building projects at schools maintained by LEAs depends upon the precise contractual arrangements in place.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each of the years 1990 to 1998 the number of press releases issued by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [71485]

  Mr. Mudie
  The number of press releases issued between 1990 and 1998 for this Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies are as follows:

  Number

  Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA)1

  269

  Further Education Funding Council (FEFCE)

  194

  Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE)

  171

  Funding Agency for Schools (FAS)

  36

  Teacher Training Agency (TTA)

  79

  Employment Service (ES)2

  31

  1 Includes figures for the previous bodies (SCAA, SEAC, NCC, NC VQ)

  2 Figures since June 1997. Prior to that date press releases were included in Departmental releases and does not include releases put out regionally by the Employment Service.

  These are overall figures. A breakdown of figures year by year between 1990 and 1998 could not be supplied by the agencies concerned as no records were kept.

PRIME MINISTER

  Elections
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Prime Minister what advice has been given to civil servants on the conduct of Government business during the forthcoming elections to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and local councils on 6 May and to the European Parliament on 10 June. [72140]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have issued guidance to civil servants on the principles which they should observe in relation to the conduct of Government business in the period before the forthcoming elections.

  The guidance stresses that civil servants should conduct themselves in accordance with the Civil Service code and is based on the need to maintain political impartiality of the Civil Service and the need to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes.

  The guidance will come into force on 13 April for the 6 May elections and on 20 May for the 10 June elections.

  Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Libraries of the House, and are also available from the Vote Office.
  724

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judge Willis
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the reason for Judge Willis being removed from hearing the case of R. v. Sparkes at the Bristol Crown Court in 1996–97; what advice was afterwards given by the Lord Chancellor to those responsible for the removal; if an apology was given to Judge Willis; and if he will make a statement. [71666]

  Mr. Hoon
  The circumstances of this matter have so far as possible been fully investigated by the Lord Chancellor. Following a series of related cases being heard by Judge Willis in late 1996, an allegation of bias was made by the prosecution, who proposed to make application to the senior Presiding Judge of the Western Circuit in open court for the appointment of another judge to hear the case of R.v. Sparkes which Judge Willis was due to try. The Presiding Judge was then engaged in a highly publicised trial attracting much press interest. He was of the opinion that no matter how fanciful the substance of the allegation it was undesirable that the application should be made. With (as he understood) the concurrence of the Recorder of Bristol and Judge Willis, he accordingly arranged for another judge to conduct the trial in R. v. Sparkes. He did so knowing that, if the Defence objected, they could apply to have Judge Willis reassigned to the original case. This is what, in the event, happened.

  The Lord Chancellor has informed the then Presiding Judge that he does not believe the matter was dealt with as it should have been. An allegation of bias should in his judgment be addressed in open court, or at least with all the parties present in chambers. In some circumstances, such an application might be made to the judge against whom bias is alleged.

  Unfortunately, Judge Willis died before the Lord Chancellor had completed his investigations and before any question of any apology could be considered. The Lord Chancellor would however wish to make plain that there was never any ground to question the integrity of the late Judge Willis, which remains wholly untarnished and the Presiding Judge never for a moment thought otherwise.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the impact on his Department's policies of the goods and services provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to be implemented in October 1999. [71265]

  Mr. Hoon
  Consideration has been given to the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the changes that would be necessary to its practices, policies and procedures. Plans are in place to meet the requirements under the Act both in October 1999 and those parts of the Act due to come into force in 2004. Access to information and the training and awareness of staff have been identified as the key areas where changes will need to be made before October 1999.
  725

  Disabled People
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what amounts in his Department's budget for 1998–99 can be attributed to spending on disabled people; and what proportion this represents of total departmental spending. [71279]

  Mr. Hoon
  Since the Department does not keep a separate record of all expenditure which can be attributed to spending on disabled people, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mediation UK
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if his Department intends to support Mediation UK with core funding for 1999–2000. [71543]

  Mr. Hoon
  This Department does not intend to provide core funding for Mediation UK for the next financial year. It would be inappropriate to fund any particular mediation organisation until the Department's policy towards alternative dispute resolution in non-family civil disputes is settled.

  Public Awareness
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to increase public awareness of the work of his Department. [70756]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has recently published a free booklet called "Working for Justice: A Guide to the Lord Chancellor's Department." Written in clear English and attractively designed and illustrated, it explains the role and functions of the Department, as well as tracing the history of the office of Lord Chancellor. We have printed 70,000 copies and made them available to the public through all courts in England and Wales.

  Another recent publication intended to explain succinctly to the public how the department plans to take forward reform of the civil law is "Modernising Justice: A Summary of the Government's Proposals". We have printed 70,000 copies of this publication also, and made it available free of charge through the courts, public libraries and law firms. The White Paper itself is of course also available to the public.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department produces an annual report, setting out its policy objectives and expenditure plans. It is available to the public through HMSO bookshops.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department Internet website was upgraded last year and covers speeches, civil matters, criminal matters, legal aid, judges, magistrates, the courts, press notices and the department as a whole. There are websites for the Court Service and the Public Trust Office too.

  I undertake a regular programme of speeches and talk formally and less formally to a very wide range of people, as does the Lord Chancellor. We take every opportunity to explain the role of the department and to raise awareness of its policies.
  726
  Both the Lord Chancellor and I also use the media to put across the importance of the work of the department to as wide an audience as possible. The press office of the Lord Chancellor's Department issues press notices to the local, national and specialist media to keep them informed of all key developments.

  Civil Servants (Misconduct)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the offences or acts of misconduct under which a civil servant in his Department could have his pension removed or reduced; and how often this has happened during the last five years. [70777]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply he received to this question from the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 569.

  Census Returns
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of the post-1920 census returns have been transferred to the Public Record Office; and what would be the impact on staffing and accommodation at the Public Record Office of the transfer of all decennial census returns to the Office 30 years after their creation. [70993]

  Mr. Hoon
  None of the post-1920 census returns has been transferred to the Public Record Office.

  The post-1920 decennial census returns which were created more than 30 years ago occupy about 50 linear kilometres of storage space. If they were transferred to the Public Record Office they would fill up all storage space available now and require the provision of substantial additional accommodation. They would also require an estimated three additional members of staff for maintenance and security.

  Substantial additional storage space would also be required for the statutory transfers of records over the next decade or so which they would displace.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement about the failure of Registrars General, during the period 1969 to 1985, to transfer census returns to the Public Record Office not later than 30 years after their creation; and(a) when and (b) by whom this failure was first brought to the attention of a Lord Chancellor. [70995]

  Mr. Hoon
  The census returns in question were not transferred during the period 1969 to 1985 because at that time the advice was that the existence of a statutory bar to disclosure, established by the Census Act 1920, overcame the obligation on departments to transfer their records by the time they were 30 years old. However, the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys wished its retention of the returns to be covered by the Lord Chancellor's approval and this was given in 1985.

  This matter was not brought to the attention of a Lord Chancellor since the fact that the records had not been trasferred was not then considered to be noncompliance with the provisions of the Public Record Acts.
  727

HEALTH

  Residential Care (Appointments)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the qualifications which will apply to applicants for employment as inspectors of residential care homes by Commissions for Care Standards; [70866]

  (2) what criteria will be used in the appointment of inspectors of residential care homes by Commissions for Care Standards. [70865]

  Mr. Hutton
  It will be for Commissions for Care Standards to set out the precise criteria for appointing inspectors, but they will have to recruit suitably fit people with the appropriate qualifications, experience and backgrounds in order to fulfil their regulatory function.

  The Department is working with interested parties to identify the occupational standards, qualifications and precise training needs of regulatory staff, and will consider as part of this work how to promote improved training arrangements in advance of the establishment of the Commissions.

  Attention Deficit Disorder
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the use of the drug methylphenidate hydrochloride in the treatment of children with attention deficit disorder; what research his Department is funding into side effects of methylphenidate hydrochloride; and if he will make a statement. [70909]

  Ms Jowell
  Methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin) has been assessed by the normal procedures for authorisation of a medicinal product in the United Kingdom to ensure its quality, safety and efficacy in the indication for use; in this case, the treatment of children over 6 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, where remedial measures alone have failed. The marketing authorisation states that it should be part of a comprehensive treatment programme including psychological, educational and social measures, under the supervision of a specialist in childhood behavioural disorders.

  As for all medicines, the safety of methylphenidate continues to be monitored by the Medicines Control Agency after it has been marketed. If new safety issues are identified, regulatory action is taken to update the authorised product information or take other appropriate action.

  Women (Engineering)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have been held by the Women's Unit with the Engineering Council to discuss ways of increasing the number of women entering the profession. [70705]

  Ms Jowell
  The women's unit has not held any discussions with the Engineering Council. Work on promoting science and engineering and technology (SET) as rewarding and fulfilling careers for women is taken forward by a specialist unit within the Office of Science and Technology (OST), the Promoting SET for Women Unit. They have an ongoing dialogue with the 728
  Engineering Council through the WISE campaign (Women into Science and Engineering). A careers guidance handbook has been published, sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry and WISE in addition to other key organisations, to help women consider how they might enter the field and plan a career within it. My noble Friend Lord Sainsbury recently hosted a reception in the House of Lords to promote the WISE campaign to a wider audience and seek further support, in particular from industry. OST will shortly be meeting with the chief executive of the Engineering Council and the WISE Campaign manager, the Women's Engineering Society and the Association of Women in Science and Engineering to look at the work of their organisations and of the Promoting SET for the women unit and to consider possible future collaboration.

  Allergy Services
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of allergy services. [71690]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department recognises the concerns expressed over the services available for the assessment and treatment of allergies in the National Health Service. Officials will soon be meeting representatives of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology and other relevant professional and patient support bodies to discuss the future of allergy services. The Society will be proposing an agenda for this meeting based on their preliminary discussions with the other interested parties.

  The Advisory Group on Medical Education and Training, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, is currently considering an application from the Royal College of Physicians' Joint Committee on Higher Medical Training for the recognition of allergy as a clinical specialty in its own right.

  Doctors
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of (1) the number of doctors practising in the NHS who are overseas trained and (ii) the percentage they constitute of the medical workforce; what estimate he has made of the number who will retire in the next 10 years; and what assessment he has made of the impact this will have on the need for(a) overseas recruitment and (b) increased training places in the United Kingdom; [71803]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the (i) number and (ii) percentage of general practitioners in the NHS who are overseas trained; and what estimate he has made of the number who will retire in the next 10 years. [71804]

  Mr. Denham
  The autumn 1997 headcount of doctors in the National Health Service in England showed that there were 86,960 general practitioners (unrestricted principals) and hospital doctors, of whom 19,070 (22 per cent.) qualified outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Within these figures, there were 27,100 GPs (unrestricted principals), of whom 4,530 (17 per cent.) qualified outside the EEA.
  729
  It seems reasonable to assume that most of the doctors who will retire in the next decade will be drawn from the current stock of doctors who are aged 50 or over. The numbers in this category were as follows:

  Total

  Qualified outside the EEA

  GPs (unrestricted principals)

  8,070

  3,130

  Hospital doctors

  11,310

  3,570

  Totals

  19,380

  6,700

  Notes:

  1. Figures quoted are rounded to the nearest 10

  2. Totals may not equal sum of components due to rounding

  Source:

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census, 30 September 1997

  Department of Health General Medical Statistics, 1 October 1997

  Intake to undergraduate medical schools in the United Kingdom has risen steadily in the past decade. The Government have accepted the recommendation of the Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee, that the intake should increase further, by nearly 20 per cent. over the next few years. This should mean a steady growth in the supply of UK-trained doctors, well into the next century. None the less, it seems likely that supply will be supplemented by a range of recruitment and retention initiatives, for example, the salaried GPs scheme and further overseas recruitment, where required.

  NHS Staff (Pay)
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce parity in pay rises between NHS staff covered by the Pay Review Body and those outside the Pay Review Body, and if he will make a statement. [71807]

  Mr. Denham
  We have signalled clearly that the award for nurses and the Professions Allied to Medicine is a special case and should not be seen as a yardstick for other National Health Service staff. We will open negotiations soon with non-review body staff groups and will seek a fair settlement which reflects labour market conditions.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average current starting salary for(a) a graduate nurse and (b) a graduate entrant Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer with a BSc degree. [71809]

  Mr. Denham
  The current minimum starting salary for newly qualified nurses, including graduate nurses, is £12,855. This is the minimum point on the Grade D salary scale, the maximum point on the scale being £14,705.

  The current minimum starting salary for a graduate entrant Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer with a Bachelor of Science degree is £7,476. This is the minimum point on the trainee MLSO salary scale, the maximum point being £9,796.

  The current minimum starting salary for a qualified MLSO, with BSc degree plus post-registration training, is £11,812. This is the minimum point on MLSO I salary scale, the maximum point being £15,546.
  730
  Employers have the freedom to place a nurse or a MLSO on any point of their appropriate salary scale.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change the national Framework Agreement of 1995 for NHS staff; and if he will make a statement. [71808]

  Mr. Denham
  We published "Agenda for Change", our proposals for modernising the NHS pay system, on Monday 15 February. We are opening talks with NHS professional and staff organisations on the basis of this agenda.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of branded drugs prescribed by GPs in 1997–98 was prescribed by dispensing practices and what proportion by non-dispensing practices; [71568]

  (2) what proportion of (a) all drugs and (b) branded drugs prescribed by GPs were prescribed by dispensing practices in 1997£98. [71570]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Percentage of items prescribed in general practice1 in England and dispensed in the community by prescriber, 1997–982

  Prescriber

  Prescribing practices3 (%)

  Dispensing practices4 (%)

  Branded, ie non-generic items 5

  82

  18

  All items

  91

  9

  1Information for items prescribed and dispensed in National Health Service hospitals is not available.

  2The prescription information was obtained from the Prescribing Analyses and Cost (PACT) system and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions written by general practitioners and practice nurses in England which are dispensed in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. All figures exclude dressings and appliances.

  3Drugs prescribed by prescribing practices which are dispensed by community pharmacists.

  4Includes drugs prescribed by dispensing practices which are dispensed by community pharmacists.

  5 In PACT, prescription items can be prescribed generically, and recorded as a generic, but dispensed and reimbursed as a proprietary because a generic does not exist. The percentage of non generic drugs prescribed in the reply does not include these items.

  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the average consultation rates of(a) a prescribing GP and (b) a dispensing GP. [71572]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of drugs expenditure in 1997–98 was on branded drugs; [71591]

  (2) what proportion of drugs prescribed in 1997–98 was branded. [71575]
  731
  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Items prescribed in general practice 1 in England and dispensed in the community, 1997–98

  Per cent.

  Percentage of net ingredients cost2 of prescription items which were branded, i.e. non generic drugs

  49

  Percentage of prescription items which were branded, i.e. non generic

  37

  1 Information for items prescribed and dispensed in National Health Service hospitals is not available.

  2 The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug. This cost does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charge income.

  Source:

  PPA, Prescribing Analyses and Cost (PACT) system

  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of drugs were prescribed in 1997–98 in hospitals and by GPs. [71569]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available. Data for items prescribed in National Health Service hospitals are not held centrally.

  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total overspend in 1997–98 of health authority-administered Family Health Service drugs budgets. [71573]

  Mr. Denham
  In 1997–98, health authorities overspent their Family Health Service drugs budget by a net total of £69 million.

  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average list size of(a) a prescribing GP and (b) a dispensing GP. [71571]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Average list sizes for dispensing and non-dispensing unrestricted principals in England as at 1 October 1997

  Unrestricted principals1

  Average list size

  Dispensing2

  1,734

  Non-dispensing

  1,905

  1 An Unrestricted Principal is a practitioner who is in contract with a health authority to provide the full range of general medical services and whose list is not limited to any particular group of persons. Most people have an Unrestricted Principal as their general practitioner.

  2 A dispensing doctor is one who is authorised to prescribe and dispense prescriptions for patients who either have difficulty reaching a chemist due to inadequate means of transportation or who live in a rural area. The average list size for dispensing doctors includes all patients on the doctors' lists, not just those to whom the doctor is authorised to dispense.

  Source:

  Department of Health General Medical Services Statistics 1 October 1997

  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) dispensing and (b) non-dispensing GPs there were at the latest available date. [71567]

  Mr. Denham
  There were 4,263 dispensing and 22,836 non-dispensing general practitioners at 1 October 1997.

  Source:

  Department of Health General Medical Statistics 1 October 1997.
  732

  NHS Appointments
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all appointments as(a) chairman and (b) non-executive director of (i) health authorities and (ii) trusts, made since 1 May 1997 where an elected member of a local authority has been appointed; and if he will give the party affiliation in each case. [71667]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list elected members of local authorities who have been appointed to serve on primary care groups stating(a) the party affiliation and (b) the (i) fee and (ii) allowances payable in each case. [71668]

  Mr. Denham
  Information on primary care group board members who are also elected members of local authorities is not available centrally. Information on the fees and allowances payable to primary care group board members is contained in Health Service Circular 1998/190, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Detailed information on the composition of primary care group board members is currently being collected and will be made public as soon as possible.

  Carers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each local authority(a) the amount of grant that will be payable in each year to support the National Carers Strategy, (b) the estimated number of carers and (c) the product of dividing (a) by (b). [71104]

  Mr. Hutton
  As one part of the carers strategy, we have announced a new special grant to local authorities of £140 million over three years to improve the range and diversity of provision aimed at giving carers a break. Under community care legislation, this provision can be made only for carers who are caring for someone assessed as needing community care services. A special grant report, listing the allocations for each local authority for the carers' grant, will be laid before Parliament shortly. Information is not currently available to allow an estimate to be made of the number of such carers in each local authority area.

  Diet
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action the Government have taken to promote healthier diets; [70130]

  (2) what action the Government have taken to provide information in deprived areas on the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables. [70131]

  Ms Jowell:
  Diet is a matter of personal choice. However, we recognise that it is important that people have the information they need to decide what they want to eat. Our aim, therefore, is to provide clear, consistent and understandable advice to help them make healthy eating choices. For these reasons we fund the Health Education Authority to produce information and advice to increase the knowledge and skills of key professional groups to promote the principles of healthy eating and also to improve consumers' understanding of a healthy diet. "The Balance of Good Health" has been instrumental

  733
  in improving awareness of a healthy and balanced diet as it illustrates in a simple way, by using a picture of a plate, the proportions of the balance of foods recommended by independent experts.

  As part of the work which the Health Education Authority undertakes on promoting healthy eating, it has established, in partnership with the National Food Alliance, a food and low income database. This provides information about projects which have been established in response to difficulties which some communities have experienced in accessing fruit and vegetables. On my recent visit to Coventry, I saw one good example of such an initiative. Also using funding provided by the Department of Health, the National Food Alliance and the Health Education Authority together ran a series of regional seminars to bring together those working in the food and low income field to exchange best practice in planning, developing and carrying out community food initiatives and help others new to the field.

  More generally, I am the lead Minister for the policy action team which is charged with developing a strategy for improving shopping access for people living in deprived neighbourhoods. This is one of eighteen policy action teams which have been established following the publication of the Social Exclusion Unit's report on neighbourhood renewal last September. The policy action team aims to develop integrated and sustainable approaches on improving shopping access for those living in deprived neighbourhoods.

  Food (Salt)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to require manufacturers of pre-packed and pre-cooked meals to reduce the levels of salt in their food. [70132]

  Ms Jowell
  There is a large body of authoritative opinion that the amount of salt in the national diet is unnecessarily high, and we have therefore asked officials in the Department to explore with the food industry the scope for reducing the levels of salt in processed foods. Pending these discussions, we have no plans to require this from manufacturers.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71463]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department adheres to the Access of Information Code of Practice. The Department continually reviews the most cost effective methods for issuing press releases, however, no separate costing is available, as the cost is absorbed within the expenditure for running the Department's Communications Directorate.

  The following figures are the press releases issued since May 1997:

  May-December 1997: 320

  1998: 556

  January-12 February 1999: 71.

  734
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71448]

  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is in the table.

  The table indicates all press releases issued for the requested period 1990 to 1998. The Department's press office issues press releases on behalf of the Medical Devices Agency, Medicines Control Agency, National Health Service Pensions Agency, National Health Service Estates and some non-departmental public bodies.

  Year

  Total

  1990

  484

  1991

  529

  1992

  454

  1993

  683

  1994

  610

  1995

  588

  1996

  366

  1997

  406

  1998

  556

  Viagra
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will seek to recover the cost of prescribing Viagra from those doctors who do so ahead of the Government's recommendations at the end of the consultation period; and if he will make a statement. [71193]

  Mr. Denham
  No. Viagra (sildenafil) is not included on either Schedule 10 or 11 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 and it would not be expected that such action would be taken unless, as in any other case, recovery of an amount were to be due by virtue of other provisions relating to general practitioners and their terms of service.

  Beta-interferon
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with health authorities regarding the prescribing of beta-interferon; what medical advice he has received regarding the benefits of that drug; what percentage of health authorities prescribe this drug; and if he will make a statement. [71192]

  Mr. Denham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with health authorities regarding the prescribing of beta-interferon.

  Clinical advice from the Standing Medical Advisory Committee on the use of beta-interferon-1b in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults was included in guidance issued to health authorities in November 1995 to help the National Health Service prepare for the introduction of beta-interferon for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (Executive Letter (95) 97). This included advice that general practitioners should be encouraged not to prescribe beta-interferon themselves, and instead refer patients who apparently fulfil the indications for this form of treatment to a hospital neurologist.
  735
  The majority of beta-interferon prescribing should therefore take place in hospitals. Hospital prescribing and dispensing data are not held centrally.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  East Timor
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had about the future of East Timor. [69437]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We remain committed to the UN process of searching for a solution to the East Timor problem. We are in regular touch with the Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers and the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on East Timor, Jamsheed Marker. We welcome the recent Indonesian government announcement that East Timor might reach independence and hope it will prove to be a turning point.

  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government about military activity in East Timor since their offer of independence for the territory. [69445]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We are concerned at reports of growing tension in East Timor. We have been in regular touch with the Indonesian government about the situation there since their announcement that East Timor might reach independence.

  Windward Islands
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of the Government towards the Windward Islands. [69438]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We continue to have very good relations with the Windward Islands, and to maintain permanent representation in three of them. We continue to encourage increased efficiency in the banana industry and promote diversification. We are working through the WTO to try to resolve the dispute with the US over the revised EU banana regime.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in reaching a settlement in Cyprus. [69439]

  Ms Quin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) and the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson),Official Report, column 723.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on the Cypriot application for membership of the European Union. [69446]

  Ms Quin
  The enlargement process is on track. For Cyprus (and the five Central European states considered ready) substantive negotiations on the first seven chapters of the Union acquis began on 10 November. We support 736
  the German Presidency's aim of opening negotiations on half of the 31 chapters with these countries by the Cologne Council in June.

  UN Committee 661
  Mr. John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the remit of United Nations Committee 661 in relation to sanctions on Iraq. [69440]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Government fully support the crucial role of the United Nations Committee established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 661 in monitoring and implementing sanctions against Iraq, including humanitarian exemptions and relief under the Oil for Food programme.

  We took the lead last year in proposing improvements to the procedures of the Sanctions Committee to increase the effectiveness of the Oil for Food programme. According to the latest reports, this programme is having ever greater success in ensuring that humanitarian supplies reach those who need them.

  Middle East Peace Process
  Mr. Fabian Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to support the middle east peace process; and if he will make a statement. [69441]

  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to assist the middle east peace process. [R] [69449]

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had concerning the middle eastern peace process with middle eastern Governments; and if he will make a statement. [69457]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Together with our EU partners we have deplored the failure to complete the implementation of the Wye River Memorandum within the declared deadline, and we continue to urge both sides to implement their obligations in full and without new conditions.

  The peace process lost one of its leading advocates with the death of His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal of Jordan on 7 February. The finest tribute to his memory would be to get the peace process back on track.

  Last week's visit to the region by German Foreign Minister Fischer as European Council Presidency was a welcome opportunity for us to explore ways that Europe can support the peace process.

  International Criminal Court
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the development of the International Criminal Court. [69442]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Seventy-five States, including the UK, have signed the Statute of the International Criminal Court, and one—Senegal—has ratified it. We intend that the UK should be among the first sixty States to ratify. The first meeting of the Preparatory Commission for the Court begins today in New York. The Government will
  737
  continue to lobby for international support for the Court, and will play a full part in the work of the Preparatory Commission.

  Iran
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet representatives of the Iranian Government to discuss restoration of full diplomatic relations. [69443]

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his last meeting with the Government of Iran. [69450]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's last meeting with a representative of the Iranian government was with Foreign Minister Kharrazi at the United Nations in New York in September. He and Dr. Kharrazi have subsequently spoken on the telephone. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to meet representatives of the Iranian government in the immediate future.

  Yemen
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he will take to ensure that British citizens arrested in Yemen receive a fair trial. [69444]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary left Prime Minister Iryani in no doubt about our serious concern that the British nationals arrested in Yemen be subject to the due process of law in open court, with our consular staff in attendance. We have discussed our concerns with Prime Minister Iryani on three separate occasions. The trial began on 27 January. We are monitoring the proceedings.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from other countries concerning the situation in Yemen. [70398]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has received no representations from other countries about the situation in Yemen, but has stayed in close touch with the Yemenis.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are currently in detention in Yemen. [70397]

  Mr. Fatchett
  On 16 February 1999 there were eight British nationals in trial in Yemen.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate how many British citizens are currently in Yemen. [70396]

  Mr. Fatchett
  There are 373 British nationals currently registered with the British Embassy in Sana'a. Allowing for others not registered it is estimated that the total number of British nationals based in Yemen may be around 400.
  738

  World Bank
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next meet the President of the World bank to discuss its new programme of public-private partnerships. [69447]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary have current plans to meet with the President of the World Bank.

  The UK is a key source of funding for the World Bank's Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility and the Business Partners for Development scheme.

  Mongolia
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Mongolia. [69448]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Britain enjoys a very warm relationship with Mongolia. We have supported fully Mongolia's transition to democracy, and commend the Mongolian Government's commitment to achieving a market economy. Our educational and cultural links are strong and bilateral trade has increased. We hope that the relationship will continue to develop in all areas.

  Kosovo
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress towards a political settlement in Kosovo. [69451]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Contact Group Foreign Ministers met in Paris at the weekend to assess progress in the Kosovo peace talks. Although progress has been slower than we had hoped, the two parties remain engaged and we agreed to allow them a further week in which to conclude negotiations. It is now crucial that they reach agreement on the difficult issues outstanding.

  Provided that the parties live up to their responsibilities to reach an interim settlement, the international community is willing to devote significant civilian and military resources to helping the people of Kosovo rebuild their lives in conditions of security. But we will hold both sides accountable if they fail to take this opportunity.

  St. Malo Agreement
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with European partners about the St. Malo agreement on security and foreign policy. [69452]

  Ms Quin
  At St. Malo, we agreed with the French Government the principles which any new European defence arrangements should observe. Other European partners welcomed those ideas at the European Council in Vienna. Since then, there have been numerous contact at official level with both EU partners and NATO Allies to pursue detailed work.

  Somaliland
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Somaliland. [69453]
  739
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We do not recognise the region of somalia known as "Somaliland" as an independent sovereign state.

  Although we do recognise the Republic of Somalia, we do not maintain diplomatic relations there in the absence of a government.

  However, our Ambassador and his staff in Addis Ababa do maintain an unofficial dialogue with the self-proclaimed Government of Somaliland.

  Agenda 2000
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the proposals for EU enlargement under Agenda 2000; and if he will make a statement. [69454]

  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress on EU enlargement under agenda 2000. [69579]

  Ms Quin
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave in the House earlier today on this subject, in response to a question from my hon. friend the member for St. Helens, north (Mr. Watts),Official Report, column 715.

  Iraq (Kurds)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what political support Her Majesty's Government are giving to the Kurds of northern Iraq; and if he will make a statement on his Department's contacts with the Kurdish political parties. [69455]

  Mr. Fatchett
  As one of the co-sponsors of the Ankara Peace Process, we support the building of peace and stability for the Kurds in Iraq. RAF aircraft continue to participate in Operation Northern Watch, which plays a major role in protecting the people of northern Iraq from repression. Our bilateral aid programme for northern Iraq amounts to some £3 million a year.

  We have kept in close contact with the Kurdish Diplomatic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan as their leaders have worked towards reconciliation. We remain ready to assist that process in any way we can. We welcomed the agreement reached in Washington in September 1998 and have discussed with the parties' leaders here in London how we can help make the agreement work in practice. In addition to regular meetings with representatives of these and other Iraqi Kurdish groups in London, officials from our Embassy in Ankara also make periodic visits to northern Iraq to meet Kurdish leaders.

  European Institutions (Reform)
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about reform of the European institutions; and if he will make a statement. [69456]
  740
  Ms Quin
  The Government have received representations on institutional reform both in contacts with partners and from non-governmental organisations. The Cologne European Council will take the next step by deciding how and when to tackle the institutional issues not resolved at Amsterdam.

  Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to promote global nuclear disarmament; and if he will make a statement. [69458]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Government set out their approach to nuclear disarmament in the Strategic Defence Review in July 1998. We intend to be a constructive actor in the nuclear disarmament process, using our influence to move it forward where we can. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence set out in his Parliamentary answer of 2 November 1998,Official Report, columns 414–15, the steps this Government have already taken in this area.

  The highest priorities now are promoting the ratification of START II by the Russian Duma; securing entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and the negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty.

  Environmental Issues
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken by his Department to support international work on environmental issues. [69459]

  Mr. Fatchett
  They are many and varied: we are working in international fora, including G8 and CHOGM, with colleagues from other Departments to achieve better protection of the international environment and sustainable use of natural resources. Under our Presidency of the EU, we achieved our objective at the European Council in June 1998 of agreement to integrate the environment into all areas of EU policy-making. We co-funded, with DfID, a successful Caribbean marine biodiversity workshop co-chaired with Jamaica in October 1998. We have contributed to the leading role the British Government have been able to take in international environmental negotiations, for example the climate change conference in Buenos Aires in November 1998. We are now building a closer relationship with business and NGO's on the environment, through our FCO/Business Energy Challenge, and our programme to support small environmental projects.

  Ministerial Flights
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cumulative cost incurred by his Department for ministerial use of RAF and chartered aircraft in the year to 1 May 1997. [69074]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 4 February 1999]: The total cumulative cost of ministerial use of RAF and chartered aircraft in the year to 1 May 1997 was just over £1.006 million.
  741

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the name of the 16 year-old Iraqi youth, imprisoned since the age of five years for throwing a stone at a picture of Saddam Hussein, to whom he has referred in public statements. [69786]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary never purported to know the boy by name. He received an account, in good faith, of this episode. On the basis of what he already knew of Saddam Hussein's regime he found it convincing and in character. I refer my hon. Friend to the report of September 1998 of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iraq, Mr. Max Van Der Stoel, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what reports he has received of an incident on 3 February in Idi Cut, East Aceh in which Indonesian soldiers opened fire on civilians; and what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government on this incident; [70600]

  (2) if he will express to the Indonesian Government the British Government's concern about armed violence in Aceh; and if he will request the Indonesian authorities to reduce the number of military personnel in Aceh. [70599]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have received reports of a serious incident on 3 February in the village of Idi Cut, East Aceh, in which soldiers opened fire on a crowd. A number of deaths have been confirmed. Where there is evidence of serious human rights violations in Indonesia, we continue to raise our concerns in robust terms with the Indonesian Government.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of persecution of minority(a) political parties and (b) religions in Pakistan. [70376]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We are monitoring the situation closely. I made clear during my visit last week our concern at reports of abuses against minorities.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will raise in bilateral talks with the Government of Pakistan the extent to which the fundamental rights guaranteed by the country's constitution are being honoured; and what steps he is taking to seek to ensure these rights are honoured. [70375]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I raised this issue with Pakistan's Minister of Law on 8 February. He told me that he was concerned that all Pakistanis received the rights granted to them under the constitution. We will continue to follow this issue closely.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from officials in Pakistan about the growth of Muslim extremism in Pakistan; and what assessment he has made of its possible effects on Anglo-Pakistan relations. [70371]
  742
  Mr. Fatchett
  Our Missions report on all aspects of Pakistan. Our relations with Pakistan are deep-rooted and friendly. An objective of our regular bilateral dialogue is to ensure this remains the case.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department made to the Pakistan Government during the visit to Pakistan by the Minister of State between 8 and 10 February, concerning the suppression of the Daily Jang newspaper; and if he will make a statement. [71184]

  Mr. Fatchett
  On 8 February I expressed concern to the Minister of Law that the Pakistan Government's dispute with the Jang Group threatened to undermine press freedom and democracy. The Minister replied that freedom of speech and an independent press were separately guaranteed under Pakistan's Constitution. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to call for the expulsion of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth. [70577]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have no plans to call for Zimbabwe's expulsion from the Commonwealth. Such action is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the state of governance in Zimbabwe. [70582]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We receive regular reports on developments in Zimbabwe. There is clearly cause for concern in a number of areas, chiefly the economy, Zimbabwe's involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and recent human rights abuses.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a British minister last met President Mugabe; and what was discussed. [70581]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I met President Mugabe on 4 December 1998. We discussed the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, land redistribution in Zimbabwe and human rights. I also briefed him on the UK's position on Libya/Lockerbie.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Mugabe following his recent broadcast on state television on possible action against the judiciary and others. [70583]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We had already made representations, here and in Harare, about recent human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, including the detention of Mr. Chavunduka and Mr. Choto, and the disturbing allegations that they were tortured while in army detention.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Mugabe about the detention of the journalists Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto. [70584]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Government are shocked by the detention and apparent torture of Mr. Chavunduka and Mr. Choto by the military authorities in Zimbabwe, and applauds the prompt action by the judiciary in
  743
  ordering Mr. Chavunduka's release. I have already sought assurances from the Zimbabwe Government that it will take swift action to investigate these serious allegations; and to bring the perpetrators to justice. We have also made representations on these lines with our European Union partners in Harare.

  We await a formal response from the Government of Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency plans his Department has to protect British citizens in Zimbabwe. [70585]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  All diplomatic missions overseas prepare contingency plans where there is a potential threat to the safety of the British community from civil unrest or a deterioration in the security situation. We currently hold such a plan for Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Commonwealth Secretariat about civil rights abuses in Zimbabwe. [70586]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  None. I have made representations direct to the Government of Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last called in the Zimbabwean Ambassador to protest about civil rights abuses in Zimbabwe. [70587]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  On 22 January we summoned the Acting High Commissioner for Zimbabwe, to protest about the detention and apparent torture of Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto. We made it clear that we expect the Zimbabwe Government to uphold international human rights standards, and quickly to investigate allegations of abuse.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Zimbabwe about allegations of torture and harassment of journalists in Zimbabwe. [69726]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Government are shocked by the detention and apparent torture of Mr. Chavunduka and Mr. Choto by the military authorities in Zimbabwe, and applaud the prompt action by the judiciary in ordering Mr. Chavunduka's release. I have already sought assurances from the Zimbabwe Government that they will take swift action to investigate these serious allegations; and to bring perpetrators to justice. We have also made representations on these lines with our European Union partners in Harare.

  We await a formal response from the Government of Zimbabwe.

  King Leka
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the South African Government about the arrest and detention of former King Leka of Albania. [70576]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have made no such representations to the South African Government. This is a matter for the South African judicial system.
  744

  Party Political Conferences
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the treaty base which permits the Commission representation in the United Kingdom to participate at party political conferences. [70603]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Commission representation in the United Kingdom attends party political conferences as an international visitor, on the same basis as other international organisations and representatives of other countries. Invitations to attend these conferences are a matter for the political party concerned. No specific Treaty base is required.

  Gibraltar (Border Delays)
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) of 4 February 1999,Official Report, column 703, if he will make a statement on the border delays which have occurred at Gibraltar since the agreement between the Government of Gibraltar and Spanish fishermen. [70665]

  Ms Quin
  Since 3 February there have been delays at the border between Gibraltar and Spain which have, on occasion, reached up to five hours. Such delays are unjustifiable and unacceptable. The Embassy in Madrid has raised this issue on several occasions recently with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have made it clear to the Spanish authorities that we look to them to allow movement across the border in conformity with EU obligations.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current waiting times in each queue for entry to the United Kingdom in(a)Bombay, (b) New Delhi, (c) Islamabad and (d) Dhaka. [70395]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The latest available figures show that in Bombay, New Delhi, Islamabad and Dhaka an average of 97 per cent. of applicants for non-settlement visas, whose applications are straightforward, receive their visas within 24 hours of applying.

  The current (10 February) waiting times for an interview in connection with an application for settlement in the United Kingdom, in Bombay, New Delhi, Islamabad and Dhaka are as follows (figures are in weeks):

  Dependent relatives over 65; compassionate cases

  Spouses children under 18

  Fiance(e)s other settlement categories

  Re-applied

  Bombay

  nil

  8

  8

  8

  New Delhi

  nil

  14

  23

  29

  Islamabad

  7

  27

  28

  32

  Dhaka

  16

  28

  32

  36

  745
  The current waiting times for an interview (Tier 3) in connection with a non-settlement application is as follows (in days):

  Days

  Bombay

  nil

  New Delhi

  nil

  Islamabad

  115

  Dhaka

  nil

  1 Wherever possible urgent compassionate cases are interviewed on day of application

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average length of time a person applying for entry clearance for settlement at each post in the Indian subcontinent and in (1) Manila, (2) Bangkok, (3) Lagos, (4) Abuja, (5) Accra, (6) St. Petersburg and (7) Moscow who was interviewed in (i) December 1997, (ii) June 1998 and (iii) December 1998 waited before interview, in each queue; and how long a person who applied in (A) June 1998, (B) September 1998, (C) December 1998 and (D) January 1999 can be expected to wait, at the same posts and in each queue. [70743]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The statistics that are collected centrally could not provide accurate figures to reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's question. A comprehensive reply could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The statistics requested in the second part of my hon. Friend's question are as follows.

  Post average waiting time for settlement interview at the end of each month (in weeks)

  June 1998

  September 1998

  December 1998

  January 1999

  Islamabad

  Q1

  10

  6

  7

  7

  Q2

  17

  17

  26

  27

  Q3

  26

  24

  28

  28

  Q4

  30

  28

  32

  32

  Karachi

  17

  16

  11

  6

  Dhaka

  Q1

  14

  15

  16

  16

  Q2

  16

  18

  22

  28

  Q3

  14

  14

  14

  n/a

  Q4

  20

  22

  32

  36

  Calcutta

  5

  1

  0

  n/a

  New Delhi

  Q1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Q2

  15

  17

  12

  12

  Q3

  23

  25

  25

  24

  Q4

  30

  32

  32

  20

  Bombay

  Q1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Q2

  10

  12

  12

  8

  Q3

  10

  12

  12

  8

  Q4

  10

  12

  12

  8

  Madras

  4

  3

  5

  5

  Colombo

  4

  7

  4

  2

  Manila

  8

  6

  6

  n/a

  Bangkok

  8

  7

  3

  7

  Lagos

  6

  11

  5

  3

  Abuja

  3

  12

  7

  5.5

  Accra

  20

  17

  3

  7.2

  St. Petersburg

  5

  1

  2

  n/a

  Moscow

  1.5

  2

  4

  0

  Notes

  Q1 = Dependent relatives over 65; special compassionate cases

  Q2 = Spouses, children under 18

  Q3 = Fiancé(e)s; other settlement categories

  Q4 = Reapplicants

  n/a = Not applicable
  746

  Bangladesh (British High Commissioner)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to announce the name of the new British High Commissioner in Bangladesh. [70400]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We aim to announce Ambassadorial, Governor and High Commissioner appointments three months before the appointment is taken up. In the case of Dhaka, the present High Commissioner, Mr. David Walker, is due to leave post towards the end of 1999.

  Migration and Visa Correspondence Unit
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited the Migration and Visa Correspondence Unit. [70399]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not visited the Migration and Visa Correspondence Unit (MVCU). However, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Symons, who has responsibility for entry clearance matters, last visited MVCU in May 1997. My noble Friend also has regular contact with MVCU about specific visa cases, and addresses Entry Clearance training courses.

  Departmental Asset Sales
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the items sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies from those listed in the National Assets Register of November 1997; if he will give in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total cash raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [70410]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: The National Assets Register published in November 1997 gave details of asset holdings as at 1 April 1997. Since that date the FCO has sold 58 overseas estate assets and 181 vehicles. Details are as listed. Total proceeds amounted to £12.65m. Property sales in the pipeline are expected to realise a further £40m.

  The FCO sale of assets—Property from 1 April 1997 to date

  Country

  Description

  Number of sales

  Proceeds (£000)

  New Zealand

  Wellington

  Dwelling

  1

  58

  Namibia

  Windhoek

  Dwelling

  1

  61

  Lesotho

  Maseru

  Land

  2

  54

  France

  Paris

  Dwelling

  11

  1,011

  Residence

  1

  1,661

  Marseilles

  Residence

  1

  691

  South Africa

  Johannesburg

  Dwelling

  3

  100

  Cape Town

  Dwelling

  1

  296

  Pretoria

  Dwelling

  1

  135

  Holland

  The Hague

  Dwelling

  3

  226

  Zambia

  Lusaka

  Dwelling

  4

  272

  Spain

  Madrid

  Dwelling

  1

  91

  Mozambique

  Maputo

  Dwelling

  1

  82

  Switzerland

  Zurich

  Residence

  1

  1,086

  Geneva

  Dwelling

  4

  983

  Argentina

  Buenos Aires

  Dwelling

  1

  65

  Zimbabwe

  Harare

  Dwelling

  1

  32

  Finland

  Helsinki

  Dwelling

  3

  541

  Guyana

  Georgetown

  Dwelling

  1

  145

  Solomon Isles

  Honiara

  Dwelling

  1

  53

  Germany

  Berlin

  Land

  1

  127

  747

  The FCO sale of assets—Property from 1 April 1997 to date

  Country

  Description

  Number of sales

  Proceeds (£000)

  Portugal

  Oporto

  Land

  1

  781

  Trinidad

  Port of Spain

  Dwelling

  1

  162

  Columbia

  Bogota

  Offices

  1

  539

  Dwelling

  1

  46

  Morocco

  Casablanca

  Offices

  1

  863

  Swaziland

  Mbabane

  Dwelling

  1

  29

  Norway

  Oslo

  Dwelling

  1

  201

  Canada

  Ottawa

  Dwelling

  2

  672

  Ecuador

  Quito

  Residence

  1

  188

  Land

  1

  135

  Australia

  Canberra

  Dwelling

  1

  141

  Iceland

  Reykjavik

  Dwelling

  1

  42

  Albania

  Tirana

  Dwelling

  1

  65

  Proceeds

  £11.63m

  Vehicles

  (From 1 April 1997 to 30 September 1998. The latest date for which information is available)

  Heavy Commercial

  5

  Light Commercial

  34

  Motor Cars

  142

  Proceeds

  £ 1.02m

  Total Proceeds

  £12.65m

  Russia (Anti-semitism)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on anti-semitism in Russia. [70949]

  Ms Quin
  Her Majesty's Government share the wide public and parliamentary concern about recent anti-semitic statements in Russia. We have told the Russian authorities that racial intolerance and extremist political activities are wholly unacceptable and most recently last week I raised this with the Chairman of President Yeltsin's Commission on Human Rights. We look to the Russian government and the regional administrations to take firm action to deal with anti-semitism, and we welcome the strong condemnation of racial intolerance by President Yeltsin in November last year.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made to the Russian Government consequent upon anti-semitic attacks on Marina Roshcha synagogue and Vostryakovskoye cemetery last year. [70950]

  Ms Quin
  The British Ambassador in Moscow and, at our instigation, the EU Presidency, have made strong representations about the anti-semitism in Russia, but have not specifically referred to these attacks. We and our EU partners made clear to the Presidential Administration, the Communist leadership and the Duma that antisemitism is wholly unacceptable. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will reinforce these messages personally when he visits Russia. We welcome President Yeltsin's condemnation of the attack on the Marina synagogue.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Russian Government concerning statements on Zionism made in December 1998 by the leader of the Communist Party. [70951]
  748
  Ms Quin
  The British Ambassador in Moscow raised our concerns about anti-semitism in Russia with both the Presidential Administration and Mr. Zyuganov himself before the Communist leader's statement of 23 December. At our instigation, the EU Presidency in Moscow expressed EU concerns to Deputy Foreign Minister Gussarov on 28 January, and will follow up shortly with Mr. Zyuganov.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Russian Government on anti-semitism in Russia. [70948]

  Ms Quin
  The British Ambassador made representations to the Presidential Administration on 3 December; the leader of the Communist Party, Gennady Zyuganov on 4 December; and Deputy Foreign Minister Avdeev on 15 January. At our instigation, the EU Presidency formally raised it with Deputy Prime Minister Gussarov on 28 January. I also expressed our concerns to President Yeltsin's Human Rights adviser, Professor Kartashkin, on 11 February. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will raise this issue during his forthcoming visit to Russia.

  Burmese Military Offensive
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to encourage the Thai Government to increase the security of refugee camps along the Burmese border during the current dry season Burmese military offensive. [70748]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Following rumours of a possible Burmese attack on the Thai-Burma border, the British Embassy in Bangkok last week raised with the Thai authorities our concern for the security of refugees in the area. The Thais assured us that they were alive to the risk of dry season attacks and were taking measures to ensure the protection of refugees.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to put pressure on the Burmese military regime to cease ethnic cleansing actions against ethnic minorities in Burma. [70749]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have repeatedly made clear to the Burmese regime our deep concern at their human rights violations, particularly those of ethnic minorities. In December 1998, we co-sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution which strongly urges the SPDC to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. We, and our EU Partners, are also working towards a tough resolution at the forthcoming session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. We will continue to take every opportunity to raise our concerns with the regime.

  Conventional Arms Working Group
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates of future meetings of Conventional Arms Working Group. [71066]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The next meeting of COARM will take place on 18 March. The final COARM of the German Presidency is scheduled for 26 May but this date may be changed in order to avoid clashing with a meeting of the Wassenaar Arrangement.
  749
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the conclusions of the Conventional Arms Working Group meetings for December and January. [71048]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Applications for access to Council documents can be made to the General Secretariat of the Council, which suggests to the Council what action should be taken on individual applications.

  There are no formal conclusions of CFSP Working Group meetings. The outcome of proceedings of the COARM meeting on 28 January 1999 can be applied for from the Council Secretariat, under Council Decision 93/731/EC on access to Council documents. There was no COARM meeting in December 1998.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the agendas of the Council of Ministers' Conventional Arms Working Group working group meetings for December and January. [71047]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  There was no COARM meeting in December 1998. The COARM meeting on 28 January discussed the implementation of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports; prevention of illicit arms trafficking to and within the Great Lakes region; and controls exercised by Member States on the trafficking and brokering of arms.

  Arms Brokers
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the numbers of arms brokers operating in the UK. [71045]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made no estimate of the numbers of arms brokers operating in the UK.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to respond to the Matutes proposals regarding the future of Gibraltar. [71771]

  Ms Quin
  We have always said that we will respond to the proposals made by Sr Matutes at the next Brussels Process meeting. No date has yet been fixed.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to alter the constitutional status of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement on the likely date of implementation. [71693]

  Ms Quin
  We have had preliminary technical discussions with the Government of Gibraltar about their ideas for constitutional change. No formal proposals have yet been made.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Spanish nationals normally domiciled in Spain are regularly employed in Gibraltar. [71695]

  Ms Quin
  On 12 February this year, the Government of Gibraltar's records listed 1,741 Spanish nationals as working in Gibraltar but residing in Spain. All employers 750
  in Gibraltar are required to register their personnel with the Employment and Training Board, irrespective of nationality.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Spanish Foreign Minister's statement that he has breached an agreement made between them on Gibraltar in October 1998. [71585]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not breached the understanding agreed with the Spanish Foreign Minister in October 1998. There were difficulties in making the understanding work at the local level. We now hope that the local agreement reached between the Chief Minister of Gibraltar and the fishermen, building on the October understanding, will continue to work satisfactorily.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what understanding was arrived at between himself and the Spanish Foreign Minister over Gibraltar at their meeting in October 1998. [71587]

  Ms Quin
  On 5 October 1998, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reached an understanding with the Spanish Foreign Minister on the situation that prevailed in British waters around Gibraltar from 1991–97, when fishing took place in moderation and the fishermen respected the authority of the Gibraltar law enforcement agencies. They agreed that we should revert to that situation.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the European Commission since 1 February on the issue of Spain's treatment of Gibraltar; when they were made; and to whom. [71713]

  Ms Quin
  The UK Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels wrote both to the President of the European Commission and to his Chef de Cabinet on 11 February about recent developments concerning Gibraltar. His staff had briefed the cabinet of the Commissioner Gradin and other relevant cabinets in early February concerning the closure of the border by Spanish fishermen.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take to ensure that Gibraltar driving-licence holders can enter Spain. [71722]

  Ms Quin
  We are monitoring the Spanish approach to Gibraltar-issued driving licences. Driving licences issued in Gibraltar are EU licences. EU driving licences must be mutually recognised by member states under the requirements of the EU Second Driving Licence Directive. We look to the Spanish authorities to recognise these documents in conformity with EU obligations.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if representations made to the Spanish Government on 10 February were made by(a) minister and (b) officials. [71716]

  Ms Quin
  HM Ambassador in Madrid raised the Spanish Foreign Minister's comments to the Spanish Congress with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 10 February and called on the Ministry in person on
  751
  11 February to pursue the matter. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to the Spanish Foreign Minister on 11 February.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the recently agreed Fisheries Agreement between Gibraltar and the Spanish Fishermen's Union. [71725]

  Ms Quin
  We welcome the agreement reached on 3 February between the Chief Minister of Gibraltar and representatives of local Spanish fishermen, which builds on the understanding agreed by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary with the Spanish Foreign Minister in October 1998. These new arrangements have since been working well in practice.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he intends in the event that the Spanish Foreign Minister refuses Gibraltar-bound civil airlines the right to overfly Spanish airspace. [71723]

  Ms Quin
  The Spanish Foreign Minister has not informed us of any present intention to refuse Gibraltar-bound civil aircraft the right to overfly Spanish airspace. It would be extraordinary and unprecedented for an EU Member State to impose an overflight ban on civil aircraft of a European partner.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the dates of all his attempts to converse with the Spanish Foreign Minister to discuss Gibraltar in the past two weeks, indicating the means employed and the outcome of those attempts; [71715]

  (2) on what occasions the Spanish Foreign Minister has contacted (a) him and (b) his office about Gibraltar in the past two weeks. [71720]

  Ms Quin
  The two Ministers' offices spoke on the telephone several times but were unable to set up a telephone conversation between the Ministers until 11 February.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates of all the conversations he had with the Spanish Foreign Minister to discuss Gibraltar in the past two weeks; and if he will make a statement on these conversations. [71714]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most recently discussed Gibraltar with the Spanish Foreign Minister on 25 January and in a telephone conversation on 11 February. The first conversation was about problems over fishing in British waters around Gibraltar. The second also covered Spanish restrictions on movement across the Gibraltar border, the implementation of EU Directives in Gibraltar and reports of other planned Spanish restrictions. The two Ministers agreed to work to improve the situation, and to meet again on 21 February.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed border restrictions and delays at the La Linea Frontier with the Spanish Government; and if he will make a statement. [71717]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed this issue with the Spanish Foreign Minister in a telephone conversation on 11 February.
  752
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to respond to the Spanish proposals for joint sovereignty of Gibraltar, tabled on 10 December 1997. [71718]

  Ms Quin
  We have always said that we will respond to the Spanish proposals at the next Brussels Process meeting. No date has yet been fixed.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken to end restrictions on the rights of Gibraltarians to pass across their border freely. [71721]

  Ms Quin
  In our discussion of Gibraltar with the Spanish government, we have always emphasised that border restrictions going beyond those compatible with EU norms for a light passport check and customs control (Gibraltar is outside the Community customs territory) are unjustified and counter-productive. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke on the telephone to the Spanish Foreign Minister on this subject on 11 February. The Embassy in Madrid has also raised it on several occasions with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and I have raised it with my counterpart, Senor de Miguel. We again made it clear to the Spanish authorities that we look to them to allow movement across the border in conformity with EU obligations. We have also drawn the current situation at the Gibraltar/Spain border to the attention of the President of the European Commission.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to discuss the recently agreed Fisheries Agreement between Gibraltar and the Spanish Fishermen's Union with the Spanish Foreign Minister. [71724]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this issue with the Spanish Foreign Minister when they spoke on the telephone on 11 February.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the residents of Gibraltar over Spanish proposals for joint sovereignty of Gibraltar, tabled on 10 December 1997; and if he will make a statement. [71719]

  Ms Quin
  We have received numerous individual representations from residents of Gibraltar, as well as a petition organised by the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group. All have called on HMG to reject the proposals.

  Spain (Tourism)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the estimated value of British tourism to mainland Spain in the last year for which figures are available.[71699]

  Ms Quin
  The latest official figures available from the Office for National Statistics Tourism Trends show that in 1997 the total number of British visitors to Spain (both tourist and business), was 8.25 million. British visitors spent a total of £2.825 billion during the year. The figure for 1998 will be higher as the number of British tourists to Spain last year rose significantly over preceding years.
  753

  Prime Minister (Articles)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those articles, written by the Prime Minister, which his Department has placed through overseas posts in foreign newspapers and journals; and if he will deposit the English version in the Library. [71145]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his question by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 February 1999,Official Report, column 642.

  Biosafety
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what input his Department has made in determining the Government's objectives in the forthcoming negotiations on the Biosafety Protocol to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. [70936]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The UK has reached a common position with EU partners on the objectives for the Biosafety Protocol: to secure an instrument that provides necessary environmental safeguards without hampering trade. FCO Posts have recently conducted a major lobbying exercise in non-EU countries to present the EU and UK position on the Protocol. The results of this exercise have helped to inform the preparations for the final negotiations of the Protocol.

  Al-Shifa Factory, Khartoum
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum was engaged in commercial production of medicines and drugs. [71761]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We understand that the Al-Shifa plant was involved in commercial pharmaceutical production.

  Sierra Leone
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who was the first person in his Department to have sight of a copy of the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone (HC 116 of Session 1998–99); and at what time and on what day it was seen. [71829]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Copies of the report were collected from the Foreign Affairs Committee office at 0800 on 9 February by the Head of Parliamentary Relations Department and the Parliamentary Clerk.

  EU Membership
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what percentages the entry of the six current applicant countries for EU membership into the EU will increase(a) the EU's population and (b) the EU's GDP. [71085]

  Ms Quin
  We cannot of course predict the population or GDP of the candidates or the 15 current EU member states at the time of the first accessions. However recent figures indicate that enlargement to include the six candidates currently in accession negotiations would 754
  increase the EU' s population by some 17 per cent. (based on figures in Agenda 2000 published by the European Commission in July 1997) and GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) by about 8 per cent. (based on figures released by Eurostat on 11 September 1998).

  Weapons Seizure (Antwerp)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the seizure at Antwerp on 7 February of consignments of weapons destined for Eritrea, being transported by a British company. [71384]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We received no representations from the Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs about seizures at Antwerp on 7 February.

  We did, however, receive a letter from the Belgian Embassy in London on 6 November 1998 informing us that Belgian Customs had stopped, in August, a shipment of goods originating in Germany destined for Eritrea. They informed us that a British company was involved in organising the shipment. The matter is before the Belgian courts. We will continue to monitor developments.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the numbers of Serbs displaced from their homes in Krajina; how many have since been permitted to return; what representations he has made to the Croatian authorities about the problem; and if he will make a statement. [71321]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We receive regular reports on the refugee situation in the former Yugoslavia from organisations such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM).

  According to UNHCR figures, there remain 220,000 Croatian Serb refugees outside Croatia. There are also some 8,000 Serb refugees in the Creation region of Eastern Slavonia who were displaced from their homes. Up until 4 February 1999, 28,000 Croatian Serb refugees are reported to have returned to Croatia.

  We take every opportunity to impress on the states of the former Yugoslavia the importance we place on refugee return. I most recently raised this issue with the Croatian Assistant Foreign Minister when he called on me in London on 8 February.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received in respect of the massacre at Bosanski Brod in 1992; if any persons have been indicted and brought before The Hague International War Crimes Tribunal for their involvement; and if he will make a statement. [71322]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have received no recent reports in respect of a massacre at Bosanski Brod in 1992 and are not aware of any indictments released by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia relating to such a massacre. However, the destruction of property in Bosanski Brod in 1992 is mentioned briefly in an
  755
  indictment against Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. It is open to ICTY to issue further indictments if it has sufficient evidence to prosecute individuals suspected of war crimes anywhere in the territory of the Former Yugoslavia.

  EU Institutional Charges
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the institutional changes within the EU, with particular reference to relations between national parliaments, following the coming into effect of the Amsterdam Treaty. [69432]

  Ms Quin
  The Protocol on national parliaments attached to the Treaty of Amsterdam provides for a consultative role for COSAC—the representatives of European Affairs Committees from national parliaments in the European Union. We welcome this development. The Protocol also provides for greater involvement of national parliaments in EU business through the six-week minimum scrutiny period. This will reinforce the changes to our national scrutiny system introduced last November.

  Sudan
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts have been made to improve Anglo-Sudanese diplomatic relations in the last year; and if he will list the formal contacts to this end between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Sudan, and the results of these contacts. [71758]
  756
  Mr. Fatchett
  We have had regular contact with the Sudanese authorities since the withdrawal of British staff from Khartoum in August last year. Through these contacts we continue to work towards the normalisation of Anglo-Sudanese relations. Contacts are ongoing.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer on 30 November 1998,Official Report, column 96, if Her Majesty's Government have supported resolutions or draft resolutions calling for an independent United Nations investigation of the Al-Shifa factory site in Khartoum. [71759]

  Mr. Fatchett
  A draft resolution on this issue is still on the table at the UN Security Council but has not been put to the vote.

  Bilateral US/Sudan dialogue on the issue continues. Meanwhile we encourage Sudan to become a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the acquisition, development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. It is supported by a verification regime consisting of data declarations and on-site inspections.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from Her Majesty's Ambassador to Sudan on whether the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum was a heavily guarded military installation. [71760]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Her Majesty's Ambassador to Khartoum visited the Al-Shifa factory only once; for the official opening ceremony in July 1997. He did not report that it was a heavily guarded military installation.

  Correction to Official Report
  Correction to Official Report
  Peers' Age Profile
  Peers' Age Profile
  Peers' Attendance Record
  Peers' Attendance Record
  Yugoslavia: Arms and Training Embargo
  Yugoslavia: Arms and Training Embargo
  Ethiopia and Eritrea: Arms Embargo
  Ethiopia and Eritrea: Arms Embargo
  Charter Mark Awards: Retention
  Charter Mark Awards: Retention
  Carers: Paid Breaks
  Carers: Paid Breaks
  Concessionary Fares for Disabled People
  Concessionary Fares for Disabled People
  Rail Fare Increases
  Rail Fare Increases
  Northern Ireland: Ceasefire Breach
  Northern Ireland: Ceasefire Breach
  Preparations for EMU: Standing Committee Minutes
  Preparations for EMU: Standing Committee Minutes
  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Asylum Seekers: Legal Aid
  Asylum Seekers: Legal Aid