Written Answers of 18 January 1999

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the rates of pay for people on St. Helena paid from Government funds for the last 10 years for which figures are available. [65790]

  Clare Short
  The table lists the average pay per annum, over the last 10 years, for our Technical Co-operation and Overseas Service Aid Scheme officers in St. Helena. Other allowances have not been included as they vary over time and by individual circumstances.

  £

  Year

  Average pay

  1989

  21,713

  1990

  22,251

  1991

  24,746

  1992

  26,310

  1993

  27,619

  1994

  28,172

  1995

  28,585

  1996

  28,527

  1997

  28,601

  1998

  29,811

  Nicaragua and Honduras
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what are the current arrangements for repayments of debts by Nicaragua and Honduras to the British Government. [65338]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  At the Paris Club meeting on 9 December the UK agreed to grant a three year moratorium on debt service payments from Nicaragua. Nicaragua need not make any payments to the UK Government before 2001. The government have already cancelled all debts owed to the UK by Honduras.

  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the current amount of debt owed to Britain by Nicaragua and Honduras. [65337]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  ECGD is owed some £1 million by Nicaragua. The Government had already forgiven all debts owed to the UK by Honduras before Hurricane Mitch struck.

WALES

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of new small and medium enterprises which were set up in each county in Wales for each of the past 10 years. [65417]

  Mr. Hain
  There are no estimates available centrally of the number of small or medium enterprises that have been set up in each county.

  However, the Department of Trade and Industry publishes estimates of the number of enterprises registering for VAT, which serve as a guide to the pattern of business start-ups. The following table shows the number of VAT registrations from 1994 to 1997, for unitary authorities in Wales. Information prior to 1994 is available only for the former Welsh county structure.

  Business start ups: enterprises registering for VAT, 1994–971

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Blaenau Gwent

  95

  105

  95

  70

  Bridgend

  250

  200

  250

  270

  Caerphilly

  270

  240

  260

  265

  Cardiff

  805

  715

  780

  755

  Carmarthenshire

  415

  415

  400

  400

  Ceredigion

  175

  190

  200

  200

  Conwy

  255

  240

  260

  220

  Denbighshire

  235

  205

  195

  245

  Flintshire

  360

  355

  310

  310

  Gwynedd

  285

  290

  270

  255

  Isle of Anglesey

  130

  100

  135

  135

  Merthyr Tydfil

  85

  75

  90

  100

  Monmouthshire

  275

  260

  280

  310

  Neath Port Talbot

  215

  220

  240

  205

  Newport

  285

  245

  270

  310

  Pembrokeshire

  265

  285

  295

  330

  Powys

  370

  390

  385

  400

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  370

  360

  295

  375

  Swansea

  440

  440

  425

  420

  Torfaen

  140

  150

  155

  155

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  310

  275

  295

  275

  Wrexham

  255

  240

  220

  235

  Wales

  6,280

  5,985

  6,105

  6,240

  1 Rounded to the nearest 5

  Source:

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of small and medium enterprises which went out of business in each county of Wales for each of the past 10 years. [65416]

  Mr. Hain
  There are no estimates available centrally of the number of small or medium enterprises that have gone out of business in each county.

  However, the Department of Trade and Industry publishes estimates of the number of enterprises de-registering for VAT, which serve as a guide to the pattern of business closures. The following table shows the number of VAT de-registrations from 1994 to 1997, for unitary authorities in Wales. Information prior to 1994 is available only for the former Welsh county structure.
  297

  Business closures—enterprises de-registering from VAT, 1994–971

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Blaenau Gwent

  120

  130

  110

  80

  Bridgend

  345

  275

  235

  235

  Caerphilly

  345

  315

  265

  275

  Cardiff

  915

  740

  700

  690

  Carmarthenshire

  615

  490

  470

  405

  Ceredigion

  275

  230

  205

  210

  Conwy

  345

  310

  310

  275

  Denbighshire

  305

  290

  270

  285

  Flintshire

  425

  385

  365

  345

  Gwynedd

  420

  285

  305

  325

  Isle of Anglesey

  175

  160

  175

  140

  Merthyr Tydfil

  140

  120

  90

  85

  Monmouthshire

  345

  290

  275

  270

  Neath Port Talbot

  300

  255

  260

  240

  Newport

  375

  315

  270

  290

  Pembrokeshire

  465

  345

  350

  340

  Powys

  550

  450

  435

  410

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  545

  440

  385

  330

  Swansea

  640

  480

  545

  425

  Torfaen

  210

  175

  160

  135

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  385

  360

  315

  270

  Wrexham

  310

  285

  255

  250

  Wales

  8,545

  7,125

  6,750

  6,320

  1 Rounded to the nearest 5

  Source:

  Department of Trade and Industry

  European Grants (Rhuddlan)
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number and types of audit available to his Department to ensure that European funding is properly spent, indicating how many of the audits were used to monitor European grants to the ex-Rhuddlan Borough Council between 1988 and 1996; and if he will make a statement. [65412]

  Mr. Hain
  Prime responsibility for the management and control of approved projects rests with the project sponsor.

  In the case of Rhuddlan Borough Council they would have had their own internal audit review systems, and these would have been subject to annual external audit by auditors appointed by the Audit Commission.

  The Welsh Office relies upon certificates provided by external auditors, which would have been the case with the former Rhuddlan Borough Council, and these attest to the accuracy of the final claims submitted in respect of each project.

  The Department undertakes site visits to assess progress. Rhuddlan Borough Council was visited in 1992 and 1994.

  The European Court of Auditors also undertakes independent visits. Rhuddlan Borough Council was visited in 1993 and 1995.

  The Welsh Office's own systems of control and payments are subject to internal audit review and examination by the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his action to promote inward investment into Wales; and if he must seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry before making any offer to a potential investor. [66136]

  Mr. Hain
  We continue to create an attractive commercial and economic environment for indigenous as well as inward investing companies. My right hon. Friend will be leading an inward investment mission to North America in the Spring, hosting events for inward investors, promoting Wales generally and meeting potential investors to further Wales' prospects of even greater success. These activities are in addition to the work undertaken by the strengthened Welsh Development Agency and other bodies in Wales.

  Although there is no requirement to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry before making offers of support to potential investors, offers of assistance are subject to inter-Departmentally agreed rules designed to ensure appropriate co-ordination of assistance offered across the UK. These rules are currently being revised to reflect the devolution settlements and the revised arrangements will be set out in a concordat on financial assistance to industry, which we hope to publish shortly.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the public funding for rural and urban bus services in each county of Wales over the next three years. [66179]

  Mr. Hain
  For 1999–2000, I am making £5 million available to local authorities in bus subsidy grant, which is in addition to the support for socially necessary services provided by local authorities out of their unhypothecated resources. Of the £5 million, £3 million must be spent on support for rural bus services, with local authorities free to decide whether to spend the remaining £2 million on either rural or urban services. I am currently consulting on the distribution formulae used to allocate the grant to individual local authorities, and I will be announcing the allocations shortly.

  Health Trust Reorganisation
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the savings which will result from health trust reorganisation in each of the first three years after implementation. [66366]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The net (cost) savings for the first 3 years have been estimated as follows:

  Year

  £000

  1999–2000

  (4,860)

  2000–01

  3,100

  2001–02

  6,320

  These figures are indicative as total costs depend heavily on exact details of redundancies which are yet to be established. Therefore, 1999–2000 costs may be reduced.

  Net savings are expected to rise to around £7 million per annum within 6 years.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Driving Tests
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors were used by the Driving Standards Agency to determine acceptable distances for customers to travel to other driving test centres following the closure of their local facility. [65351]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We consider what would be reasonable distances for customers to travel to take their test, based on information from customer surveys, analyses of the postcodes of test candidates, and in the light of experience gained from establishing the new network of driving theory tests centres. In general, candidates should not have to travel further than 7 miles in administrative districts with a population density of 1,250 or more persons per sq. k, 30 miles in districts with a population density of fewer than 100 persons per sq. k, and 20 miles elsewhere.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors have resulted in changes in the criteria for the closure of driving test centres over the past 10 years. [65355]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The criteria of operational suitability, cost efficiency and a safe environment for staff and customers have remained unchanged during the period. However, the fall in demand for driving tests during the 1990s has resulted in a need to rationalise the estate to reduce overcapacity, which would otherwise be a burden upon costs and therefore test fees. As part of this process, we have established guidelines for the maximum a candidate should have to travel to a test centre: 7 miles in administrative districts with a population density of 1,250 or more persons per sq. k, 30 miles in districts with a population density of fewer than 100 persons per sq. k, and 20 miles elsewhere.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the consultative process prior to closure of driving test centres is used in all cases. [65350]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Yes, except when we have to close a test centre temporarily or at short notice, owing to health and safety, or operational reasons. In such cases, consultation before closure may not be possible. The Driving Standards Agency gives as much notice as possible to interested parties about a closure and the alternative arrangements that are being made.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what savings have resulted from the closure of driving test centres in each year since the inception of the Driving Standards Agency; and what future savings resulting from closures of driving test centres have been planned for. [65356]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Driving Standards Agency estimates that, since the start of the 1993 financial year, savings in rent and rates payments of £700,000 have accumulated as a result of closures. Figures from before then are not available. There has also been over £1 million of capital receipts from the sale of freehold properties.
  300
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors have contributed to falls in demand for(a) practical and (b) theory driving tests in each of the regions, with particular reference to the effect of the introduction of the theory test on demand; what assessment the Driving Standards Agency has made of future changes in demand for theory and practical tests; and what steps will be taken to meet changes in demand. [65352]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The key factor underlying the number of candidates coming forward for a driving test is the number of young persons becoming eligible to obtain a driving licence. 54 per cent. of theory test candidates and 55 per cent. of practical test candidates are aged under 20 years.

  Overall test demand is also strongly influenced by the pass rate as this affects the number of retests being taken by unsuccessful candidates. The national average pass rate for car theory tests is currently 59 per cent. and 47 per cent. for car practical tests.

  The theory test has added another step to the learning to drive process, though it has probably not deterred people altogether. Applications for practical tests reflect the staged-testing process and also a recent fall in the theory test pass rate.

  Demand for the practical test may temporarily increase in the first months of this year as candidates try to pass before the introduction of the longer practical test in the Spring, with an offsetting decrease afterwards, but in the longer term returning to recent levels.

  No special regional factors have been identified.

  The Driving Standards Agency has introduced more flexible staffing arrangements to cope with fluctuations in demand.

  Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of(a) the extent to which the proposed installation of digital technology for the Coastguard Service will provide a fully integrated service that is year 2000 compliant and (b) the adequacy of consultation with end users prior to introducing such new technology for the Coastguard Service. [65264]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The draft Statement of Service Requirements (SSR) which is shortly to be issued to prospective suppliers contains the following statement:"All equipment and associated systems supplied for Integrated Coastguard Communication System (ICCS) must be millennium proof. By this we mean that equipment installed before the end of the century must be capable of an uninterrupted transition from 1990 to 2000 dates without subsequent adjustment. Likewise, all equipment installed after January 2000 must be capable of working effectively with both pre and post millennium dates.
  It is anticipated that this is most likely to be an issue in relation to the aural recording and retrieval features. Special assurance is required that where recordings are made prior to midnight on 31 December 1999 or through midnight, they are capable of seamless retrieval after that date".
  301
  However, it is proposed that the first operational ICCS equipment will be installed after January 2000.

  End users have been involved in the ICCS project from its inception. The statement requirements for ICCS was drawn up by a group chaired by the former Coastguard Agency's Chief Technical Officer which included operational coastguard representation. Prior to that there had been an internal Agency review of requirements compiled by another group which also included several operational Coastguards. The outline ICCS proposals also formed part of the 5 year strategy document which was distributed to all Agency staff in January 1998.

  Sporting Facilities
  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in considering means to prevent owners from deliberately running down or demolishing sporting facilities following the court's decision in the Thames Ditton Lawn Tennis Club case. [65428]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have received representations to strengthen planning controls over the demolition of various types of sports facilities. We are currently considering these and hope to announce the outcome shortly. We shall consult on any proposed changes to the existing planning arrangements.

  Road Safety (Mobile Telephones)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will establish a campaign to reduce the number of accidents caused by drivers using mobile telephones. [65494]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In March 1998, the Government launched a publicity campaign consisting of newspaper advertisements and an advisory leaflet designed to make clear to motorists the dangers of using mobile phones while driving. The advisory leaflet is used by police and road safety officers in their safety campaigns.

  Land Supply and Housing
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the research into the land supply and housing demand model, undertaken by the Government Office for London and the South East and the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, will be published. [65654]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Report, "Housing in the South East: The inter-relationship between supply, demand and land use policy", will be published shortly.

  Roads Review
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the(a) new roads and (b) road improvement projects which were announced in the roads review for which the statutory undertaker plans to apply for funding support from the EU. [65479]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The bids put forward by the Highways Agency for funding in 1999 relate to route management strategies and telematics projects. The European Commission is considering these at present.302
  New roads and road improvement projects announced in the Roads Review will be considered, when appropriate, for bids in future years.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has undertaken on the effects of traffic-calming methods on(a) emergency vehicles and (b) public transport vehicles, with particular reference to low-deck vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [65675]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  All research commissioned by my Department into the design and performance of traffic calming measures has included an examination of the effects such measures will have on emergency vehicles and public transport. This research has included three track trials by the Transport Research Laboratory of road humps and chicanes where passenger comfort, operating speeds and performance of vehicles have been examined. Single deck 'low floor' buses have been included in the most recent track trial. No difficulties were experienced in negotiating the different types of 75mm high road humps comprising the trial for speeds up to 25 mph. Operationally, much lower speeds would be recommended to avoid discomfort to passengers.

  Oil Discharges
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to apprehend and punish ships making illegal discharges of oil off the British coast; and if he will make a statement. [65571]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has a dedicated Enforcement Unit based at its headquarters in Southampton.

  The Unit is charged to investigate all offences under the Merchant Shipping legislation and this includes pollution offences. In less than 11 months since the formation of this Unit, 7 shipowners have been convicted for pollution offences.

  The UK and its European partners co-ordinate surveillance and detection of suspected polluters using sophisticated technology. Under the UK Regulations, ships suspected of pollution can be detained in port pending investigation.

  Since September 1997, the maximum fine before Magistrates for pollution from ships was raised to £250,000. The maximum fine before the Crown Court is unlimited.

  The MCA is committed to vigorously enforcing the anti-pollution legislation and will not hesitate to prosecute offenders whenever appropriate.

  Underground Drainage
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy that it be a requirement of all industry standards and the Building Regulations that sewerage and drainage pipes should not be split or otherwise damaged as the result of cleaning activities. [65888]
  303
  Mr. Raynsford
  The development of standards for construction products, including drainage pipes, is a matter for the British Standards Institution in co-operation with European standards bodies. More detailed specifications for sewerage pipes are developed by the water industry, as was indicated in an answer on 7 July 1998,official report, columns 480–81, to a Written Question from the hon. Member for Lichfield (Mr. Fabricant). These standards are not formally endorsed by my Department and are thus not subject to Government policy.

  Regulation 7 of the Building Regulations requires that building work which is subject to the Regulations should be carried out using proper materials which are appropriate for the circumstances in which they are used. As the blockage of a drain or sewer can be anticipated at some time during their lifetime, it is not unreasonable to expect the pipe to be able to withstand normal cleaning activities.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will raise the standards for pipes used for underground drainage in the review of Part H of the Building Regulations to ensure they are not vulnerable to damage from(a) conventional rodding and (b) high pressure jetting. [65890]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The current review of Part H of the Building Regulations will consider the need for advice to ensure that pipes used for underground drainage are not vulnerable to damage during cleaning operations.

  The Building Regulations are functional in nature, and do not specify standards for building materials. However, the Approved Document to Part H, which gives guidance on ways in which to achieve compliance with the Regulations, makes reference to British Standards saying any material conforming to the Standards listed may be used for below ground drainage. At this early stage in the review it cannot be said whether or not the listing will need to be amended.

  Building Regulations
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the review of Part H of the Building Regulations will be concluded. [65889]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The review of Part H of the Building Regulations commenced last year with the preparation of outline proposals for issues which need to be addressed in the review. These proposals will be considered by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) at their next meeting in February following which officials in my Department will prepare detailed proposals for their consideration later in the year.

  Proposals for amendments will subsequently be subject to full consultation as required by Section 14 of the Building Act 1984. The papers for this should be ready towards the end of this year, and the subsequent period of consultation will be 3 months. The proposals will be re-considered by BRAC in the light of comments made during consultation and, if found necessary, amendments will be made to the Approved Document to Part H and, possibly, the Building Regulations. The review should thus be complete by the end of next year.

  Emissions
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce UK emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent. on 1990's total by the year 2010. [66041]

  Mr. Meale
  On 26 October 1998, the Government published a consultation paper on climate change. The paper describes progress to date in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and sets out a variety of policy options for meeting our climate change targets. It covers both the UK's legally binding target from Kyoto of a 12.5 per cent. reduction in a basket of six greenhouse gases by 2008–2012 and our domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. Following the consultation period which closes on 12 February 1999, we will develop and consult further on a new UK climate change programme.

  Private Hire Vehicles
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has following the case in the Queen's Bench Division between L. Benson and Copeland Borough Council to seek to restore the previous position whereby the spouse of a licence holder could use a private hire vehicle for any purpose other than for hire. [65872]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government consulted on options for broadening eligibility to drive licensed private hire vehicles; we are still considering the representations made and the legal issues involved. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Dog Registration
  Mr. Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will establish a national compulsory dog registration scheme. [65875]

  Mr. Meale
  My Department is holding discussions with a number of animal welfare organisations on the issues surrounding dog registration. A decision on the appropriate way forward will be taken in due course.

  Road Accident Fatalities
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by each police authority area how many people were killed in road accidents between Christmas and the New Year in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [65874]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is shown in the following table for the three years to 1997, the most recent year for which this information is available.

  Road accident fatalities on 26–31 December inclusive by police force: 1995–97

  Year of accident

  Police force

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  2

  0

  Bedfordshire

  0

  2

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  2

  1

  305

  Road accident fatalities on 26–31 December inclusive by police force: 1995–97

  Year of accident

  Police force

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Central

  0

  0

  1

  Cheshire

  0

  2

  2

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  0

  Derbyshire

  2

  2

  0

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  3

  0

  Dorset

  0

  1

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  0

  0

  Durham

  2

  0

  0

  Dyfed-Powys

  0

  1

  0

  Essex

  0

  3

  0

  Fife

  1

  0

  0

  Gloucestershire

  1

  1

  0

  Grampian

  0

  0

  1

  Greater Manchester

  2

  4

  2

  Gwent

  0

  1

  4

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  2

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  Humberside

  1

  2

  1

  Kent

  1

  0

  1

  Lancashire

  0

  2

  0

  Leicestershire

  0

  1

  1

  Lincolnshire

  0

  2

  2

  Lothian and Borders

  0

  0

  1

  Merseyside

  1

  1

  0

  Metropolitan Police

  2

  1

  3

  Norfolk

  1

  0

  1

  North Wales

  0

  0

  0

  North Yorkshire

  1

  0

  2

  Northamptonshire

  0

  1

  0

  Northern

  0

  1

  0

  Northumbria

  0

  0

  4

  Nottinghamshire

  2

  1

  0

  South Wales

  2

  0

  2

  South Yorkshire

  0

  1

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  2

  1

  Strathclyde

  2

  1

  2

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  1

  Surrey

  0

  1

  2

  Sussex

  0

  5

  0

  Tayside

  0

  0

  0

  Thames Valley

  3

  2

  0

  Warwickshire

  0

  0

  1

  West Mercia

  0

  3

  0

  West Midlands

  1

  3

  3

  West Yorkshire

  0

  4

  0

  Wiltshire

  4

  0

  1

  Total

  32

  59

  42

  Driving Instructors
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are(a) registered as approved driving instructors, (b) hold trainee licences and (c) have applications for registration under consideration. [65724]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  At the end of November 1998, there were 29,581 Approved Driving Instructors, 921 trainee licence holders, and 17,917 applications for registration.

  Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a306
  statement on the forthcoming financial, management and policy review of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. [66569]

  Mr. Meacher
  As part of the Government's programme of regular financial, management and policy reviews of non-departmental public bodies, we are to conduct a review of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. The review will evaluate the role and performance of the Royal Commission in order to make recommendations on its future development; in particular on the scope, focus and impact of the Commission's inquiries; and on its working methods and resources, and how these are managed. In carrying out the study, my Department will consult widely with relevant organisations and with those who have experience of the Royal Commission's work.

  Private Rental Deposits
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made to ensure the safety of private rental deposits; and if he will make a statement. [66436]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 December 1998,official report, column 47.

  London Underground
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many London Underground stations operate an exit-only policy between 8 am and 10 am Monday to Fridays; and what are the reasons for their doing so. [66433]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The only station that passengers are currently prevented from entering between 8 and 10 am each Monday to Friday is Chancery Lane. This is because of long-term engineering work on escalators.

  However, there are occasions where stations implement what is known as 'station control' for safety reasons, thereby preventing overcrowding on platforms. This is where passengers are prevented from entering the system until platforms have been cleared. This usually lasts for only a few minutes, though in extreme cases, the station may close completely for a short while.

  Warsaw Convention (Air Accidents)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the operation of the Warsaw convention in relation to air accidents as it applies to(a) United Kingdom-based airlines and (b) airlines using UK airports; and if he will make a statement. [66394]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Warsaw convention is an agreement relating to international carriage by air. Signed originally in 1929, it has been the subject of a number of amendments which have not necessarily been ratified by all the original signatories. Although the United Kingdom has ratified all the amendments currently in force, the operation of the convention in relation to international carriage performed by foreign airlines using UK airports will depend upon the level of accession to the convention by the foreign airline's country of origin and the airline's conditions of carriage. The convention, as amended by the Hague Protocol 1955, applies in the UK by subordinate
  307
  legislation to domestic carriage performed by any airline but with numerous modifications, including an uplifting of passenger liability limits. Protocol No. 4 of Montreal 1975 has recently entered into force and provision for implementation, for both international carriage and, with modifications, for domestic carriage, is currently the subject of consultation. I expect two draft Orders in Council for approval by resolution of each House to be laid soon.

  To coincide with the entry into force of Council Regulation 2027/97 in October last year, Parliament adopted the Air Carrier Liability Order 1998 which introduced, for the purposes of national legislation giving force to the Warsaw convention for both international and domestic carriage, unlimited liability for passenger claims with strict liability up to 100,000 SDR for United Kingdom and other Community airlines.

  The International Civil Aviation Organisation plans to hold a Diplomatic Conference later this year for the purpose of adopting a new convention intended to replace all previous Warsaw instruments and broadly to align the liability provisions with those of the Council Regulation. Officials from my Department have been involved in the development of the new convention and the United Kingdom will participate actively in the Conference.

  Government Fleet Vehicles
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many Government fleet vehicles currently run on(a) liquid petroleum gas and (b) naturally compressed gas. [66073]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government currently have 33 vehicles which run on liquid petroleum gas, with another 72 vehicles on order. They also have two vehicles which run on compressed natural gas.

  Gas-fuelled Vehicles
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what trials his Department has commissioned into the conversion of heavy goods vehicles and passenger service vehicles to liquid petroleum gas and naturally compressed gas. [66074]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department has kept closely in touch with the work that some operators have done on the advantages and disadvantages of converting heavy goods vehicles and passenger service vehicles to use road fuel gases, including a number of tests carried out by London Transport Buses. The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force has also set up a sub-group to consider the merits and longer term potential of alternative fuels. The Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme, funded by the Government, provides grants towards alternatively fuelled vehicles, and the costs and performance of vehicles purchased under the scheme are monitored and evaluated.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives the Government have taken for the conversion of local government vehicles to naturally compressed gas and liquid petroleum gas; and how many local authorities have taken advantage of this. [66075]
  308
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme, funded by the Government, provides grants towards alternatively fuelled vehicles including those running on road fuel gases. 73 local authorities have so far benefited from Powershift grants for gas vehicles. My Department has also funded the first stage of the ALTER (Alternative Traffic in Towns) project which is a Europe-wide initiative that encourages local administrations to purchase clean vehicles and to convert existing vehicles to cleaner fuels. To date 32 cities, towns and counties in the UK have signed up to this initiative.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to ensure that people are able to travel on the west coast Mainline without having to pre-book seats. [66077]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Franchising Director regulates Virgin's Saver and Weekly Season Tickets. Virgin cannot require these tickets to be pre-booked and must make provision to accommodate demand for these types of ticket in their train services without allowing overcrowding to occur. For tickets which are unregulated Virgin is free to impose pre-booking as a condition of sale.

  Cycle Routes
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue national guidance on the paint colours to be used for cycle routes by local authorities. [66117]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Coloured road surfaces have no meaning in law, and are not prescribed in the current Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD). However, coloured surfaces are commonly used to give prominence to a section of the carriageway set aside for a particular purpose. In the case of cycle lanes, my Department is considering including guidance in the new Local Transport Note on Signs for Cycle Facilities to be published after the new TSRGD is published later this year. The Highways Agency will also be publishing its own general guidance—Coloured Surfacing in Road Layouts (Excluding Traffic Calming)—in February, and this will include some advice on the use of coloured surfaces for cycle lanes.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste. [65804]

  Mr. Meale
  The UK policies on exports and imports of waste are set out in the "United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste", which was published on 16 May 1996. The Plan came into effect on 1 June 1996.

  Under the Plan imports of waste from European Community Member States, with the exception of Ireland and Portugal, for disposal by high temperature incineration are being progressively phased out under an annual quota. The quota is due to expire on 31 May 1999.
  309
  There is, at present, an apparent inconsistency over whether waste imported under the quota needs to be disposed of, or simply imported into the UK, by 31 May 1999. Following public consultation on this issue, my Department today placed in the Library of both Houses an amendment to the Plan, making it clear that the waste must arrive at the appropriate disposal facility by 31 May 1999. This amendment will come into effect on Tuesday 19 January 1999.

  Land Use
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct local authorities to keep registers of all brownfield sites in their districts indicating (i) dormant, (ii) derelict, (iii) vacant, (iv) underused and (v) underutilised land in(a) public and (b) private ownership. [66108]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government are now in the process of setting up the National Land Use Database. This will provide a comprehensive national picture of previously developed sites, including derelict land and vacant buildings, which may be available for development. First stage results are expected by the end of March. A copy of the specification for the database, listing the types and characteristics of the sites covered, has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue planning policy guidance to local planning authorities to consider refusal of planning applications for greenfield site developments until they are satisfied that brownfield sites have been fully utilised. [66107]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The priority to be given to the use of previously developed greenfield sites for housing will be considered in the draft revision of Planning Policy Guidance note on Housing (PPG3) which will be issued for consultation shortly.

  Yachts (Registration)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason yachts registered under the Merchant Navy Act 1894 must be re-registered every five years. [66361]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The previous registration regulations were largely based upon the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 and so represented the requirements for registration at that time. Unfortunately there was no provision for deleting vessels from the register, unless notified by the owner, where they had been sold to a foreign owner. More importantly, ships that were sunk could not be removed either. Over time this meant that many ships remained on the register when in fact they did not exist. Additionally, owners have not always updated their address when they moved which has resulted in out of date information being held.

  The new regulations aim to keep the data more accurate whilst minimising the effect upon owners. An up to date register will be easier to administer and enable us to transfer all relevant records to our computer database without the additional cost involved in transferring redundant information. This in turn will enable us to keep registration costs as low as possible. We will also have accurate records to assist Coastguards in an emergency
  310
  and will be able to confirm current ownership quickly if registered owners find themselves in difficulty in foreign ports. Finally, it will enable us to discharge our international obligation to maintain the register more effectively and provide data to those that require it i.e. transcripts, etc., in an improved and efficient manner.

DEFENCE

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to reduce his Department's payments to the Export Credits Guarantee Department; [65000]

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown of the £42 million expenditure from his Department to the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [64999]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since 1986–87 the Ministry of Defence has made contributions to the ECGD. The main purpose of these payments has been to provide interest rate support for defence exports to Jordan. Additionally, in the years 1986–87 to 1988–89, payments were made to ECGD to provide interest rate support for Oman. The contributions are as follows:

  £000

  Year

  Expenditure

  1986–87

  894

  1987–88

  972

  1988–89

  1,118

  1989–90

  993

  1990–91

  1,058

  1991–92

  1,356

  1992–93

  1,054

  1993–94

  852

  1994–95

  642

  1995–96

  879

  1996–97

  457

  1997–98

  278

  1998–99 (forecast)

  108

  1999–2000 (forecast)

  33

  No further contributions are due after 1999–2000.

  BBC (Iraq Coverage)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had with the BBC concerning the BBC's handling of the Iraq conflict; and if he will make a statement. [65645]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: The Government were concerned to ensure that the British public were provided with factual and balanced reporting of Operation Desert Fox. Journalists reporting from Baghdad were, and are, subject to considerable restrictions on access and information. It was particularly important, therefore, that live coverage of and commentary on Operation Desert Fox from Iraq should explain, and take account of, such restrictions. This was made clear to media representatives, including in the BBC, on a number of occasions.

  Submarines
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the crew number of the(a) Trafalgar and (b) Vanguard class of submarines. [65739]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Ship's Company of a Trafalgar class submarine consists of 16 Officers, 53 Senior Ratings and 62 Junior Ratings, a total of 131.

  There are currently two crewing methods for the Vanguard class submarine: boats either have two crews or a single augmented (gold) crew. Two of the Vanguard class have gold crews, the other two have two crews each, known as hybrid manning. The single Vanguard crew is 142 people, consisting of 18 Officers, 60 Senior Ratings and 64 Junior Ratings. The augmented, or gold, crew is 202 people, comprising 21 Officers, 80 Senior Ratings and 101 Junior Ratings.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of his Department's review of MOD medical services. [65743]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Defence Medical Services (DMS) Study Team comprised four military officers, including representation from all three Services, and two civil servants. The study work formed part of their normal duties and there were therefore no additional staffing costs to the defence budget. Travel and subsistence costs incurred by the team amounted to some £1,000.

  The team's conclusions and the Defence Secretary's vision for the future were published in a booklet sent to every member of the DMS. Printing costs totalled some £9,672.

  Future Head Office
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the budget for the refurbishing of his Department's Future Head Office. [65627]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: The project to redevelop the Ministry of Defence Main Building in Whitehall is being undertaken as a Public Private Partnership scheme. The Amey/Hyder/Kvaerner consortium was appointed as the preferred bidder on 8 January 1999. The cost of the programme is commercially sensitive until final negotiations are concluded with the preferred bidder. I will provide cost information when a contract has been signed.

  DERA
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many patents are held by DERA; and what value his Department places on DERA's patent portfolio. [65631]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: DERA currently has patents or patent applications on approximately 1,050 inventions, some of which are held jointly with another party. Most are held in a number of countries, giving a total of approximately 3,300 granted patents and 2,400 pending applications. Work is in hand in MOD, as part of the DERA PPP options study, to ensure that the proposed solution protects the value of these to MOD in the long term.
  312
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to make a decision about the future of DERA. [65630]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: My noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Gilbert, expects initial advice from a team studying the options around the end of March. Following further internal discussions and consultation with colleagues, we would hope to make a decision later this year.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage golden share his Department will maintain in the reorganised DERA. [65632]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: Following advice from the MOD team studying the options, we hope to make a decision about the future of DERA later this year. However, until then, and until options have been fully explored, it is impossible to predict what arrangements will be necessary.

  Controlled Substances (Emissions)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the letter of 3 October 1998 (D/Min/DP/Jb3521/98/M) from the Minister for Defence Procurement to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what progress was made in 1998 by his Department in reducing its use of controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol whenever acceptable alternatives were available, and to minimising emissions of materials where they must still be used; and if he will provide specific examples. [65388]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence has programmes in place, where technically feasible, to convert equipment and facilities to use materials that do not deplete the ozone layer. However, owing to the complexity and inevitable length of these programmes, the progress made during 1998 should be seen in the context of longer-term developments.

  The Royal Navy has reduced the total installed charge of CFC-12, used in marine refrigeration and air conditioning systems, from 40 tonnes at the beginning of 1996 to 8 tonnes by the end of 1998. New refrigeration equipment was procured last year to enable the conversion of the remaining surface vessels by the end of 1999 and the conversion program for the Trafalgar class submarines was started. During 1998, the Army continued trials of alternatives to halon fire extinguishants for use in armoured vehicle engine compartments and two alternative refrigerants are being evaluated for specific vehicle applications. The RAF completed a study that identified alternatives to the CFC solvent used in cleaning of oxygen equipment and also eliminated the use of the CFC necessary for the maintenance and testing of the VC10 cabin conditioning equipment. A modification programme was initiated to replace the CFC in refrigerators on the E3 Sentry and is due for completion by the middle of this year.

  For applications where no acceptable halon alternatives have been identified, my Department, through the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, and the Royal Navy continued their research into new chemical fire extinguishants and water mist technologies.
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  To minimise emissions of the controlled substances, the Royal Navy has procured and is installing high integrity valves and flexible refrigerant hoses for its vessels. A lubricant additive was successfully evaluated, procured and installed in most vessels to assist in the detection of leakages. Competitive tenders for electronic leak detection equipment are currently being assessed, following the successful completion of an evaluation program. All the Services have procured equipment and introduced procedures to recover the materials for recycling during system maintenance. Education and training of users of ozone depleting substances are featured in the comprehensive package of environmental protection courses made available by the RAF to all members of the Department during 1998.

  Staff College, Camberley
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Joint Doctrine Centre will move to the buildings of the Staff College, Camberley. [65919]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  A number of options are being considered for the location of the Joint Defence Centre but the matter has not yet been put to Ministers.

  101 Battalion REME (Chorley)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answers of 15 December 1998,official report, column 450; 7 December 1998, official report, column 54; and 16 December 1998, official report, column 523, if he will review the decision to transfer 101 Battalion REME (V) from Chorley to Queensferry. [66070]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I am satisfied that there are no substantial grounds to review the decision to transfer the Headquarters of HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley TA Centre to Queensferry TA Centre.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the transfer of 101 Battalion HQ REME (V) from Chorley to Queensferry to begin; and what will be the time scale of the transfer. [66071]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Detailed arrangements for the transfer of HQ Battalion REME are still in preparation, with the aim of establishing the Headquarters in Queensferry on 1 July 1999. Some personnel are likely to be retained beyond that date at the TA Centre in Chorley.

  Land Command
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which external body is responsible for auditing the financial decisions taken by Land Command. [66072]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The National Audit Office.

  RAF Chilmark
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to date of(a) ordnance and chemical clearance and (b) other preparatory site work in connection with disposal of the former RAF Chilmark. [65429]

  Mr. Spellar
  The cost to date of ordnance and chemical clearance at the former RAF Chilmark is £1.09m. This is made up of manpower costs, together with the cost of buying and hiring plant and equipment. The preparatory 314
  site work to date has cost an additional £0.213m. This has been spent on Land Quality Assessments. These test the condition of the soil and indicate where remediation work is necessary to ensure that the land will be fit for future use.

  Chief of the Defence Staff
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the names and current appointments of those senior officers who are being considered for the post of Chief of the Defence Staff. [65745]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The selection process for the successor to General Sir Charles Guthrie has not begun.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date General Sir Charles Guthrie will retire from his appointment as Chief of the Defence Staff. [65747]

  Mr. George Robertson
  No decision has yet been taken on the retirement date of General Sir Charles Guthrie, the Chief of the Defence Staff.

  Falklands War Veterans' Illnesses
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policies he has to deal with veterans of the Falklands War who suffer from stress-related illness. [65918]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Armed Forces provide appropriate treatment for serving personnel suffering from stress-related illness, including those who served in the South Atlantic Campaign. The Armed Forces also have a range of measures in place aimed at preventing stress-related illness among serving personnel, with particular attention paid to those deployed on operational or peacekeeping duties. Medical care of ex-Service personnel is the responsibility of the National Health Service.

  Gulf Veterans' Illnesses
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to appoint the next Chairman of the Independent Panel which oversees his Department's interactions research programme into Gulf Veterans' Illnesses. [66578]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Professor Donald Davies has agreed to take on the role of Chairman of the Independent Panel overseeing the MOD Interactions research programme. This programme is designed to investigate the possible adverse health effects of the combination of vaccines and tablets which were given to UK troops during the Gulf conflict to protect them against biological and chemical warfare agents. This is an important part of the broader ongoing research programme into Gulf War veterans' illnesses.

  Professor Davies is the Director of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology (Division of Medicine) at Imperial College School of Medicine and the Director of the Department of Health Toxicology Unit, located at the same site. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Royal College of Pathologists, and an honorary member of the Royal College of Physicians.
  315
  Professor Davies is presently a member of the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, and the National Biological Standards Board; he also sits on the expert Panel which advises the European Medicines Evaluation Agency; and he was a member of the Committee on Safety of Medicines until December 1998. We expect that the next meeting of the Independent Panel, the first at which Professor Davies will act as Chairman, will be held shortly.

  Common European Defence Policy
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with(a) the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) and (b) other Liberal Democrat right hon. and hon. Members concerning the development of a common European defence policy. [65818]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I have had no discussions on this subject with the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed or other Liberal Democrat right hon. and hon. Members.

  Ex-prisoners of War
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the merits of an independent review of pay deductions made from officer prisoners of war and protected personnel during their incarceration in the Second World War. [65158]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 9 March 1998,official report, columns 6–7, to the hon. Members for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) and for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb).

  Defence Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Centre
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many items of metal have been excavated in land adjacent to the Defence Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Centre at Winterbourne Gunner; and how many were(a) buried ordnance, (b) ordnance containing liquid of military origin and (c) assorted non-ordnance items; and if he will make a statement. [65430]

  Mr. Spellar
  The number of items of metal which have been excavated in land adjacent to the Defence Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Centre at Winterbourne Gunner is 3,414. Of these, 382 were buried ordnance, 8 were ordnance containing liquid and 3,032 were assorted non-ordnance items.

  The items of ordnance containing liquid are currently at the Chemical and Biological Defence Centre at Porton awaiting analysis to determine the nature of the liquid.

  Mr. Stephen Kock
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Mr. Stephen Kock's duties were in connection with DESO between 1987 and 1992. [65143]

  Mr. Spellar
  None.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documents relating to the activities of Mr. Stephen Kock have been made available to NAO officials investigating defence contracts. [65140]
  316
  Mr. Spellar
  I am not aware of any request for such documents having been made by NAO officials in respect of defence export contracts. With the passage of time, however, it is not possible to review all Departmental records.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the relationship was between Mr. Stephen Kock and regiments in the British Army in the period from 1968 to 1995. [65136]

  Mr. Spellar
  Although Mr. Kock has never served as a member of the British Army, he is a member of the Regimental Association of the Special Air Service, which he joined in 1975 by virtue of his association with the Rhodesian Special Forces. I am not aware of any other association between Mr. Kock and Regiments in the British Army in the period from 1967 to 1995.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in negotiating, organising and promoting the Al Yamamah deal. [65154]

  Mr. Spellar
  The MOD is unaware of any involvement in the Al Yamamah programme, either now or in the past, by Mr. Stephen Kock.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in the Oman defence deal of 1981; [65155]

  (2) what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in negotiating, organising or promoting the Jordan defence package; [65153]

  (3) what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in the Indonesian defence deal of 1990; [65156]

  (4) what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in negotiating a special forces base in Malaysia in the period 1985 to 1988. [65152]

  Mr. Spellar
  Mr. Kock has played no official role in defence exports to these countries.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which civil servants in his Department met Mr. Stephen Kock to discuss matters relating to defence contracts with Malaysia in the period from January 1985 to the end of December 1988. [65135]

  Mr. Spellar
  A meeting between Mr. Kock and the then Secretary of State for Defence's Private Office staff took place in June 1987. Additionally, members of the Defence Export Services Organisation are likely to have met Mr. Kock during this period in the course of their normal function of providing advice and support for defence exporters. However, with the passage of time, it has not been possible to identify details of specific contacts.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role was played by Mr. Stephen Kock in advising Her Majesty's Government on the propellant and arms cartel run by the Swedish citizen Mr. Karl Erik Schmitz. [65133]

  Mr. Spellar
  I am unaware of any role played by Mr. Kock in advising Her Majesty's Government in relation to Mr. Karl Erik Schmitz.
  317
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what involvement Mr. Stephen Kock had in the preparations for privatisation of Royal Ordnance between 1984 and 1987. [65137]

  Mr. Spellar
  The MOD is unaware of any involvement by Mr. Kock in the preparations for the privatisation of Royal Ordnance.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what meetings Mr. Stephen Kock had with Sir James Blyth of DESO to discuss defence sales; [65144]

  (2) if he will list the meetings which (a) Sir Peter Levene and (b) Sir Colin Chandler had in their Defence Procurement, Defence Sales and DESO roles with Mr. Stephen Kock. [65134]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence has been unable to identify any record of such meetings. With the passage of time, however, it has not been possible to review all Departmental records.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions took place between his Department's officials and representatives of the Scott Inquiry on the advisability of calling upon Mr. Stephen Kock to give evidence to that inquiry(a) before, (b) during and (c) after the inquiry. [65130]

  Mr. Spellar
  I am advised that no such discussions took place.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  World Heritage Sites
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the Ministers with whom he has consulted regarding the proposal to nominate the Atlantic Frontier Continental Shelf as a world heritage site. [64421]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has Ministerial responsibility for considering responses to the public consultation suggesting that the Atlantic Frontier Continental Shelf should be included in the new Tentative List for the UK of potential World Heritage Sites. Ministers in the Scottish Office have not yet consulted other Ministerial colleagues about this issue, but there has been consultation at official level with the Northern Ireland Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Animation Industry
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support is given to the animation industry in the United Kingdom by his Department. [65714]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: Total support from the National Lottery for production of animated films is £1,374,966 to date. In addition, the Arts Council of England contributes £50,000 per annum to a scheme for experimental animation, which it runs in conjunction with Channel 4.
  318
  The British Film Institute, in collaboration with Channel 4, runs two animation schemes, Animation in Residence and the British Animation Training scheme. The National Film and Television School runs a Diploma Course in Animation.

  Finally, my Department has granted co-production status to a number of animated films, which has enabled them to access financial benefits in the UK and in other countries.

  Tourism
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to create new incentives and grants to develop tourist attractions in the UK and create new jobs in the tourism industry. [65717]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: New and existing attractions are benefiting from the National Lottery and, in eligible areas of the UK, from the European Regional Development Fund. The new strategy for tourism which we shall be publishing soon, will include action to help the attractions sector, and the tourism industry as a whole, maximise its potential to create jobs.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of jobs in the north-west depend on tourism; [65713]

  (2) what estimates he has made of the number of people employed in tourism. [65720]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: It is estimated that there were 1.8 million self-employment and employee jobs in the tourism-related industries in Great Britain in September 1998.

  An estimated 7 per cent. of the total self-employment and employee jobs in the north-west were located within the tourism-related industries in September 1998.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will estimate the turnover from tourism in the UK in each year for the next five years; [65721]

  (2) how much revenue was generated through tourism by overseas visitors in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what estimates he has made of projected turnover for the next five years. [65712]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: Tourism by overseas visitors generated an estimated £12.2 billion in the UK in 1997 according to the latest figures from the International Passenger Survey. In the first 10 months of 1998, overseas visitors have spent an estimated £10.8 billion in the UK, a 4 per cent. increase on the amount spent in the equivalent period in 1997.

  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not make any projections of future turnover from tourism in the UK.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants are available to promote the conversion of farmhouses for tourism in the north-west. [65719]
  319
  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 January 1999): Farm tourism is growing in importance, with a 3 per cent. increase in visitors between 1996 and 1997. In areas where agriculture or traditional industries are in decline, tourism can help economic development and create jobs.

  Funding to encourage a wide range of agricultural activities, including the conversion of farmhouses for tourism, is available in the north-west under the Merseyside Objective 1 and the Northern Uplands Objective 5b programmes. Grants are made through the Merseyside Farm Tourism Initiative Project in the Objective 1 designated area and the Northern Uplands Farm Tourism Initiative in the Objective 5b designated area.

  In addition, The Redundant Building Grant Scheme, currently operated by the Rural Development Commission, can provide grants for the conversion or refurbishment of redundant buildings to bring them back into productive business use or to enhance their current business use.

  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has produced a series of advisory booklets on farm diversification in order to assist farmers in developing successful diversified enterprises.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much revenue and what new grants have been made available to promote tourism in the north-west in 1998. [65718]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: The north-west, like all parts of England, benefits from the work of the British Tourist Authority and of the English Tourist Board. For 1998–99, the BTA has a grant of £35 million and the ETB a grant of £9.7 million, of which £292,000 is for the North West Tourist Board. New support structures, announced on 14 December, official report, column 352, will ensure more effective use is made of this money in the future, with a greater proportion going to the regions.

  Government support for tourism is not limited to the funding of tourist boards. An important part of what makes this country attractive to tourists from home and abroad is our arts, museums and galleries. This year DCMS will spend around £1 billion in support of them.

  In addition, tourism in the north-west has benefited, both directly and indirectly, from National Lottery funding (nearly £450 million has gone to the region), and from the European Regional Development Fund.

  Increasingly, local authorities, tourist boards and the private sector are working together to promote and develop tourism in their areas and some excellent examples of such partnerships are to be found in the north-west. Our strategy for tourism, to be published next month, will support such initiatives. We shall be putting forward a wide range of action points designed to ensure that tourism delivers benefits for local communities, individual tourists and the economy.

  Television Licences (Pensioners)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will estimate the costs to his 320
  Department of reducing the television licence for pensioners to £25; and if he will assess the benefits of introducing this measure; [65716]

  (2) if he will estimate the costs to his Department of reducing the television licence for pensioners to £40; and if he will assess the benefits of introducing this measure. [65715]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 January 1999): The estimated cost in lost television licence fee revenue of providing £40 colour television licences for all pensioner only households is £278 million. This would rise to £351 million if the concessionary fee were set at £25 and applied to both colour and black and white licences. The Government have no plans at present to introduce such concessions.

  Millennium Projects
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how much money, other than from the National Lottery, has been raised for each Millennium Landmark Project to date; [66161]

  (2) how much local government funding has been allocated to each Millennium Landmark project; [66405]

  (3) how much National Lottery money has been paid for architects' and consultants' fees for each of the Millennium Landmark projects to date; and what is the forecast total cost of each project. [65742]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  These are matters for the Millennium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ensure that Millennium Commission funding is made available to projects in each constituency; and if he will list those constituencies which have received funding to date. [65986]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall write to my hon. Friend in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission and place copies of my reply in the Library of the House.

  British Film Industry
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants are provided by his Department to aid development of the British film industry. [65989]

  Janet Anderson
  In December my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced an increase in film support of at least £5.5 million over the next three years. The breakdown for 1999–2000 is as follows:

  £000

  British Film Institute

  16,910

  British Screen Finance Ltd.

  2,000

  European Co-production Fund

  2,000

  British Film Commission

  850

  National Film and Television School

  2,100

  Audiovisual Eureka Secretariat and Audiovisual Observatory

  393

  European Media II

  6,200

  Other support to the film industry

  556

  321
  My right hon. Friend also announced the creation of a new strategic body, British Film, which will be a Lottery distributor with its own percentage stream of Lottery money from the arts good cause—guaranteeing, for the first time, a dedicated share of Lottery resources for film. The percentage will be set to ensure British Film receives at least £27,000,000 each year from the Lottery; the figure may well be higher if the numbers playing the Lottery continue as at present.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid (Taxation)
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how much the Legal Aid Board has paid to the Court Service or other providers for taxation of(a) criminal and (b) civil legal aid cases in the financial year ending April 1995 and in each succeeding financial year. [65664]

  Mr. Hoon
  No fees are payable from the legal aid fund to the Court Service or other providers for the determination of criminal legal aid bills. Information on the amount paid to the courts for taxation of costs in civil cases is not available as the Legal Aid Board does not record those fees separately.

  Defence Case Payments
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to paragraph 35 of the explanatory notes to the Access of Justice Bill [Lords], by what percentage average payments to defence lawyers in the Crown courts increased between 1991–92 and 1997–98; and what was the reason for the size of the increase. [65668]

  Mr. Hoon
  Overall, between 1991–92 and 1997–98 average payments to lawyers in the Crown Court increased by 66 per cent. including disbursements, 63 per cent. excluding disbursements. Excluding the most exceptional cases, that is the top one per cent. of the most expensive cases, which may distort the overall figures, average payments to defence lawyers in the remaining 99 per cent. of cases increased by 82 per cent. compared with an inflation rate of 18 per cent. over the period. Among the reasons for the increase in average payments in those 99 per cent. of cases are fewer guilty pleas, resulting in more effective trials, and more work claimed per case by defence lawyers.

  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to paragraph 35 of the explanatory notes to the Access of Justice Bill [Lords], what was the increase in the average payments to defence lawyers in the Magistrates courts over the period 1991–92 to 1997–98; and what was the aggregate rate of inflation over the same period. [65667]

  Mr. Hoon
  Between 1991–92 and 1997–98 average payments to defence lawyers in the Magistrates Court increased by 11 per cent. inclusive of disbursements, or 12 per cent exclusive of disbursements. Over the same period the aggregate rate of inflation was 18 per cent.322
  However, the introduction of Magistrates Court Standard Fees in June 1993 will have reduced the average payment because more individual payments are being made in respect of the same defendant. For example, payments in respect of Bail Act offences are now paid as a separate fee rather than being included in the payment for the case as a whole.

  Bankrupt Legal Practitioners
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many practitioners who have been declared bankrupt are permitted to practise as banisters or solicitors in the courts. [65670]

  Mr. Hoon
  This is a matter for their professional bodies. Neither the Bar Council nor the Law Society have the requested figures readily available.

  Legal Services Commission
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what estimate he has made of the administrative costs of the Community Legal Service in each of its first three years of operation; [65662]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the administrative costs of the Criminal Defence Service in each of its first three years of operation. [65663]

  Mr. Hoon
  It is intended that the Legal Services Commission, which initially will administer both the Community Legal Service and the Criminal Defence Service, will be created on 1 January 2000. The administrative costs of the Commission from 1 January to the end of that financial year will be met from the Legal Aid Board's administration budget for the year 1999–2000, which is estimated at £62.4 million. In each of the next two years of its operation, it is estimated that the administrative costs of the Legal Services Commission will be £60.4 million. The Commission's administrative budget will thereafter be reviewed in the light of its workload under the reformed scheme.

  Legal Aid (Expenditure)
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to paragraph 35 of the explanatory notes to the Access to Justice Bill [Lords], what were the annual increases in expenditure on legal aid overall in each year from 1991–92 to 1997–98. [65665]

  Mr. Hoon
  The annual increase in each year was as follows:

  Year

  £million

  Percentage

  1991–92

  223

  33

  1992–93

  188

  21

  1993–94

  116

  11

  1994–95

  89

  7

  1995–96

  91

  7

  1996–97

  86

  6

  1997–98

  50

  3

  323
  Generally, average payments continue to rise at a rate well above inflation. In the last year, for example, the average increase in all categories of legal aid exceeded the inflation rate of 3.3 per cent. and were as follows:

  Percentage

  Civil

  12.4

  Criminal Higher

  7.3

  Criminal Magistrates

  4.4

  ABWOR

  9.9

  Duty Solicitor

  4.6

  Advice and Assistance

  7.1

  Graduated Fee Scheme
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the proportion of cases in the Crown courts in which legally aided defences were subject to the graduated fee scheme in each year between 1991–92 and 1997–98. [65669]

  Mr. Hoon
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, as a proportion of total expenditure on Crown Court Advocates, and as a proportion of total claims submitted by Crown Court Advocates, the coverage of graduated fees, in 1996–97 and 1997–98, was as follows:

  Graduated fees1

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Percentage of payments

  0.57

  59.61

  Percentage of expenditure

  0.14

  24.09

  1 The Graduated Fee Scheme was introduced on 1 January 1997 and covers Crown Court Advocates only. It does not cover Crown Court Litigators.

  Magistrates Courts (West Derbyshire)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he received from Derbyshire Dales District Council about the closure of magistrates courts in West Derbyshire before he made his decision. [65438]

  Mr. Hoon
  I received nine representations from Derbyshire Dales District Council before a final decision was made to close the courthouses of Ashbourne, Bakewell and Matlock in West Derbyshire.

  Civil and Family Case Payments
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to paragraph 35 of the explanatory notes to the Access to Justice Bill [Lords], by what percentage average payments in civil and family cases rose between 1991–92 and 1997–98; and what was the reason for the size of the increase. [65666]
  324
  Mr. Hoon
  The percentage increase in average payments in each year, was as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1991–92

  10.8

  1992–93

  8.8

  1993–94

  7.8

  1994–95

  14.7

  1995–96

  10.1

  1996–97

  13.3

  1997–98

  12.4

  There is no single factor which explains these increases. However, the main reason is growth in the amount of work claimed per case.

  Conditional Fee Agreements
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the increased costs of litigation which will arise from the right of lawyers providing representation, pursuant to conditional fee agreements to uplift their costs by up to 100 per cent. in successful cases. [65671]

  Mr. Hoon
  As the right hon. and learned Gentleman is aware, the maximum uplift allowed in a conditional fee agreement was set at 100 per cent. by his noble and learned Friend Lord Mackay of Clashfern in 1995 in the Conditional Fees Order 1995. I am not aware of any assessment that was made at that time or before the figure was set. We shall be undertaking research and monitoring into the operation of conditional fees and to that end my officials have already begun discussing with the profession and other consumer and interest parties what form this research and monitoring may take.

  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many firms of insurers(a) from the United Kingdom and (b) from overseas have come forward with products to provide legal fees insurance under conditional fee agreements; and if he will list them. [65672]

  Mr. Hoon
  As I told the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr. Paterson) on 3 November 1998,official report, column 675, insurance products to underpin conditional fee agreements have been available since July 1995 when conditional fee agreements first became lawful. It is an ever expanding market with new products coming into the market all the time. I am aware of at least eight providers of insurance to underpin conditional fees. I doubt that a comprehensive list exists or can be put together given the vibrant and expanding nature of this market.

  Legal Aid (Asylum Seekers)
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the total cost of providing legal aid to asylum seekers in(a) asylum cases, (b) criminal cases and (c) other cases in the past three years. [65467]
  325
  Mr. Hoon
  The information requested is not available. The data collected by the Legal Aid Board and the courts do not identify separately applications made for legal aid by asylum seekers. However the amount paid out for Legal Advice and Assistance in respect of all Immigration and Nationality matters, over the last three years, was as follows:

  Year

  £000

  1995–96

  23,929

  1996–97

  26,146

  1997–98

  35,218

  Judges' Interests
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for the public registration of judges' interests; and if he will make a statement. [65866]

  Mr. Hoon
  There are at present no plans to provide for the public registration of judges' interests. However, in relation to the House of Lords in its judicial capacity, the Lord Chancellor has for the future requested the senior Law Lord, or the senior Law Lord in the chair, to ensure that at the time when any Committee is being composed, its proposed members will consider together whether any of their number might appear to be subject to a conflict of interest; and, in order to ensure the impartiality, and the appearance of impartiality of the Committee, to require any Law Lord to disclose any such circumstances to the parties and not sit if any party objects and the Committee so determines.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Homeless People
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to improve electoral registration levels among homeless people; and if he will make a statement. [64361]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The residence requirement which makes it difficult for homeless people to register is about to be reviewed by the Working Party on Electoral Procedures which I chair. The Working Party will be able to make detailed recommendations when it presents its final report to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary later this year.

  Police Funding
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces received a per capita settlement for 1999–2000 larger than that for Lancashire. [64365]

  Mr. Straw
  Figures for total police force spending in 1999–2000 are not yet available as police authorities have yet to set their budgets. On the basis of provisional Government funding allocations for next year as announced by my right hon. Friend on 2 December 1998,Official Report columns 194–97 only 11 forces out of 43 will have a per capita settlement greater than Lancashire.

  Immigration Advisers
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce plans to regulate immigration advisers and solicitors. [64366]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government have a manifesto commitment to control unscrupulous immigration advisers whether legally qualified or not. We will introduce legislation shortly.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has received of poor professional standards among certain immigration advisers and solicitors. [64373]

  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has received of poor professional standards among certain immigration advisers and solicitors. [64384]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have received many representations from Members of Parliament as well as evidence from other sources about incompetent or unscrupulous immigration advisers. The Government will regulate advisers in the forthcoming Immigration and Asylum Bill.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take action to regulate immigration advisers. [64363]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Yes. The Government have a manifesto commitment to control unscrupulous immigration advisers. We will introduce legislations shortly.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he is making in achieving his target of halving the time between young offenders committing an offence and appearing in court. [64368]

  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in halving the time between serious youth offenders committing a crime and appearing in court. [64357]

  Mr. Boateng
  In 1996 the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders was 142 days. We are committed to halving that time by March 2002. We took early action on coming to office to begin the process of change.

  There are now over 150 fast tracking schemes in operation covering almost half of all courts in England and Wales. Provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 were brought into force on 30 September last year to enable the courts to manage cases more quickly and efficiently. Other measures are currently being piloted with national implementation planned for October this year.

  The Government have set demanding performance targets for all stages of proceedings up to and after trial and for all youth justice agencies.

  Probation Service
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the future of the Probation Service. [64369]

  Mr. George Howarth
  "Joining Forces to Protect the Public" was published on 6 August 1998, and sought views on our plans for modernising the probation services in England and Wales. Also relevant are our proposals set out in the consultation paper, "Support Services in Family Proceedings—Future Organisation of Court Welfare Services", which was published on 30 July. We are now carefully considering the replies received, and expect to announce decisions about the future organisation of these services soon.

  Access to Justice Bill
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last had discussions with the Lord Chancellor and the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, about the consequences of the Access to Justice Bill [Lords] for the Home Office's criminal justice policy. [64370]

  Mr. Boateng
  I share responsibility for criminal justice policy with my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. and Learned Friend the Attorney-General, and relevant matters (including the Access to Justice Bill) are regularly discussed between us. The Bill incorporates a number of measures which are designed to contribute to the Government's policy of making the criminal justice system more efficient and effective.

  Channel Islands
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the administrators in the Channel Islands about their constitutional position. [64371]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Williams of Mostyn had discussions on 16 October last year with representatives of the Channel Islands about their constitutional position, with particular reference to the European Union Code of Conduct on Business Taxation.

  Voter Participation
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on work planned by his Department to encourage higher voter participation in the(a) local and (b) European elections this year. [64372]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Local elections are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  Several interested organisations are running publicity campaigns for the elections to the European Parliament. In the light of this, we are currently considering how to make the best use of any funds which the Government may be able to provide for voter education purposes.

  Youth Crime
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he is making in tackling youth crime; and if he will make a statement. [64374]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Crime and Disorder Act, which received Royal Assent in July 1998, included a number of new measures to tackle youth crime; other measures to establish youth offender panels are within the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill currently before Parliament.

  The Government are currently piloting new measures in the Crime and Disorder Act, including the final warning scheme, new community-based court disposals, and youth offending teams with national implementation planned for around April 2000.

  To date the Government have also introduced a range of measures to speed up the youth justice system, and have established the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales which will provide advice on the operation and performance of the youth justice system.

  Tagging Schemes
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the pilot tagging schemes. [64375]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Research into the first two years of the pilot schemes of curfew orders enforced by electronic monitoring under the Criminal Justice Act 1991 has been published in Home Office Research Study 163 and 177. Further research into the first two years of the trials is due to be published this year. The other trials of court based electronic monitoring schemes are to be evaluated this year.

  Firearms (Compensation)
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the efficiency with which compensatory payments on now-illegal firearms are being made. [64376]

  Mr. Boateng
  Payments are being made as quickly and efficiently as possible, having regard to the range and complexity of the compensation schemes, and the need for proper scrutiny of claims to ensure propriety and prevent fraud.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current estimate for the completion of option C claims under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [65585]

  Mr. Boateng
  The aim is to make offers of payment on the remaining Option C claims by the end of March.

  I outlined the measures we are taking to speed the processing of these compensation claims in my reply to the hon. Member for Tewksbury (Mr. Robertson) on 28 October 1998, official report, columns 179–80.

  Sunday Dancing
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received regarding Sunday dancing. [64377]
  329
  Mr. George Howarth
  The British Entertainment and Discotheque Association met me on 16 December 1998 to press the case for relaxing the present restrictions. I also received some letters from members of the public both for and against change. I hope to announce the outcome of my consideration shortly.

  Police (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he plans to reduce the proportion of early retirements from the police. [64378]

  Mr. Boateng
  Following our consultation document of last year on police pension arrangements, work is in hand on detailed proposals to improve practice in managing ill-health retirement and to support good management practice with changes to the Police Pensions Regulations where necessary. We plan to publish our proposals in the early part of this year. They will be published in advance of implementation to allow for full consultation with the interested parties.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police authority had(a) the highest and (b) the lowest rate of early retirement through sickness in the last year for which figures are available. [64380]

  Mr. Boateng
  In 1997–98 Derbyshire Constabulary had the highest rate of ill-health retirement among police forces in England and Wales, at 65% of all retirements. Surrey Police had the lowest, at 14%of all retirements.

  Crime Reduction
  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met local authority representatives to discuss initiatives to reduce offending rates in areas of high crime. [64381]

  Mr. Straw
  As a matter of course, Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives from a wide variety of interests, including local government. We have been grateful for the help given, for example, in the production of the guidance for statutory local crime and disorder partnerships, and in respect of anti-social behaviour orders which will come into force on 1 April 1999.

  My Department recently commissioned "Reducing Neighbourhood Crime: a manual for action" from Crime Concern. It provides practical advice for local partners, including local authorities, representatives of which made a valuable contribution to its production.

  Under-age Drinking
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning links between under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour in town centres. [64382]

  Mr. Boateng
  The public, police officers and local councillors have all indicated that alcohol-related crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour are a significant problem and do involve under-age drinkers.

  We have implemented the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 and will legislate to clarify the law relating to adults who buy alcohol for children and
  330
  to the use of children in test purchases. The Anti-Social Behaviour Order and other provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 will help with specific local problems.

  The police and local authorities will be able to target local problems through the crime reduction strategies required by the Crime and Disorder Act.

  Victim Support
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the support provided by his Department for victims of crime. [64383]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Home Office provides a grant of £12.7 million to the voluntary organisation, Victim Support, to deliver front line services to victims of crime. In 1997–98 such services were offered to more than 1.1 million victims. In 1998–99, a grant was given for the first time to another voluntary organisation, Support After Murder and Manslaughter, to assist the complementary work it carries out with the relatives and friends of homicide victims. In addition, the Home Office produces and distributes an information pack for the friends and relatives of homicide victims and a number of information leaflets for victims and witnesses.

  The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill, which was introduced on 3 December 1998, will provide greater protection for vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, including victims, and assist them to give their best evidence. The measures in the Bill are based on the recommendations in the "Speaking Up for Justice" report which was published last year. The Government have established an inter-departmental group to take forward the implementation of the recommendations in the report, including the measures in the Bill.

  Deportation Orders
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportation orders have been made in the last six months but have not yet been executed. [64353]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Between 1 June and 30 November 1998, 558 deportation orders were made, 431 have yet to be given effect. During the same period 330 people were deported, 203 of them on the strength of deportation orders made before 1 June.

  The removal of Immigration Offenders and failed asylum seekers is at record levels, 9 per cent. above 1997, which itself was 22 per cent. higher than 1996.

  Witnesses (Intimidation)
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he will introduce to protect witnesses and victims from being intimidated against giving evidence. [64367]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill, introduced on 3 December 1998, includes a range of practical measures to protect vulnerable or intimidated witnesses and assist them to give their best evidence. These were recommended in the report of the Working Group on Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses which we published for consultation last June. The
  331
  implementation of these measures, together with those recommendations which do not require legislation will be taken forward by an Interdepartmental Steering Group which has already started work.

  Probation Service (Cornwall and Devon)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed merger of the probation services for Cornwall and Devon. [64379]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The consultation document "Joining Forces to Protect the Public", published on 6 August 1998, included proposals to align probation area boundaries with police force area boundaries, which would mean combining the Devon and Cornwall probation areas. We are now carefully considering the replies received, including that from the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell, and expect to announce decisions about the future organisation of these services soon.

  Fire Services (Pensions)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward proposals concerning the underfunding of pensions in the(a) London and (b) other fire services. [65500]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We announced, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in July, that fire authorities in England would get an increase in the fire service element of total standard spending of £143.6 million—an average annual increase of 3.5 per cent. —over the next three years, including £47.1 million (3.6 per cent) for 1999–2000. The Review recognised future funding pressures, including pensions, but we have also deliberately set challenging efficiency targets for the fire service, as for other key public services.

  As part of the provisional local government finance settlement for 1999–2000, we made changes to the fire standard spending assessment distribution formula, which will help those authorities which are facing the highest potential liabilities for pensions. Under the provisional settlement, London's fire standard spending assessment would be increased by 3.8 per cent. for 1999–2000.

  We are considering the responses to the consultation document on the review of the firefighters' pension scheme and expect to come forward with proposals in the coming months.

  Police Disability Entitlements
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to extend police disability entitlements to special constables injured while carrying out their duties; [65497]

  (2) how many special constables in the Metropolitan Police area were forced to retire from police work due to disability resulting from injuries sustained in the line of duty in each of the last five years; [65496]
  332
  (3) what representations he has received regarding the provision of disability pensions and entitlements for former special constables forced to retire from police work due to injuries sustained in the line of duty. [65498]

  Mr. Boateng
  Arrangements to compensate special constables who are injured on duty are contained in the Special Constables Regulations. The 1995–96 Special Constabulary Working Group reviewed these arrangements and recommended a number of improvements. Proposals for new regulations were circulated to the police staff associations, the Association of Police Authorities and the special constabularies in December 1997. As a result, representations were received from:

  Association of Chief Police Officers

  Police Superintendents' Association

  Police Federation

  Association of Police Authorities

  Bedfordshire Police

  Cleveland Police

  Derbyshire Constabulary

  Special Constabulary Conferences of the North West, North East and Midlands Regions

  Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

  New regulations are currently being drafted and will shortly be copied to the relevant bodies for any final comments. We expect the new regulations to come into force on 1 July 1999.

  In the last five years, only two special constables retired from the Metropolitan Special Constabulary as a result of disabling injuries sustained on duty. One in 1993–94 and the other in 1994–95.

  Copies of the Working Group's report and the consultation paper of December 1997 have been placed in the Library.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the timetable for dealing with the cases of(a) pre-13 July 1993 asylum applicants and (b) 1 July 1993 to 31 December 1995 asylum applicants. [65568]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Work is now starting on the applications lodged before July 1993 and we expect to have completed most of them by May 1999. Work is about to start on the outstanding applications lodged between July 1993 and December 1995 and it is our aim to have resolved these during the financial year 1999–2000.

  Police Vehicles (Accidents)
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents involving police vehicles in England and Wales have been referred to the Police Complaints Authority in each year since 1990. [65657]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information has been provided by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).

  The Police Complaints Authority has a statutory obligation to supervise the investigation of complaints involving death or serious injury. It also has discretion to

  333
  supervise any other complaint investigation where, in its view, the public interest makes it appropriate. A police force may also voluntarily refer a matter. If no complaint is made by a member of the public, then the referral of the case remains a decision for the force concerned.

  Prior to 1993, PCA statistics did not separately identify the supervision of investigations into deaths involving police vehicles. In the calendar year 1993, the Authority supervised investigations into eight cases involving seven deaths. From 1 January 1994 to 31 March 1995 (when statistical recording changed from calendar to financial year) 16 investigations into deaths associated with police vehicles were supervised by the Authority. 12 of those involved some form of pursuit. In 1995–96 it supervised 27 such investigations with 21 involving police pursuit. In 1997–98 29 investigations were supervised and 9 of those involved pursuit.

  Police accidents during pursuits and emergency responses: forces in England and Wales

  1993

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Total

  Avon and Somerset

  205

  170

  260

  229

  184

  1,048

  Bedfordshire

  34

  20

  60

  93

  83

  290

  Cambridgeshire

  38

  50

  80

  107

  123

  398

  Cheshire

  114

  73

  101

  102

  1—

  390

  City of London

  11

  14

  11

  19

  13

  68

  Cleveland

  128

  108

  39

  22

  39

  336

  Cumbria

  40

  29

  39

  19

  20

  147

  Derbyshire

  17

  58

  74

  96

  84

  329

  Devon and Cornwall

  29

  53

  110

  64

  93

  349

  Dorset

  50

  54

  130

  56

  44

  334

  Durham

  94

  105

  100

  73

  33

  405

  Dyfed-Powys

  9

  20

  5

  19

  9

  62

  Essex

  12

  1—

  38

  93

  1—

  143

  Gloucestershire

  8

  1—

  5

  91

  61

  165

  Greater Manchester

  493

  426

  539

  1—

  195

  1,653

  Gwent

  1

  9

  1—

  38

  57

  105

  Hampshire

  86

  115

  106

  161

  78

  546

  Hertfordshire

  18

  10

  42

  75

  55

  200

  Humberside

  79

  69

  48

  37

  66

  299

  Kent

  13

  27

  99

  180

  138

  457

  Lancashire

  55

  72

  89

  85

  53

  354

  Leicestershire

  67

  71

  77

  78

  30

  323

  Lincolnshire

  12

  28

  40

  36

  26

  142

  Merseyside

  216

  225

  244

  135

  119

  939

  Metropolitan Police

  2,009

  1,995

  2,578

  1,308

  1,422

  9,312

  Norfolk

  65

  46

  46

  45

  36

  238

  Northamptonshire

  64

  71

  69

  68

  43

  315

  Northumbria

  325

  1—

  1—

  1—

  180

  505

  North Wales

  31

  36

  27

  22

  9

  125

  North Yorkshire

  81

  68

  51

  48

  51

  299

  Nottinghamshire

  185

  161

  208

  135

  141

  830

  South Wales

  139

  1—

  37

  79

  104

  359

  South Yorkshire

  23

  150

  114

  98

  139

  524

  Staffordshire

  91

  72

  148

  156

  142

  609

  Suffolk

  7

  31

  21

  21

  4

  84

  Surrey

  93

  122

  108

  125

  55

  503

  Sussex

  25

  41

  23

  140

  138

  367

  Thames Valley

  404

  327

  346

  398

  394

  1,869

  Warwickshire

  8

  33

  54

  46

  41

  182

  West Mercia

  58

  93

  60

  55

  49

  315

  West Midlands

  258

  258

  306

  295

  291

  1,408

  West Yorkshire

  131

  49

  53

  15

  1—

  248

  Wiltshire

  61

  27

  26

  10

  23

  147

  1Show no force return submitted

  334
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each police area in England and Wales how many road traffic accidents have occurred whilst police vehicles are in pursuit of another vehicle since 1990. [65656]

  Mr. Boateng
  Figures are not available centrally in exactly the categories requested, as statistics collate pursuit accidents with those arising from immediate responses to emergency call. Collection procedures changed in 1993 to include all police vehicle accidents on the roads. These range from minor-damage-only incidents to serious ones involving injury or death. The information set out in the table has been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to which forces submit statistical returns.
  335
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in England and Wales have been involved in road traffic accidents whilst involved in car chases in each year since 1990; and how many such accidents have resulted in injury or fatality to(a) police officers, (b) those being pursued and (c) other members of the public. [65655]

  Mr. Boateng
  Figures are not available centrally in all the categories requested. The information has been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to which forces submit statistical returns. It includes both police pursuits and immediate responses to emergency calls.

  Police pursuits and emergency responses—fatalities and injuries

  Year

  Fatality

  Serious injury

  Police Other injury

  Fatality

  Serious injury

  Civllian Other injury

  1990

  1

  143

  1—

  23

  174

  1—

  1991

  2

  101

  1—

  30

  170

  1—

  1992

  2

  112

  1—

  28

  188

  1—

  1993

  5

  113

  1—

  29

  187

  1—

  1994–95

  2

  53

  1,036

  19

  56

  685

  1995–96

  4

  90

  1,012

  17

  123

  944

  1996–97

  0

  100

  979

  15

  107

  744

  1997–98

  0

  105

  1,134

  15

  94

  764

  1 Not available

  Crowd Policing (Charges)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances police authorities are permitted to charge promoters for the costs of crowd policing outside(a) sporting events and (b) entertainment events. [65489]

  Mr. Boateng
  It is for chief officers of police to decide when to charge for providing a police service. However, under Home Office guidelines, no charge should normally be made for officers deployed on the public highway outside sporting or entertainment venues.

  Sexual and Violent Offenders
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases periods of extended supervision for sexual and violent offenders were imposed under the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 between 30 September and 31 December 1998. [65567]

  Mr. Boateng
  These provisions were commenced on 30 September 1998. Information about extended sentences is being collected on the Home Office court proceedings database but will not be available until the autumn of this year.

  Child Curfews
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local child curfew schemes were made by local authorities under the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 between 30 September and 31 December 1998. [65566]

  Mr. Boateng
  The relevant provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which enable local authorities to establish a local child curfew scheme, were brought into force on 30 September 1998. Home Office 336
  guidance on the operation of these new powers was issued on 29 September 1998. Before imposing a local child curfew, local authorities, in consultation with the chief officer of police and such other persons or bodies that it considers appropriate, must first draw up proposals for a local child curfew scheme, including arrangements for consultation with the residents in the area in which the curfew is to apply, and submit these to the Secretary of State for approval.

  No applications for local child curfew schemes have been received at this early stage. Local child curfew schemes are designed to be part of an integrated response to reducing crime and disorder in local areas. In considering their potential use, local authorities will wish to take into account the wider crime and disorder reduction strategies, also required under the Crime and Disorder Act, which are currently being developed.

  Euthanasia
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hospitals are currently the subject of police investigations into cases of alleged euthanasia; and if he will list them. [65570]

  Mr. Boateng
  The investigation of alleged offences is an operational matter for chief officers of police and information is not collected centrally on the number or type of investigations being conducted by the police.

  Horses (Mineworking)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning horses working underground in coal and mineral mining; and if he will make a statement. [65490]

  Mr. George Howarth
  This Department has received 10 letters and a petition.

  The Coal and Other Mines (Horses) Regulations 1956 set out the requirements about the use of horses and ponies in mines. The Mines Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive, which is responsbile for enforcing the legislation, have found no evidence of the maltreatment of any horses and ponies used in mines.

  Criminal Conviction Certificates
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of criminal conviction certificates which will be issued per year; and what plans he has to introduce a code of practice governing the use of such certificates. [65965]

  Mr. Boateng
  We estimate that there will be between 5 million and 6 million conviction certificates issued each year. Under section 122 of the Police Act 1997, a code of practice for registered bodies (which will be entitled to receive copies of enhanced criminal record certificates and criminal record certificates) will be developed in consultation with interested parties. In the case of criminal conviction certificates, it will be for the individual concerned to decide to whom to provide the information contained in them. We shall, however, consult about guidance to employers.
  337
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is Government policy to encourage the use of the criminal conviction certificate in the assessment of candidates for employment. [65966]

  Mr. Boateng
  No. It will be up to individual employers to decide whether to ask to see a criminal convictions certificate. Criminal conviction certificates will only give details of unspent convictions. This is information which applicants can be asked to disclose at the moment. The criminal conviction certificate will allow employers to be sure that the information they have been given is full and accurate.

  Chevening House
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of providing police protection at Chevening House, Kent in the last year for which figures are available; and what is the additional daily cost when the Foreign Secretary is in residence. [66007]

  Mr. Straw
  It is established Government practice not to disclose the actual cost of protecting an individual. If the costs of protection were revealed, it would be possible to estimate the scale of protection and that would prejudice the security of the individual. For the same reason, we are unable to disclose details of protection provided.

  Visa Renewal
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the time taken to process applications for the renewal of visas for foreign nationals currently living in the United Kingdom; and what steps he has taken to reduce the time. [65728]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regularly receive representations concerning the time taken to process such applications. The introduction of compulsory application forms for most immigration applications has enabled a large number of straightforward applications to be decided quickly. The current computerisation and restructuring of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's caseworking functions is intended to speed up caseworking times. This restructuring is now underway and, until it is completed and the new structures have settled down, the major upheaval involved will inevitably affect processing times.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will exempt adult volunteers working in youth organisations from paying the fee required by the Criminal Records Bureau for checks on full-time employees working with young people. [65871]

  Mr. Boateng
  We considered very carefully whether there was any way in which free checks could be provided for volunteers. Whilst we acknowledge the valuable contribution volunteers make, we have concluded that it will not be practicable to provide any free checks from the Criminal Records Bureau for volunteers or for any other groups. We realise that this is unwelcome news, but providing free checks would prove an unsustainable burden on the public purse, and may increase demand for certificates from the Bureau to an uncontrollable extent. In addition, we do not consider it would be fair to allow 338
  volunteers to have free certificates when there are other equally deserving groups such as the unemployed or the disabled. The cost of the fees for certificates from the Bureau will be kept to the minimum necessary to recoup costs.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in reducing the replication of animal experiments already undertaken. [64364]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 January 1998,official report, column 387. Whilst some replication of experiments is needed to ensure the reliability of previous research, the Inspectorate will not recommend that a licence be granted unless there are good reasons for replicating work already undertaken.

  In regulatory toxicology, we are currently encouraging regulatory authorities and testers to make full use of reduction, refinement and replacement alternatives, including the possibility of data sharing, in order to reduce the need for animal tests.

  In the wider context, all establishments will be required to maintain ethical review processes from 1 April. One of the roles of these processes will be to review proposed and ongoing work to ensure it is fully justified.

  Special Constables (Injuries Compensation)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for compensation by single payment or pension for special constables injured in the course of their duties. [65751]

  Mr. Boateng
  Arrangements to compensate special constables who are injured on duty are contained in the Special Constables Regulations. In brief, a gratuity and a pension is payable in the event of:

  death;

  permanent disability leading to complete inability to work;

  and

  permanent disability leading to inability to continue ordinary employment

  In addition, a special constable who loses remuneration from private employment in consequence of an injury is entitled to actual loss of pay for a maximum of 28 weeks.

  Following recommendations made by the 1995–96 Special Constabulary Working Group, new regulations are currently being drafted which will extend the circumstances in which injured specials will qualify for compensation. These will be laid before Parliament later this year and we expect them to come into force on 1 July 1999.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the current system of criminal injuries compensation in so far as it relates to sexual offences; and if he will make a statement. [65923]
  339
  Mr. Boateng
  We have been reviewing the criminal injuries compensation scheme in the light of the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and are considering whether any changes to the scheme might be necessary or desirable. That consideration includes the awards for injuries resulting from sexual offences. We hope to be able to announce shortly how we intend to carry this forward.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount paid in compensation for loss of earnings by the CICA and the CICB for each year from 1990 to the present. [65924]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board advise that there is no data to distinguish loss of earnings from other elements of compensation paid in respect of claims settled by them under the scheme based on common law damages. The approach was often to make an inclusive award which encompassed a loss of earnings element, but which did not quantify it precisely.

  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advise that under the tariff-based scheme, introduced with effect from 1 April 1996, the amount of compensation paid for loss of earnings is as follows:

  Year

  £

  1996–97

  22,470

  1997–98

  351,013

  April to December 1998

  1,735,886

  These figures reflect the increase in claims ready for settlement from the scheme's introduction.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of successful applicants for criminal injuries compensation received compensation for loss of earnings from the CICA, having been absent from work for at least 28 weeks, in each year from 1996 to 1998. [65926]

  Mr. Boateng
  The percentage of all successful claims settled by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority which have included a loss of earnings element is as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1996–97

  0.08

  1997–98

  0.29

  April to December 1998

  0.69

  These figures substantially under-represent the percentage likely to result from a more representative cohort of settled claims once the new scheme has fully bedded in.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time taken to settle claims for criminal injuries compensation by the CICA and its predecessor the CICB in each year from 1990 to the present. [65925]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are no meaningful average waiting times for settling claims for criminal injuries compensation. Claims under the scheme vary greatly in their complexity. They range from straightforward ones,340
  in which a decision may be issued within a matter of weeks, to exceptionally complex cases where, for example, the medical diagnosis or prognosis is uncertain, and where therefore, it may take a number of years for the injury to be fully and fairly assessed. Interim payments are usually made in such cases to assist the victim in the shorter term.

  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB) advise that — if cases at the extremes are discounted—the average time to issue a first decision under the 1990 scheme (administered by the CICB) was about nine months. Under the tariff scheme (administered by the CICA), the average time is about seven months.

  Burglars (Sentencing)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources he plans to make available to prisons to deal with the implications of his proposals for tougher sentences for burglars. [65802]

  Mr. Boateng
  The latest long-term projections for the Prison Service are lower than had previously been the case. I therefore, expect the Prison Service to be able to accommodate the extra places within existing provision at least for the next three years.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates his Department has made of the impact on prison numbers of his proposed tougher sentences for burglars. [65803]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Home Office estimates that minimum sentences of three years for those convicted for a third time of domestic burglar will add between 4,000 and 4,400 to the prison population over 10 years. The build up will be gradual because the new provision applies only when all the offences are committed after implementation (in December 1999) and one of the two previous offences was committed after the offender had been convicted of the other.

  Prisoners (Medical Examinations and Assessments)
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost has been of transporting and securing prisoners from HM prisons to NHS hospitals for medical examinations since 1 May 1997. [65748]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Any such arrangements would be made locally by the prison concerned. Financial information in this form is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police Manpower (Wales)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many whole-time equivalent police officers were stationed in each constabulary in Wales on(a) 30 April 1997, (b) 30 April 1998 and (c) 31 October 1998. [66372]
  341
  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:

  Force

  31 March 1997

  31 March 1998

  30 September 19981

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,005

  1,002

  1,013

  Gwent

  1,243

  1,233

  1,254

  North Wales

  1,369

  1,396

  1,395

  South Wales

  2,976

  2,986

  2,946

  Wales total

  6,593

  6,617

  6,608

  1 Police numbers are provisional

  Involuntary Manslaughter
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to legislate on the recommendations of the Law Commission, Legislating the Criminal Code: Involuntary Manslaughter. [65187]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government value greatly the work of the Law Commission. The recommendations on involuntary manslaughter and corporate killing contained in their report no. 237 "Legislating the Criminal Code: Involuntary Manslaughter" raise some difficult and complex issues.

  An inter-departmental working group, which includes a member of the Law Commission, is actively considering these issues. Once we have their conclusions we will consider how to take the Law Commission's proposals forward.

  Lord and Lady Hoffman
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he knew of Lord Hoffman's and Lady Hoffman's involvement with Amnesty International when he announced his decision regarding the extradition of General Pinochet. [65089]

  Mr. Straw
  I explained in the reasons for my decision to issue an authority to proceed on 9 December 1998,official report, columns 213–17, that I had not accepted a representation made on behalf of Senator Pinochet that I should disregard the House of Lords' judgment on the grounds of alleged bias on the part of one of the Law Lords.

  It was not for me, as Home Secretary, to question the basis on which the House of Lords has come to a particular decision.

PRIME MINISTER

  BBC (Iraq Coverage)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if it was with his authority that his spokesman contacted the BBC to express disquiet about the BBC's handling of the Iraq conflict; and if he will make a statement. [65381]
  342
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 13 January 1999]: Yes. The Government were concerned to ensure that the British public were provided with factual and balanced reporting of Operation Desert Fox. Journalists reporting from Baghdad were, and are, subject to considerable restrictions on access and information. It was particularly important, therefore, that live coverage of and commentary on Operation Desert Fox from Iraq should explain, and take account of, such restrictions. This was made clear to media representatives, including in the BBC, on a number of occasions.

  Bahrain
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the Bahraini Head of State about(a) democracy and (b) human and civil rights in that country during his recent meeting; and if he will make a statement. [65914]

  The Prime Minister
  I met the Prime Minister of Bahrain on 5 January 1999.

  Our conversation focused on recent events in the region, particularly Iraq. I took the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for Bahrain's continued practical and political support. Human rights were not raised on this occasion.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Russian Prime Minister about his statement concerning the bombardment of Iraq. [65387]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: I sent a message to Prime Minister Primakov explaining our policy on Iraq. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was in close touch with his Russian counterpart during and after operation Desert Fox. We are now working with the Russians and other Security Council members to find a way forward.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek to hold discussions with the Government of Iran about the consequences of military action against Iraq for the strength of the position of Saddam Hussein. [66465]

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was in contact with his Iranian counterpart during Operation Desert Fox. Bilateral discussions continue at official level.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter from the Religious Society of Friends in Britain of 17 December concerning military action against Iraq. [65473]

  The Prime Minister
  My Office has no record of having received this letter.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons he agreed to the decision to act quickly against Iraq before the period of Ramadan. [65389]

  The Prime Minister
  I told the House on 16 November 1998,official report, columns 607–23, that I would have no hesitation in ordering the use of force once again if Iraq failed to live up to its undertaking to afford UN weapons inspectors full co-operation in every respect. The

  343
  Executive Chairman of UNSCOM was asked to report on Iraq's co-operation over the month that followed. He delivered his report on 15 December 1998 and its conclusions were unequivocal. Iraq had failed to co-operate fully with UNSCOM and had even introduced new restrictions. My decision to authorise military action was taken on that basis.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister when he was consulted by the United States about its decision to bomb Iraq. [65390]

  The Prime Minister
  We were in close contact with the Americans on all aspects of policy towards Iraq, before, during and after military action. The decision to launch Operation Desert Fox was a joint one.

  Honours Lists
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Prime Minister how many United Kingdom nominations his office received for New Year and Birthday Honours in 1998; and how many United Kingdom honours were awarded in(a) the 1998 Birthday List and (b) the 1999 New Year List. [65905]

  The Prime Minister
  In 1998 the Nominations Unit received 3,500 new honours nominations from members of the public and my office received some 4,000 nominations from Departments (most proposed by national bodies, associations and voluntary organisations) for consideration in the 1998 Honours Lists. The number of awards in my Honours List covering the whole range of activities in the United Kingdom made at(a) Birthday 1998 and at (b) New Year 1999 was 983. In both Lists, over 40 per cent. of the awards resulted from nominations made by members of the public. However, as it takes up to a year, and in some cases longer, for nominations to be fully validated and assessed, it is not possible to relate the number of nominations received in any one year to the number of candidates considered for particular Honours Lists.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those occasions since 1 May 1997 when he has visited New York, listing his mode of transport to and from the United Kingdom. [66363]

  The Prime Minister
  I have visited New York on two occasions since 1 May 1997. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan) on 25 February 1998,official report, columns 250-51, and to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 19 October 1998, official report, column 914. On both occasions I travelled by commercial aircraft.

  Eurocorps
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Government endorsed at the Heads of Government meeting at Portschach the principle of the United Kingdom joining Eurocorps. [66427]

  The Prime Minister
  No. We have no plans for the United Kingdom to join Eurocorps.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  BBC (Iraq Coverage)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the BBC concerning the BBC's handling of the Iraq conflict; and if he will make a statement. [65646]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence today, official report, column 310.

  Yemen
  Mr. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Consul in Yemen has been allowed to see the fifth British national detained; and if he will make a statement on the role of the Foreign Office regarding the detention of the five British nationals. [66089]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Our Consul-General had access on 14 January to the fifth British detainee, Malek Nasser Harhara (to whom access has been denied on the grounds that he is a Yemen/British dual national). Mr. Harhara said that he was in satisfactory health and had not been physically abused.

  The Consul-General had called on three of the detainees on 8 January. All three looked in reasonable condition. Of these, one detainee, Sarnad Ahmed, said that he had been tortured in the week after his arrest on 24 December 1998, but that his treatment had improved since then. The Consul-General reported that he appeared now to be in good health.

  I made clear to the Yemeni Prime Minister on 11 January my concern about the allegation of torture. Dr. Iryani said that only one of the detainees had complained. He had investigated the issue personally. If the claim were found to be true, whoever was responsible would be prosecuted. Dr. Iryani assured me that the detainees would be properly treated.

  A second detainee, Shahid Butt, told our Consul-General that, in the week since his arrest of 24 December 1998, he had been hit once or twice and slapped, and made to sign a paper. The Consul-General reported that he looked fit and well. He complained that there was no light in his cell at night and that he could not go to the toilet when he asked, and about the number of mosquitoes.

  The third detainee, Gulam Hussain, looked in good condition. The Consul-General checked carefully that he had no problems with his back or with his asthma, two pre-existing medical conditions.

  On 9 January 1999, the Consul-General saw Mohssin Ghailan, another of the detainees. He said that his treatment was now normal. He added that he had been slapped in the week after his arrest, but not since then. Mohssin also said that he was concerned about a possible liver problem, and was in some pain. The Consul-General noticed that his skin was yellowish, but could not judge the significance, not knowing his normal complexion.

  Our Consul-General made representations, on behalf of the detainees whom he saw, which resulted in the provision of reading material, washing material, extra

  345
  food, greater freedom within prison and greater access to the toilet. He also received an assurance of medical treatment for Mohssin Ghailan.

  I spoke again to the Prime Minister of Yemen on 14 January 1999. I welcomed the fact that we had had access to Mr. Harhara. I repeated my concern that all the detainees should be charged or released. I also pressed for access to the detainees for their defence lawyer, and for an independent doctor. Dr. Iryani took note, and undertook to work for a positive response to these requests.

  Since then, the lawyer representing the detainees, Mr. Basunaid, has informed us that charges have been laid. The detainees have been charged with association with armed groups planning to commit murder, explosions and destruction and with the possession of weapons, under Article 133 of the Yemeni Penal Code. The case is, therefore, sub judice.

  Our Ambassador and Consul-General continue to press for access to the detainees for Mr. Basunaid and for an independent doctor. They are also pressing for further consular visits, including to Mr. Harhara, and for transfer to the central prison in Aden where conditions are better. Mr. Basunaid has, however, been told by the Yemeni authorities that he must await the end of the Eid holiday before seeing his clients.

  The Embassy and Mr. Basunaid are in close touch about all issues relating to the case, including about the allegations that the detainees may have been forced to confess. In the light of our contacts with Mr. Basunaid, we will consider whether to make representations to the Yemeni authorities about the conduct of the investigation.

  Mr. Gerald Bull
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral discussions there have been between the Belgian and UK Governments concerning evidence being given by Mr. Stephen Kock, Colonel Hardy, Colonel Jack and Mr. Blane to the Belgian inquiry into the death of Mr. Gerald Bull. [65147]

  Ms Quin
  None. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my predecessor, the then Minister with responsibility for Europe, my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson), to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr. Cohen) on 21 May 1998,official report, column 528.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice Her Majesty's Government have given since 1989 to former directors of ASTRA about giving evidence to the Belgian police on the death of Mr. Gerald Bull. [65148]

  Ms Quin
  No such advice has been given.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Belgian Government on arrangements for cooperation over the Belgian Government's inquiry into the murder of Mr. Gerald Bull. [65146]

  Ms Quin
  There have been no such discussions.

  UK Democratic and Governmental Structures (Council of Europe Study)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the results of the examination of the United Kingdom's democratic and Governmental structures which was carried out by the Council of Europe from June 1996 onwards. [65326]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Secretary General's overview of the functioning and protection of democratic institutions in all Council of Europe member states remains before the Committee of Ministers which will resume its discussions at its next monitoring meeting in March 1999.

  The conclusions of the Committee of Ministers will be made public when available.

  Defence Contracts (Malaysia)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the officials in his Department who met Mr. Stephen Kock to discuss matters relating to defence contracts with Malaysia in the period from January 1985 to the end of December 1988. [65145]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have not been able to find any reference in our files to meetings between Mr. Kock and members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office during this period.

  Butler Report
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the French Foreign Minister about the latter's statement concerning the Butler report. [65391]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the French Foreign Minister in Paris on 8 January 1999 and had a full discussion on all aspects of Iraq policy.

  Saudi Arabia and Kuwait (Democracy)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote democracy in(a) Saudi Arabia and (b) Kuwait. [65474]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We seek to encourage constitutional development and greater participatory government in both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait through a variety of means, including official and parliamentary contacts, ministerial visits and informal dialogue on democratic issues.

  Chechnya
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was discussed at the meeting which took place between Foreign Office officials and Granger Telecom personnel in August 1998. [66111]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Foreign Office officials dealing with the kidnap of Jon James and Camilla Carr in the Russian Republic of Chechnya met two Weybridge-based Granger Telecom managers at FCO request on 21 August 1998. The Carr/James kidnap was then into its 13th month
  347
  Officials explained that their lengthy capacity illustrated the dangers of operating in Chechnya and asked if Granger had any information which might help to secure the release of Carr and James, given that the UK has no diplomatic representations in Chechnya. The answer was no. Granger described the terms and funding of their contract with a Chechen private company, Chechen Telecom, to establish a telecommunications infrastructure in Chechnya, and said that Chechen Telecom assumed full responsibility for the security of Granger expatriate staff in Grozny. FCO officials said that HM Government could not encourage UK humanitarian assistance or investment in Chechnya.

  At the meeting FCO officials showed to Granger the FCO travel advice of 18 August 1998, which states:
  "We strongly advise against travel to the Chechen Republic, Ingushetia, Dagestan, North Ossetia and the Stravropol/Chechnya border, because of the unstable security situation. Visitors have been kidnapped in these areas recently".

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance was given to the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Sierra Leone resident in Conakry between May 1997 and April 1998 by(a) EU embassies and (b) non-EU embassies; what messages were sent by the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Sierra Leone resident in Conakry between May 1997 and April 1998 to London via the German embassy in Conakry; and for what reason no confidential bag service was available to the UK High Commissioner to Sierra Leone resident in Conakry between May 1997 and April 1998. [66384]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The German Embassy in Conakry provided limited communication and logistical support to Mr. Penfold whilst he was in Conakry. Other EU embassies and non EU embassies did not provide special assistance. Mr. Penfold received a number of classified telegrams via the German Embassy but used commercial fax facilities for sending messages to London. Mr. Penfold was operating on a temporary basis and in hotel accommodation and arrangements were made for a commercial courier service limited to non-classified material.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give permission to Horst Timmreck to visit St. Helena to reclaim his property. [65791]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Mr. Horst Timmreck is subject to a St. Helenian exclusion order, the revocation or variation of which is the responsibility of the Governor of St. Helena. Any application by Mr. Timmreck for a visit to St. Helena under a variation of the exclusion order should be made to the Governor.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the introduction of access to the Internet at reasonable cost by citizens of St. Helena. [65789]
  348
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  St. Helena's telecommunications are provided by Cable and Wireless plc. Internet access is currently available, on a temporary basis, through Ascension Island. Cable and Wireless has recently removed its standing charge for such access. It plans to install an Internet server on St. Helena in 1999 and will review its charges when this becomes operational.

  Vanuatu (Diplomatic Representation)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for diplomatic representation by Her Majesty's Government in Vanuatu. [65792]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Her Majesty's Government will continue to be represented. We are at present looking at the form this representation will take in the future.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Millennium Volunteer Scheme
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what the budget is for the Millennium Volunteer Scheme; how much has been spent to date broken down into(a) volunteer schemes and (b) administration; [65238]

  (2) how many volunteers have taken part in the Millennium Volunteer Scheme to date; if he will publish a breakdown of volunteers by (a) gender and (b) ethnic group; and if he will make a statement on the number of people helped by the scheme. [65239]

  Ms Hodge
  Millennium Volunteers will have a total of £15 million allocated to it from the windfall levy as start up funding in Great Britain, of which £12.75 million is available in England. £303,935 has been spent on the Programme to date in England, of which £109,870 relates to projects and related expenditure and £194,065 relates to administration. I hope to be making a further announcement about Millennium Volunteers and the longer term funding of the programme in England shortly.

  A total of 269 volunteers have taken part in the nine Millennium Volunteers demonstration projects we established last summer. Of these, 168 were female and 101 male; 226 were white and 43 were from black or Asian ethnic groups. We will be evaluating the benefits to the community and to the individual volunteers of Millennium Volunteers but it is too early to provide such an assessment at present.

  Engineering Students
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to monitor the impact of the new student funding system on recruitment to higher education institutions of students studying engineering. [65294]

  Mr. Mudie
  Initial evidence shows that there is a small decrease of 1.7 per cent. in the total number of people accepted to higher education. This is made up of an increase in school and college leavers and a decrease in mature students.
  349
  Although the Department has no mechanisms in place to monitor specific subject areas, it has in place a programme of evaluation work to assess the impact of the new funding arrangements on participation in higher education by different types of student, examining for instance the social background, ethnic group, disability, age and gender of students and subject of study, which will include engineering. This work will draw on data produced by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). In addition, we are commissioning an update of the Student Income and Expenditure Survey which will provide information about the impact of the new arrangements on student finances.

  The key results of our monitoring and research will be published and available to Parliament.

  Rainham Marsh, Havering
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the basis for the statement in the application and associated papers that the Employment Service supports the amended planning application made by Havering Borough Council for development on a site of special scientific interest at Rainham Marsh in Havering. [65906]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Tom Brake, dated 14 January 1999:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question in which you asked for information on what is the basis for the statement in the application and associated papers that the Employment Service supports the amended planning application made by Havering Borough Council for development on a site of special scientific interest at Rainham Marsh in Havering. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The Employment Service has made no formal response to the planning application. However, I understand that Havering Borough Council asked the manager of our Dagenham Jobcentre in November for information on numbers of Jobseekers and skill levels/shortages within the Rainham area and for an assurance that, in the event of a Business Park being built on Rainham Marsh, the Employment Service would support the Council in recruiting construction and other workers for this project. Such an assurance of help was given on the understanding that it would apply only if the planning application was approved.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Nurses
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many non-EEA nurses have been given work permits for UK hospitals in each of the last five years; and how many of these are(a) for one year only and (b) for longer than one year. [66053]
  350
  Ms Hodge
  The specific information requested is not available as work permit records do not identify the type of employer. The numbers of non-EEA nurses for whom work permits were issued in the last five years were as follows:

  Year

  12 months or less

  More than 12 months

  1994

  88

  413

  1995

  74

  573

  1996

  148

  759

  1997

  363

  475

  1998

  583

  636

  Special Needs
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department gives on the maximum time which local education authorities should take to produce a statement of special educational needs; and what procedures are in place to measure compliance with this guidance. [65785]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Local education authorities are required by law to serve a draft statement on the parents of a child with special educational needs within eighteen weeks of first proposing to carry out an assessment of the child's needs. The Audit Commission monitors LEAs' compliance with this requirement, and publishes annual statistics for England and Wales showing the proportion of draft statements produced by each LEA within eighteen weeks. These statistics show that in 1996–97 only 48 per cent. of all draft statements were prepared within the statutory deadline. The Programme of Action on special educational needs published by the Department last November made it clear that the Government regard this figure as unacceptably low, and that they are committed to achieving a significant improvement. The Department has recently provided LEAs with advice on good practice in this area, and has challenged the worst-performing LEAs to improve.

  Arts and Humanities Research Board
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to extend grants given by the Arts and Humanities Research Board to institutions other than those receiving grants from the Higher Education Funding Council for England and Department of Education (Northern Ireland). [66234]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Arts and Humanities Research Board currently receives grants for its research activities, other than postgraduate awards, only from the HEFCE and DENI; and it therefore makes research grants to institutions within their areas of funding responsibility. The provision of additional funding for the AHRB to extend its research grants to institutions in Scotland and Wales is a matter primarily for the Scottish and Welsh Higher Education Funding Councils, taking into account guidance from my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.

  Teaching Union Officers
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he has issued to local education authorities on good practice in providing time off for officers of teaching unions. [65752]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  No such guidance has been issued to local education authorities. The statutory entitlement to reasonable time off for employee representatives to perform their functions as such representatives is a general entitlement and it is for individual employers to decide their practice in meeting their legal obligations.

  Teachers (Bureaucracy)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the members of his Department's working Group on Reducing the Bureaucratic Burden on Teachers, the date on which it was set up and the number of meetings it has held. [65946]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The membership of the Working Group on Reducing the Bureaucratic Burden on Teachers and the date on which it was set up are detailed in my reply to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 16 December 1998,official report, columns 556–57.

  The Group met six times in preparing its report to Ministers, which was published on 16 January 1998. A copy of the report is in the Library.

  School Consultation Exercises
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria are used to determine how many and which schools will be involved in those consultation exercises which are conducted with a random selection of schools. [65944]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  For most purposes, a sample of 500 schools is sufficient. A sample will be larger only if it is important to analyse responses from different types of school. Schools are selected using systematic sampling from a list in area and phase of school order. The system ensures that any one school will be selected infrequently, thereby minimising the burden of consultation.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on how many occasions over the past year his Department has given recipients 10 weeks, excluding school holidays, to respond to consultation documents. [65940]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Between January and December of 1998 this Department gave a response time of 10 weeks or more for 27 consultation documents.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria are used to determine which consultation documents should be sent to a limited number of schools rather than all schools. [65943]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Only consultations on major changes affecting schools are sent to all schools. Normally, consultation papers are sent only to a small sample of about 500 schools.

  Education Action Zones
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the sums of money that have been paid, to date, into each Education Action Zone by the businesses involved in those zones. [65945]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The 25 Education Action Zones have so far raised some £5 million towards the £6 million target for business contribution in the first year.

  Disability Rights Commission
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 1999,official report, column 97, if he will list the estimated costs for each of the proposed functions of the Commission which formed the basis of the estimated annual running cost of the Commission. [66029]

  Ms Hodge
  It will be for the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), when it is established, to decide how to allocate its resources.

CABINET OFFICE

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will up-date last October's List of Ministerial Responsibilities. [65773]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  A revised edition of the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities including Agencies" is currently being prepared and I shall publish it shortly. Copies of the new edition will be made available to Members free of charge from the Vote Office.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Abortion
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the medical grounds for abortion in Northern Ireland extend to(a) foetal abnormality and (b) rape, incest or sexual assault. [64776]

  Mr. Ingram
  While the law on abortion in Northern Ireland does not extend specifically to cover(a) foetal abnormality or (b) rape, incest or sexual assault, therapeutic terminations can be carried out in both these categories where in the doctors' judgment, there is serious risk to the physical or mental health of the mother.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of conceptions in the latest year for which figures are available ended in recorded spontaneous abortion. [64777]

  Mr. McFall
  Information on the total number of conceptions is not collected centrally. There are currently no plans to do so in the future.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the abortions recorded in Northern Ireland in 1997–98 were classified as(a) spontaneous abortions and (b) induced or medical abortions. [64778]
  353
  Mr. McFall
  Of the abortions which took place in Northern Ireland hospitals in 1997–98, 1,594 were recorded as spontaneous and 77 as medical or induced abortions.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will issue guidelines to general practitioners, obstetricians and gynaecologists(a) on the grounds under which termination of pregnancy may be carried out and (b) on referring women who qualify for a legal abortion under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967 to hospitals or clinics in those parts of the UK where the Act applies. [64779]

  Mr. McFall
  There are no plans to issue such guidelines in Northern Ireland.

SCOTLAND

  Heroin
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the powers provided by the misuse of drugs legislation to law enforcement agencies in respect of heroin abuse. [64314]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 17 December 1998]: The Government fully recognise the dangers posed by the misuse of heroin and the need for effective measures to tackle the problem. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 provides law enforcement agencies with a range of powers enabling them to take action against those suspected of producing, supplying, or being in possession of controlled drugs. The adequacy of these powers is kept continuously under review and the Government will not hesitate to act if they consider that the powers require to be strengthened.

  Royal Burgh Improvements
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent in Scotland on Royal Burgh environment improvement by the Government since May 1997. [65427]

  Mr. McLeish
  This information is not held centrally.

  Ministerial Flights
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cumulative cost to his Department of ministerial use of RAF flights in the year to 1 May 1997. [64738]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 11 January 1999]: As the answer enclosed with my letter of 2 December made clear, Ministers are required under the terms of the Ministerial Code always to make efficient and cost effective travel arrangements. The rules on travel for Ministers are the same as those which applied to the previous Administration. A comparison of travel by Ministers on RAF flights between the 16 month period between 2 May 1997 and 30 September 1998 is not directly comparable with the 12 months of the previous Administration. The cost of air travel by RAF flights in the year to May 1997 is £8,972.50.

  Mr. Stephen Kock
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date in 1990 Mr. Stephen Kock was interviewed for a firearms offence in Scotland; and in what circumstances. [65123]

  Mr. McLeish
  On 15 January 1990, a complaint was received by Strathclyde Police regarding the reckless discharge of a firearm by Mr. Kock who was formally cautioned. On Friday, 9 February 1990, Mr. Kock was charged with the culpable and reckless discharge of a firearm; contravention of the Firearms Act 1968; assault; and breach of the peace. Mr. Kock subsequently pled guilty at Oban Sheriff Court to the firearms charges and was fined a total of £650. Not guilty pleas to the remaining charges were accepted by the Procurator Fiscal.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what police protection has been provided for the home of Mr. Stephen Kock at public expense; and when such protection was provided. [65122]

  Mr. McLeish
  No police protection has ever been provided at the home of Mr. Stephen Kock.

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the report of the inquiry into alleged misappropriation of public funds by senior management of Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust. [65983]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The decision to publish the Report of the Independent Inquiry team into remuneration matters at Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust is the responsibility of the Trust itself, together with action arising from the Report's recommendations.

  The former Chairman of the Trust has given a commitment that the findings of the Report will be made public and I expect this commitment to be honoured by the Trust board when it considers the final Report later this month.

  Public Defence Solicitors' Office
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions the Director of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office has met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board since his appointment; if those meetings were minuted; and if he will place a copy of any minutes or notes from the meetings in the Library. [65794]

  Mr. McLeish
  Mr. Alistair Watson of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office took up post on 1 April 1998. He reports to the Scottish Legal Aid Board through the Chief Executive only on administrative matters. On all other matters, including casework, the PDSO operates independently of the Board.

  Since 1 April 1998, the Director and the Chief Executive have had a number of meetings on administrative matters. The exact number has not been recorded. Notes of these meetings are internal documents of the Board and are confidential.
  355
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many clients have been referred to the Public Defence Solicitor's Office since its establishment, broken down by month; and how many (i) interviews with clients have been conducted, (ii) intermediate diets have been carried out on behalf of clients and (iii) trials have been conducted on behalf of clients. [65955]

  Mr. McLeish
  The number of clients/new cases referred to the Public Defence Solicitors' Office (PDSO) since its establishment on 1 October 1998 until 31 December 1998 (the latest date for which information is available) is shown in the following table.

  Month/year

  New cases

  October 1998

  42

  November 1998

  55

  December 1998

  65

  Information on the total number of interviews with clients is not available as many of these interviews may have taken place at court.

  Intermediate diets were scheduled to take place by 31 December 1998 on 19 occasions. No information is presently available on how many of these diets proceeded. Twelve trial diets were scheduled to take place by 31 December 1998. Of those, 3 proceeded to trial.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of(a) the salary of the Public Defence Solicitor, (b) the salaries of each of his deputies, (c) the administrative staff costs of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office, (d) the rental costs of the office and (e) the other outgoings of the office. [65793]

  Mr. McLeish
  The salary of the Director of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office (PDSO) is £50,000 per annum; and the salaries of the 5 public defence solicitors range from £21,000 to £30,000 per annum. The total support staff salary bill is £74,555 per annum (inclusive of National Insurance). The annual rental costs of the office are £52,875 and the other outgoings are estimated to be £117,150 per annum.

  Beavers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter of 6 October from the Minister with responsibility for agriculture, the environment and fisheries to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what expert advice and recommendations he has received from Scottish Natural Heritage concerning the re-introduction of beavers into Scotland; and what action he proposes to take. [65392]

  Mr. Macdonald
  No formal advice or recommendations has yet been submitted by Scottish Natural Heritage to my hon. Friend. I understand that SNH's view is that a limited pilot reintroduction project may be the best way forward. SNH is developing proposals prior to putting advice and recommendations to Ministers.

  Nurses
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the NHS salary bill for nurses in Scotland in each of the last 10 years,(a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total NHS salary bill. [65521]

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

  Year

  Total nurses salary £000

  Total NHS salary £000

  Nurse salary as a percentage of total NHS salary

  1988–89

  738,259

  1,425,909

  52

  1989–90

  786.392

  1,510,465

  52

  1990–91

  842,468

  1,625,882

  52

  1991–92

  919,553

  1,776,949

  52

  1992–93

  973,935

  1,934,970

  50

  1993–94

  983,824

  1,999,373

  49

  1994–95

  975,110

  2,040,930

  48

  1995–96

  967,186

  2,074,408

  47

  1996–97

  973,577

  2,142,188

  45

  1997–98

  979,283

  2,177,879

  45

  Source:

  Annual Accounts of Health Boards, NHS Trusts, Common Services Agency and the State Hospital.

  The decrease in the salary bill for nurses in 1994–95 onwards is due to the introduction of Project 2000. The figures for 1997–98 are provisional.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many whole-time equivalent(a) bank, (b) agency and (c) contract nurses were employed, and at what cost, in each of the NHS health trust areas in Scotland for each of the last 10 years. [65520]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information for agency nursing staff, which is available only from 1994 onwards, is shown in the table. No cost data to match the staff numbers are available. Information for bank and contract nursing staff is not available centrally.

  Agency nursing staff: average whole time equivalent1 by provider; year ending 30 September

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19982

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  0.1

  0.0

  0.0

  2.2

  3.6

  North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  0.7

  2.5

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Health Care NHS Trust

  0.3

  0.3

  0.0

  —

  —

  Borders General Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  —

  2.8

  —

  0.2

  Borders Community Health Services NHS Trust

  0.4

  0.0

  0.2

  —

  —

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board HQ

  1.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  7.8

  8.1

  3.7

  7.4

  19.6

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  0.9

  —

  —

  —

  0.5

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  1.9

  30.8

  31.3

  44.9

  43.5

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  0.1

  0.2

  4.8

  4.8

  4.8

  Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.5

  1.9

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  3.6

  0.1

  1.7

  5.7

  0.0

  357

  Agency nursing staff: average whole time equivalent1 by provider; year ending 30 September

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19982

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  0.3

  0.3

  Southern General Hospital NHS Trust

  7.9

  15.0

  11.7

  21.8

  18.7

  Yorkhill NHS Trust

  4.4

  4.2

  3.3

  3.1

  3.1

  Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  9.3

  5.9

  7.1

  10.7

  23.4

  West Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust

  47.2

  53.7

  23.7

  46.5

  51.6

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust

  6.7

  13.1

  20.6

  27.8

  35.4

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  1.2

  1.0

  1.2

  0.5

  1.5

  Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  0.2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  0.6

  —

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.0

  Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust

  0.1

  0.0

  1.2

  2.6

  —

  Highland Communities NHS Trust

  0.1

  2.4

  2.9

  9.7

  13.2

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  9.9

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  —

  0.0

  —

  —

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.1

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  2.9

  1.6

  1.8

  7.9

  24.2

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  23.6

  44.6

  26.3

  13.8

  13.8

  Moray Health Services NHS Trust

  —

  —

  1.3

  0.1

  0.3

  Orkney Health Board

  —

  —

  —

  0.2

  0.2

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  —

  —

  0.1

  0.0

  0.6

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  53.6

  110.6

  167.9

  139.4

  142.3

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  1.5

  10.1

  22.0

  22.3

  21.5

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  11.2

  47.8

  30.5

  4.9

  26.5

  East and Midlothian NHS Trust

  7.3

  6.5

  22.6

  17.5

  11.4

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  2.2

  9.0

  6.0

  3.6

  1.5

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.3

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  —

  —

  1.0

  1.8

  2.0

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  —

  —

  0.8

  1.6

  2.6

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  0.0

  14.9

  15.3

  1.3

  1.5

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  —

  2.4

  47.1

  51.2

  18.3

  Western Isles Health Board

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.0

  Shetland Health Board

  —

  0.0

  —

  —

  —

  1 To calculate the average 1 W. T. E. is taken as a contribution of 37.5 hours per week x 52 = 1,950 hours per year.

  2 Data for 1997 and 1998 are based on one six month period ending 30 September. Data for 1994 to 1996 are based on two six month periods ending 31 March and 30 September.

  Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the 358
  forthcoming policy and financial management review of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. [66484]

  Mr. Dewar
  As part of the Government's programme of periodic reviews of non-Departmental Public Bodies, I announced to the House on 19 May 1998,official report, column 336, our proposal to move forward with a review of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

  The first stage of the review has been completed. This addressed major issues of principle. The report has established that (a) there is an overwhelming need and demand for continuation of the Royal Commission's core functions, principally surveying and recording the man-made environment of Scotland and maintaining and curating the National Monuments Record of Scotland; (b) privatisation or contracting out of the entirety of the Royal Commission's activities is not feasible, although opportunities will continue to be taken to contract out discrete areas of work where this is cost-effective; (c) there are arguments for and against rationalisation or merger with other organisations dealing with built heritage or public record functions; in the absence however, or significant cost savings or a demonstrable increase in efficiency, the balance of advantage lies with the status quo; and (d) there is a continuing role for the Royal Commission and local authorities to play at the national and local levels respectively. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  With these issues of principle now resolved, the second stage of the review will examine a number of organisational, management and finance issues. This will encompass the public services dimension to the Royal Commission's activities and liaison with local government.

  I am writing to the Royal Commission's Chairman informing him that we concur with the report's conclusions.

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the draft Skye Bridge Toll Order or the actual Order were made available for inspection in accordance with the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984; and if he will make a statement. [66339]

  Mr. Macdonald
  In accordance with Schedules 1 and 2 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, the draft Order was made available for public inspection from 1 November to 13 December 1991 and the actual Order from 26 June to 7 August 1992.

  Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the revised Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [66452]

  Mr. Macdonald
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness, West (Mr. Kennedy) on 14 January 1999,official report, column 235.

  Salmon Anaemia
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response the Minister with responsibility for agriculture, the environment and fisheries has given to the request of independent smolt producers for a meeting to discuss the impact upon the Scottish salmon industry of infectious salmon anaemia. [66453]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The request is being considered. My noble Friend is very conscious of the concerns that have arisen as a result of infectious salmon anaemia. He has already held several meetings on the matter with representatives of the fish farming industry, including smolt producers.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken to avoid conflicts of interest among those who provide advice to the public on behalf of Action 2000. [64712]

  Mr. Wills
  I understand that, to avoid potential conflicts of interest, in its advice and guidance material Action 2000 redirects wherever possible relevant inquiries to other sources of advice and suppliers of millennium products in the UK of which it is aware.

  In addition, Action 2000 has a general policy not to allow its contractors or third party commercial organisations to use the Action 2000 name or logo to imply support or endorsement of any commercially available millennium product or service.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is a condition of the contract between Action 2000 and Data Dimensions Inc. that Data Dimensions Inc. shall not promote its own millennium compliance methodology product and associated courses; and if he will make a statement. [64711]

  Mr. Wills
  Action 2000 is an independent company set up by DTI to help UK businesses tackle the Millennium Bug.

  I understand that in the contract with Data Dimensions Action 2000 has not included a condition preventing Data Dimensions from promoting their own millennium compliance methodology products and associated courses.

  Action 2000 has a general policy of not allowing third party commercial organisations to use the Action 2000 name or logo to imply support or endorsement of their commercially available millennium products or services. It has not given Data Dimensions permission to use its contract with Action 2000 to imply support or endorsement by Action 2000 of its millennium compliance methodology products and associated courses.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what tendering process preceded the award by Action 2000 of a contract to Data Dimensions Inc. for the development of a database of providers of software products for millennium compliance; and on what date the contract was completed. [64710]
  360
  Mr. Wills
  I understand that Action 2000 invited three companies to tender against a clearly defined Service Specification and according to normal DTI tendering rules. All respondents were visited prior to issue of the Invitation to Tender and invited to present their proposals to Action 2000 and an independent representative from Business Links.

  All responses were analysed against objective service and commercial criteria. Data Dimensions was awarded the contract on the basis of:

  Meeting the Action 2000 service requirement.

  Realistic pricing with scope for flexibility.

  Low commercial risk to Action 2000.

  Credible supplier (particularly at being able to handle potentially large volumes of technical inquiries).

  The contract was formally awarded on 14 September 1998. The new Year 2000 Software Status Service was delivered on time in October to specification and within budget.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make representations to the EU Commission concerning the reduction in population covered by assisted areas in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [65163]

  Mr. Wills
  The reduction in population coverage reflects the Commission Guidelines on national regional aid which were issued on 10 March 1997. The Guidelines are mandatory.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's work to develop the UK as a high-productivity, high-skill knowledge economy. [65284]

  Mr. Byers
  The White Paper on competitiveness, "Our competitive future: building the knowledge driven economy", sets out an ambitious and wide-ranging programme for my Department to promote business competitiveness.

  Amongst the proposals there will be new help for businesses to build their capabilities by promoting enterprise; exploiting science and technology; developing skills; and using information and communications technology. There will be substantial assistance to encourage business to collaborate, including funding for ten other sectors to follow the successful SMMT Industry Forum model and substantial backing for the CBI's Fit for the Future campaign to encourage a massive increase across the economy in take-up of best practice.

  To provide the right environment in which business can compete, Government will promote open and competitive markets and crack down on harmful anti-competitive behaviour. My department will develop a new strategy to make the UK the leading country for electronic commerce, with legislation to remove legal barriers and support for an industry-led push to boost consumer confidence.

  Consumer Credit Licences
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which an individual or business is required to obtain a consumer credit licence. [65588]

  Dr. Howells
  In general any business which provides credit under agreements which are regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is required to hold a consumer credit licence issued by the Director General of Fair Trading. The Act regulates agreements involving the granting of credit up to £25,000 to individuals, including sole traders and partnerships. Section 16 of the Act exempts some types of consumer credit agreement and businesses which only offer exempt agreements do not require a licence. Licences are also required by businesses and others who hire or lease out goods, arrange credit for others, collect debts, undertake debt adjusting and debt counselling, and by credit reference agencies.

  Prepayment Gas Meters
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the percentage of pensioners who pay their domestic gas costs with prepayment meters. [65971]

  Mr. Battle
  A survey conducted during the summer of 1998, which was commissioned by Ofgas, estimated that approximately 2 per cent. of those aged over 65 use prepayment gas meters.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will establish a Government task force to promote renewable energy. [65777]

  Mr. Battle
  An advisory body already exists. The Renewable Energy Advisory Committee advises the Department of Trade and Industry on the aims, content, environmental appropriateness and economic applicability of the Department's new and renewable energy market enablement programme and policy on new and renewable energy. The committee's membership is drawn from industry, academia, local government, environmental bodies and Government. The DTI values the committee's work and has implemented its advice on the development of new and renewable energy.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's progress in achieving 10 per cent. of the country's energy from renewable sources. [66076]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government are committed to a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources.

  As a first step in our new and strong drive for renewables, I announced the fifth and largest Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO-5) Order of 1177 MW on 24 September 1998. A third Scottish Renewables Obligation Order (SRO-3) will be made on 7 February 1999, probably for between 110–120 MW.

  Today about 2 per cent. of our electricity comes from renewables, mostly from large scale hydro. NFFO Orders already laid or in train will add a further 3 per cent. by around 2002 or 2003. The challenge is to move from about 5 per cent. in 2003 to 10 per cent. by 2010. I have
  362
  therefore instigated a review to consider what would be necessary and practicable to achieve this. I expect to publish a consultation document on the review shortly.

  I have already reversed the planned cuts in the renewables programme budget which the previous Government had made, so that the renewables programme budget for this year (1998–99) has been maintained at £11.1 million. The Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) also supports work on new and renewable energy, spending about £1 million a year on its Photovoltaics programme alone and expects to launch a new programme on "Renewables and New Energy Technologies" later this year (£3.5 million a year).

  Grid Access
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has to simplify procedures for grid access for small renewable generating companies. [65778]

  Mr. Battle
  My Department's new and renewable energy programme has supported a number of studies, involving both renewable generating companies and the electricity supply industry, with the aim of encouraging the development of commercial and regulatory frameworks for electricity supply that allow renewable generators to compete with more established generation methods on a fair and unbiased footing.

  To give only one example of the work being undertaken, we are supporting a project entitled Technical Criteria for Electrical Integration of Photovoltaic (PV) Systems into Electricity Supply Networks (ETSU contract number S/P2/00215/00/00) which includes the holding of regular meetings with a consultative group of Regional Electricity Companies (RECs) and will involve the production of a guide to be entitled, "UK Technical Guidelines for Inverter Connected Single Phase PV Generators up to 5kVA".

  Electricity Pool
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is his intention to introduce reform of the electricity pool system by the first half of the year 2000. [65633]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: It is my intention to proceed with these reforms as soon as it is possible to do so. The Programme Director responsible for the process of implementing new trading arrangements is currently examining the steps required to meet the suggested target implementation date of 1 April 2000 contained in OFFER' s Proposals document published in July 1998. He will provide further advice on the timing of implementation in due course.

  Branded Products (Discounts)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what papers relating to British retailers wishing to sell branded products at discount prices were brought to the previous Secretary of State's attention. [65642]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: My right hon. Friend the previous Secretary of State and his ministerial colleagues saw numerous papers in the normal course of business, a number of which touched on pricing issues.

  BSkyB (Manchester United)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any papers relating to BSkyB's proposed takeover of Manchester United were brought to his predecessor's attention. [65641]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: In the course of deciding whether to refer BSkyB's proposed acquisition of Manchester United to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, my right hon. Friend naturally considered relevant papers, in particular the advice submitted to him by the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Mergers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current number of proposed mergers. [65629]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: There are some twenty proposed mergers presently under consideration by the DGFT.

  Digital Broadcasting
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the competition policy implications of the establishment of a publicly funded digital broadcast service to support the GCSE curriculum. [65692]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: The Department for Education and Employment has invited companies with a broadcasting or transmission licence and experience in the provision of educational broadcast material to submit tenders on a competitive basis for the provision of specific digital broadcast services to support the GCSE curriculum. I understand that a copy of the invitation to tender is being deposited in the Library of the House.

  I am not aware that there are any competition policy implications arising from this exercise. In the first instance any concerns of this nature should be brought to the attention of the Department for Education and Employment.

  Defence Mergers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards large-scale mergers in the United Kingdom defence industry; [65617]

  (2) what plans he has to encourage competition in the United Kingdom defence industry. [65625]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear since his statement with the French and German Heads of Government in December 1997, there is an urgent need to restructure the aerospace and defence industries in Europe to compete in world markets.

  It is for industry itself, not Government, to make specific proposals for restructuring. Any resulting merger would be considered on its own merits by the relevant competition authorities.

  Power Generation
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what appraisal he has made of the implications of the expansion of power generation through combined cycle gas turbines not fitted with an automatic governor response for the security of the national grid network. [65985]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government have not made any appraisal of the issue mentioned, since all combined cycle gas turbines connected to the National Grid Company's transmission system are required under the Grid Code to have automatic governors fitted. The Government have, however, established a steering group to take forward work on a number of other system security and stability measures (black start, frequency response, load following, and reactive power), as proposed in the October 1998 White Paper Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government Response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee. This group will also consider the impact on the Grid of plant which is not connected to it and which is not, therefore, bound by the Grid Code.

  Consumer Representation
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce the Government's response to the recent consultation exercise on consumer representation in the gas and electricity industries. [65984]

  Mr. Battle
  The recent consultation exercise covered the arrangements for consumer representation in the telecommunications and water sectors, as well as the gas and electricity industries. I expect to be able to announce the Government's response to the consultation shortly.

  Nuclear Fuel
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements are being made to return to Japan nuclear materials recovered from reprocessing Japanese spent nuclear fuel at BNFL's Sellafield plant. [66647]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government have been consulting the Government of Japan for some time about arrangements for returning the nuclear materials, including plutonium, recovered from reprocessing Japanese spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield. This is in keeping with the terms of the letters exchanged between the two Governments in 1978 in support of reprocessing contracts between Japanese utilities and BNFL and the policy of successive Governments.

  The Government of Japan's preferred means of using the recovered plutonium is for it to be converted into Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel for use in Japanese nuclear power stations. The MOX fuel, including material produced by BNFL's counterpart COGEMA in France, will be returned by sea and carried by UK-flagged transport ships belonging to Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd. (PNTL), a subsidiary of BNFL.
  365
  The purpose of the consultations between the UK and Japan has been to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place for the physical protection of the material in line with internationally agreed commitments and recommendations on physical protection and reflecting the concern of all parties to prevent the proliferation of sensitive nuclear materials. This includes compliance with the recommendation of the International Atomic Energy Agency that MOX fuel, like all other Category 1 nuclear material, should be accompanied during transport by an armed security escort.

  All plutonium recovered from Japanese spent fuel reprocessed in Europe originates from uranium which was enriched in the US. Because of this, it falls within US rules of origin under which the US retains certain rights and responsibilities over its retransfer. This means that plans for the transport of MOX fuel from Europe to Japan by sea must comply with specific US requirements concerning safety and physical protection. These are set out in the 1988 US-Japan agreement on nuclear co-operation and include the requirement either that the transport ship should be accompanied by an armed escort vessel or that alternative security measures acceptable to the US should be in place.

  The security arrangements currently under discussion with Japan and the US would involved 2 PNTL transport ships travelling together for mutual protection. Each would carry armaments, for defensive use only, under the control of specially trained officers of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary. These security provisions are solely for protecting the ships, their crew and their cargo in the extremely unlikely eventuality of an armed assault by terrorists.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance and grants are available from his Department to engineering companies in South Lancashire. [66028]

  Mr. Wills
  Within the Assisted Area in Lancashire, RSA is available to almost all businesses investing in manufacturing, as also to businesses in the service industry which serve a wider rather than a local market.

  Business Links and TECs also have a wide range of business support services available to companies throughout Lancashire.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his Department offers to indigenous British industries that wish to expand their operations. [66027]

  Mr. Wills
  The main form of assistance provided by the Department is Regional Selective Assistance. The scheme offers grants on a selective basis to firms planning new investment which creates or safeguards jobs in the Assisted Areas. In the last financial year (1997–98) around £65 million of grant was offered to UK owned firms in England.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the level of funding from the regional development agencies for rural areas. [65110]

  Mr. Meale
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department has received a number of representations on this issue. However, in the White Paper on the Regions, "Building Partnerships for Prosperity", the Government made it clear that their strong commitment to rural regeneration would continue to be reflected in the RDAs' funding for rural areas. There will be separate allocations for rural funding, and an integrated rural regeneration element of the Single Regeneration Budget.

TREASURY

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent to which those who move from welfare to work as a result of the working families tax credit will(a) move into newly created jobs and (b) displace existing employees; and in the case of displacement, what assessment he has made of the characteristics of those who are likely to be displaced. [63660]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The Working Families Tax Credit and the associated Childcare Tax Credit are designed to (a) make work more attractive for those currently out of employment and (b) enable one and two parent families to increase the hours they work by assisting with costs of childcare. These are part of a range of new measures which should together assist people in moving from welfare to work. The Government are undertaking considerable preparatory work ahead of the introduction of WFTC in October, but no reliable assessment of either the number of people moving into newly created jobs or displacement of existing employees can be made.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of how many people will be eligible for the working families tax credit when it is fully operational. [63189]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 11 January 1999]: It is estimated that in 2000–01, the first full year of the Working Families Tax Credit, about 1.3 million families will be in receipt of the credit.

  Taxation (Savings)
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is intended that the proposals for a directive on the taxation of savings as announced in the European Council Conclusions (Vienna 11 and 12 December) should involve an investigation of the differing income tax regimes of member states in respect of the taxation of savings and the differing rates of income tax thereon. [64641]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No. The draft directive on the taxation of savings which is currently under consideration in Brussels would not affect the way income from savings is treated in national income tax systems.

  Business Taxes
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of additional sums which would be raised in the United Kingdom if the German proposal for alignment of business taxes were implemented on the basis of current German levels. [64806]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No such estimate has been made. There is no German proposal for alignment of business taxes.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 November 1998,official report, column 23, for what reasons he was unable to provide the specific information requested. [64722]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 11 January 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave him on 19 November 1998, official report, column 849.

  Teenage Suicides (Surrey)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many teenage suicides have occurred in South-West Surrey since 1995. [65575]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mrs. Virginia Bottomley, dated 18 January 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentry question asking how many teenage suicides have occurred in South West Surrey since 1995.
  The data requested are shown in the table below.

  Number of deaths certified as due to suicide and undetermined injury occurring to teenage residents of South West Surrey, 1995–97

  Year of occurrence

  Number of suicides

  Number of undetermined deaths

  1995

  0

  0

  1996

  0

  0

  1997

  0

  1

  Notes:

  1. Teenagers were identified as between 13 and 19 years of age.

  2. South West Surrey was taken as the constituency of the same name.

  3. The table includes deaths given an open verdict and coded to "death from injury and poisoning undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted", in addition to those given a suicide verdict, as it is likely that most undetermined deaths among 'adults' (15 and over) are cases where the harm was self-inflicted but there was insufficient evidence to prove that the deceased deliberately intended to kill themselves.

  Mutual Building Societies
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the impact of a reduction in the mutual building society sector on the housing market. [65572]
  368
  Ms Hewitt
  I have not commissioned any research into this issue, although my officials, along with those at the Bank of England and the Building Societies Commission, do keep the market under review.

  Mortgages
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the relative costs of mortgages from(a) commercial banks and (b) building societies. [65569]

  Ms Hewitt
  Estimates of the basic rates charged for a mortgage by banks or building societies are available in Table 7.1L of the 'Financial Statistics' monthly report produced by The Office for National Statistics, a copy of which is available in the House Library.

  The industry's trade body, the Council of Mortgage Lenders, also publish figures once a quarter.

  Inflation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the appropriate measure of inflation for defining the inflation target; and if he plans to introduce an inflation target defined in terms of the harmonised index of consumer prices. [65678]

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to adopt the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices as a target measure for inflation. [66054]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set an inflation target for the Bank of England cast in terms of the harmonised index of consumer prices, as recommended to him by the IMF in their annual Article IV assessment of British economic policy. [66425]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: The Bank of England Act 1998 requires the Treasury to specify what price stability is to be taken to consist of at least once in every period of 12 months. In his last Budget on 17 March 1998, official report, column 1098, the Chancellor confirmed the Government's inflation target is 2½ per cent. defined by the 12-month increase in the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX).

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions (Computer Changeover)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, in relation to North Staffordshire Benefits Agency, how many persons pension contributions have not been processed due to delays arising from the changeover of the computer dealing with retirement pension rights; what the reason is for the further projected delay in the changeover of the computer; what is the new projected date for the new computer to be in full working order; and what arrangements he has put in place to cover the period during which the computer is inoperative; how these arrangements have worked; and if he will make a statement. [65371]
  369
  Mr. Timms
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security in his Written Answer on 4 November 1998,official report, columns 603–06, advised the House that the Contributions Agency had introduced a new National Insurance Recording Computer System. During the first year of operation the system is being introduced through a series of pilots leading to national implementation.

  Progress has been made against plans to move pilots into national operation. The NIRS2 link to the Jobseeker's Allowance computer system was implemented nationally on 9 November 1998 and new claims are now being dealt with through the normal interface between the two systems. The NIRS2 reports used for Incapacity Benefit were implemented nationally on 18 November 1998. Reports are being carefully screened before being released to Benefit Agency local offices.

  Retirement Pensions and Widows Benefit calculation facilities became nationally available on 6 January 1999. The Benefits Agency is continuing to make initial awards of Retirement Pension and emergency payments to widows and those claiming Retirement Pension where no record of the contribution history is available.

  The Benefits Agency has continued to identify and distribute claim packs automatically to those individuals approaching pension age using information from the previous National Insurance Recording system (NIRS). All initial awards of Retirement Pension have been calculated using the information from the old NIRS system. This contingency arrangement has worked well since the conversion to the new NIRS2 system began on the 19 June 1998. 97 per cent. of all claims to Retirement Pension have been processed using information from NIRS. Initial awards made since April 1998 will be reviewed when the 1997/98 National Insurance Contribution information has been posted to account. The Benefits Agency hopes to begin reviewing these claims from April 1999.

  The Benefits Agency has increased the capacity to calculate clerically entitlement to State Earnings Related Pension Scheme for people who request it. 3,500 such calculations have been completed.

  On 4 November 1998, official report, columns 603–06, I reported that over 14 million National Insurance contributions for 1997/98 had been recorded on individual accounts. On 11 January the number of contribution items posted had risen to 31 million. We normally expect to record about 47 million contributions each year by the end of December. We hope to have recorded the balance by March 1999.

  On 4 January 1999 the cumulative total of age-related rebate payments, paid to Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes in respect of individual scheme members in this financial year, increased from £630 million to £1,411 million, nearly 60 per cent. of the expected total for the year. This includes the December payment of £385.57 million and the January payment of £392 million. The figure includes a compensation element to compensate individual scheme members for any loss of investment income because of delayed payments.

  By 31 December 1998, the cumulative total of contributions collected from the self-employed through Direct Debit and Quarterly Billing facilities in this
  370
  financial year had increased to £342.5 million. In December £34.25 million was collected from 1.34 million self-employed contributors who pay contributions by Direct Debit and in January a further £42.3 million has been requested.

  Scottish Juvenile registrations, for issuing National Insurance numbers, were processed and the plastic National Insurance Number (NINO) cards are currently being issued. Adult registrations are currently being processed using the NIRS2 on-line facility and plastic NINO cards are being issued.

  New registration facilities for self-employed people, who want to pay their contributions by monthly Direct Debit, are being piloted. New registration facilities for self-employed people who pay contributions quarterly became available to specialist staff in Contributions Agency from 14 December 1998.

  From the first Monday of the new benefit year, 4 January 1999, new claims to Incapacity Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance are being based on contributions paid during the 1996/97 and 1997/98 tax years. It is estimated that 65 per cent. of the relevant 1997/98 contributions have been posted to NIRS2. Whilst the remaining 1997/98 contributions are still being recorded in NIRS2, information to pay some new claims will need to be obtained from other sources.

  The expected number of claims in January 1999 where contribution information will need to be obtained from other sources for Jobseeker's Allowance will be approximately 75,000 and for Incapacity Benefit approximately 21,000. These figures will be lower in February and March because additional National Insurance contribution information will be available on NIRS2, and by April 1999 all the National Insurance contributions needed should be available on the system. Claims will be automatically reviewed when 1997/98 National Insurance Contributions are posted.

  There are long-standing contingency instructions in place to deal with these cases, and the Benefits Agency will advise customers if any additional information is required to deal with their claims. Both Jobseeker's Allowance and Incapacity Benefit contingency arrangements are in place from 4 January 1999.

  Considerable effort has been jointly made by DSS Agencies, pensions industry and Andersen Consulting to maintain service levels. Staff from the Contributions Agency, Benefits Agency and Andersen Consulting were working together throughout the Christmas period to resolve the outstanding problems.

  All the work involved is being taken forward through a co-ordinated plan agreed between the DSS Agencies involved and Andersen Consulting. Within the plan, priority is being given to those aspects of the NIRS2 system, which most directly affect benefit claims. I continue to expect that it will take until the end of this financial year to resume normal operations in full, and it will take longer to catch up on all backlogs. I shall keep the House informed of progress.

  Independent Tribunal Service
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps are taken to ensure access for
  371
  disabled people to buildings used to hold Disability Living Allowance Independent Tribunal Service hearings; [65261]

  (2) what training employees of the Independent Tribunal Service receive to ensure that they are aware of the special needs of people with a disability. [65271]

  Angela Eagle
  The Council on Tribunals (CoT) produce a code of practice entitled "Access for Disabled People Using Tribunals" to which the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) fully adheres in relation to its own tribunal premises. Appeals involving Disability Living Allowance are heard by Disability Appeal Tribunals (DATs), and these tribunals sit only in premises containing appropriate facilities for disabled people. Such facilities include car-parking spaces, access ramps, internal lifts and furnishings and fittings suitable for disabled people whilst both sitting in and moving around the premises.

  ITS operates an equal opportunities policy of which an essential element is an awareness of the needs of people with disabilities. This policy is explained to all new members of the administrative staff early in their induction training and reinforced at regular intervals thereafter, whilst tribunal clerks, who deal face-to-face with disabled appellants, are given more detailed supplementary training. An Equal Opportunities Officer is based in Nottingham, whose role is to monitor changes in policy and practice and to provide regular updates to all staff.

  Judicial Officers of ITS—that is, tribunal chairmen and members—whilst not direct employees, also receive training in various aspects of human awareness and interpersonal skills, including the needs of people with disabilities. This, too, is delivered initially as part of the induction training for new appointees and subsequently incorporated into regular "refresher" training programmes at both local and national level.

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects take-up of stakeholder pensions to reach(a) 500,000, (b) 1 million, (c) 1.5 million and (d) 2 million; and what estimate he has made of the eventual level of take-up of stakeholder pensions. [65420]

  Mr. Timms
  The take-up of Stakeholder Pensions will depend on a number of factors and cannot be reliably predicted. There are estimated to be in the region of 5 million potential beneficiaries earning between £9,000 and £20,000 per annum: over 2 million people currently in SERPS, 2 million who currently have Appropriate Personal Pensions, and 1 million self employed people (some with personal pensions).

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis the figure of £9,000 per year was chosen as the value below which individuals would not be encouraged to take out stakeholder pensions. [65576]

  Mr. Timms
  The figure of £9,000 was judged to be broadly the annual earnings level where, at current levels of compulsion, pension contributions would be sufficient to make funded pensions cost-effective. This was based on a range of information, including minimum contribution levels used for the sale of personal pensions.
  372
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his estimates based on the Family Resources Survey 1996–97 of(a) median pensioner incomes, excluding means-tested benefits, by age, sex and marital status, consistent with his answer of 12 November 1998, official report, columns 295–98, and (b) the size of each group. [65581]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is set out in the tables.

  Pensioner units' median gross income excluding means-tested benefits, by age

  £ per week

  1996–97

  Age

  60–64

  65–69

  70–74

  75–79

  80 and over

  Single male pensioners

  n/a

  122

  121

  104

  95

  Single female pensioners

  116

  99

  94

  85

  85

  Pensioner couples

  n/a

  239

  206

  181

  167

  Notes:

  1. All amounts are in £s per week at July 1996 prices. They are rounded to the nearest £1, although estimates are not necessarily accurate to this level.

  2. Estimates are for pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as a single (non-cohabiting) person over State Pension Age (65 years or above for men and 60 years or above for women), or a couple (married or cohabiting) where the man, defined as the head, is over State Pension Age. Estimates for pensioner couples are broken down by the age of the man.

  3. Estimates marked 'n/a' are not applicable. Single men and couples are defined as Pensioner Units only if the man is aged 65 years or above.

  4. Means-tested benefits are defined as Income Support, Family Credit, Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit.

  5. Levels of means-tested benefit may be particularly affected by mis-reporting as receipt of State Retirement Pension and receipt of Income Support are often confused in the FRS.

  Source:

  The Pensioners' Incomes Series dataset, based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS).

  Number of pensioner units by age and marital status

  Thousand

  1996–97

  Age

  60–64

  65–69

  70–74

  75–79

  80 and over

  Single male pensioners

  n/a

  250

  210

  210

  260

  Single female pensioners

  320

  550

  710

  670

  980

  Pensioner couples

  n/a

  960

  810

  500

  360

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000 Pensioner Units.

  2. Estimates are for pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as a single (non-cohabiting) person over State Pension Age (65 years or above for men and 60 years or above for women), or a couple (married or cohabiting) where the man, defined as the head, is over State Pension Age. Estimates for pensioner couples are broken down by the age of the man.

  3. Estimates marked 'n/a' are not applicable. Single men and couples are defined as Pensioner Units only if the man is aged 65 years or above.

  4. Estimates are not controlled to independent population estimates by the age bands used.

  Source:

  The Pensioners' Incomes Series dataset, based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS).
  373
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many old age pensioners who have become eligible for their benefit since 1 October have not received their pension, and for what reason; and what explanation, or notification, has been given to them as to when they may expect to be paid. [66467]

  Mr. Timms
  People entitled to Retirement Pension since 1 October 1998 will have received their pension provided they have made a claim. If the contribution record to determine their claims could not be obtained because of the difficulties with the NIRS2, they will have been offered emergency payments and told the reason. I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security gave the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) on 4 November 1998,official report, columns 603–06. It is estimated that 3 per cent. of claims fall into this category; this relates to about 1,500 claims a month (or 4,500 between October and December 1998).

  Income Support
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost in each of the next 10 financial years of linking the rate of income support for pensioners to earnings rather than prices. [65424]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  In April 1999 the Income Support rate for pensioners will be increased by more than if they had been uprated by earnings.

  On this basis the estimated cost to the Income Related benefits of increasing the rate of Income Support (IS) for pensioners by earnings rather than prices would be approximately £250 million in 2000–01 and £520 million in 2001–02. These figures are based on departmental forecasts of the future number of pensioners on Income Related Benefits. Estimated forecasts beyond 2001–02 are not routinely provided on an annual basis, and to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

  However, long-term figures on the costs to income related benefits have been estimated using PENSIM, a dynamic simulation model that projects pensioners' incomes into the next century. For illustrative purposes the estimated cost of uprating IS for pensioners in line with earnings by 2010, based on PENSIM, would be around £3.5 billion in today's prices. PENSIM estimates, however, are based on a number of economic and behavioural assumptions. Due to the reliance on assumptions and the time period covered, estimates should be treated with caution, and have been heavily rounded.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are in cash terms. The estimated cost in 2010 is for illustrative purposes and shown in constant prices. This is consistent with other PENSIM figures in the public domain.

  2. Short-term estimates have been rounded to the nearest £10, and the estimate for 2010 is rounded to the nearest half a billion to reflect the uncertainty of the estimate.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish the findings on the pilot studies on income support take-up. [66128]
  374
  Angela Eagle
  The evaluation of the Income Support take-up pilots is currently underway. Results are expected before the Spring and publication will follow as soon as possible after that.

  Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many small-scale frauds have been prosecuted, and how many prosecutions have been successful, since the publication of the Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business" in July; and what the equivalent figures were for each of the previous five years. [65440]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 14 January 1999): As yet we have made no provision to break down national prosecution statistics by the amount of overpayment involved. Keeping the value of a fraud is no guarantee that a fraudster will not be prosecuted. The amount involved is only one of the factors considered when deciding whether it is appropriate to prosecute an individual case.

  We shall respond shortly to the consultation on the Green Paper.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps have been taken to implement plans to improve the security culture of staff with particular reference to relating performance appraisal and performance-related pay to security. [65456]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: The Department's Agencies are taking forward a number of activities to promote security awareness and to ensure that where appropriate, security features are included in key work objectives and in the performance appraisal system.

  State Pension
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is the Government's eventual aim to have the basic state pension increased in line with average earnings. [65882]

  Mr. Timms
  The basic State pension will remain a key building block of the pension system and will continue to be increased at least in line with prices.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many British citizens live in countries in which their British state retirement pension is(a) uprated annually and (b) not uprated annually. [66097]

  Mr. Timms
  Around 390,000 pensioners living abroad receive a United Kingdom basic State Pension, which is uprated annually. Around 450,000 receive a basic UK State Pension which is frozen, either at the rate paid on leaving the UK or, if already living abroad, at the rate when first awarded.

  Transfer of Information
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's policy on the confidential transfer of information on the names of persons in receipt of means-tested benefits from his Department to individual education authorities solely in order to permit the education authority to establish the number of children in its area who qualify for free school meals. [65815]
  375
  Angela Eagle
  The Department would not normally disclose confidential personal information to a local education authority without the consent of the individual concerned.

  Cross-party Co-operation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with(a) the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) and (b) other Liberal Democrat hon. and right hon. Members concerning the development of Government policy on pensions. [65817]

  Mr. Darling
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 14 January 1998,official report, column 270.

  Contributions Agency
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated costs to the Contributions Agency associated with clearing the current backlogs which have occurred as a result of delays in implementing the NIRS II system. [65992]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available.

  The Department's Agencies involved and Andersen Consulting have been working to an agreed plan to stabilise the system. As many of the milestones in this plan have been achieved recovery plans are now being drawn up. This planning needs to be progressed further before a cost can be associated to the recovery exercise.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the amount of compensation likely to be paid to personal pension providers by the Contributions Agency, as a result of delays in implementing the NIRS II system. [65991]

  Mr. Timms
  The total amount of compensation to be paid to Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes on behalf of their scheme members will be determined by the date on which the posting of 1997–98 Class 1 Contributions is completed. Progress has been made and it is anticipated that the contribution information held for that year should be posted by April 1999.

  It is estimated that the total amount of compensation to be paid will be between £35 and £40 million.

  Benefit Payments
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what date the agreement with the Post Office not to redirect benefit payments came into operation for each region of the country. [66127]

  Angela Eagle
  The national agreement with the Post Office not to redirect Social Security related local authority post will come into operation from 1 February 1999. All local authorities will be invited to participate in the initiative later this month.

  Incomes
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the numbers currently below the lower earning threshold of national insurance and the 376
  number estimated in this category for each of the five decades following the introduction of the state second pension. [65172]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 11 January 1999]: I have been asked to reply.

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 18 January 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about people earning less than the lower earnings threshold for National Insurance contributions.
  The latest estimates available from the UK Labour Force Survey are that, in summer 1998, 2,367,000 employees earned less than £64 per week (the lower limit for Class 1 National Insurance contributions in the current tax year). The vast majority of these, 2,174,000, worked part-time.
  Projections for future years are not available.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  A. Hacker and M. Yeoman
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects to receive the report from the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the conduct of the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the case Rv. A. Hacker and M. Yeoman tried at the Plymouth Crown Court on 6 January concerning a domestic burglary in Salcombe; and if he will make a statement on the conduct of this case. [66109]

  The Attorney-General
  The Director of Public Prosecutions received reports about the case of Rv. Hacker and Yeoman in December 1998 and on 11 January 1999. The Director of Public Prosecutions wrote to the hon. Member on 11 December 1998. I have seen those reports for the purpose of answering this Question. However, the DPP has statutory responsibility for the casework of the Crown Prosecution Service and he will be writing further to the hon. Member.

HEALTH

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the (i) task forces, (ii) review panels and (iii) advisory groups his Department has, (b) the remit of each and (c) the members of each together with their principal employment and their level of remuneration. [62810]

  Mr. Denham
  Copies of the information requested about the task forces and review panels have been placed in the Library. Information on advisory groups could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Solar Eclipse
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department will offer to Cornwall in dealing with problems that may arise from the total eclipse of the sun on 11 August 1999. [65034]
  377
  Mr. Denham
  Officials from the South West Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive are already working together with the local health authorities and NHS trusts, and other local bodies, to ensure that the NHS has adequate plans in place to meet the demands placed on it during the period of the eclipse.

  Isles of Scilly
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support is available to Scilly Islands residents travelling to mainland hospitals for specialist treatment and advice. [65274]

  Mr. Denham
  Residents from the Isles of Scilly requiring treatment at mainland hospitals are reimbursed the cost of the flight from the Isles of Scilly to Penzance, less a £5 contribution. Residents claiming income support are reimbursed the full cost of the flight. These payments are made by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority from their own resources. The health authority does not receive additional funding for these payments.

  Senior Medical Practitioners
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will break down the costs of all suspensions of senior medical practitioners on full pay for each of the last five years between(a) legal costs, (b) administration costs, (c) salaries paid to those on suspension and (d) any other costs; [65250]

  (2) how many NHS suspended senior medical practitioners have been (a) disciplined, (b) after investigations cleared of any allegations against them and (c) had any proceedings against them dropped, in each of the last five years; and how many of those personnel subsequently continued in the employment of the health authrity or trust concerned. [65251]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally. The National Health Service Executive monitors doctors suspended for more than six months. Since 31 March 1995, a total of 44 cases of suspension lasting over six months have been reported. As at 30 September 1998, the latest date for which figures are available, 14 hospital and community medical and dental staff, including 9 consultants, have been suspended for over six months. Decisions on whether to suspend, or discipline, a medical practitioner rest with the employing authority or trust. Hospital doctors who are suspended from duty will, in most cases, continue to receive full pay during the period of suspension. The NHS Executive is reviewing current suspension procedures.

  NHS Boards
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nominations have been received in calendar year 1998 for non-executive posts on NHS boards, indicating(a) the percentage of nominations which have been for (i) women, (ii) people with disabilities and (iii) people from ethnic minorities and (b) the number of persons who have been appointed to non-executive posts on NHS boards and the percentage of those who are (1) women, (2) people with disabilities and (3) people from ethnic minorities. [65038]
  378
  Mr. Denham
  A total of 3,258 applications were received for appointments to be made in 1998 in response to a national advertisement and as a result of nominations by hon. Members and local authorities. Of these, 33.9 per cent. were from women, 3.2 per cent. were from those who declared they had a disability and 10.7 per cent. were people from the ethnic minorities.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State subsequently made 1,490 appointments in 1998 to National Health Service trusts and health authorities. Of these, 50.2 per cent. were women, 11.4 per cent. were from the ethnic minorities and 1.5 per cent. declared they had a disability.

  Inequalities Report
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with(a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Secretary of State for Social Security on Part 2 (1) of the report of the independent inquiry into inequalities in health chaired by Sir Donald Acheson. [64814]

  Ms Jowell
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had consultations about the report of the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health (the Acheson report) with a number of our Ministerial colleagues, including my right hon. Friends the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  The Acheson report was considered in Cabinet sub-committee prior to its publication. Since then our officials have been in close touch with their counterparts across Whitehall about the report's recommendations. We made it clear at the time of publication that the whole Government were committed to reducing health inequalities and that the Acheson report was an important contribution to that process.

  Learning Difficulties
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS budget was spent on the care of patients with learning difficulties in each of the last five years. [65486]

  Mr. Denham
  The following is the information:

  Expenditure on the care of patients with learning difficulties 1993–94 to 1997–98

  Year

  Expenditure on learning difficulties1

  Total revenue expenditure2

  Proportion of total revenue expenditure on learning difficulties per cent.

  1993–94

  1,132,664

  28,860,577

  3.92

  1994–95

  1,126,667

  30,271,914

  3.72

  1995–96

  1,157,673

  32,162,568

  3.60

  1996–97

  1,234,718

  31,612,941

  3.91

  1997–98

  1,285,627

  33,269,629

  3.86

  11993–94 to 1995–96 health authority financial returns. 1996–97 and 1997–98 health authority annual accounts.

  2Summarised accounts of the regional and district health authorities and special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals and family health services authorities, 1993–94 to 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98.

  Health Trust and Authority Appointments
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of appointments to health trusts and health authorities in 1998 were not filled by re-appointment or new appointment immediately upon the completion of the period of service of the existing incumbent; how many such vacancies currently exist; and if he will make a statement. [65660]

  Mr. Denham
  In 1998, 555 appointments to National Health Service trusts and 318 appointments to health authorities were due to be made when the term of office of a chair or non-executive expired. 17.1 per cent. of the NHS trust appointments and 22.6 per cent. of the health authority appointments were not made before the due date. At 12 January 1999, 8.8 per cent. of the NHS trust and 2.5 per cent. of the health authority appointments remained unfilled. Great efforts are always made to ensure that all appointments are made on time. Any delays are due to the need to ensure that the right person is chosen for the job.

  Older People
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the work force issues identified by the Health Advisory Service 2000 report, "Not Because They Are Old", with particular reference to staffing levels, skill mix, education and development, management arrangements and support systems. [65322]

  Mr. Denham
  (holding answer 14 January 1999)We are taking a number of steps which will help to address issues raised in the report. These include the publication of the framework for the management of human resources for the whole of the National Health Service, "Working Together, securing a quality work force for the NHS", which sets targets for local employers in areas such as improved recruitment and retention. We have also consulted widely on modern arrangements to underpin quality in the NHS including the development of lifelong learning and will be issuing guidance on continuing professional development.

  Dentists
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the procedures for the establishment of new NHS dentists with particular reference to the length of time taken to reach a decision. [66056]

  Mr. Denham
  The vast majority of dentists are self-employed, and it is therefore up to them where and when they establish themselves. The establishment of Personal Dental Services pilots requires the approval of the Secretary of State, and we have no plans to change this process. Funding through the Investing In Dentistry scheme, which may result in new practices being set up, is also approved by the Secretary of State, and we are considering whether the operation of this scheme can be improved.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has recently received from(a) right hon. and hon. Members and (b) others in relation to the Medicines Control Agency Consultation
  380
  Document MLX 249; and how many of these representations (a) broadly supported and (b) broadly opposed the detail of the proposals. [65723]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: We have received 69 letters from hon. and right hon. Members and 278 representations from other interested bodies and individuals. Three representations broadly support the proposals. The remainder are critical of the proposals to some degree.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the powers of the Medicines Control Agency; and if he will make a statement. [66362]

  Ms Jowell
  The powers of the licensing authority, of which the Medicines Control Agency is an executive arm, are set out in the Medicines Act 1968 and secondary legislation including the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994. There are no plans to extend those powers.

  However, the MCA's Consultation Letter MLX 249 proposes amendments to these Regulations. The proposed amendments relate to a new statutory procedure for determinations by the licensing authority of whether a product is a medicinal product requiring licensing. The procedure would allow for representations to be made against a provisional determination that a product requires licensing. If a final determination is made, it will be sufficient evidence for the purposes of legal proceedings that the product requires licensing under the Regulations, unless it can be shown that the determination was made unreasonably or has been annulled. There is a further proposal that, when a final determination has been made that a product requires licensing, the licensing authority be able to serve a notice in writing on a person requiring that he refrain from placing the product on the market or otherwise marketing the product, and that it be an offence to breach such a notice. Decisions of the licensing authority would be subject to judicial review or other challenge in the civil courts.

  When consideration of responses to the consultation is complete, we will consider whether and what legislative proposals should be put before Parliament.

  Neurology Services
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the average waiting times for out-patient appointments in neurology clinics in each of the last two years for which figures are available. [66060]

  Mr. Denham
  Data on average waiting times for outpatient appointments are not collected centrally. However, data are available on the percentage of patients seen within 13 weeks and 26 weeks of written general practitioner referral and the table provides this information for 1996–97, 1997–98 and the first two quarters of 1998–99.
  381

  Waiting times for neurology first outpatient appointments: Trust based (England)

  Of those GP written referrals seen, the percentage who waited:

  Year

  Quarter

  less than 13 weeks

  less than 26 weeks

  1996–97

  1

  71

  95

  1996–97

  2

  69

  95

  1996–97

  3

  69

  95

  1996–97

  4

  69

  95

  1997–98

  1

  73

  95

  1997–98

  2

  70

  95

  1997–98

  3

  68

  93

  1997–98

  4

  67

  92

  1998–99

  1

  68

  92

  1998–99

  2

  66

  92

  Portsmouth NHS Hospitals Trust
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with(a) Portsmouth NHS Hospitals Trust, (b) Portsmouth & SE Hants Health Authority and (c) others this year about the admissions and treatment of patients at Portsmouth hospitals; what actions he has taken; and what plans he has to visit hospitals in Portsmouth. [65750]

  Mr. Denham
  We have expressed our thanks to all those working in the National Health Services for the huge effort they have put in to make sure everyone is getting the treatment and care they need over the winter months.

  An extra £1.672 million has been allocated to Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority to help them cope with winter pressures. The South East Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive has been working closely with the local national Health Service in Portsmouth about the admission and treatment of patients this year, and will continue to do so.

  We have no plans at present to visit hospitals in this area.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of general practitioner appointments with patients which will be lost each year as a result of general practitioner participation in the administration of primary care groups; [65920]

  (2) what resources he is making available to general practitioner surgeries to allow them to replace general practitioner time taken up in administration of primary care groups; [65921]

  (3) what resources he has made available for repaying the expenses of provisionally appointed members of primary care groups up to 1 April 1999. [65922]

  Mr. Denham
  We have allocated £135 million to health authorities as a central contribution towards health authorities funding of the running costs of primary care groups in 1999–2000. Some of this will be used by Primary Care Groups to fund locum or other costs incurred by general practitioner primary care group board 382
  members. In addition we have made available £31 million this financial year to health authorities to help support the development of primary care groups.

  We have agreed that locum/compensatory payments can be paid to practices to enable them to cover such absences. In some cases cover will be provided from within the practice. We therefore do not expect any deterioration in the quality or level of service to patients to result from GP membership of primary care groups. Indeed we are confident that Primary Care Groups will lead to improvements in services to patients. One of their key functions is to develop primary care.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the Royal Commission's report into the funding of long-term care. [66110]

  Mr. Hutton
  We understand that the Royal Commission is finalising its work, and its report should be published shortly.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Meat Hygiene Service
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to control the costs of Meat Hygiene Service inspections. [64284]

  Mr. Rooker
  Two of the principal objectives of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) are to deliver value for money in the provision of efficient and high quality services and to achieve the financial and performance targets set by Ministers. Indeed the Agency has met all its performance targets since it was launched in April 1995.

  The Chief Executive of the MHS is responsible to the Minister for the Agency's performance and operations. He is accountable for securing efficiency and economical conduct of the Agency's business. The Agency works in line with government tendering rules to optimise value for money. For example the MHS makes extensive use of contract Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs) which it obtains by means of national competitive tendering procedures. These are in line with Government purchasing policy and ensure that the best value for money is obtained for plant operators.

  My ministerial colleagues and I monitor closely the financial performance of the Agency. Indeed, MHS charges for each financial year are subject to ministerial agreement before being implemented. We are satisfied that the MHS is meeting its objective of delivering value for money in the provision of efficient and high quality services.

  Food Standards and Safety Group
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current structure of the Joint Food Standards and Safety Group. [64959]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Joint Food Safety and Standards Group works across Departmental boundaries, bringing together those parts of MAFF and the Department of
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  Health that have responsibility for food safety and standards matters. The Group currently comprises around 380 officials who report to both Agriculture and Health Ministers. It is organised into 11 divisions, including two that are responsible for developing and implementing plans for the Food Standards Agency. The divisions deal with the following main areas of policy: additives and novel foods; food labelling, food authenticity and compositional standards; food contaminants; animal feedingstuffs and fertilisers; food hygiene; meat hygiene; veterinary advice on public health matters; radiological safety; nutrition and diet; and enforcement issues. I shall shortly place in the Library of the House an organogram that illustrates these arrangements.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reports the Joint Food Safety and Standards Group has so far made to Ministers; and when the next report is expected. [64958]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Joint Food Safety and Standards Group brings together the officials in those parts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health that are responsible for food safety and standards matters. It is a set unit of civil servants rather than a body that reports periodically. Since the Group was established on 1 September 1997 it has provided ongoing policy and executive support to Agriculture and Health Ministers.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates the Joint Food Safety and Standards Group has met since it was established; and on what dates this group is scheduled to meet in 1999. [65050]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Joint Food Safety and Standards Group brings together the officials in those parts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health that are responsible for food safety and standards matters. It is a set unit of civil servants rather than a body that meets periodically. Since it was established on 1 September 1997 the Group has provided ongoing policy and executive support to Ministers in both Departments. It will continue to do so until the Food Standards Agency, of which it is expected to form the operational core, is established.

  Milk
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of(a) the potential side effects on consumers of milk and (b) the effect on milk output and price, of the use of bovine somatotrophin. [65658]

  Mr. Rooker
  Bovine somatotrophin (BST) is a hormone produced naturally by all cows and is present in small quantities in all cows milk. Applications for authorisation of the product have been very carefully assessed by various expert committees in the UK and Europe and all agree that the applications meet the statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. Safety includes the safety of the consumer. Its use in the EU is subject to a moratorium. If permitted, it would be subject to veterinary control.

  The European Commission has reported that the productivity increase from the use of BST is estimated to be in the range of 5 per cent. to 20 per cent. However,
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  since EU milk production is constrained by quotas, it is unlikely that there would be any significant impact on either output or price.

  Natural Predators
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of natural predators on the levels of damage to agriculture caused by(a) rabbits, (b) voles, (c) rats and (d) mice; and if he will list the predators concerned in each case. [65097]

  Mr. Morley
  No assessment has been made of the effect of natural predators on the levels of damage caused to agriculture by pests. Rabbits and rodents cause considerable economic loss and any level of natural predation is likely to be beneficial.

  Regional Flood Defence Committees
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the grants awarded by his Department to the South West Regional Flood Defence Committee in each year from 1993–94 to 1998–99 by(a) amount and (b) percentage change over the previous year. [65096]

  Mr. Morley
  Grant is awarded to the Environment Agency by means of Grant Earning Ceilings (GECs) which represent the total of approved flood defence capital expenditure in respect of which grant can be claimed. GECs reflect commitments on ongoing schemes and a national assessment of the priority and urgency of new schemes. Therefore year on year comparisons should be treated with caution. It is also the case that the Environment Agency's South West Regional Flood Defence Committee (RFDC) has not taken up the original award fully in all years.

  I list below (i) the GECs originally awarded each year to the South West RFDC, (ii) the percentage change compared to the previous year's original GEC and (iii) the final outturn for each year.

  year

  Original GEC (£million)

  Percentage change

  Final outturn (£million)

  1993–94

  5.8

  +4

  3.9

  1994–95

  5.6

  -3

  3.2

  1995–96

  5.0

  -11

  4.3

  1996–97

  4.5

  -10

  5.1

  1997–98

  3.0

  -33

  2.9

  1998–99

  2.2

  -27

  1—

  1Not available

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much he plans to award each of the regional flood defence committees in 1999–2000. [65095]

  Mr. Morley
  I have announced the award of 1999–2000 Grant Earning Ceilings (GECs) to the Environment Agency's Regional and Local Flood Defence Committees as follows for their core capital programmes. In addition further funding for flood warning improvements is being provided to the Agency on a national basis.
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  £million

  RFDC area/district

  1999–2000 GEC

  Anglia

  Essex

  2.6

  Great Ouse

  0.8

  Lincolnshire

  6.0

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  8.8

  Welland/Nene

  0.9

  North West

  5.1

  Northumbria

  0.0

  Severn Trent

  4.7

  South West

  2.2

  Southern

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  0.4

  Kent

  1.4

  Sussex

  2.8

  Thames

  19.2

  Wessex

  Avon/Dorset

  0.9

  Bristol/Avon

  0.0

  Somerset

  2.6

  Yorkshire

  7.6

  Environment Agency (Flood Defence Work)
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what legislative authority the Environment Agency has to market-test or contract-out its flood defence emergency and routine maintenance functions. [65094]

  Mr. Morley
  Under Section 37(1)(a) of the Environment Act 1995, the Environment Agency may do anything which, in its opinion, is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, carrying out its functions. This would include the market testing or contracting out of its flood defence emergency and routine maintenance functions.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what instructions(a) the Minister and (b) the Environment Agency has issued on the question of market testing or contracting out aspects of its flood defence work. [65093]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have not issued specific instructions to the Environment Agency about the market testing of its flood defence work. Rather, the Agency is consistently encouraged to continue to deliver improvements in efficiency, and market testing and contracting out feature among the measures that the Agency may wish to use to achieve its efficiency objectives.

  The Agency's Financial Memorandum generally requires that all contracts for whatever function are designed to secure value for money and should be let on a competitive basis unless the Agency is satisfied there are good reasons to the contrary.
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  Also, for flood defence capital works to be eligible for MAFF grant, the Agency is generally required to tender on a competitive basis as set out in the MAFF Grant Memorandum.

  The Agency has issued internal instructions to implement the requirements of the Financial Memorandum and the MAFF Grant Memorandum.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to discuss with his counterparts in other European Union member states the establishment of a pesticide policy across the Community. [65415]

  Mr. Rooker
  My right hon. Friend the Minister takes the lead as respects agricultural pesticides; the lead on other pesticides (and biocides) lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  Directive 91/414/EEC already provides a common basis for the regulation of agricultural pesticides across the Community. Until it is fully operative, the Directive permits the various national arrangements to continue. This transition, from national to harmonised regulation, has proved more lengthy than originally envisaged but the great majority of rules are in place for chemical pesticides and significant progress has been made regarding those for biological pesticides.

  The European Commission has finally recognised that progress needs to be more rapid and last October produced a working paper proposing ways of achieving this. UK Ministers and officials will play a full part in discussions of the Commission's proposals and will seek to advance practical measures to make the Directive fully effective. However, we shall continue to maintain our first priority—the protection of people and the environment.

  Lindane
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the expected timetable for the UK regulatory authorities to consider the report being produced by the European Commission on the environmental and health effects of the insecticide Lindane; and if the report will be published. [66015]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Austrian authorities submitted an initial evaluation of Lindane to the European Commission last month, as part of the EU' s routine review programme for plant protection products. The process of peer review and decision-making by the Community is likely to take until the first half of the year 2000 but could be expedited if issues of human or environmental safety arise. The first phase, scientific peer review, is scheduled to run between March and October. The UK regulatory authorities will participate in this work and will therefore be considering the Austrian report ahead of the meetings.

  If action is called for by the Austrian evaluation, the Government will not hesitate to take steps or to press the Commission to do so. After a decision has been taken by the Commission, the report from the decision making process will be made publicly available.

  Vitamin B
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he has given to the departmental Ad Hoc Export Advisory Committee on Vitamins and Mineral Supplements in the light of research commissioned by his Department on vitamin B. [65757]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals will consider all relevant scientific information on the safety of vitamins and minerals, including any which may be available from research commissioned by this Department.

  Dietary Supplements
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the criteria he will operate to allow unrestricted sale of dietary supplements. [65758]

  Mr. Rooker
  Dietary supplements which are classed as foods are subject to the requirements of the food law. Provided that they comply with those requirements they may be freely sold.

  Grain Stores
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the amounts of pesticides used in grain stores in the UK. [66014]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Ministry has collected pesticides usage data covering the agricultural and horticultural sectors since the 1960s and reports analysing all these data have been published. Information on grain stores is gathered every four years; the next survey will be this year for storage in 1998–99 of the 1998 harvest.

  Comparison in usage data between the last surveys in 1994–95 and previous ones is difficult because of changes in grain store practice, survey methodologies and quantities of grain surveyed. However indications are that use in commercial stores has gone down substantially—the weight of pesticide per tonne of grain was only a third of the 1985–86 level—while use in farm stores appears to have increased—the weight of pesticide per tonne of grain was up by about a fifth on 1990–91 figures. The changes result from stricter hygiene requirements of grain buyers and improved administrative arrangements avoiding unnecessary treatments. There has been a move away from the practice of admixing pesticides with the grain towards treating the store's walls and floors to ensure no pests are left between emptying and re-filling.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has funded into the engineering design of grain stores to enable grain to be safely stored without the use of added chemicals. [66012]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) has a strategic research programme on grain storage which includes a project on the development of modified atmosphere application systems for use within grain stores, as an alternative to control by pesticides. The MAFF work underpins more applied research funded by the levy body, the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).

  Sand Dunes
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the letter of 30 September 1998 from the Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), for fisheries and the countryside to the hon. Member for Linlithgow concerning habitats, if he will make a statement on the action planned for sand dunes. [65384]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: Under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, a costed Habitat Action Plan for coastal sand dunes is being prepared and is due to be published later this year. It will include specific targets for the protection and enhancement of sand dunes and a list of actions to help achieve these targets.

  A large proportion of sand dunes is designated as SSSIs and twenty-one sites have been proposed to the European Commission as candidate Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive.

  The Countryside Stewardship Scheme includes various measures to encourage farmers and land managers to improve the natural beauty and diversity of the countryside. These include payments for managing sand dunes. The Scheme is voluntary and competitive, and agreements under it run for 10 years. Similar measures apply in Scotland under the Countryside Premium Scheme.

  School Milk
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the agricultural industry on the re-introduction of free milk in schools. [66069]

  Mr. Morley
  The main representations for free school milk have come from a parents pressure group called Milk For Schools. Fanning and industry organisations have, however, called for various improvements in the present arrangements.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assess the benefits of reintroducing free milk in schools. [66068]

  Mr. Morley
  Milk can play an important part in a balanced diet but it is only one of many such foods. For this reason, and due to financial constraints, the Government have no plans to assess the benefits of reintroducing free milk in schools.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has held with Professor Bourne since the publication of the latest statistics on TB breakdowns. [66081]

  Mr. Rooker
  The latest TB breakdown statistics to be published are those which I sent the hon. Member on 29 July 1998. Since then my right hon. Friend the Minister and I have met Professor Bourne together on one occasion, and separately on one occasion each.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county the numbers of herd breakdowns to tuberculosis in each quarter of each of the last three years. [66082]
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  Mr. Rooker
  Figures for the numbers of new confirmed herd breakdowns by county are not available on a quarterly basis. The data are not recorded in a manner which would permit quarterly figures to be constructed. Annual figures are retained on a county basis from 1997 and I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2 July 1998,official report, column 318, and my subsequent letter of 29 July 1998, which also listed provisional figures for the first six months of 1998.

  Warfarin
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to(a) restrict and (b) prevent the use of warfarin for pest control. [66083]

  Mr. Rooker
  Warfarin is presently permitted in the UK for specified pest control uses under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. However, it also falls within the scope of the emerging EU regulatory regimes for plant protection products and biocidal products.
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  The plant protection uses of warfarin are being reviewed by the EU Commission as part of a programme that will eventually cover all compounds used in such products. The rules for the review programme put the onus on companies, wishing to continue to market such products, to provide data to address possible risks to people and the environment. Despite several opportunities, we understand that no company has yet provided and adequate data package for warfarin. The Commission are therefore likely to propose the restriction or removal of plant protection uses of warfarin and the Government would be minded to support such a step. We are, however, aware of the implications for the forestry sector; the Forestry Commission is encouraging manufacturers to provide data and is urgently researching alternative control methods.

  This would not have any direct implication for the use of warfarin to protect public health as opposed to crops. The Biocidal Products Directive applies to public health products and, although these will be reviewed in due course, that review is not yet under way.

  Sudan: Refugees
  Sudan: Refugees
  Rights of the Child Convention: UK Report
  Rights of the Child Convention: UK Report
  Juvenile Secure Accommodation
  Juvenile Secure Accommodation
  Gulf Veterans' Illnesses: Research Programme Supervisory Panel
  Gulf Veterans' Illnesses: Research Programme Supervisory Panel
  Motorway Service Areas: Free Access
  Motorway Service Areas: Free Access
  Motor Cycle Use on Public Footpaths
  Motor Cycle Use on Public Footpaths
  Chile: Home Secretary's Visit
  Chile: Home Secretary's Visit
  Breast and Prostate Cancer: Deaths
  Breast and Prostate Cancer: Deaths
  UK Trade Balances and EU Membership
  UK Trade Balances and EU Membership