Written Answers of 20 January 1999

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Credit Unions
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department is taking to support the development of credit unions; and if she will make a statement. [66617]

  Clare Short
  We are currently involved in a number of projects setting up and strengthening credit unions and self-help groups which provide financial and other services to their members and share the co-operative principles of user-management and mutual-ownership. These range from comparatively small organisations aiming to build the financial asset base of disadvantaged communities in a specific location to self-help group federations and co-operative banks serving large parts of the countries they operate in.

  Some examples of current and planned activities include:
  In Kenya we are currently preparing a project to assist a number of indigenous savings and credit co-operatives (SACCOs). The main focus will be on improving their accounting and management information systems with a view to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of their work.
  In India we are helping to set up the Andhra Pradesh Women's Fund (APWF) which will be owned by member clusters of self-help groups throughout the state of Andhra Pradesh. APWF will provide loans to these member clusters as well as help to mobilise and maintain the quality of clusters joining the APWF.
  Through our active involvement with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP), we are providing support for the establishment of an independent rating agency to supervise select Guatemalan credit unions.
  Finally, we are sponsoring practitioners from developing countries to participate in the postgraduate certificate in co-operative management and organisational development of a credit union being offered by Leicester University.

  We will continue to look at new ways to support credit unions and self-help groups which aim to offer the poor improved access to financial services.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Animated Films
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many animated films were produced in the UK in each year for the past five years; and what was the total level of grants provided for UK-produced animations in each of those years. [65990]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: Figures on the numbers of animation films produced in the UK are not available.
  456
  Last year's Government/industry Film Policy Review identified the need to improve the coverage and availability of statistical information on the British film industry. My Department is currently exploring the feasibility of establishing a new and more comprehensive survey of film businesses.

  National Lottery film production awards have been available since 1995. Awards to animated films were as follows:

  Year

  £

  1998

  516,695

  1997

  613,330

  1996

  178,500

  1995

  66,441

  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. The British Film Institute also provides support to regional film and media bodies whose activities in some cases include support for animation.

  Hotels (Quality Rating)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has held on the establishment of a new quality rating system for hotels. [65987]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: With the support of this Department, a new harmonised accommodation rating scheme for hotels and guest accommodation was launched by the English Tourist Board, the AA and the RAC last year. Hotels are given a rating of 1 to 5 stars covering the whole visitor experience and Guest Accommodation is rated entirely on quality, using 1 to 5 diamonds. Inspections against the new standards began in January 1998 and the scheme will be launched to customers later this year. It will be included in Guide Books for 2000. The scheme is available through the AA and the RAC throughout the United Kingdom.

  S4C
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to ensure political balance on the Board of S4C. [66062]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: All public appointments for which my right hon. Friend is responsible are made on the basis of aptitude and merit, and not on the basis of political affiliation. Under the Broadcasting Act 1990, S4C is required to ensure that due impartiality is preserved in respect of matters of political controversy or relating to current public policy.

  Television Licence (Pensioners)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to review the TV licence scheme in respect of the different rates paid by different pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [66253]
  457
  Janet Anderson
  The current review of BBC funding will include a detailed consideration of the structure of the concessionary television licence scheme and whether a suitable alternative structure could be available. The review panel will report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the end of July, after which we shall consult publicly on its findings.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. Nick Mullen
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Attorney-General what were the main points of his submission made to the High Court concerning the seizure and arrest of Mr. Nick Mullen in Zimbabwe in 1989; and if he will place a copy of the submission in the Library. [65996]

  The Attorney-General
  Nicholas Mullen was convicted at the Central Criminal Court on 9 June 1990 of conspiracy to cause explosions and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. He did not appeal against his conviction at that stage but, on 29 January 1998, obtained leave from the Court of Appeal to appeal against his conviction out of time. Although the consent of the then Attorney-General was required for the institution of the proceedings against Mullen, neither I nor my predecessors have been a party to the criminal proceedings which have been conducted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. There have been no proceedings in the High Court. The appeal is at present the subject of consideration by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) which has heard argument and reserved judgment. The transcripts of the trial may be obtained, in accordance with usual procedures, from the official shorthand writers. It would not be appropriate for me to make any further observations in relation to a case currently under consideration by the court.

  Commercial Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General what rules or guidance his Department has to govern the(a) formal and (b) informal interaction between his civil servants and commercial lobbyists. [66210]

  The Attorney-General
  Any contact between officials in my Department and people outside Government, including lobbyists, would be governed by the principles set out in the guidance issued by the Prime Minister in July 1998, as set out in the answer given by him on 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 4, in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice).

DEFENCE

  Clyde Naval Base
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total annual cost of providing harbour craft services, including those sub-contracted, at HM Naval Base Clyde. [66598]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 19 January 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
  458
  Letter from John Trewby to Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 20 January 1999:

  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Question about the total annual cost of providing harbour craft services, including those sub-contracted, at HM Naval Base Clyde as this falls within my area of responsibility.

  The provision of all the Marine Services at HM Naval Base Clyde is undertaken by a commercial contractor, Serco Denholm Ltd. I regret that I am unable to disclose the cost of these services as it is commercially sensitive.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military or dual use goods have been exported since 1 May 1997 under Government-to-Government deals without export licence. [66241]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 19 January 1999]: Since May 1997, the UK has exported the following equipment under the terms of government-to-government agreements with the Governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait:

  Kuwait
  Warrior vehicles, Starburst missiles and launchers, including spare parts; special tools and test equipment; technical publications; and general workshop tools.

  Saudi Arabia
  Tornado and Hawk aircraft; Minehunters with associated armaments; and support equipment, including spares.

  Additionally, for disposals of surplus MOD equipment, the MOD Disposal Sales Agency requires overseas governments which purchase surplus MOD equipment to obtain a UK export licence before collection of equipment from the UK. There has been one exception to this practice since May 1997. This was in relation to the supply of three ex Royal Navy Peacock Class patrol craft, which were delivered to the Philippine Government from their base in Hong Kong.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will re-assess the number of TA centres to remain open in South Lancashire. [65028]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I am content that our decision that all TA Centres in Lancashire, bar Chorley, should remain open, was sound.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he took of the proportion of the strength of the TA which will remain after implementation of the Strategic Defence Review in(a) the North West of England and (b) North Wales, in his decision to transfer HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry. [65024]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The regional distribution of reductions in the TA was one of a number of factors taken into account in reaching decisions on the future TA structure, but, in view of the small numbers involved in this case, was not a major factor in the decision to transfer Headquarters 101 Battalion REME to Queensferry.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new full-time jobs will be created in Queensferry as a consequence of the transfer of HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry. [65026]
  459
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  This will depend on staffing arrangements that have yet to be confirmed.

  Ships
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life for(a) Project Horizon and (b) Type 22 ships. [65729]

  Mr. Spellar
  The planned service life for the Common New Generation Frigate (CNGF) is a minimum of 25 years. The reduction in the size of our destroyer and frigate force from 35 to 32, as announced in the Strategic Defence Review White Paper, will be achieved by paying off the Type 22 frigates HMS Boxer, Beaver and London in 1999. HMS Brave will be replaced by a new Type 23 frigate in 2000 as will HMS Coventry in 2001. The remaining five Type 22 frigates have a planned service life of approximately 23 years.

  Rosyth
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how frequently radiation surveys are undertaken at the entrance to reactor compartments during work on nuclear submarines at Rosyth dockyard; [65726]

  (2) what proportion of supervisors in the Health Physics Section at Rosyth dockyard are qualified to City & Guilds Part 1 Radiation and Safety Practice standards; [65727]

  (3) what instruments are used to monitor personnel leaving the reactor compartments of nuclear submarines at Rosyth dockyard. [65737]

  Mr. Spellar
  All nuclear safety issues relating to Rosyth Royal Dockyard are a matter for Babcock Rosyth Defence Limited, the owners of the Dockyard. It is a condition of their contract with the MOD that they must comply with all nuclear safety regulations.

  Submarines
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast hull life of the(a) Astute and (b) Vanguard class of submarines. [65738]

  Mr. Spellar
  On current plans, both classes have an estimated hull life of 25 years.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the anticipated reactor life of the(a) Astute and (b) Swiftsure class of submarines. [65741]

  Mr. Spellar
  The reactor plant to be fitted to the Astute class, and reactor plant fitted to the Swiftsure class, are anticipated to last the life of the submarines.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the displacement of the(a) Swiftsure and (b) Trafalgar class of submarines. [65740]

  Mr. Spellar
  The displacement of Swiftsure submarines, when submerged, is approximately 4,980 tons and of Trafalgar Class submarines, about 5,050 tons.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast reactor life of the Trafalgar class of submarines. [66173]

  Mr. Spellar
  The reactor plant fitted to the Trafalgar class is designed to last the life of the submarines.
  460
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast hull life of the Swiftsure class of submarines. [66166]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The initial design life of Swiftsure class submarine hulls was 25 years, although there is sufficient margin to extend the life of the submarines as necessary, subject to monitoring to ensure the continuing safety of the submarines.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the anticipated reactor life of the Vanguard class of submarines. [66668]

  Mr. Spellar
  The reactor plant fitted to the Vanguard class is designed to last the life of the submarines

  Young Service Personnel (Disciplinary Proceedings)
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel under 18 years of age have been court-martialled in the last 10 years. [66223]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The information we have available covers the period 1987–1996. Within that period, a total of 19 personnel under the age of 18 years have been convicted by a court-martial. In addition, two RN personnel convicted by a court-martial were charged when under 18 but had reached the age of 18 by the date of their trial.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel under 18 years of age are currently detained for breaches of contract or discipline at the Military Correctional Training Centre, Colchester. [66222]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Only one solider under the age of 18 years is currently being held at the Military Corrective Training Centre, Colchester. That soldier is nearing the end of his period of detention following a sentence of 60 days for being Absent Without Leave.

  RN Base Faslane
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instruments are used to monitor personnel leaving the reactor compartments of nuclear submarines at RN Base Faslane. [66176]

  Mr. Spellar
  Personnel leaving the reactor compartment of a nuclear submarine at HM Naval Base Clyde are monitored with an NE Technology Mk10 ratemeter connected to either a BP4 of BP10 probe.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how frequently radiation surveys are undertaken at the entrance to reactor compartments during work on nuclear submarines at RN Base Faslane. [66174]

  Mr. Spellar
  Radiation surveys of the reactor compartment are carried out daily while work is being undertaken. This includes all compartment entrances and the tunnel area. In addition, other more localised radiation surveys are performed in the vicinity of work areas.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of supervisors in the Health Physics Section at RN Base Faslane are qualified to City and Guilds Part 1 Radiation and Safety Practice standards. [66175]
  461
  Mr. Spellar
  All supervisors working within the Health Physics Group at HM Naval Base Clyde are qualified to both City and Guilds Part 1 and 2 in Radiation and Safety Practice standards.

  Harrier Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life of Harrier GR7 aircraft engines. [66160]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Harrier GR7 aircraft entered RAF service in 1987. On current plans, the Harrier GR7 fleet, including the engines, will achieve a service life of some 30 years.

  The Harrier GR7 is fitted with the Pegasus Mark 105 engine. Each of the engine's component parts has an approved life and may be replaced during the life of the whole engine in accordance with established maintenance policy.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many technical support personnel are required to support the deployment away from existing RAF bases of flights of(a) four and (b) eight RAF Harrier aircraft. [66669]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The number of technical support personnel deployed to support four or eight RAF Harrier aircraft is dependent on several factors, including the operational requirements, the flying task, the number of hours to be worked in any one day and the amount of support available from the Host Nation. However, a flight of four or eight aircraft would be likely to generate a minimum of 79 and 128 technical support personnel respectively.

  Type 23 Ships
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life for Type 23 ships. [66168]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The forecast service life for Type 23 frigates is in excess of 18 years and varies for individual vessels in the class.

  Tornado GR4 Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life of Tornado GR4 aircraft airframes. [66170]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Tornado GR4 entered RAF service in 1997. On current plans, the Tornado GR4 fleet will achieve a service life of some 25 years.

  Christmas Island Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state his policy in respect of the application by Fijian veterans for compensation for the effects on their health of their exposure to atmospheric nuclear tests on Christmas Island. [66428]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department has not received any claims for compensation from Fijian veterans. At the time of the tests, precautions were taken to safeguard the health of those in the area. The effectiveness of these precautions is borne out by independent studies of the health of 462
  British nuclear test veterans undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board and Imperial Cancer Research Fund, which found no evidence of excessive illness or mortality among the veterans as a group which could be linked to their participation in the tests or to exposure to radiation as a result of the tests.

  Vessel Running Costs
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are(a) the running costs averaged over a four year period, excluding costs attributable to refits, DEDs, or manning and (b) the current estimates for an average refit and DED of a (i) Type 23 frigate, (ii) Type 22 (Batch 3) frigate, (iii) Sandown class SRMH, (iv) Hunt Class MCMV, (v) Island Class patrol vessel, (vi) Archer Class training vessel, (vii) Castle Class patrol vessel, (viii) Landing Ship-Logistic (LSL), (ix) Bulldog Class survey vessel, (x) Projected CNGF, (xi) Impulse Class tug and (xii) (ARMY) ramped landing craft. [66597]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 19 January 1999]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Type 42 Ships
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time between major refits for Type 42 ships. [66169]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Typically, the average time between major refits for RN Frigates and Destroyers is in excess of seven years.

  HMS Illustrious
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the interval between major refits for HMS Illustrious. [66167]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  HMS Illustrious has undergone one refit. It took place some nine years after she entered service with the Royal Navy.

  Nuclear Test Site (Nevada)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to establish whether any plutonium that has recently migrated through the groundwater from the nuclear test site in Nevada came from the underground detonation of British nuclear warheads. [66432]

  Mr. Spellar
  No.

  Submarines and Fishing Boats
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to write to the hon. Member for Greenock and Inverclyde further to his statement in the House of 12 November 1998,Official Report, column 506. [66359]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I expect to write to my hon. Friend shortly. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Firing Ranges, Dartmoor
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the advertised days and actual number of days on which Army firing took place within each of the three firing ranges in the Dartmoor National Park for the year ended 31 December 1998. [66116]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The advertised and actual number of days on which Army firing took place within each of the three firing ranges in the Dartmoor National Park for the year ended 31 December 1998 is as follows:

  Advertised

  Actual

  Okehampton Range

  77

  51

  Willsworthy Range

  202

  147

  Merrivale Range

  150

  84

  EI Shifa Factory, Khartoum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available the independent evidence which he stated the UK had that the El Shifa factory in Khartoum was making chemical or biological weapons before the US air strike. [65661]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am withholding details of the intelligence in our possession regarding the El Shifa factory, under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice for Access to Government Information.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  National Biotechnology Conference
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will produce a response to the National Biotechnology Conference held in March 1997. [64965]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government response to the National Biotechnology Conference is available today. The Government have undertaken to examine ways of making more information available to the public about how decisions on biotechnology applications are reached; to ensure that membership of the Advisory Committees reflects a wide range of opinion; to address the wider implications for the natural environment of the introduction of genetically modified crops and to establish procedures for monitoring products when they enter the market. Copies of the response have been placed in the Library.

  Waste Oils
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the latest draft of the proposed Used Oil Directive; [65894]

  (2) how much of the waste oils produced in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Union are (i) recovered and recycled and (ii) burnt as fuel, as (1) a quantity and (2) a percentage in each case; [65893]
  464
  (3) what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of burning waste oil; [65891]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the potential for recycling waste oils. [65892]

  Mr. Meale
  No reliable, recent figures of waste oil recovery and recycling are available for the United Kingdom. My officials have confirmed with the European Commission that no recent figures have been published for the European Union. The United Kingdom, along with other EU member states, is currently compiling information on waste oil for the European Commission. It is understood that the consolidated report will be available from the Commission at the end of June.

  My Department has not carried out any recent studies of the environmental impact of burning waste oils. However, in carrying out its regulatory functions under the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency assesses applications according to the statutory requirements of Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) and Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost (BATNEEC) as defined in Part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. On the basis of environmental analyses of the small number of cases involving waste oils, the Agency has concluded that this process did not adversely affect the environment.

  My officials have confirmed with the European Commission that no draft of the proposed Used Oil Directive has been issued.

  At this stage, no assessment has been made of the potential for recycling waste oils.

  Environmental Management
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department is taking to promote the uptake of the environmental management systems IS014001 and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). [66626]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government fully support and promote the use of environmental management systems and promote the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) alongside the international standard for environmental management systems (ISO 14001) as complementary means for business to continuously improve performance.

  My Department has produced and made available free of charge a full range of introductory leaflets, guides, case study material and videos to encourage business and local authorities to participate in EMAS. These are now all available from the Institute of Environmental Assessment, who I appointed last year to succeed my Department in administering the scheme. EMAS and ISO 14001 are both promoted by my Department and by the IEA at exhibitions and conferences. We are also funding separate promotional efforts by the IEA which is planning to establish a dedicated EMAS website.
  465
  My Department is currently working with the Transport and General Workers Union on an EMAS Handbook to help all employees to understand and implement environmental management systems. Last November we set up a new environment and energy helpline to provide guidance for small and medium firms on how good environmental performance can help their businesses.

  EMAS and ISO 14001 were also featured in the Government's recent consultation paper on "Sustainable Business", part of the wider consultation on sustainable development. My Department has been fully involved in the current revision of the EMAS Regulation and in pressing for changes, including the incorporation of key elements of ISO 14001, to further enhance its attractiveness to business. Seeking views from business and other interested parties about the proposed changes has provided a further opportunity to raise awareness of EMAS and indirectly of ISO 14001.

  Solar Design
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to improve the passive solar design of buildings; and if he will make a statement. [66621]

  Mr. Meale
  Under my Department's Energy Efficiency Best Practice programme we promote the application of passive solar design principles alongside energy efficiency measures as part of an integrated approach to low energy building design. Also, we encourage the consideration of passive solar design in specific buildings through Design Advice Services operated by BRECSU under the same programme.

  Waste Water Treatment
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will announce the date by which secondary treatment of waste water and sewage will be required under the terms of the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive; and if he will make a statement. [66349]

  Mr. Meale
  Under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, secondary treatment must be provided by 31 December 2000 for sewage discharges above 15,000 population equivalent to inland, estuarial and coastal waters. Discharges to inland and estuarial waters of between 2,000 and 15,000 population equivalent, and discharges of between 10,000 and 15,000 population equivalent to coastal waters must receive secondary treatment by 31 December 2005.

  In the case of coastal discharges which were formerly potentially subject to derogations to a lower level of treatment, we are encouraging water and sewerage companies to make as rapid a progress as possible with the installation of secondary treatment.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 14 January 1999,Official Report,
  466
  column 246, if he will place in the Library details of the current millennium compliance status of the organisations currently approved by the CAA; what percentage of these are fully millennium-compliant; and if he will make a statement. [66646]

  Dr. Reid
  No. It is not possible to provide information in this detail. The Civil Aviation Authority currently authorises over 2,000 aviation related organisations. These organisations cover all aspects of the UK civil air transport system form airlines to manufacturers and air traffic service providers. All these organisations are engaged in their own individual compliance programmes which involves them in each checking with suppliers who may number from tens to hundreds. These compliance programmes are being assessed by the CAA. Once this assessment is complete, which is expected to be during the third quarter of 1999, the CAA will make a statement about the Y2k readiness of the UK civil air transport system.

  As far as National Air Traffic Services (NATS) are concerned, they are in the final stages of their system compliance programme. Only 10 systems out of a total of 700 still require remedial work and NATS expects to reach full systems ready status for the new millennium on or before the end of March 1999.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what planning guidance he has issued in relation to mobile homes, with particular regard to all-year round occupancy; and if he will make a statement. [66254]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Planning Policy Guidance note 21 on Tourism gives guidance on holiday and touring caravans, including the seasonal and holiday occupancy conditions.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with parish councils regarding the impact of the increased audit requirements and subsequent costs on smaller parish councils; and if he will make a statement. [66261]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Chairman of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and his colleagues discussed with me the cost of parish audits when I met them on 16 December. As I explained to them, it is essential for parish councils, as for all councils, to have an effective audit regime ensuring propriety and regularity in their affairs. We have no plans to review the current parish audit arrangements, which were introduced in April 1997, although we do keep these matters under review.

  Wild Birds Directive
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to incorporate directive 97/49/EU into UK law; and if he will make a statement. [66252]

  Mr. Meale
  No changes are required to UK law as a result of Directive 97/49/EC.

  Advance Corporation Tax
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funds he intends to make available(a) nationally, (b) to Gloucestershire County Council and (c) to Tewkesbury Borough Council to compensate for the removal of ACT credit in 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [66255]

  Ms Armstrong
  In the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 1999–2000, the Government specifically took account of the best estimate of £130 million available to them and the Local Government Association to provide for the effects of the abolition of ACT on the local government pension scheme.

  It is not possible to identify how much has been provided at a local level. Local authorities receive Revenue Support Grant (RSG) on the basis of their Standard Spending Assessment (SSA). SSAs are calculated using information reflecting the demographic, physical and social characteristics of each area and are intended to reflect the relative costs of providing comparable services between different authorities. RSG makes up the difference between an authority's SSA and the income it can expect to receive from both re-distributed non-domestic rates and from a standard council tax. RSG is not hypothecated to particular services or for particular purposes.

  Dial-a-bus Services
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received concerning the extension of fuel duty rebate to dial-a-bus services; what assistance is currently available to(a) rural and (b) urban dial-a-bus services; and if he will make a statement; [66606]

  (2) what plans he has to extend the eligibility criteria for fuel duty rebate to dial-a-bus services.[66605]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have no present plans to extend the eligibility of bus fuel duty rebate beyond those services which (amongst other criteria) are available to the general public and are registered with the Traffic Commissioner as a local bus service.

  We have received a number of representations on this matter, which has also been recently raised in the review of voluntary transport that my Department commissioned last year. We expect to receive the report on that review shortly and will be considering its recommendations carefully.

  Support for both urban and rural dial-a-bus services is primarily a matter for each local authority to decide in the light of its overall spending priorities and the resources available to it. Additional support for specific rural community transport projects, including dial-a-bus services, is available as part of the Government's new funding for rural transport, announced in the last Budget, of £50 million a year, of which Scotland's share is £4.5 million a year.

  London Transport
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made with his proposed restructuring of the Board of London Transport. [67091]

  Mr. Prescott
  I have today appointed Sir Malcolm Bates as non-executive Chairman of London Transport. He will take up his post on 15 February. This appointment is excellent news for London Transport. With Denis Tunnicliffe as Chief Executive and Derek Smith taking up post shortly as Managing Director of London Underground, we have now given LT the senior management structure it needs to address the challenging agenda we have set.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disabled People
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set up a national information service on equipment for people with disabilities. [65433]

  Mr. Hutton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department is providing funding to the Disabled Living Foundation and the Royal National Institute for the Blind to help them improve their databases on disability equipment and transfer these to the Internet. The Disabled Living Foundation also operates a telephone helpline for disabled people.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has for a disablement services authority with a brief to set standards and monitor the standard of equipment provision for people with disabilities. [65434]

  Mr. Hutton
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have no plans to develop proposals on a disablement services authority at present. However we are examining a range of mechanisms to help ensure consistent access to services and quality of care.

  Employees
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate, on the basis of the Family Resources Survey, and pooling years of data, the number of benefit units which contain at least one employee whose net earnings is in each £5,000 band up to £30,000 and above, indicating separately the figures for (i) lone parent families, (ii) two parent families with one child, (iii) two parent families with two children and (iv) two parent families with three or more children, providing within each category separate figures for those in(a) firms of up to 25 employees and (b) firms of 25 employees or more. [64780]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.
  469

  Number of two parent family benefit units with at least one employee by number of dependent children and number of employees in the local unit of the firm by which they are employed (excluding those benefit units where at least one member is either full or part-time self-employed—Average of period 1994–95 to 1996–97

  Thousand

  Number of benefit units by net earnings bands

  Number of dependent children

  Number of employees in local unit

  0–5

  5–10

  10–15

  15–20

  20–25

  25–30

  30+

  One

  1–24

  30

  50

  90

  100

  65

  35

  40

  25+

  20

  80

  180

  265

  205

  130

  180

  Two

  1–24

  30

  50

  95

  105

  60

  40

  50

  25+

  25

  65

  210

  300

  270

  150

  225

  Three or more

  1–24

  20

  25

  40

  35

  20

  15

  15

  25+

  15

  40

  80

  100

  70

  50

  60

  Number of lone parent family benefit units where the head is an employee by the number of employees in the local unit of the firm by which they are employed (excluding those benefit units where at least one member is either full or part-time self-employed Average of period 1994–95 to 1996–97

  Thousand

  Number of benefit units by net earnings bands

  Number of employees in local unit

  0–5

  5–10

  10–15

  15–20

  21–24

  25–30

  30+

  1–24

  130

  65

  30

  10

  *

  *

  *

  25+

  90

  110

  70

  30

  10

  *

  *

  Notes:

  1. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data set based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS does not include Northern Ireland.

  2. Only benefit units with at least one employee were considered when answering this question. Benefit units containing at least one person who was either fully or part-time self-employed were excluded.

  3. The income bands in the tables relate to the total net earnings of the benefit unit as opposed to the individual.

  4. The definition of employment used is: "whether the individual was employed and at work, or employed but away from work, in the last week".

  5. Where both members of a couple are employed, the value taken for the number of employees in the local unit of the firm was that for the head of the benefit unit, unless they were not working, in which case that for the spouse was assumed instead.

  6. The concept of the number of employees in the local unit of a firm used in answering this question is different from the usual definition of a small firm (ie the number of employees of the enterprise as a whole, across all local units) which is not available from the FRS. Given this fact, in conjunction with the use of the net earnings (as defined for HBAI) rather than assessable income (as defined for the proposed Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC)), it is advised that it would not be considered appropriate to use the data supplied in any analysis of the administration of the WFTC. The exclusion of all benefit units containing the self-employed would also have a bearing on this issue.

  7. The figures given are rounded to the nearest 5,000 benefit units. The entries marked "*" have values of less than 5,000.

  8. To provide more robust estimates at such a fine level of detail, the HBAI data set was pooled over three financial years, from April 1994—March 1997.

  9. As the FRS does not actually collect annual earnings data from individuals, this figure was estimated from weekly earnings data. As the earnings data collected relates solely to the last pay-cheque received, it will not take into account any bonuses, pay-rises or changes of employment that may take/have taken place at other points in the year.

  10. The earnings bands were taken to be in April 1998 prices, and all earnings data from each of the financial years used was uprated accordingly, to April 1998 prices, using the Retail Prices Index (RPI).

  Widows
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the number of widows who will receive reduced benefit payments following the implementation of his reform proposals; [66352]

  (2) what category of widows who submit their claims under the new rules will receive reduced benefit under his reform proposals. [66262]

  Angela Eagle
  Following implementation of the proposals, widows and widowers aged over 45 when they are widowed and who are not entitled to Widowed Parent' s Allowance will be able to claim Bereavement Allowance, which will be payable for up to six months.
  470
  In the first full year following implementation, it is estimated that, at any one time, the average number of widows and widowers entitled to the Bereavement Allowance, which will end after 6 months, will be 20,000.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers of widows and widowers have been supplied by the Government Actuary's Department.

  2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  3. These estimates are intended to represent broad orders of magnitude.

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the effect would be of an immediate increase in the age addition to the basic state pension to(a) £5 for the over 80s, (b) £5 for the over 80s and £3 for

  471
  the over 75s and (c) £10 for the over 80s and £5 for the over 75s, on the number of pensioners receiving income support in (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01. [65422]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.

  Reduction in the number of pensioner benefit units receiving income support with the proposed age additions

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  £5 to 80+s

  -40,000

  -40,000

  £3 to 75–79s, £5 to 80+s

  -50,000

  -60,000

  £5 to 75–79s, £10 to over 80+s

  -140,000

  -160,000

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are based on the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey and the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry.

  2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and provide broad orders of magnitude.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the combined value of the basic pension and the proposed second state pension as a proportion of average earnings once the new scheme has fully matured, for someone with annual earnings of(a) £4,500, (b) £9,000, (c) £13,500, (d) £18,000 and (e) £22,500. [65426]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.

  Combined value of basic state pension and state second pension as a proportion of national average earnings in retirement

  Annual earnings (£)

  Percentage

  4,500

  21

  9,000

  21

  13,500

  23

  18,000

  25

  22,500

  26

  Notes:

  1. Results are presented for a person who begins work at age 16 in 2002; earns the amounts specified (in 1998 earnings terms) throughout their working life; retires at age 65 in 2051.

  2. Real average earnings are assumed to grow at 1.5 per cent. per annum.

  3. 1998 national average earnings are taken from the New Earnings Survey 1998 as average gross weekly earnings for full-time employees on adult rates whose pay was not affected by absence during the survey pay-period.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his policy on whether(a) lump sums paid as part of pensions on retirement and (b) capital sums held as part of approved personal plans before annuitisation will be subject under the minimum pensions guarantee to the savings limits and tariff income schedule regimes of existing income support; [66454]

  (2) if the capital resources assessment rules accompanying the minimum pension guarantee have been decided; and which existing income support capital resources rules will be revised. [66455]

  Mr. Timms
  Initially, the rules governing the treatment of resources will remain unchanged. However, in "Partnership in Pensions" we made it clear that we will examine ways of amending the rules to reward better those who have saved for their retirement. We hope to bring forward proposals later in this Parliament.

  Appeals Tribunals
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what consultation was conducted prior to introducing the change in the composition of social security appeals tribunals hearing all-work test appeals; and if he will make a statement; [65583]

  (2) what is the reason for the recent review of the composition of social security appeals tribunals hearing all-work test appeals; [65582]

  (3) how many representations his Department has received (a) in favour of and (b) in total on the review of the composition of social security appeals tribunals hearing all-work test appeals; and if he will make a statement. [65584]

  Angela Eagle
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 29 October 1998,Official Report, column 266. The recent change to the composition of Social Security Appeal Tribunals (SSATs) hearing All Work Test Appeals was the second phase of measures introduced by His Honour Judge Harris, the President of the Independent Tribunal Services under transitory powers afforded to him by Schedule 6 of the Social Security Act 1998.

  This provision was introduced to give the President flexibility over the composition of SSATs during a period of substantial change in 1999. The President wanted to be able to monitor the effect of change before regulations varying the composition of tribunals are debated in Parliament. The President consulted widely within his organisation. The decision to introduce the change is a judicial matter.

  The President's initial monitoring of the changes indicates that the new flexibility appears to be working well. Tribunal Chairmen, operating the new arrangements, are reporting overall improvements in service as a result of the change. There is no evidence to suggest that the percentage of appeals upheld has been affected by the introduction of the new arrangements. The Department has not received any representations from appellants who have had their appeals decided by a legally qualified panel member supported by a medical assessor. These are initial results and monitoring is continuing.

  We are firmly committed to tackling the unacceptable delays in the appeals service—currently averaging seven months, with some appellants waiting over a year for the decision on their case. The flexibility to tailor the composition and expertise of the Tribunal to the issues raised by an appeal will provide appellants with good quality decisions, quicker.

  Regulations varying tribunal composition under Section 7 of the Social Security Act 1998 will be debated shortly under affirmative procedures. Draft regulations are being discussed with the Independent Tribunal Service, the Council of Tribunals, the Office of the Social Security Commissioners and an ad hoc group of representative bodies including the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Child Poverty Action Group.

  Lone Parents
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each quarter since May 1997
  473
  the number of lone parents claiming income support; and if he will estimate the number of lone parents who will be claiming income support for each of the next four quarters. [65767]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Number

  Published 1

  May 1997

  1,014,000

  August 1997

  1,012,000

  November 1997

  982,000

  February 1998

  972,000

  May 1998

  961,000

  Forecast2

  August 1998

  957,000

  November 1998

  933,000

  February 1999

  927,000

  May 1999

  918,000

  August 1999

  919,000

  November 1999

  895,000

  1Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.

  2Figures are consistent with forecasts produced for the pre-budget report and are estimates of the number of lone parents that will be shown in future quarterly Statistical Enquiries.

  Note:

  Lone parents are defined as those single people with dependants who are not in receipt of a disability or pensioner premium. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Prepayment Gas Meters
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the percentage of people receiving income support who pay their gas costs with prepayment meters. [65969]

  Angela Eagle
  We estimate that 24 per cent. of households receiving Income Support pay for gas with prepayment meters.

  Notes:

  1. This figure is an estimate taken from the 1997–98 Family Expenditure Survey for Great Britain.

  2. This estimate will include households who do not use gas at all.

  3. "Households receiving Income Support" means that the household contains at least one person receiving Income Support.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to amend the Social Security (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations 1979 to mitigate their impact on recipients of invalid care allowance who lose their benefit on reaching retirement age. [66351]

  Mr. Bayley
  It is a basic principle of the Social Security system that only one benefit at a time can be paid for income maintenance. Retirement Pension is an income replacement benefit for those who have reached pensionable age. It replaces Invalid Care Allowance at pension age. Invalid Care Allowance provides a measure of financial support to those who give up the opportunity of full-time paid employment to care for a severely disabled person. It is not an "extra-costs" benefit. To pay both benefits in full therefore would duplicate provision for the same need. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

  Benefits Agency (Computers)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the £7 billion project for computers in the Benefits Agency is to be phased; what payback period is expected; and if he will make a statement. [66251]

  Mr. Timms
  The ACCORD project, announced on 5 November 1998, will deliver the next generation of computer systems fit to support a modernised Welfare State.

  The Department is currently working with the preferred supplier, Affinity, on the development of a plan for the implementation of new Information Systems/Information Technology (IS/IT) which is expected to start with delivery of systems for Income Support and Child Support early in 2001. Negotiations on the costs of the new service have not yet been concluded.

  Industrial Injuries Scheme
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he plans to have with relevant representative groups about the future of the industrial injuries scheme. [67200]

  Mr. Darling
  As part of our wider programme of Welfare Reform, we have been examining the scope for modernisation of the Industrial Injuries scheme. The scheme provides no-fault compensation benefits for those injured at, or suffering a disease caused by work, and was designed over 50 years ago for a very different social and industrial climate.

  The Government's aim is to provide better protection from the risks and consequences of occupational disablement for the workforce of the future. We have asked officials to explore with the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, industry, trades unions and other key representative groups whether there are alternative replacement no-fault compensation arrangements which would meet those objectives.

WALES

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the number of young people against whom sanctions have been taken for failure to comply with the New Deal. [64745]

  Mr. Hain
  Up until the end of October 1998, out of a total of some 12,000 young people who entered the New Deal Gateway in Wales, 95 young people have been sanctioned because, without good cause, they failed or refused to start a New Deal option or left an option early, or because they were dismissed from a New Deal option due to misconduct.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he is taking to improve bus services in(a) urban and (b) rural areas, with particular reference to Flintshire. [66410]
  475
  Mr. Hain
  For 1999–2000, I am making £5 million available to local authorities to support local bus services, of which at least £3 million must be spent on rural services with the remainder for urban services. This grant is in addition to the provision which local authorities make in their own budgets for subsidised services. All authorities in Wales, including Flintshire, will receive a share of this money. I am currently consulting on the precise method of allocating funds to authorities, and will announce the individual allocations shortly.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to help senior citizens to use buses; and if he will make a statement. [66419]

  Mr. Hain
  From April, I expect all local authorities in Wales to be operating concessionary travel schemes for pensioners which at least meet the Government's proposed minimum standard of a maximum of £5 for a bus pass and a minimum discount of 50 per cent. on bus fares. In addition, I have announced that we intend to provide free concessionary bus travel for pensioners over the next two to three years.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his policy concerning the building of combined heat and power stations. [66409]

  Mr. Hain
  As in the recent consent approved for Shotton, combined heat and power projects can offer environmental benefits and should play an important role in ensuring the availability of sustainable energy supplies. Full details of the Government's policy on building such schemes, in England and Wales, is set out in the White Paper (Cm 4071) entitled "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation", which was published on 8 October 1998.

HEALTH

  Waiting Lists
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set up an inquiry into the impact of private medical practice on NHS waiting lists under the terms recommended by the Health Committee. [63259]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 16 December 1998]: We have no plans to set up an inquiry of the sort recommended by the Health Select Committee 8 years ago.

  Live Births
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the total number of live births in the United Kingdom, and the percentage of those births delivered by caesarean section. [66264]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information currently available on the number of live births and the percentage of births delivered by caesarean section is shown in the tables.
  476

  Total number of live births occurring to women resident in England 1988–97

  Year

  Number

  1988

  654,363

  1989

  649,357

  1990

  666,920

  1991

  660,806

  1992

  651,784

  1993

  636,473

  1994

  628,956

  1995

  613,257

  1996

  614,184

  1997

  607,216

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  Percentage of deliveries by caesarean section in England 1988–97

  Financial year

  Percentage of deliveries by caesarean section

  1988–89

  1—

  1989–90

  11.3

  1990–91

  12.4

  1991–92

  12.9

  1992–93

  13.8

  1993–94

  15.0

  1994–95

  15.5

  1995–96

  216

  1996–97

  217

  1Information not available

  2Provisional

  Source:

  Department of Health

  Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland respectively.

  Prostate Cancer
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the establishment of a national screening programme for prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement. [65820]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have received no such representations. In response to advice from the National Screening Committee (NSC), we advised the National Health Service in Executive Letter (97)12 that screening for prostate cancer should not be offered routinely, based on the existing evidence available. This remains the current policy. The NSC is actively keeping this question under review in the light of emerging evidence.

  Medical Schools
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when his implementation group will invite bids from(a) established medical schools, (b) new medical schools and (c) others for provision of 1,000 additional doctors' training places; and if he will make a statement; [66087]

  (2) what are the criteria recommended by the joint Department of Health and Higher Education Funding Council for England implementation group, for awarding 1,000 additional medical school places to existing medical schools, new medical schools or new models for doctor training; and if he will make a statement. [66088]
  477
  Mr. Denham
  The Joint Implementation Group, which has been established to oversee the allocation of universities of the English share of the increase in medical school places, wrote to all English Universities and their National Health Service partners on 8 January 1999, inviting them to submit proposals for the admission of the additional medical students in the years 2000 to 2005. It is open to universities to make proposals, whether or not they already have medical schools. Copies of the 8 January letter are available in the Library.

  The invitation set out the objectives and criteria established by the Group, which will be used when considering universities' proposals. The objectives are:
  To develop new doctors who are equipped to meet the challenge of changing health and health care needs of patients and populations into the first half of the 21st Century;
  To develop new doctors who are able to practise to a very high standard, through being able to appraise and use evidence, to become life-long learners, to maintain professional standards and to be effective team members and leaders;
  To develop new doctors who are committed to and skilled in promoting health, preventing ill health, diagnosing and treating injury and disease and caring for people with long term illness and disability;
  To develop new doctors who understand the value of partnership and communication, both with their patients, their colleagues, and with members of other professional groups;
  To provide a high quality educational experience in an environment in which evaluation and research are fostered and which gives value for money;
  To demonstrate an active commitment to the admission of students from a broad range of social and ethnic backgrounds, to reflect the patterns of populations which are served by the NHS;
  To ensure that the distribution and patterns of training of students effectively increase the home supply of doctors, and meet the needs of the populations which are served by the NHS;
  To enhance quality and value for money through collaboration between universities and partnership with the NHS.

  Allergies
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for research into the causes and treatment of allergies; and if he will make a statement. [66258]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department's policy research programme and the National Health Service research and development programmes are supporting a range of research on allergies and will continue to do so. The Medical Research Council, the main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology in the Department of Trade and Industry, is also funding relevant research, including the study of infections, immunity and inflammations, which will underpin work on allergies.

TREASURY

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of people in each decile of 478
  (a) benefit unit income and (b) household income, who will gain from the introduction of the working families tax credit. [65421]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The table shows the estimated numbers gaining from the introduction of Working Families Tax Credit for those eligible for the credit. Overall, about 1 million benefit units will gain.

  Number of gainers from introduction of Working Families Tax Credit

  Decile

  Benefit unit income

  Household income

  Lowest

  1—

  120,000

  2nd

  250,000

  380,000

  3rd

  410,000

  260,000

  4th

  210,000

  110,000

  5th

  90,000

  70,000

  6th

  30,000

  1—

  7th

  1—

  1—

  8th

  1—

  1—

  9th

  1—

  1—

  Highest

  1—

  1—

  1No gainers or number of gainers too few to calculate reliable estimates.

  Note:

  Deciles are defined in terms of equivalised income on a benefit unit and household income basis using the McClements scale; decile boundaries are higher for households than benefit units.

  Source:

  These estimates have been derived from projections of Family Expenditure Survey data to 1999–2000.

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many household incomes of families in Doncaster, Central will rise as a result of the introduction of the working families tax credit. [66565]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I regret that estimates for individual constituencies are not available.

  Expenditure Allocation
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what were the percentage changes in the share of the allocation of identifiable general expenditure per head between the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the last 10 years; [65589]

  (2) what were the percentage changes in allocation of identifiable general expenditure per head between the English regions over the last 10 years. [65590]

  Mr. Milburn
  Tables containing a breakdown by region of General Government Expenditure (GGE) per capita have been published annually with effect from 1987–88. Figures for 1987–88 to 1990–91 are available in the Appendices of the Statistical Supplement to the Autumn Statement of 1990 to 1992; figures for 1991–92 to 1993–94 in Chapter 7 of Public Expenditure: Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report for 1994–95 to 1996–97; and for 1994–95 to 1995–96 in Chapter 7 of the last two editions of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA). A regional breakdown for 1996–97 will be published in PESA 1999–2000. Figures for GGE per capita in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland appear in the same Chapters as the regional figures, and figures for 1996–97 can be found in PESA 1998–99 (Cm 3901), which was published in April last year.
  479
  Identifiable expenditure in England cannot be fully apportioned between the English regions and it is therefore not possible to compare directly spending in the English regions with spending in England as a whole, or with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Changes in methodology mean that figures may not be directly comparable across different years.

  Departmental Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public consultation took place before setting the objectives and targets detailed in the departmental public service agreements; and if he will make a statement. [65709]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: The Government were elected on specific manifesto commitments which are reflected in the objectives and targets in the Public Service Agreements (PSAs). Departmental PSAs take account of consultation on a range of issues which has taken place since the Government were elected.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to create an independent auditing process for the targets contained in the departmental public service agreements; and if he will make a statement. [65708]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: The Government will report annually on progress against targets in the Public Service Agreements and each department will publish further details in its departmental report. This will allow Parliament and the public to judge independently what progress has been made.

  Government Spending Plans
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to announce the new Government spending plans for the years beyond 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [65711]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: Departments' multi-year expenditure limits will be rolled forward for the next three financial years in 2000, as set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper.

  Income Tax (10p Rate)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to introduce a lop starter rate of income tax within the current Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [65710]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 January 1999]: As the Chancellor made clear in his statement on the pre-Budget report, on 3 November 1998, Official Report, columns 681–792, the Government will introduce a lop starting rate of income tax when it is economically right to do so.

  Video Rentals
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the yield from levying a 10p tax on each rental of a video cassette. [66099]
  480
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to introduce a new tax on the rental of video cassettes; [66194]

  (2) what estimates he has made of the annual contribution to public funds of a tax on rented video cassettes of (a) 5p, (b) 10p, (c) 15p and (d) 20p. [66195]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: No such estimates have been made.

  Miller Dywidag Joint Venture
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Miller Dywidag Joint Venture is registered for the purposes of VAT. [66338]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: Under provisions of the Finance Act 1989 and the Official Secrets Act 1989, we are prohibited from disclosing personal information from the VAT register without the permission of the taxpayer unless it can be demonstrated that it is in the public interest to do so. If the hon. Member would like to provide details of the reasons for his question, I shall consider whether there are grounds for disclosing this information to him.

  Garage Labour (VAT)
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to apply VAT charged on garage labour for insurance repairs to insurance work carried out in garages which are owned by insurance companies; and if he will make a statement. [66385]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs are reviewing the VAT treatment of vehicle repairs carried out by motor insurers.

  Electrical Contracting Industry
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the beneficial taxation concessions granted to the Joint Industry Board for Electrical Contracting Industry by the Inland Revenue and referred to in their explanatory notes and rules (May 1969). [66147]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I cannot comment on arrangements that the Joint Industry Board for Electrical Contracting Industry may have entered into with the Inland Revenue. They are confidential and a matter between the Board and the Inland Revenue.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Commercial Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what rules or guidance his Department has to govern the(a) formal and (b) informal interaction between his civil servants and commercial lobbyists. [66209]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 4.

  Legal Advisers
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason the age of 40 years was decided upon as the minimum age for current legal advisers in magistrates courts to be exempt from the requirements of the Justices' Clerks (Qualification of Assistants) (Amendment) Rules 1998; and if he will similarly exempt all postholders, irrespective of age. [66120]

  Mr. Hoon
  The decision to exempt those people who are aged 40 or older strikes the right balance between the important aim of a fully professionally qualified service and the practical difficulties faced by some individuals. Considerable thought was given to the question of whether all existing court clerks should be exempted, but it was decided that this was not a reasonable option. Some of these clerks are in their early to mid-20s and can be expected to work until they are in their mid-50s. It was felt that such a long term timescale before all clerks were professionally qualified did not match the timescale for modernising the magistrates courts to meet the challenges emerging now and in the future.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that all reasonable steps are being taken by the security service to ensure that, when processing personal data for the purpose of assisting the police, the data are processed in a way compatible with section 29 of the Data Protection Act 1998. [65980]

  Mr. Straw
  The Director of the Security Service is under a statutory duty to ensure that no information is obtained by the Service except so far as necessary for the proper discharge of its functions, including supporting the activities of police forces and other law enforcement agencies in the prevention and detection of serious crime. We have already announced that, in line with existing policy, all personal data held by the Security Service is subject to exemption under section 28 of the 1998 Act. We do not envisage any circumstances in which it would be necessary to rely upon the exemption provisions in section 29.

  Home Affairs Council (Terrorist Threats)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the latest six monthly report on terrorist threats to EU member states discussed at the Home Affairs Council on 3 and 4 December; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [66143]

  Mr. Straw
  No. Article 4 of the relevant Council decision provides that"access to a Council document shall not be granted where its disclosure could undermine the protection of the public interest, public security, international relations, monetary stability, court proceedings, inspections and investigations". I am satisfied accordingly that the Terrorism Threat Assessment Document should not be released.

  Europol
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed role of Europol in the establishment of Economic and Monetary Union, pursuant to the ECOFIN meeting of 19 May. [66140]

  Kate Hoey
  The ECONFIN Council meeting on 19 May 1998 concluded that a database and information system for the storage and exchange of law enforcement data on counterfeiting the Euro might need to be established. We take the view that Europol should be responsible for any such database. The issue remains under discussion with our European partners.

  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the nature of United Kingdom participation in Europol's work programme for 1999, as established at the Home Affairs Councils of 3 and 4 December. [66138]

  Kate Hoey
  In 1999, the United Kingdom will contribute fully to all aspects of Europol's work in accordance with the Europol Convention. The United Kingdom will also continue to take a full part in monitoring, managing and developing the organisation through the Justice and Home Affairs Council, the Europol Management Board and other relevant bodies.

  Gaming Act 1968
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce his response to the consultation on modernisation of the Gaming Act 1968. [66370]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We have been discussing specific issues with the Gaming Board and the industry, and hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Illegal Lotteries
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of prosecutions in each of the last four years for which figures are available for alleged illegal operation of lotteries licensed under the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976; and what, for each successful prosecution, was the fine or sentence imposed and the names of those convicted. [66266]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The table sets out the information we have from court reports. We do not collect the names of those convicted.

  Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for lottery offences under sections 2, 3, 4, 13 and 14 of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 England and Wales

  Offences/disposal

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Prosecutions

  23

  16

  7

  7

  Convictions

  13

  11

  4

  4

  of which were sentenced to:

  Absolute discharge

  —

  3

  —

  —

  Conditional discharge

  4

  3

  2

  3

  Fine

  9

  5

  2

  —

  Average fine (£)

  114

  460

  3,000

  —

  Highest recorded fine (£)

  400

  1,000

  3,500

  —

  Probation Order

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Video Classification
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make any changes to the authority responsible for making arrangements for the classification of video works under the Video Recordings Act 1984; and if he will make a statement. [66999]

  Mr. Straw
  Following the proposal for designation which I laid before Parliament on 12 November 1998, I have today designated Lord Taylor of Warwick and Ms Janet Lewis Jones under section 4(4) of the Video Recordings Act 1984. Lord Taylor and Janet Lewis Jones were appointed as Vice Presidents designate of the British Board of Film Classification on 12 November 1998, and I am designating them, in that capacity, to replace Monica Sims.

  I have placed in the Library a copy of my Notice of Designation and the text of letters I am sending to Lord Taylor and Janet Lewis Jones confirming the designation.

PRIME MINISTER

  Franco-British Summit
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the consequences of the Franco-British summit at St. Malo on the development of a shared African policy particularly in relation to(a) intelligence matters, (b) the ethical foreign policy and (c) arms supplies to Governments-in-exile. [66341]

  The Prime Minister
  At St. Malo both Governments agreed to seek to harmonise their policies on Africa and pursue close co-operation on the ground; to promote the EU Common Position on Human Rights, Democratic Principles, the Rule of Law and Good Governance in Africa; and to attach particular importance to tackling problems of debt and the maintenance of a significant level of development assistance. We intend to follow this up by intensified exchange of diplomatic reporting and other diplomatic collaboration. There is no intention to develop a shared policy on any of the areas mentioned by the right hon. Member.

  Cross-party Co-operation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the areas of co-operation with the Liberal Democrats through the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee system where he intends to use their contributions to develop policy. [65816]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: Any contributions of the Liberal Democrats with the Joint Consultative Committee may be used in the development of policy, as may other contributions from a wide variety of sources.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to extend the remit of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee to involve(a) the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) and (b) other Liberal Democrat right hon. and hon. Members in the development of Government policy on environmental issues. [66403]
  484
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The terms of reference of the Joint Consultative Committee are
  "to consider policy issues of joint interest to the Government and the Liberal Democrats".

  The Minister for the Cabinet Office and the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed are currently reviewing the work of the Committee, including what policy areas might be discussed at the Committee in future. Their review is not yet complete.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what knowledge Her Majesty's Government have of the number of civilian casualties to which he referred in his letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 13 January. [66492]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 January 1999]: As I said in my letter to my hon. Friend, the risk of civilian casualties was a major consideration in selecting targets during Operation Desert Fox. Only precision guided weapons were used where there was any risk of collateral damage. As I said, we regret any civilian injuries and deaths which may have occurred, but we are confident that these were minimal. There have been no reliable reports to the contrary.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what response he has made to the request by the Government of France on 22 December that Britain and the US should disclose the results of their attack against Iraq. [65649]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have disclosed the results of military action against Iraq. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence sent a full report on the effects of Operation Desert Fox to all Members of the House on 22 December. An updated report will be issued shortly.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what action was taken by himself, or with President Clinton, in response to the admission by a member of the UNSCOM arms inspectors in Iraq that UNSCOM information was being passed to the Israeli Intelligence Service; [66002]

  (2) when he was first informed that certain members or a member of the UNSCOM arms inspectors in Iraq were in touch with the Israeli Intelligence Service. [66003]

  The Prime Minister
  UNSCOM is entitled to seek information and advice from all possible sources in pursuit of its mandate to destroy Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction capability.

  UNSCOM Executive Chairman Richard Butler has made clear that he has always insisted on all UNSCOM activity being carried out strictly in pursuit of its disarmament mandate, not the benefit of any individual member state.

  Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what sanctions would apply to Liberal Democrat Party members of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee considering foreign policy and defence and security issues who disclosed the contents of classified material. [66510]
  485
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 January 1999]: All members of the Joint Consultative Committee including the Liberal Democrat members are covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989 in respect of the Committee's work.

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1999, c. 343]: The second sentence contains a typographical error and should read:
  "The number of awards in my Honours List covering the whole range of activities in the United Kingdom made at (a) Birthday 1998 was 976 and at (b) New Year 1999 was 983".

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Joint Ministerial Councils
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about the relevance of joint ministerial councils and concordats for the new arrangements in Northern Ireland. [64861]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  After Devolution, the Government and the new administrations in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff will need to work together very closely on a number of important issues. Some of this work will be set out in formal agreements—or, concordats—agreed by all concerned.

  In addition, liaison and consultation will be achieved through the setting up of a Joint Ministerial Committee. These arrangements are purely within a UK context.

  Health Policy
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has held on future health policy since publication of the Acheson report into inequalities in health. [64862]

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has had on future health policy since the publication of the Acheson report into inequalities in health. [64868]

  Mr. McFall
  I welcome Sir Donald's report. Under the new Targeting Social Need initiative, all Northern Ireland Departments are to produce Action Plans by the summer. These will address health and other inequalities. The Department of Health and Social Services has already initiated a process of consultation with relevant interests on the substance of its Action Plan. This will take into account Sir Donald's recommendations.

  Women
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she has set the Government's priorities in relation to policy for women in Northern Ireland. [64863]
  486
  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government are putting in place a number of important policies, such as action on violence against women, childcare provision and family friendly employment.

  Furthermore, our commitment to equality for everyone in society is a key part of the Good Friday Agreement.

  I would also like to see more women from Northern Ireland in public life generally—in the Assembly and in this House.

  Trade Links
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to promote trade between Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. [64864]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Industrial Development Board (IDB) and the Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU) organise and support company participation in GB trade exhibitions, meet the buyer events and other trade initiatives.

  IDB, LEDU and the Northern Ireland Growth Challenge have been developing linkages between Northern Ireland suppliers and major GB and ROI purchasers.

  Belfast (Economic Regeneration)
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made on the economic regeneration of Belfast. [64865]

  Mr. Ingram
  Good progress is being made. Unemployment rates have fallen—down 8.1 per cent. since October 1997. Major Laganside developments are clearly visible. 1998 has also seen 3 new hotels open in the city and investment announcements which include 5 new software companies and 3 new call centres.

  Small Businesses
  Ms Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to support the development of small businesses. [64866]

  Mr. Ingram
  LEDU (Local Enterprise Development Unit) is the Government Agency with responsibility for small business development in Northern Ireland. LEDU assists small businesses in Northern Ireland to become more competitive, by providing information, guidance and financial support.

  With the 1998 Budget the Government made provision for considerable reductions on the regulatory and fiscal burdens on small firms, including the United Kingdom wide University Challenge Fund.

  A major economic strategy aimed at promoting enterprise and encouraging investment throughout Northern Ireland was also announced by the Chancellor during May 1998.

  Integrated Schools
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Northern Ireland how many integrated schools have been approved since 1997. [64867]
  487
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many integrated schools have been approved since 1 May 1997. [64871]

  Mr. McFall
  Eight new integrated schools have been approved since May 1997—one new grant-maintained integrated secondary school and seven controlled integrated schools. Conditional approval has been granted to a further three schools from September 1999—Oakwood Primary School, Strangford College and Spires Primary School.

  Social Security Fraud
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures she is taking to tackle social security fraud. [64869]

  Mr. McFall
  The Social Security Agency has instigated a comprehensive programme of initiatives based on risk assessment. It includes data matching across benefit systems, interviewing appropriate claimants both at initial claim stage and during the lifetime of claims, and closer working with other Agencies and Departments.

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives; and if she will make a statement. [64870]

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives; and if she will make a statement. [64874]

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the decommissioning of terrorist weapons in Northern Ireland. [64878]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry),Official Report, column 896.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish targets for the decommissioning of weapons during 1999. [64876]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Good Friday Agreement committed all the participants to the total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations. The participants also confirmed their intention to continue to work constructively and in good faith with the Independent Commission and to use any influence they may have to achieve the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms, within two years of the Referendum last May and in the context of the implementation of the overall settlement.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will stop the release of terrorist prisoners until the IRA decommission and surrender weapons and explosives. [64879]

  Mr. Ingram
  The early release of prisoners is an integral part of the Agreement, one which the Government are honouring in full. The Government will not depart from the Agreement by introducing a direct linkage 488
  between decommissioning and prisoner releases, which is not in the Agreement nor in the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.

  The Government have also made it clear that there must be decommissioning of paramilitary weapons. It is an essential part of the Agreement and we are determined to ensure that all sides meet their obligations. The way to achieve decommissioning is for the full implementation of the Agreement by all parties.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advice she received from her security advisers at the time of the Good Friday agreement and subsequently concerning the IRA's intentions as regards the decommissioning of arms and explosives. [64883]

  Mr. Ingram
  In the Good Friday Agreement all parties reaffirmed their commitment to the total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations. The hon. Member for Mid-Ulster (Mr. McGuinness) was nominated on 2 September 1998 as a contact between Sinn Fein and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. The IRA know very well that they must deliver decommissioning as part of the Agreement.

  Human Rights and Equality Commissions
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in the establishment of(a) the Human Rights Commission and (b) the Equality Commission. [64872]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Interviews for the post of Chief Commissioner for the Human Rights Commission were held on 6 and 8 January, interviews for the posts of Commissioner will begin on 21 January. The Secretary of State announced earlier this week that the Chief Commissioner designate is Professor Sidney Brice Dickson of the University of Ulster. A further announcement on the appointment of commissioners will be made at a later date.

  A Working Group, comprising the Chairs and Chief Executives of each of the four existing bodies, along with a staff representative, has been established to consider and recommend on the shape and structure of the future Equality Commission. The group is chaired by Dr. Joan Stringer. It is due to report in stages in January. Ministers have asked for the group's early views on Commission posts and will proceed with the appointment process as soon as those views have been received.

  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in the establishment of the(a) Human Rights Commission and (b) Equality Commission. [64882]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Interviews for the post of Chief Commissioner for the Human Rights Commission were held on 6 and 8 January; interviews for the post of Commissioners will begin on 21 January. The Secretary of State announced earlier this week that she has appointed Professor Sidney Brice Dickson as Chief Commissioner designate, a further announcement on the appointment of commissioners will be made at a later date. There has been a very good response to both advertisements and my right hon. Friend expects to be able to appoint a powerful commission.
  489
  A Working Group comprising the Chairs and Chief Executives of each of the four existing bodies, along with a staff representative, has been established to consider and recommend on the shape and structure of the future Equality Commission. The group is chaired by Dr. Joan Stringer. It is due to report in stages in January. Ministers have asked for the group's early views on Commission posts and will proceed with the appointment process as soon as those views have been received.

  Assembly
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with preparing the Northern Ireland Assembly for devolution of power. [64873]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have drawn up a timetable setting out the necessary legislative and other preparatory steps which will need to be completed to enable devolution to take effect in early March. Copies of that timetable are available from officials in the NIO. I intend to keep in contact with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the Assembly parties regarding the detail of the relevant Orders required to be brought before this House over the coming weeks.

  Peace Process
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about progress on the peace process. [64875]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy),Official Report, column 899.

  Victims of Violence
  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to help the victims of violence in Northern Ireland. [64877]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have announced a number of significant funding initiatives to support victims and a newsletter outlining progress was published on 8 January, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library. I plan to announce further measures once the outcome of the recently concluded consultation exercise, seeking the views of victims, is known.

  Ice Plant, Portavogie Harbour
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress on the provision of a new ice plant at Portavogie Harbour. [64880]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Currently, the consulting engineers commissioned by the Northern Ireland Fishing Harbour Authority are assessing if the preferred site on the North Quay is suitable for the ice plant. If all goes according to the Authority's plan, it is anticipated that work on the new ice plant will commence in the summer.

  Prison Officers (Redundancy Terms)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the redundancy terms being offered to prison officers. [64881]
  490
  Mr. Ingram
  The terms being offered to prison officers include all benefits payable under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (NI) but in addition, and to recognise long service in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, there is an enhancement equivalent to 1 month's salary for each year of NIPS service up to a maximum of 24 months.

  Benefits (Derry)
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in the Derry City Council area were in receipt of(a) income support, (b) jobseekers allowance and (c) incapacity benefit in (i) December 1997 and (ii) December 1998. [65311]

  Mr. McFall
  The latest information available is as follows:

  Number of claimants

  Income Support

  May 1997

  13,200

  May 1998

  13,745

  Jobseekers Allowance1

  December 1997

  5,779

  December 1998

  5,410

  Incapacity Benefit1

  August 1997

  5,326

  August 1998

  5,237

  1Figures include credit only cases

  Planning Applications
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning applications are currently the subject of public inquiries; what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the resources of the planning section of the Department of the Environment to deal with these public inquiries; what delays there currently are in the determination of these planning applications; and if she will make a statement. [65676]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 20 January 1999:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Question, about the number of planning applications currently the subject of Public Inquiries.

  There are 32 applications currently the subject of Public Inquiries under the scope of Article 31 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. These are at various stages of consideration. For example, four applications are awaiting the opening of inquiry proceedings to be held by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC); two applications are currently awaiting the recommendation and report of the PAC following public inquiry, while 26 are at various stages of consideration by the Department following the receipt of the PAC report and recommendation. One additional Public Inquiry has been postponed at the applicant's request.

  As regards the resourcing of the Planning Service to deal with these Public Inquiries, resources are allocated in line with the targets set out in its Corporate and Business Plans 1998/99–2000/2001, which are reviewed annually. While there are no delays directly attributable to resource difficulties, nevertheless, certain decision notices have been delayed, largely because of policy considerations.

  491
  For example, two decisions in relation to major applications for waste disposal have been deferred by the Minister, pending the outcome of the consultation exercise on the Department's Waste Management Strategy. Decisions on a number of other major housing applications are awaiting legal agreements with the applicants on the implementation of the Department's Quality Initiative. There is also an added time factor in drawing up and agreeing appropriate conditions to be attached to the specific planning applications.

  I can assure you, however, that the Planning Service continually strives to expedite all decisions, but particularly those on major applications.

  I do hope this is helpful.

  Normalisation Strategy Paper
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to publish the strategy paper setting out her approach to normalisation. [65995]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 January 1999]: The Secretary of State hopes to publish a paper on security strategy shortly.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many intensive care beds there were in each of the Golden Six hospitals in Northern Ireland at 31 December 1998. [65947]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The table shows the number of intensive care beds in acute hospitals at 31 December 1998.

  Hospital

  Number of beds

  Altnagelvin Hospital

  5

  Antrim Hospital

  4

  Belfast City Hospital

  7

  Coleraine

  4

  Craigavon Area Hospital

  4

  Erne

  2

  Mater Infirmorum

  2

  Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children

  6

  Royal Victoria Hospital

  14

  Tyrone County

  2

  Ulster Hospital

  6

  Northern Ireland total

  56

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beds were (i) allocated and (ii) vacant within(a) maternity, (b) gynaecology and (c) paediatrics at Craigavon Area Hospital on the first of each month between September 1998 and January 1999. [65951]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The information requested is set out in the table.

  Date

  Speciality

  Allocated

  Vacant

  1 September 1998

  Obstetrics

  38

  15

  1 October 1998

  Obstetrics

  38

  10

  1 November 1998

  Obstetrics

  38

  14

  1 December 1998

  Obstetrics

  38

  15

  1 January 1999

  Obstetrics

  38

  15

  1 September 1998

  Gynaecology

  18

  6

  1 October 1998

  Gynaecology

  18

  2

  1 November 1998

  Gynaecology

  18

  9

  492

  Date

  Speciality

  Allocated

  Vacant

  1 December 1998

  Gynaecology

  18

  3

  1 January 1999

  Gynaecology

  18

  11

  1 September 1998

  Paediatrics

  22

  6

  1 October 1998

  Paediatrics

  22

  3

  1 November 1998

  Paediatrics

  36

  21

  1 December 1998

  Paediatrics

  36

  13

  I January 1999

  Paediatrics

  36

  18

  Notes:

  1. The figures do not include the additional beds which will be opened to accommodate the transfer of services from South Tyrone Hospital (16 Obstetrics and 6 Gynaecology).

  2. The figures relate to the 1st of each month at midnight.

  3. Paediatric beds increased to 36 on 5 October 1998.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many high dependency beds there are in each acute hospital in Northern Ireland; what was the percentage usage of these beds in each hospital in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will define the difference between high dependency and intensive care facilities. [65949]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The table shows the average number of high dependency beds available daily and percentage occupancy in each acute hospital in Northern Ireland during 1998.

  Hospital1

  Average number of high dependency beds available daily

  Percentage occupancy of high dependency beds

  Antrim Hospital

  4

  43

  Craigavon Hospital

  2

  77

  Daisy Hill Hospital

  5

  82

  Downe Hospital

  3

  60

  Erne

  3

  50

  Lagan Valley

  2

  80

  Mater Infirmorum

  5

  80

  Mid-Ulster

  7

  80

  South Tyrone

  7

  74

  Northern Ireland total

  38

  70

  1Musgrave Park has 14 high dependency beds but is not, strictly speaking, an acute hospital.

  As regards the difference between high dependency and intensive care facilities, broadly speaking, intensive care is usually reserved for patients with potential or established organ failure. An Intensive Care Unit (ICU) should therefore offer the facilities for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of multiple organ failure.

  A High Dependency Unit (HDU) is a clinical area offering a standard of care intermediate between the acute ward and full intensive care. The HDU should not manage patients with multi-organ failure but should provide monitoring and support to patients at risk of developing organ system failure. A HDU should be able to undertake short-term resuscitative measures and may provide ventilator support for a short time (usually less than 24 hours) prior to the transfer of a patient to an ICU.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average occupancy time for intensive care beds in Northern Ireland during 1998. [65948]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Royal Victoria Hospital
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors underlay the delays in treatment at the orthopaedics unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in December; and what was the average time taken to treat patients with fractures(a) on 21 December and (b) on 11 January. [65950]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The recent upsurge in the number of fracture patients treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital must be seen in the context of a 100 per cent. increase in the fractures treated in the 2 central Belfast Hospitals in the last 10 years. Additional pressures created by a surge in emergency admissions before Christmas and the general effects of the cold weather exacerbated the problems.

  On 21 December, 6 patients were treated for fractures in the Royal Victoria Hospital. The average time waited by these patients was 4.6 days. On 11 January, 5 fracture patients were treated in the Royal with an average waiting time of 5 days.

  I am determined to ensure that patients admitted to hospital with fractures receive the treatment that they require as soon as possible and certainly no later than the 2 days laid down by current clinical standards and I have taken appropriate steps to achieve this.

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the level of beef exports from Northern Ireland. [64857]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Government are pleased to record that regular weekly exports from Northern Ireland under the Export Certified Herds Scheme started in September 1998. The quantities involved have been small, averaging around 20 tonnes per week involving 7 European Countries. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) have also recently confirmed their willingness to take NI beef again although exports to South Africa have not yet started.

SCOTLAND

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his action to promote inward investment to Scotland; and if he must seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry before making any offer to a potential investor. [66135]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: Locate in Scotland promotes Scotland's advantages as a business location, working in partnership with the Local Enterprise Companies, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other bodies in both the public and private sectors. Its resources are targeted on those markets which generate the strongest flows of outward investment and where Scotland's competitive strengths make it an attractive location.

  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
  494
  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 in due course.

  Sewage Sludge Recycling
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter of 30 September 1998 from the Minister with responsibility for agriculture, the environment and fisheries to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his talks with the water industry and the British Retailers Consortium on the recycling of sewage sludge on farmland. [65399]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The talks were between the water industry and the British Retail Consortium. The talks resulted in an agreement on the recycling of sewage sludge to farmland. This included ending the application of untreated sewage sludge to grass for silage and grazing by the end of 1998. It also included the phasing out of the application of all untreated sludge to agricultural land by the end of 2001. The Government have already announced they will amend the relevant regulations and code of practice to enforce the 2001 deadline.

  Urban Waste Water Treatment
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the date by which secondary treatment of waste water and sewage will be required under the terms of the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive; and if he will make a statement. [66350]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and our own Regulations require secondary treatment to be applied for discharges to normal waters (i.e. those not designated as sensitive or less sensitive) from communities with population equivalents above 15,000 by the end of 2000. The same standard of treatment must be applied to discharges from smaller communities by the end of 2005.

  Compliance with the Directive is a major initiative for the Scottish Water Authorities who will be undertaking capital investment programmes costing £1.5 billion, over the next three years, to modernise the water and sewage industry.

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Scottish Office Development Department post-project evaluation of the socio-economic impact of the Skye Bridge is expected to be completed; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [66265]

  Mr. Macdonald
  This evaluation is due to be completed by the end of February 1999. A copy of the Final Report will be placed in the Members' Library.

  Employment (Agriculture)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1974 the
  495
  number of people in Scotland employed in (a) agriculture and (b) ancillary trades dependent on agriculture broken down by region. [66604]

  Agricultural workers on main and minor agricultural holdings

  Number

  Full-time equivalents1

  Year

  Scotland

  North west

  North east

  South east

  South west

  Scotland

  North west

  North east

  South east

  South west

  Estimated number of ancillary jobs dependent on agriculture in Scotland2 (Ftes)

  1976

  71,686

  14,214

  13,972

  20,155

  23,345

  60,537

  9,989

  12,188

  18,083

  20,277

  —

  1977

  71,258

  13,826

  13,823

  20,173

  23,435

  59,891

  9,697

  12,015

  17,959

  20,219

  —

  1978

  70,986

  13,979

  13,576

  20,046

  23,385

  59,391

  9,734

  11,778

  17,790

  20,089

  —

  1979

  70,356

  14,100

  13,407

  19,542

  23,307

  58,556

  9,748

  11,576

  17,346

  19,886

  47,723

  1980

  70,041

  14,193

  13,270

  19,446

  23,133

  57,850

  9,675

  11,373

  17,155

  19,647

  —

  1981

  68,187

  14,360

  12,801

  18,437

  22,589

  56,004

  9,702

  10,948

  16,251

  19,103

  —

  1982

  69,075

  14,967

  13,110

  18,355

  22,644

  56,509

  10,174

  11,107

  16,103

  19,125

  —

  1983

  69,232

  15,321

  12,978

  18,190

  22,744

  56,406

  10,373

  10,979

  15,922

  19,131

  —

  1984

  68,433

  15,544

  12,747

  17,635

  22,507

  55,399

  10,451

  10,719

  15,363

  18,866

  —

  1985

  69,056

  15,970

  12,668

  17,739

  22,679

  55,541

  10,686

  10,599

  15,367

  18,889

  —

  1986

  67,749

  16,226

  12,373

  16,927

  22,223

  54,014

  10,759

  10,282

  14,576

  18,398

  —

  1987

  67,260

  16,754

  12,017

  16,621

  21,868

  53,417

  11,101

  9,968

  14,286

  18,061

  —

  1988

  66,899

  16,700

  11,996

  16,367

  21,836

  53,049

  11,108

  9,884

  14,031

  18,026

  —

  1989

  66,145

  16,453

  11,849

  16,095

  21,748

  52,224

  10,955

  9,700

  13,668

  17,901

  75,307

  1990

  67,043

  16,735

  12,179

  16,424

  21,705

  52,128

  10,949

  9,800

  13,685

  17,694

  —

  1991

  66,095

  16,638

  11,876

  16,179

  21,402

  50,652

  10,678

  9,362

  13,321

  17,292

  —

  1992

  65,234

  16,527

  11,954

  15,807

  20,946

  50,158

  10,627

  9,478

  13,069

  16,985

  —

  1993

  64,111

  16,260

  11,811

  15,545

  20,495

  49,090

  10,410

  9,310

  12,781

  16,590

  —

  1994

  65,308

  17,206

  11,895

  15,357

  20,850

  49,534

  10,935

  9,298

  12,571

  16,731

  42,500

  1995

  65,014

  17,647

  11,817

  15,052

  20,498

  48,983

  11,208

  9,115

  12,272

  16,389

  43,007

  1996

  65,764

  18,272

  11,750

  15,139

  20,603

  49,278

  11,532

  9,037

  12,306

  16,403

  —

  1997

  65,259

  18,403

  11,545

  15,137

  20,174

  48,727

  11,581

  8,846

  12,287

  16,014

  —

  1998

  66,514

  18,653

  11,803

  15,711

  20,347

  49,428

  11,756

  8,952

  12,659

  16,062

  —

  1Part-time workers estimated as 0.5 full-time equivalents

  2Estimates of jobs in ancillary trades dependent on agriculture is derived from the Type 1 multipliers from the periodic Scottish Input Output Tables. This is available only for Scotland as a whole.

  Ward Beds
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many ward beds were available in Glasgow in 1995; how many ward beds will be available in Glasgow upon the completion of the new Law Hospital; and what were the service costs for the old Law Hospital for each of the years between 1990 and 1995. [65956]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The number of in-patients beds within the Greater Glasgow Health Board (GGHB) area in 1995 was 8,224. GGHB recognises that changes in flows of patients from Lanarkshire upon completion of the new Law Hospital will impact on the level of demand for in-patient beds, and is still in the process of discussing this, and timescales, with Lanarkshire Health Board. The total Hospital running costs for the old Law Hospital for each of the years between 1990 and 1995 are as follows:

  Year

  £000

  1990

  20,470

  1991

  21,840

  1992

  28,690

  1993

  33,078

  1994

  38,904

  1995

  40,385

  496
  Mr. Dewar
  The available information is given in the table. Due to reclassification of minor holdings in the Agricultural Census, consistent information is available only from 1976.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Commercial Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rules or guidance his Department has to govern the(a) formal and (b) informal interaction between his civil servants and commercial lobbyists. [66203]

  Mr. Morley
  Any contact that this Department's staff have with people outside government, including lobbyists, should be conducted in accordance with the Civil Service Code and the principles of public life set out by the Nolan Committee. The Prime Minister also announced the publication of practical guidance on handling such contacts on 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 4, which was circulated to all Departments by the Cabinet Office.

  Genetically Engineered Crops
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what independent scientific research on genetically engineered crops the regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom and the EU have access to; and what are the arrangements for licensing such research. [66016]

  Mr. Meale
  I have been asked to reply.
  497
  The regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom have to access all scientific research papers and articles published in international scientific journals. These are available through abstracting services, departmental libraries and the British Library.

  The regulatory authorities also have access to independent research through members of the Government's advisory committees on biotechnology, such as the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP). Members of these committees are leading experts in their own fields and will be aware of the latest scientific research and developments. Regulatory authorities in the EU will have access to similar sources of scientific research results and exchange information at regular meetings of the Competent Authorities.

  My Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food fund independent scientific research on genetically modified crops. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the then Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallesey (Angela Eagle), on 8 June 1998, Official Report, column 313, and the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 12 November 1998, Official Report, columns 316–18. The EU also funds biotechnology research through the Framework Programmes.

  Where the research involves the release of a genetically modified organism to the environment this requires prior approval (licensing) from the Secretary of State or the relevant Competent Authority under Directive 90/220/EC on the deliberate Release of genetically modified organisms to the environment. Research involving the contained use of genetically modified crops must be notified to Health and Safety Executive under provisions in Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and The Genetically Modified Organisms (Risk Assessment) (Records and Exemptions) Regulations 1996, as amended in 1997. The human health and safety aspects of larger GMOs are covered by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended in 1996.

  Raw Cows' Milk
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions he and the Secretary of State for Wales have reached following their review of the law relating to the drinking of raw cows' milk in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [67090]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have decided not to stop the sale of raw cows' drinking milk in England and Wales. However, we intend to introduce tighter checks to benefit consumers who choose to drink raw cows' milk.

  The new measures will include increasing the frequency of official microbiological sample testing of raw cows' drinking milk at production premises to four times a year and increasing the frequency of official inspections of registered raw cows' milk production holdings to once a year. These measures will begin immediately.
  498
  Raw milk producers will continue to pay for official checks, and we will be putting in hand arrangements to extend the scope of enforcement at production holdings. In addition, we intend that on-farm caterers will no longer be exempted from the charges for microbiological sample testing, and also that the full costs of inspection and sample testing will be recovered. This will necessitate changes to the relevant regulations, and in due course we will issue draft regulations for public consultation.

  There is already a requirement to label raw cows' drinking milk with a public health warning. We will be putting into place arrangements to ensure this is given greater prominence. In addition, these arrangements will also require that labels on retail packaging, and notices displayed at on-farm catering premises, must include the Chief Medical Officer's advice, which is that children, pregnant women, elderly people and those who are currently unwell or have a chronic illness should not consume raw cows' milk.

  We emphasise in the strongest possible terms that the industry is responsible, and remains responsible, for the production of safe food. Producers of raw cows' drinking milk must ensure that it is produced to the best hygienic standards.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the study areas required by the Krebs report to investigate links between badgers and bovine TB have(a) been identified, (b) been surveyed and (c) been announced, and in how many study areas the study has been (i) commenced and (ii) suspended. [66080]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Krebs report concluded that a minimum of 30, 100 square kilometre areas be used for the randomised badger culling trial as part of a wider programme including epidemiological and research work. This recommendation was supported by the Independent Scientific Group appointed to advise on the implementation of the Krebs report recommendations. The areas will be grouped into triplets each containing three areas, one subject to proactive culling, one to reactive culling and the third a control area where no culling will take place.

  The first two triplets were designated by the Group in August 1998 and announced on 17 August. One was on the Devon and Cornwall border and the other on the borders of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. The remaining 24 areas (8 triplets) are to be phased in over the next two years, and will be in areas where the incidence of TB in cattle is historically highest and where there is the greatest risk of contiguous and repeat breakdowns. The next triplets will be identified shortly, and will then be announced.

  Once a triplet is identified and mapped, land holders are contacted and asked for permission to survey the land for badger activity and to remove badgers from culling areas. Although participation in the trial is on a voluntary basis, the overwhelming majority of land holders agreed to take part. Visiting and surveying in the first two triplets began on 28 August. Surveying of the Devon/Cornwall triplet was completed at the end of November, and is continuing in the other triplet.
  499
  On 4 November 1998, in accordance with prescribed procedures and in the presence of an independent witness, each area in the Devon/Cornwall triplet was randomly allocated one of the three treatments (proactive, reactive, survey only). Cage trapping of badgers in the area around Putford which had been allocated proactive culling was carried out from 2 to 13 December 1998 inclusive. Work in the area progressed as planned and was not disrupted significantly. 238 badgers were caught and humanely despatched by shooting. The carcases were subject to post mortem examination in MAFF laboratories and samples have been taken for further analysis.

  Once the initial proactive culling is complete in a triplet the comparative study of TB incidents in cattle begins. This is the position in the Cornwall/Devon triplet where TB incidents in the three trial areas are being monitored. Where a new TB incident is confirmed in the reactive culling area, arrangements will be made to cull badgers from social groups associated with the farm involved. No culling will take place during the closed season which runs from 1 February to 30 April inclusive.

  Work has not been suspended in any area.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Learning Direct
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many calls each month to Learning Direct are provided for in the contract with his Department. [66354]

  Mr. Mudie
  In its first year of operation, the DfEE set Learning Direct a target of 250,000 calls. Specific monthly targets were not set.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what evidence he has of successful referrals by the Learning Direct helpline overall and broken down by(a) age, (b) sex, (c) employment status, (d) region and (e) qualifications. [66358]

  Mr. Mudie
  It is too early to measure the success of referrals by the Learning Direct helpline. Information on follow up action of callers will be made available as part of the evaluation process of the helpline later in the year.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the most common areas of inquiry made to the Learning Direct helpline. [66357]

  Mr. Mudie
  The most common areas of inquiry made to the Learning Direct helpline are requests for information and advice on Further Education (33 per cent. of calls), information technology and computers (18 per cent.) professional development (17 per cent.) and Higher Education (15 per cent.). Inquiries to the helpline are, however, dependent to some extent on the nature of marketing of Learning Direct and associated broadcaster campaigns.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have telephoned the Learning Direct helpline during each month of its operation. [66353]
  500
  Mr. Mudie
  There were 406,069 successful callers to the Learning Direct helpline during the period from its official launch on 25 February to the end of December 1998. A monthly breakdown is as follows:

  Number

  February

  5,241

  March

  15,654

  April

  11,970

  May

  165,816

  June

  78,272

  July

  23,400

  August

  28,987

  September

  26,710

  October

  21,496

  November

  15,314

  December

  13,209

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the percentage of callers to the Learning Direct helpline who succeed in reaching an operator(a) on average and (b) at the busiest times. [66263]

  Mr. Mudie
  Currently, 86 per cent. of callers to Learning Direct are successful in reaching an operator. The figures for callers at the busiest times are not available.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of callers to the Learning Direct helpline get through at the first attempt(a) on average and (b) at the busiest times. [66355]

  Mr. Mudie
  A recent independent evaluation of Learning Direct showed that, on average, 77 per cent. of those using Learning Direct were connected at the first attempt. The figures for callers at the busiest times are not available.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish a breakdown of callers to the Learning Direct helpline by(a) age, (b) sex, (c) employment status and (d) highest qualification gained. [66356]

  Mr. Mudie
  Learning Direct offers a confidential service to callers. Therefore, a breakdown of all callers is not available. Based on a 10 per cent. random sample, the breakdown of callers to Learning Direct is as follows:

  Percentage

  (a) Age

  Up to 17

  2

  18–25

  18

  26–35

  34

  36–45

  24

  46–55

  11

  56–65

  6

  65+

  5

  (b) Sex

  Male

  44

  Female

  56

  (c) Employment Status

  Employed

  46

  Self-employed

  3

  Reg. Unemployed

  18

  501

  Percentage

  Retired

  10

  In education

  8

  Woman returner

  10

  Other

  5

  (d) Highest qualification gained

  Postgraduate or professional qualification

  19

  First degree

  16

  GCE A level, HND/C

  17

  CSE, GCSE and equivalent

  33

  Other

  7

  No qualification

  8

  Sure Start Strategy
  Ann Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for implementing the Sure Start strategy. [67089]

  Ms Jowell
  Sure Start is a vital element in the Government's work to increase opportunity and create equal chances for young children and their families in disadvantaged areas. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and I are taking forward the Government's £452 million strategy to establish at least 250 local Sure Start programmes in England over the next three years.

  We are announcing today the first 60 trailblazer districts for Sure Start. In identifying them we have taken into account evidence of significant local deprivation and existing good practice; and a wish to see Sure Start principles taking root quickly in all regions, in different types of area and in places where they can complement other Government initiatives to regenerate communities and tackle social exclusion.

  The trailblazer districts will play a major role in making Sure Start a reality. Each will identify one catchment area appropriate for a local Sure Start programme, and bring together an inclusive partnership responsible for making a formal application for Sure Start funding to improve and extend services in that area. Expressions of interest from the 60 districts are invited by 9 February and full applications by 19 March. Applications will not compete against each other. We are providing a team of expert advisers to help local partners prepare them, and they will be approved if they meet various criteria, including the inclusion of all the key partners at local level and effective demonstration of the key principles underpinning Sure Start.

  We expect the first trailblazers to be up and running later in the year. They will help develop Sure Start, its implementation and evaluation, and act as mentors for subsequent programmes. More Sure Start districts will be announced in due course.

  Further information and guidance on Sure Start is being published today to support trailblazers in their work. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  The 60 trailblazer districts are:

  Barrow-in Furness

  Birmingham

  Blackburn with Darwen

  502

  Blackpool

  Bradford

  Brent

  Brighton and Hove

  Bristol

  Camden

  Copeland

  Corby

  Derby

  Doncaster

  Enfield

  Fenland

  Great Yarmouth

  Greenwich

  Hackney

  Halton

  Haringey

  Hastings

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  Kirklees

  Knowsley

  Lambeth

  Leeds

  Leicester

  Liverpool

  Luton

  Manchester

  Mansfield

  Middlesbrough

  Newcastle

  Newham

  North East Lincolnshire

  North Tyneside

  Norwich

  Nottingham

  Oldham

  Oxford

  Penwith

  Plymouth

  Redcar and Cleveland

  Rotherham

  Salford

  Sandwell

  Sedgemoor

  Sheffield

  Southampton

  Southwark

  St. Helens

  Stoke-on-Trent

  Sunderland

  Telford and Wrekin

  Thanet

  Thurrock

  Tower Hamlets

  Waltham Forest

  Wealden

  Wolverhampton.

  Edison Project
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment his Department has made of the performance of the Edison Project in running schools in the United States of America; what discussions he has held on its possible use to run schools in(a) education action zones and (b) other areas where those schools are deemed to have failed; what is his policy towards the use of profit-making organisations to run state schools; and if he will make a statement. [65917]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department has not carried out any assessment of the activities of the Edison Project in the United States of America, although we have seen reports of some published evaluations. Officials have talked to representatives of the Project about the scope for private sector involvement in EAZs and in turning round failing schools. In all cases it has been made clear that as a matter of law the responsibility for running maintained schools rests with the governing body, which is responsible for spending the school budget in the best interests of pupils.

  In addition, we have made it clear that "schools run schools", under the Education Act and in accordance with the new fair funding arrangements.

  Commercial Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what rules or guidance his Department has to govern the(a) formal and (b) informal interaction between his civil servants and commercial lobbyists. [66193]

  Mr. Mudie
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 4.

  Electrical Contracting Industry
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library copies of the contents of Public Record Office file FS27/486 relating to the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Contracting Industry. [65766]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I have been asked to reply.

  The file in question is deposited in the Public Records Office and is open for public inspection. The PRO will provide a copy of the contents for the House of Commons Library on request.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EU Fundamental Rights Charter
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on German proposals to preface the European Communities Treaties with a Charter of Fundamental Rights. [66139]

  Ms Quin
  The Germans have expressed an interest in developing a European Charter of Basic Rights, in consultation with the European Parliament, national 504
  parliaments and as many social groups as possible. We will form a view once details of the German proposals are available.

  Sri Lanka
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current political situation in Sri Lanka. [66376]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We believe that a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka can be reached only through a political settlement. During my visit to Colombo in November last year I made it clear to the Sri Lankan Government that we remain ready to help in the resolution of the conflict if both sides ask us to play a role. But it is for the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to work to reach a negotiated settlement.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Aceh, Indonesia, with particular reference to Operasi Wibawa '99. [66627]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We are concerned about the recent reports of violence in Aceh and deeply regret the killings of both civilians and military personnel. We call on all sides to show restraint, and look to the Indonesian Government to conduct a full investigation into the killings and to bring to justice those responsible.

  British Council
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by the British Council in investment in infrastructure and information technology for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [66235]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Owing to a change by the British Council accruals accounting in April 1995, the information on investment is available on a consistent basis only for the three-year period from 1995–96 to 1997–98. In each of these years, the British Council's average gross investment in its built estate and in information technology was £12 million. The equivalent figure for the present financial year is £11.3 million while, as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the average for each of the next three years will be £15 million.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British Council work, funded by his Department, to support civil society, human rights and democracy in East and West Africa. [66218]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The British Council is well placed to promote human rights and good governance because of its unique status and long experience in these fields. In the case of East and West Africa, the British Council manages projects to the value of more than £300,000 under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Project Fund. These include anti-corruption campaigns, management training for NGO staff, improving judicial systems, networking between human rights groups, women's rights, and programmes to support democracy.
  505
  In addition, projects in these fields are funded from the grant-in-aid which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office gives to the British Council

  Commercial Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rules or guidance his Department has to govern the(a) formal and (b) informal interaction between his civil servants and commercial lobbyists. [66202]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 4, to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice).

  European Commission
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the name, position and nationality of all EC officials who have been indicted on charges of fraud, dishonesty or maladministration, since 1990 together with details of the disciplinary action taken. [66406]

  Ms Quin
  We have approached the European Commission for this information. I will write to the hon. Member shortly, placing copies in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list Commission officials suspended since 1990 on (i) full, (ii) half and (iii) no pay, stating in each case(a) the accusation, (b) the end result of the investigations concerned and (c) the severance pay where supplied; [66321]

  (2) what types of firearms are issued to employees of the European Commission; what performance enhancers are made available for these weapons; and what numbers are involved; [66325]

  (3) which employees of the European Commission are entrusted with firearms; and under what authority those arms have been issued; [66320]

  (4) if he will make a statement on the purpose of firearms being issued to employees of the European Commission; [66326]

  (5) what the rules of engagement are for employees of the European Commission entrusted with firearms; [66323]

  (6) if he will make a statement on the secured storage facilities available for firearms possessed by the European Commission; [66324]

  (7) what training is available in firearms skills for employees of the European Commission. [66322]

  Ms Quin
  We have approached the Commission for this information. I will write to the right hon. Member shortly, placing copies in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the report submitted by the Commission at the General Affairs Council of 26 to 27 October 1998 concerning fraud allegations relating to the EC Humanitarian Office; and if he will list the corrected documents submitted. [66379]
  506
  Ms Quin
  The Commission President, Mr. Santer, gave an oral report to Foreign Ministers over lunch on 25 October 1998. There is no official record. Mr. Santer explained the background to the EC Humanitarian Aid Office fraud and the Commission's proposal to establish an external anti-fraud office (Document 14031—deposited in the House Library on 23 December). It is not clear to which "corrected documents" the right hon. Member refers. If the right hon. Member would care to write to me giving any additional information he may have, I shall be happy to investigate.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will deposit in the Library a copy of all guidelines for Commission staff operating in(a) other Member States and (b) the United Kingdom relating to (i) handling the media and (ii) maintaining political neutrality.[66380]

  Ms Quin
  We understand from the Commission that there are currently no such written guidelines for staff at Commission Representations in the Member States, including those in the United Kingdom. However, on 11 January 1999, President Santer announced that three codes of conduct would be drawn up governing the work of Members of the Commission and Commission staff. These are expected to cover issues of this kind.

  EU Enlargement
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department received each of the European Commission Enlargement reports entitled Enlargement 98 in respect of(a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) Czech Republic, (d) Slovenia, (e) Estonia and (f) Cyprus. [66119]

  Ms Quin
  We received copies of the Commission's Progress Reports on all the candidate countries, via the internet, on 4 November 1998—the day they were agreed by the College of Commissioners. The texts were subsequently presented to the 9 November General Affairs Council. Formal transmission of the texts, from the Commission to the Council Secretariat, took place on 18 December 1998. The Council Secretariat is in the process of forwarding them to Member States. We will deposit copies in the Library of the House once we receive a full set.

  General Pinochet
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if reports submitted by the British Embassy in Madrid, to his Department, made reference to potential difficulties for Her Majesty's Government with respect to the presence of General Pinochet in British territory in connection with the work undertaken by Judge Garzón; how many reports submitted by the embassy referred to Judge Garzón's investigations; and if he will make a statement. [66347]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Embassy in Madrid sent four reports in 1997 and 1998 relating to Judge Garzón's investigations into human rights violations in Chile during the Pinochet years. None of these reports anticipated that Judge Garzón's investigations would cause HMG any difficulty.

  St. Malo Summit
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Joint Declarations of the St. Malo summit for(a) future co-location of embassies and (b) sharing of restricted information pertaining to local politics in African countries. [66342]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The St. Malo Declaration on Africa agreed that both governments would explore the scope for co-location of Embassies. This would involve sharing premises in one or more sites, if there were benefits to be gained from doing so. We have done this successfully with other countries elsewhere in the world. The Declaration also included provisions for information sharing on the situation in Africa, in particular on countries where either the UK or France is not represented. We see this as a useful area for cooperation, which will be of mutual benefit and will extend our knowledge of these countries.

  Burma
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal factors he has to take account of with regard to the imposition of financial sanctions on Burma. [66155]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Financial sanctions need to be compatible with the UK's international obligations. They are a matter for action by the European Community as a whole in accordance with the Treaty of Rome (Articles 73 (g) (1) and 228 (a)). They must also be compatible with membership of the World Trade Organisation. A mandatory United Nations Security Council Resolution would override these obligations but there is at present no consensus for such action.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications Her Majesty's Government have had with(a) the United States administration and (b) the Secretary General of the United Nations over the past year in respect of the use to which information obtained by (i) UNSCOM and (b) IAEA inspectors in Iraq has been put. [66429]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have been in regular touch with both the US Administration and the UN Secretary General on many aspects of the work of UNSCOM and the IAEA over the past year.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the allegations by former UNSCOM inspector, Scott Ritter, published in The Sunday Telegraph on 10 January 1999. [66476]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The 10 January The Sunday Telegraph article referred to allegations that the UK withdrew cooperation from UNSCOM last year in protest at US spying activities. This allegation is false. The UK has never withdrawn cooperation from UNSCOM.

  UNSCOM is entitled to seek information and advice from all possible sources in pursuit of its mandate to destroy Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction capability.
  508
  UNSCOM Executive Chairman Richard Butler has made clear that he has always insisted on all UNSCOM activity being carried out strictly in pursuit of its disarmament mandate, not to benefit any individual member state. The US has also denied any impropriety in its contacts with UNSCOM.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the observations by the Foreign Minister of France concerning the lifting of sanctions on Iraq. [65397]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have welcomed the proposals put forward recently by France as a useful basis for discussion on the way forward on Iraq. However, our position remains that the oil embargo cannot be lifted until Iraq has fulfilled its obligations in relation to its weapons of mass destruction programmes as set out in UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 687, and that other sanctions cannot be lifted until Iraq has complied with all its obligations under the relevant UNSCRs.

  British Diplomats (Freetown Officials)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which officials in(a) his Department and (b) the Ministry of Defence were informed of the facility extended by the German Government to British diplomats, to communicate with officials in the United Kingdom from Freetown, Sierra Leone, in the years 1997 and 1998; and on which occasions this facility was used. [66628]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Mr. Penfold had access to normal communication whilst at the High Commission in Freetown and whilst in the United Kingdom. Whilst he was in Conakry, Mr. Penfold was able to receive classified telegrams via the German Embassy but used commercial fax facilities for sending messages to London.

  The following British Diplomatic Missions were informed in August 1997 that telegrams could be passed to Conakry for Mr. Penfold via Bonn:
  Accra, Dakar, Banjul, Abidjan, Lagos, Abuja, Washington, UKMIS New York.

  Telegrams that were sent to Bonn for forwarding were marked to this effect and circulated to officials in Government Departments in London including the FCO and MOD.

  Bananas
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with(a) European Union ministers about the import duties being placed by the EU on bananas and (b) the United States Government about the retaliatory duties being placed on EU goods; and if he will make a statement. [66259]

  Ms Quin
  The EU's new banana regime was agreed during the UK Presidency. The Government support the new regime which is designed to help banana dependent Caribbean economies while meeting WTO obligations.

  The current EU/US dispute over the WTO compatibility of the new regime was discussed at the December General Affairs Council which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary attended. EU Foreign

  509
  Ministers gave their backing to the Commission approach of robustly defending the banana regime while constructively addressing US concerns over the WTO process.

  The Government have been working to prevent the imposition of US retaliatory duties. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other senior Government Ministers have, on several recent occasions, raised the issue with their US counterparts.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Ministers (Business Affairs Investigations)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to disclose all the papers relating to investigations undertaken by his Department into the business affairs of serving Government Ministers. [66450]

  Mr. Byers
  My Department has no direct role in the investigation of the business affairs of ministers or any other individuals. Its role is confined to the conduct of limited companies. The extent to which papers may be disclosed depends on the nature of the case itself and other considerations such as the applicable law and commercial confidentiality. Subject to these constraints I would wish to be as open as possible on these matters.

  British Airways
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his predecessor received advice from the Permanent Secretary at the DTI that there was no conflict of interest which prevented him dealing with competition issues arising from the proposed British Airways alliance with American Airlines. [66644]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 19 January 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), on 8 December 1998, Official Report, column 65.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what amount of export credit guarantees are outstanding for Indonesia(a) for defence-related equipment and (b) for other goods. [64533]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 11 January 1999]: From data readily available, ECGD's exposure on Indonesia currently stands at £1,575 million and breaks down as follows:

  £ million

  (a) Defence related equipment

  760

  (b) Other goods

  815

  Defence-related equipment includes all ECGD covered business with defence buyers, including sales of non-lethal equipment.

  Wellcome Trust
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the letter of 22 September from the 510
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, if he will list the contributions of the Wellcome Trust to significant additional investments in areas of science (a) in the biomedical area and (b) outside the biomedical area. [65395]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 19 January 1999]: As previously announced, we are grateful to the Wellcome Trust for providing the following funding for joint activities with the Government in support of major research programmes within the Science and Engineering Base.

  £ million

  Joint infrastructure fund

  300

  University Challenge

  up to 18

  New synchrotron radiation facility

  110

  These contributions are additional to the Trust's previously planned expenditure on university research over the life-time of these projects.

  None of these projects have yet progressed to a stage where payments to recipients have been made, but all of these contributions will be in support of biomedical research.

  Iraqi Exports
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has collated about Iraqi exports of(a) dates, (b) wheat and (c) other products. [65385]

  Mr. Wilson
  Information on Iraqi exports of dates and wheat is not readily available from official sources. The International Monetary Fund has estimated from partner country records that Iraq's total exports of goods in 1997 amounted to US$2,309 million. Exports of Iraqi oil approved by the United Nations are monitored by the UN.

  Medical Exports
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are employed by Government departments and agencies to assist in supporting and promoting exports of medical and pharmaceutical equipment; and at what cost. [66037]

  Mr. Wilson
  Principal responsibility for promoting exports in this sector rests with three civil servants in the Export Promotion Command of my Department in liaison with five officials from the Department of Health and an Export Promoter seconded from industry. The running cost of the civil servants themselves, excluding the programme budget for which they are responsible, is £254k.

  The total cost of the Overseas Trade Service's export promotion programme in 1997–98 was estimated to have been approximately £220 million, of which £165 million was the cost of 824.55 posts in the DTI, 92 staff in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and FCO staff in 217 overseas posts with commercial sections. Figures indicating the percentage of these resources devoted to promoting exports of medical and pharmaceutical equipment are not available.

  German Parcels
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the Treasury Minute of Approval in respect of the purchase of German Parcels by the Post Office. [66021]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: Treasury approval was given in the form of a letter from the then Chief Secretary to the then Secretary of State. In accordance with the normal conventions, it would not be appropriate to publish this letter.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the details of the purchase of German Parcels by the Post Office will be supplied to the Committee of Public Accounts. [66019]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The financial consequences of any investments made by the Post Office will be appropriately reflected in the Post Office annual report and accounts. These will be laid before Parliament in the usual way.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons details of the purchase of German Parcels by the Post Office have not been published. [66023]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: A great deal of information is available on the Post Office acquisition of German Parcels. But this is a commercial transaction. The Post Office have advised us that they do not have details of similar acquisitions made by their European post office competitors—details which it would be to their advantage to know. They therefore do not want exact details of their own purchase to be released for reasons of commercial confidentiality. We respect that.

  However, the estimated turnover of German Parcels for the current year is around £265 million. A normal core price for such an acquisition might be the annual turnover plus any special assets. The agreed purchase price for German Parcels is in line with this.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what arrangements have been made to enable the National Audit Office to examine the purchase by the Post Office of German Parcels; [66020]

  (2) if the Comptroller and Auditor General has given his agreement to the decision not to publish details of the purchase of German Parcels by the Post Office. [66022]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answers 18 January 1999]: Under Schedule 4 of the National Audit Act 1983 the Post Office is specifically exempted from the Comptroller and Auditor General's responsibilities for the examination of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which public bodies carry out their functions. Post Office accounts are prepared in accordance with commercial practice and are audited by external auditors appointed by the Secretary of State rather than by the National Audit Office.

  However, the National Audit Office, through the Comptroller and Auditor General, has a right under Section 6(1) of the National Audit Act 1983 (as qualified by Section 6(2) of the Act) to examine the DTI's and Treasury's roles in approving the purchase of German Parcels.

  Coal Mining Subsidence
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the Coal Authority's fourth report on the administration of the coal mining subsidence damage repair and compensation scheme. [67092]

  Mr. Battle
  I have now received this report from the Coal Authority and have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.

  Electrical Contracting Industry
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, following the dissolution of the Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry and its voluntary de-registration as a trade union in 1991, a successor body with similar objectives has re-registered as a trade union or registered as an employer's association. [66146]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  No. I am not aware that the Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry has been dissolved. No successor body with similar objectives has applied for listing as a trade union or as an employers' association.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Joint Advisory Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry was granted permission by ministers to operate an industry scheme of redundancy payments; and if he will make a statement. [66145]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  No. The Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry does, however, operate a Dismissals Procedures Agreement designated by the Secretary of State under S110 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 but that agreement does not cover redundancy payments.

  Prepayment Gas Meters
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the percentage of gas consumers in England and Wales who use(a) electronic token, (b) coin and (c) mechanical token prepayment gas meters. [65961]

  Mr. Battle
  As of September 1998, out of some 19 million domestic gas consumers, the percentage of customers using prepayment gas meters was approximately as follows:(a) electronic token, 7 per cent., (b) coin, 0.5 per cent., (c) mechanical token, less than 0.1 per cent.

  London and Bishopsgate Investments
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department is investigating alleged improprieties in the actions of London and Bishopsgate Investments in the late 1980s and early 1990s. [66624]

  Mr. Byers
  It is not the Department's policy to comment on whether or not it is carrying out an investigation. The right hon. Member refers in his question to"alleged improprieties in the actions of London and Bishopsgate Investments in the late 1980s and early 1990s".
  513
  If the hon. Member has particular information about these alleged improprieties, he should make it available to the Company Law and Investigations Directorate of my Department.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the results of his consultations carried out with regions from which regional aid is to be withdrawn. [66141]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: No decisions have yet been made on the areas which will be ineligible for regional aid after 1 January 2000. The Government have, however, carried out consultations on the review of Assisted Areas with a range of interested parties.

  On the reform of Structural Funds, negotiations with the Commission and Member States are continuing and are likely to do so until March 1999.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the new map for regional selective assistance to be proposed to the European Commission. [66133]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: No decisions have yet been made on the areas that will be proposed to the European Commission.

  Aerospace Research and Development
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with aerospace companies about the civil aircraft research and development budget; and if he will make a statement on future spending on CARAD. [66260]

  Mr. Battle
  The Department has maintained a close dialogue with the aerospace industry concerning the support available for civil research which has been provided under the Department's Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD) programme. Detailed allocations for all DTI budgets, including CARAD, have yet to be made.

  Industrial Energy Taxes
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the meeting between EC Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert and the German Finance Minister, Oskar Lafontaine on 7 January, on the proposals of the German presidency relating to the introduction of industrial energy taxes. [66423]

  Mr. Battle
  The meeting was to discuss domestic issues relevant to Germany alone. It is not for me to comment on these.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what renewable energy schemes in the United Kingdom have been part or fully funded by(a) European Community energy programmes and (b) the European Investment Bank. [66622]
  514
  Mr. Battle
  In the four year period 1995 to 1998, the European Community THERMIE Programme offered support to twenty two projects concerning renewable energy plant in the United Kingdom.

  The European Community JOULE programme has supported a large number of renewable energy research and development projects. JOULE projects are collaborative with the results shared between partners in different Member States. The ALTENER programme focuses on projects promoting renewable energy, for example the dissemination of information, developing financial instruments and training. ALTENER projects are collaborative with an emphasis on the wide dissemination of project results. Information about JOULE and THERMIE projects can be found on the CORDIS database, accessed through the World Wide Web. The address is: http://www.cordis.lu/. The ALTENER home page address is: http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/altener.htm.

  The European Investment Bank has supported three renewable energy projects in the United Kingdom, all waste to energy plants.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures his Department is taking to promote domestic renewable energy expertise to overseas markets; and if he will make a statement. [66619]

  Mr. Battle
  My Department assists British renewable energy companies to win export orders worldwide, and has had a focused programme of activities including, trade missions, overseas seminars and exhibitions, inward visits, market research and information dissemination. This programme is supported by two dedicated Trade Promoters, who have been concentrating their efforts on target markets such as China, India and Spain. For example, last autumn the Minister for Science opened a renewable energy seminar, and associated trade mission, in Peking. We also take advantage of other opportunities in overseas markets, which in the past year have included, Poland, United States and the Philippines.

  British renewable energy exports are estimated to have risen from an historic level of £10–15 million p.a. in the early 90's to around £80–100 million p.a. in the last two years.

  Multinationals (OECD Guidelines)
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to participate in updating, expanding and promoting the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's guidelines for multinational enterprises. [65978]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government have been taking an active part in the current review of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which began last June. In preparing our positions on the issues addressed by the Guidelines, this Department has consulted widely with other Government Departments and with business, trade unions and interested NGOs. We will seek to modernise and strengthen the Guidelines to reflect more recent developments, particularly in the labour and environment areas and, together with all stakeholders, will explore ways of increasing awareness and encouraging adherence.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cracks have appeared in nuclear power stations in each of the last 20 years; and how many have been repaired. [65744]

  Mr. Battle
  Arrangements under nuclear site licences require the licensees to notify the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Safety Directorate (NSD) of the discovery of any cracks which might challenge their current safety case; some of these may have potential structural significance. Nuclear power stations, like all engineering structures, may also contain many structurally insignificant cracks, so the information is not available in the exact form requested.

  Few of the many cracks identified over the years in nuclear power plants have been judged structurally significant and so necessitated repair. Examples of cracks that have necessitated repair are those found in Magnox coolant ducts during the 1980s, cracks in AGR steam headers and pipework and cracks in the boiler shells at Sizewell A power station. Details of these have been made publicly available via either the HSE's publication of the results of NSD's reviews of the licensees' Periodic Safety Reviews (PSRs) or in quarterly NSD reports over the years to local liaison committees.

  Further operation of any plant in which a potentially significant crack has been detected is not permitted until the licensee has provided a written safety case that demonstrates it would be safe and NSD has agreed to it. If repairs are necessary to enable a satisfactory safety case
  516
  to be made, these must be made to the appropriate nuclear standard before NSD allows the operation of the plant to recommence.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which Minister has primary responsibility for ensuring that England, Scotland and Wales do not compete against one another for inward investment; [66137]

  (2) what roles the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and he play in encouraging inward investment in England, Scotland and Wales; [66131]

  (3) when details of the Concordat on Inward Investment will be published. [66152]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The Invest in Britain Bureau—which is jointly managed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office—is the national agency promoting the UK as the number one location for inward investment in Europe. It works in partnership, under the Committee on Overseas Promotion arrangements, with the inward investment agencies of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions.

  There is no question of one Minister having primary responsibility for ensuring that competition between different parts of the UK is not wasteful. All Ministers have a collective interest in ensuring that offers of financial assistance represent value for money for the taxpayer.

  The Government will be strengthening the current arrangements through a Concordat on financial assistance to industry. The Government expect that they will be in a position to publish the Concordat soon.

  South Korea
  South Korea
  Spratly Islands
  Spratly Islands
  North Korea
  North Korea
  Indonesia: Death of Journalists
  Indonesia: Death of Journalists
  Iraq
  Iraq
  Sudan: OAU Conference
  Sudan: OAU Conference
  General Pinochet
  General Pinochet
  Racial Equality: Statutory Duties
  Racial Equality: Statutory Duties
  Video Classification: Appointments
  Video Classification: Appointments
  Coroners: Daily Service
  Coroners: Daily Service
  Sexual Offences and Penalties: Review
  Sexual Offences and Penalties: Review
  Child Abuse and Pornography: Conspiracy Legislation
  Child Abuse and Pornography: Conspiracy Legislation
  Child Prostitution
  Child Prostitution
  National Family and Parenting Institute
  National Family and Parenting Institute
  Immigration Detainees
  Immigration Detainees
  Public Footpaths: Maintenance
  Public Footpaths: Maintenance
  Motor Cycle Use on Public Footpaths
  Motor Cycle Use on Public Footpaths
  Scotland: Damage to SSSIs
  Scotland: Damage to SSSIs
  The Horse Industry and Government Departments
  The Horse Industry and Government Departments
  Common Fisheries Policy and Biodiversity
  Common Fisheries Policy and Biodiversity
  Specified Risk Materials Controls: Charges
  Specified Risk Materials Controls: Charges
  Withdrawn Produce: Supply to Schools
  Withdrawn Produce: Supply to Schools
  Orchard Rehabilitation Grants
  Orchard Rehabilitation Grants
  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  Older People: Policy Initiatives
  Older People: Policy Initiatives
  NHS Hearing Aids
  NHS Hearing Aids