Written Answers of 28 January 1999

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Cable Television
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to reply to Wirral Metropolitan Council's request to review the licence given to Cable and Wireless to provide cable television services in the Wirral. [66653]

  Mr. Wills
  Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions nor my Department has received a request from Wirral Metropolitan Council to review the licence granted on 16 January 1991 to Britannia Cablesystems (Wirral) Limited, (a subsidiary of Cable and Wireless Communications plc).

  Telecommunications (Call Charging)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that telecommunications companies advertise the rate which they are charging on telephone numbers found in advertisements and say whether callers are being charged whilst held in a queue; and if he will make a statement. [66955]

  Mr. Wills
  The regulation of telecoms operators is a matter for Oftel. Oftel requires all operators to publish their tariffs. In addition, the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) has a Code of Practice under which the costs of calls to Premium Rate Services must be given in advertisements.

  Information given to callers by queuing systems is a matter for businesses running those systems, not the telecoms operators, and Oftel has no powers to regulate how such end users operate their systems. However, Oftel has encouraged the drawing up of a Code of Practice for such businesses which answer calls from the public. This Code recommends that messages on call queuing systems should tell callers when their call has been answered. The callers should then realise that the call is being charged.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to restrict the prices charged by telecommunications companies for their premium rate calls. [66956]

  Mr. Wills
  The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) has responsibility for Premium Rate Services (PRS) in its capacity as the regulator for the Premium Rate Industry. It publishes and enforces a Code of Practice which has provisions limiting the time spent by callers on these services. This has the effect of limiting the cost of calls, and some services are required to be 312
  terminated automatically after a given period. The Code also has provisions limiting the total amount of money spent on certain services.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the regulation of the telecommunications industry's call charges. [66954]

  Mr. Wills
  Oftel sets and is responsible for enforcing the current price controls on the telecommunications industry.

  Competition in the telecommunications industry continues to develop and, while it does, Oftel directly regulates the prices of BT, the dominant provider of telecoms services in the UK. In relation to residential consumers and small businesses, BT is required to reduce its main prices by 4.5 per cent. below the rate of inflation, and to focus this control on protecting the first 80 per cent. of residential customers by bill size. Thus consumers who are on a lower income are protected more formally than those higher spending customers who are more likely to have benefited significantly from deep price cuts in international calls. This price control will remain in place until July 2001.

  European Structural Funds
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what transitional support will be available to rural areas upon losing Objective 5b status. [67120]

  Mr. Wills
  The Commission have proposed transitional periods of four years for areas losing Objective 2 and 5b funding. Current Objective 5b covers rural areas. The Government are pressing for equal transitional periods of six years for ex-Objective 2 and 5b areas as for Objective 1. The transitional arrangements for regions losing Objective 5b status will not be known until the new Structural Funds regulations are agreed.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his Department's responsibilities and policies in relation to genetically-modified crops and the departments with which he liaises on this issue. [67665]

  Mr. Battle
  DTI has no direct responsibility for policy relating to genetically modified crops.

  The Government's over-riding priority is protection of human health and the environment. They also seek to promote conditions which ensure that the UK derives the maximum quality of life and economic benefits from biotechnology. The DTI has responsibility for policy on science and technology. DTI also has responsibility for those industry sectors sponsored by the Department whose competitiveness may be enhanced through biotechnology. In addition, DTI has the lead role in Government on trade issues.

  Policy on biotechnology, including genetically modified crops, is co-ordinated by the Ministerial Group on Biotechnology, as announced by the Prime Minister on 21 October 1998, Official Report, columns 1134–35, which is chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office. In addition, officials across Government are in regular contact on biotechnology issues.

  Electricity Supply Market
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what measures the Government are taking to ensure that the new entrants to the electricity supply market will promote energy efficiency in the domestic sector; [67963]

  (2) what measures the Government are taking to ensure that the liberalised energy market delivers higher energy efficiency in the domestic sector. [67964]

  Mr. Battle
  In the response to consultation on the Green Paper "A Fair Deal for Consumers, Modernising the Framework for Utility Regulation", the Government made it clear that Ministers would issue Statutory Guidance on the social and environmental objectives relevant to regulation for each utility sector. Regulators will be placed under a duty to have regard to such guidance in the exercise of their statutory functions. In addition, the Government are exploring, with the energy industry and others, the possibility of using a new standards of performance scheme to promote energy efficiency, and the options for how standards could work in the context of the liberalised energy markets.

  Nuclear Fuel
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with ministers of the German Government concerning the termination of contracts with BNFL for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement. [67706]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 27 January 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 21 January 1999, Official Report, column 547.

  Fleetwood Power Ltd.
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Fleetwood Power Ltd's application to build a new gas-fired power station. [68572]

  Mr. Byers
  I have decided, after careful consideration of all the relevant factors, that Fleetwood Power's application for a 1,000 MW combined cycle gas turbine power station at Fleetwood should not be granted. The application will be put on hold unless an interested party satisfies me that it should be determined at this stage.

  I have taken this decision in accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper entitled "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee" (Cm 4071).

  The White Paper stated the Government's commitment to electricity market reforms, including reform of the electricity trading arrangements and that until such reforms were substantially completed there would be a stricter power station consents policy with a presumption against the building of new gas-fired generating capacity.

  Decisions on other applications under consideration will be announced in due course.

  Copies of the Press Notice and the decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Electricity Security (Report)
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations on electricity system security and stability made by the consultants Merz and McLellan in the White Paper, "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government Response to the Fourth and Fifth reports of the Trade and Industry Committee", published in October 1998. [68539]

  Mr. Battle
  In the White Paper, the Government proposed a two-tier approach: an open consultancy group open to all interested parties, and a smaller steering group which would carry out most of the detailed work allocation and progress chasing. The steering group met on 21 December 1998, to discuss its terms of reference, which are set out, and to consider the way forward. The meeting was chaired by my Department: the members of the Steering Group are also listed.

  Terms of reference of Steering Group on Electricity Security and Stability Issues:
  "To monitor the carrying out of the Merz and McLellan recommendations in relation to the security and stability of the England and Wales Electricity Grid as published in the White Paper "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation".
  To report from time to time to an open consultancy group on progress with dealing with these issues.
  To report from time to time to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on progress".

  Members of Steering Group

  Chairman

  Neil Hirst—Deputy Director-General, Energy, DTI

  Members

  Association of Electricity Producers

  Eastern Generation

  Electricity Consumers' Committees Chairmen's Group

  National Grid Company

  NORWEB

  OFFER

  OFGAS

  Scottish Power

  Transco.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the quantities of(a) low, (b) intermediate and (c) high level radioactive waste which will arise from the reprocessing of Swiss irradiated oxide nuclear fuel at Sellafield; what negotiations have been held to date with Swiss authorities concerning the repatriation of the waste; and if Switzerland has indicated whether it would accept its waste to be returned following the application of substitution. [67708]

  Mr. Battle
  BNFL has signed contracts with all four Swiss utilities for the reprocessing of a total of 422 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel. Under the terms of those contracts BNFL has had discussions with each company on the return of wastes, including substitution. I understand that, although Switzerland is still pursuing the development of deep waste disposal facilities, it has almost completed an
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  interim storage facility capable of accepting the wastes returned under the terms of the above mentioned contracts, whether as a result of substitution or not.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the report of the Safeguards Office study of the nuclear materials accountancy aspects of the UKAEA report, Dounreay Shaft Inventory will be made public. [68538]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government have today published in full the Safeguards Office review of the nuclear materials accountancy aspects of UKAEA's Dounreay Shaft Inventory report.

  The main findings of the review are as follows. No evidence was found to support suggestions that have been made following the publication of the UKAEA's Dounreay Shaft Inventory (DSI) report that high enriched uranium has been lost from Dounreay, i.e. that it has been stolen, diverted for military purposes or somehow removed from the site using an unidentified route.

  The false impression given by the DSI report that there had been a loss of 170kg U-235 over the period 1 April 1965 to 30 September 1968 was the result of a misinterpretation of 30-year old UKAEA records, arising from a misunderstanding of the nuclear materials accountancy terminology in use at that time.

  If the nuclear material inventories over this period had been taken according to modern nuclear materials accountancy practices, the material unaccounted for (MUF) would have been significantly less than 86 kg U-235. Even a MUF of 86kg U-235, at less than 1 per cent. of the amount of material processed at Dounreay over the period, would be considered acceptable against present day international standards of nuclear materials accountancy.

  Review of the DSI report by nuclear materials accountancy specialists would have provided explanations for and clarifications of information contained in early UKAEA nuclear materials accountancy reports, and thus could have helped avoid the understandable concerns raised by the report as published.

  Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure in his Department since May 1997 on(a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail. [63917]

  Mr. Byers
  Expenditure from centrally-managed budgets on advertising and direct mail where separately identifiable has been £2.18m and £56k respectively. It is not possible to identify a separate figure for public opinion research.

PRIME MINISTER

  Joint Consultative Committee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what classification is given to the minutes of meetings of the JCC; and if copies are circulated to Liberal Democrat hon. Members of the JCC. [67474]

  The Prime Minister
  Minutes of the JCC are classified according to their content.

  Members of the Committee of course receive the minutes of the meetings of the Committee.

  Loans (Misleading Information)
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Prime Minister what the Government's policy is with regard to employees who are found to have made false or misleading declarations on(a) internal documents and (b) external documents when seeking loans. [67286]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 27 January 1999]: The Theft Acts 1968 and 1978 apply to employees and other persons alike.

  Overseas Holidays (Costs)
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Prime Minister what total costs borne by the public purse have been for security, administration and other costs related to his overseas holidays since 1 May 1997. [67323]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 27 January 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 9 February 1998, Official Report, column 15.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Queen's Counsel (Retirement Age)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will set a retirement age for QCs; and if he will make a statement. [67656]

  Mr. Hoon
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has no jurisdiction regarding the age at which Queen's Counsel retire. He has no plans to make a statement.

  Departmental Papers (Access for Visually Impaired)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for departmental(a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67842]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has no plans to make White or Green Papers available on floppy disks but all Departmental White and Green Papers are published on the LCD Internet website which allows the visually impaired to increase text size.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Caesarean Births
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in Northern Ireland. [67704]

  Mr. McFall
  The percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section in each Health and Social Services Board area in the years 1992 to 1997 are as follows:

  Health Board

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Eastern

  12.0

  10.2

  14.8

  17.8

  18.5

  20.9

  Northern

  11.6

  12.9

  14.8

  17.2

  16.7

  19.6

  Southern

  12.9

  15.5

  15.0

  16.6

  17.4

  19.2

  Western

  13.0

  12.4

  13.2

  13.3

  14.1

  15.9

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners (Stoke-on-Trent)
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of(a) pensioners, (b) single pensioners and (c) pensioners in couples in Stoke-on-Trent; and what estimate he has made of the number of (i) single pensioners and (ii) pensioners in couples in Stoke-on-Trent who will qualify for the minimum pension guarantee. [67101]

  Mr. Timms
  Figures for the number of pensioners are not available at Local Authority level.

  As at May 1998 (the latest figure) there were 9,100 pensioner benefit units in receipt of Income Support in Stoke-on-Trent of which 7,800 were single pensioners and 1,300 were couples.

  Estimates suggest that approximately 1.5 million pensioners nationally will receive payments from the Minimum Income Guarantee when it is introduced in April 1999. Some 65,000 people not already entitled to Income Support are expected to qualify for the Minimum Income Guarantee. The figures are not available by Local Authority area.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the target times are for the CSA to deal with applications for compensation; and what are the actual times; [67228]

  (2) how many applications for compensation, received by the Child Support Agency before 1 May 1998, are still awaiting determination; [67131]

  (3) what is the average time taken for the CSA to determine applications for compensation; [67227]

  (4) how many applications for compensation received by the Child Support Agency in the last two years have been determined within 30 days. [67132]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.
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  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 27 January 1999:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about applications to the Child Support Agency for compensation, normally referred to as special payments.
  I am not able to provide all of the information in the precise format that you have requested, but have provided as much as is available.
  A special payment is considered where a clear and unambiguous error by the Agency has resulted in an actual financial loss to the client which is not recoverable through other means. Each case is carefully considered on its individual merits and depending on the complexity of the case, the length of time required to reach a decision can vary considerably.
  We have a discrete unit to deal with applications for special payments. This ensures that each case receives individual attention and helps achieve fairness and an appropriate standard of consistency in an essentially discretionary scheme.
  The difficulties that we faced as an Agency during our first two years of operations are well documented. We built up a substantial backlog of cases awaiting maintenance assessment, and the accuracy of the assessments we completed was not up to the standard we would hope to achieve. Tackling the backlog of cases awaiting a maintenance assessment and bringing cases up to date has been a major priority for us this year, and the result of this has been an increase in the number of applications for special payments. We recognise that the length of time taken to deal with special payments in some instances has been protracted and we have taken steps to address this over the last twelve months.
  In December 1997 we reorganised the way we handle special payments and streamlined procedures with the aim of resolving special payments more speedily. We set an internal target to clear applications to special payments within 30 working days of receipt. Prior to establishing the new unit, applications were taking in excess of 90 working days to be dealt with. However as we began to clear our backlog of cases the number of applications for special payments rose significantly. From January 1997 to November 1997 we received 2,253 applications and from December 1997 to December 1998 we received 8,080 applications. Initially we were not able to meet the target we had set ourselves of clearance within 30 working days. Between April 1998 and June 1998 the average clearance time was 51 working days. More recently we have improved on our performance and the average clearance time for new applications between October 1998 and December 1998 was 8 working days.
  The number of applications which we received before 1st May 1998 and which are at various stages of action is 410. We expect to have cleared these applications by the end of 1998/99.
  We acknowledge that in the past our basic levels of customer service have been unacceptable and we are sorry that our failings may on occasion have caused inconvenience, frustration, distress and financial hardship.
  We are very conscious of the importance of applications for compensation but the number of applications is small compared with our overall caseload of over 827,000 live and assessed cases. It has risen as a result of the increases in the Agency's current workloads and of our recent actions to clear the backlog of maintenance applications which had accumulated in the Agency during its first 2–3 years. In 1997/98 the Agency cleared 595,000 maintenance applications compared with 357,000 in 1996/97 and reduced the number of maintenance applications over 52 weeks old from 225,000 to 110,000. We recognise that by improving our underlying service and efficiency we can avoid the need for such applications. We expect to clear the rest of the backlog of maintenance applications over 52 weeks old by the end of 1998/99.
  To improve our customer service in other areas we have reviewed the way that we handle complaints and we have increased resources for our Client Helplines and the National Enquiry Line. Also we have extended our hours of opening to cover 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays and carried out trials to greatly improve and increase clients' opportunities to

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  secure a face to face service. Through these measures our aim is to deal with clients' problems at an early stage and prevent problems escalating.
  We recognise and have started to address the problems we have in delivering an acceptable level of customer service. Where we discover we have made mistakes or caused delay we will apologise to our clients and do everything we can to put things right as quickly as possible. I recognise that we have a long way to go to remedy our problems fully, but I am confident that our clients will continue to see improvements in the service they receive by the end of 1998/99 and beyond.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Noise-induced Hearing Loss
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many letters he has received since May 1997 from(a) hon. Members and (b) others on the war disablement pension paid to ex-service men and women suffering from noise induced hearing loss. [67564]

  Mr. Bayley
  Records have been kept since 9 October 1998. Since then 74 letters from hon. Members and 6 letters from other sources have been received.

  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of abolishing the 20 per cent. threshold for war disablement pensions and gratuities paid to ex-service men and women suffering from noise-induced hearing loss. [67567]

  Mr. Bayley
  The cost would be approximately £250 million.

  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many ex-service men and women suffering from noise-induced hearing loss have been refused a war disablement pension or gratuity due to their level of disablement being assessed to be below the 20 per cent. threshold in each of the last 10 years. [67478]

  Mr. Bayley
  A War Disablement Pension may be awarded for disablement due to service assessed at 20 per cent. or more. In general a gratuity may be awarded for disablement assessed at less than 20 per cent. However, since 1993, no award has been payable in respect of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss due to service assessed at less than 20 per cent. This change aligned the War Disablement Pension scheme rules with those under the Industrial Injuries scheme for occupational deafness.

  The number of first claims for noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss, since 1993, with assessments of less than 20 per cent. and where, therefore, no gratuity was payable

  Year

  Number

  1993–94

  39,471

  1994–95

  17,109

  1995–96

  4,341

  1996–97

  3,727

  1997–98

  3,398

  1998–99

  11,369

  1 Up to 31 December 1998

  Source:

  War Pensions Agency

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons funding has not been made available to allow further research into noise-induced hearing loss in respect of war pension claimants; and if he will make a statement. [67361]
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  Mr. Bayley
  There is a long standing and proven mechanism in place under the War Pension Scheme to monitor any published scientific evidence which might affect entitlement to a War Pension. The Department does not, therefore, normally fund medical research in this area.

  For noise induced sensorineural hearing loss this process was validated by the expert review of the evidence in 1998, which came to the same conclusions as previously reached by the war pensions medical adviser.

  NIRS2 Computer System
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people received overpayments as a result of the loss of contribution records following the shut down of the NIRS2 computer system; what is the total cost of these overpayments; and what action he proposes in respect of recouping these overpayments; [67638]

  (2) how many people whose national insurance contribution records were lost as a result of the shut down of the NIRS2 computer system, have not yet received those payments due to them which are reliant on contribution records; and what is the total amount in payments which is outstanding. [67637]

  Mr. Timms
  During the NIRS2 Migration period, the period from 19 June 1998 to 13 July 1998 during which the transfer of information from NIRS1 to NIRS2 was completed, no contribution records were lost and therefore no payments are due or outstanding as a consequence.

  It is too early to give an indication of the number of individuals who have been overpaid benefit as a result of the problems with the introduction of NIRS2. However, all claims on which interim or emergency payments have been made will be subject to review once NIRS2 is fully operational which is expected to be April 1999. All overpayments will be considered on their own merits according to the Department's standard procedures.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date the NIRS2 computer will be fully operational; by what date all contribution records will be restored; and by what date payments reliant on contribution records will be brought up to date. [67639]

  Mr. Timms
  The contractor has advised that the NIRS2 system is expected to be fully operational by April 1999. No contribution records have been lost and as a consequence there is no requirement to restore contribution records.

  Those Age Related Rebate payments that are dependent upon information held on contribution records are expected to be brought up to date by April 1999.

  Contributory Benefits that are paid as a result of information held on National Insurance accounts are expected to be reviewed within a six month period once all the necessary 1997–98 information is held on NIRS2. The Benefits Agency expects to commence work on these reviews in April 1999.

  Benefit Integrity Project
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Benefit Integrity Project will cease operation; and if he will make a statement. [68603]
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  Mr. Darling
  The Benefit Integrity Project will end on 31 March 1999, to be replaced by a new and fairer system. No new cases will be selected for the project after this date. Cases where action has already started will continue to be processed through the remaining stages of adjudication, including review and appeal, in the normal way.

  We are determined to ensure that people are receiving the correct amount of benefit. However, there is currently no automatic review mechanism within Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Therefore, from April a new system of periodic review will be introduced. It will incorporate the lessons already learned and will be continually evaluated and refined as it develops. Staff involved in the new processes will receive full training before commencing this new work.

  Initially, the new system will exclude DLA recipients whose cases were examined by the Benefit Integrity Project. People with a fixed period award due to end within the next three years will also be excluded. The review process will involve gathering information by postal inquiry and home visits; these methods of approach will be applied across a range of people on all rates and components of DLA contacted to help identify the best means of approach in individual cases. The process will be evaluated after six months of operation and the findings used to continue to improve the process to make it more sensitive to the circumstances of the individual contacted. In addition, we will be testing new ways of gathering evidence in connection with DLA claims. This, plus information from the new review activity, will be used to help shape an active modern service for the future.

  We are already talking to disability groups about ways to ensure the new system is sensitive to people's circumstances, and that it is both fair and effective.

  Widows' Pensions
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether those widows now over the age of 45 who were widowed before the age of 45 will continue to receive the widow's pension at age 60 following the implementation of his reform proposals; and what will be the basis of the calculation of their pension entitlement. [67674]

  Angela Eagle
  The proposals set out in the consultation document, "Support in Bereavement", would have no effect on current widows.

  A woman who was widowed before age 45 and who is receiving a Widow's Pension on reaching age 60, either because she qualified for a Widow's Pension when her Widowed Mother's Allowance ceased or because she was widowed before April 1988, will be able to continue to receive it up to age 65. Alternatively, she can claim Retirement Pension, in which case her Widow's Pension will be carried forward and paid as Category B pension. It may be paid in combination with any Category A pension to which she is entitled on her own contribution record. But in these cases, the basic pension cannot be more than the full rate for a single person and the SERPS cannot be more than the maximum payable to a single person reaching pension age.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Servants' Travel
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what were the flight number, date, time and place of departure and destination, class travelled, cost and purpose of each flight by senior civil servants in the course of their duties, including attendance at foreign conferences, symposiums and other meetings, between 1 May 1998 and the present; and what were the total costs of the flights of each of the 10 senior civil servants whose flights cost the most between 1 May 1998 and the present. [67263]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  This information is not held centrally for all Departments and could be obtained to only disproportionate cost.

  Buying Agency
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what targets he has set for the Buying Agency for 1999. [68541]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I have set the Agency the following targets for 1999.Financial: To generate a return on capital employed of 8 per cent. (excluding costs of restructuring).
  Productivity: To reduce the cost per pound of savings by 2.5 per cent. on 1998 outturn.
  Customer Satisfaction: To raise customer satisfaction by 5 percentage points over the year.

  People's Panel
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he intends to publish results from the second wave of research using the People's Panel; and if he will make a statement. [68540]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Government are to publish a White Paper at Easter setting out their vision for public services into the next millennium. The People's Panel has an important part to play in this initiative. By listening to, and learning from, people's views, the Government will be better able to provide the services that people want.

  The second wave of results from the People's Panel covers pubic attitudes to a wide range of public services, with a particular focus on transport, local democracy and complaints handling. I will, tomorrow, place in the Library of the House a copy of the results from this second wave of research.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Local Radio
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to announce the results of his consultation on the restrictions on participation in companies holding local radio multiplex licences; and if he will make a statement. [68537]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government consulted on proposed changes to the restrictions on shareholdings in companies which hold local multiplex licences last
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  November. Having reviewed the responses, we accept that there is a clear case for changing the limits at paragraph 11(4) of part III of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as amended).

  Although we still need restrictions in the interests of plurality of ownership, and the diversity of content which such plurality can bring, we accept that larger radio groups must be allowed more freedom to invest across the country if digital is to be a success. We must also ensure that local companies have the opportunity to invest in companies or consortia holding local multiplex licences.

  The Government therefore intend to lay an order under paragraph 11(5) of part III of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act (as amended) before Easter. This will allow investors to hold unlimited shareholdings in up to five companies or consortia holding digital licences. In addition we intend to increase the percentage limit on holdings over and above that limit from 10 per cent. to 20 per cent.

  We believe that these changes will address the needs of all parts of the radio industry—both larger radio groups and those companies wishing to make small but meaningful investments in a wide range of digital licences. We will look very closely at the effects of the revised restrictions as more multiplex licences are advertised by the Radio Authority.

  Listed Buildings (Ecclesiastical Exemption)
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the ecclesiastical exemption from listed building and conservation area controls. [68601]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My Department and that of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have now completed a programme of discussions with denominations and other organisations to consider the recommendations in Mr. John Newman's review of the exemption. I am today placing in the Libraries of the House a document which gives details of the changes in denominations' procedures agreed in the course of the discussions. Copies will be circulated to interested bodies.

  Against this background my right hon. Friend and I are satisfied that the six denominations which currently enjoy the ecclesiastical exemption should retain it for the time being. This includes the Baptist Union, which Mr. Newman recommended should be the subject of a further review after a year and whose internal procedures have therefore been re-examined by the two Departments. We would envisage a further review of the exemption regime as a whole during the life of this Parliament. Meanwhile we look to the denominations to keep up the momentum of change as required and expect to see substantive progress in all areas where the need for further work has been identified.

  We have also reviewed the position regarding the various categories of building (such as those within Church of England peculiars) which at the time of the 1994 reform were outside the scope of the relevant denomination's own procedures and which retained exemption on an interim basis pending satisfactory long-term arrangements. Action is in hand within the
  324
  denominations to establish such arrangements and the Government want to see these brought fully into effect as a matter of urgency. The Government aim shortly to consult on a draft amendment to the Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Order 1994, the effect of which will be to remove the exemption from any ecclesiastical building not fully covered by an appropriate control procedure and place it under normal secular controls.

  The booklet "The Ecclesiastical Exemption—What it is and how it works" will be revised to take account of these developments and reissued during 1999.

HEALTH

  Weighted Capitation Formula
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each health authority the average wage according to the market forces staff factor of the weighted capitation formula. [66095]

  Mr. Denham
  The table gives average wages for health authorities compiled from the source data used to calculate the staff market forces factor.

  In calculating the staff market forces factor, the data are adjusted in two ways. First, to isolate the effect of geographical location from other factors, for example gender and occupation; and secondly, to reflect the location of the National Health Service trusts from which the health authorities commission their services.

  There is to be a wide ranging review of the formula used to make cash allocations to health authorities and primary care groups.

  £

  Health authority

  Average wage over three years, 1995–97

  East London and the City

  501.61

  Camden and Islington

  482.56

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  478.61

  Bedfordshire

  464.66

  Hillingdon

  461.94

  Brent and Harrow

  438.73

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  429.58

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  427.70

  Berkshire

  419.20

  Kingston and Richmond

  414.94

  East Surrey

  409.65

  West Surrey

  409.65

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  386.31

  Buckinghamshire

  384.60

  East and North Hertfordshire

  379.81

  West Hertfordshire

  379.81

  Croydon

  365.90

  West Sussex

  362.08

  Bexley and Greenwich

  360.84

  Barking and Havering

  358.55

  Enfield and Haringey

  356.07

  Wiltshire

  351.05

  North Cheshire

  350.53

  South Cheshire

  350.53

  Stockport

  350.53

  North and Mid Hampshire

  347.66

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  347.66

  325

  £

  Health authority

  Average wage over three years, 1995–97

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  347.66

  North Essex

  346.19

  South Essex

  346.19

  Oxfordshire

  346.03

  Gloucestershire

  346.03

  Avon

  345.87

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  345.53

  Barnet

  342.43

  Bromley

  335.10

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  331.72

  Birmingham

  328.68

  Dudley

  328.68

  Sandwell

  328.68

  Solihull

  328.68

  Walsall

  328.68

  Wolverhampton

  328.68

  Northamptonshire

  327.09

  East Kent

  326.59

  West Kent

  326.59

  Coventry

  326.43

  Warwickshire

  326.43

  Tees

  324.84

  Manchester

  323.67

  Salford and Trafford

  323.67

  West Pennine

  323.67

  Liverpool

  320.66

  Sefton

  320.66

  St. Helen's and Knowsley

  320.66

  Wirral

  320.66

  Dorset

  317.94

  North Derbyshire

  317.08

  South Derbyshire

  317.08

  Leicestershire

  314.54

  Bradford

  312.95

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  312.95

  Leeds

  312.95

  Wakefield

  312.95

  East Riding

  309.49

  South Humber

  309.49

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  306.20

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  306.20

  Sunderland

  306.20

  Bury and Rochdale

  305.37

  East Lancashire

  305.37

  North West Lancashire

  305.37

  South Lancashire

  305.37

  Wigan and Bolton

  305.37

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  304.99

  Suffolk

  304.31

  North Nottinghamshire

  303.21

  Nottingham

  303.21

  Somerset

  302.94

  North Yorkshire

  298.71

  North Cumbria

  298.54

  Morecambe Bay

  298.54

  North Staffordshire

  297.84

  South Staffordshire

  297.84

  East Norfolk

  297.35

  North West Anglia

  297.35

  Lincolnshire

  297.26

  Barnsley

  295.99

  Doncaster

  295.99

  Rotherham

  295.99

  Sheffield

  295.99

  Herefordshire

  295.69

  Worcestershire

  295.69

  County Durham

  294.87

  Shropshire

  289.21

  Northumberland

  282.57

  North and East Devon

  282.30

  326

  £

  Health authority

  Average wage over three years, 1995–97

  South and West Devon

  282.30

  Isle of Wight

  281.71

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  260.86

  Notes:

  1. The figures are derived from the New Earnings Survey Panel Data Set supplied by the Office for National Statistics, rearranged by health authority area. They represent gross weekly earnings of full-time employees aged 16 to 70 in the private sector whose pay was not affected by absence.

  2. The three year average is used to be consistent with the convention used when calculating the staff market forces factor.

  Departmental Papers (Access for Visually Impaired)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for departmental(a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67840]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 27 January 1999,Official Report, column 296.

  As the Department responsible for health issues, we aim to make our documents available to the widest possible audiences. The Green Paper, "Our Healthier Nation", included versions in Braille, audio tape and large print and the Social Services White Paper versions in Braille and audio tape.

  Texts of Green and White Papers are also available on The Stationery Office website, which many people with less severe visual impairments find very convenient, since they can adjust their own browser software to as large a type as they require.

  It has not been our usual practice to offer texts on floppy disks because there has not been significant demand. Availability of texts via the internet may now be satisfying that demand but, if we receive an ad-hoc request for a text on disk, we are happy to produce and supply it.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to review the list of exemptions from prescription charges; [66066]

  (2) what plans he has to review the operation of exemptions from prescription charges; and if he will make a statement. [66067]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 26 January 1999]: The current prescription charge exemption arrangements were reviewed as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. Following the Review, all current prescription charge exemptions will be protected for the rest of the Parliament and existing patient charges will rise by no more than the rate of inflation over the next three years.

  Caesarean Births
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in England. [67673]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information about emergency and total caesarean deliveries by hospital/trust for 1989–90 to 1994–95 is contained in table 31 of the Statistical bulletin "NHS Maternity Statistics 1989–90 to 1994–95". Copies of the bulletin are available in the Library. It is planned to publish a further bulletin with more up to date information in spring 1999. Information about live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  NHS Budget
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the total NHS budget(a) in 1996–97 and (b) 2000–01, in 1998–99 prices. [66525]

  Mr. Denham
  The total National Health Service budget in 1998–99 prices for the years 1996–97 and 2000–01 is contained in the table.

  £ million

  Year

  Adjusted to 1998–99 prices

  1996–97

  34,749

  2000–01

  40,375

  Royal Hospital, Haslar
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between the Ministry of Defence and the NHS on the planned closure of the Royal Hospital, Haslar; and what plans he has to ensure the maintenance of hospital provision on the Gosport Peninsular. [68073]

  Mr. Denham
  Following the Strategic Defence Review, the Ministry of Defence decided to close Royal Hospital, Haslar. The local health authority will now be exploring with Royal Hospital, Haslar and colleagues in the Defence Secondary Care Agency the options for the provision of the most effective healthcare for the local population. In the meantime the Ministry of Defence has made a commitment to maintain the service currently provided by Royal Hospital, Haslar until 2002 at the earliest.

  Correspondence
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Solihull to ministers in his Department dated 19 November and 16 September 1998. [67975]

  Ms Jowell
  My noble Friend, the Baroness Hayman, replied to the hon. Member on 26 January 1999.

DEFENCE

  Defence Military Assistance Fund (Indonesia)
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) of 16 December 1998,Official Report, columns 526–28, if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure under the Defence Military Assistance Fund relating to Indonesia in each of the last three years, indicating separately the amounts used to support defence sales. [66623]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The total committed expenditure for Indonesia under the Defence Military Assistance Fund, DMAF, for the last two years, and the cost of assistance waived under its predecessors, the Defence Policy Fund and the Defence Sales Fund, is as follows:

  1995–1996
  £691,880 total, of which £583,000 was committed to support of defence exports

  1996–1997
  £1,675,280, of which £1,629,080 was committed to support of defence exports

  1997–1998
  £62,400, of which £19,700 was committed to support of defence exports.

  Portsmouth Dockyard (Service Personnel)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel, and at what ranks, are currently attached to(a) HMS Ark Royal and (b) HMS Intrepid in Portsmouth Dockyard; and at what annual cost per ship. [67248]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 27 January 1999,Official Report, columns 265–66.

  Chapelcross and Calder Hall Nuclear Reactors
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his forecast for the longevity of the tritium production facility at Chapelcross; [67210]

  (2) what discussions his Department has had with BNFL about extending the life of the Chapelcross and Calder Hall reactors; and if he will make a statement. [67209]

  Mr. Spellar
  The productive life of Chapelcross is a matter for BNFL, subject to its meeting the relevant regulatory requirements of the independent regulator, the Health and Safety Executive HSE. I understand, however, that in 1996 the HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate agreed that the reactors could continue to operate for another ten years from 1998, up to a potential age of 50. This agreement was subject to satisfactory results from the normal programme of inspections and some work being undertaken to plant and procedures which was already planned and being implemented.

  The Ministry of Defence is currently in the very early stages of discussions with BNFL about the prospects for a further extension of the life of Chapelcross beyond the period quoted.
  329
  The Ministry of Defence has had no links with Calder Hall since it was put under IAEA Safeguards in August 1996.

  CS Gas
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report arising out of the review into CS gas holdings. [67649]

  Mr. Spellar
  The review includes a substantial amount of material the disclosure of which would be harmful to defence, national security or international relations. I am, therefore, withholding the review material in accordance with the terms of Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  CR Gas
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1998,Official Report, column 657, regarding CR gas, if he will list the (a) dates and (b) circumstances of each occasion on which the possible use of CR gas by the armed forces was authorised following a request for assistance for law enforcement purposes from the civil power. [67629]

  Mr. Spellar
  The use of CR gas has been authorised on two instances in the past two years where the Armed Forces have responded to a request for assistance for law enforcement purposes from the civil power. I am withholding the details of the circumstances in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  CDB Technical Notes (Unclassified Reports)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of the unclassified reports in the CDB Technical Notes series. [67600]

  Mr. Spellar
  I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the CDB Technical Notes series which was started in April 1995 when the then Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment became part of DERA. Since that date 13 unclassified technical reports have been produced.

  I have made arrangements for a list of the titles to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Air Strikes (Iraq)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if depleted uranium shells were used in the air strikes by Britain and the USA on Iraq in December. [67453]

  Mr. George Robertson
  No depleted uranium based ammunition was used by US or UK forces during Operation Desert Fox.

  Departmental Papers (Access for Visually Impaired)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for departmental(a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67837]
  330
  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office, yesterday, 27 January 1999,Official Report, column 296.

  In my Department we currently aim to meet requests on demand for the production of departmental documents in alternative formats such as floppy disk for the benefit of those with a visual impairment whenever it is reasonable to do so.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the operating costs for 101 Battalion REME based at Queensferry for the next five years. [68153]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 17 December 1998,Official Report, column 656.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the interval of time between the decision to move 101 Battalion REME from Chorley Barracks to Queensferry and the announcement of the future structure of the Territorial Army on 17 November 1998. [68112]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 26 January 1999,Official Report, column 164.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1998,Official Report, column 450, what definition of South Lancashire his Department uses. [68159]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  For the purpose of the question to which my hon. Friend refers, the definition used was the area of the county covered by the Lancashire South European Constituency.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the cost of the transfer of computer equipment from Chorley to Queensferry 101 Battalion Headquarters. [68155]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  No such details are available at this time.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the additional travelling costs that will be incurred by detachments travelling to Queensferry instead of Chorley when the 101 Battalion is transferred. [68156]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We anticipate that any increase in travelling costs incurred by units in Manchester and Grangemouth travelling to Queensferry, will be offset by reductions in such cost incurred by units travelling from Prestatyn and Coventry.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Cadet Force in Chorley. [68158]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My Department is still assessing the options for the Cadet Force in Chorley. I can confirm that any Cadets, whose current accommodation is affected by the restructuring of the Territorial Army, will not be obliged to move until suitable alternative accommodation has been provided.
  331
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Territorial Army centres which he had planned to close or transfer as part of the Strategic Defence Review but which will now remain open; and if he will make a statement. [68072]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Of the Territorial Army Centres that we announced on 17 November 1998 were to close or transfer as part of the Strategic Defence Review none are now to remain open.

  101 Battalion REME (Chorley)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1998,Official Report, column 656, on REME (Chorley), if he will set out the basis of his estimate of 25 per cent. saving in operating the 101 Battalion REME out of Queensferry instead of Chorley. [68154]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The assessment has been made on the basis of a comparison of the estimated running and maintenance costs of the two sites.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times Exemption 2 in the Code of Practice on access to Government information was used by his Department in replying to parliamentary questions to justify withholding information in the last 12 months. [681601

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Of 2,731 questions answered by all Ministers in this Department in the year ending 22 January 1999, some or all of the information requested was withheld under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Internal discussions and advice) on 13 occasions.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Road Safety (Mobile Telephones)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of accidents caused by drivers being distracted by mobile telephones in each of the last five years. [65487]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Information on the number of accidents caused by drivers or other road users being distracted by mobile phones is not collected because of the difficulty of establishing exactly when a road traffic accident took place and whether a mobile phone was in use at the time. However, my Department is aware of a number of media reports over the last few years of road fatalities where the use of a mobile phone was alleged to be a factor.

  We continue to warn of the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving. The Transport Research Laboratory report "The use of mobile phones while Driving: a review" shows that hand held mobile phones are inappropriate for use while driving and even hands-free mobile phones cause distraction from the driving task.

  Local Deprivation Indicators
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which measures of local deprivation his Department and its agencies use in considering allocation of funds to local projects. [66717]

  Mr. Meale
  My Department allocates funds for a range of local projects, but usually through third parties such as local authorities. In making allocations to local level we use local deprivation indices appropriate to the expenditure concerned. The main ones are:Housing—the annual allocation of housing capital resources to local authorities (apart from private sector renewal and disabled facilities grants) and registered social landlords uses Needs Indices which involve an element of targeting to areas of high deprivation as measured by the Index of Local Conditions.
  Regeneration—the 1998 Index of Local Deprivation is used to target regeneration funds on the most deprived areas in England.
  Rural Regeneration—funding provided through the rural regeneration programmes currently operated by the Rural Development Commission is targeted on the priority Rural Development Areas. These areas were designated in 1994 using a specific set of indicators to identify the key economic and social problems facing rural communities in England.
  Local Government—the allocation of revenue support grants to local authorities is governed by formulae which include a number of measures of social and economic deprivation. The details are set out in The Local Government Finance Reports for each year, as approved by the House.
  European Structural Funds—the Department manages the English Objective 1,2 and 5b Structural Funds Programmes. The programme areas eligible to receive Structural Funds are determined by socio-economic factors which include measures of deprivation. However, measures of local deprivation are not used by this Department when considering the allocation of funds to specific local projects within Objective 1, 2 and 5b areas.

  Lorries (Illegal Operation)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to paragraph 1.43 of the White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport", what additional measures he proposes for the impounding of illegally operating lorries. [67615]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 25 January 19991: We remain committed to introducing a scheme for the impounding of illegally operated heavy goods vehicles. The consultation exercise carried out last year showed that there was overwhelming support for such a scheme. We believe that detaining illegally operated heavy goods vehicles would provide an effective sanction against unlicensed operators by preventing them from continuing to operate and by acting as a deterrent to discourage other hauliers from ignoring the laws on operator licensing.

  Pesticides Tax (Hazard Scoring)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress on hazard scoring with regard to the taxing of pesticides. [67715]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government have been exploring the possibility of introducing a pesticide tax as a component of its pesticide minimisation policy. As part of this work, consideration has been given to the relative environmental hazard of the active ingredients contained in different pesticides.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many man hours are spent by officials at the Health and Safety Executive on monitoring and enforcing the regulations and guidelines covering genetically modified organisms; what estimate he has made of the expected growth in this amount of working time should the United Kingdom allow the expansion to commercial growing; and what is his estimate of the costs involved. [67753]

  Mr. Meale
  The regulations and guidelines in Great Britain covering genetically modified organisms can be divided into those covering deliberate releases (typically the controlled growing of crops on designated sites) and those covering contained use (typically developmental work involving organisms, animals and plants in laboratories or glass houses).

  The Health and Safety Executive inspects and enforces the regulations covering the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms under an agency agreement with the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR). In the current working year, 888 hours (120 days or 0.57 person/years) are allocated for inspection and enforcement.

  For contained use, in the current year, 1,665 hours (225 days or 1.07 person/years) are allocated for inspection and enforcement. Contained use work will not be affected by any expansion in commercial growing.

  If the UK proceeds to commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops, the resources will be increased proportionally to take into account any additional inspection and enforcement duties.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list his Department's responsibilities and policies in relation to genetically-modified crops and the departments with which he liaises on this issue. [67664]

  Mr. Meale
  DETR has responsibility in England for all issues concerned with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which may affect the environment and is responsible for reviewing all environmental risk assessments in respect of GM crops.

  DETR has lead responsibility for the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992, as amended, which in conjunction with Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the European Communities Act 1972, give effect to Council Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically Modified Organisms, as amended by Commission Directive 97/35/EC.

  DETR is lead competent authority for the purposes of EC Directive 90/220/EEC and in the wider international field has lead responsibility for taking forward the UK line in the negotiation of a Biosafety Protocol under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

  The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) specialist inspectors enforce those sections of Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and associated Regulations, which concern deliberate release of GMOs
  334
  into the environment. The enforcement is undertaken on behalf of the Secretary of State and is under the terms of an Agency Agreement.

  The human safety aspects of the contained use of genetically modified crops are covered by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended. HSE is responsible for and enforces those Regulations. Environmental aspects are covered by Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and associated Regulations—the Genetically Modified Organisms (Risk Assessment) (Records and Exemptions) Regulations 1996, as amended in 1997—for which DETR is responsible. HSE specialist inspectors enforce that legislation on behalf of DETR under an Agency Agreement.

  Arrangements between Departments on the control and regulation of the contained use and deliberate release of GMOs is covered by a Memorandum of Understanding between DETR, HSE, MAFF, Scottish Office and Welsh Office and by an agreement between DETR and DOE(NI). Policy on biotechnology, including genetically modified crops, is co-ordinated by the Ministerial Group on Biotechnology, as announced by the Prime Minister on 21 October 1998, Official Report, columns 1134–35, which is chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office. In addition, officials across Government are in regular contact on biotechnology issues.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the terms of reference of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment were last reviewed. [68061]

  Mr. Meale
  The terms of reference of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) have not changed since the committee was established in 1993. The remit of the committee was last reviewed and changed in October 1998 when the Secretary of State asked ACRE in future to advise not only on the direct and indirect effects of genetically modified organisms in the environment but on the possible changes in agronomic practice and subsequent effects on biodiversity.

  Road Accidents (Motorway Tuition)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the number of accidents and injuries of making compulsory some form of motorway tuition; and if he will make a statement. [67736]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Since it would not be practicable to make motorway tuition compulsory because many learner drivers are not within reasonable distance of a motorway, we have made no detailed assessment of the likely impact. However, Transport Research Laboratory research1 based on a large sample of drivers who passed their test in 1988 and 1989 estimates that the accident rate for male drivers in their first three years of driving is about four accidents per million miles on motorways compared to over 18 on major roads away from town centres and over 24 on quiet country or rural roads.

  Changes to the practical driving test have been announced which will take effect in the Spring. The test will be longer to allow candidates to be assessed in situations more representative of modern driving

  335
  conditions, including higher-speed roads. That will mean that their training will have to equip them to meet those conditions.

  Source:
  1 TRL Project Report 111. Cohort study of learner and novice drivers: Part 3, Accidents, offences and driving experience in the first three years of driving.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the occasions on which he has taken an RAF flight since May 1997; and for what purpose; [67413]

  (2) if he will list the occasions on which he has used a helicopter at public expense since May 1997; and for what purpose. [67415]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 25 January 1999]: I refer to the answers given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London, on 19 November 1998, Official Report, columns 838–39, and 27 November 1998, Official Report, column 41. The RAF flights undertaken by me personally were those on 3 May and 23 July 1997 and 22 January, 23 March, 16 and 22 August and 26 September 1998. Of those, the flight on 3 May 1997 was made by helicopter, as were parts of the journeys from Belfast to Omagh and return on 16 and 22 August 1998. In addition I have made helicopter trips on 14 July 1998 to the opening of Capital One Bank in Nottingham, and on 7 October 1998 on a tour of emergency towing vessels as part of the launch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

  Packaging Waste
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the financial cost to the packing industry of complying with EU law relating to recoverable packaging waste. [67682]

  Mr. Meale
  An assessment of the cost implications of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997, which implement the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (94/62/EC) was published when the Regulations came into force in March 1997. This assessment will be updated when measures to amend the Regulations are introduced in due course.

  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of his review of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) regulations 1997. [68346]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have considered the conclusions of the Advisory Committee on Packaging as set out in Sir Peter Parker's letters to me of 24 June and 22 December 1998, together with the other representations that were made to me in the course of the review. Subject to Parliamentary approval and, in the case of certain matters, the conclusion of the period for consulting European Union colleagues, I propose to make a number of changes to the Regulations as follows. As these changes are intended to take effect this year, I will introduce measures as soon as possible.
  336
  (i) The recovery and recycling targets will be increased in 1999 and 2000 as follows:

  Percentage

  1999

  2000

  Recovery

  43

  45

  Material-specific recycling

  10

  13

  Recovery and recycling targets for 2001 will remain unchanged for now, at 52 per cent. recovery and 16 per cent. recycling, in effect, the Directive targets. I will keep these under review in light of further information, including the development of the new Waste Strategy for England and Wales, further work by the Department on packaging data and data returns from businesses and compliance schemes to the Agencies in 1999.

  (ii) The Regulations provide that the financial turnover threshold falls from the present £5 million to £1 million in 2000. However, I have concluded that businesses with a financial turnover of between £1 million and £2 million are unlikely to be handling significant quantities of packaging and so, in 2000, only those businesses who have a financial turnover of more than £2 million will come within the scope of the Regulations.

  (iii) Currently, the Regulations provide for "wholesalers" to take on the selling obligation for the small retailers that they supply. The Advisory Committee noted that removing this obligation would significantly simplify the obligation on wholesaling businesses, who, in any case, have obligations for the activities they perform on packaging. I consider that the removal of the "wholesaler" obligation is likely to be beneficial provided other incentives are in place to promote the collection and recycling of the packaging passing through small shops and I therefore propose to remove the "wholesaler obligation" from the Regulations.

  (iv) I agree with the Advisory Committee that there is considerable potential for increased involvement of consumers in business efforts to increase the amount of packaging waste recovered, to supplement the initiatives of local authorities, voluntary groups and other organisations. I note that some obligated businesses are better placed to ensure that consumers are informed than others, while other businesses have little or no contact with the consumer. It will therefore be a requirement on obligated businesses whose main activity is "selling" to provide information to consumers about the role they can play in increasing recovery and recycling of packaging waste, and in encouraging greater re-use of packaging. A similar requirement will be placed on compliance schemes.

  (v) The packaging Regulations are also intended to reduce the amount of packaging used in order to avoid creating waste as far as possible. I attach great importance to further progress on minimisation and want to see what industry can do on a voluntary basis to develop indicators against which performance can be measured.

  (vi) A rigorous monitoring and enforcement policy on the part of the Agencies is essential if the mandatory Directive targets are to be met in 2001. The Regulations are based on an approach which shares the burden between the different players in the packaging chain and depends on effective "free rider" deterrence. Currently some 8,900 businesses are covered by " registration and this number will rise in 2000 when the turnover threshold test falls. If least-cost compliance is going to be achieved, business needs to be sure that all those who have legal obligations under the Regulations will register and comply with their full obligations. To this end, the Agency fee will rise to £900 with effect from 1999. I welcome the efforts made by the Agencies to strengthen enforcement programmes and I understand that the Agency has started taking proceedings against a number of companies who failed to register in 1998. With effect from this year I will be asking the Agencies to publish their monitoring programmes and report half yearly on number, size and sector of businesses checked for registration, for data provision, and for compliance with the recovery and recycling obligations. I also want to see a report on the allocation of Agency fee income to activities in this area. To

  337
  help the Agencies in their monitoring duties, I intend that compliance schemes will be given a deadline of 15 April for the full provision of data relating to all their members, and 30 June for the provision of updated operational plans. The registration deadline for individual businesses and compliance schemes will be 7 April each year.

  (vii) I am aware of the challenging nature of the data requirement but I note that business is itself keen to have as accurate as possible a base-line figure for the tonnage of packaging in the waste stream against which to plan. My Department's provisional estimate of packaging in the waste stream is approximately 8.5 million tonnes, rising to some 9.7 million tonnes once wood and other packaging materials are included. The more accurate the data provided by obligated parties, the more effective will be the efforts to plan for increasing recovery of packaging waste and meeting targets in 2001. An improved data form is proposed for immediate use, and with a view to easing the data requirement on businesses obligated in 2000 for the first time, the Department has commissioned work to develop "off-the-shelf' data forms for these smaller firms who will have the option of using these forms or collecting and providing data themselves. I am prepared to consider further whether there are alternative ways of collecting data that would meet all Directive requirements and enable business to plan confidently for continued compliance with the Directive targets.

  (viii) I have seen the Advisory Committee's recommendation that business concerns about hardship needed to be addressed and their advice that businesses in some sectors could face significant net costs of compliance, particularly if they are not able to pass costs on; that particular concerns had been demonstrated by the convertor sector: and that some interim changes should be made to the percentage activity obligations. The changes the Committee is recommending are a 2 per cent. reduction in the convertor activity obligation (from 11 per cent. to 9 per cent.); a 1 per cent. increase in the activity obligations of packer/fillers (from 36 per cent. to 37 per cent.) and retailers (from 47 per cent. to 48 per cent.).
  The Committee has also recommended that a cross-sectoral, independent audit of net compliance costs of all sectors should be carried out in 1999. I welcome the Packaging Federation's support for both these proposals. I am inclined to accept the Committee's recommendations on these points but it will first be necessary to consult more widely on the proposed changes and the Department will be setting this in hand as early as possible.

  (ix) I remain concerned that not enough is being done to ensure that sufficient household packaging waste will be available to contribute, as it will have to, to the achievement of the Directive targets in 2001. However, I have noted the advice of the Advisory Committee on this point and the views of the Environment Agency and others. Although separate targets for household waste were proposed in our consultation paper, I do not propose to introduce separate targets for household waste this year. I will be giving further consideration to ways of increasing recovery of packaging waste from the household waste stream.
  I am also proposing to make some "technical" amendments to the Regulations to clarify or simplify existing provisions or deal with unintended omissions. I also intend to provide the option for those businesses investing in identifiable re-use systems to spread the cost of their obligations.
  I will also made a separate statement shortly about the Packaging Waste Recovery Note (PRN) system.

  Lorry and Bus Company Licences
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the offices at which work related to the licensing of lorry and bus companies(a) currently takes place and (b) took place prior to 1996. [67452]
  338
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In respect to Wales prior to April 1996, administrative support for the Traffic Commissioner for South Wales, the licensing authority for operators of buses, coaches and heavy lorries, was provided by staff from the Department of Transport based in Cardiff. The northern counties of Wales are currently the responsibility of the Traffic Commissioner for the North Western Traffic Area, then supported by an office in Manchester. Administrative services are now provided by offices in Birmingham and Leeds respectively. My noble Friend the Minister for Roads and Road Safety has today announced that, subject to Parliamentary approval, a new traffic area for Wales will be established with effect from 1 April 1999. The new traffic area will be administered from Birmingham, although the Traffic Commissioner will continue to hold his public inquiries in Wales as appropriate.

  Road Bridges
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what amount has been spent to date on bridge strengthening to implement EU Directive 85/3/EEC; and how much he estimates will be spent to complete implementation, expressed in each case at November 1987 prices. [67595]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 26 January 1999]: On Highways Agency bridges, the estimated expenditure to 31 March 1999 on the current assessment and strengthening programme is £200m at November 1987 prices. The estimated cost to complete the work is £83m.

  The Directive requires strengthening to take place only on routes of strategic importance for HGVs. We are not able to separate expenditure by local authorities for these purposes from more general expenditure on bridge works.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the total costs to highway authorities as a result of bridge strengthening works undertaken to implement EU Directive 85/3/EEC, excluding moneys provided to highway authorities from central Government under TPP allocations. [67593]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 26 January 1999]: I refer to the previous answer, which provides details of Highways Agency costs to implement bridge strengthening in 1987 prices. We cannot identify local authorities expenditure required for implementation of Directive 85/3/EEC. Not all bridge strengthening work being undertaken by local authorities is a requirement of the Directive.

  The assessment programme has provided for a review of the condition and load bearing capability of all local authority bridges in England. Although a proportion of the works planned by authorities are on routes of the greatest strategic importance for HGVs, other works have been identified which authorities wish to undertake to meet the need of their local communities. Authorities also have discretion within their annual capital settlement to adjust the funding given between that for bridge works and that structural maintenance of principal roads.

  Motorway Network
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of motorway were open at the end of(a) 1979 and
  (b) 1997. [68125]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information that the hon. Gentleman seeks is available only for financial years, not calender years. On 1 April 1979, there were 1,339 miles of motorway open in England, and on 1 April 1997, the corresponding figure was 1,759 miles. The figures include both trunk road motorways and those for which the local highway authority is responsible.

  Radioactive Emissions (OSPAR Meeting)
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the OSPAR meeting on radioactive emissions held in Dublin this month; and if he will place in the Library copies of the United Kingdom and other submissions made to the meeting. [67703]

  Mr. Meale
  The OSPAR technical working group on radioactive substances met in Dublin from 19 to 22 January. It made progress on a range of issues related to radioactive substances in the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic. Copies of UK papers submitted to the meeting have been placed in the Library. It would be for other OSPAR Contracting Parties to make available copies of their papers. A summary record of the meeting will shortly be available from the OSPAR Secretariat, New Court, 48 Carey Street, London WC2A 2JQ.

  Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with ministers of the German Government concerning the termination of contracts with BNFL for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement. [67705]

  Mr. Meale
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment met Jürgen Trittin, the German Environment Minister, on 20 January to discuss the Environmental Council Programme during the German Presidency of the EU. There was no substantive discussion about the termination of reprocessing contracts between German Utilities and BNFL. Such discussions were held earlier that day between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and Herr Trittin. I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 21 January 1999,Official Report, column 547.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to make a response to the Environment Agency's proposed decision on the BNFL Mixed Oxide Fuel Plant. [67707]

  Mr. Meale
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 11 November 1998,Official Report, column 189.

  Crossrail
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Crossrail project; [67973]

  (2) when his predecessor asked Railtrack to prepare a report on the Crossrail project; and when he expects to receive this report. [67974]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In response to a written Parliamentary Question the then Secretary of State for Transport told the House on 2 April 1996,Official Report, columns 129–30, that he had invited the Chairman of Railtrack to consider the Crossrail project with his Board. Railtrack has not responded to this invitation.

  The Government's priority is to upgrade the existing Underground: the Public Private partnership will achieve that. It will be for the Mayor to take decisions on the future of the project as part of his or her integrated transport strategy for London, in the light of his or her priorities and the funds available. Meanwhile, the Crossrail route remains safeguarded.

  West Midlands Regional Development Agency
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to expand membership of the West Midlands Regional Development Agency to include a representative from(a) Worcestershire and (b) the business community of the region; and if he will make a statement. [68109]

  Mr. Meale
  We have in mind to appoint another member to the West Midlands RDA and hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Congestion and Parking Charges
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all revenues raised from congestion charging or private non-residential parking charges will be ring-fenced and re-invested in transport. [66526]

  Dr. Reid
  The Government's proposal, set out in its consultation document, "Breaking the Logjam" is that 100 per cent. of the net revenues in pilot charging schemes will be retained by local authorities for at least 10 years for spending only on transport-related projects. They will be obliged to set up ring-fenced accounts for this purpose. The Government will have to approve all pilot schemes and will ensure that the proposed spending of the revenues in each scheme represents value for money.

  Eurostar Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1998,Official Report, column 135, if he has commissioned an independent review of alternative proposals for regional Eurostar services; and if he will make a statement. [68573]

  Mr. Prescott
  I have today announced a competition to seek a consultant to undertake a review of alternative proposals for regional Eurostar services. In addition to addressing itself in particular to the study completed by
  341
  Inter-Capital and Regional Rail Ltd., and the alternative proposals put forward by the Virgin Group, the review will include a thorough examination of a broad range of key elements including the points to be served, infrastructure requirements in terms of both rolling stock and track, wider social and economic benefits to the regions of having such services, and the case for carrying domestic passengers. These terms of reference have been informed by the recent report of the Transport Sub-Committee, for which I am grateful. I have asked for a thorough report to be presented to Government as soon as practicable. It is likely to take some months.

  Thameslink 2000
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Railtrack's application for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in respect of the Thameslink 2000 Project. [68604]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have been advised by Railtrack that they intend making a supplementary Order application which will revise the scope of the proposed works at a number of locations, in particular at Farringdon and London Bridge. These changes arise from Railtrack's consideration of objections made to the original application. The supplementary application is expected to be made by the end of September. To allow time for objections to this application to be taken into account, the Secretary of State has decided to defer until 9 December 1999 the date by which he must give notice of an intention to hold a public inquiry into the proposed Railtrack (Thameslink 2000) Order. We will take a decision before that date if possible but this will depend on when the supplementary application is made.

  Ministerial Flights
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what occasions Ministers in his Department have made journeys by aeroplane funded by third parties since 1 May 1997. [66464]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has made five such journeys: to address the joint Conference of the North West Regional Association and North West Partnership in Windermere; to visit a Freight Distribution Centre in the Midlands; to open the extension to Humberside Airport; to tour the P&O container port in Southampton and to visit Norwich Airport and Felixstowe Port. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment, made two journeys: one to deliver the key note speech at the Institute of Wastes Management conference in Plymouth and the other as part of the International Marine Biodiversity Workshop in Jamaica. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning made two journeys: one to tour Great Yarmouth regeneration projects and the other on a fact finding tour of a quarry. My hon. Friend the Minister for London and Construction also made two such journeys: a tour of Barking Reach housing development and a fact finding visit to a quarry.

  I visited the General Lighthouse Authority's Pharos Lightship ship and in addition, I visited Australia in September 1998, not in my Ministerial capacity, to speak
  342
  to and meet women's organisations interested in increasing the participation of women in Parliament and public life. My visit, including travel costs, was sponsored by Emily's List of Australia as recorded in the Parliamentary Register of Members' Interests. While in Australia, I attended a number of meetings in my official capacity, including an International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People.

  Planning Legislation
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Railtrack's position as regards planning legislation, with particular reference to demolition of property. [67097]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The carrying out of development of land generally requires planning permission. This normally entails a planning application but the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants a general permission (through permitted development rights) for various types of development. Where Railtrack carried out works which fall within the definition of permitted development under Class A of Part II or Part 17 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, it will enjoy permitted development rights and will not need to submit a planning application.

  Demolition of property requires planning permission where it meets the definition of development. Under the Town and Country Planning (Demolition—Description of Buildings) Direction 1995, planning permission is only required for the total demolition of dwellinghouses and buildings adjoining them outside conservation areas, and for the demolition of the whole or part of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure within conservation areas. Part 31 of Schedule 2 to the General Permitted Development Order then grants permitted development rights for the demolition of these descriptions of buildings, subject to certain conditions. However, listed building consent or conservation area consent for the total or substantial demolition of buildings may also be required. These provisions apply to Railtrack as they do to other prospective developers.

  Planning League Table
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the cost to public funds of compiling the planning league table. [67876]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The cost to the Department of producing Tables 5 to 9 of the Planning Performance Checklist published on 12 January 1999 was approximately £180.

  Motor Vehicle Accidents
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many motor vehicle accidents occurred in the last year for which figures are available on(a) motorways, (b) other trunk roads and (c) other roads; and if he will make a statement. [67735]
  343
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number of injury road accidents in GB involving one or more motor vehicle1

  1997

  Motorways

  8,676

  Trunk A roads2

  20,255

  Other A roads2

  90,260

  All A roads

  110,515

  Others

  119,462

  1Accidents involving only non-motorised vehicles are not included. There were an additional 1,393 in 1997 which involved only non-motorised vehicles

  2Trunk A Road data for 1997 is provisional

  Mayor of London (Salary)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make a decision on the salary of the Mayor of London. [67880]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I will be inviting the Senior Salaries Review Body to advise me on the salaries for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly Members. We will announce our decision when we have had an opportunity to consider its recommendations.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is proposing to accelerate the processing of planning applications. [67879]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Local planning authorities handle some half a million planning applications every year. It is essential that these are processed efficiently and effectively.

  In his Modernising Planning Statement, published on 15 January 1998, my hon. Friend, the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning, set out a range of measures designed to make the planning system operate more efficiently and effectively. This included initiatives to improve the handling of planning applications.

  In April 1998, the Government published good practice guides on development briefs and the one stop shop approach to development-related approvals. Other initiatives include funding of a good practice guide on ?Best Value? in planning being drawn up by the Planning Officers' Society; a review of consultation procedures for planning applications; and a review of procedures for handling listed building consent applications.

  The Government are continuing to monitor closely local authorities? performance in reaching decisions on planning applications and publishes regular Planning Performance Checklists. My hon. Friend is currently holding a series of meetings with a selection of local authorities in each English region to discuss handling of planning applications as well as development plan preparation. These meetings are part of our wider commitment to work in partnership with local government to improve the planning system as part of the Modernising Planning initiative and provide an opportunity to share good practice experience.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Departmental Papers (Access for Visually Impaired)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has for departmental(a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67843]

  The Attorney-General
  My department has not recently published a White or Green Paper. However, the independent report of the Review of the Crown Prosecution Service (the Glidewell Report) published on 1 June 1998 was made available on the Internet and could therefore be converted for use by the visually impaired.

  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office confirmed in his reply on 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 296, that the Cabinet Office will shortly issue guidelines on the arrangements for publishing White and Green Papers; and I would expect any such publications produced by this office to comply with that guidance.

TREASURY

  Tax Harmonisation
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has had regarding EU tax harmonisation; and if he will make a statement. [66528]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Chancellor gets a large number of representations on many subjects, particularly in advance of a Budget. The Government's position on EU tax issues was set out on 9 December 1998,Official Report, columns 388–422, by me and my hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) when he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the preparations needed for United Kingdom entry into the single European currency. [66531]

  Ms Hewitt
  The UK economy needs a period of stability and settled convergence before we could join the single currency. The Government are committed to a programme of economic reforms which are both in the national economic interest and which should help to deliver the stability needed to prepare us for membership.

  In addition we will issue an outline National Changeover Plan early this year which will set out the practical steps that would need to be taken if the UK decides to join.

  Windfall Tax
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount to be raised by the windfall tax in the current year. [66532]

  Mrs. Roche
  The second and final instalment of the Windfall Tax was due in December and £2.6 billion was collected. In total, the Windfall Tax raised £5.2 billion.
  345
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further plans he has for the proceeds of the windfall tax on the privatised utilities. [66538]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Windfall Tax has enabled the Government to embark on the New Deal—the biggest ever programme to get unemployed and economically inactive people into work. Over 300,000 people have already benefited from the New Deal so far, and over 60,000 have found jobs.

  The Government have constantly extended and developed programmes under the New Deal since taking office. Its purpose is to give people new hope and new chances, and a route out of poverty and benefit dependency. This principle will guide future policy development, as resources allow.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made towards the implementation of the working families tax credit. [66533]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue is leading a joint project team with the Benefits Agency which is developing the detailed administrative arrangements for the new tax credit in time for its introduction later this year.

  Orphan Assets
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy with regard to orphan assets. [66534]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury's policy on orphan assets (inherited estates) of insurance companies was set out in the Treasury's response to the Treasury Select Committee report on personal pension misselling. This was published in the Committee's First Special Report (session 1998–99) on 18 January.

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on discussions he has had with colleagues in Japan and Germany in advance of the G7 Finance Ministers meeting next month relating to the HIPC initiative. [66535]

  Ms Hewitt
  The HIPC initiative was discussed with all G7 partners, including Germany and Japan, and with other countries at the Annual Meetings of the IMF/World bank in Washington in October. The Chancellor also discussed the initiative with German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine in November. The HIPC initiative will next be discussed at the G7 Finance Ministers? and Central bank Governors? meeting in Bonn on 20 February following Chancellor Schroeder?s announcement last week of a new German initiative on debt.

  Royal National Lifeboat Institution
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to enable the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to recover value added tax on the cost of maintenance work to boathouses. [66536]
  346
  Dawn Primarolo
  In common with all individuals and organisations, charities, including the RNLI, cannot reclaim VAT on the things that they buy which relate to their non-business activities.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he made of the impact on the contingency reserve of recent military action against Iraq. [66537]

  Mr. Milburn
  The cost of overseas operations will be considered against the Defence budget as a whole when agreeing the Spring Supplementary Estimates.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the current levels of youth unemployment. [66539]

  Ms Hewitt
  Youth claimant unemployment has fallen by over 100,000 since the general election, to stand at 315,000 last October. This fall has been spurred by the New Deal for young people unemployed for over six months, which has so far helped over 50,000 of them into jobs.

  Withholding Tax
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the proposed EU withholding tax. [66540]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith) today,Official Report, column 465.

  North Sea Oil
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to revise the current structure of the fiscal regime in respect of North sea oil; and if he will make a statement. [66541]

  Mrs. Roche
  We have no plans at present to revise the structure of the North Sea fiscal regime.

  Low-income Families
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact the working families tax credit will have on child poverty during its first year of operation. [66543]

  Dawn Primarolo
  This Government believe that, for those that can, work is the best way out of poverty. The Working Families Tax Credit, together with the National Minimum Wage and reform of National Insurance Contributions, will help to make work pay and encourage the move from welfare into work. Together, these reforms will provide a guaranteed income for families with children, who are working full-time, of £190 a week.

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to tackle the poverty trap in relation to taxes and benefits for people moving from unemployment into work. [66549]
  347
  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have taken a number of steps to make work pay and help people move from welfare into work. The introduction of the National Minimum Wage, reform to National Insurance Contributions and the Working Families Tax Credit will all help to make people better off in work than out of work. Together, these reforms will provide a guaranteed income for families in full-time work of £190 a week.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to help working families on low incomes. [66550]

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his plans to increase the net income of people in work. [66552]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have introduced a number of measures to increase the net income of low-income families. These include the introduction of the National Minimum Wage, reform of National Insurance Contributions and the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit. Together, these reforms will provide a guaranteed income for families in full-time work of £190 a week.

  Banking and Insurance Services
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the action his Department is taking following the Office of Fair Trading?s recent recommendation that banking and insurance companies should provide better services for people on low incomes and benefits. [66544]

  Ms Hewitt
  We are studying the Director General?s report.

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a tax rebate system for embedded suppliers using the electricity distribution network. [66545]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the findings of Lord Marshall?s report on "Economic instruments and business use of energy". The Government are considering the recommendations carefully.

  Euro
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with the Monetary Policy Committee on shadowing the euro. [66546]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have no intention of shadowing the euro.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has receiving calling for the United Kingdom to join the Euroland countries. [66551]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government's policy on UK membership of EMU was set out clearly by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his statement to the House of Commons in October 1997. The key factor is whether the economic benefits of joining are clear and unambiguous. To make that decision the Chancellor of 348
  the Exchequer has set out five economic tests which would have to be met before the UK could join the single currency.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans for expenditure on the modernisation of the public services in respect of the Public Service Agreements. [66547]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Public Service Agreements set out the objectives and targets which we will deliver in return for the investment agreed in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Agenda 2000
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reasons for the omission of development aid as a priority in the programme of Agenda 2000. [66548]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Agenda 2000 negotiation will set the overall total for EC aid. During the subsequent discussions, which will determine how this amount is allocated between programmes, the UK will argue strongly for an increase in the share going to the world's poorest countries.

  Public Pay Awards
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would have been the cost of not staging last year's pay awards to(a) nurses, midwives and health visitors, (b) professions allied to medicine and (c) teachers. [66553]

  Mr. Milburn
  It would not have been possible to meet the commitment to keep within spending plans without staging last year?s recommendations by the pay review bodies.

  Smuggling
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantity of beer has been seized by HM Customs officials at Portsmouth Ferry Port in each quarter since January 1993. [67130]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information requested is not available in this form. Specific figures are available by each financial year for the quantity of beer from within the European Union seized by Excise Verification Officers at Portsmouth since April 1993.

  Year

  Litres

  1993–94

  20,753

  1994–95

  10,874

  1995–96

  41,747

  1996–97

  79,397

  1997–98

  38,906

  1998–99

  140,629

  1April to December

  Inheritance Tax Exemption
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for the Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex local authority areas(a) the locations

  349
  of land in respect of which conditional exemption from inheritance tax is currently allowed, (b) the number of cases in which such exemption has been lost or deferred tax charged as a result of breaches of the conditions related to exemption in 1998–99 and (c) the location of land in respect of which exemption has been lost or deferred tax charged in each of the last five years because of breaches of the relevant conditions. [67204]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The normal rules on taxpayer confidentiality currently prevent me from providing the requested information.

  The Finance Act 1998 strengthened the conditions of the inheritance tax exemption, including the rules on disclosure of information to the public. The Inland Revenue are accordingly reviewing existing exemptions with a view to re-negotiating owners? undertakings so as to secure publication of information about tax-exempt assets and the arrangements on public access. Once the undertakings have been revised, that information will be available on the Internet.

  Departmental Papers (Access for Visually Impaired)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for departmental(a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67848]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 27 January 1999,Official Report, column 296.

  The Treasury will make arrangements for White and Green Papers to be made available on disk in a form accessible to the visually impaired, as and when this service is requested.

  Currently, all public Treasury documents are produced in the optimum typeface sizes for legibility. These are also available on the Internet, where they can be heard by visually handicapped people who have access to a "talking computer", or can be displayed and printed out as text of any size.

  Tax Burden
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average overall tax burden for a taxpayer in the United Kingdom for each of the last five years. [67731]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Information on income tax as a percentage of median income for each of the last five years is shown in table 2.8 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1998, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Estimating the impact of indirect taxes is imprecise as spending patterns vary widely between households with the same composition and income.

  Environmentally Sustainable Economy
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to encourage an environmentally sustainable economy in Britain. [67278]
  350
  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 25 January 1999]: The Government' s approach to sustainable development is based on four broad objectives: maintenance of high and stable levels of growth and employment; social progress which recognises the needs of everyone; effective protection of the environment and prudent use of natural resources.

  The Comprehensive Spending Review included a range of measures expected to make a positive impact on the environment, including additional money for the integrated transport strategy which will help tackle congestion and air pollution; more money for energy efficiency to help alleviate fuel poverty and meet our commitments on climate change; and more money to countryside programmes.

  The tax system also has an important role to play in underpinning this strategy. Important changes were made to fuel duties and the landfill tax in the first two Budgets. The Government will continue to explore the scope for using the tax system to deliver environmental objectives, in line with the Statement of Intent on environmental taxation.

  VAT
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 14 January 1998,Official Report, columns 286-87, if he will state (a) what further key elements will be necessary to change the current transitional system of VAT to a definitive (Common) system other than those contained in Commission Document COM (96) 328 FIN, (b) when any Resolution was passed by either House relating thereto and (c) what consideration has been given to related proposals in the ECOFIN Council, or any of its subsidiary bodies. [67936]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Commission document COM (96) 328 FIN is a comprehensive and detailed work programme, with a supporting timetable, for changing the current transitional EC VAT system into an origin-based definitive or Common system. To implement this Common VAT system no further key elements are required.

  European Commission (Fraud)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the establishment of the Inquiry into Allegations of Fraud within the European Commission, setting out(a) to whom the report of the Inquiry will be addressed, (b) the names of those who will carry out the Inquiry, (c) the terms of reference of the Inquiry and (d) the Inquiry?s (i) powers and (ii) procedure. [67932]

  Ms Hewitt
  On 14 January the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling, among other things for a committee of independent experts to be convened under the auspices of the Parliament and the Commission with a mandate to examine the way in which the Commission detects and deals with fraud, mismanagement and nepotism. The President of the European Commission agreed to the establishment of such a committee.

  I understand that the composition and modus operandi of the committee have not yet been finalised.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the mileage rates currently applicable to staff, indicating what changes have been made to encourage staff to switch from cars to public transport and other less polluting forms of travel. [67493]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 26 January 1999]: The current standard mileage rates are as follows:
  Up to 1500cc: 35.7p
  1501–2000cc: 40p
  Over 2000cc: 43p
  Public transport rate 22.3p.

  The Department continues to encourage the use of public transport by providing enhanced public transport information; encouraging alternative forms of transport by providing additional cycle storage areas and by limiting the use of private transport for business purposes.

  Tax System
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received calling for a review of the tax system for older taxpayers in order to provide a simplified system tailored to their needs. [67318]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 January 1999]: I have received a number of representations on this issue.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he or his junior Ministers have paid official visits to(a) the Czech Republic, (b) Poland, (c) Hungary, (d) Slovenia, (e) Estonia and (f) Cyprus since May 1997; and what was the purpose of each visit. [67701]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 27 January 1999]: The Treasury is actively pursuing contacts with all of the applicants to the European Union, including inward and outward visits at official and ministerial level.

  In addition the Financial Secretary visited Customs and Excise?s UK International Assistance Programme in Prague, Czech Republic between 6–8 November 1997.

  Targeted Economic Assistance (Pensioners)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the need for targeted economic assistance to areas which have high concentrations of retired persons. [67256]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 27 January 1999]: Government spending on retired persons is targeted at individuals rather than at areas. The allocation of extra economic assistance through regeneration spending to particular areas is determined by the Index of Local Deprivation, a comprehensive index made up of a broad range of indicators of deprivation. The Government are also examining the issues which affect retired people at a national and local level in a number of ways, through the Performance and Innovation Unit?s work on Active Ageing, the Better Government for Older People pilot areas, the Health Action Zones and other national and area based initiatives.

  Charity Taxation
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish his consultation document on charity taxation. [67907]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 27 January 1999]: The consultation document will be published by the time of the Budget.

  Advance Corporation Tax
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department will publish regulations enabling unrelieved surplus advance corporation tax to be utilised by companies. [67909]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 27 January 1999]: We expect to publish the regulations shortly.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many incorrect tax demands have been issued by the Inland Revenue since 20 December 1998. [67908]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 27 January 1999]: The Inland Revenue issues taxpayers with Statements of Account (not demands) which are a statement of the individual's tax position and include a payslip to enable the taxpayer to make payment if one is due.

  The latest issue comprised 3.4 million statements. The Inland Revenue are aware that 870,000 of those statements contained superfluous information which could have misled taxpayers into making a wrong payment.

  The Inland Revenue has issued letters of explanation and apology to all affected taxpayers in time to alert them before payment became due.

  Pensions Mis-selling
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the mis-selling of AVCs; and what plans he has to extend the current investigation into pensions mis-selling to include AVCs. [67677]

  Ms Hewitt
  None. The Financial Services Authority issued a report on the possible mis-selling of FSAVCs on 19 October 1998.

  Health and Education
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans for public spending on health and education for the next three years. [66542]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The Government?s spending plans for the next three years on health and education were set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper, "Modern Public Services for Britain: Investing in Reform". We are providing money for modernisation, we will invest an extra £40 billion in health and education over the coming three years.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the value for money to public funds of using PFI for financing public sector capital developments. [66524]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Private Finance Initiative is one of the forms of public-private partnerships by which the Government are harnessing private sector finance, innovation and management skills to modernise our infrastructure and improve public services. This Government, unlike the last, are making the PFI work in areas such as the National Health Service. Since the election we have signed £4 billion worth of PFI deals.

  Economic Growth
  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise his estimate of economic growth for 1999–2000 and if he will make a statement. [66527]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government?s next economic forecast will be published as part of the forthcoming Financial Statement and Budget Report.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Home Detention Curfew Scheme
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Home Detention Curfew scheme will be implemented. [68426]

  Mr. Straw
  The Home Detention Curfew Scheme, under which selected short term prisoners may spend up to the last two months of the custodial part of their sentence under a curfew enforced by electronic monitoring, will commence on 28 January. The scheme will provide a managed transition between prison and living in the community. It will deprive them of their liberty for a major part of the day and also provide some structure and order into often disorganized lives. No prisoner will be allowed on the scheme without a risk assessment, and those who fail to comply with the conditions of the scheme may be recalled to prison.

  Deportation Orders
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 January 1999,Official Report, column 330, on deportation orders, how many (a) failed asylum seekers and (b) immigration offenders were removed in 1996 and 1997; and how many have yet to be removed. [67338]

  Mr. Mike O?Brien
  The information I gave on improved removals performance on 18 January 1999,Official Report, column 330, in response to the hon. Member?s question on deportation orders, related specifically to removals and voluntary departures following deportation and illegal entry action. That information, therefore, included asylum applicants who were removed as a consequence of such action but excluded all removals under port procedures.

  The numbers of deportation and illegal entry removals and voluntary departures effected during 1996 and 1997 are given in the table. The figures exclude removals under
  354
  port procedures. The latest snapshot, taken on 4 January 1999, indicates that the number of persons against whom deportation or illegal entry action has been initiated but not yet completed stands at approximately 67,000. In the great majority of these cases, however, there exists at least one legal or similar barrier to immediate removal, such as: an outstanding application for asylum or for leave to remain on another basis; appeals; further representations; Judicial Review; documentation problems; custodial sentences; and absconding. These factors serve to limit the rate at which removals can be effected and, in some cases, may result in the granting of leave to remain rather than removal.

  Removals 1 following enforcement action2, 1996 to 1997

  Number of persons 1996

  1997

  Asylum applicants3

  2,120

  3,050

  Non-asylum applicants

  3,280

  3,530

  Total enforcement2 removals1

  5,400

  6,580

  1 Includes "voluntary" departures after deportation or illegal entry action had been initiated.

  2 Persons subject to deportation action under the provisions of sections 3(5) and 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1971 or illegal entry action under section 33(1) of the Immigration Act 1971.

  3 Persons who had applied for asylum at some stage.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were received from nationals of(a) the Czech Republic and (b) Slovakia in each month since 1 May 1997. [67856]

  Mr. Mike O?Brien
  The information requested is given in the table. The hon. Gentleman will note that the recent trend is downwards in respect of both counties.

  Asylum applications1,2 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants—May 1997 to December 1998, by month, nationals of the Czech Republic and Slovakia

  Number

  Period

  Czech Republic

  Slovakia

  1997

  May

  5

  *

  June

  15

  25

  July

  30

  20

  August

  30

  50

  September

  15

  55

  October

  85

  85

  November

  20

  20

  December

  15

  15

  1998

  January

  5

  5

  February

  5

  15

  March

  15

  15

  April

  30

  10

  May

  20

  15

  June

  35

  35

  July

  45

  125

  August

  60

  230

  September

  90

  250

  October

  75

  115

  November

  70

  15

  December

  60

  15

  1 Provisional figures rounded to 5 with * = 1 or 2

  2 Principal applicants

  Either-way Cases
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of defendants charged with an either way offence and electing for trial in the Crown Court pleaded guilty or had their case disposed of without a trial in the Crown Court(a) in each of the last 10 years before 1 October 1997 and (b) since 1 October 1997. [67572]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he had made of the operation of section 49 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [67578]

  Mr. Boateng
  Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, which has been in force since October 1997, provides for defendants in either-way cases to be asked to indicate their plea before the magistrates decide whether to accept or decline jurisdiction. The objective was to allow cases which would previously have been committed for trial, and in which a guilty plea was indicated, to be dealt with more quickly, either by the magistrates themselves where the appropriate sentence (after any discount for the guilty plea) was within the court?s powers, or if not through being committed to the Crown Court for sentence.

  It is too early to make a final assessment of the effect of this provision. The indications so far are that substantially fewer cases are being committed for trial, but that there has also been a significant increase in the numbers committed for sentence. It is estimated (on the basis of data up to June last year) that committals for trial have fallen by 1,500 defendants a month and committals for sentence have risen by 1,300 defendants a month. Work is in hand to assess whether there is scope for magistrates? courts to dispose of more of the cases which they now commit for sentence.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of defendants charged with an either way offence elected for trial in the Crown Court(a) in each of the 15 years before 1 October 1997 and (b) since 1 October 1997. [67571]

  Mr. Boateng
  The question cannot be answered from the data collected centrally. However, data from the Attorney-General on the proportion of Crown Prosecution Service either way cases committed for trail to the Crown Court and finalised following the election by the defendant since the year ending September 1988 (earliest year ending September available) are as follows:

  Police net revenue expenditure 1989–90 to 1998–99

  £000

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–991

  Avon and Somerset

  95,221

  102,351

  111,509

  124,322

  132,421

  138,921

  147,750

  152,087

  152,673

  167,417

  Bedfordshire

  32,079

  35,599

  39,212

  44,210

  47,958

  50,937

  55,399

  56,627

  58,570

  62,317

  Cambridgeshire

  38,444

  42,364

  47,116

  50,027

  55,776

  57,371

  63,089

  65,024

  68,681

  71,230

  Cheshire

  57,810

  62,370

  66,960

  72,966

  79,593

  83,254

  93,715

  94,177

  104,005

  106,523

  City of London

  35,285

  37,074

  40,820

  44,246

  49,858

  51,679

  57,541

  57,317

  57,893

  60,862

  Cleveland

  46,995

  51,560

  54,802

  59,802

  63,156

  65,412

  71,258

  73,108

  75,426

  82,282

  Cumbria

  35,858

  39,961

  45,080

  49,501

  51,698

  53,200

  55,262

  56,856

  61,709

  63,000

  Derbyshire

  58,972

  61,261

  66,048

  75,750

  78,207

  82,924

  88,291

  90,420

  95,641

  100,894

  356

  Year ending September

  Percentage

  1988

  46

  1989

  43

  1990

  39

  1991

  36

  1992

  37

  1993

  36

  1994

  35

  1995

  33

  1996

  33

  1997

  28

  1998

  28

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of either way cases were dealt with by magistrates courts(a) in each of the 10 years before 1 October 1997 and (b) since 1 October 1997; [67574]

  (2) what proportion of either way cases were committed for sentence by the magistrates courts to the Crown Court
  (a) in each of the 10 years before 1 October 1997 and
  (b) since 1 October 1997. [67576]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information is given in the table.

  Defendants proceeded against at magistrates? court since 1987 for either way offences, England and Wales

  Year

  Percentage committed to the Crown Court for sentence

  Percentage dealt with at magistrates? courts1

  1987

  1

  78

  1988

  1

  79

  1989

  1

  79

  1990

  1

  80

  1991

  2

  81

  1992

  1

  83

  1993

  1

  84

  1994

  1

  84

  1995

  1

  85

  1996

  1

  85

  1997 January-September

  1

  84

  1997 October-December

  3

  83

  19982 January-June

  4

  85

  1Excludes defendants committed to the Crown Court for sentence

  2Estimated

  Police Funding
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown, by police force area, of the total funding available to the police in each of the last 10 years. [67584]

  Mr. Boateng
  The net expenditure by each police authority in each of the last 10 years is set out in the table. A breakdown of the funding components of these totals is not available.
  357

  Police net revenue expenditure 1989–90 to 1998–99

  £000

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–991

  Devon and Cornwall

  93,697

  105,660

  117,436

  128,271

  136,654

  139,381

  146,556

  150,392

  155,435

  167,117

  Dorset

  42,908

  49,024

  52,006

  55,644

  57,564

  62,264

  65,818

  67,831

  69,727

  73,497

  Durham

  41,893

  44,964

  48,589

  53,226

  57,065

  58,465

  68,018

  68,035

  75,166

  78,103

  Dyfed-Powys

  29,522

  30,878

  35,150

  38,896

  41,518

  44,381

  46,534

  47,869

  50,952

  52,609

  Essex

  92,207

  104,703

  115,540

  125,833

  134,545

  142,595

  147,795

  151,412

  157,487

  168,889

  Gloucestershire

  36,299

  40,236

  44,611

  48,067

  50,295

  54,248

  56,623

  58,420

  58,633

  63,780

  Greater Manchester

  213,529

  228,550

  248,813

  272,190

  296,016

  311,610

  328,297

  341,170

  353,319

  371,497

  Gwent

  30,444

  33,286

  36,682

  38,965

  41,406

  42,951

  49,907

  57,742

  64,598

  67,919

  Hampshire

  100,459

  111,152

  124,970

  135,434

  143,157

  152,584

  169,155

  172,845

  180,791

  190,920

  Hertfordshire

  51,968

  58,743

  62,868

  68,523

  72,520

  78,004

  87,088

  88,863

  93,011

  97,859

  Humberside

  63,700

  69,697

  77,396

  84,119

  88,934

  90,589

  98,165

  99,719

  106,220

  111,587

  Kent

  98,455

  109,013

  128,734

  137,696

  143,045

  151,283

  158,316

  161,625

  174,211

  178,916

  Lancashire

  99,392

  108,135

  122,019

  128,669

  138,730

  141,648

  156,135

  161,865

  169,275

  178,051

  Leicestershire

  57,279

  61,274

  68,366

  72,784

  75,852

  79,794

  90,205

  92,853

  98,789

  102,707

  Lincolnshire

  37,548

  41,597

  47,235

  51,065

  54,121

  57,678

  60,495

  61,508

  66,184

  68,322

  Merseyside

  147,251

  160,697

  178,884

  189,280

  202,485

  208,608

  218,694

  221,172

  224,327

  245,277

  Metropolitan Police

  1,076,767

  1,197,619

  1,339,603

  1,453,981

  1,515,213

  1,563,139

  1,654,368

  1,683,181

  1,676,617

  1,778,001

  Norfolk

  42,875

  48,115

  54,100

  59,084

  62,209

  67,073

  72,150

  75,547

  80,222

  82,339

  Northamptonshire

  37,553

  40,084

  45,499

  50,617

  53,410

  58,150

  59,521

  59,252

  64,605

  67,134

  Northumbia

  110,667

  121,364

  132,826

  136,534

  154,875

  168,982

  180,743

  186,410

  195,092

  205,380

  North Wales

  41,084

  44,725

  50,700

  55,897

  58,387

  61,156

  66,185

  68,266

  70,920

  75,075

  North Yorkshire

  43,887

  47,396

  51,679

  58,444

  61,464

  61,738

  67,355

  67,042

  71,840

  75,638

  Nottinghamshire

  68,609

  75,709

  82,629

  89,507

  95,723

  102,518

  110,506

  113,591

  120,556

  124,828

  South Wales

  97,275

  106,257

  118,537

  127,300

  130,885

  130,371

  154,710

  147,458

  159,411

  163,430

  South Yorkshire

  91,700

  94,778

  103,166

  117,544

  124,637

  131,753

  148,586

  150,949

  166,027

  168,205

  Staffordshire

  65,688

  74,272

  82,163

  87,742

  93,993

  98,458

  102,587

  107,832

  110,264

  122,540

  Suffolk

  40,113

  43,008

  48,069

  50,731

  54,460

  56,056

  58,594

  60,963

  63,676

  65,785

  Surrey

  52,623

  57,125

  63,421

  70,879

  74,649

  83,544

  84,282

  85,345

  90,976

  90,738

  Sussex

  84,408

  92,991

  106,178

  115,114

  119,678

  127,828

  145,857

  150,626

  157,631

  162,664

  Thames Valley

  119,989

  134,111

  149,414

  160,512

  173,938

  186,286

  195,850

  201,397

  210,333

  221,147

  Warwickshire

  31,761

  36,082

  39,842

  42,489

  46,084

  48,344

  47,865

  47,686

  51,003

  53,617

  West Mercia

  62,268

  68,707

  77,230

  82,670

  89,633

  95,733

  97,860

  102,078

  107,788

  112,879

  West Midlands

  206,518

  229,256

  250,816

  284,274

  292,273

  303,279

  331,203

  337,992

  360,129

  372,296

  West Yorkshire

  167,025

  181,186

  197,226

  208,784

  219,225

  225,767

  251,579

  265,233

  281,745

  280,739

  Wiltshire

  35,676

  40,885

  46,215

  51,400

  53,547

  58,886

  59,359

  59,993

  58,535

  66,666

  Total

  4,113,701

  4,523,819

  5,020,159

  5,452,989

  5,766,857

  6,028,842

  6,469,266

  6,619,778

  6,870,093

  7,220,676

  1Estimate

  Sources:

  1989–90 to 1994–95 From Home Office Police Grant Claims Forms.

  1995–96 to 1997–98 From CIPFA Police Statistics Actuals

  1998–99 From CIPFA Police Statistics Estimates

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown, by

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police1, in England and Wales

  Police force area

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Avon and Somerset

  95,277

  97,357

  124,177

  151,071

  173,068

  173,988

  165,765

  150,659

  153,878

  141,650

  Bedfordshire

  38,707

  40,257

  52,862

  56,597

  59,008

  58,445

  52,062

  50,295

  51,283

  46,845

  Cambridgeshire

  33,238

  36,449

  44,035

  57,396

  65,406

  65,327

  61,294

  67,103

  68,204

  58,768

  Cheshire

  45,962

  44,858

  51,627

  61,901

  76,183

  77,414

  72,516

  71,427

  64,295

  58,734

  Cleveland

  55,244

  57,667

  70,622

  74,424

  80,111

  73,012

  75,248

  73,447

  72,987

  56,618

  Cumbria

  26,091

  27,177

  31,922

  42,627

  43,007

  41,537

  40,039

  39,071

  37,603

  33,990

  Derbyshire

  40,133

  45,371

  56,557

  71,853

  83,439

  87,798

  83,485

  80,610

  77,364

  72,159

  Devon and Cornwall

  71,534

  75,456

  90,403

  106,926

  113,413

  120,262

  108,780

  101,332

  102,390

  94,174

  Dorset

  34,896

  38,907

  47,282

  51,081

  51,767

  51,726

  53,780

  53,344

  48,586

  42,896

  Durham

  39,937

  41,692

  49,957

  60,717

  62,107

  62,759

  59,768

  52,966

  47,428

  44,413

  Essex

  69,471

  74,820

  93,544

  106,109

  112,883

  112,253

  103,683

  95,983

  98,608

  88,293

  Gloucestershire

  33,196

  34,533

  41,772

  55,317

  60,102

  60,813

  60,260

  55,364

  53,520

  47,399

  Greater Manchester

  271,599

  272,722

  312,332

  353,177

  366,538

  342,221

  311,718

  299,412

  299,262

  283,075

  Hampshire

  89,039

  95,616

  116,773

  140,182

  149,806

  143,920

  138,004

  130,743

  132,647

  121,806

  Hertfordshire

  39,229

  40,504

  45,166

  54,629

  58,289

  56,099

  54,173

  55,211

  53,742

  49,413

  Humberside

  81,543

  87,672

  101,279

  116,115

  126,110

  138,882

  134,847

  127,439

  125,993

  120,333

  Kent

  74,565

  79,530

  99,179

  134,197

  155,176

  158,143

  151,996

  152,603

  142,335

  119,116

  Lancashire

  83,443

  77,209

  92,985

  106,045

  115,741

  116,672

  109,669

  109,405

  108,365

  109,344

  Leicestershire

  49,286

  53,859

  71,981

  88,890

  96,419

  98,364

  97,483

  92,174

  92,812

  80,257

  358
  police force area, of the number of crimes (a) recorded and (b) detected, in each of the last 10 years. [67585]

  Mr. Boateng
  The available information is given in tables
  359

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police1, in England and Wales

  Police force area

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Lincolnshire

  31,193

  34,299

  38,034

  43,678

  47,956

  51,378

  46,467

  46,431

  44,450

  40,195

  City of London

  6,485

  7,040

  7,072

  7,551

  6,755

  5,604

  5,261

  5,704

  4,815

  5,129

  Merseyside

  136,549

  129,056

  129,876

  143,247

  144,087

  138,344

  135,501

  151,901

  144,410

  125,979

  Metropolitan Police District

  698,323

  733,050

  810,443

  883,934

  890,845

  848,407

  780,821

  745,179

  827,327

  782,387

  Norfolk

  41,145

  43,844

  53,982

  63,575

  66,638

  64,081

  55,880

  51,295

  54,831

  52,929

  Northamptonshire

  36,922

  38,214

  47,392

  57,756

  58,871

  59,307

  57,298

  56,098

  56,390

  53,121

  Northumbria

  153,108

  171,733

  190,248

  208,888

  203,836

  192,595

  180,039

  171,408

  145,542

  126,965

  North Yorkshire

  32,863

  34,190

  44,465

  49,869

  52,869

  55,175

  58,703

  59,643

  53,962

  48,096

  Nottinghamshire

  91,006

  101,058

  128,548

  145,903

  159,807

  153,415

  145,584

  144,580

  136,623

  123,370

  South Yorkshire

  85,037

  90,184

  102,161

  118,972

  132,699

  153,001

  152,451

  149,764

  146,862

  126,754

  Staffordshire

  54,754

  57,596

  70,718

  84,296

  96,988

  97,801

  93,178

  90,936

  91,472

  88,644

  Suffolk

  28,914

  30,917

  36,451

  39,175

  43,846

  42,289

  38,440

  37,357

  36,219

  34,788

  Surrey

  31,264

  33,019

  41,681

  49,252

  52,866

  52,197

  46,556

  43,759

  41,397

  37,840

  Sussex

  66,093

  74,060

  93,418

  110,931

  117,778

  106,371

  103,548

  105,985

  112,381

  106,475

  Thames Valley

  106,332

  118,377

  145,977

  185,262

  196,074

  198,773

  184,852

  177,345

  170,523

  156,368

  Warwickshire

  22,656

  24,945

  32,419

  40,091

  44,630

  45,126

  42,272

  38,641

  38,674

  35,527

  West Mercia

  46,412

  49,211

  59,332

  71,420

  77,489

  80,701

  81,669

  78,298

  80,994

  75,386

  West Midlands

  230,417

  222,366

  257,814

  294,704

  321,407

  323,175

  308,207

  312,643

  307,115

  266,474

  West Yorkshire

  166,195

  179,185

  227,631

  288,745

  300,738

  299,580

  288,449

  283,044

  267,990

  243,373

  Wiltshire

  25,420

  26,636

  32,449

  38,276

  41,104

  40,564

  37,167

  35,617

  35,019

  32,350

  Dyfed-Powys

  18,288

  16,457

  19,568

  24,411

  26,554

  22,877

  19,758

  17,906

  17,404

  16,434

  Gwent

  23,309

  23,807

  30,169

  37,222

  39,994

  38,922

  37,312

  32,169

  43.143

  45,525

  North Wales

  33,830

  33,107

  36,153

  42,672

  47,811

  46,981

  42,537

  41,037

  40,384

  36,250

  South Wales

  111,269

  112,210

  133,176

  156,259

  163,270

  160,811

  155,927

  150,616

  139,147

  127,987

  Total

  3,550,174

  3,706,217

  4,363,632

  5,075,343

  5,383,485

  5,317,110

  5,032,447

  4,885,944

  4,868,376

  4,460,629

  1Excluding criminal damage £20 and under

  Notifiable offences cleared up 1, in England and Wales

  Police force area

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Avon and Somerset

  34,627

  32,135

  35,395

  35,575

  28,806

  29,769

  34,226

  35,008

  37,590

  36,678

  Bedfordshire

  15,041

  13,592

  11,712

  10,948

  11,677

  12,110

  11,377

  11,142

  16,955

  16,368

  Cambridgeshire

  11,348

  13,707

  16,546

  20,588

  17,498

  16,375

  15,019

  12,626

  16,217

  15,904

  Cheshire

  23,076

  23,121

  25,667

  25,172

  21,899

  19,875

  22,049

  22,329

  22,178

  20,902

  Cleveland

  20,665

  21,029

  17,351

  24,817

  25,245

  19,758

  14,429

  18,180

  17,872

  14,630

  Cumbria

  13,198

  13,343

  13,855

  17,195

  15,749

  15,677

  14,657

  15,639

  13,386

  13,465

  Derbyshire

  15,077

  16,621

  18,228

  20,065

  18,612

  18,278

  17,891

  16,434

  16,175

  18,231

  Devon and Cornwall

  27,468

  26,848

  28,644

  31,019

  20,085

  30,534

  29,257

  27,771

  30,273

  29,826

  Dorset

  13,653

  16,520

  16,637

  21,091

  16,512

  17,073

  16,373

  14,765

  13,286

  12,491

  Durham

  17,527

  17,622

  16,818

  18,328

  18,761

  18,663

  19,041

  16,113

  14,174

  13,597

  Essex

  22,547

  23,814

  26,868

  33,518

  32,409

  35,991

  37,691

  31,404

  28,346

  23,943

  Gloucestershire

  13,087

  12,496

  13,819

  19,575

  14,275

  12,134

  14,493

  14,928

  12,240

  11,246

  Greater Manchester

  79,697

  82,227

  100,074

  126,464

  129,338

  116,938

  105,157

  71,314

  51,885

  55,940

  Hampshire

  30,220

  31,023

  37,253

  39,741

  39,154

  37,223

  36,905

  36,552

  36,892

  36,717

  Hertfordshire

  16,980

  17,678

  13,324

  18,239

  14,904

  12,039

  13,044

  15,270

  16,093

  15,947

  Humberside

  29,581

  31,073

  37,699

  36,648

  28,960

  22,399

  23,291

  24,347

  25,628

  23,779

  Kent

  26,921

  25,350

  24,370

  30,608

  41,962

  40,163

  43,338

  40,348

  45,139

  36,657

  Lancashire

  42,119

  31,011

  40,969

  42,563

  42,459

  41,211

  36,356

  37,607

  36,079

  32,256

  Leicestershire

  21,108

  21,345

  25,820

  25,574

  28,631

  27,391

  28,817

  26,924

  29,093

  27,410

  Lincolnshire

  13,094

  14,276

  16,449

  20,152

  18,514

  18,755

  15,062

  17,878

  18,648

  19,285

  City of London

  1,616

  1,424

  1,480

  1,526

  1,343

  1,225

  1,406

  1,325

  1,313

  1,340

  Merseyside

  61,718

  57,670

  57,452

  63,804

  60,825

  54,101

  45,328

  40,998

  42,174

  38,629

  Metropolitan Police

  120,515

  127,984

  137,075

  149,016

  142,746

  146,342

  175,105

  187,671

  193,678

  202,352

  Norfolk

  16,369

  17,671

  20,145

  23,281

  22,519

  17,664

  18,936

  15,758

  17,620

  19,503

  Northamptonshire

  16,829

  16,264

  16,711

  17,782

  17,797

  16,294

  17,595

  15,948

  19,015

  18,836

  Northumbria

  67,728

  67,880

  76,654

  73,796

  34,797

  38,227

  40,340

  39,034

  35,038

  33,332

  North Yorkshire

  12,693

  12,092

  17,726

  18,015

  17,247

  16,816

  14,542

  13,816

  13,703

  12,741

  Nottinghamshire

  34,334

  35,607

  44,711

  38,695

  41,312

  44,789

  40,708

  33,897

  37,890

  35,109

  South Yorkshire

  39,562

  39,222

  45,450

  42,582

  34,981

  30,247

  36,669

  35,589

  33,418

  36,801

  Staffordshire

  24,664

  24,874

  27,892

  31,534

  29,445

  28,602

  28,496

  29,179

  31,178

  31,185

  Suffolk

  12,783

  13,222

  14,842

  14,626

  17,086

  15,571

  13,603

  12,831

  11,891

  12,974

  Surrey

  10,618

  10,944

  11,050

  11,249

  11,596

  10,604

  14,119

  13,649

  12,061

  12,413

  Sussex

  19,885

  22,727

  24,534

  25,077

  26,935

  25,391

  24,991

  29,297

  32,320

  27,213

  Thames Valley

  36,481

  39,142

  38,175

  40,285

  38,199

  40,948

  41,174

  41,210

  42,383

  38,270

  Warwickshire

  8,906

  8,697

  9,504

  9,641

  10,451

  9,665

  10,202

  9,725

  9,332

  9,587

  West Mercia

  20,828

  19,290

  27,128

  25,232

  26,345

  23,035

  23,957

  21,971

  20,831

  21,126

  West Midlands

  97,784

  87,225

  92,723

  90,344

  85,305

  86,809

  77,531

  75,279

  72,038

  63,132

  West Yorkshire

  71,096

  68,512

  77,073

  79,663

  75,243

  54,073

  58,167

  59,012

  64,496

  66,038

  Wiltshire

  9,302

  12,158

  14,196

  15,460

  15,231

  14,395

  13,433

  11,455

  10,164

  10,451

  360

  361

  Notifiable offences cleared up 1, England and Wales

  Police force area

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Dyfed-Powys

  9,636

  8,637

  9,835

  12,261

  13,986

  11,518

  10,501

  10,147

  10,039

  10,024

  Gwent

  12,689

  12,839

  15,481

  17,487

  17,677

  17,411

  17,699

  16,093

  21,655

  23,157

  North Wales

  14,332

  14,644

  14,629

  15,523

  15,949

  16,899

  16,416

  13,336

  13,458

  12,163

  South Wales

  41,490

  43,403

  47,459

  44,731

  48,399

  45,173

  36,975

  43,076

  43,846

  46,585

  Total

  1,248,892

  1,246,959

  1,379,423

  1,479,490

  1,390,864

  1,328,155

  1,326,366

  1,276,875

  1,287,690

  1,258,233

  1 Clear-ups exclude Criminal damage £20 and under

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions on which he and Ministers in his Department have undertaken overseas

  Minister

  Dates

  Places visited

  Purpose of visit

  Secretary of State and Joyce Quin

  26 May 1997 to 27 May 1997

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council Meeting

  Joyce Quin

  9 June 1997 to 11 June 1997

  Prague

  Council of Europe Justice Ministers Meeting

  Lord Williams of Mostyn

  15 September 1997 to 19 September 1997

  Paris, Germany, Oslo

  Fact-finding to look at procedures for investigating suspicious deaths, human rights and community sentences

  Alun Michael

  16 September 1997 to 18 September 1997

  New York

  Visit New York Cares Scheme and New York Police

  Joyce Quin

  17 September 1997

  Paris

  Debate at Ecole Nationale d'Administration

  Joyce Quin

  26 September 1997 to 28 September 1997

  Sienna

  Pontignano Conference

  Secretary of State and Joyce Quin

  9 October 1997 to 10 October 1997

  Luxembourg

  Informal Justice and Home Affairs Council

  Joyce Quin

  20 October 1997 to 21 October 1997

  Strasbourg

  Meeting with MEPs prior to UK Presidency

  Secretary of State

  20 October 1997 to 21 October 1997

  Paris

  Meetings with French Interior Minister and Minister of Justice

  Joyce Quin

  4 November 1997 to 6 November 1997

  Stockholm

  Study of tagging and prison organisation

  Alun Michael

  16 November 1997 to 17 November 1997

  The Hague

  To present European Crime Prevention Awards and visit juvenile delinquents computer system and day training centre

  Joyce Quin

  3 December 1997 to 5 December 1997

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  Alun Michael

  5 December 1997 to 8 December 1997

  Bosnia

  To visit British Police serving in Bosnia

  Secretary of State

  9 December 1997 to 10 December 1997

  Washington

  G8 Meeting on Organised Crime

  Mike O'Brien

  18 December 1997 to 19 December 1997

  Luxembourg

  Conference on European Year Against Racism

  Mike O'Brien

  4 January 1998 to 14 January 1998

  Pakistan, India, Bangladesh

  To observe entry clearance posts

  Secretary of State

  13 January 1998 to 14 January 1998

  Madrid

  Meetings with the Spanish,Minister of the Interior and Minister of Justice

  Secretary of State

  26 January 1998

  Brussels

  Meetings with the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee, the EPLP and the ELDR

  Joyce Quin

  28 January 1998

  Brussels

  To address the European Presidency Racism and Xenophobia Debate

  Secretary of State

  4 February 1998 to 6 February 1998

  Washington, USA

  Accompanying Prime Minister: Meetings with National Institute of Justice, Baltimore Police Department, Department of Justice and Attorney General Reno

  Mike O'Brien

  10 February 1998 to 11 February 1998

  Brussels

  To attend the 'Lets Kick Racism Out of Football' seminar

  362
  visits in the course of their ministerial duties since 1997; and if he will give details of the purpose and duration of each visit. [67746]

  Mr. Straw
  Home Office Ministerial visits overseas since 2 May 1997 are listed in the table:
  363

  Minister

  Dates

  Places visited

  Purpose of visit

  Lord Williams of Mostyn

  15 February 1998 to 16 February 1998

  Paris

  To address the OECD Workshop on Global Network Society

  Joyce Quin

  8 March 1998 to 9 March 1998

  Prague

  To discuss EU enlargement

  Secretary of State and Joyce Quin

  18 March 1998 to 19 March 1998

  Brussels

  To attend Justice and Home Affairs Council Meeting

  Lord Williams of Mostyn

  21 March 1998 to 25 March 1998

  Thailand

  To launch a UK funded course on Child Sex Exploitation

  Joyce Quin

  26 March 1998

  Amsterdam

  To address the Dutch Probation Conference

  Joyce Quin

  16 April 1998 to 17 April 1998

  Warsaw

  To discuss EU enlargement

  Joyce Quin

  21 April 1998 to 22 April 1998

  Vienna

  To address the UN Crime Commission

  Joyce Quin

  28 April 1998 to 1 May 1998

  Budapest

  To discuss EU enlargement

  Secretary of State

  14 May 1998

  Vienna

  Meetings with the Austrian Interior Minister and Minister of Justice

  Lord Williams of Mostyn

  26 May 1998 to 27 May 1998

  Milan

  To visit the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM)

  Secretary of State and Joyce Quin

  27 May 1998 to 29 May 1998

  Brussels

  To attend the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting

  George Howarth

  7 June 1998 to 10 June 1998

  New York

  To attend the UN Special Session on Drugs

  Joyce Quin

  29 June 1998 to 30 June 1998

  Brussels

  To address the European Presidency Civil Liberties and Legal Affairs Committee

  George Howarth

  30 June 1998

  Brussels

  To address a meeting of the EU Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs Committees

  Secretary of State and Kate Hoey

  23 September 1998 to 24 September 1998

  Brussels

  To attend Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting

  Secretary of State

  15 October 1998 to 16 October 1998

  Avignon

  To attend and address a seminar on Family Law and Organised Crime

  Kate Hoey

  28 October 1998 to 30 October 1998

  Vienna

  Informal Justice and Home Affairs Council

  Mike O'Brien

  3 November 1998 to 6 November 1998

  Ethiopia and Nigeria

  To attend entry clearance conference and observe entry clearance posts

  Kate Hoey

  4 November 1998 to 5 November 1998

  Strasbourg

  Council of Europe Ministers meeting on tackling organised crime

  Secretary of State and Kate Honey

  2 December 1998 to 4 December 1998

  Brussels

  To attend Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting

  Kate Hoey

  6 December 1998 to 8 December 1998

  Budapest

  Visit to firm up co-operation on organised crime following successful bid for twinning project

  Secretary of State

  27 January 1999

  Strasbourg

  To visit the European Court of Human Rights

  Ministerial Flights
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) on 19 January 1999,Official Report, column 417, if he will list the occasions on which Ministers in his Department have used RAF flights since 1 May 1997. [67745]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) on 19 November 1998,Official Report, columns 737–38, and 9 December 1998, Official Report, columns 213–14, which list the flights made between 2 May 1997 and 9 December 1998.
  364
  Since 10 December 1998, Ministers in this Department have used an RAF aircraft on one occasion, when I flew from Northolt to Culdrose and back this month, to open Falmouth Police Station.

  CS Spray
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times police forces have sent to his Department a written report on the circumstances of an operational use of CS spray for public order purposes since 1990. [67610]

  Mr. Boateng
  CS spray has only been in use since 1996 and is not intended for use in situations of serious public disorder. It is intended primarily for the personal
  365
  protection of police officers, and may be used in certain situations where suspects are disorderly either individually or in group situations and violence is threatened or likely. A written report has been obtained in one case, and information has been received about two others in which CS spray has been used, in response to public concern or inquiries from Members of Parliament and others.

  CS dispersed in smoke for use in situations of serious public disorder has been available to all police forces since 1968 for use as a tactical option. It has not been used in England and Wales during the time period in question.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances reports of the Police Complaints Authority into particular cases are made public; [67870]

  (2) what criteria are used to assess whether a report of the Police Complaints Authority into a specific complaint is made public; [67869]

  (3) how many reports of the Police Complaints Authority into specific complaints have been made public; and if he will list them. [67868]

  Mr. Boateng
  Complaint investigation reports are treated as confidential and are not published. The Police Complaints Authority is restricted by section 98 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 from publishing information received in the course of its work other than in the form of a general summary.

  In its report on police disciplinary and complaints procedures, published in December 1997, the Home Affairs Committee recommended that the terms of section 98 should be relaxed to give the Authority greater freedom to explain its work to complainants and the public. The Government accepted that recommendation and will implement it when legislative time permits.

  Under section 97(2) of the 1984 Act, the Police Complaints Authority may report to the Secretary of State on any matters coming to their notice to which they consider his attention should be drawn by reason of their gravity or other exceptional circumstances. The report is laid before Parliament and published. Only two such reports have been made by the Police Complaints Authority, concerning the investigation of the West Midlands Serious Crime Squad and the Stephen Lawrence case.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make further appointments to the Police Complaints Authority. [68693]

  Mr. Straw
  I have recently appointed Mrs. Molly Meacher to the position of Deputy Chairman of the Authority, following the retirement of Mr. John Cartwright.

  Mrs. Meacher has served as a member of the Authority since 1994, and her previous posts include that of Adviser to the Chairman of the Russian Federal Employment Service; Mental Health Act Commissioner; Health Trust non-executive director; and director of Action Trust (now the Employment Policy Institute). Her appointment is for three years with effect from 1 February 1999.

  Roger Casement
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry to investigate whether the diaries of Roger Casement released by his Department during his trial were forgeries. [67866]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have not received any formal requests to review the case of Roger Casement, and currently have no plans to set up any such inquiry.

  Correspondence
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received in relation to the activities of Mr. X whose name has been provided to him; and if he will make a statement; [67873]

  (2) in what capacity Mr. X, whose name has been provided to him, has been (a) employed by and (b) served Her Majesty's Government. [67874]

  Mr. Straw
  The hon. Member's letter of 22 January gave insufficient information for me to be able to answer the Question and I have written to him accordingly.

  Diarmuid O'Neill
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on what action is to be taken following the report of the Police Complaints Authority into the case of Diarmuid O'Neill. [67867]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that the report of the police investigation, which was supervised by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on 20 November. As at 26 January, no decisions had been taken by the CPS about bringing to criminal charges. No decision on disciplinary action will be taken by the PCA, and the Metropolitan Police, until the CPS have decided whether to institute criminal proceedings.

  Voluntary Sector Grants
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to publish the relevant statistics covering central Government department grants to the voluntary sector over the last two years. [67725]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information relating to grants made by Government Departments to the voluntary sector over the period 1995–96 to 1997–98 is currently being collected. The figures will be published in the Spring.

  Police Stations (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations there were in Wales in(a) 1976, (b) 1996 and (c) at the last available date. [67457]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. An alphabetical list of police
  367
  stations in Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom can be found in the gazetteer of the Police and Constabulary Almanac, a copy of which is in the Library.

  An Audit Commission study of police force estates has been collecting information on the current number of police stations, by force, in England and Wales. The Report is due to be published in the Spring.

  Prison Deaths
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many self-inflicted deaths occurred in prisons in the last year; what action his Department is taking to reduce the number of self-inflicted deaths; and if he will make a statement. [67933]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There were 83 self-inflicted deaths in prisons in England and Wales last year (80 male, 3 female). The Government are committed to doing everything possible to try to reduce the incidence of self-inflicted deaths in prisons. My noble Friend Lord Williams chairs a regular meeting between the Prison Service and a range of representatives from interested groups including: the Samaritans; Howard League; Prison Reform Trust; Inquest; and the Board of Visitors, to discuss how they can work more closely together. We welcome the current thematic review of suicide and self-harm conducted by Her Majesty Chief Inspector of Prisons, the report of which is soon to be published. We look forward to any recommendations he has in this important area of work.

  The Prison Service is developing a range of additional measures including: identifying and dissemination of good practice by reintroducing a suicide awareness bulletin; reviewing screening and induction processes to identify those prisoners at risk more effectively so that they can be cared for appropriately; reviewing the use of unfurnished cells for the suicidal; improving cell design to provide a safer environment; identifying alternatives to the use of strip cell conditions in the care of the suicidal; and conducting further research into suicide and self-harm.

  The Prison Service is also increasing the involvement of external interest groups through a regular working group and in projects and research into suicides. There has been for some time a close working relationship with the Samaritans, who of course have a great deal of expertise in this area. Listener schemes, whereby

  Education and work by prision 1995–98

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1995–96

  Education

  Work

  Education

  Work

  Education

  Work

  Acklington

  2.8

  17.9

  3.5

  17.6

  3.3

  16.9

  Albany

  3.9

  17.2

  2.5

  13.5

  4.9

  16.3

  Aldington

  5.4

  22.5

  5.0

  22.0

  —

  —

  Ashwell

  6.5

  21.1

  6.7

  20.5

  7.5

  20.0

  Askham Grange

  9.6

  10.0

  8.6

  9.3

  9.0

  17.8

  Aylesbury

  6.3

  7.9

  6.7

  9.1

  8.1

  9.3

  Bedford

  3.6

  17.5

  3.8

  19.7

  4.1

  19.3

  Belmarsh

  2.3

  7.5

  2.0

  8.4

  2.3

  10.7

  Birmingham

  0.9

  8.7

  1.1

  10.2

  1.8

  11.9

  Blakenhurst

  3.5

  10.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Blantyre House

  7.3

  11.9

  8.3

  12.9

  9.4

  12.7

  Blundeston

  5.9

  13.9

  5.8

  12.6

  4.9

  12.6

  Brinsford

  2.0

  8.4

  2.7

  9.0

  3.7

  10.4

  Bristol

  1.2

  13.8

  0.7

  13.6

  1.7

  15.0

  Brixton

  1.2

  11.6

  1.5

  11.1

  1.9

  1.1

  Brockhill

  7.0

  16.3

  6.2

  19.4

  6.6

  21.5

  368
  prisoners offer support to fellow prisoners, are now established in over two thirds of prisons in England and Wales, the majority of which are supported by the Samaritans.

  In addition, instructions and guidance to staff on caring for the suicidal are being re-examined and are soon to be issued as a new Prison Service Order.

  Police Stations
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations there were, per police force, in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [67918]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. An alphabetical list of police stations in the United Kingdom can be found in the gazetteer of the Police and Constabulary Almanac, a copy of which is in the Library.

  An Audit Commission study of police force estates has been collecting information on the current number of police stations, by force, in England and Wales. The Report is due to be published in the Spring.

  Prisoners (Activities)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average level of purposeful activity per week undertaken by inmates, broken down into(a) education and training, (b) work and (c) rehabilitation programmes, in each prison service establishment, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [67917]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information on the average weekly time spent in purposeful activity by prisoners in each establishment for each of the last three years is given in the table.

  Work is defined as time spent in support to works and maintenance staff, workshops, farms, gardens, kitchens and other domestic work. Education and training includes daytime education, vocational training courses, construction and industrial training courses and evening education classes. The Prison Service does not record separately time spent engaged in rehabilitation programmes.

  369

  Education and work by prison 1995–98

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1995–96

  Education

  Work

  Education

  Work

  Education

  Work

  Bullingdon

  5.4

  6.8

  5.6

  8.2

  5.9

  10.8

  Bullwood Hall

  8.5

  10.5

  9.0

  11.6

  10.4

  12.8

  Camp Hill

  4.6

  11.8

  6.2

  14.5

  7.2

  15.4

  Canterbury

  3.3

  7.2

  4.1

  8.7

  5.9

  10.3

  Cardiff

  1.9

  17.2

  1.8

  17.1

  2.3

  17.1

  Castington

  6.2

  10.9

  5.5

  10.8

  6.9

  11.3

  Channings Wood

  5.5

  13.8

  5.3

  14.4

  6.8

  17.0

  Chelmsford

  1.2

  10.0

  1.8

  11.4

  2.2

  11.1

  Coldingley

  3.9

  29.5

  2.7

  26.1

  3.1

  20.2

  Cookham Wood

  4.7

  16.4

  4.8

  16.0

  3.5

  7.9

  Dartmoor

  3.4

  12.7

  3.4

  13.3

  4.7

  14.0

  Deerbolt

  8.5

  8.4

  8.5

  8.4

  9.0

  8.5

  Dorchester

  1.9

  10.8

  2.8

  12.8

  3.4

  14.2

  Dover

  6.6

  9.9

  7.5

  10.6

  8.0

  11.4

  Downview

  5.3

  17.9

  5.0

  17.5

  5.7

  16.8

  Drake Hall

  4.9

  23.8

  4.6

  23.5

  5.9

  22.8

  Durham

  2.9

  8.4

  2.4

  8.8

  2.8

  9.5

  East Sutton Park

  8.2

  19.0

  7.6

  19.1

  8.4

  18.0

  Eastwood Park

  6.1

  10.6

  7.0

  12.0

  —

  —

  Elmley

  2.9

  10.6

  2.9

  11.3

  4.4

  11.8

  Erlestoke

  7.3

  13.8

  7.0

  14.2

  8.3

  15.8

  Everthorpe

  8.5

  13.7

  9.3

  10.9

  11.2

  15.3

  Exeter

  1.7

  7.8

  1.6

  7.9

  1.8

  10.4

  Featherstone

  2.8

  15.1

  3.5

  15.9

  4.2

  19.0

  Feltham

  2.5

  9.8

  2.5

  11.3

  3.0

  14.3

  Ford

  6.2

  17.1

  6.5

  17.3

  5.8

  16.8

  Foston Hall

  6.9

  13.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Frankland

  3.7

  10.1

  3.9

  11.1

  4.3

  11.6

  Full Sutton

  4.7

  9.4

  5.1

  12.6

  5.6

  14.9

  Garth

  4.7

  11.9

  3.6

  11.8

  4.3

  12.7

  Gartree

  5.2

  14.7

  5.1

  14.0

  6.2

  16.0

  Glen Parva

  3.5

  7.8

  3.4

  9.0

  3.9

  7.8

  Gloucester

  3.7

  10.0

  3.4

  11.0

  2.8

  10.2

  Grendon

  2.2

  10.8

  2.3

  12.9

  3.4

  14.3

  Guys Marsh

  7.2

  20.0

  9.0

  16.9

  9.4

  19.0

  Haslar

  5.3

  9.2

  8.2

  9.7

  9.2

  11.4

  Hatfield

  10.6

  16.2

  9.5

  21.3

  9.8

  20.4

  Haverigg

  3.4

  23.4

  3.1

  23.7

  4.9

  23.4

  Hewell Grange

  9.8

  21.1

  9.6

  20.8

  8.5

  21.2

  Highdown

  3.6

  7.6

  4.3

  8.9

  6.1

  9.9

  Highpoint

  4.9

  9.5

  3.0

  9.0

  5.8

  12.2

  Hindley

  8.0

  9.9

  6.8

  10.2

  6.5

  11.8

  Hollesley Bay

  3.4

  24.1

  3.4

  23.6

  9.3

  10.7

  Holloway

  3.5

  10.1

  3.3

  8.7

  3.4

  7.7

  Holme House

  2.6

  8.1

  3.2

  9.0

  4.0

  8.5

  Hull

  3.5

  12.1

  4.5

  12.8

  5.5

  14.9

  Huntercombe

  7.9

  11.0

  7.6

  10.9

  7.3

  7.0

  Kingston

  4.5

  20.7

  5.3

  19.9

  5.2

  21.8

  Kirkham

  4.6

  34.4

  4.7

  29.7

  4.8

  29.9

  Kirklevington

  2.9

  11.5

  2.9

  13.8

  5.0

  35.9

  Lancaster

  6.8

  11.1

  6.1

  10.3

  7.0

  14.6

  Lancaster Farms

  6.3

  7.6

  6.2

  6.8

  8.2

  5.5

  Latchmere House

  1.1

  14.4

  1.2

  14.0

  2.8

  10.1

  Leeds

  1.5

  11.0

  1.2

  11.5

  1.4

  11.5

  Leicester

  2.3

  15.6

  2.3

  15.7

  2.4

  18.0

  Lewes

  2.5

  11.1

  3.4

  14.9

  3.3

  14.6

  Leyhill

  4.7

  28.8

  4.6

  28.2

  4.7

  28.6

  Lincoln

  1.4

  16.0

  1.9

  13.7

  2.2

  15.3

  Lindholme

  5.0

  11.6

  5.4

  13.1

  6.0

  14.7

  Littlehey

  7.0

  18.1

  7.8

  18.1

  8.4

  19.3

  Liverpool

  1.9

  13.1

  1.7

  14.5

  1.8

  13.9

  Long Lartin

  3.5

  9.1

  4.2

  11.1

  4.9

  12.8

  Low Newton

  6.1

  11.6

  6.8

  12.7

  7.2

  10.5

  Maidstone

  2.8

  15.7

  3.1

  12.3

  3.5

  13.7

  Manchester

  2.5

  19.5

  1.8

  15.7

  1.6

  15.1

  Moorland

  7.7

  12.2

  6.7

  12.2

  6.6

  13.6

  Morton Hall

  9.0

  18.3

  9.6

  19.5

  11.4

  18.4

  Mount

  4.5

  8.5

  5.5

  8.4

  7.2

  13.0

  New Hall

  5.1

  14.8

  6.5

  17.1

  8.1

  17.6

  North Sea Camp

  6.4

  27.4

  7.2

  25.6

  —

  —

  Northallerton

  4.0

  5.3

  3.3

  6.4

  4.7

  13.5

  Norwich

  3.3

  11.8

  4.0

  8.4

  6.6

  11.7

  370

  371

  Education and work by prison 1995–98

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1995–96

  Education

  Work

  Education

  Work

  Education

  Work

  Nottingham

  2.8

  9.9

  5.8

  13.3

  7.1

  13.8

  Onley

  5.8

  9.4

  5.3

  8.9

  6.0

  9.3

  Parkhurst

  2.9

  13.3

  2.6

  11.6

  3.2

  10.3

  Pentonville

  1.5

  14.0

  1.1

  12.5

  1.7

  9.9

  Portland

  8.3

  8.1

  9.0

  9.2

  9.4

  10.5

  Preston

  1.4

  10.5

  1.6

  12.4

  1.6

  11.9

  Ranby

  5.5

  19.6

  4.6

  20.0

  5.3

  21.2

  Reading

  2.3

  10.5

  2.5

  12.4

  4.6

  14.4

  Risley

  4.6

  14.6

  4.8

  15.0

  6.2

  16.7

  Rochester

  1.3

  9.7

  3.5

  10.2

  5.7

  11.4

  Send

  5.8

  22.7

  4.9

  21.8

  4.4

  22.2

  Shepton Mallet

  6.3

  13.0

  7.1

  13.4

  7.0

  13.0

  Shrewsbury

  2.7

  11.6

  3.0

  10.5

  2.6

  8.6

  Stafford

  4.7

  16.0

  4.5

  16.8

  4.3

  18.4

  Standford Hill

  4.2

  26.3

  4.4

  25.3

  4.8

  24.4

  Stocken

  6.6

  13.3

  7.3

  14.5

  7.7

  18.4

  Stoke Heath

  4.6

  11.6

  5.1

  14.1

  4.7

  14.4

  Styal

  6.3

  17.8

  5.9

  19.3

  6.9

  21.9

  Sudbury

  6.9

  17.5

  7.7

  16.4

  8.3

  17.8

  Swaleside

  5.6

  11.2

  4.7

  10.4

  4.9

  10.2

  Swansea

  2.6

  11.0

  2.5

  11.8

  2.8

  13.9

  Swinfen Hall

  8.3

  11.1

  7.9

  11.9

  9.9

  13.4

  Thorn Cross

  12.8

  10.1

  12.7

  8.8

  12.6

  19.3

  Usk

  9.1

  16.8

  8.8

  18.5

  9.1

  17.8

  Verne

  7.4

  19.8

  7.2

  20.1

  8.1

  18.5

  Wakefield

  3.8

  11.7

  3.9

  11.6

  4.1

  13.4

  Wandsworth

  0.8

  15.0

  1.3

  16.2

  2.1

  14.5

  Wayland

  6.1

  11.4

  7.2

  10.8

  8.3

  11.8

  Wealstun

  7.1

  15.5

  7.9

  15.9

  9.1

  15.2

  Weare

  4.1

  9.3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wellingborough

  11.1

  7.3

  10.8

  8.0

  12.1

  9.1

  Werrington

  10.2

  18.2

  11.3

  18.3

  12.7

  18.1

  Wetherby

  10.3

  9.6

  11.6

  11.8

  12.4

  13.1

  Whatton

  11.5

  14.1

  11.7

  14.9

  11.5

  15.6

  Whitemoor

  4.3

  10.1

  5.0

  11.3

  5.8

  9.8

  Winchester

  2.3

  11.9

  2.3

  12.8

  2.9

  14.6

  Wolds

  9.5

  12.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Woodhill

  2.9

  6.8

  3.2

  7.2

  3.5

  7.6

  Wormwood Scrubs

  0.8

  10.4

  1.1

  9.6

  2.0

  10.8

  Wymott

  3.7

  26.3

  4.4

  24.5

  4.6

  27.3

  Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review those terms of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 which were not incorporated into the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, with special reference to the provisions relating to conspiracies other than terrorist conspiracies; and if he will make a statement. [67930]

  Mr. Boateng
  Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 requires the Secretary of State to lay before the House at least once in every 12 months a report on the working of the Act. The provisions relating to conspiracy in sections 5–7 of the 1998 Act will be reviewed separately from the other provisions. The appointment of an independent reviewer of these provisions is currently under consideration and an announcement on the appointment will be made in due course.

  Prisons
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons he has jurisdiction for,372
  setting out (a) the number of places the prisons were originally built for, (b) the number of inmates currently in each prison and (c) the percentage overcrowding. [67952]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The table lists the certified normal accommodation, population and percentage overcrowding at each prison establishment for which the Home Secretary has jurisdiction on 18 December 1998.

  The Prison Service uses the concept of certified normal accommodation (CNA) to define the uncrowded capacity of each establishment. For prisons built in recent years, this is equivalent to original capacity. The CNA measures can also be applied to older prisons, particularly those built in the last century, whose original capacity is no longer relevant because of significant building and or modernisation work.

  Certified normal accommodation, population and percentage overcrowding by prison on 18 December 1998

  Establishment

  Certified normal accommodation

  Population

  Percentage overcrowding

  Acklington

  662

  651

  —

  Albany

  436

  427

  —

  Aldington

  145

  138

  —

  Altcourse

  600

  690

  115

  Ashwell

  484

  491

  101

  373

  Certified normal accommodation, population and percentage overcrowding by prison on 18 December 1998

  Establishment

  Certified normal accommodation

  Population

  Percentage overcrowding

  Askham Grange

  130

  127

  —

  Aylesbury

  439

  374

  —

  Bedford

  352

  373

  106

  Belmarsh

  820

  809

  —

  Birmingham

  734

  1,063

  145

  Blakenhurst

  647

  830

  128

  Blantyre House

  120

  119

  —

  Blundeston

  424

  346

  —

  Brinsford

  477

  490

  103

  Bristol

  487

  574

  118

  Brixton

  809

  728

  —

  Brockhill

  145

  145

  100

  Buckley Hall

  350

  383

  109

  Bullingdon

  773

  872

  113

  Bullwood Hall

  140

  132

  —

  Camphill

  429

  480

  112

  Canterbury

  196

  284

  145

  Cardiff

  525

  662

  126

  Castington

  330

  314

  —

  Channings Wood

  482

  598

  124

  Chelmsford

  357

  355

  —

  Coldingley

  298

  287

  —

  Cookham Wood

  120

  163

  136

  Dartmoor

  701

  651

  —

  Deerbolt

  432

  401

  —

  Doncaster

  771

  1,050

  136

  Dorchester

  147

  222

  151

  Dover

  316

  313

  —

  Downview

  327

  342

  105

  Drake Hall

  295

  269

  —

  Durham

  592

  890

  150

  East Sutton Park

  94

  85

  —

  Eastwood Park

  255

  270

  106

  Elmley

  760

  931

  123

  Erlestoke

  310

  310

  100

  Everthorpe

  438

  467

  107

  Exeter

  314

  487

  155

  Featherstone

  599

  596

  —

  Feltham

  849

  887

  104

  Ford

  462

  443

  —

  Foston Hall

  130

  132

  102

  Frankland

  529

  520

  —

  Full Sutton

  584

  595

  102

  Garth

  633

  646

  102

  Gartree

  366

  368

  101

  Glen Parva

  720

  836

  116

  Gloucester

  235

  293

  125

  Grendon

  241

  222

  —

  Guys Marsh

  487

  518

  106

  Haslar

  160

  155

  —

  Hatfield

  180

  157

  —

  Haverigg

  530

  546

  103

  Hewell Grange

  203

  198

  —

  Highdown

  649

  785

  121

  Highpoint

  680

  690

  101

  Hindley

  494

  440

  —

  Hollesley Bay

  398

  364

  —

  Holloway

  517

  520

  101

  Holme House

  971

  958

  —

  Hull

  556

  506

  —

  Huntercombe

  368

  368

  100

  Kingston

  193

  165

  —

  Kirkham

  702

  596

  —

  Kirklevgton

  180

  177

  —

  Lancaster

  218

  216

  —

  Lancaster Farms

  496

  465

  —

  Latchmere House

  193

  172

  —

  Leeds

  1,056

  1,232

  117

  Leicester

  219

  348

  159

  Lewes

  485

  478

  —

  Leyhill

  410

  377

  —

  Lincoln

  350

  441

  126

  Lindholme

  686

  681

  —

  Littlehey

  624

  641

  103

  Liverpool

  1,216

  1,473

  121

  374

  Certified normal accommodation, population and percentage overcrowding by prison on 18 December 1998

  Establishment

  Certified normal accommodation

  Population

  Percentage overcrowding

  Long Lartin

  379

  347

  —

  Low Newton

  149

  217

  146

  Lowdham Grange

  504

  498

  —

  Maidstone

  551

  569

  103

  Manchester

  953

  1,143

  120

  Moorland

  740

  767

  104

  Morton Hall

  208

  202

  —

  Mount

  588

  623

  106

  New Hall

  327

  367

  112

  North Sea Camp

  197

  181

  —

  Northallerton

  152

  250

  164

  Norwich

  562

  696

  124

  Nottingham

  493

  459

  —

  Onley

  640

  615

  —

  Parc

  800

  810

  101

  Parkhurst

  482

  393

  —

  Pentonville

  897

  1,091

  122

  Portland

  516

  576

  112

  Frescoed

  120

  87

  —

  Preston

  398

  679

  171

  Ranby

  710

  736

  104

  Reading

  203

  227

  112

  Risley

  871

  857

  —

  Rochester

  433

  381

  —

  Send

  80

  78

  —

  Shepton Mallet

  162

  217

  134

  Shrewsbury

  166

  298

  180

  Spring Hill

  256

  248

  —

  Stafford

  627

  623

  —

  Standford Hill

  384

  318

  —

  Stockken

  556

  576

  104

  Stoke Heath

  646

  613

  —

  Styal

  412

  282

  —

  Sudbury

  511

  510

  100

  Swaleside

  632

  622

  —

  Swansea

  251

  316

  126

  Swinfen Hall

  319

  293

  —

  Thron Cross

  316

  222

  —

  Usk

  128

  203

  159

  Verne

  552

  571

  103

  Wakefield

  562

  573

  102

  Wandsworth

  1,171

  1,300

  111

  Wayland

  620

  630

  102

  Wealstun

  632

  607

  —

  Weare

  400

  361

  —

  Wellingborough

  368

  328

  —

  Werrington

  188

  104

  —

  Wetherby

  360

  332

  —

  Whatton

  267

  263

  —

  Whitemoor

  522

  507

  —

  Winchester

  463

  609

  132

  Wolds

  360

  404

  112

  Woodhill

  672

  720

  107

  Wormwood Scrubs

  946

  967

  102

  Wymott

  809

  794

  —

  Police Officers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers have had their application for early retirement on health grounds refused during the past 12 months for each police authority in England and Wales; [67785]

  (2) how many police officers have applied for early retirement on health grounds whose applications have not yet been determined for each police authority in England and Wales. [67786]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information is not held centrally.

  Police Officers (Sick Leave)
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers currently on sick leave have had their pay(a) reduced by 50 per cent. and (b) stopped altogether for each police authority in England and Wales. [67787]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not collected centrally, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police Officers (Years of Service)
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of police officers in post have more than 25 years' service for each police authority in England and Wales. [67789]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not collected centrally, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Greater London Police Authority
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the annual cost of the proposed new police authority for Greater London. [67791]

  Kate Hoey
  The Government have made no estimate of the annual cost of the proposed new police authority for London. In line with the position outside London, the costs of the Metropolitan Police Authority will be borne out of the budget it receives for the policing of the Metropolitan Police District.

  Police Officers (Over 50)
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing(a) the number and (b) the percentage of officers in post aged 50 years and over for each police authority in England and Wales. [67788]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not collected centrally, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police Pensions
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the percentage of revenue budget apportioned to the payment of police pensions for each police authority in England and Wales. [67790]

  Mr. Boateng
  Estimates of police pension costs for 1998–99 are set out in the table.

  Estimates of net police pension costs—1998–99

  £000

  Police authority

  Net pension costs

  Net revenue expenditure

  Percentage of net expenditure

  Avon and Somerset

  26,877

  167,417

  16.1

  Bedfordshire

  6,982

  62,317

  11.2

  Cambridgeshire

  8,463

  71,230

  11.9

  Cheshire

  11,580

  106,523

  10.9

  City of London

  8,291

  60,862

  13.6

  Cleveland

  11,108

  82,282

  13.5

  Cumbria

  8,715

  63,000

  13.8

  376

  Estimates of net police pension costs—1998–99

  £000

  Police authority

  Net pension costs

  Net revenue expenditure

  Percentage of net expenditure

  Derbyshire

  13,788

  100,894

  13.7

  Devon and Cornwall

  23,165

  167,117

  13.9

  Dorset

  9,486

  73,497

  12.9

  Durham

  10,166

  78,103

  13.0

  Dyfed Powys

  6,926

  52,609

  13.2

  Essex

  19,361

  168,889

  11.5

  Gloucestershire

  9,138

  63,780

  14.3

  Greater Manchester

  59,380

  371,497

  16.0

  Gwent

  7,712

  67,919

  11.4

  Hampshire

  20,009

  190,920

  10.5

  Hertfordshire

  9,499

  97,859

  9.7

  Humberside

  13,584

  111,587

  12.2

  Kent

  20,867

  178,916

  11.7

  Lancashire

  24,802

  178,051

  13.9

  Leicestershire

  12,566

  102,707

  12.2

  Lincolnshire

  10,057

  68,322

  14.7

  Merseyside

  37,483

  245,277

  15.3

  Metropolitan Police

  210,438

  1,778,001

  11.8

  Norfolk

  10,148

  82,339

  12.3

  North Wales

  11,138

  75,075

  14.8

  North Yorkshire

  12,162

  75,638

  16.1

  Northamptonshire

  7,067

  67,134

  10.5

  Northumbria

  31,500

  205,380

  15.3

  Nottinghamshire

  16,355

  124,828

  13.1

  South Wales

  24,861

  163,430

  15.2

  South Yorkshire

  17,248

  168,205

  10.3

  Staffordshire

  22,383

  122,540

  18.3

  Suffolk

  8,385

  65,785

  12.7

  Surrey

  11,021

  90,738

  12.1

  Sussex

  24,846

  162,664

  15.3

  Thames Valley Police

  20,306

  221,147

  9.2

  Warwickshire

  6,201

  53,617

  11.6

  West Mercia

  12,458

  112,879

  11.0

  West Midlands

  42,831

  372,296

  11.5

  West Yorkshire

  37,555

  280,739

  13.4

  Wiltshire

  7,480

  66,666

  11.2

  Total

  924,388

  7,220,676

  12.8

  Note:

  Taken from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police Statistics Estimates.

  Police Escorts
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the cost in police time of escorting wide or exceptionally loaded vehicles for the last year for which figures are available for each police authority in England and Wales. [67792]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not available centrally but it has been estimated by the Association of Chief Police Officers that the costs are over £7 million a year.

  Plastic Bullets
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the review of the guidelines covering the use of plastic bullets will be completed; and when he will publish his conclusions. [67997]

  Mr. Boateng
  Consultation is continuing with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Royal Ulster Constabulary about whether any changes to the current Home Office guidances covering the use of baton rounds in England and Wales are required. Any such change will be announced in due course.
  377
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take action to abolish the use of plastic bullets as a means of riot control in the United Kingdom. [67998]

  Mr. Boateng
  The use of baton rounds is one tactical option available to police in dealing with situations of serious public disorder. There are no plans to remove this option from the police service in England and Wales, for which the Home Secretary has responsibility.

  MI5 (History)
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make MI5's history of its operations from 1908 to 1945 available for commercial publication. [67981]

  Mr. Straw
  The Public Record Office released the first tranche of Security Service records relating to World War II on 27 January. Records relating to the period 1909–19 were released, in November 1997. The Security Service is reviewing the remaining records covering World War II and those for the inter-war years.

  Once released by the Public Record Office, such records are in the public domain but may be subject to copyright in the usual way.

  The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council on Public Records, chaired by Lord Woolf, has recently conducted, at my request, a review of the criteria used by the Security Service in deciding whether to retain files on grounds of historical interest. I will be publishing their report and announcing my conclusions on their recommendations as soon as possible.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and financial efficiency of the Commission for Racial Equality. [68186]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  A study of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) was conducted by a senior Home Office official in July 1998 for budgetary purposes. This raised no serious concerns about the financial propriety of the CRE's expenditure of public money. It did, however, make recommendations to improve its business planning, including closer working links with the Home Office. Officials are in regular contact with the CRE and are taking these forward.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he met the former Commission for Racial Equality member, Mrs. Blondel Cluff; what detailed response he has made to the paper on the Commission for Racial Equality which she submitted to the Home Office; and if he will place a copy of his response to her paper in the Library. [68185]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I met Mrs. Cluff on 6 July 1998. At this meeting she passed me her report.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote a private letter to Mrs. Cluff thanking her for her service on the Commission. In this he said that her points on the role and philosophy of the Commission would help inform the Government's thinking on the future shape for race relations legislation.

SCOTLAND

  Spend-to-save Programme
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail by project of over £10,000 the moneys made available to local authorities under the spend-to-save programme for 1997–98; what projects have been earmarked for funding in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000, and how much funding has been allocated to each; what is the proposed total budget for the spend-to-save programme for each of the next three financial years; and what percentage of this will be under the control of the Scottish Parliament. [65935]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The spend-to-save scheme was introduced in 1997–1998 to allow councils flexibility between capital and revenue spending to deal with costs arising from reductions in revenue budgets. The spend-to-save initiatives and the amount of capital allocations surrendered for the purpose are entirely a matter for individual authorities. £37.3 million and £12.171 million was used in 1997–98 and 1998–99 respectively for spend-to-save purposes. There are no plans to continue the scheme beyond this year. From 1 July, local government finance will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  New Futures Fund
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of allocations of money over £10,000 made under the New Futures Fund in the financial year 1997–98; if he will list the allocations over £10,000 already made under this programme for financial years 1998–99 and 1999–2000; if he will give(a) the amount allocated to running costs and (b) the total funds available for each of the next three financial years; and what percentage of this will be under the control of the Scottish Parliament. [65800]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The operational management of the New Futures Fund (NFF) is the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and I will ask their Chairmen to write to the hon. Member. The funding for the NFF is provided from within the financial allocations made to SE and HIE and as such will be under the control of the Scottish Parliament.

  Performance Pool Awards
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the percentage of the NHS performance pool money announced by his Department on 18 March 1998 for NHS trusts which met waiting list targets which has been allocated; if he will give the value of such money distributed to each health trust; what criteria were used to make awards; and if he will publish the target levels for waiting lists for each health trust and the actual current level of waiting list. [65807]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: No allocations have yet been made from the money set aside to reward good performance by NHS Trusts in reducing waiting lists. The target levels for waiting lists reductions are held at Health Board level and are given in Table A. Waiting lists figures, by Health Board, at 30 September 1998 are set out in Table B. Waiting lists data, by Health

  379
  Board, is published quarterly, and the figures for 31 December 1998 are not yet available. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Table A: NHS in Scotland: Waiting lists to be met by 31 March 1999, by Health Board

  Health Board

  Target

  Argyll and Clyde

  7,304

  Ayrshire and Arran

  6,113

  Borders

  1,565

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,290

  Fife

  7,732

  Forth Valley

  4,308

  Grampian

  8,757

  Greater Glasgow

  13,307

  Highland

  3,380

  Lanarkshire

  9,525

  Lothian

  11,874

  Orkney

  184

  Shetland

  379

  Tayside

  7,336

  Western Isles

  450

  Table B: NHS in Scotland: Inpatient and day case waiting list, by Health Board, on 30 September 1998

  Health Board

  Number waiting

  Argyll and Clyde

  7,083

  Ayrshire and Arran

  5,916

  Borders

  1,497

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,137

  Fife

  8,109

  Forth Valley

  4,030

  Grampian

  9,583

  Greater Glasgow

  13,738

  Highland

  3,403

  Lanarkshire

  9,264

  Lothian

  10,701

  Orkney

  213

  Shetland

  413

  Tayside

  8,252

  Western Isles

  419

  Source:

  SMR3, ISD Scotland

  NHS Building Projects
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current building projects in the NHS, with the exception of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, of value greater than £100,000; which of these involve PFI contracts and what is the PH share of the cost of each project; what will be the(a) annual cost and (b) total cost to the public purse of each of these projects over the next five years, stating the amounts to be paid under PFI contracts; if he will list the property transfers made as part of the PFI contracts in each case; which of these buildings will be in public ownership; and if he will make a statement. [65933]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: Other than the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, there are currently 35 building projects with a capital value greater than £100,000 under way in the NHSiS. These projects are listed as follows:

  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Service Reconfiguration

  Arbroath Infirmary Redevelopment

  Arran Day Hospital, Ailsa Hospital, Ayr

  Ashludie Community Hospital

  380

  Bo'ness Community Hospital

  Borders Mental Health Renewal Programme

  Crosshouse Hospital Service Developments

  Cumbernauld Health Centre

  Dumfries Community Extended Treatment Unit

  Dundee Dental Hospital Upgrade

  Dundee Limb Fitting Centre

  Dundee Palliative Care Day Hospital

  Edinburgh Western General Redevelopment

  3 Health Care Houses, Edinburgh

  Galashiels Health Centre

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary Maternity and Plastic Surgery
  Development

  Glasgow Southern General Neuroscience Ward Upgrade

  Glasgow Southern General Prosthetics Unit

  Glasgow Western General Infectious Diseases Unit

  Glasgow Western General Linear Accelerator Bunkers

  GP Premises in Orkney

  Hairmyres Hospital (DGH Replacement)

  IPCU and ICCU at St. John's, Livingston

  Law Hospital (DGH Replacement)

  Learning Disabilities Nursing Home, Edinburgh

  Lerwick Health Centre

  Old Irvine Road Clinic, Kilmarnock

  Renal Endoscopy Unit at Monklands Hospital

  Scalloway Health Centre

  Southern Isles Hospital, Balivanich

  Special Care Baby Unit at Ninewells, Dundee

  Stranraer Resource Centre

  Turriff Hospital

  Waverley Park, Glasgow

  Woodilee Hospital Reprovision.

  In addition, there may be other projects which fall within NHS Trust and Health Board delegated limits and for which information is not held centrally.

  Of these projects two are being procured through PFI, namely, the new Hairmyres Hospital and the new Law Hospital. The capital value of the facilities being procured through these projects is £67.5 million for Hairmyres Hospital and £100 million for Law Hospital. The facilities will be designed, built, financed and operated by the private sector and the NHS Trusts will enter into 25 to 30 year contracts for the use of the facilities.

  NHS Trusts pay capital charges (depreciation and a return on capital employed) on all publicly owned assets which they use. For facilities provided through the PFI, no capital charges will be paid but the Trust will instead pay the private sector provider for the use of the facility.

  No payments will be made to the PFI provider or costs incurred prior to the facility coming into use. Over the next 5 years the total running costs of the facility (including the cost of the PFI contract) and the PFI contract costs will be as detailed in the table.

  381

  £000

  New Hairmyres hospital

  New Law hospital Total

  Year

  Total running cost

  PFI contract

  Total running cost

  PFI contract

  1999–2000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2000–01

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2001–02

  50,545

  10,554

  61,356

  16,145

  2002–03

  44,694

  12,530

  74,409

  19,579

  2003–04

  44,563

  12,399

  76,641

  20,166

  Total

  139,802

  35,483

  212,406

  55,890

  As part of the PFI contract for the new Hairmyres Hospital 52 acres of surplus land at Hairmyres was included in the deal. No land transfers were included in the Law deal.

  Neither of the new facilities will be in public ownership.

  School Rationalisations
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by project of over £10,000 the moneys made available to local authorities for school rationalisations for the financial year 1997–98; what projects have been earmarked for funding in financial years 1998–99 and 1999–2000; how much funding has been allocated to each; what is the proposed total budget for school rationalisations for each of the next three financial years; and what percentage of this will be under the control of the Scottish Parliament. [65930]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: Under special arrangements, which apply only for financial year 1998–99, £15 million has been distributed to the eight authorities listed to assist them in improving the facilities and buildings at schools involved in rationalisation plans in their areas. The distribution of the resources is not tied to specific rationalisation projects. It is, of course, open to authorities to allocate funds from their general capital resources in support of school rationalisation. From 1 July 1999, local government finance, including local authorities' responsibilities for schools funding will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Authorities

  £000

  Aberdeen City

  525

  Argyll and Bute

  440

  Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

  87

  Dundee City

  460

  East Ayrshire

  643

  Glasgow City

  12,000

  South Lanarkshire

  485

  West Lothian

  360

  New Housing Partnership
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of allocations of money over £10,000 made under the New Housing Partnership in the financial year 1997–98 indicating allocations over £10,000 already made under the New Housing Partnership for financial years 1998–99 and 382
  1999–2000, and further indicating (a) the amount allocated to running costs and (b) the total funds available for each of the next three financial years. [65954]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The information is contained in the table.

  New Housing Partnership Allocations

  £000

  Councils

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Aberdeen City

  367

  330

  Aberdeenshire

  223

  65

  Angus

  190

  —

  Argyll and Bute

  207

  —

  Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

  146

  56

  Clackmannanshire

  157

  780

  Dumfries and Galloway

  276

  100

  Dundee City

  424

  3,275

  East Ayrshire

  306

  1,261

  East Dunbartonshire

  181

  68

  East Lothian

  186

  2,945

  East Renfrewshire

  157

  25

  Edinburgh City

  731

  7,718

  Falkirk

  360

  200

  Fife

  175

  125

  Glasgow City

  1,578

  9,415

  Highland

  306

  992

  Inverclyde

  241

  33

  Midlothian

  190

  —

  Moray

  162

  20

  North Ayrshire

  249

  82

  North Lanarkshire

  718

  1,752

  Orkney Islands

  120

  —

  Perth and Kinross

  231

  187

  Renfrewshire

  371

  93

  Scottish Borders

  167

  135

  Shetland Island

  127

  200

  South Ayrshire

  247

  —

  South Lanarkshire

  436

  750

  Stirling

  211

  311

  West Dunbartonshire

  285

  15

  West Lothian

  272

  2,630

  Allocations for New Housing Partnership projects have still to be made over the three years from 1999. It is not possible to differentiate between capital and running costs. Earmarked sums for each of the three years are:

  £ million

  1999–2000

  23

  2000–2001

  95

  2001–2002

  160

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

  NHS Modernisation Programme
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of allocations of money over £10,000 made under the modernisation programme for the NHS in Scotland announced on 5 November 1998 for financial years 1998–99 and 1999–2000; and if he will give the total funds available for each of the next three financial years. [65810]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The Modernisation Programme comes into effect from April 1999. No allocations have therefore, been made in

  383
  1998-99. £140 million is being made available for the modernisation programme in 1999–2000. The level of funds to be made available in 2000–01 and 2001–02 has still to be determined. Allocations for 1999–2000 have been made as follows:

  £ million

  Waiting list initiative

  44.5

  Bridging finance

  12.5

  GP staff and premises

  2.5

  Blood products etc.

  13.8

  Support for local health co-operatives

  13.5

  The balance of funds will be distributed over the next financial year. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Project Funding Allocation
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list broken down by year and amount for each of the next three financial years those projects of value greater than £50,000 which have been allocated funds from the money announced by press release by his Department on 17 March 1998; and what percentage of the money remains unallocated. [658061

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: The Scottish Office issued three news releases on 17 March 1998 about public expenditure allocations announcing an additional £44 million for the NHS in Scotland; £21 million of additional funding for education; and an increase of £4.5 million in funding for rural transport. From 1 July 1999 these will be matters for the Scottish Parliament. The information requested in relation to each of these is as follows:

  Health
  An additional £44.5 million has been added to the baseline of the NHS in Scotland specifically to tackle waiting lists.
  In 1999–2000, Health Boards will use these resources to provide full funding for 196 strategic projects established during the current year and designed to secure long-term, sustained reductions in waiting lists and waiting times. The Boards will be monitoring and auditing the progress and success of these projects and will allocate funding to them in 2000–01 and in subsequent years, as appropriate. I have arranged for a list, by Health Board, of the 104 projects which will cost in excess of £50,000 in 1999–2000 to be placed in the Library.

  Education
  Additional spending of £19 million for schools and child care was provided to local authorities in the current year under the normal allocation arrangements. Details are not available at this time of individual projects undertaken by those authorities. Additional funding of £1.4 million for further education was directed to colleges to assist in the transitional period following a change in funding methodology. No specific projects were involved in this allocation. Funding announced for the University for Industry (£880,000) will be utilised for the continued development costs of the project.

  Rural Transport
  £4.5 million per year for three years is being invested in the Rural Transport Funding Package. In 1998–99 £3.5 million has been earmarked for allocation to local authorities to provide additional public passenger transport services; it is for the local authorities to decide which public transport services they intend to fund and information about projects greater than £50,000 is not held centrally. The Scottish Office has issued 75 per cent. of the funding for this financial year; the remaining 25 per cent. is expected to be issued in the near future.
  384
  A further £600,000 has been earmarked in this financial year for community transport projects. The three community transport projects awarded grant amounts greater than £50,000, and the spread of payments over the three financial years involved, are listed in the table.

  Rural community transport projects greater than £50,000

  £

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Total

  Annandale Community Transport Project

  70,900

  6,750

  10,020

  87,670

  Handicabs (Mid/East Lothian)

  31,500

  15,000

  15,000

  61,500

  Handicabs (West Lothian)

  31,500

  15,000

  15,000

  61,500

  Grants of £240,000 to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and £160,000 to Scottish Enterprise (SE) have been allocated to assist rural petrol stations in 1989–99. Decisions about the specific allocation of grant for individual projects are a matter for HIE, SE and the relevant Local Enterprise Companies.

  100 per cent. of the grant to local authorities for rural public passenger transport services and grant to assist rural petrol stations remains to be allocated in future years. 90 per cent. of the funding for rural community transport grant schemes remains available for allocation in future years.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail by project of over £10,000 and in total, the assistance given to Scottish businesses for research and development in 1997–98; what projects have been earmarked for funding in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000, and how much funding has been allocated to each; what is the proposed budget for research and development assistance for each of the next three financial years; and what percentage of this will be under the control of the Scottish Parliament. [659341

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 18 January 1999]: My Department provides research and development support for business through the SMART: SCOTLAND, SPUR and SPURPplus programmes, during 1997–98 and the current financial year also made payments to projects which are funded under the Regional Enterprise Grant for Innovation Scheme (which closed to applications on 31 December 1995).

  The European Commission, other Government Departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the local enterprise companies are also actively involved in assisting projects which fall within their spheres of responsibility. Information on these latter categories of grants is not held by my Department.

  Total grant expenditure in 1997–98 on projects supported under SMART: SCOTLAND, SPUR, SPURPplus and Regional Enterprise Grant for Innovation Scheme amounted to £3.6 million. During the period 1 April 1998 to 31 December 1998 the equivalent expenditure amounted to £2.5 million. As details of how this expenditure is broken down between individual projects

  385
  of over £10,000 and of the funding allocated is lengthy, I have arranged for this information to be placed in the House Library.

  No specific projects have been earmarked for funding in 1999–2000 and in the remainder of the current financial year since grant offers are made in response to project proposals submitted to my Department by businesses which meet the qualifying criteria for support.

  The combined provision for SMART: SCOTLAND, SPUR and SPURplus in each of the next three financial years is £4.3 million. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Scottish Parliament Building
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the architect Enric Miralles on(a) the estimated date of completion of the Scottish Parliament's new building and (b) the cost overrun on the project. [66706]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 21 January 1999]: I and officials in the Holyrood Parliament Project Team have regular contact and meetings with Enric Miralles of EMBT/RMJM on a range of issues about the new building at Holyrood. The project remains on programme and the budget for the building continues to be £50 million excluding VAT and fees.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the allegations made by the project manager for the Scottish Parliament's new building that he was prevented from taking the action necessary to solve problems of building cost overrun. [66704]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 21 January 1999]: Comprehensive project monitoring and reporting arrangements are in place for the Holyrood building. The allegations attributed to the former project manager have been examined. I am satisfied that the project remains on programme. The budget for the building continues to be £50 million excluding VAT and fees.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the criteria used in calculating the initial estimated building cost for the Scottish Parliament; and what factors have led to an increase in cost since that estimate. [66703]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 21 January 1999]: The initial calculation of the estimated building cost for the Scottish Parliament new building was carried out by independent cost consultants. It was based on the feasibility studies produce for the four sites originally considered for the Scottish Parliament building. Appropriate unit rates were applied for different categories of use reflecting the need for varying standards of finish across the building.

  Detailed design work is being carried out by the architects for the building and cost consultants to monitor the implications. The budget for the building remains £50 million excluding VAT and fees.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reports he has received from the project manager of the Scottish Parliament's new building as to the prospects for the building being completed on time. [66705]
  386
  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 21 January 1999]: Arrangements are in place whereby I and officials in the Holyrood Parliament Project Team receive regular information about progress against programme for the Holyrood building. Work on site has begun and the target date for completion continues to be autumn 2001.

  Departmental Papers (Access for Visually Impaired)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for departmental(a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67845]

  Mr. Dewar
  All Scottish Office White and Green Papers are published on my Department's web site and can be easily accessed in large type face.

  I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 296.

  Motorail Service
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to assist the proposed revival of the Motorail service to take to their destinations by rail the cars of visitors to Scotland or of Scottish residents visiting southern England or the continent. [66632]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 26 January 1999]: This is a private commercial venture and its success will depend on demand for the service. I understand that the company has been seeking assistance from various sources, including Scottish Enterprise, local enterprise companies in the Highlands and the Scottish Tourist Board. Any project which seeks to take traffic off the roads is commendable and I will continue to watch the progress of this proposal with interest. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Student Fees
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the income to be raised by fees paid by students at Scottish universities and colleges in the current year and each of the next five years. [67501]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 27 January 1999]: Fees income for Scottish universities and colleges has been estimated for the years 1998–99—2001–02 only. Current estimates are set out in the table.

  Academic Year

  £ million1

  1998–99

  19

  1999–00

  32

  2000–01

  41

  2001–02

  46

  All figures at current prices

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

  Boundary Commission
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the members of the Boundary Commission for Scotland. [68571]
  387
  Mr. Dewar
  I have appointed Dr. Elspeth Graham and Professor Gavin McCrone to the Boundary Commission for Scotland from 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2002.

  The other members of the Commission are:
  Madam Speaker—ex officio—Chairman;
  The hon. Lady Cosgrove, appointed as Deputy Chairman by the Lord President of the Court of Session from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1999.

  Live births (singleton and multiple)—Scotland

  Percentage delivered by caesarean section, year ending 31 March

  Health board—area of treatment

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Scotland

  14.4

  14.6

  15.2

  15.1

  15.8

  16.0

  16.5

  16.8

  17.5

  18.5

  Argyll and Clyde

  16.9

  16.2

  17.4

  16.9

  15.7

  15.4

  16.2

  18.0

  18.3

  21.0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  15.5

  16.3

  18.2

  17.2

  17.9

  18.2

  17.5

  18.8

  19.1

  20.4

  Borders

  14.0

  13.6

  17.9

  15.7

  16.1

  16.5

  16.0

  19.4

  20.9

  17.6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  11.2

  12.3

  14.1

  12.5

  16.9

  15.6

  11.7

  13.7

  14.8

  17.8

  Fife

  11.3

  11.6

  10.7

  10.9

  11.6

  13.3

  15.2

  15.4

  14.9

  19.0

  Forth Valley

  12.7

  12.7

  13.8

  14.8

  15.2

  13.7

  15.8

  13.6

  15.3

  16.7

  Grampian

  11.8

  12.5

  12.4

  11.8

  13.0

  14.7

  15.4

  15.4

  17.4

  18.2

  Greater Glasgow

  15.3

  16.3

  16.4

  17.0

  17.8

  16.9

  18.0

  17.3

  18.1

  18.1

  Highland

  14.6

  13.2

  13.7

  15.2

  17.9

  15.6

  16.4

  18.0

  17.9

  19.9

  Lanarkshire

  14.7

  14.8

  16.1

  15.9

  16.6

  17.5

  17.8

  17.7

  18.4

  19.2

  Lothian

  15.5

  14.9

  15.1

  15.3

  16.1

  16.8

  16.7

  17.4

  17.5

  18.6

  Orkney

  14.2

  8.3

  9.0

  7.8

  10.6

  13.7

  12.2

  11.7

  16.9

  13.6

  Shetland

  7.3

  9.1

  2.2

  7.1

  8.1

  6.4

  4.7

  2.5

  2.9

  5.3

  Tayside

  13.6

  14.3

  14.6

  12.9

  13.4

  14.7

  15.7

  16.3

  16.4

  16.3

  Western Isles

  10.2

  9.7

  19.3

  18.1

  19.1

  18.3

  18.3

  19.3

  19.0

  18.1

  Notes:

  1. Prior to 1998, birth details were recorded only for the first two babies delivered. From 1998, where four or more babies are involved in a delivery, birth details are recorded for the first three babies delivered.

  2. In multiple deliveries individual babies may have different modes of delivery.

  Source:

  The information shown in the table has been extracted from the Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR02)—Maternity discharge.

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

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pesticides
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the current number of pesticides approved for use in the UK; and how many have(a) full approval and (b) provisional approval; [66011]

  (2) how many of the pesticides in use in the UK which have only provisional approval have had this status for (a) one to three years, (b) three to five years and (c) more than five years; and if he will make a statement. [66010]

  Mr. Rooker
  Pesticide approvals for agricultural products are issued by the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD); approvals for other products are issued by the Health and Safety Executive. A total of 3,905 pesticide products were, at 1 January 1999, approved by PSD. Of these, 1,871 had full approval for at least one use; 2,034 had provisional approval.

  Pesticides may have more than one approval, each approval reflecting a different use. The 2,034 pesticides carrying provisional approval from the PSD had a total of

  Caesarean Births
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in Scotland. [67671]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information requested is as follows:

  3,668 specific approvals on 1 January 1999. The age profile of these approvals was:

  Less than one year: 1,182

  One to three years: 1,735

  Three to five years: 408

  More than five years: 343.

  I have asked the Pesticides Safety Directorate to look closely at the reasons for the continuation of provisional approvals beyond three years to ensure that the highest standards of safety are being maintained.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment the Pesticides Safety Directorate has made of the safety of the use of pesticides in school grounds and playing fields. [66009]

  Rooker
  All pesticides, including those for use in school grounds and playing fields, are subject to strict statutory control. In considering the approval or review of a pesticide for use on amenity turf (including school playing fields and grounds), an assessment is made of the risk to people exposed to the treated area. Only if this assessment shows that there is no unacceptable risk to children and adults from the treatment will approval be granted or allowed to continue. Detailed advice covering the use of pesticides in such areas is set out in the Code of Practice for the Use of Approved Pesticides in Amenity and Industrial Areas (the Orange Code), produced by the British Agrochemicals Association and the National
  389
  Association of Agricultural Contractors. This Code has my full support as a contribution to good practice and safe use.

  Mite Contamination
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the member states of the European Union which have set maximum levels for mite contamination in food. [66018]

  Mr. Rooker
  No member state of the European Union has legislation which specifically sets maximum levels for mite contamination in food.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which organisations have been commissioned by his Department to operate the Organic Conversion Information Scheme in the United Kingdom; for which parts of the service these organisations are responsible; and if he will make a statement on the current level of interest in the scheme. [67659]

  Mr. Morley
  The Organic Conversion Information Services operates in England and Wales and is funded by the relevant Agriculture Departments. It comprises a telephone "Helpline" operated by the Soil Association and free on-farm advisory visits provided by the Elm Farm Research Centre. On-farm visits are also made by ADAS in Wales.

  In Scotland, the Scottish Agricultural College is responsible for a telephone "Helpline". The advisory service in Northern Ireland is provided by the Department of Agriculture.

  There was a significant increase in the number of inquiries received during 1998 and so far in 1999 throughout the UK.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the relative(a) direct and (b) indirect (1) subsidies afforded to and (2) energy used by (i) organic and (ii) conventional agriculture; and if he will make a statement. [67716]

  Mr. Morley
  In common with farmers who pursue conventional farming methods, organic farmers benefit from general support delivered under the Common Agricultural Policy, largely through the commodity regimes. They may also claim support under the Organic Aid Scheme and, where eligible, certain other agri-environmental schemes. An assessment of direct energy costs in agriculture is made as part of the annual estimates of agricultural incomes prepared by the Ministry. This assessment does not, however, distinguish between organic and conventional agriculture. Such a comparison would need to be statistically sound to be of value. The current diversity and small scale of many organic farming enterprises would, therefore, restrict the value of any statistical comparisons.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the amount of farmland(a) converted, (b) under conversion and (c) considering conversion to organic farming; and if he will make a statement on the estimated trend and geographical spread. [67692]
  390
  Mr. Morley
  As at 31 December 1998, there were 25,158 ha of converted organic land and 18,712 ha of land in conversion, in England. It is not possible reliably to estimate the amount of farmland being considered for conversion but there is a heightened level of interest from prospective organic farmers as evidenced by a substantial increase in inquiries received by the Organic Conversion Information Service. The south and west of England have a proportionally higher number of organic producers than the rest of England.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's research budget for 1999; how much will be allocated to organic farming systems; how the organic research budget is allocated; and how his Department ensures that research is(a) co-ordinated, (b) not duplicating other work and (c) meeting the needs of the organic sector. [67712]

  Mr. Morley
  MAFF's research budget for 1999–2000 has not been finalised but it is likely to be in order of £127m. £2.1m will be allocated to organic farming. The organic farming research budget is allocated by the Ministry's Organic Farming Unit and the Chief Scientist's Group with advice from the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency, and taking account of the recommendations of the UKROFS R&D Committee.

  There are a number of mechanisms to ensure that the research is well co-ordinated, not duplicatory, and meets the needs of the organic sector. These include maintaining awareness of other research, the frequent inclusion of literature and research reviews within the programme, consultation with the UKROFS R&D Committee, the periodic in-depth review of the programme involving external referees, and the fact that much of the research is let by Open Competition.

  Crops Support
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to provide support for crops on(a) grassland and (b) other agricultural land; and if he will make a statement. [67730]

  Mr. Rooker
  Support for a range of arable crops, including cereals and oilseeds crops, is provided under the Common Agricultural Policy. This takes a number of forms including direct payments to farmers. In some cases the relevant EU regulations restrict the type of land on which these may be paid. If the hon. Member writes to me with details of the specific crops in which he is interested, I will give him a fuller reply.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what public protection measures he has put in place in respect of the trials of genetically modified crops. [67768]

  Mr. Meale
  I have been asked to reply.

  The release of genetically modified organisms to the environment is controlled by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 (amended in 1995 and 1997) which give effect to Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Under these regulations, no genetically modified organisms may be released to the environment without prior consent from

  391
  the Secretary of State. Consent will only be granted when the potential risks to human health and the environment have been avoided or minimised.

  Departmental Staff (Travel)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the mileage rates currently applicable to staff, indicating changes which have been made to encourage staff to switch from cars to public transport and other less polluting forms of travel. [67491]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 January 1999]: The standard mileage rates reimbursed to staff in the core-Department together with the Centre for Environmental Fisheries and Aquaculture Agency, the Central Science Laboratory Agency, the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency, the Pesticides Safety Directorate, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate are set out in the following table:

  Pence per mile

  Engine size

  Up to 5,000 miles

  Over 5,000 miles

  Up to 1,500cc

  36

  24

  1,501–2,000cc

  45

  28

  Over 2,000cc

  48

  37

  The Department has strict rules to ensure that any travel on official business is authorised only when it is absolutely necessary and that cars may be used only when they are the most cost-effective method of travel. However, many of the Department's customers are based in rural locations so that the public transport options are often curtailed.

  Different mileage rates apply within the Meat Hygiene Service Agency and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply directly.

  Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. Norman Baker, dated January 1999:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food enquiring about the mileage rate currently applicable to staff and indicating the changes which have been made to encourage staff to switch from cars to public transport and other less polluting forms of transport has been passed to me to reply as regards this Executive Agency.
  The MHS applies the following mileage rates:

  Mileage rates

  Essential car user

  Lump Sum per annum

  £783

  Per mile, first 10,000 miles

  34.9p per mile

  Per mile, after 10,000 miles

  13.3p per mile

  Casual car user

  Per mile, first 10,000 miles

  44.1p per mile

  Per mile, after 10,000 miles

  13.3p per mile

  Leased Cars

  9.3p per mile

  392
  The majority of MHS car users are operational staff who are responsible for supervising MHS plant-based staff at some 1,600 licensed fresh meat premises scattered across Great Britain. Many licensed premises are situated in outlying areas where public transport is not available. The use of cars is therefore essential for MHS staff to carry out their duties.
  I can assure you that the MHS does encourage the use of public transport wherever it is practical.

  Badgers
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take in response to the recommendations of the Standing Committee of the Berne Convention on the badger culling trial. [68778]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The badger is not an endangered species in this country. We give it statutory protection which goes well beyond what the Berne Convention requires. However tuberculosis is a serious disease of cattle (and humans and badgers). We have carried out a thorough scientific review and a wide public consultation. We have thus carefully explored the possible solutions for the effective control of bovine TB. We have suspended badger culling throughout most of Great Britain, but have reluctantly concluded that we must test its effectiveness as one part of a broad strategy, which includes vaccine research, as well as checks on other wildlife species for TB. We therefore intend to continue the trial and will explain to the Standing Committee why this action is fully consistent with the provisions of the Berne Convention.

  Horse and Pony Exports
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans are being made to block the export of live horses and ponies to Ireland for subsequent export to Europe for slaughter. [67871]

  Mr. Morley
  Various rules are in force to protect the welfare of horses and ponies being transported from Great Britain. We attach importance to enforcing these rules, and would promptly investigate any hard evidence that they were being broken.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Travel Advice
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes to Foreign Office travel advice have been made since 20 December 1998. [66943]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issues Travel Advice notices on over 130 countries worldwide and updates them on a regular basis. Many of them have been updated since 20 December.

  British Citizens (Overseas Prisons)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals are currently imprisoned overseas; and if he will provide a breakdown by country. [66946]
  393
  Mr. Fatchett
  The number of British nationals imprisoned overseas (as at 22 January 1999) is 2,266. A breakdown by Country is follows:

  Country

  Number of prisoners

  Antigua

  3

  Argentina

  6

  Australia

  93

  Austria

  23

  Bahamas

  4

  Bahrain

  8

  Bali

  1

  Bangladesh

  3

  Barbados

  7

  Belgium

  81

  Belize

  1

  Bolivia

  2

  Brazil

  18

  Brunei

  1

  Bulgaria

  5

  Cambodia

  1

  Canada

  22

  Cayman Islands

  1

  China

  20

  CIS

  2

  Colombia

  5

  Croatia

  1

  Cuba

  6

  Cyprus

  6

  Czech Republic

  4

  Dem. Rep. Congo

  3

  Denmark

  23

  Djibouti

  2

  Dominican Republic

  4

  Ecuador

  10

  Egypt

  1

  Estonia

  1

  Finland

  2

  France

  321

  Germany

  109

  Gibraltar

  1

  Greece

  13

  Grenada

  3

  Guatemala

  1

  Guinea

  4

  Guyana

  1

  Hong Kong

  19

  Hungary

  2

  Iceland

  1

  India

  35

  Indonesia

  8

  Iran

  4

  Ireland

  35

  Israel

  5

  Italy

  26

  Jamaica

  28

  Japan

  18

  Jordan

  1

  Kenya

  2

  Korea

  3

  Kuwait

  5

  Laos

  1

  Luxembourg

  2

  Malawi

  1

  Malaysia

  2

  Malta

  1

  Mauritius

  2

  Mexico

  4

  Morocco

  31

  Mozambique

  1

  Nepal

  4

  Netherlands

  82

  Neth. Antilles

  1

  New Zealand

  5

  394

  Country

  Number of prisoners

  Nigeria

  1

  Norway

  18

  Oman

  1

  Pakistan

  13

  Panama

  1

  Peru

  9

  Philippines

  27

  Poland

  2

  Portugal

  28

  Qatar

  11

  Romania

  1

  Rwanda

  1

  Saudi Arabia

  3

  Sierra Leone

  3

  Singapore

  19

  South Africa

  27

  Spain

  305

  Sri Lanka

  7

  St. Lucia

  7

  Sweden

  31

  Switzerland

  21

  Syria

  2

  Taiwan

  9

  Tanzania

  1

  Thailand

  151

  Trinidad

  4

  Tunisia

  1

  Turkey

  7

  UAE

  26

  Uganda

  2

  Uruguay

  1

  USA

  344

  Uzbekistan

  1

  Venezuela

  11

  Vietnam

  10

  Yemen

  6

  Zimbabwe

  2

  East Timor
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise comments made by the Defence Attaché to the Indonesian Embassy about the use of British military exports in East Timor with the Indonesian Government. [67603]

  Mr. Fatchett
  In July 1997, we introduced new criteria for the export of defence equipment. Since then we have not issued licences for the export of equipment where we judge that there is clearly identifiable risk that the equipment might be used for internal repression or international aggression.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to ensure Indonesian compliance with UN resolutions on East Timor. [67575]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We fully support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in searching for a fair, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution to the problem. We keep in regular contact with the Secretary-General and Ambassador Marker about the progress of talks on East Timor.

  EU Fifth Framework Programme
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the UK Government policy on Israel's participation in the Fifth Framework Programme. [67405]

  Ms Quin
  We see value in Israel's participation in the Fifth Framework Programme. Given recent events in the region, however, we understand the concerns of our EU partners that now is not the right time to decide the issue. We hope this can be resolved as soon as circumstances permit.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the EU Council of Ministers will discuss the possible participation of Israel in the Fifth Framework Programme of research. [67404]

  Ms Quin
  EU Ministers looked at this issue at the GAC on 27–28 April 1998. There are no plans at present to discuss this further at Ministerial level in the EU.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what other non-EU member states are being considered for participation in the Fifth Framework Programme. [67407]

  Ms Quin
  The countries being considered for full Associated Membership of the Fifth Framework Programme are: the ten Central and Eastern European countries and Cyprus (which have applied for EU membership); Israel and Switzerland.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other EU member states on Israel's participation in the Fifth Framework Programme; and what views they have expressed. [67406]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the Fifth Framework Programme with EU colleagues in the Council in April 1998. There is consensus among EU partners that no decision on Israel's participation in the programme should be taken now.

  India (Gujarati Christians)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Indian Government about the treatment of Christians in the Gujarat. [67883]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have made clear to the Indian authorities our concern over attacks on members of minority communities. I raised the issue with the Indian Home Minister in November last year. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I separately raised our concerns with the Indian National Security Adviser on 20 January.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the treatment of Christians in the Gujarat. [67882]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have had representations from religious and other organisations.

  Migration and Visa Correspondence Unit
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) telephone inquiries and (b) letters the Migration and Visa Correspondence Unit received in December 1998. [67884]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Complete figures for December 1998 for telephone calls to the Migration and Visa Correspondence Unit (MVCU) are not available. 959 calls were received on the main public inquiry line. In addition several hundred calls were received on the Unit's other lines.

  The MVCU received 738 letters in December 1998 of which 582 were from hon. Members.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he(a) has taken in the last two years and (b) plans to take on human rights issues in Aceh, Indonesia. [67403]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We continue to monitor events in Aceh and are in close contact with local NGOs including the Indonesia National Human Rights Commission (KomnasHam), who sent a team to Aceh earlier this month to investigate recent incidents. Our Embassy in Jakarta makes periodic visits to different parts of Indonesia, including Aceh, to assess the situation on the ground. We have made clear to the Indonesians our view that peace and reconciliation in Aceh will only be possible if past military abuses in the province are fully investigated and those responsible are made accountable for their actions.

WALES

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to safeguard the future of small abattoirs in Wales. [66157]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The slaughtering industry has been going through a substantial period of change. There is still over capacity in the industry and it is principally for commercial operators to consider how they respond to these changes.

  However, the Government's decision to cover the costs of Specified Risk Material (SRM) Inspections for this financial year will benefit the industry in Wales by an estimated £2.8 million in 1998–99.

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

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the timescale for the conclusion of his review of the regional assistance map of Wales; and what is his anticipated timescale for legislative changes arising from the review. [67100]

  Mr. Hain
  The Commission has asked Member States to submit their map proposals for scrutiny by 31 March 1999. The new maps will come into force on 1 January 2000.
  397
  Laying the statutory instrument to bring the new Assisted Areas into operation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial provision his Department has made for the expected growth in the number of farmers converting to organic farming through the organic aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on whether the organic aid scheme budget is expected to cope with the current level of demand and expected growth in Wales. [67747]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Decisions on the funding of the Organic Aid Scheme have not yet been made.

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

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the amount of farmland(a) converted, (b) under conversion and (c) considering conversion to organic; what assessment he has made of future trends in this area; and if he will make a statement on the geographical spread of such land. [67764]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  As at 31 December 1998, there were 3,182 h.a. of converted organic land and 2,149 h.a. of land in conversion in Wales. It is not possible to estimate reliably the amount of farmland being considered for conversion. However, there has been a substantial increase in the number of inquiries received from prospective organic farmers. The majority of organic producers are in West Wales.

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

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's strategy for helping Welsh farmers to become organic; and if he will list his Department's current initiatives in this area. [67762]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Our aim is to encourage an expansion of organic farming. The current initiatives are as follows:

  The Organic Aid Scheme which provides direct support for conversion.

  The Organic Conversion Information Service which provides free advice to prospective organic farmers.

  An industry-led working group has been set up to develop an action plan for the organic sector.

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

  Crickhowell House
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what rent the Welsh Health Common Services Authority is paying for 1998–99 for those parts of Crickhowell House which are currently being refurbished in preparation for the National Assembly; and from what budget those payments are made. [67467]

  Mr. Michael
  None. The Welsh Office will meet the rental costs of those parts of Crickhowell House which have been made available for Assembly purposes.
  398
  In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

  Mobility Officers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those local authorities in Wales which have a designated mobility officer to assist blind and visually handicapped people. [67447]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The provision of assistance to blind and visually handicapped people is now through Rehabilitation Workers.

  I understand that the following local authorities directly employ Rehabilitation Workers:

  Blaenau Gwent

  Bridgend

  Cardiff

  Carmarthenshire

  Ceredigion

  Merthyr Tydfil

  Monmouthshire

  Pembrokeshire

  Powys

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  Swansea

  Value of Glamorgan.

  In addition, some local authorities have contracts with other organisations such as the North Wales Society for the Blind; the Gwent Association for the Blind; the Guide Dogs for the Blind or Vision Enhancement Services, to provide services similar to those of Rehabilitation Workers. These local authorities are:

  Anglesey

  Caerphilly

  Cardiff

  Conway

  Denbighshire

  Flintshire

  Gwynedd

  Newport

  Torfaen

  Wrexham.

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

  Hospital Services (Partially Sighted People)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those district general hospitals in Wales which offer specific services for partially sighted people; and which hospitals outside Wales provide such services for people resident in Wales. [67449]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information relating to specific services for partially sighted people is not held centrally. Ophthalmology services are provided in the following district general hospitals in Wales:

  Inpatient, day case and outpatient services

  Bronglais General

  East Glamorgan General

  Prince Charles

  399

  Princess of Wales

  Singleton

  University Hospital of Wales

  West Wales General

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor

  Day Case and Outpatient Services

  Neath General

  Nevill Hall

  Prince Philip

  Withybush

  Outpatient Services

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

  Details for hospitals outside Wales are not held by the Department.

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

  Visual Impairment (Children)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives have been taken by him and his Department to help identify young children who may suffer from visual impairment or potential visual impairment; and what guidelines he has issued to education, health and social services departments in Wales to ensure proper co-ordination of assistance for such children. [67450]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  All babies are offered routine physical examinations at birth, 6 to 8 weeks, and at about 18 months, which will include vision screening. Mothers are encouraged to ask for advice if they have concerns at any time. Vision is also screened at school entry.

  Local authorities and schools are responsible for identifying a child's special educational needs (SEN) and for ensuring that appropriate provision is made to meet those needs. The Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of SEN [ISBN 0 85522 444 4] includes guidance on the assessment of children with sensory impairment and on the duties of local authorities and health authorities to co-operate on service provision.

  In 'Shaping the Future for Special Education—An Action Programme for Wales', published on 26 January we recognise the need for strong regional collaboration between statutory agencies in planning SEN provision, particularly in relation to low-incidence disabilities including visual impairment. We will be making additional resources available under the Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) Programme from 1999–2000 to fund regional SEN planning pilot projects in Wales aimed at establishing best practice in this particular field.

  The 1997 'Health of Children in Wales' report also provides guidance on child health including visual impairment and the importance of effective multi-agency co-operation.

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

  Public Bodies
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to promote the principles of the Compact between the Government and the Voluntary Sector in Wales to other public bodies. [68692]

  Mr. Michael
  I have today written to the Leaders of local authorities, to the Chairs of Health Authorities and Trusts and to the Chairs of NDPBs in Wales drawing their attention to the Compact between Government and the Voluntary Sector in Wales which I launched in November at the annual conference of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

  The Compact is an agreement about the ways in which Government and the voluntary sector will work together for mutual benefit. It paves the way for the future and is intended to form the basis for the National Assembly's Voluntary Sector Scheme. The Compact is based on the principles of integrity, trust and mutual respect. While the agreement is between Central Government and the voluntary sector, I believe that these principles are equally applicable to relationships between other public bodies and the voluntary sector. I am very pleased that the Welsh Local Government Association has responded very positively indeed. I have agreed with the Association and the Wales Council for Voluntary action on a target of having a local compact in place for every part of Wales by September.

  I believe that similar compacts, agreed between each public body in Wales and the voluntary organisations in its field of activity or geographical area will be a powerful way to recognise and improve their relationships.

  I will therefore wish to see all other public bodies in Wales meeting the same target as that agreed with the Welsh Local Government Association.

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

  GPs and Dentists
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) general practitioners and (b) dentists there are in the NHS in North Wales. [68363]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The latest available data show that there were 435 general medical practitioners in the North Wales health authority area at 1 October 1997, of which 409 were unrestricted principals. There were 209 general dental practitioners at 30 September 1998, of which 198 were principals.

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

  Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to reform the operation of housing regeneration and improvement schemes; and if he will make a statement. [68353]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  There are currently no plans to change the arrangements for housing regeneration and
  401
  improvement. It is for local authorities to consider their local priorities in developing regeneration strategies as part of their Housing Strategies and Operational Plans.

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

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the state-maintained grammar schools, grouping them by constituency. [67098]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  A table containing the relevant information has been placed in the Library.

  Education Action Zones
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the total amount of the private sector financial contribution for each Education Action Zone and show this as a proportion of the total available budget; [67295]

  (2) if he will list those instances where a contribution from a TEC to an Education Action Zone has been included as a private sector contribution. [67289]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The 25 Education Action Zones have so far raised some £5 million towards the £6 million target for business contributions in their first year of operation. We will be in a position to provide a more detailed statement of the private sector contributions to each zone when they submit their audited financial statements for the financial year 1998–99.

  A contribution from a TEC to an EAZ does not count as a business contribution unless it is being sourced from the private sector.

  New Deal Entrants
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who will enter the New Deal in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (3) 2001–02. [67410]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 25 January 1999]: By convention, the Government do not publish forecasts of unemployment. The New Deal for young people is being delivered through local partnerships. For planning purposes, the Employment Service needs to provide its managers and partners in each local unit of delivery with indicative assumptions for the numbers of young people who might join the New Deal in the year ahead. Such planning assumptions are based on current unemployment levels. They are not forecasts of the actual numbers who will participate in the programme.

  We expect the indicative planning assumptions for local units of delivery for 1999–2000 to sum to a figure in the range 200,000 to 250,000 for Britain as a whole. At this stage, we would expect the figures for subsequent years to fall within a similar range.
  402
  I placed the planning assumption figures for 1998–99 in the Library in March 1998, and I will put the planning assumption figures for 1999–2000 in the Library as soon as they are ready.

  Physical Education
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for future assessment of schools' performance in respect of physical education. [67743]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Ofsted inspections report annually on individual schools' performance and standards in all National Curriculum subjects including physical education. At a national level, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools reports annually to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on schools' compliance with the National Curriculum requirements, including physical education. The Department also publishes annually end of Key Stage 3 National Teacher Assessment results in physical education. There are no plans to change the current arrangements.

  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will(a) include in the review of the National Curriculum the area of physical education and (b) require it to take evidence from sports, health and public order agencies. [67738]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The review of the National Curriculum for the year 2000 is looking at all areas of the school curriculum, including physical education. There will be a wide consultation on the revised National Curriculum in the summer. Sports, health and public order agencies—and other individuals including teachers, pupils and parents—will have opportunities then to make any representations on physical education within the school curriculum.

  Maintained Schools
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate, for each local authority, the total number of pupils attending maintained schools. [67654]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 26 January 1999]: The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number (headcount) of pupils in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools 1—January 1998. By local education authority area, by government office region in England

  Headcount

  England

  7,680,691

  North East

  435,289

  Hartlepool

  17,125

  Middlesbrough

  26,042

  Redcar and Cleveland

  26,767

  Stockton-on-Tees

  33,556

  Darlington

  16,468

  Durham

  82,028

  Northumberland

  52,493

  Gateshead

  30,709

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  40,731

  North Tyneside

  32,177

  South Tyneside

  26,625

  Sunderland

  50,568

  403

  Number (headcount) of pupils in maintained nursery, primary,
  secondary and special schools 1—January 1998. By local education authority area, by government office region in England

  Headcount

  North West and Merseyside

  1,153,328

  North West

  905,154

  Cheshire

  161,746

  Cumbria

  78,514

  Bolton

  47,329

  Bury

  29,621

  Manchester

  70,669

  Oldham

  42,135

  Rochdale

  37,144

  Salford

  37,030

  Stockport

  44,360

  Tameside

  38,775

  Trafford

  36,505

  Wigan

  51,417

  Lancashire

  229,909

  Merseyside

  248,174

  Knowsley

  30,125

  Liverpool

  82,831

  St. Helens

  30,509

  Sefton

  48,461

  Wirral

  56,248

  Yorkshire and Humber

  831,840

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  49,248

  City of Kingston-Upon-Hull

  44,214

  North East Lincolnshire

  28,832

  North Lincolnshire

  25,607

  York

  24,723

  North Yorkshire

  87,100

  Barnsley

  35,512

  Doncaster

  52,799

  Rotherham

  46,229

  Sheffield

  75,857

  Bradford

  90,025

  Calderdale

  35,022

  Kirklees

  65,287

  Leeds

  117,242

  Wakefield

  54,143

  East Midlands

  663,962

  Derby

  38,180

  Derbyshire

  114,043

  Leicester City

  49,825

  Rutland

  4,777

  Leicestershire

  92,002

  Lincolnshire

  96,933

  Northamptonshire

  103,135

  Nottinghamshire

  165,067

  West Midlands

  887,535

  Hereford and Worcester

  104,992

  Shropshire

  65,679

  Stoke

  40,181

  Staffordshire

  134,034

  Warwickshire

  76,063

  Birmingham

  180,977

  Coventry

  51,420

  Dudley

  51,000

  Sandwell

  52,843

  Solihull

  37,063

  Walsall

  50,182

  Wolverhampton

  43,101

  Eastern

  821,450

  Luton

  31,857

  Bedfordshire

  63,340

  Cambridgeshire

  104,928

  Essex

  240,839

  Hertfordshire

  170,473

  Norfolk

  110,840

  Suffolk

  99,173

  404

  Number (headcount) of pupils in maintained nursery, primary,
  secondary and special schools 1—January 1998. By local education authority area, by government office region in England

  Headcount

  London

  1,031,805

  Inner London

  356,905

  City of London

  204

  Camden

  22,638

  Hackney

  25,901

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  16,485

  Haringey

  32,624

  Islington

  24,331

  Kensington and Chelsea

  10,403

  Lambeth

  27,595

  Lewisham

  34,073

  Newham

  46,261

  Southwark

  33,815

  Tower Hamlets

  36,630

  Wandsworth

  28,183

  Westminster

  17,762

  Outer London

  674,900

  Barking and Dagenham

  28,534

  Barnet

  47,250

  Bexley

  38,714

  Brent

  36,875

  Bromley

  44,133

  Croydon

  47,956

  Ealing

  42,539

  Enfield

  46,134

  Greenwich

  36,618

  Harrow

  28,587

  Havering

  36,146

  Hillingdon

  38,630

  Hounslow

  35,388

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  20,133

  Merton

  24,274

  Redbridge

  39,652

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  20,089

  Sutton

  28,101

  Waltham Forest

  35,147

  South East

  1,146,419

  Berkshire

  120,265

  Milton Keynes

  34,502

  Buckinghamshire

  74,460

  Brighton and Hove

  30,168

  East Sussex

  64,883

  Portsmouth

  26,241

  Southampton

  30,928

  Hampshire

  174,064

  Isle of Wight

  19,064

  Kent

  248,843

  Oxfordshire

  84,101

  Surrey

  135,322

  West Sussex

  103,578

  South West

  709,063

  Bath and NE Somerset

  25,137

  City of Bristol

  52,586

  North Somerset

  27,057

  South Gloucestershire

  38,834

  Cornwall

  72,948

  Isles of Scilly

  261

  Devon

  154,172

  Bournemouth

  21,201

  Poole

  19,901

  Dorset

  53,039

  Gloucestershire

  83,496

  Somerset

  68,671

  Swindon

  29,190

  Wiltshire

  62,570

  1 Figures include Primary, Secondary and Special GM Schools

  Chess
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department takes to promote chess among children of school age. [67057]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 26 January 1999]: The Department recognises the educational value of chess and other non-physical games both for their ability to help the acquisition of cognitive thinking skills, and of course, for the enjoyment they provide. We very much welcome the opportunities which many schools provide for their pupils to take part in such activities. It is open to schools to offer such activities as extra-curricular options, which we see as an important part of a broad and balanced education.

  A-level Results
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many appeals were made by(a) students and (b) schools to examination boards following the publication of A level examination results in August 1998. [67962]

  Mr. Mudie
  Information on the number of A level appeals submitted in respect of the 1998 examination results is not available centrally. Except in the case of privately entered candidates, appeals may be submitted only by the school or college concerned, and not by individual candidates.

  New arrangements to be introduced from summer 1999, following a review of the qualifications appeals system, will mean that statistics on appeals will be collected and published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in future years.

  Primary Reception Classes
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the proportion of teachers currently working with children aged under five years in reception classes who have been trained to teach children under five. [67994]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This information is not available centrally.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department has issued to local education authorities on provision for four year olds in primary schools; and if he will make a statement. [67996]

  Ms Hodge
  All providers of state-funded early education for four year olds must work towards the desirable outcomes drawn up by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and currently under review. The Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership Planning Guidance for 1999–2000 requires Early Years Development and Childcare Plans to set out how reception classes will be structured to cater for the needs of younger four year olds. The draft Code of Practice on School Admissions encourages school admissions authorities to consider adopting a policy of deferred entry for young four year olds at the parent's request.
  406
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of four year olds in England are currently in primary reception classes. [67995]

  Ms Hodge
  The information is not available in the form requested. Fifty-six per cent, of four year olds in England were in infant classes in maintained primary schools in January 1998; infant classes include reception and other classes and exclude nursery classes. Early Years Development and Childcare Plans demonstrate how, in every Local Education Authority area, there is an early education place for every four-year-old whose parents want one in either the maintained, private or voluntary sector.

  School Bonus Payments
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria he will use to assess the levels of sustained improvement to be achieved in order to trigger payments under his new proposals for school bonus payments. [67675]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The School Performance Award Scheme will reward annually the top proportion of schools which demonstrate excellent performance or significantly improve. We propose to base decisions on which schools to reward under the excellence strand on the outcomes of academic assessments in the previous academic year. Under the improvement, strand awards would be based on sustained improvement against the same indicators. We intend to make different arrangements for schools such as special schools, focusing on achievements against individualised targets, and for schools coming out of special measures more quickly than predicted.

  Our detailed proposals for the School Performance Award Scheme will be set out in the Technical Consultation Document on Pay and Performance Management, to be published very shortly. We will take final decisions on the criteria to be employed for awards under the scheme in the light of responses to this consultation.

  Teenage Pregnancies
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to support the work of general practitioners and health centres in reducing the levels of teenage pregnancy by providing contraception and advice for pupils via schools. [67942]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In July 1998 the Prime Minister asked the Social Exclusion Unit to work with other government departments building on work already undertaken by the Department of Health to develop an integrated strategy to cut the rates of teenage parenthood, particularly under-age parenthood, and propose better solutions to combat the risk of social exclusion for vulnerable teenage parents and their children. The Department for Education and Employment has been fully involved with this work. The Unit expects to report to Ministers shortly.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total cost of the press releases issued by his Department since May 1997. [67924]

  Mr. Mudie
  The cost of printing and distributing press releases since May 1997 is estimated to be £63,460. This allows us at a cost of £70 per press release to get information to over 1,000 national, local and specialist media as well as local education authorities and other educational bodies. Increasing use is being made of electronic communication to reduce costs.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each of the years 1990 to 1998 the number of press releases issued by his Department. [67925]

  Mr. Mudie
  The number of press releases issued for each year from 1990 to 1998 by this department are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1990

  833

  1991

  852

  1992

  725

  1993

  700

  1994

  564

  1995

  472

  1996

  443

  1997

  447

  1998

  598

  The figures from 1990 to 1995 are for press notices released by Department of Education and the Department of Employment, prior to their merger in July 1995.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what conventions relating to the propriety of Government publicity affect press releases issued by his Department; and if he will set out the conventions relevant to(a) content and (b) cost. [67926]

  Mr. Mudie
  The conventions relating to the propriety of Government publicity, including press releases, are contained in the report of the Working Group on the Government Information (the "Mountfield Report"). In particular page 25 of Annexe C states:"The four basic conventions, which successive Governments have applied, are that Government information services:
  should be relevant to Government responsibilities;
  should be objective and explanatory, not tendentious or polemical;
  should not be, or be liable to misrepresentation as being partly political; and
  should be conducted in an economic and appropriate way, having regard to the need to be able to justify the costs as expenditure of public funds."

  Copies of the Working Group report are available from the Library.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list(a) those units in his Department and (b) the number of departmental
  408
  staff which are concerned with preparing rebuttals of allegations in the media; and what is (i) the total cost of their work, including salaries and (ii) the number of rebuttals issued since May 1997. [67943]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Department for Education and Employment has 28 press officers. It is their job to present and explain Departmental policy. No staff are specifically employed to prepare rebuttals of allegations in the media.

  The annual staff costs are £739,415.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 1999,Official Report, column 145, if he will list expenditure not included in his answer incurred (a) by task forces and review bodies, (b) by focus groups, (c) by market research and (d) for publications and publicity; and if he will list the bodies which incurred the expenditure. [67945]

  Mr. Mudie
  There were no additional research, advertising or direct mail costs incurred by task forces and review bodies. Costs for focus group research and market research were included in my previous Answer under public opinion research, 12 January 1999,Official Report, column 145.

  Within the Department's Advertising and Publicity budget the total spend on publications from May 1997 to December 1998 was £2,940,000, an average of £147,000 per month. This compares with a total spend for the previous financial year, 1996–97, of £2,500,000, or an average of £208,333 per month.

  Schools Adjudicator
  Jacqui Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will announce the appointment of the lead adjudicator for school organisation and admissions issues. [68602]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I have appointed Sir Peter Newsam as the lead adjudicator. He has wide-ranging experience for this post, gained from his time as Education Officer to the Inner London Education Authority, Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, and the Director of the Institute of Education. Further appointments of adjudicators will be made in February.

  Statutory Notices
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the outcome of statutory notices that have been waiting for more than five months from the date of each statutory notice for determination by him; and if he will(a) list the reasons for the delay in each case and (b) estimate when each determination will be made. [67927]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following list shows proposals published over five months ago and still under consideration. Reasons for delay are also shown. Since all aspects of proposals need to be carefully considered it is not possible to give a precise date for when individual decisions will be made, but most of the proposals on the list below are likely to be decided in February or early March.
  409

  Date of publication

  LEA

  Proposal

  Reason for delay

  19 August 1998

  Gloucestershire

  Blue Coat CE GM Primary—transfer to new site

  Planning permission only recently given

  16 August 1998

  Bromley

  Significant enlargement of Hayes Primary School

  School seeking modifications to original proposals

  14 August 1998

  Brighton and Hove

  Reorganisation of a number of schools

  Additional information sought from LEA. Decision deferred to allow objectors to put their concerns direct to Ministers.

  30 July 1998

  Newbury

  Turnpike GM School and Shaw House School amalgamation into new county secondary school

  Late statement of case—received 20 October

  30 July 1998

  Brent

  Establish new Jewish Primary School

  Considering Ofsted advice

  20 July 1998

  Staffordshire

  The Faber Primary Change of status from VC to VA

  Delayed submission to Department

  17 July 1998

  Solihull

  Significant enlargement of St. George and St. Theresa RC School

  Awaiting HMI comments

  16 July 1998

  Derby City

  Boulton Junior School and Boulton Infant School—amalgamation into new county primary school

  Exploration of points of uncertainty with LEA

  16 July 1998

  Luton

  Chantry Infant and Junior Schools amalgamation

  DfEE not notified of proposals until 21 October

  16 July 1998

  Brent

  Remove SEN Unit from Mitchell Brooke Primary School and add SEN Unit Oakington Manor School

  Advice from Ofsted and A&B need to be discussed with LEA

  8 July 1998

  Croydon

  Castle Hill Primary School addition of SEN unit

  Late supply of information by LEA

  3 July 1998

  East Sussex

  Claverham Community College addition of sixth form

  Decision deferred pending outcome of ACG round and further consideration of funding issues

  18 June 1998

  Westminster

  Addition of nursery Hampden Gurney CE Primary School

  Late statement of Case received January 1999

  15 June 1998

  Portsmouth

  Establish new school

  Ministers favourably disposed but awaiting confirmation that proposal can be funded through a cost effective PFI scheme

  12 June 1998

  Leeds

  New Jewish Secondary School

  Site problems

  10 June 1998

  Buckinghamshire

  Change of age range from 5–8 to 5–12 and site transfer of St. Mary's CE (VC) First School

  LEA consultation process being investigated

  10 June 1998

  Derbyshire

  Addition of sixth form to St. John Houghton RC GM school

  A late meeting (early November) with the head of the school to discuss FAS view of the proposals

  4 June 1998

  Manchester

  Closure of Woodhouse Park School, Oldwood School and Poundswick School and establishment of a new school

  Late submission of statements of case. Last required submitted on 16 December.

  20 May 1998

  Barking and Dagenham

  Addition of nursery at St. Vincent's RC Primary School

  Late statement of Case received December. Ofsted comments awaited.

  24 April 1998

  Warwickshire

  St. Thomas More RC High School addition of sixth form

  Timescale of related PFI project

  7 April 1998

  North Somerset

  Broadoak School—removal of sixth form

  Technical and Legal issues on transfer of resources from local authority finance

  1 April 1998

  Hillingdon

  Establish VA Sikh primary school—Guru Nanak Sikh

  Minded to approve decision 22 December

  410 411

  Date of publication

  LEA

  Proposal

  Reason for delay

  31 March 1998

  Swindon

  Linden Infant and Junior Schools. Proposed amalgamation to form new school

  Delays to related special school proposals

  12 March 1998

  Hackney

  Establish a new Jewish Secondary School

  Late statement of case not received until 7 July. Ofsted advice required.

  4 March 1998

  Haringey

  Bound's Green Infant's School—significant enlargement

  Awaiting LEA confirmation of funding arrangements

  4 March 1998

  Haringey

  Bound's Green Junior School—significant enlargement

  Awaiting LEA confirmation of funding arrangements

  26 February 1998

  Hackney

  Our Lady's Convent School—significant enlargement

  Consideration of need for school enlargement and cash limit for project

  5 February 1998

  Merton

  Addition of SEN unit at Bushey Middle School

  Issues concerning appropriate age range for SEN unit and link with possible Borough wide school reorganisation

  5 February 1998

  Wandsworth

  Addition of nursery at All Saints CE School

  Late statement of case received December. Ofsted comments awaited.

  30 January 1998

  Ealing

  Addition of sixth form to Walford High School

  Final decision will follow upon meeting between Ministers and delegation. Meeting to be arranged.

  30 January 1998

  East Sussex

  Addition of sixth form at Filsham Valley

  Decision deferred pending outcome of ACG round and further consideration of funding issues

  29 January 1998

  Haringey

  Establish a new school Alexandra Park School

  Lengthy correspondence about PPP issues

  12 December 1997

  Devon

  Axe Valley School and Community College addition of sixth form

  Availability of finance

  23 October 1997

  Lancashire (pre 1 April 1998)

  Addition of nursery at St. Stephen's CE Infant School

  Awaiting audit of early years provision

  16 October 1997

  Sunderland

  Change of age range to add nursery to Benedict Bishop CE Primary School

  The need to resolve capital issues

  1 October 1997

  Enfield

  New secondary school to be established in World's End Lane

  Favourably disposed decision given on 15 May 1998. Decision required once PFI contract signed.

  10 July 1997

  Westminster

  Addition of nursery unit at St. Peter's CE VA Primary School

  Promoters awaiting planning permission

  25 June 1997

  Newham

  Addition of a nursery at St. Edward's RC Primary School and transfer to a new site

  Early Land ownership issues and recent correspondence with LEA about need for expanded school

  412

  Police Complaints Authority
  Police Complaints Authority
  Secure Training Centres
  Secure Training Centres
  Medway Secure Training Centre
  Medway Secure Training Centre
  Firearms Register: Database
  Firearms Register: Database
  Drug Treatment Centres
  Drug Treatment Centres
  Reviewable Detention
  Reviewable Detention
  Criminal Records
  Criminal Records
  Persistent Young Offenders: Time between Arrest and Sentencing
  Persistent Young Offenders: Time between Arrest and Sentencing
  Offshore Accounts
  Offshore Accounts
  ROF Bishopton: Sourcing of Products after Closure
  ROF Bishopton: Sourcing of Products after Closure
  School Organisation and Admission Issues: Lead Adjudicator
  School Organisation and Admission Issues: Lead Adjudicator
  General Pinochet: Extradition Proceedings
  General Pinochet: Extradition Proceedings
  Law Lords: Reputation for Impartiality
  Law Lords: Reputation for Impartiality
  Food Standards
  Food Standards
  Planning Decisions: Performance Checklist
  Planning Decisions: Performance Checklist
  A.66 Temple Sowerby Bypass
  A.66 Temple Sowerby Bypass
  A.66 Safety Study
  A.66 Safety Study
  VDUs and Deterioration of Eyesight
  VDUs and Deterioration of Eyesight
  A. Simmers
  A. Simmers
  Scotpigs
  Scotpigs
  Coppicing in Scotland
  Coppicing in Scotland
  Secretary of State for Scotland: Responsibilities
  Secretary of State for Scotland: Responsibilities
  Royal Parks: Commercial Events
  Royal Parks: Commercial Events
  Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial: Kensington Gardens
  Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial: Kensington Gardens
  Planning Law: Ecclesiastical Exemption
  Planning Law: Ecclesiastical Exemption