Written Answers of 1 July 1999

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of(a) the cost of the climate change levy to his Department and (b) the savings from the reduction in national insurance contributions that will occur when it is introduced. [88864]

  Mr. Battle
  The net impact of the climate change levy and the associated reduction in main rate of employers' National Insurance Contributions on the Department of Trade and Industry will depend on the rates of the climate change levy. The final rates of climate change levy will not be set until Finance Bill 2000.

  In addition, the Government are still considering a number of detailed issues on the tax treatment of different energy products which could have a significant impact in some instances. It is, therefore, not possible to give definitive figures about the impact of the climate change levy on this Department.

  Rover
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the criteria under which Government investment in Rover will be expected to meet best value. [88502]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 28 June 1999]: The Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme from which the majority of the aid will be funded (£129 million) rigorously assesses the economic probity of aid and the ability of the potential investment to deliver value for money. In the Rover case the factors taken into account included:
  Winning a significant investment of over £1 billion for the UK;
  safeguarding of many tens of thousands of jobs both at Rover and in the region as a whole;
  Maintenance of Rover/Land Rover and their full R&D capability as an operational entity in the UK;
  enhancement of the UK's position in the global automotive market;
  and raising the skills and productivity levels within Rover and its suppliers.

  Internal Market Council
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Internal Market Council held in Luxembourg on 21 June. [89805]

  Mr. Byers
  My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Luxembourg on 21 June.
  234
  The Commission introduced an open debate on the future direction of the single market. There was general agreement on the need to define strategic objectives against which the development of the single market could be monitored and on the priority areas for action (including public procurement, electronic commerce and mutual recognition). The Scoreboard was confirmed as a tool for monitoring progress; the latest version showed that the deficit in the transposition of directives was being reduced.

  The Commission reported on the progress of SLIM IV (Simpler Legislation in the Internal Market), the review of the SLIM initiative and the prospects for SLIM V. The Netherlands introduced a joint paper from the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK and there was agreement from other member states that there was a need for improvements to help realise the potential of SLIM.

  The Council reached political agreement on the Orphan Drugs Regulation (which provides incentives for the development of drugs for the treatment of rare diseases) and Customs 2000, and agreed Conclusions on Tourism and Employment. With the exception of a Spanish Gibraltar-related reservation on the designation of competent authorities, there was unanimous political agreement on the substance of the Takeovers Directive, which included the text that the Government had sought dealing with the issue of litigation. There was no agreement on the new chocolate directive, despite a qualified majority in favour of the Presidency's compromise, because of Commission objections to the proposed comitology provisions.

  The Commission introduced Communications on the Environment and the Internal Market and on Mutual Recognition. There was a brief debate on international exhaustion of trademark rights following a Commission presentation. The Council took note of progress reports on Standardisation; the Copyright and related rights in the Information Society Directive; the Electronic Commerce Directive; and the Commission's oral report on Counterfeiting and Piracy. The Council took note of a progress report on the reform of Customs Transit Systems and adopted a Resolution. The Commission announced the imminent publication of an amended proposal on Community Design.

  Ministers discussed the Artists' Resale Right Directive. The Council agreed to give more time to discussions in order to find a solution to the remaining difficulties some member states have with the proposed directive.

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the aerospace industry concerning research into new technologies; and if he will make a statement. [89537]

  Mr. Battle
  I am aware of the importance of technology to the aerospace industry and saw many examples of high-technology products on the stands of UK companies during my recent visit to the Paris Air Show. Under the Department's Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD) Programme, DTI officials maintain a close dialogue with the industry in various fora about research into aeronautics technologies.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Tourism
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages to the British tourism industry of reducing the rate of VAT on(a) hotel rooms, (b) restaurants and (c) other tourist attractions. [88792]

  Janet Anderson
  I have no plans to assess areas of tax policy that are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I understand the industry has submitted views on this matter, which are being considered.

  Historic Public Buildings
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research his Department has commissioned on the condition of historic public buildings in urban parks. [88902]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Neither my Department nor the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have commissioned any such research. English Heritage's buildings at risk register contains information on all the grade I and II* listed buildings known to them to be 'at risk' through neglect and decay or vulnerable to becoming so.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to(a) discuss the protection of non-listed historic public buildings in urban parks with local authorities and (b) publish guidance on the conservation of non-listed historic public buildings in urban parks. [88903]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Neither my Department, nor the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has any such plans at present. Unlisted buildings in urban parks are in some cases likely to be covered by conservation area controls, guidance on which is included in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment.

  Royal Parks Agency
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he intends to undertake a review of the Royal Parks Agency. [89802]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Royal Parks Agency (RPA) was established on 1 April 1993 as an Executive Agency of my Department with responsibility for managing and policing the Royal Parks in London and some other related areas.

  I have today announced the start of our review of the Agency, which was postponed during the completion of the Comprehensive Spending Review. This will include an evaluation of its performance since launch and a review of the options for the best management of its functions. We aim to complete the review by the end of November 1999. A copy of the announcement has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Thameslink 2000
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will give an estimated completion date for the Thameslink 2000 scheme; and what the implications are for the Crossrail project. [88738]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The current estimate for the start of Thameslink 2000 services is May 2006. There is nothing planned within the scope of the scheme which would prevent the introduction of the Crossrail project.

  London Underground
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the current estimate is of the legal costs incurred to date by London Transport in the case of Mr. P. Marlow v London Underground Ltd. and the associated counter-claim. [88598]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  London Underground Ltd. has incurred legal fees amounting to £15,000 to date in defending proceedings commenced by Mr. Marlow and in pursuing a counterclaim against him.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to alleviate problems caused by the closure of the Circle Line. [88445]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport and I met the managing director of London Underground (LU) last week. He satisfied us that LU are operating additional services on the Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines, along part of the route where Circle Line services usually run, and a normal District Line service along most of the rest of the Circle Line. All stations remain open. Additional buses are also running on routes 16, 23 and 52. Underground tickets and passes are valid on these buses. We have asked him to inform us immediately if this should change.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the potential for genetically modified terminator genes in plants to escape into the environment; and if he will make a statement. [88638]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: Although 'terminator gene' technology has been patented in the United States of America, it has not been introduced into any crops. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment is to set up a sub-group to advise on best practice in developing genetically modified plants. The sub group's work will include consideration of the environmental impact of 'terminator genes' and similar approaches. The sub group's findings will be published.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he supported the call by the Greek Government at the meeting of the EU Environment Council on 24 June for a temporary ban
  237
  on new varieties of genetically modified crops and seeds pending the completion of the review of EU Directive 90/220; and if he will make a statement. [88875]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: The UK Government did not support the call for suspension of releases pending the completion of the amendment to Directive 90–220 during the Luxembourg Environment Council. The UK and a number of other Member States were sceptical of the legal justification for such a moratorium and considered that rapid and effective revision of the current Directive should be the top priority in the negotiations.

  The common position agreed in Luxembourg strengthens the existing Directive in a wide range of areas such as risk assessment and monitoring. Moreover, the safeguard clause will continue to apply, allowing Member States to take immediate action to suspend a release should evidence of harm emerge.

  During the Environment Council, the Council Legal Service confirmed that a moratorium suspending application of the existing Directive would not be possible. This position was supported by the Commission. The Council Legal Service outlined some limited scope offered by Article 95 (5) of the Amsterdam Treaty which enabled Member States to derogate from harmonised legislation where specific environmental problems emerge. However, the UK took the view that agreement on strict new provisions for the amendment of Directive 90–220 should take priority over a moratorium of doubtful legality.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the European Commission to ratify the decision of the Technical Committee to allow member states which have not already done so to impose restrictions on the importation of white asbestos and products that contain the material; and if he will make a statement. [89053]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: The Government are determined to apply further necessary restrictions to the importation, marketing and use of white asbestos. I have received advice from the Health and Safety Commission about those new restrictions in the form of draft regulations. I will act on that advice as soon as the European Commission has ratified the vote of their technical committee to adapt to technical progress Council Directive 76/769/EEC. I am hopeful that this ratification will not be subject to any unnecessary delay. The UK continues to encourage the European Commission to act swiftly on this vitally important measure.

  Car Parking Fines
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the average amount of revenue to be raised by local authorities for 1999–2000 from car parking fines. [89644]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Information on local authority parking revenue from penalty charge notices and excess charge notices is not held centrally.

  Council Tax
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has met the 12 local authorities he called in to discuss their increases in budget requirement and council tax; and if he will make a statement. [89803]

  Ms Armstrong
  On 13 April the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions announced his decision not to cap any authorities. However, he decided to call in twelve authorities with the largest increases in budget requirement and council tax to put them on warning for next year.

  I have now met the representatives of these twelve authorities. The meetings have been constructive. We discussed why the authorities had made such large increases and I explained that when we look at the budgets for 2000–01 we will be able to take this year's increase into account. Most of the authorities have told us that they do not expect to make such large increases next year.

  However, it is not only these authorities that will need to consider next year's increase carefully. All authorities should remember that, under the new reserve powers, the Government will be able to look back at increases over two years.

  Vehicle Number Plates
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has any proposals for new regulations relating to vehicle number plates. [89804]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department expects to publish draft regulations relating to the display of vehicle number plates in the near future. We will consult widely on the proposals before any new regulations are made.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Sitting Hours
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), representing the House of Commons Commission, what services of the House are required to be available when the House is sitting on Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and how much could be saved if the House rose at 7 p.m. [88669]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  Most main facilities for Members are available whenever the House is sitting. It is not possible to quantify, in any meaningful way, savings for the hours indicated by the hon. Lady.

  Braithwaite Report
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), representing the House of Commons Commission, when the House of Commons Commission is due to make a decision on the Braithwaite report; and how the report will be placed in the public domain. [88667]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The Commission has received the Braithwaite report which it is now considering.

  Portcullis House
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has received of the Portcullis House project; and if he will make a statement. [89516]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  In February the House of Commons Commission appointed Messrs Northcroft, Chartered Quantity Surveyors and Construction Consultants, to undertake a mid-term review of the Portcullis House project, including an analysis of changes in the cost; to consider whether the current cost estimate and timetable are realistic and whether there is a case for modifying any aspects of the project to reduce costs and improve value for money; and to provide any comparisons with other comparable buildings.

  The report has now been received. Its key conclusion is that, when account is taken of the quality, the long lifespan of the building and other relevant factors, the building provides value for money for the House. Other main findings are that:
  the project will be delivered within the budget and programme;
  the project under construction closely reflects the scheme approved by the House in May 1993; and
  he team is totally committed to delivering the approved scheme.

  While the report acknowledges that the cost of the project is high, it records that account has to be taken of the particular reasons and the quality of the building.

  The report contains a number of detailed recommendations that Northcroft believe will help assure delivery within the programme and budget. These will now be considered and implemented as appropriate.

  The Executive Summary of the report is available in the Vote Office. The full text of the Report has been deposited in the Library.

  Good progress has continued to be made since the fieldwork for the report was undertaken in January and February, reinforcing the views of the consultants about the programme and budget. There is now every prospect of the work being completed three or four weeks in advance of the current programme and of the final cost being some £15 million below budget. The project team will explore opportunities for further improvements while they continue to strive to achieve a high quality building.

  House of Lords
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has for the composition of the electoral college for cross-bench peers in the Interim House of Lords; and if she will make a statement. [89194]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Government will establish an independent Appointments Commission to nominate cross-bench peers to the transitional House of Lords. We set out our proposals for membership of the Commission in our White Paper, "Modernising Parliament Reforming the House of Lords". The Commission will be an advisory non-departmental public body consisting of representatives of the three main political parties and a majority of independent figures, one of whom will be the Chairman. The party political representatives will be 240
  nominated by party leaders, and the independent members will be appointed in accordance with the rules of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Consulate, Skopje
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the handling of visa applications at the British Consulate in Skopje; and if he will make a statement. [86841]

  Mr. Hoon
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has given a commitment that the Embassy will begin issuing visas as soon as it is practicable for it to do so. We are looking at options for larger premises, to enable us to provide a full visa service. As regards the processing in Skopje of applications from Kosovar refugees, I refer the hon. Member to the statement in the House on 5 May 1999 by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary,Official Report, columns 443–44, in which he outlined the arrangements being made under UNHCR auspices.

  My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean will be replying separately to the hon. Member's letter of 8 June about a specific case in which he has an interest.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day since 15 April; and what percentage of them received a substantive response on that day. [87319]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Between 15 April and 22 June, 107 parliamentary questions have been tabled to the Department for written answer on a named day; 66 per cent. received a substantive reply on that day.

  Stability Pact
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 June 1999,Official Report, column 255, relating to the publication of the Stability Pact for South East Europe, on which treaty article it is based; if it requires further European Union legislation for its operation; and what is the basis of the term pact being introduced into the affairs of the European Union and Community. [88682]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The EU agreed a Common Position on 17 May, the legal basis of which is article 15 of the Treaty on European Union, setting out the general objectives for the Stability Pact initiative. The Stability Pact for South East Europe, approved by the participants' Foreign Ministers on 10 June, is not itself a legal instrument of the European Union, although the European Union will play the leading role within the initiative. In the light of this, there may be a requirement for a Joint Action to meet future operational costs. There is no generic basis for the use within the EU of the term pact.

  Gough Island
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the Government's current arrangements for monitoring fishing in the marine area around Gough Island which forms part of the Wildlife Reserve; and what arrangements he makes for the conservation according to World Heritage Values. [87488]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: A fisheries patrol vessel, based on the island of Tristan Da Cunha, was provided to Tristan Da Cunha by the British Government in 1996. It is based on the island of Tristan Da Cunha and does not have the range to patrol Gough Island coastal waters. The only vessels that monitor fishing in the area around Gough Island are those of the Tristan lobster fishing concessionaire, Premier Fishing. All Premier Fishing vessels carry a Tristanian Government observer when fishing in the waters of the Tristan Da Cunha group. Each observer is also a designated conservation officer under the terms of the Tristan Da Cunha Conservation Ordinance 1976.

  Gough Island was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995. The area covered by this designation includes the island itself and the marine area out to three nautical miles. Gough Island has a strict Wildlife Management Plan in place. An Environmental Inspector is annually appointed and sent to the Island to ensure that the Plan is being adhered to, and to make recommendations for improvements to it.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates during the past 12 months a fisheries patrol vessel has been operating within three nautical miles of Gough Island for the purpose of monitoring fisheries; and what reports it has furnished to HMG. [87489]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: No fisheries patrol vessel has operated within three nautical miles of Gough Island for the purpose of monitoring fisheries in the past twelve months.

  Wideawake Airfield, Ascension Island
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will require the United States Government to pay commercial rates for any use of Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island for civil charter flights. [88635]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: We currently have no plans to charge the United States for the use of Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  War Pensions Agency
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals against decisions of the War Pensions Agency have been(a) submitted and (b) successful in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [88223]
  242
  Mr. Bayley
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Year

  Assessment

  Entitlement

  Number of appeals lodged

  1995–96

  4,920

  3,064

  1996–97

  5,282

  3,883

  1997–98

  4,694

  3,336

  1998–99

  1,440

  1,189

  Successful appeals cleared by pensions appeal tribunals1

  1995–96

  722

  1,388

  1996–97

  947

  1,997

  1997–98

  1,251

  1,373

  1998–99

  983

  1,179

  1 The second part of the table relates solely to successful claims cleared by the Pensions Appeals Tribunals. Due to the time taken to process appeals, they are not necessarily decided in the same year as that in which they are lodged. Figures of appeals lodged and decided in a particular year do not therefore necessarily relate to the same appeal.

  Note:

  War Pensions appeals fall into 2 broad categories:

  Entitlement—Those where the issue is whether the claimed disablement or death is related to service in HM Forces.

  Assessment—Those where the issue is the degree of disablement which is due to service. The higher the degree of disablement, the higher the rate of war disablement pensions awarded.

  Incapacity Benefit (ME)
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will arrange for figures to be provided in future for the numbers of people who suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis as a separate category when collecting statistics on benefits. [88594]

  Mr. Bayley
  Although individual diagnosis codes are available, they are not shown in the quarterly publication. There are in the region of a thousand different codes, therefore only "group headings" are shown. There are no plans to include individual codes within the quarterly publication.

  The latest figures held show that at 30 November 1998 there were 16,000 claimants of Incapacity Benefit where the diagnosis was shown as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis falls into the group Diseases of the Nervous System (G00-G99) category.
  Notes:

  1. The figure is taken from a 5 per cent. scan of the benefit computer system, and excludes a small number of cases held clerically.

  2. Diagnosis codes are taken from the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost to Housing Benefit relating to(a) Local Authority rents, (b) Housing Association rents and (c) private sector rents for the last year for which statistics are available. [88819]
  243
  Angela Eagle
  The information requested is in the table.

  Housing Benefit expenditure in Great Britain: 1997–98

  £ million, Cash

  Local Authority tenants

  5,493

  Registered Social Landlord tenants (Previously Housing Association tenants)

  2,211

  Private Rented Sector tenants

  3,480

  Total Housing Benefit

  11,184

  Note:

  'Rents' have been interpreted as referring to 'tenants'

  Source:

  1997–98 Housing Benefit Subsidy claim forms from Local Authorities, together with information from the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System one per cent. samples for May 1997 and May 1998. The figures vary slightly from those in the Departmental Report because more recent Local Authorities' data have been incorporated in these figures.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many cases the CSA is currently dealing with and how many were wrongly assessed in the last year for which figures are available; [89052]

  (2) how much (a) compensation has been paid to clients and (b) arrears have been removed from clients' cases by the CSA, for excessive delay in processing cases (i) since its establishment and (ii) in the last year for which figures are available. [89051]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Michael Clapham, dated 30 June 1999:

  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency.

  At the end of 1998/99 year the Agency was dealing with 923,960 live and assessed cases.

  One of the targets that the Secretary of State set the Agency for 1998/99 was that the cash value of all assessments checked throughout the full year was to be correct in at least 75% of cases. The Agency exceeded this target, with the cash value of 77% of the assessments checked being correct to the last penny.

  In April 1995 a scheme was introduced to encourage future compliance by non-resident parents in certain cases by deferring arrears which had accrued due to processing delays by the Agency. Provided the non-resident parent complies with the maintenance assessment for 52 weeks, he is only held liable for the latest six months of the arrears. Where the parent with care suffers financial loss as a result of this arrangement the balance is paid by the Agency as compensation.

  In April 1997 the Agency began to clear the backlog of approximately 495,000 cases that had been awaiting assessment for over 52 weeks, and are eligible for the scheme. That backlog has now been reduced to about 47,000 at 31 March 1999—324,859 were cleared during 1998/99.

  From the commencement of the scheme until the end of the March 1999 a total of £2,180K has been paid as compensation to parents with care, with £1,297K being paid in the 1998/99 year.

  Non-resident parents have had a total of £18.32M of their arrears deferred under this scheme, with £6.6M being deferred in the 1998/99 year.

  The figures provided for the 1998/99 year are indicative amounts and have yet to be audited and agreed by the National Audit Office. They may, therefore, be subject to change.
  244
  The Agency's Annual Report and Accounts 1998/99 is due to be published next month and I will arrange to send you a copy shortly after issue.

  I hope that you find this reply helpful.

  Benefit Recipients
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the benefits for which he is able to provide regional and national breakdowns of number of recipients. [89076]

  Angela Eagle
  The benefits for which a regional and national breakdown of the numbers of recipients can be provided are as follows. These are included in the annual Social Security Statistics publication.

  Incapacity Benefit (IB)

  Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)

  Maternity Allowance (MA)

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)

  Reduced Earnings Allowance/Retirement Allowance (REA/RA)

  Attendance Allowance (AA)

  Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

  Income Support (IS)

  Family Credit (FC)

  Disability Working Allowance (DWA)

  Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) (JSA (IB))

  Jobseeker's Allowance (Contribution Based) (JSA(CB))

  Housing Benefit (HB)

  Council Tax Benefit (CTB)

  Child Support Allowance (CSA).

  A regional breakdown cannot be provided for the following benefits, but can be supplied at a national level.

  Retirement Pension (RP)

  Widows Benefit (WB).

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Research Grants
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was awarded(a) in total and (b) to each higher education establishment in the form of research grants in each year since 1995. [88830]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Higher Education Statistics Agency annual volume "Resources of Higher Education Institutions" contains the data requested. The relevant volumes are already available in the Library.

  New Deal
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) men and (b) women have been sanctioned under the New Deal to date (i) in each of the New Deal geographical units of delivery, (ii) for the gateway and (iii) for each of the four options. [89021]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The following table shows the stage in New Deal when sanctions have been applied to participants, split by Employment Service region and gender, up to the end of May 1999.
  245

  Male

  Female

  Reason for sanction

  Reason for sanction

  ES region

  Gateway

  Option

  Other

  Gateway

  Option

  Other

  Total

  OS

  242

  567

  162

  40

  77

  42

  1,130

  NOR

  464

  685

  203

  73

  89

  38

  1,552

  NW

  328

  704

  617

  66

  127

  141

  1,983

  YHU

  522

  596

  441

  92

  122

  108

  1,881

  OW

  201

  209

  103

  46

  35

  21

  615

  WMI

  369

  400

  323

  70

  84

  94

  1,340

  EME

  361

  292

  232

  56

  64

  51

  1,056

  SW

  155

  190

  126

  24

  38

  27

  560

  LSE

  465

  564

  628

  84

  125

  203

  2,069

  GB

  3,107

  4,207

  2,835

  551

  761

  725

  12,186

  A breakdown of the reasons for sanctions are: Gateway, those sanctioned for failure to attend an adviser interview; Options, those sanctioned for refusal, failure to attend or misconduct on any of the New Deal Options; Other, those New Deal participants sanctioned or disallowed for any other reason.

  Primary School Pupils
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 16 April 1999,Official Report, column 381, if he will list the money spent per primary age pupil (a) from local education authorities, (b) from central Government and (c) in total (i) in 1996–97, (ii) in 1997–98 and (iii) in 1998–99 for each local education authority ranked in descending order of total spend in 1998–99. [89113]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  In my reply to my hon. Friend's earlier question to which he refers, I explained that information for 1998–99 in the form in which it was requested was not yet available, and the situation is unchanged. I will write to my hon. Friend when the figures he requests are available, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library.

  Grammar Schools
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local referenda are being held to establish public opinion on the future of grammar schools; and if he will publish a list showing the dates of the referenda and the areas involved. [88946]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: No referenda are being held at the moment. It is a matter for local parents to decide whether or not they want any such ballots in the future.

  School Premises (Community Use)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to encourage greater use of school premises by the community out of school hours. [89341]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department will be publishing guidance later this year on developing school—community links—including the use of premises. The 'Schools Plus Team' is following up the Social Exclusion Unit's report 'Bringing Britain Together' and is considering how schools can make their facilities available to more people.

  Beacon Schools
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if schools rejected for Beacon Status are given reasons for the rejection. [89283]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The procedure for selecting Beacon schools is completely open and details are published on the DfEE website. Any school rejected for Beacon Status is given an explanation.

  School Admissions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect on school admissions of the practice of posting OFSTED reports on the Internet; and if he will make a statement. [89284]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  No assessment has yet been made. We are commissioning research into parents' experience of recent changes in legislation on school admissions and the information that parents use when deciding the type and place of education for their child. We expect to have results from this research in approximately 18 months to two years.

  Shire Authorities (Expenditure)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the percentage of total spending devoted to education for each shire authority; and how much extra each would have to spend in order to spend as much on education as the present highest one for the latest year for which figures are available. [89286]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information for the financial year 1999–2000 is in the process of preparation and is expected to be completed shortly. I will write to the hon. Member when the figures he requests are available, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library.

DEFENCE

  Territorial Army
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on administrative support to the Territorial Army following the recent reforms. [89847]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Following the announcement made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence on the restructuring of the TA in November 1998
  247
  detailed work has been carried out to establish the level of administrative support required by the reformed TA. As it is our intention to make the TA more relevant, more usable and more fully integrated into the regular armed forces, we have concluded that the level of administrative support needs to be tailored to the readiness of the unit involved. Accordingly, the overall level of administrative support staff is being reduced broadly in line with the reduction in TA personnel and some units will receive an increased level of support. Altogether this will mean that there will be a net loss of some 600 civilian jobs nationally. MOD Trades Unions have been fully consulted about the implications for civilian staff and have raised a number of concerns, which are being addressed. My officials will now be working closely with the Trades Unions to ensure that the process of implementing the new TA structure is handled as sensitively as possible.

  Depleted Uranium Weapons
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total stock of depleted uranium weaponry held by the UK. [88889]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am withholding the detailed information under exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations. Depleted uranium-based ammunition is used because it offers better performance than other alternatives and, therefore, gives our Armed Forces greater operational capability.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many depleted uranium weapons are held by British forces based in Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo. [88963]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am withholding this information under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations.

  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate how much depleted uranium was dropped on(a) Kosovo and (b) Serbia in the course of recent NATO action. [89067]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The UK did not use depleted uranium (DU) ammunition during the air campaign over Kosovo and Serbia. The United States is the only member of the Alliance to have said that it used DU ammunition. I am not in a position to estimate the amount used.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  CPS/Police Collaboration
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Attorney-General what progress he has made on improving collaboration between the Crown Prosecution Service and area police forces in order to reduce delays before cases are brought to court. [87909]

  The Attorney-General
  Measures designed to bring cases to court within a few days of charge, including provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the location of CPS staff at police stations, have been tested at six pilot sites. Initial indications are that the pilots have worked well and, subject to a satisfactory evaluation, the measures will be implemented in the rest of England and 248
  Wales in November 1999. Moreover, most CPS Areas and police forces now operate fast-tracking arrangements for a range of casework. Fast-tracking has greatly reduced the time from charge to first appearance, from four or five weeks to a matter of days.

  Racial Hatred Prosecutions
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to his answer of 20 May 1999,Official Report, column 433, on prosecutions for racial hatred, how many referrals were made to him by the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration as to whether to prosecute for incitement to racial hatred in each year since 1995. [87910]

  The Solicitor-General
  Since 1995 the Director of Public Prosecutions has referred 36 cases which involved allegations of offences under Part III of the Public Order Act 1986 to my office. In 31 cases consent to prosecution was given, in three cases consent was not granted; and the Director withdrew the application for consent in the remaining two cases.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the implementation of the restructuring of the Crown Prosecution Service areas. [87911]

  The Attorney-General
  The new structure of 42 Crown Prosecution Service Areas was implemented in April 1999 when the newly appointed 42 Chief Crown Prosecutors took up their posts. On 28 June 1999, I provided the final Government response to the recommendations contained in Sir lain Glidewell's report on the CPS. Sixty-four of the 75 recommendations have now been accepted, accepted in part or in principle, or implemented. Only two recommendations have been rejected. Work continues on the implementation of what is a substantial initiative within the criminal justice system.

  Charities
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on his responsibilities in relation to charities. [87912]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Attorney-General's responsibilities in relation to charities are historic and wide-ranging. The Attorney-General's function is to represent the Crown as parens patriae and so to act as protector, both of charity in general and of particular charities. It falls to the Attorney-General to institute legal proceedings to protect a charity and to represent the charitable interest. The Attorney-General is a necessary party to any litigation in which the objects of a charity need to be separately represented, for example, where the interest of the Trustees do not coincide with the objects of the charity.

  In addition, the Attorney-General has the power to authorise ex gratia payments from charitable funds on moral grounds where such payments might otherwise amount to breaches of trust and he has power, by derogation from the Sovereign, to give directions under the Sign Manual as to the re-distribution of uncertain charitable gifts under wills.

  Lenient Sentences (Appeals)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Attorney-General in how many cases he has sought leave to appeal against sentences on grounds of alleged leniency. [87906]

  The Attorney-General
  Since 1 May 1997 in England and Wales 197 individual references have been lodged with the Court of Appeal. 81.6 per cent. of the references heard have resulted in an increased sentence.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mr. Aloyzas Balsys
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the(a) US and (b) Lithuanian authorities in connection with allegations of war crimes by Mr. Aloyzas Balsys; and if he will make a statement. [88329]

  Mr. Boateng
  I am arranging for the relevant records to be examined, and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  European Communities Working Groups
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the European Communities working groups which met over the last 12 months with a representative from his Department in attendance; if he will list the number of times each met; if he will indicate the nature of the Government's representation; and if he will make a statement. [88476]

  Kate Hoey
  The information requested for the period since 1 July 1998 is given in the table. Attendance from the Home Office was usually by one or two officials of around grade 7 level, with members of the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union and officials of other Government Departments as necessary.

  Working group

  Number of meetings

  Visa Working Group

  10

  Working Party on Economic Question (Data Protection)

  7

  Regulators Group (Building and Construction Materials)1

  4

  Standing Committee on Construction (Construction Products Directive)1

  3

  Article 10 (Precursor Chemicals) Committee

  3

  Working Group on Posting of Third-Country National Workers2

  3

  Asylum Working Group2

  1

  Expulsions Working Group2

  1

  Migration Working Group2

  1

  Eurodac Working Group2

  1

  Contact Committee On Money Laundering

  1

  DGXV officials group on transfer of information at the European Parliamentary elections 1999

  1

  1Since the coming into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May

  2Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions DETR lead Department

  In addition, several Working Groups convened under the auspices of Title VI of the Treaty on European Union met on a number of occasions during the period in question.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates special advisers from his Department have travelled to the United States of America on official business since 1 May 1997; which of his special advisers took part in these visits; and if he will list the meetings which these special advisers held with members and officials of the US Government during the visits, specifying the dates and locations of each meeting and the names of the US minister and officials at each meeting. [88435]

  Mr. Straw
  There has only been one such occasion. On 4 February 1998, Lord Warner accompanied me on a visit to Washington. He did not hold any meetings of his own but did attend meetings I had with the National Institute of Justice, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General Janet Reno in Washington. Lord Warner also accompanied me to meetings I had in Baltimore with the Director of International Programmes, Office of Mayor Schmoke, representatives of the Circuit Court of Baltimore and the Baltimore City Police Department.

  Racism
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that police data on racial harassment and racially motivated crime are documented on the same basis by all police forces. [88911]

  Mr. Boateng
  Until recently, all forces recorded racial incidents under the Association of Chief Police Officers' definition of a racial incident:"Any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motivation; or any incident which includes an allegation of racial motivation made by any person".

  The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry recommended that these incidents are referred to as "racist incidents" and that a simpler and clearer definition should be used:
  "A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person".

  This was adopted by all police forces on 28 April 1999.

  A breakdown of the number of racist incidents recorded by the police in each police area in 1997–98 is given in the Home Office publication "Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System 1998", a copy of which is in the Library. The new definition will be incorporated into the Notes for Guidance 1999–2000 to forces on collecting this data.

  The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 introduced new offences for racial crime which came into force on 30 September 1998. These correspond to the existing main offences which deal with violence against the person (except those which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment), criminal damage and offences of harassment. They relate to cases in which there was either racial motivation or any aggravating evidence of racial hostility in connection with the offence and provide the courts with higher maximum penalties to reflect the racial aspect to the crime. These are separate criminal offences in law and will be identified as such at all stages of the criminal justice system.
  251
  The Association of Chief Police Officers issued a good practice guide on the police response to racial incidents in April 1998. The guide sets out clear policy and procedures for dealing with racist incidents. The guide has been reviewed and a new manual will be issued by December 1999.

  The Association of Chief Police Officers has recently produced a report on the Reporting and Recording of Racist Incidents which identified the minimum data content that the police should collect on racist incidents, sets out a method for tracking them throughout the criminal justice system, and makes recommendations for future data collection and monitoring systems. This has been adopted by police forces in principle, subject to the Information Technology implications being looked at in further detail.

  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has take to ensure that the data gathered by local race relations councils under the Commission for Racial Equality on racial harassment are comparable and gathered in the same way. [88912]

  Mr. Boateng
  Local race equality councils are not required to record racist incidents and practice may vary.

  The Government have accepted recommendations 15–17 of the Lawrence Inquiry which deal with the reporting of racist incidents by the police, local authorities and other relevant organisations. The Government are taking forward these recommendations through the Racist Incidents Standing Committee (RISC), on which the Commission for Racial Equality is represented.

  RISC will develop a code of practice for use by all relevant agencies, including standard reporting and recording arrangements, by April 2000. It will be used to record race equality comments.

  Elections for Trial
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact that plea before venue has had on elections for trial. [88927]

  Mr. Boateng
  As expected, section 49 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 ('plea before venue') had led to a decrease in the number of persons committed to the Crown Court for trial. This decrease has been apparent both in those cases which are directed there by the magistrates, and in those where the defendant elects to be tried in the Crown Court. The proportion of cases reaching the Crown Court by way of election, which fell steadily from 53 per cent. to 28 per cent. in the 10 years 1987–97, remained at 28 per cent. in 1998, the first full year in which plea before venue was in operation.

  Police Discipline Appeals Tribunals
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 June 1999,Official Report, column 101, on the proceedings relating to the dismissal of police officers, if he will publish The Independent Tribunal's reasons and their recommendation. [88940]

  Kate Hoey
  We will consider disclosing recommendations made by police discipline appeals tribunals, on request and after the parties have been 252
  informed. However, to disclose a tribunal's reasons would mean making public details of the case of an individual who has appealed against an internal police personnel discipline decision. Because of the unfairness which could arise from disclosing such details, it is not the practice of the Home Office to publish tribunals' reasons. Copies of tribunal reports to the Home Secretary are sent to appellants and respondents, and it is open to them to consider whether they wish to disclose further details.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 June 1999,Official Report, column 420, when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a substantive reply to his letter of 27 April regarding a constituent. [88814]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I replied to my hon. Friend's letter on 29 June.

  Prison Planning Application (Peterborough)
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department first considered the possibility of building a prison in Peterborough constituency; and which Minister evaluated the proposal. [89191]

  Mr. Straw
  The suitability of the site of the former Rockwell/APV works in Peterborough was brought to the attention of the Prison Service in October 1996 and was first visited by Prison Service officials in early November 1996. The then Minister of State responsible for prisons and probation, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin) approved the submission of a formal planning proposal in June 1997. Information relating to whether and when Ministers of the previous administration considered any matter is quite properly not available to Ministers of the present government.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what local consultation took place at the time the building of a prison in the Peterborough constituency was first considered; and what consultation there was with the local Member at the time. [89192]

  Mr. Straw
  Prison Service officials' first meeting with Peterborough City Council's planning officers took place on 18 April 1997: a second meeting was held on 8 May 1997. I briefed my hon. Friend in June 1997, following the decision by my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin), the then Minister of State responsible for prisons and probation, that the Prison Service should submit a formal planning application.

  Foreign Contracts (Bribes)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for the use of bribes to secure foreign contracts have been brought in England and Wales in the last five years. [87913]

  Mr. Boateng
  Offences of bribery to secure foreign contracts are either prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916, or under the common law offence of bribery. The table shows the total number of defendants proceeded against in England and Wales for
  253
  offences under this legislation. The Home Office Court Proceedings Database, from which these figures are drawn, does not identify the specific nature of the offence such as bribery to secure foreign contracts.

  Number of defendants proceeded against for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916 or the Common Law Offence of Bribery, England and Wales, 1993–97

  Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916

  Common Law

  1993

  19

  —

  1994

  19

  —

  1995

  22

  —

  1996

  25

  —

  1997

  11

  —

  E-commerce
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proposals he has to link the licensing of trusted third parties with key escrow in e-commerce communications; [R] [89334]

  (2) what is his policy towards key escrow in e-commerce communications; [R] [89333]

  (3) what new powers he proposes to give police and the security services to gain access to encrypted computer files; [R] [89336]

  (4) what plans he has to control encryption in e-commerce communications. [R] [89335]

  Mr. Straw
  There will be no mandatory link between key escrow and being an approved provider of cryptography services under the proposed e-commerce legislation. Approved providers will be free to offer those cryptographic services required by their clients. These may, for good business reasons, include the storage of their clients' encryption keys. Encryption technologies are vital for instilling trust in e-commerce transactions and the Government do not propose to control their legitimate use. The same technologies, can, however, also be put to criminal use. In response to this threat, the Government intend to provide the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies with new powers to require any person, upon service of a properly authorised written notice, to produce specified material in an intelligible form or to disclose relevant material (for example a decryption key) necessary to render it intelligible. The legislation will contain strong safeguards and the powers will only apply to material which is, or has been, lawfully obtained.

  Internet (Police Access)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to encourage greater use of the internet by police authorities for publicising details of(a) wanted criminals and (b) missing persons. [R] [89337]

  Mr. Boateng
  The police service is aware of the potential benefits of the internet to its work. I understand that the Metropolitan and Hertfordshire forces have, in fact, set up an internet site with details of missing children on a pilot basis. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is currently considering how the internet may 254
  best be used. A national information management strategy has been prepared and will shortly be proposed for adoption across the service. A number of forces already have websites. A summary of police force websites can be found at www.wypbcm.demon.co.uk.

CABINET OFFICE

  Joint Consultative Committee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the policy issues which have been discussed by the Joint Consultative Committee which are the responsibility of the devolved administrations in (i) Scotland and (ii) Wales. [87344]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  Details of the proceedings of the Joint Consultative Committee are exempt from disclosure under the internal discussion and advice exemption of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the estimated cost is of servicing the Cabinet Joint Consultative Committee. [88836]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  No separate costs for the servicing of the Joint Consultative Committee are identified.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what date his Department was first informed that Parts IV A and IV B of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 were no longer in force. [88793]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  On 23 June 1999.

WALES

  Oncologists
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many clinical and medical oncologists are employed per head of population in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [87868]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information on NHS medical and dental staff is collected annually as at 30 September. The latest available information relates to September 1997 and is given in the following table.

  Staff in post at 30 September (excluding locums) per 1,000,000 population

  Consultants

  All grades

  Number

  Wte 1

  Number

  Wte 1

  Medical oncology

  0.3

  0.3

  0.7

  0.4

  Clinical oncology

  5.8

  4.7

  12.6

  10.5

  1Whole-time equivalent.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue has been devolved to the National Assembly for Wales.

  Social Service Departments
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate for each local authority social service department in Wales the cost of funding the discharge from hospital of patients of pensionable age who are currently medically fit to be discharged but are in need of respite care; and if he will make a statement. [88172]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The cost of discharging patients to other forms of care would depend on the nature of the care required and for how long it was required. Such details of the care packages of individual patients are not collected centrally.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue has been devolved to the National Assembly for Wales.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his responsibilities following the establishment of the Assembly Cabinet. [86340]

  Mr. Michael
  Following the transfer of power at midnight on Wednesday, 30 June, my functions as Secretary of State for Wales will be:Functions relating to my membership of the UK Government
  Responsibility to ensure that the interests of Wales are fully considered in the workings of the UK Government
  Responsibility to steer primary legislation relating to Wales through Parliament
  Functions relating to the fact that this House will vote the Main Estimate to the Secretary of State for Wales, who will make a grant to the Assembly after deducting the cost of running his own office
  Responsibility to consult the Assembly on the Government's legislative programme
  Responsibility to ensure that the arrangements for co-operation between the Assembly and the UK Government are working effectively.

  All other functions of the Secretary of State for Wales transfer to the Assembly. It may be helpful for the House to know the way the provisions of the Government of Wales Act 1998 are being put into practice. The Assembly has delegated responsibilities to me as First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales. Onward delegation to my Assembly Cabinet has enabled us to create a positive and dynamic relationship between my Assembly Cabinet and other Subject Committees which mirror the portfolios of Assembly Secretaries. I am placing in the Library a copy of the Assembly papers relating to the responsibilities of the Assembly Secretaries and the intended way to deal with cross-cutting issues.

TREASURY

  Financial Stability Forum
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is representing Her Majesty's Government on the Financial Stability Forum working groups on short-term capital flows, highly leveraged institutions and offshore financial centres. [87684]
  256
  Ms Hewitt
  The UK representatives on these groups are Paul Tucker (Deputy Director, Bank of England), on the short-term capital flows group; Howard Davies (Chairman, Financial Services Authority), who is chairing the highly leveraged institutions group; and Joseph Halligan (Head of International Financial Services team, HM Treasury) on the offshore financial centres group.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that the UK representatives to the Financial Stability Forum working groups on short-term capital flows, highly leveraged institutions and offshore financial centres consult with international development non-Governmental organisations in the UK. [87685]

  Ms Hewitt
  We would welcome views from international development non-governmental organisations and any other groups or individuals interested in the work of the Financial Stability Forum working groups. These should be sent to the UK representatives on the groups: Howard Davies (Chairman, Financial Services Authority), who is chairing the highly leveraged institutions group; Paul Tucker (Deputy Director, Bank of England), on the short-term capital flows group; and Joseph Halligan (Head of International Financial Services team, HM Treasury) on the offshore financial centres group.

  Refrigerants
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce(a) economic and (b) fiscal instruments to reduce HFC emissions in the refrigeration market sector. [87688]

  Ms Hewitt
  Under the Kyoto Protocol the UK is committed to a legally binding target of a 12.5 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2008–12. The Government will be consulting later this year on the policy options for achieving our emissions targets, including options for reducing HFC emissions.

  During 1996 and 1997, the Government negotiated five voluntary agreements with the various industry sectors including the refrigeration industry, to limit both use and emissions of HFCs. Under current policies HFC emissions are expected to fall by a substantial amount. The latest projections show that HFCs will contribute only around 1 per cent. of total UK greenhouse gas emissions, calculated in terms of the global warming contribution, by 2010.

  World Bank (Social Principles)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on incorporating the social principles drafted by the World bank into the decision-making of(a) the IMF, (b) the World bank and (c) the United Kingdom. [87884]

  Ms Hewitt
  The World bank is currently working with the IMF to translate the draft social principles discussed at the Development Committee in April into good practices in social policy when designing adjustment programmes.

  The good practices in social policy will help promote long-term growth and greater prosperity; and the need for equality of opportunity to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of, and is able to contribute towards, this growth and prosperity.
  257
  As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor made clear in his Mansion House speech earlier this month, the Government have put in place policies for a modern successful economy to ensure employment opportunity and greater prosperity for all in the years ahead, and which is therefore fully compatible with the principles and good practice in social policy.

  Financial Crises
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the United Kingdom's policy on the conditions to be attached to future financial contributions towards remedying the financial crises and preventing future ones in(a) Brazil and (b) elsewhere. [87883]

  Ms Hewitt
  Financial tensions in Brazil have eased significantly, following the IMF-led international financial support package agreed last year. The conditions attached to the UK's contributions to this support package are those of the programme as a whole and the UK Government will continue to play an active role in monitoring Brazil's performance under the programme. Continued adherence under the IMF programme, together with an appropriate contribution from private sector creditors, underpins the BIS co-ordinated credit line, to which the UK has also contributed.

  The UK Government have played their part, most recently at the G7 Summit on 18 June, to ensure that future packages to which the UK contributes are as effective as possible. Commitments which were made at the Summit to help achieve this included promoting the involvement of the private sector in crisis resolution; ensuring that the poor and vulnerable are better protected from the burden of adjustment in times of crisis; and greater transparency in the way in which the International Financial Institutions operate.

  Foreign Currency Borrowings (Taxation)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the (i) advantages and (ii) disadvantages of the imposition by the UK of taxation upon borrowings in foreign currencies by UK domestic companies; what discussions he has had on such proposals in respect of other countries vulnerable to currency stocks in relevant international economic forums; if he will estimate the taxation income for the United Kingdom of a 1 per cent. tax rate; and if he will make a statement. [88327]

  Ms Hewitt
  During the wide consultations which have been carried out to forge a consensus on necessary reforms to the international financial system, consideration has been given to a range of proposals for taxation of foreign currency transactions. Such proposals raise a number of practical difficulties which we have considered but do not believe could be overcome. Similarly, it would be extremely difficult to determine robust estimates of the revenue yield, which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if(a) the Inland Revenue, (b) Customs and Excise and (c) HM Treasury have incurred expenditure on (i) extra staff, (ii) acquisition of accommodation, (iii) development of IT systems and (iv) the acquisition
  258
  of supplies in preparation for possible United Kingdom entry to the European single currency; and if he will make a statement. [88748]

  Ms Hewitt
  Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise and HM Treasury's Euro Preparations Unit have worked to ensure that UK business and public authorities were ready for the introduction of the euro in 11 other European Union countries on 1 January 1999. There is a continuing need to provide UK business with the information that they need to help them remain competitive in this new European business environment. In line with the Government's stated position that the public sector will take a lead in planning, departments have also been considering the implications of possible UK entry to the European Single Currency. This work has been part of the normal business of departments and to date changeover work has not involved expenditure on extra staff, accommodation or the development of IT systems.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of public funds to be spent on preparing for the possibility of UK entry into the single currency before a referendum. [88907]

  Ms Hewitt
  The cost of euro preparations would depend on the detailed approach that the UK took to the changeover. Where computer systems are being upgraded, all departments will build in euro compatibility where that represents value for money. In the case of the DSS, the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, the scale and complexity of their computer systems makes advance preparations critical. Prior to a referendum they may therefore need to spend up to some tens of millions of pounds, spread over a number of years to make their IT systems euro-compatible, so that we can maintain the flexibility for Britain to make the changeover as quickly and cost effectively as possible if that is what Government, Parliament and the people decide.

  Provisions were therefore included in the Finance Bill and the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill which will provide specific statutory authority for this spending. Expenditure will be voted by Parliament in the normal way.

  Employment (Shrewsbury and Atcham)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 24 June 1999,Official Report, column 464, how many people are currently employed in the Shrewsbury and Atcham local authority district. [89048]

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

  Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 1 July 1999:
  In the absence of the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the number of people employed in the Shrewsbury and Atcham local authority district.
  There are two sources of employment information at local authority district level.
  The latest available estimate is from the 1997/98 Labour Force Survey (LFS) Local Authority Database (LADB), covering the period March 97—February 98. This shows that 47,000 people

  259
  living in Shrewsbury and Atcham were in employment. The LFS is a sample survey covering around 96,000 households annually, or some 184,000 adults.
  Your recent question on employment was answered on 24 June 1999, Official Report, column 464. It used the Annual Employment Survey (AES), from which the number of Employee Jobs at September 1997 was given in the reply. The AES sample is drawn from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR). In 1997 it comprised 105,000 enterprises, covering half a million workplaces and 15.5 million employees (out of a total population of roughly 23 million employee jobs).
  Although the AES has a larger sample size, the LFS gives more complete coverage. The LFS includes employees, self-employed, unpaid family workers and those on government employment training programmes.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the revenue generated by stamp duty arose from duty charged on the purchase of commercial land and property in the last year for which figures are available. [88828]

  Ms Hewitt
  The requested information is given in the table.

  1998–991 (Provisional)

  Net receipts £ billion

  Proportion of net receipts Percentage1

  Stamp duty (including stamp duty reserve tax) on transaction in shares and other securities

  2.5

  55

  Stamp duty on:

  Residential transactions

  1.2

  25

  Commercial property and land transactions

  0.9

  20

  Total

  4.6

  100

  1Proportions rounded to nearest 5 per cent.

  Bank of England Loans
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the(a) number and (b) total value in sterling of (i) secured and (ii) unsecured loans made by the Bank of England during the last two years; and if he will make a statement on the Bank's status as lender of last resort. [88919]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Bank makes loans in the normal course of its operations and these are described in its 1999 Annual Report. In its capacity as lender of last resort, the Bank of England has made no new loans, either secured or unsecured, over the last two years.

  The Bank's role in the field of financial stability is described in a Memorandum of Understanding between HM Treasury, the Bank and the Financial Services Authority, which was published in October 1997.

  Economic Convergence
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation he has made of the structural divergence of the British economy with the economies of the rest of the EU. [88843]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury's assessment of the Chancellor's five economic tests was published in October 1997.
  260
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation he has made of the cyclical convergence of the British economy with those of North America. [88842]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government's evaluation of the cyclical convergence of the British economy with those of North America is contained in the Treasury's assessment of the five economic tests, published at the time of the Chancellor's statement on EMU in October 1997.

  Gold Reserves
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much gold was held in the UK Exchange Equalisation Account on(a) 6 May and (b) 6 June; and in each case what was its value. [88826]

  Ms Hewitt
  A breakdown of the size and composition of the United Kingdom's reserve holdings is published in Table 2 of the Quarterly Report on UK Official Holdings of Foreign Currency and Gold.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the value of the Exchange Equalisation Account following the proposed sale of gold and relative to its value at 6 May. [88825]

  Ms Hewitt
  As the proceeds from the programme of auctions of gold will be invested in foreign currency assets and retained in the reserves, the asset base of the Exchange Equalisation Account will remain roughly the same.

  A breakdown of the size and composition of the United Kingdom's reserve holdings is published in Table 2 of the Quarterly Report on UK Official Holdings of Foreign Currency and Gold.

  Landfill Tax
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total landfill tax raised from disposals within Scotland in each financial year since the introduction of the tax; what proportion of the tax in each year has been retained by the Treasury as general taxation; and what proportion is allocated to environmental trusts. [89074]

  Ms Hewitt
  Figures relating to landfill tax are not available for separate countries or regions within the UK. This is due to the method of collection of the tax, where each landfill operator is registered according to the location of their head office.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue his Department has received from the levy of landfill tax in Wales in each of the last five years. [89061]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: Figures relating to landfill tax are not available for separate countries or regions within the UK. This is due to the method of collection of the tax, where each landfill operator is registered according to the location of their head office.

  Insurance Intermediaries
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for regulation of intermediaries dealing in general insurance. [89460]

  Ms Hewitt
  As the former Economic Secretary my hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Mrs. Liddell) announced on 27 July 1998,Official Report, columns 23–24, the Financial Services and Markets Bill, now before the House, will provide for the repeal of the Insurance Brokers (Registration) Act 1977. Subject to the approval of Parliament, this will end the statutory status of the Insurance Brokers Registration Council (IBRC). The Joint Committee on Financial Services and Markets' recent report on the draft Bill supported this approach.

  I am grateful to the current IBRC members for their work in continuing to serve on the Council in the interests of the insurance broking community during the present transitional period. To assist them in that task, I have today, under existing powers, nominated three new members to fill vacancies on the Council, to serve until the Council's statutory status ends:

  Ronald Armstrong OBE

  Bryan Lincoln

  Dr. Oonagh McDonald CBE.

  I am pleased that, since my right hon. Friend's announcement, the insurance industry, including general insurance intermediaries, has risen to the challenge she outlined. A broad-based range of support has developed for the General Insurance Standards Council (GISC), a new voluntary body to promote high standards of professional conduct among general insurance intermediaries.

  The GISC is committed to strengthening industry standards and developing general insurance intermediaries' services to the public in all parts of the market. It plans to complement the statutory responsibilities of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) while stripping away unnecessary regulatory requirements on general insurance intermediaries. The GISC has gathered support with impressive speed. If it can fulfil its promise, it will provide valuable services to both general insurance intermediaries and their customers.

  There may in future be a case for statutory regulation of general insurance intermediaries. If so, the Financial Services and Markets Bill contains a provision which would enable the Treasury to specify regulated activity, and to give regulatory responsibility to the FSA. For the moment, I have no plans to specify advice on general insurance as a regulated activity.

  Treasury Meetings
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the minutes of the monthly tripartite meetings between the Treasury, the FSA and the Bank of England. [R] [89332]

  Ms Hewitt
  The meetings include discussions of individual cases, as well as more general systemic threats. Since much of the information discussed is covered by statutory bars on disclosure, it would not be appropriate to publish the minutes.

  Securities Activity (Internet)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response his Department has made to the International Organisation of Securities Commission's report on the Reduction of Systemic Risk and Securities Activity on the Internet published in September 1998. [R] [89328]

  Ms Hewitt
  The IOSCO report "Securities Activity on the Internet" examined the regulatory and enforcement issues posed by securities activities conducted over the Internet. The Government have found the IOSCO report helpful in considering the issues raised by new technologies in the context of the Financial Services and Markets Bill.

  Financial Services Authority (Scottish Lawyers)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Scottish lawyers' organisations regarding the transfer of the regulation of Scottish lawyers offering financial advice to the FSA. [R] [89327]

  Ms Hewitt
  HM Treasury has held a number of meetings with the Law Society of Scotland in the course of consulting on and drafting the Bill and associated secondary legislation.

  Pensions Mis-selling
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of pensions mis-selling have been referred to the police by the FSA. [R] [89330]

  Ms Hewitt
  None.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of(a) the cost of the climate change levy to his Department and (b) the savings from the reduction in National Insurance Contributions that will occur when it is introduced. [88860]

  Ms Hewitt
  The net impact of the climate change levy and the associated reduction in main rate of employers' National Insurance Contributions on the Chancellor's departments will depend on the rates of climate change levy. The final rates of climate change levy will not be set until Finance Bill 2000.

  In addition, the Government are still considering a number of detailed issues on the tax treatment of different energy products which could have a significant impact in some instances. It is therefore not possible to give definitive figures about the impact of the climate change levy on the Chancellor's departments.

  Financial Services and Markets Bill
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the Better Regulation Task Force regarding the new regulatory powers proposed in the Financial Services and Markets Bill. [R] [89326]

  Ms Hewitt
  HM Treasury has received helpful comments from the Better Regulation Task Force in the course of consulting on and drafting the Bill.

  Company Cars
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage he estimates company car mileage will reduce as a consequence of the measures introduced in his last Budget. [88717]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: The measures introduced in the last Budget reduce the incentive for drivers to use a company car for business mileage and to do excess business mileage simply to qualify for discounts on their tax charge. They are therefore likely to lead to a small reduction in company car mileage. The Inland Revenue also estimates that as a result of the comprehensive reforms to be introduced in 2002, between 100 and 300 million fewer business miles will be driven in company cars, a reduction of between 0.3 per cent.–0.8 per cent.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Genetically Modified Animal Feed
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department plans to take to ensure that animal feed including genetically modified ingredients is adequately labelled. [87927]

  Mr. Rooker
  There are extensive EC rules on the labelling of animal feed. The Government are seeking improved listing of ingredients and pressing the Commission to forward to the Council its proposed regulation covering novel animal feeds. This is necessary to ensure fair and consistent labelling of GM feeds throughout the EU. Pending the introduction of such EC measures, we are also exploring whether national labelling arrangements are feasible.

  US Imports
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from farmers about the level of imports of US agricultural products. [87928]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I am glad to say that the level of agricultural imports coming from the US has not been a significant focus of concern for UK farmers in the recent past.

  Safe Farming
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote safe working practices in farming. [87930]

  Mr. Rooker
  I fully endorse the Health and Safety Commission's strategy which includes agriculture as a priority area and my Department supports the Health and Safety Executive in its work in farming, and has initiated a project in Cornwall and Devon.

  Sheep Exports
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to improve the welfare of sheep which are exported from the UK. [87931
  264
  Mr. Morley
  Whilst the sheep are on our territory we strictly apply the EU rules that relate to their fitness to travel, suitability of the means of transport and other aspects of their welfare.

  We also urge the receiving member states to do the same on their territory: officials maintain contacts with their opposite numbers in support of this.

  Cheese
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote the making of sheep and goats' cheese in the north-east of England. [87932]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The Government are committed to supporting a speciality food industry in which specialist cheesemakers play a significant role.

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects beef to be exported to the continent. [87933]

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the date-based export scheme for beef to be operational throughout the UK. [87917]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The European Commission inspected our operational arrangements for the date-based export scheme in the week 12 to 16 April. The report of this inspection was presented to their Standing Veterinary Committee on 15 June and includes a recommendation that the Commission should set the date from which exports of beef under the scheme may begin.

  Dioxins (Belgium)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions he took in response to the discovery of dioxins in Belgian poultry and dairy produce. [87934]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement given by my right hon. Friend the Minister on 8 June 1999,Official Report, columns 480–81.

  Battery Hens
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to improve the welfare of battery hens. [87935]

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the agreement at the June Agriculture Council concerning phasing out battery hens by 2012. [87939]

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is introducing to phase out the farming of battery hens. [87923]

  Mr. Morley
  We shall implement the EU Directive which was agreed in Luxembourg on 15 June. This requires all members states to ban the conventional battery cage from 1 January 2012 and to apply improved standards to its use in the meantime.
  265
  My right hon. Friend the Minister was delighted to be part of the qualified majority which took this historic decision.

  Meat Hygiene
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about compliance with meat hygiene regulations in other parts of the EU. [87936]

  Mr. Rooker
  The European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) is responsible for ensuring that individual EU member states comply with their Community public health obligations, including the enforcement of the EU meat hygiene Directives. The FVO carries out a regular programme of inspection visits to all member states and publishes the reports of all such visits.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if raw meat products produced from whole carcases in meat processing plants, in premises which come under the supervision of local authority enforcement officers fail to meet hygiene standards more frequently than meats produced from whole carcases in cutting plants which come under the supervision of the Meat Hygiene Service. [88395]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information requested is not available.

  Food Standards Agency
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the timetable for the introduction of the Food Standards Agency. [87940]

  Mr. Rooker
  If the Food Standards Bill can be passed successfully, we aim to have the Agency in place in the first half of next year.

  Milk Marque
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of Milk Marque. [87941]

  Mr. Morley
  It would not be appropriate to comment until after my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has published the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of raw milk in Great Britain.

  School Milk
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had regarding the provision of school milk. [87942]

  Mr. Morley
  My Department has regular discussions with interested groups about the operation of the EC School Milk Subsidy Scheme. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Minister raised the subject at the last Agriculture Council and received considerable support for our view about the value of the current EU scheme.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made on allowing the use of set-aside for environmental purposes. [87943]

  Mr. Morley
  The environmental advantages that can be gained from set-aside will be enhanced by the commitment we obtained from the Commission at the Council on 14–15 June to allow member states to apply more flexible set-aside rules where this brings environmental benefits.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates Special Advisers from his Department have travelled abroad on official business since 2 May 1997; which countries were visited on each occasion; and what were the names of the Special Advisers who travelled on each occasion. [86293]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie) on 15 April 1999,Official Report, column 319 and 8 June 1999, Official Report, columns 249–50.

  Farmers' Markets
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance he is giving to the establishment of farmers' markets; and if he will make a statement. [88168]

  Mr. Rooker
  I support fully the establishment of farmers' markets. The Department organised a seminar on 9 March with key players to encourage the development and promulgation of the concept.

  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had on the development of farmers' markets. [87929]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I opened the Islington Farmers' Market last month.

  Pig Industry
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to ensure that Government Departments, local authorities and other related agencies purchase only UK-produced pigmeat products. [88855]

  Mr. Rooker
  This Department has no powers to dictate to authorities with public procurement responsibilities. None the less, my right hon. Friend the Minister has written to a number of Government Departments to underline the guarantees that British pigmeat can offer. He drew attention to the good story which the industry has to tell in respect of its efforts on quality assured and welfare friendly production practices. The responses received indicate that quality assured and welfare friendly production practices play a full part in the tender specifications laid down by public procurement bodies.

  We believe that the most effective way to achieve change in the practices of reluctant local councils and health and education authorities is for contact to be made at the local level, both by the industry and by local MPs.

  267
  On those occasions where contact has been made, it seems to have had a positive effect. My right hon. Friend intends, therefore, to write to all MPs actively encouraging them to make contact with public authorities in their constituencies and invite those authorities to take British welfare and quality standards into account when procuring pork and pork products.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government will introduce regulations to impose the same standards of traceability and quality assurance on imported pigmeat products as apply to UK-produced pigmeat. [88856]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government have no powers to do so. It is also questionable whether such an imposition would be in the interests of the UK pig industry as it could forgo the possibility of obtaining a premium in the market.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if the Government will cover the cost to pig farmers of offal and waste disposal; and if he will make a statement; [88852]

  (2) if the Government will restore rendering subsidies for the UK pig industry. [88853]

  Mr. Rooker
  There are no plans to do so.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of(a) the cost of the climate change levy to his Department and (b) the savings from the reduction in national insurance contributions that will occur when it is introduced. [88865]

  Mr. Morley
  The net impact of the climate change levy and the associated reduction in main rate of employers' National Insurance Contributions on this department will depend on the rates of climate change levy. The final rates of climate change levy will not be set until Finance Bill 2000.

  In addition, the Government are still considering a number of detailed issues on the tax treatment of different energy products which could have a significant impact in some instances. It is therefore not possible to give definitive figures about the impact of the climate change levy on this department.

  Organophosphorous Sheep Dips
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the report by the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh into the effects of exposure to organophosphorous sheep dips will be published. [89848]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) is today publishing its report on the effects of exposure to organophosphorous sheep dips.

  The report identifies handling of OP sheep dip concentrates as the main source of potential exposure. It suggests that the identified exposure to concentrates was associated with an increased likelihood of ill-health in the groups studied.
  268
  The report is being submitted immediately for consideration by the OP Working Group of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) which is reviewing the evidence on the possible ill-health effects of OPs. We expect to receive advice from COT, and from the other independent expert advisory committees on the implications of the COT advice, by the end of the year.

  In addition, I have asked the Veterinary Products Committee and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides to consider urgently, in advance of the COT advice, whether the report has any immediate implications for approvals of OPs or whether further measures are necessary.

  I have also written today to representatives of manufacturers seeking a meeting within the week to discuss what action they will be proposing in response to the report.

  I am placing copies of the report in the Library of the House.

  Countryside Access Scheme
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about closure of the Countryside Access Scheme. [89849]

  Mr. Morley
  I am announcing today that the Countryside Access Scheme will be closed to new applications. This pilot agri-environment scheme provided public access to set aside land. Public access to farmland will continue to be available under the Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas schemes, which provide more comprehensive incentives for farmers to provide access.

  All existing CAS agreements will continue until the end of their five year terms. At the expiry of their agreements, farmers will be offered the opportunity to apply for agreements under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Those which provide good quality opportunities for public access will be offered agreements.

HEALTH

  Junior Doctors
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the outcome of the BMA survey which asked if junior doctors were prepared to take some form of industrial action regarding the out-of-hours rates of pay and conditions of service; [88068]

  (2) what discussions he is having with the BMA's Junior Doctors' Committee about improving the hourly rates paid to junior doctors for their work at night, weekends and bank holidays. [88067]

  Mr. Denham
  Pay rates for junior doctors, including rates for out-of-hours work, are decided on the basis of recommendations by the independent Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body (DDRB). Their 28' Report, published on 1 February 1999, concluded that"there was no need for changes to the existing working patterns of junior doctors and against that background the existing rates of additional duty hours remain appropriate".
  269
  I held a positive and constructive meeting on 10 June with the representatives of the Junior Doctors' Committee on a number of issues relating to pay and conditions of service. We agreed that further meetings with officials would be held over the coming weeks.

  I value the commitment of all junior doctors working in the National Health Service. However, the threat of industrial action following the recent survey is an appropriate response in the light of that commitment, which can serve only to jeopardise patient care if carried through and is inappropriate for professional staff whose pay is set on the basis of recommendations made by an independent Review Body. Industrial action could undermine the modern staffing initiatives we are seeking to introduce to improve the working lives of junior doctors: shorter working hours, better training opportunities, decent pay levels, higher standards of accommodation and catering facilities and new family friendly employment practices.

  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the health authorities in which junior hospital doctors can be on call and working for periods of (i) 24 hours, (ii) 32 hours, (iii) 36 hours, (iv) 48 hours and (v) any longer continuous period and (b) those specialties or areas of hospital medicine in which such hours on call and working most frequently occur. [86707]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's response to the report of the Pensions and Retirement Age Working Group, published by the Ambulance Service Association 1997. [89087]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 30 June 1999]: The National Health Service Executive and the National Health Service Pensions Agency have discussed the findings of the report with the Ambulance Service Association. Further work is being done on costing the proposals.

  Special Educational Needs
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Joint Working Group which he set up with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to improve the provision of therapies for children with special educational needs to complete its work. [87854]

  Mr. Hutton
  The working group on the provision of speech and language therapy services to children with special educational needs was established in November 1998 and its membership includes representatives of a wide range of interested parties. The working group has met on four occasions to date. Progress and future plans will be reviewed at the group's meeting in November 270
  1999 in the light of preliminary feedback from specially commissioned research into speech and language therapy provision.

  Mobile Communications Bases
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is currently being undertaken or commissioned by the National Radiological Protection Board on the health effects of mobile communications base stations on the neighbouring population. [88108]

  Ms Jowell
  The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has a programme of research into exposures and possible effects of radiofrequency radiation from mobile phones and base stations. It has carried out field measurements in the vicinity of a number of base stations and it is proposed to extend the measurement database to be representative of a variety of base station locations in the United Kingdom.

  Experimental work is in progress to investigate potential effects on learning and memory using low level signals of the type used for mobile telephony. A research programme to investigate the possible induction of chromosome damage in cultured human cells is being developed.

  Other work involves computer models derived from medical images of people; these have been used to calculate how electromagnetic fields interact with the body. This work is ongoing.

  The NRPB's Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation continues to review research on the health effects of electromagnetic fields and NRPB have been instructed to set up an independent working group to assess the current state of research into the use of mobile phones. The group will be chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS, FRSE. The membership and terms of reference will be announced shortly.

  Buprenorphine
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the FP10(HP)(ad) and FP10(MDA) forms will be amended to include buprenorphine (Subutex), to enable medical practitioners to prescribe the drug on a daily basis for a week by completing one form. [87999]

  Mr. Denham
  At present I have no plans to add buprenorphine to the list of drugs which may be prescribed by doctors on FP10(HP)(ad) and FP10(MDA) prescription forms.

  Beta-interferon
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) by what means recipients of Health Service Circular 1999/101 were informed that it had been withdrawn; [88002]

  (2) if he will list the recipients of Health Service Circular 1999/101 prior to its withdrawal on 20 April; [88001]

  (3) when he proposes to publish a new National Health Service circular on the use of beta-interferon in the treatment of multiple sclerosis to replace Health Service Circular 1999/101; [88191]
  271
  (4) if the proposed health service circular on the use of beta-interferon in the treatment of multiple sclerosis will distinguish between its value in treating relapsing/ remitting multiple sclerosis and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. [88190]

  Mr. Denham
  Advance copies of draft Health Service Circular 1999/999, which was due to be issued on 20 April 1999 as Health Service Circular 1999/101, were sent to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the three manufacturers of beta-interferon, and the National Health Service (Regional Directors of Public Health and Regional Prescribing Leads, who were invited to forward the draft circular to health authorities).

  Owing to concerns expressed by some of the recipients of the draft circular, it was not issued on 20 April. The NHS was informed of this by way of a letter from the NHS Executive's Acting Medical Director, Dr. Sheila Adam. Copies of this letter are available in the Library. I also refer my hon. Friend to the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the President of the Council on 22 April 1999, Official Report, columns 1055–56.

  The Department plans to consult interested parties shortly on a revised draft health service circular on beta-interferon. The contents of the circular that is subsequently issued will take into account comments received during the consultation period.

  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make beta-interferon available on the NHS for progressive MS; and what funding is to be made available to health authorities for it. [88737]

  Mr. Denham
  Beta-interferon may be made available on the National Health Service, but the costs of prescribing it are expected to be met within health authority allocations.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters he has received to date(a) in support of and (b) opposed to the proposed MLX 249 Regulation. [88004]

  Ms Jowell
  We received six representations broadly supporting the proposals and 610 representations opposing some or all of the proposals during the 12 week consultation period, which ended on 31 January 1999. Since the end of the consultation period we have received several thousand more letters opposing the proposals, many of which were based on a fundamental misapprehension of the content, purpose and effect of the proposals.

  Unused Medicines
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number and value of unopened blister packs of drugs returned to dispensing chemists for the latest year for which figures are available; [88146]

  (2) what is the value of medicines returned by patients to dispensing chemists for the latest year for which figures are available. [88147]
  272
  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Organ Transplants
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received organs for transplant which originated from countries outside the EU in each of the last three years. [88145]

  Mr. Hutton
  For the period 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1998 there were 10 transplant operations using organs which originated from countries outside the EU. Three were carried out in 1996, two in 1997 and five in 1998.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organs for transplant were brought into the UK from EU member states; and what percentage came from living donors in the most recent year for which figures are available. [88837]

  Mr. Hutton
  In 1998, 26 organs for transplant were accepted from hospitals in European Union countries outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Of these, 23 were suitable and subsequently transplanted.

  No living donor organs were offered from abroad during 1998.

  Accident and Emergency Departments (Staff Security)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to improve security for staff working in accident and emergency departments. [88340]

  Mr. Denham
  We have initiated the biggest programme of capital investment in accident and emergency services in the history of the National Health Service (a total of £115 million in three quarters of all Accident and Emergency departments). This money should ensure that patients are treated more quickly, more effectively and with greater privacy than ever before, and create safer working conditions for staff.

  Tackling violence against staff is a priority area for action. A key objective is that each local employer will, by April 2000, have systems in place to record and monitor the incidents of workplace violence and have published strategies in place to achieve a reduction.

  The NHS Executive is also working on a cross-government drive to reduce the incidences of violence against staff. The campaign, which has the support of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Office, my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General. The campaign will be backed up by national guidelines for action including prevention, prosecution, sentencing, good practice and challenging targets. The over-arching message of this campaign will be that violence against staff is unacceptable and that the Government are determined to stamp it out.

  Bedford Hospital
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 30 March 1999,Official Report, column 844, if he will meet Dr. Niblett to discuss the number of beds in relation to demand for them at Bedford Hospital. [88184]

  Mr. Denham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Dr. Niblett on 11 February this year and visited the Intensive Care Unit at Bedford Hospital.

  Smoking
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to protect children from the effects of passive smoking in public places. [88214]

  Ms Jowell
  The White Paper "Smoking Kills" includes a new charter on smoking in public places, agreed by the hospitality industry. We will now negotiate with the industry to work up the detail of a Charter which will ensure that all consumers, including children, are better able to choose whether to eat, drink or socialise in smoky atmospheres. The results will be monitored and we will consider the need for any further action in the light of progress.

  Temporary Contracts
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets he has set health care trusts for the eradication of temporary contracts; and if he will make a statement. [88392]

  Mr. Denham
  National Health Service managers need the flexibility to offer temporary or short-term contracts. We want to stop the systematic use of such contracts in the National Health Service, and the National Health Service Executive has made it clear that short-term (fixed) contracts should be offered only where a post is genuinely time limited. The general presumption is that permanent contracts should be the norm.

  Influenza Immunisation
  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what data are required to be collected on influenza immunisations by(a) his Department, (b) local health authorities and (c) regional health authorities; [88778]

  (2) what requirements exist for general practitioners to provide data on the number of their patients vaccinated against influenza in risk groups; [88773]

  (3) what information is collected on the coverage of the influenza vaccine (a) in risk groups and (b) for all people over 75 years of age; [88775]

  (4) what targets his Department has set for increasing the percentage of people in risk groups receiving influenza vaccinations. [88777]

  Ms Jowell
  No data are required to be collected but some health authorities collect the information locally. Estimates of national influenza vaccine coverage are made by analysing the General Practice Research Database by risk group and by age. Figures for 1989 to 1997 were published in Health Trends (1998; 30: 51–5), copies of which are available in the Library. Overall uptake in the 274
  risk groups was estimated to be about 23 per cent. and varied with age—about 44 per cent. of those over 65 years in a high risk group received vaccine in 1996–97 compared with 13 per cent. of those aged 35–49 years. Figures for the 1998–99 influenza season are not yet available. Targets are not set because of the difficulty of accurately assessing denominators for the risk groups.

  Guidance for health authorities on planning for dealing with winter pressures includes the need to increase influenza immunisation uptake in the risk groups. Flu Awareness Week, launched each year at a press briefing held by the Chief Medical Officer, also aims to increase vaccine uptake.

  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given by his Department to local health authorities and general practitioners about running effective influenza immunisation campaigns to target risk groups. [88772]

  Ms Jowell
  Information for general practitioners and health authorities is given in the United Kingdom Health Departments' memorandum 'Immunisation against Infectious Disease' and in letters and circulars issued by the Department (most recently Professional Letter/Chief Medical Officer/98/4/PL/Chief Nursing Officer/98/6 and Health Service Circular 1998–140), copies of which are available in the Library.

  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what scientific evidence his Department has evaluated on the success rate of the influenza vaccine in preventing this disease. [88779]

  Ms Jowell
  Influenza viruses change and different strains predominate from year to year. Each season a new vaccine is produced from strains of virus closely related to those expected to be in circulation. The effectiveness of the vaccine will depend on how well the vaccine strains match the strains of influenza that actually circulate. Effective global surveillance co-ordinated by the World Health Organisation means that in most years there is a good match.

  All information on the effectiveness of influenza vaccine in preventing influenza and its complications is reviewed on a regular basis by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the expert advisory committee that advises the Government on immunisation matters.

  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the unit cost of an influenza vaccination. [88770]

  Ms Jowell
  The list prices for vaccines are given in the British National Formulary, copies of which are available in the Library. Last season's list prices for influenza vaccine ranged from £5.08 to £5.70 a dose. Prices for the coming season have not yet been announced.

  Teenage Pregnancy
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how and when the proposed Sure Start Plus announced in the Social Exclusion Unit report on teenage pregnancy will be piloted; which areas have been chosen; what criteria will be used; and what resources will be available for such pilots. [88670]
  275
  Ms Jowell
  Roll out of the Sure Start Plus pilots will begin from April 2000. They will be funded from within the Sure Start programme. The areas chosen will be covered by Health Action Zones and have high rates of teenage pregnancy.

  Cancer Services
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 June 1999,Official Report, column 416, if he will make a statement on the joint funding by the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Trust and the North Staffordshire Trust of a cancer specialist. [88724]

  Mr. Hutton
  The North Staffordshire Hospital National Health Service Trust has recently appointed a clinical oncologist who will also work a number of sessions in the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust joint cancer centre. Manpower issues in respect of the business case for a new linear accelerator at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital joint cancer centre will be explored more thoroughly within the NHS Executive—West Midlands Regional Office's overall consideration of the business case.

  Loughborough General Hospital
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 May 1999,Official Report, column 133, when he expects the National Health Service Executive to make a final response to the full business case made by Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust for the replacement of Loughborough's General Hospital. [88595]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Health Service Executive provided a detailed response to Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust about their Full Business Case (FBC) to replace Loughborough General Hospital on 3 June 1999.

  The NHS Executive has not been able to make a formal decision on the recommendation of the FBC as further work is required on some key elements of the FBC, including issues relating to the scheme's value for money.

  The trust is currently working on responses to the issues raised by the NHS Executive and is to set a timescale for the FBC to be resubmitted. In view of the length of time that it has taken to progress this scheme, the NHS Executive will be having meetings with the trust as a matter of urgency to resolve the above issues and progress the scheme to resolution.

  Allergy Clinics
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of allergy clinics. [88657]

  Mr. Hutton
  Officials from the Department recently met representatives of the relevant professional and patient representative bodies to discuss the future of allergy services; possible action will be discussed at a follow-up meeting to be arranged. It is, however, the responsibility of individual health authorities to assess the health care needs of their residents and to secure access to a range of services which aim to meet those 276
  needs. Each health authority therefore decides how great the need for a local allergy clinic is, based on local priorities and resources.

  Dental Services
  Audrey Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the availability of dental treatment on the NHS. [88604]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government have already taken action to improve the availability of National Health Service (NHS) dentistry through the Investing in Dentistry (IID) and Personal Dental Services (PDS) initiatives. The IID initiative, which ended in April, should give over 650,000 extra patients the opportunity of registering with an NHS dentist. The 15 PDS pilots which began in October 1998, and the 24 new proposals to be developed into pilots for this October, are designed to offer NHS patients a better, more accessible, reliable and higher quality dental service. The Government are now examining options on how best to use the resources available for further improving the availability of dentistry. A dental strategy will be published later this year.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the NHS strategy for dentistry. [89080]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government's strategy on National Health Service dentistry will be published later this year.

  GP Facilities
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to discuss with commercial organisations the availability of sites for the development of GP facilities; and if he will make a statement. [88823]

  Mr. Denham
  Officials regularly have discussions with interested parties, including commercial organisations, about primary care facilities and I am kept informed of developments.

  National Donor Register
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism is in place to target those people aged 18 years to go on the National Donor Register. [88713]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 28 June 1999]: Our continuing national and local publicity campaigns encourage people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register, to carry the Donor Card at all times and, most importantly, make their wishes known to their family and friends. The campaigns have been designed to reach people of all ages.

  While there is no specific mechanism for targeting 18-year-olds, people can register when applying for driving licences and this is one of the major routes onto the register. A high proportion of such driving licence applications are from first time applicants in the 17–21-year-old age group.

  Hospital Food
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of hospital trusts which have in place a system of quality control for
  277
  hospital food; and what advice his Department has given to trusts on the introduction of such quality control systems. [888661

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Guidance on delivering a quality catering service and improving nutrition standards has been issued to the National Health Service in recent years to ensure that food and eating are seen as an important part of patient care. All NHS trusts have been asked to adopt a recommended framework for auditing and monitoring performance to ensure consistent standards.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of(a) the cost of the climate change levy to his Department and (b) the savings from the reduction in national insurance contributions that will occur when it is introduced. [88858]

  Mr. Denham
  The net impact of the climate change levy and the associated reduction in the main rate of employers' National Insurance Contributions on the Department will depend on the rates of climate change levy. The final rates of climate change levy will not be set until the Finance Bill 2000.

  In addition, the Government are still considering a number of detailed issues on the tax treatment of a number of different energy products which could have a significant impact in some instances. It is therefore not possible to give definitive figures about the impact of the climate change levy on the Department.

  Xenotransplantation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into xenotransplantation; and if he will make a statement. [88941]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its grant in aid from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, is currently funding two projects related to xenotransplantation:"Germ-line modification of pig organs for human transplantation" being conducted by the BBSRC Babraham Institute.
  "Endogenous retroviruses of pigs and xenotransplantation" being conducted by the Institute of Cancer Research and the MRC National Institute for Medical Research.

  The Department is directly funding a further project:
  "An investigation into the ability of porcine endogenous retroviruses to infect animals other than pigs" being conducted by the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research.

  The Department is in the process of commissioning two systematic reviews of the published literature covering xenotransplantation. The first review will be looking at physiology, immunology and infection issues; the second covering legal and ethical issues. The reviews, which are expected to take around twelve months to complete, will help to highlight those areas where further research would be beneficial. Recommendations for further research are also included in the recently published United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority report of the workshop on porcine endogenous retroviruses.

  Biomedical Scientists
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the salary scales for trainee and newly qualified biomedical scientists. [88832]

  Mr. Denham
  Biomedical scientists are classed as medical laboratory scientific officers (MLSOs) for pay and grading purposes. Their pay scales are attached to a common pay spine for National Health Service Professional and Technical Staff. The current pay scale for trainee MLSOs, effective since 1 December 1998 is:

  Spine point

  £

  00

  7,476

  01

  7,726

  02

  7,988

  03

  8,260

  04

  8,544

  05

  8,839

  06

  9,146

  07

  9,463

  08

  9,796

  The MLSO Grade 1 pay scale is used for newly qualified biomedical scientists. The current pay scale effective from 1 December 1998 is:

  Spine point

  £

  00

  11,812

  01

  12,286

  02

  12,777

  03

  13,290

  04

  13,822

  05

  14,375

  06

  14,949

  07

  15,546

  08

  116,169

  09

  116,817

  10

  117,486

  Pay is negotiated in the Professional and Technical Staffs Whitley Council. Staff Side are consulting their members on the NHS Management Side's offer of:
  an increase in national pay scales for PTB staff of 3 per cent.
  an increase of 13.5 per cent. in London Weighting Allowances which will restore them to 1995 values
  additional increases for staff working in cytology screening, with trainee cytology screeners getting 6.6 per cent. and qualified cytology screeners getting up to 11.4 per cent.
  additional increases for staff in the MLSO grades, with trainee MLSOs getting up to 26 per cent., and MLSO1 s and some MLSO2s getting 7.1 per cent.

  If accepted this offer would produce a new pay scale for trainee MLSOs of:

  Spine point

  £

  00

  9,420

  01

  9,747

  02

  10,090

  03

  10,443

  279
  And a new pay scale for MLSO1s of:

  Spine point

  £

  15

  12,655

  16

  13,160

  17

  13,689

  18

  14,237

  19

  14,806

  20

  15,397

  21

  16,012

  22

  16,654

  23

  117,322

  24

  118,011

  25

  118,734

  1Employing authorities may advance the position of a grade scale (other than that of a trainee) on the pay spine by up to three points for posts which carry additional responsibilities or require specialist skills but which do not warrant a higher grade.

  DTP Vaccine
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the costs per batch of the(a) whole cell and (b) acellular DTP vaccine. [89008]

  Ms Jowell
  Vaccines are purchased by dose, not by batch. The Department does not publicise the cost per dose of any childhood vaccines, including whole cell DTP, as this information is a commercially confidential part of the procurement process. The only acellular DTP vaccine which is licensed for use in the United Kingdom is made by SmithKline Beecham and has a list price of £11.00 per dose.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 June 1999,Official Report, column 185, for what reasons the whole cell DTP vaccine is used in the UK, in preference to the acellular vaccine; and if he will make a statement. [89050]

  Ms Jowell
  Whole cell pertussis vaccine, used in combined DTP vaccine, is used in the United Kingdom because it is the safest and most effective pertussis vaccine available for the UK childhood immunisation programme.

  Large vaccine trials in Sweden and Germany have shown that the pertussis whole cell vaccine that we use in the United Kingdom is amongst the most effective available. There is little difference in the level of local reactions and fever seen after use of the UK whole cell vaccine when compared to acellular pertussis vaccines given under the UK immunisation schedule. The protection given by the UK vaccine is as good as the best acellular vaccine tested and better than the rest. There is also some evidence that combining the acellular pertussis vaccine with Hib vaccine, which is given at the same time, may decrease the immune response to Hib which affects its suitability for routine use.

  Genetically Modified Pollen
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) received into the effect on hay-fever sufferers of the breathing in of genetically-modified pollen. [88874]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: This Department has not commissioned research into the effect that pollen from genetically modified crops may have on
  280
  hayfever sufferers, nor has it received any. I have asked the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants to take a preliminary look at this issue at the earliest opportunity.

  Medicines (Bovine Material)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 June 1999,Official Report, column 382, what estimate he has made of the quantity of vaccines held by manufacturers in whose early stages of manufacture bovine material had been used (a) when precautionary measures were introduced in 1989 and (b) when European Commission guidelines were issued in 1992. [88957]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: None.

  Drug-resistant Tuberculosis
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the letter of 12 January (POH(3) 5437/68), what recent action he has taken to combat drug-resistant TB. [87389]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: Work to combat drug-resistant and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is continuing. The United Kingdom has heightened its surveillance of drug and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis through a scheme co-ordinated by the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) through the UK Mycobacterial Resistance Network. Work has also commenced on enhanced surveillance of tuberculosis cases which should improve monitoring. The appointment of Regional Epidemiologists should help towards a more co-ordinated approach. The activities of the PHLS are now co-ordinated through the new Tuberculosis Programme. The PHLS has developed and made available more rapid diagnostic and drug susceptibility tests for tuberculosis, which can be used where there is a presence of risk factors which might predispose towards multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. A report by the Interdepartmental Working Group on Tuberculosis, "UK guidance for prevention and control of the transmission of HIV-related and drug resistant, including multiple drug-resistant, tuberculosis", was published in September 1998.

  Prodigy Prescribing System
  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if lists of products appearing on the Prodigy prescribing system have been circulated to relevant patients and specialist groups for their views; and what formal consultation process exists in respect of such products; [89104]

  (2) what plans he has for the further use of the Prodigy prescribing system by GPs; [89100]

  (3) what account the Prodigy prescribing system takes of existing clinical guidelines; [89099]

  (4) what consultations his Department has undertaken in respect of the Prodigy prescribing support system in the last two years; [89098]

  (5) what method was used to select the products which appear on the Prodigy prescribing system; [89105]

  (6) if he will list the members of the selection panel for products on the Prodigy prescribing system; [89102]
  281
  (7) what assessment he has made of GPs' views on the Prodigy prescribing system. [89101]

  Mr. Denham
  The Prodigy decision support system has undergone two research phases, during which it was tested in 183 general practices with around 750 doctors. The results of the research indicated that a large proportion of general practitioners were very interested in having such a tool available for their use. In light of this positive response, a first release version of Prodigy will be made available to any GP who wants it. There will be a third phase of the research project, which will look at the management of chronic disease.

  Prodigy is designed to offer good quality, clinically effective advice to GPs. When applying the Prodigy recommendations, doctors should use their discretion and clinical judgment, taking into account individual patient variations and needs. General practitioners remain free to prescribe whichever product they feel is the most appropriate for their patients.

  The recommended treatments in Prodigy have been chosen on the basis of clinical effectiveness, safety and appropriateness. Where more than one drug exists with similar clinical effect, or where the benefits of one drug over another are marginal, then cost is brought into consideration. The clinical advice contained in the current release of Prodigy is refined and validated with the assistance of a committee of representatives from the General Practitioners Committee, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. All were chosen for the personal expertise and qualities they were able to bring to the process. For the longer term, an equally robust process will be set up under the oversight of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Full details of how NICE will take this forward will be published in due course. Prodigy guidance takes full account of existing national or well-recognised guidelines, where these are appropriate to general medical practice. In time, Prodigy will allow easy access to NICE guidance and a swift means of communicating emergency medical messages to GPs, plus information about new drugs, contra-indications and safety alerts.

  Patient groups, the pharmaceutical industry and other representative organisations have been consulted throughout the Prodigy project, both on the content of the clinical guidance and on patient information leaflets available as part of the Prodigy system. Each organisation is given the opportunity to comment on new Prodigy recommendations as they are developed and their views are taken into account at the time the recommendations are finalised. These groups will continue to be consulted as Prodigy is made more widely available to GPs over the coming months.
  282
  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what skin products appear on the Prodigy prescribing system; and how they were selected. [89103]

  Mr. Denham
  A list of the skin products which appear in, or are being considered for inclusion in, the Prodigy guidance on skin conditions, will be placed in the Library. The majority of these dermatology topics have not yet been released to general practitioners as they are undergoing final amendments (the status of each Prodigy guidance topic is indicated in the schedule).

  All products are selected on the basis of clinical effectiveness, safety and appropriateness.

  Counselling Training
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on training medical professionals in counselling and interpersonal and management skills in the last year for which figures are available. [89092]

  Mr. Denham
  Although training in counselling, interpersonal and management skills is an important component of all stages of medical education, no data are held centrally on the resources devoted to these activities. Decisions on the allocation of resources between different components of training are professional considerations and are not prescribed centrally.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidelines have been issued to magistrates in respect of the sentencing of young offenders under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [88928]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Government do not issue sentencing guidelines to magistrates. Factual information about the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act has been provided in accordance with normal practice.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what training has been given to magistrates regarding the sentencing of young offenders under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [88929]

  Mr. Vaz
  It is the responsibility of individual Magistrates Courts' Committees (MCCs) to provide training to the magistrates in their area. The Judicial Studies Board has provided training materials for those provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which are currently being piloted. These materials are being evaluated and will be issued to all MCCs in time for the piloted provisions being introduced nationally.

  Kosovo Settlement
  Kosovo Settlement
  Kosovo
  Kosovo
  GUUAM Group
  GUUAM Group
  EU Enlargement Negotiations
  EU Enlargement Negotiations
  Meat Hygiene
  Meat Hygiene
  Tuberculosis in Cattle
  Tuberculosis in Cattle
  Meat Labelling
  Meat Labelling
  Privy Council Judicial Committee Hearings: Photocopying and Fax Facilities
  Privy Council Judicial Committee Hearings: Photocopying and Fax Facilities
  Scotland Act 1998: Advice to Her Majesty the Queen
  Scotland Act 1998: Advice to Her Majesty the Queen
  Vehicle Number Plates
  Vehicle Number Plates
  GMOs: Open Decision-making
  GMOs: Open Decision-making
  Climate Change
  Climate Change
  Urban Task Force: Report
  Urban Task Force: Report
  Right to Roam: Occupiers' Liability
  Right to Roam: Occupiers' Liability
  Small Businesses: Support for R and D)
  Small Businesses: Support for R and D)
  Internal Market Council, 21 June
  Internal Market Council, 21 June
  FE Colleges and School Sixth Forms: Funding
  FE Colleges and School Sixth Forms: Funding
  Depleted Uranium: Use in Yugoslavia
  Depleted Uranium: Use in Yugoslavia
  Kosovo: UK Sorties
  Kosovo: UK Sorties
  BOWMAN Communication System
  BOWMAN Communication System
  Nuclear Policy
  Nuclear Policy
  Serbia: Civilian Casualties
  Serbia: Civilian Casualties
  Kosovo: Russian Participation
  Kosovo: Russian Participation
  Yugoslavia: NATO Strategy
  Yugoslavia: NATO Strategy