Written Answers of 21 July 1999

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Director of Public Prosecutions (Annual Report)
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to publish his Annual Report. [92528]

  The Attorney-General
  The Director of Public Prosecutions has today published his Annual Report and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  BBC (Funding)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Ms Ryan) of 12 January 1999,Official Report, columns 131–32, on the review of future funding of the BBC, when he will publish the findings of the review panel. [92693]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I expect to receive the panel's report at the end of July and will publish it as soon as possible thereafter. Copies will be sent to hon. Members in their constituencies and placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Publication of the report will mark the start of a period of public consultation which will run until 1 November 1999. I will reflect on the evidence gathered during that consultation with a view to taking decisions on the recommendations by the end of the year.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Rail Travel
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to encourage and promote rail travel. [90372]

  Property/land

  Bought

  Sold

  Street House

  21 July 1992

  22 December 1997

  The Georgian House

  28 January 1993

  25 November 1998

  Roxby House

  1 February 1994

  22 January 1999

  Leases Farm

  12 May 1994

  26 February 1999

  Hopetown Farm Buildings

  28 July 1994

  22 January 1999

  Hopetown House

  6 July 1996

  31 October 1996

  Thoroughway House

  31 October 1994

  14 November 1997

  Leases Grange

  27 November 1995

  18 November 1998

  The Croft

  11 July 1996

  29 March 1999

  New Inn Farm

  31 December 1996

  28 May 1998

  Land at Little Holtby

  6 June 1996

  1 June 1998

  The Shawgills

  26 August 1993

  20 March 1998

  512
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Promotion of the use of the rail network will be one of the main objectives of the Strategic Rail Authority, to be established by the Railways Bill which received its second reading on 19 July. Meanwhile the shadow Strategic Rail Authority has been in operation since 1 April and is making a head start on the strategic planning which the industry needs. We have made three key rail appointments, which look to the future of railway industry.

  February's National Rail Summit produced commitments from the industry to deliver year on year improvements in terms of new drivers, new trains and better performance.

  In addition we have established two new funds, the Infrastructure Investment Fund and the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme as well as providing extra funds for the freight facilities grant.

  Bus Lanes
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow motorcycle couriers to use bus lanes in London. [91488]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We currently have no plans to allow motorcycle couriers to use bus lanes in London. Two pilot projects have been conducted in Bristol and Reading on the use of bus lanes by powered two wheelers. These were a useful source of information about the traffic and safety effects on powered two wheelers. But there was no monitoring of the situation before implementation and there are unanswered questions about their impact on pedal cyclists and the abuse of bus lanes by other drivers. We would, therefore, welcome proposals from local authorities interested in conducting properly monitored pilot studies of the use of bus lanes by motorcycles to help inform decisions on whether there is a case for motorcyclists to be allowed to use bus lanes.

  Al (Upgrading)
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the properties purchased alongside the Al road between Scotch Corner and Rainton in Yorkshire to allow for the upgrading of the road to motorway standards and (b) the total cost of the properties; what plans he has for these properties; and what is the future of the upgrading scheme. [90792]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 14 July 1999]: The Highways Agency has bought and sold the following 26 properties and pieces of land:
  513

  Property/land

  Bought

  Sold

  Land at Station Road

  29 January 1993

  20 May 1999

  The Little Bistro

  3 June 1994

  23 March 1999

  St. Annes Cross

  25 January 1995

  29 May 1998

  Scurragh House

  24 August 1995

  27 March 1998

  Gatherley Villa

  14 November 1995

  27 March 1998

  South Lodge

  15 June 1992

  27 March 1998

  Firholme Farm

  18 November 1998

  retained

  Lodge Farm

  11 October 1995

  not yet sold (but offer accepted)

  Leases Hall

  24 August 1994

  not yet sold (but offer accepted)

  Leases Tip

  23 August 1994

  for sale

  Bedale Hunt Inn

  28 August 1992

  for sale

  Brookside

  24 September 1992

  retained in part (sale of remainder being negotiated)

  Land South of Station Road

  30 March 1999

  retained

  Land at Catterick South Junction

  1 September 1989

  retained

  This is at a total cost of some £5 million in connection with earlier proposals for improvements along the Al between Dishforth and Scotch Corner.

  The improvement schemes were withdrawn from the Trunk Road Programme in 1996. Other than properties directly affected by the extant Orders for the Leeming to Scotch Corner scheme, the Highways Agency is selling the land and properties which it was required to buy under blight provisions for the schemes.

  Buses
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will

  Local bus services: passenger journeys by area

  million

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Greater London

  1,129

  1,117

  1,167

  1,205

  1,242

  1,294

  Tyne and Wear

  189

  182

  170

  168

  165

  161

  Merseyside

  178

  166

  168

  165

  163

  153

  Greater Manchester

  252

  236

  226

  224

  212

  211

  South Yorkshire

  176

  166

  163

  158

  150

  144

  West Yorkshire

  231

  232

  222

  219

  207

  200

  West Midlands

  356

  355

  381

  358

  349

  368

  Rest of England

  1,307

  1,274

  1,277

  1,265

  1,265

  1,248

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what will be the cost of installing the planned 360 on-bus cameras for the enforcement of bus lanes in London. [91487]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The London-wide expansion of the Traffic Director/Metropolitan Police to use cameras to enforce bus lanes was announced last year. Every bus lane in London will be covered by March 2003. The scheme is estimated to cost £10 million. This includes around 325 on-bus and 35 portable roadside cameras and associated common costs such as signing, computer hardware and software (including development) and type approvals.

  Wembley
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what capital sums English Partnerships has allocated to the Wembley Task Force in 1999. [91703]
  514
  list annual bus ridership figures from 1992 to 1998 in (a) Greater London, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) Merseyside, (d) Greater Manchester, (e) South Yorkshire, (f) West Yorkshire, (g) West Midlands and (h) the rest of England. [91406]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Across England as a whole bus patronage rose by one per cent. over the year 1996–97 to 1997–98. Bus ridership, measured as bus passenger journeys, is shown in the table. Data appear in tables 10 and 16 of the Transport Statistics Report "Focus on Public Transport Great Britain: 1999 edition", published by The Stationery Office. Data for 1998–99 will not be available until later this year.

  Mr. Raynsford
  None. Should the proposed Task Force identify any projects where support for physical regeneration may be required then it is for English Partnerships to consider each project proposal on its merits, against London-wide priorities, and in light of the resources available to the Agency. The Task Force will be seeking to maximise private sector investment in to the area on the back of the significant investment already made by the public sector.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Wembley Stadium Development Monitoring Committee has to consult and involve(a) Brent Council and (b) local stakeholders. [91704]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Wembley Monitoring Committee is there to ensure effective co-ordination across Government and their agencies in respect of the national stadium project, to consider issues arising and agree handling. As the local planning authority, it is not appropriate for Brent to be part of that Committee. We are, however, maintaining close contact with Brent and
  515
  my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport and the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning (Mr. Caborn), met the Leader of Brent Council last week. The local community will, of course, be consulted as part of the planning process.

  London Underground
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what responsibility the Minister for Transport takes for operational performance of London Underground Ltd. [91484]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 15 July 1999]: The responsibilities of the Secretary of State and his Ministers for the operational performance of London Underground Ltd. are laid out in the London Regional Transport Act 1984, as amended.

  Departmental Travel
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to reduce the use of official cars by officials in(a) his Department, (b) executive agencies of his Department, (c) his Department's-sponsored non-departmental public bodies, including regional development agencies and (d) the Government Offices for the Regions. [91452]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 15 July 1999]: Green Transport Plans covering our Headquarters buildings, Executive Agencies and Government Offices aim to reduce the environmental impact of the journey to work and travel on official business.

  In addition, our travel and subsistence rules have been revised, with now only a single mileage rate to encourage the use of public transport rather than rates based on car engine size. Claims also have to verify that the most cost effective means of transport was used and the use of a car is considered only where public transport was not a viable option.

  Further Green Transport Plans will be in place, in line with the Government target, for all other key Departmental buildings, i.e. those where it is the major occupier and has over 50 staff, by March 2000.

  Fuel Storage Tanks
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to require the owners and operators of fuel storage tanks(a) to ensure that drain cocks on such tanks are fitted with a lockable device to prevent accidental spillage and (b) to ensure that operating procedures are in place to ensure that such devices are used. [91777]

  Mr. Meale
  The Environment Agency's Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPG2) on above ground oil storage tanks recommends that all tanks should have valves or cocks with lockable or removable hand wheels to prevent accidental spillage. The Guidelines (PPG11) also state that a routine programme of inspection and maintenance should be established.
  516
  The Government are considering whether further measures to prevent water pollution from industrial, commercial and institutional (residential and non-residential) oil storage installations are needed. We expect to make an announcement shortly.

  Countryside Agency
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money his Department has provided to the Countryside Agency for the development of quiet lanes. [91800]

  Mr. Meale
  The Countryside Agency has allocated £253,000 of its grant in aid for this financial year to the Quiet Roads initiative. This will bring the total spent on the initiative since it was launched by the Countryside Commission two years ago to £450,000.

  Water Companies
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the programme of work which water companies are being requested to carry out on the environment during the period 2000 to 2005 following the recent adjustment to the cost of capital made by the Director General of Water Services for the 1999 periodic review. [91798]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government's guidance to the Director General on the environmental and water quality improvements to be delivered by 2005 was published under the title "Raising the Quality" in September 1998. More detailed proposals for individual company programmes were announced on 1 March 1999.

  These programmes and the cost of capital will both be factors which the Director General takes into account in the draft price determinations he plans to announce on 27 July.

  Affordable Homes
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many affordable homes to rent were developed in(a) 1997 and (b) 1998 in (i) Salisbury district, (ii) North Dorset district, (iii) New Forest district, (iv) Kennet district and (v) Test Valley district. [91794]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The additional rented social lettings provided in these districts in 1997–98 and 1998–99 by registered social landlords, with support from the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) and Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG), were as follows:

  District

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Salisbury

  121

  95

  North Dorset

  93

  51

  New Forest

  124

  148

  Kennet

  218

  138

  Test Valley

  57

  68

  These additional social lettings come from new build, the purchase and rehabilitation of existing property and from empty properties brought into use for temporary

  517
  social housing. The ADP and LASHG also support the provision of homes for shared ownership and incentive schemes which assist social tenants to move into home ownership and vacate their lettings for others in housing need.

  According to information provided to the Department by local authorities, there was no new building of council housing in these districts in 1997–98 and 1998–99 (other than that provided by LASHG).

  Local Government Act 1988
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people have been prosecuted in each year since 1988 under section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. [91868]

  Mr. Meale
  No local authority to date has been taken to court for breach of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. I should clarify that the restrictions in the section apply to the actions of local authorities, not individual people.

  Waste Strategy, London
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has commissioned on a waste strategy for London; what were the results of that research which has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [91781]

  Mr. Meale
  My Department has not commissioned any such research.

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the waiting time for a practical car driving test in Carlisle; and if he will make a statement; [91442]

  (2) what is the target waiting time for a practical car driving test set by the Driving Standards Agency. [91443]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 19 July 1999]: The current waiting time for driving tests is nine weeks in Carlisle. The Driving Standards Agency has brought in two extra examiners to help reduce the waiting time locally.

  The Agency's service targets for test delivery are that the national average waiting time will not exceed six weeks, and that appointments will be available within 10 weeks at 99 per cent. of permanent driving test centres.

  Central Railways
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what meetings have taken place between Special Advisers in his Department and representatives of or advisers to Central Railways. [91989]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: None.

  North West Development Agency
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which 518
  persons acted as independent assessors in the sift and interview of candidates for appointment to the Board of the North West Development Agency. [91473]

  Mr. Meale
  Dr. Joan Firth acted as independent assessor in the sift and interviews of candidates for appointment to the Board of the North West Development Agency.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what potential conflicts of interest were taken into account when appointments were made to the Board of the North West Development Agency. [91474]

  Mr. Meale
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions asked all candidates for appointment to complete a questionnaire, giving details of any companies or partnerships of which they were or had been a director or partner during the past 10 years. Candidates were specifically asked to declare any facts that they felt might be raised in public in the future in relation to their suitability to hold the appointment, particularly anything that could be presented as a conflict of interest.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the names of individuals and other bodies who nominated persons to the Board of North West Regional Development Agency; [91470]

  (2) in what journals a general advertisement was placed seeking nominations to the Board of North West Regional Development Agency [91469]

  Mr. Meale
  Nominations were invited from regional stakeholders. I list here the names of those individuals and bodies who nominated people. A press release was issued to the regional press saying that Regional stakeholders had been invited to make nominations. In addition an advertisement inviting applications for board membership of all DETR' s NDPBs was placed in The Sunday Times, The Guardian and the Journal (ethnic press).

  Nominations for the RDA Board were received from the following organisations/individuals:

  Action with Communities in Rural England

  Angela Eagle MP

  Association of Colleges

  Bank of England North West (Manchester Agency)

  Bank of England North (Liverpool)

  Ben Chapman MP

  Bolton City Challenge

  Bolton Metro

  Brian Iddon MP

  Brian Simpson MEP

  British Chamber of Commerce

  British Pakistani and Kashmiri Councillors Forum—North West

  Business in the Community

  Cabinet Office, Public Appointments Unit

  Central Lancashire Development Agency

  Cllr John West

  Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

  Co-operative Retail Services Ltd.

  Co-operative Union Ltd.

  Cumbria County Council

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  519

  Department of Trade and Industry

  DfEE

  East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce

  Engineering Employers' Federation

  Enterprise plc

  Environment Agency

  Federation of Small Businesses

  Forum of Private Business

  Gerry Fitzhenry

  Home Office

  Hurlston Management Ltd.

  Ian Stewart MP

  Jane Kennedy MP

  Lancashire Council of Mosques

  Lancashire County Council

  Lindsay Hoyle MP

  Lord (Lewis) Carter

  Lorna Fitzsimons MP

  Louise Ellman MP

  LWS Waste Services

  Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  Merseyside Development Corporation

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Mrs. A. Rea

  National Farmers Union

  Nicholas R. Winterton MP

  North West Council for Training and Enterprise

  North West Region Co-operative Enterprise Ltd.

  North West Regional Association

  North West Tourist Board

  Prof. Martin Harris CBE, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellors NW

  Universities

  Partnership Projects Ltd.

  Paul Goggins MP

  Prof. John Last CBE

  Richard Corbett MEP

  Roy Phillips

  Rural Development Commission

  TEC National Council

  The National Trust

  The NW Federation for Sport, Recreation and Conservation

  The right hon. Margaret Beckett

  The Rural Development Commission

  Tim Collins CBE, MP

  United Kingdom Co-operative Council

  United Utilities PLC

  West Cumbria Partnership

  Wigan MBC

  Zeneca Group plc.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct the North West Development Agency to carry out an internal inquiry into the change in the costs of mileage allowances arising out of the transfer of English Partnership offices from Cockermouth to Penrith. [91464]

  Mr. Meale
  No. This is an operational matter for the North West Development Agency.
  520
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the location is of the office in his Department which held the data relating to nominations to the Board of the North West Development Agency. [91471]

  Mr. Meale
  The data relating to nominations to the Board of the North West Development Agency are held by the Government Office for the North West, located in Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate has been made of the freehold value of English Partnerships' offices in Cockermouth on the basis of English Partnerships remaining as a tenant. [91472]

  Mr. Meale
  Issues relating to accommodation are a matter for the North West Development Agency. The English Partnerships office at Cockermouth transferred to the Agency on 1 April 1999. I understand that the portfolio of premises, including the offices at Lakeland Business Park, is valued annually by independent valuers. The most recent valuation took place on 31 March and reflected the occupation of the premises by Agency staff. For commercial reasons the precise detail of the annual valuation is confidential.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which organisation will receive the moneys raised from the sale of English Partnerships' offices at Home Wood in Cockermouth. [91457]

  Mr. Meale
  I understand that Home Wood is now known as Lakeland Business Park. It was transferred from English Partnerships to the North West Development Agency (NWDA) on 1 April 1999. The estate at Lakeland Business Park consists of a number of office blocks, one of which is occupied by NWDA staff. The premises at Lakeland Business Park are owned by the NWDA and any proceeds from the sale of those premises would come to the Agency subject to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions' accounting regulations. The premises, however, are not currently programmed for disposal.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 6 July 1999,Official Report, column 447, what estimate has been made of the letting value of the English Partnerships offices in Cockermouth. [91458]

  Mr. Meale
  Issues concerning accommodation are a matter for the North West Development Agency. I understand from the Agency that the current rental estimate for the premises at Cockermouth is £4.50 per square foot.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all offices to be occupied by the North West Development Agency have or are to have BREAM ratings. [91459]

  Mr. Meale
  Issues relating to accommodation are a matter for the North West Development Agency. I understand that it is the Agency's policy to ensure that all new offices will obtain a BREAM rating.
  521
  The Agency is currently either occupying premises which it has inherited or occupying existing premises on a temporary basis. The premises at Mercury Court in Liverpool, Lakeland Business Park in Cumbria, New Town Hall in Warrington and Mulfield House in Birchwood, Warrington, do not have a BREAM rating.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the annual(a) office-related costs and (b) total of salaries and estate-related costs for the English Partnerships offices in Cockermouth for each of the last two years. [91460]

  Mr. Meale
  The annual figures for English Partnerships Cockermouth were as follows:

  £

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Salaries

  357,000

  322,000

  Other office related

  157,000

  170,000

  Estate related

  353,000

  343,000

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will establish an independent inquiry into the change in the costs of mileage allowances arising from the transfer of English Partnerships' offices from Cockermouth to Penrith. [91463]

  Mr. Meale
  No. This is an operational matter for the North West Development Agency.

  Aarhus Convention
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the changes to procedures adopted by his Department and its agencies following the Government's signing of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Environmental Information; [91817]

  (2) what plans he has to ratify the Aarhus Convention on Access to Environmental Information; and if he will make a statement. [91816]

  Mr. Meale
  We intend to ratify the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the 'Aarhus Convention') as soon as we have all the necessary measures in place to implement its provisions.

  Like most of the other European Union member states, the UK expects to be in a position to ratify by the end of 2000. To date, only the Republic of Moldova has ratified.

  Implementation of the Convention is through a mixture of administrative actions and legislative measures. In a great many respects, the UK already fulfils the provisions of the Convention. However, new legislation will be required to implement some of the provisions on environmental information and the consultation paper on the draft Freedom of Information Bill stated that current environmental information regime would be revoked and replaced with provisions in the Bill.

  In the past year, we have continued to promote activities relevant to the Convention. For example, the Environment Agency issued a consultation paper on its proposals for extended public consultation on selected
  522
  licence applications on 16 July, draft Planning Policy Guidance Note 12 on Development Plans promotes active public participation in the preparation of a development plan and the Environment Agency has published a new Pollution Inventory on the internet.

  Non-UK Driving Licences
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of people who have been driving regularly in the United Kingdom with non-UK driving licences in each of the last five years. [92023]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This information is not collected.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what proportion of road accidents have involved people driving with non-UK driving licences in each of the last five years. [92022]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No information is collected nationally on the country of issue of licences held by drivers involved in road accidents.

  Rail Use (London)
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of passengers using rail transport(a) to commute into London and (b) to travel around London in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 and (iv) 1998–99. [92398]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The estimated number of people from 1995 onwards entering central London by rail during the morning peak period between 7 am and 10 am on an average weekday is as follows:

  Thousand

  Surface rail1

  LUL and DLR only

  1995

  395

  348

  1996

  399

  361

  1997

  435

  373

  1998

  447

  395

  1 Includes transfers to LUL and DLR

  The estimated numbers of annual passenger journeys by rail in London from 1995–96 onwards are as follows:

  Million

  Surface rail1

  LUL

  DLR

  1995–96

  761

  784

  15

  1996–97

  800

  772

  17

  1997–98

  846

  832

  21

  1998–99

  892

  866

  29

  1 Surface rail data covering the London area are not available—these figures refer to passenger journeys in the former Network South East area.

  Development Agencies
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance has been provided to members of development agencies as to circumstances in which conflict of interest might exist and the action which should be taken when such guidance is ignored. [91465]
  523
  Mr. Meale
  The letters of appointment sent to members of the North West Development Agency provided guidance on potential conflicts of interest and the responsibility to declare any such interests.

  The Codes of Conduct, which have been drawn up by the agencies in accordance with guidance produced by the Cabinet Office, cover the issue of members' interests. Agencies are required to maintain a Register of Interest of their members. Board members have attended a training course on their roles and responsibilities as members of non-departmental public bodies. The issues of conflicts of interest and propriety were among the issues covered.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Bosnia
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the level of misuse of international aid sent to Bosnia; and if she will make a statement. [91719]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We have made no assessment of the level of misuse of international aid to Bosnia, although we monitor the general effectiveness of international development programmes to which we contribute. We have no evidence to suggest that international aid is being misused in Bosnia.

  Somalia
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what steps her Department has taken to promote the inclusion of Somalia within the ACP group of countries for development purposes; [91928]

  (2) what steps her Department has taken to raise the issue of Somalia with the European Union and ACP group of states in negotiations on the successor to the Lome Convention. [91927]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Somalia is an ACP member. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mrs. Michie) on 14 July 1999,Official Report, column 224.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many individuals his Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91896]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 116.

  Two New Deal appointees are expected to join the Department by the end of July. We also expect to submit approximately six further vacancies to the Employment Service in the remainder of 1999 with a continuing annual programme of 10 to 12 New Deal appointments thereafter.

  Appointments (Quangos)
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many appointments to quangos she made between(a) 1 June 1997 and 31 May 1998 and (b) 1 June 1998 and 31 May 1999; and in each case of those how many were members of Britain's (i) Asian and (ii) ethnic minority communities. [92140]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Between 1 June 1997 and 31 May 1998 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made 41 appointments to quangos. Six of the appointees were members of Britain's ethnic minority communities, of whom five were from the Asian community.

  The number of appointments made for the period 1 June 1998 to 31 May 1999 was 15, of which none were from the ethnic minority communities.

  We are committed to achieving by the end of 2002 a target of 10 per cent. of the public appointments for which we are responsible to be held by members of the ethnic minority communities.

  Official Documents
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish a list of all those official documents of the last Administration which have been seen by(a) her, (b) other Ministers in her Department, (c) special advisers in her Department and (d) non-career civil servants appointed since May 1997 in her Department. [92177]

  Mr. Foulkes
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: A large number of official documents were generated during the period of the previous Administration, many of which were published or put in the public domain. Since May 1997, the Department has been guided by the convention governing access to the papers of a previous Administration, as set out in the then Prime Minister's reply to a written question on 24 January 1980, Official Report columns 5–7.

  Kosovo
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by what criteria the Government will decide what proportion of the costs incurred by her Department during the Kosovo crisis between and including March and July will be met from Treasury Contingency Reserve and what proportion from her Department's budget; and if she will make a statement. [92230]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Government have already decided that £30 million of the £56 million cost incurred by DFID on the Kosovo crisis between and including March and July should come from the Reserve.

  Gender Impact Assessment
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by her Department since June 1997, indicating in each case whether the outcome has been(a) put out to consultation and (b) published. [92003]
  525
  Mr. Foulkes
  Gender impact is routinely assessed in each Evaluation Study commissioned by DFID's Evaluation Department. These studies are put out in draft for comment among persons associated with the project or programme under evaluation, and are routinely published in hard copy and on DFID' s Internet Website. A global evaluation of DFID's work in promoting gender equality will be commissioned later this year.

  Evaluation studies completed and published since June 1997 include:

  Natural Resources Research

  Pheromones Research and Development

  Whole Crop Harvester

  DDT Impact Zimbabwe

  RNR Research Synthesis

  Emergency Relief/Rehabilitation

  Emergency Aid Synthesis

  Higher Education

  Higher Education Synthesis

  Good Governance (DAC)

  Institutional Strengthening

  Privatisation and Divestiture

  Population

  Kenya Population III

  Population Synthesis

  Small Enterprise Development

  Kenya BASE K-REP Juhudi Credit

  Kenya BASE Enterprise Initiatives

  BRAC Small Enterprise Development

  Slovakia Enterprise Education

  Russia Business Planning Agency

  Small Enterprise Development Synthesis

  Privatisation

  Assistance to Russia Privatisation

  EU Programmes (joint multi-donor)

  ACP/ALA/MED Regions and ECHO.

  Studies in hand include:

  Primary Education

  Kenya SPRED

  India APPEP

  Indonesia ALPS

  Primary Education Synthesis

  Health Management

  Pakistan ADB3

  Caribbean Health

  Health Management Research Programme

  Health Sector Reform Synthesis

  Environment

  Environment Synthesis (including four Country Studies)

  Poverty

  Poverty Synthesis (including four Country Studies)

  Police

  Namibia

  Indonesia

  Uganda

  Police Synthesis

  Sustainable Agriculture

  Revenue

  Public Sector Reform

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Offences (Sentences)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a consolidated list of criminal offences together with the minimum and maximum lengths of sentences which attach to each type of offence. [91668]

  Mr. Boateng
  No consolidated list of criminal offences currently exists and to produce one would be an expensive and time-consuming exercise with limited benefits. I therefore have no plans to do so.

  Cyclists
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the enforcement of the law in relation to pedal cyclists who ride(a) through red lights and (b) on pavements. [91562]

  Kate Hoey
  Enforcement of the law in respect of cycling offences is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. The hazards caused by cyclists who ride through red lights and who cycle inconsiderately on the pavement are recognised by chief officers and appropriate action is taken where such offences are detected. In order to assist the police, we are introducing, from 1 August, a fixed penalty for the offence of cycling on the pavement. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty will need to be used with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16. But it will provide the police service with a direct and simple means of dealing with inconsiderate cycling.

  Sexual Harassment (Prison Service)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many allegations of sexual harassment have been made by female employees in Her Majesty's Prison Service in each of the last five years for which records are available. [91553]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Records have only been compiled centrally since 1998. These consist of cases notified to Prison Service headquarters by equal opportunities officers. The recorded information is given in the table:

  Year

  Number of allegations

  January-December 1998

  31

  January-June 1999

  5

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of sexual harassment in Her Majesty's Prison Service have been settled by employment tribunals in each of the last five years for which records are available. [91551]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The table provides information about all cases, including sexual harassment, brought under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 which were settled either by negotiation or by Tribunal decision.
  527

  Year

  Industrial/employment tribunals

  1995

  3

  1996

  5

  1997

  5

  1998

  6

  1999

  0

  Home Office Headquarters
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the(a) objectives and (b) progress of the planned re-location of Home Office headquarters from Queen Anne's Gate. [92195]

  Mr. Straw
  The objectives of the Home Office Central London Accommodation Strategy Private Finance Initiative project are to provide accommodation which meets Home Office and Prison Service long-term requirements for headquarters accommodation in central London; meets operational and business requirements; supports the Home Office modernisation programme; provides a healthy, safe and secure working environment for staff; and complies with Home Office and wider Government environmental policies.

  An invitation to submit best and final offers was issued to three bidders in August 1998. Their bids were received in November 1998. None of these bids were acceptable and it is now proposed to invite further best and final offers based upon a revised statement of requirements. Bidders have been told that we expect to do this in September. The new accommodation is likely to be ready for occupation no earlier than 2004.

  Prior Convictions
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances police may make public a defendant's prior convictions in cases where anonymity has been granted in a criminal trial. [92109]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The rules of evidence governing the admissibility in criminal proceedings of a defendant's criminal record apply regardless of whether anonymity has been granted in those proceedings.

  The law on previous misconduct is currently under consideration by the Law Commission. The Law Commission issued a consultation paper on this subject in July 1996 and their final report is expected early next year.

  European Year Against Racism
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the membership of the National Co-ordination Committee for the 1997 European Year Against Racism; what reports he has received on the Committee's work; and if he will place copies in the Library. [91536]
  528
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Permanent members of the National Co-ordination Committee for the 1997 European Year Against Racism are:

  Permanent Members of National Co-ordination Committee for 1997 European Year Against Racism

  Membership

  Department/Organisation

  Timothy Kirkhope

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Home Office)

  Baroness Flather

  Michael Gillespie

  Home Office

  Trevor Hall

  Home Office

  Caroline Rowe

  Home Office

  Julie Clouder

  Home Office

  Graham Bann

  Race for Opportunity

  Marilyn Macy

  Department for Education and Employment

  Paul Brice

  Department of Health

  Will Haire

  Northern Ireland Office

  Gerald Laufer

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Sukhdev Sharma

  Commission for Racial Equality

  Colin Hann

  Commission for Racial Equality Sukhvinder Stubbs Runnymede Trust

  Kay Carberry

  Trades Union Congress

  Loraine Martins

  Sia

  Brian Pearce

  Interfaith Network

  Alison Wheeler

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Robin Mayho

  Association of County Councils

  Joslyn Fisher

  Association of District Councils

  Gordon Mitchell

  Welsh Local Government Association

  John Preston

  British Phonographic Industry

  Julie Mellor

  CBI

  Richard Flint

  Heart of England TEC

  John Jordan

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  The Report from the Commission of the European Communities on 'The Implementation of the European Year Against Racism (1997)' was issued in Brussels on 3 June 1999, and received here shortly afterwards.

  Copies of the report and a covering Explanatory Memorandum are available in the Library.

  Community Relations Unit
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the principal functions of the Community Relations Unit and set out its priorities for 1999 and 2000. [91535]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The aims of the Race Equality Unit (formerly the Community Relations Unit) for 1999–2000 are to promote race equality and to increase ethnic minority representation in the public sector. This includes:developing, implementing and monitoring race equality employment targets for the Home Office Services;
  launching a new grant scheme to promote race equality;
  contributing to and, where appropriate, giving a lead on race equality issues internationally;
  developing policy on religious discrimination and other faith issues;
  support for the Home Secretary's Race Relations Forum which provides ethnic minorities with an effective voice at the heart of government;
  reviewing the effectiveness of the criminal law in race relations; and
  supporting the reception of refugees including the Kosovan Humanitarian Evacuation Programme.

  Albania
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) British passports and (b) visitor's permits have been issued to (i) male and (ii) female Albanians in each of the last two years; what estimate he has made of the number of Albanians who are in this country illegally; and if he will make a statement. [92217]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information is on grants of British citizenship and the issue of non-settlement entry clearance at the British Embassies in Tirana, or in Rome and Istanbul which were the designated entry clearance issuing posts for applicants resident in Albania before the British Embassy in Tirana provided full entry clearance-issuing facilities in 1999. The data are given in the table. No information is readily available on the gender of the applicants.

  There is no estimate of the total number of Albanian nationals currently living in the United Kingdom who have no lawful right to be here.

  Year of grant

  1997

  1998

  Albanian nationals granted British citizenship

  3

  9

  Albanian nationals granted non-settlement entry clearance issued at the British Embassies in Tirana1, Rome and Istanbul

  639

  1,240

  1 All issues, not necessarily to Albanian nationals

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference given to the inquiry into procedures at Harlan UK's breeding establishment in North West Leicestershire; how many inspectors are engaged in the inquiry; and what is its planned timescale. [91814]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I have asked the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate to investigate all the allegations made against this establishment by the British

  Date

  Location

  Minister

  Irish minister

  13 January

  Dublin Castle

  Lord Dubs

  Mr. Noel Dempsey TD

  Mr. Bobby Molloy TD

  3 February

  Department of Education and Science, Dublin

  Mr. McFall

  Mr. Michael Martin TD and three officials

  17 March

  Armagh

  Lord Dubs

  Mr. Jim McDaid TD

  26 March

  President's Hall, Dublin

  Lord Dubs

  Dr. Michael Woods TD

  1 April

  Aghalane Bridge

  Lord Dubs

  Mr. Noel Dempsey TD

  21 April

  Kings Hall, Belfast

  Lord Dubs

  Mr. Noel Davern TD

  22 April

  Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dublin

  Mr. Ingram

  Mr. J. O'Donoghue TD and four officials

  23 April

  Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle

  Lord Dubs

  Mr. Noel Davern TD

  29 April

  Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan

  Lord Dubs

  Taoiseach

  4 May

  Conard Hotel, Dublin

  Mr. McFall

  (1) Dr. Tom Moffett TD

  (2) Mr. Brian Cowen TD and five officials

  17 May

  Enniskillen College

  Lord Dubs

  Mr. Noel Davern TD and one official

  17 June

  Lancaster House, London

  Lord Dubs

  Lord Donoghue

  Mr. Joe Walsh TD

  RUC
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to publish the 1998–99 report on the Royal Ulster Constabulary by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary. [92526]
  530
  Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) in so far as they relate to possible contraventions of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; the terms and conditions of licences and certificates issues under the 1986 Act; and the Codes of Practice issued under section 21(2) of the Act. I have asked that, should any other indications of possible contraventions be uncovered during the course of the investigation, these be investigated too. The investigation is not restricted to any particular part of the establishment or to the material contained in the BUAV's report or compilation video tape recording.

  One Superintending Inspector is heading the investigation. He is being assisted, as necessary, by other members of the Inspectorate and by other civil servants in the Animal Procedures Section at the Home Office.

  I have not set a time limit on the investigation. We are still waiting to receive from the BUAV the evidence that they collected, and the amount of time needed will depend on what this material shows and the other findings that emerge from the investigation. I expect, however, that it could take two to three months to complete. I will receive reports at appropriate points during the investigation and any immediate action needed to protect animal welfare will be taken.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times Ministers in her Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 January, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved and the names of the Irish Ministers and officials at each meeting. [90410]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have met Irish Ministers very frequently throughout the Talks Process. Other meetings held by Northern Ireland Office Ministers since 1 January 1999 were:

  Mr. Ingram
  Copies of the 1998–99 Inspection Report, which is the fourteenth RUC Inspection Report to be published, have today been placed in the Library.

  Her Majesty's Inspector's overall remit is to examine police operational efficiency and effectiveness and offer

  531
  his independent and professional recommendations. I am sure the Independent Commission on Policing will be interested to note the recommendations and I am extremely pleased to see that Her Majesty's Inspector is optimistic about the future of policing in Northern Ireland, as indeed I am myself.

  This report covers a number of areas relating to matters such as RUC planning strategies, consultation arrangements, performance management, and community relations. The Chief Constable will now consider these issues and in due course the Police Authority will publish any comments either the Chief Constable or the Authority may have.

  Construction Service
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Construction Service in 1999–2000. [92527]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  For 1999–2000, the following performance targets have been set for Construction Services:

  Quality of Service

  1. To achieve a 90 per cent. compliance in customer assessments of Agency performance against Service Level Agreements.

  2. To obtain a 90 per cent positive response in customer assessments on project work.

  3. To place 80 per cent. of orders in response to requests for reactive maintenance work within 7 days.

  4. To place 75 per cent. of orders in response to requests for supplies work within 7 days.

  5. To respond to 85 per cent. of customer advisory inquiries within 6 weeks.

  Efficiency

  6. To achieve 3 per cent. efficiency gains on running cost expenditure.

  7. To ensure that actual costs as a percentage of agreed target costs on project work do not exceed the agreed percentage.

  8. To ensure that staff costs as a percentage of construction spend for maintenance work do not exceed the agreed percentage.

  9. To ensure that staff costs as a percentage of construction spend for supplies work do not exceed the agreed percentage.

  Financial Performance

  10. To maintain expenditure within cash limits and to approved budgetary plans.

  11. To recover the full cost of Agency Operations from customers with a tolerance of ±2 per cent.

  CCTV
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish the guidelines, procedures and rules governing the town centre CCTV challenge competition; what criteria will be used to make financial allocations; and if the scheme is subject to policy appraisal fair treatment guidelines. [91531]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Police Authority for Northern Ireland issued a detailed guidance document on the bidding process when the first Northern Ireland Town Centre CCTV Challenge Competition was launched on 24 June 1999. This document sets out the procedures for submitting a bid and details the criteria against which all bids will be assessed. The guidance document has been 532
  widely circulated to interested parties across Northern Ireland and further copies may be obtained by contacting the Authority. As demonstrated by the announcement in March last year of the new Targeting Social Need initiative, the Government remain committed to securing equality of opportunity and equity of treatment for all the people of Northern Ireland. The rules of this competition have been developed in line with this policy and the awarding of funds will also be so governed.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures she has taken to ensure that victims of sectarian crimes of violence and their relatives are consulted and encouraged to become involved in local partnerships receiving funding through town centre CCTV challenge competitions. [91530]

  Mr. Ingram
  Details of the Northern Ireland Town Centre CCTV Challenge Competition have been widely disseminated throughout Northern Ireland by way of both television coverage and local press articles. All members of the community have been equally encouraged to participate in the establishing of local partnerships which will clearly benefit from being as inclusive as possible. Membership of the partnerships is open to anyone with an interest to contributing to the crime reduction effort in their local area.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what rules govern the use of recordings made as a result of town centre CCTV cameras; and what safeguards are available to protect against(a) the unauthorised use of a recording and (b) the abuse of an authorised use. [91533]

  Mr. Ingram
  Any CCTV scheme funded as a result of a bid in the Northern Ireland Town Centre CCTV Challenge Competition must be governed by a Code of Practice. The development of such a Code is a critical element of the bidding procedure and is required to take account of generally recognised standards and safeguards relating to the use of CCTV.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will require the Police Authority to make public police objections to partnerships seeking funding through the town centre CCTV challenge competition; at what level of command the decision to make an objection must be taken; and what body will assess in the first instance that an objection meets the requirement of reasonableness. [91532]

  Mr. Ingrain
  Individual partnerships will receive a full report on any police objections to proposed town centre CCTV schemes. The decision to make an objection to a proposal should be taken at Superintendent level or higher. Partnerships unhappy with the police view of their proposal may wish to raise this matter with the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

  Sectarian Violence
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what studies her Department has commissioned on the age, gender and social and economic profile of the perpetrators of sectarian assaults. [91534]

  Mr. Ingram
  To date the Government have not commissioned studies on this issue.

SCOTLAND

  Genetically Modified Fish
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the notifications under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992 (as amended) for work on genetically modified fish to be undertaken in Scotland. [88730]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 28 June 1999]: None. Activities involving genetically modified animals and plants need to be notified if they fail to meet criteria for safety to human health specified in the Regulations.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has assessed about biotechnology research involving(a) the transfer of fish genes into other organisms and (b) genes into fish. [89024]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: The only information assessed related to a premises notification submitted in 1994 under the Genetically Modified Organism (Contained Use) Regulations 1992 and related to work on transgenic fish undertaken at Otter Ferry Salmon Ltd., Argyll, with the assistance of a Canadian company. It was a pre-market pilot study and as such did not involve commercial release. This work has now ceased.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times ministers in his Department have held meetings with ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 January 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved, and the names of the Irish ministers and officials at each meeting. [90403]

  Dr. Reid
  My hon. Friend the Member for Western Isles (Mr. Macdonald) held an ESDP bilateral in Dublin with Dan Wallace, Minister of State at the Irish Department of the Environment, on 12 March 1998. In accordance with convention the names of officials in attendance are not given.

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish, through concordats or other appropriate documents, the administrative measures taken to clarify the arrangements within Government Departments on demarcation between matters dealt with by the Scottish Executive and those relating to Scotland continuing to be dealt with by the Scottish Office or other Whitehall Departments. [91236]

  Dr. Reid
  The devolution legislation defines the scope of the responsibilities of members of the Scottish Executive. The Scottish Ministers' responsibilities include functions in relation to matters in Scotland which are not reserved by schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998 and functions transferred to them under section 63 of that Act (e.g. under The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 1999, SI 1999 1750).

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact 534
  which the proposed climate change levy will have on the Scottish agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement. [91675]

  Dr. Reid
  The climate change levy will play a key role in helping the UK meet the greenhouse gas emission targets we are committed to achieve. It is a priority objective for the Government to mitigate the global impacts of climate change. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is responsible for this matter, will consider all submissions on the levy before he makes an announcement on its final form.

  The National Farmers Union of Scotland has submitted its views on the levy to HM Customs and Excise. The National Farmers Union has joined representatives of other energy intensive sectors in negotiations for energy efficiency agreements with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions. Sectors which make satisfactory agreements will be eligible for lower rates of levy. I understand that there has been good progress in the negotiations.

DEFENCE

  Warships
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark will be in service; and if he will make a statement. [85960]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 8 June 1999]: The current approved ISDs are March 2002 and March 2003. However, the DPA has been informed that Marconi Naval Systems (MNS) (formerly VSEL) is experiencing difficulties with maintaining the LPD(R) construction programmes on schedule at their Barrow shipyard. I cannot confirm whether we will need to revise the in service dates until the company has completed their detailed negotiations with the DPA.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the percentage of the total value of the Eurofighter which is to be manufactured in the United Kingdom. [89928]

  Mr. Spellar
  Eurofighter workshare entitlements are based on the number of aircraft each of the four partner nations is purchasing. As the United Kingdom is purchasing 232 aircraft from a four nation total of 620, the percentage value of Eurofighter work accruing to the United Kingdom is 37.42 per cent. Any imbalances that arise between production activity levels and entitlements will be addressed during the life of the programme using mechanisms established in the Eurofighter Memoranda of Understanding signed by the four partner nations in December 1997.

  TRIGAT Programme
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the medium-range TRIGAT programme. [90175]

  Mr. Spellar
  On 10 June the Secretary of State for Defence announced that the UK intended to join the Industrialisation and Production phase of the MR
  535
  TRIGAT programme. The UK, France and Germany have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering that stage of the programme. Subject to signature of the MOU by the remaining partner nations, Belgium and the Netherlands, and satisfactory final negotiations with the Prime Contractor, Aerospatiale, we expect to place a contract for the Industrialisation and Production of the weapon system later this year.

  Project Budgets
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the current budget of(a) the Active

  Project

  Original predicted in service date

  Current predicted or achieved in service date

  Current estimated project cost at 1999–2000 prices (£ million)

  Active Decoy Round-Outfit DLH

  December 1997

  April 2000

  108

  Chinook Medium Support Helicopter

  December 1997

  December 1997

  322

  Counter Battery Radar

  December 1993

  December 2002

  180

  Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) for RN Ships

  June 1993

  December 2002

  358

  JTIDS for Sea Harrier

  June 1998

  December 2004

  —

  JTIDS for Sea King

  December 1999

  July 2001

  —

  Skynet 4

  May 1997

  May 1998

  500

  Truck Utility Light

  December 1994

  September 1997

  241

  Truck Utility Medium

  December 1994

  April 1997

  —

  Truck Utility Medium (Heavy Duty)

  December 1994

  May 1995

  —

  Tomahawk Land Attack Missile

  December 1998

  December 1998

  200

  43 Brigade
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many redundancies there will be in Exeter following the removal of 43 Brigade to Bulford, Netheravon and Tidworth. [91566]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Our current estimate is that 27 people may be made redundant; this excludes members of the MOD Guard Service. The effect on MOD Guard Service personnel will depend on the future access control requirements at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter, which are yet to be finally determined.

  British Forces Broadcasting Services
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make funding available to British Forces Broadcasting Services to enable the temporary radio station for the Colchester Garrison to be made a permanent service. [91793]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The 'garrison radio' service at Colchester is part of a trial facility over a 12 month period from April this year at the four largest UK mainland Army garrisons, as part of the Army's Corporate Communications Strategy. The facility uses a short-term (28 day) restricted service licence granted by the Radio Authority and each location (Bulford/Tidworth, Catterick, Colchester and Aldershot) will be covered twice during the trial period. A decision on the future of this service will be made following an assessment of the outcome of these trials and the availability of suitable frequency licences.

  Official Documents
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a list of all those official 536
  Decoy Round-Outfit DHL Project, (b) the Chinook Medium Support Helicopter Project, (c) the Counter Battery Radar Project, (d) the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System for Royal Navy Ships and Aircraft Project, (e) the Skynet 4 stage 2 Project, (f) the Truck Utility Light/Medium/Medium Project and (h) the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile Project; and in each case what was the original and what is the current in-service date. [90428]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information is as follows:

  documents of the last Administration which have been seen by (a) him, (b) other ministers in his Department, (c) special advisers in his Department and (d) non-career civil servants appointed since May 1997 in his Department. [92182]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: A large number of official documents were generated during the period of the previous Administration, many of which were published or put in the public domain. Since May 1997, the Department has been guided by the convention governing access to the papers of a previous Administration, as set out in the then Prime Minister's reply to a written question on 24 January 1980, Official Report, columns 305–07.

  Biological and Chemical Weapons
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce the outcome of his Department's review of the defence response to the threat posed by biological and chemical weapons; and if he will make a statement. [92694]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a paper setting out the conclusions of our review. The paper entitled "Defending Against the Threat from Biological and Chemical Weapons", explains our policy and the ways in which we plan to develop our capabilities further.

  We will continue to pursue, through international agreement, the verifiable elimination of biological and chemical weapons. Valuable progress has been made in recent years as a result of our efforts, but there is a long way to go before our objectives are met in full. In the meantime, we recognise that the use, or threatened use, of these weapons remains one of the potential challenges we must face.
  537
  I therefore place a high priority on ensuring that our Armed Forces are protected, with the training and equipment they need to deal with the risks such weapons continue to pose. We are enhancing our capabilities with a range of equipment programmes, for example by bringing into service additional Prototype Biological Detection Systems. We are also establishing the Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Regiment, and an NBC Defence Headquarters. As a result of our review, I have also set up a new Central Staffs Directorate in the Ministry of Defence to co-ordinate and take forward further work on NBC defence issues. They will maintain a rolling plan of action and report progress to me on a regular basis. In total we plan to spend over £270 million in this area over the next three years.

  No potential adversary should believe that the use, or threatened use, of biological or chemical weapons would determine the outcome of a conflict or deter this government from taking action it believes is right.

  Appointments (Quangos)
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many appointments to quangos he made between(a) 1 June 1997 and 31 May 1998 and (b) 1 June 1998 and 31 May 1999; and in each case of those how many were members of Britain's (i) Asian and (ii) ethnic minority communities. [92137]

  Mr. Spellar
  The following number of appointments were made to Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) for which my Department is responsible:

  (a) 1 June 1997 to 31 May 1998: 34; (i) nil; (ii) nil.

  (b) 1 June 1998 to 31 May 1999: 30; (i) nil; (ii) nil.

  These figures include new appointments as well as reappointments.

  Appointments to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body are not included as they are made by the Prime Minister. Appointments to the technical Boards under the Defence Scientific Advisory Council are not included (they have previously been included in answers to similar questions). The Cabinet Office has recently agreed that as these Boards are sub-Committees of the Council they should not be classified as advisory NDPBs. Appointments to the Council itself are included.

  Within the overriding principle of selection based on merit, MOD is committed to increasing diversity in appointments to its NDPBs and raising the representation of women, people from ethnic minority groups and disabled people in line with government-wide objectives. To this end MOD publishes an annual Plan for Public Appointments and Equal Opportunities (the plan for 1999–2002 was published in "Quangos: Opening up Public Appointments") which sets objectives and targets.

  Defence Vetting Agency
  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Vetting Agency in the financial year 1999–2000. [92695]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Defence Vetting Agency was launched on 1 April 1997 with a staff of 349, at four separate Units in Central London, Portsmouth, Woolwich and Corsham. The Agency carries out some 130,000 vetting checks and investigations each year. The Agency 538
  is embarked on an ambitious modernisation programme aimed at creating a highly responsive and highly efficient, integrated organisation, exploiting the capabilities of modern information technology to the benefit of its customers. Central to the modernisation initiative is collocation of the Agency at York. 1999–2000 will see the run up to collocation. The Chief Executive has been set the following Key Targets:
  Quality
  Key Target 1
  At least a 90 per cent. success rating in dealing with Contentious Cases, and zero Serious Errors.
  Timeliness
  Key Target 2
  To complete 87 per cent. of Security Checks within 6 weeks (30 working days).
  Key Target 3
  To complete 84 per cent. of Counter Terrorist Checks within 6 weeks (30 working days).
  Key Target 4
  To complete 90 per cent. of all Developed Vetting clearances within 6 months (120 working days).
  Key Target 5
  To maintain average times for Security Checks and Counter Terrorist Checks of 4 weeks (20 working days) and 4.6 weeks (23 working days) respectively, and to complete Developed Vetting clearances on average within 3.1 months (62 working days).
  Efficiency
  Key Target 6
  To maintain the Financial Year 1998–99 Unit Cost of Output.

  I have arranged for advance copies of the Corporate Plan to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Data Series
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what new data series separated by gender, race, disability and age have been commissioned by his Department since June 1997. [90823]

  Mr. Mudie
  In January 1999 the Department carried out a re-survey of all its staff to update the information held on an individual's ethnic origin and disability information. The response rate by May 1999 was 94 per cent. of all staff.

  Information on gender, age, ethnic origin and disability is automatically collected when a member of staff joins the Department. In addition individual members of staff have on-line access to their own computerised personnel file to enable them to notify the Department of any inaccuracies which may be held.

  Laboratory Teaching
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations he has had with industry on the financing of scientific laboratories in schools in the past two years. [91285]
  539
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We have had no consultations with industry during the past two years on the financing of science laboratories in schools although we do, of course, promote the Private Finance Initiative as a means for attracting private finance into the schools capital programme generally.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review the school scientific laboratory teaching curricula in the sciences. [91282]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The proposals for a revised National Curriculum for schools issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 13 May include new measures to improve the quality of experiments pupils carry out when studying biology, chemistry and physics. A copy of the consultation materials was placed in the Library.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what recommendations he has made for the design, layout and organisation of school scientific laboratories; [91284]

  (2) what studies he has undertaken in the last two years on the standards set for the design and equipment of school scientific laboratories for the teaching of (a) physics, (b) chemistry, (c) biology, (d) environmental sciences and (e) other sciences in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools. [91286]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department has published guidance on the design and layout of school science rooms. Building Bulletin 82, "Area Guidelines for Schools", offers advice for both primary and secondary schools, while Building Bulletin 80, "Science Accommodation in Secondary Schools: A Design Guide", provides more detailed advice for the secondary sector, which requires dedicated, science accommodation. The design needs of secondary schools has been examined during the past two years as part of our rolling programme for producing, and updating, design guidance and, as a consequence, a replacement for Building Bulletin 80 will be published during the coming month.

  A-level History
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what estimate he has made of change in the proportion of A-level history students choosing to study(a) pre-1066 and (b) medieval English history in the last 20 years; [91555]

  (2) what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the teaching of (i) pre-1066, (ii) medieval and (iii) post-1485 English history; [91556]

  (3) what plans he has to ensure that A-level history students have the opportunity to study pre-1066 English history; [91557]

  (4) what representations he has received concerning the place of pre-1066 English history in the A-level history syllabus; [91558]

  (5) what representations he has made to A-level examination boards concerning the A-level history syllabus. [91559]
  540
  Mr. Mudie
  Information about the proportion of A-level history students choosing to study pre-1066 and medieval English history is not collected centrally. The Department has commissioned no recent research into the teaching of English history. To date we have received one representation on the availability of pre-1066 English history at A-level, as well as early day motion 829 tabled on 15 July. In the light of the concerns expressed, we have asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, which is responsible for regulating and approving all A-level specifications offered by the awarding bodies in England, to investigate this matter urgently.

  Local Education Authorities
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will take steps to ensure that local education authorities which have been severely criticised in Ofsted reports do not offer generous early retirement packages to their chief education officers. [91790]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The issue of early retirement is a matter for individual local authorities in the light of relevant employment and education law. We expect them to take decisions with the aim of securing value for money for the whole education budget and high quality education for their pupils.

  Teachers
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of teachers in maintained(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England and Wales were aged (i) under 30, (ii) 31–40, (iii) 41–50 and (iv) over 50 years in each of the years from 1996 to 1999. [91942]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Full-time qualified teachers in the maintained sector in England and Wales, 1996 and 19971, by phase and age are as follows:

  Percentage of all ages

  31 March 1996

  31 March 19972

  Nursery and Primary

  Under 31

  20.9

  22.0

  31–40

  20.2

  20.0

  41–50

  43.1

  42.9

  Over 50

  15.7

  15.2

  All ages

  100.0

  100.0

  Secondary

  Under 31

  16.8

  17.9

  31–40

  25.3

  24.3

  41–50

  43.3

  43.4

  Over 50

  14.6

  14.5

  All ages

  100.0

  100.0

  1 Data on teachers by age are not yet available for 1998 and 1999.

  2 1997 data are provisional.

  British Teachers (EU Schools)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if British nationals employed through the European Union to teach in European schools are entitled to receive promotion and responsibility allowances on their national scale; and if he will make a statement. [91796]
  541
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The overall salary level for teachers employed by the DfEE and assigned to posts in the European Schools is determined by the European Schools Board of Governors and set out in its document "Regulations for Members of the Seconded Staff of the European Schools". The DfEE fully meets its statutory obligations in respect of promotion and responsibility allowances paid with national salary.

  School Teachers (Attacks)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many attacks on school teachers at schools in Greater London by(a) pupils and (b) parents, were reported in each of the last five years. [92007]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This information is not available centrally.

  Staff Movements
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what research he has commissioned on the impact of staff recruitment and retention in sixth form colleges of the salary differentials between the further education and secondary school sectors; [91818]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the likely impact on staff recruitment and retention in sixth form colleges of the current proposals to reform the salary structure in primary and secondary schools. [91815]

  Mr. Mudie
  While we have not commissioned specific research, we meet regularly to discuss recruitment and retention issues with representatives of staff and employers in sixth form colleges and further education colleges generally. The Government have injected £725 million of new funds into further education over this year and next and we also welcome the Further Education Funding Council's proposals to increase the funding for full time 16–19-year-old students.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what monitoring his Department undertakes of the flows of teaching staff between sixth form colleges and secondary schools; and if he will publish the available data for each of the last five years. [91819]

  Recipients of housing benefit broken down by local reference rent and single room rent schemes, for all London authorities, for 1996, 1997 and 1998

  January 1996 Local Reference Rent Scheme

  October 1996 Single Room Rent Scheme

  October 1997 Local Reference Rent Scheme

  Local authority

  August 1996

  August 1997

  August 1998

  August 1997

  August 1998

  August 1998

  Camden

  3,170

  2,490

  1,720

  360

  260

  660

  Greenwich

  1,380

  2,110

  1,970

  80

  70

  270

  Hackney

  2,790

  4,340

  3,320

  330

  400

  1,280

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,470

  2,240

  1,570

  130

  70

  370

  Islington

  570

  880

  1,160

  50

  110

  900

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,120

  1,420

  1,050

  170

  110

  430

  Lambeth

  370

  3,450

  1,980

  90

  100

  1,320

  Lewisham

  2,840

  4,090

  3,320

  270

  180

  660

  Southwark

  1,420

  2,240

  1,520

  60

  50

  220

  Tower Hamlets

  740

  970

  1,010

  120

  120

  230

  Wandsworth

  2,100

  2,940

  1,370

  140

  70

  1,290

  542
  Mr. Mudie
  The Local Government Management Board undertakes an annual survey of teacher recruitment and retention on behalf of the Sixth Form Colleges' Employers Forum. Ministers meet regularly with representatives of the Employers Forum to discuss these, and other issues.

  Data from the survey are available for the years 1993 to 1997 and are reproduced in the following table:

  Year

  Leavers to schools

  Recruitment from schools

  1993

  35

  93

  1994

  55

  82

  1995

  40

  91

  1996

  58

  86

  1997

  85

  35

SOCIAL SECURIT

  Benefit Recipients
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham) of 1 July 1999,Official Report, column 244, if he will list the current numbers of recipients of each benefit listed broken down to show the number of recipients per head of the adult population in each region and nation for each of the last three years. [90940]

  Angela Eagle
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the numbers of recipients of housing benefit in the form of(a) single room rent, (b) full local reference rent and (c) partial local reference rent in each London borough in each year since they were introduced. [91782]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  The table provides the number of recipients who were being paid under the Local Reference Rent and Single Room Rent Schemes. The first column includes those recipients who received 50 per cent. top-up above the Local Reference Rent.
  543

  Recipients of housing benefit broken down by local reference rent and single room rent schemes, for all London authorities, for 1996, 1997 and 1998

  January 1996 Local Reference Rent Scheme

  October 1996 Single Room Rent Scheme

  October 1997 Local Reference Rent Scheme

  Local authority

  August 1996

  August 1997

  August 1998

  August 1997

  August 1998

  August 1998

  Westminster

  2,240

  2,930

  2,090

  200

  160

  790

  Barking

  890

  1,610

  1,040

  50

  20

  850

  Barnet

  2,210

  3,220

  2,750

  240

  180

  760

  Bexley

  1,050

  1,630

  230

  150

  60

  1,530

  Brent

  3,640

  6,420

  4,520

  310

  240

  1,860

  Bromley

  960

  1,520

  1,400

  50

  50

  120

  Croydon

  1,870

  3,740

  3,070

  150

  160

  930

  Ealing

  2,470

  4,130

  3,800

  210

  180

  380

  Enfield

  1,870

  3,030

  2,490

  110

  100

  750

  Haringey

  2,980

  6,410

  3,350

  190

  260

  3,570

  Harrow

  1,240

  2,070

  930

  100

  260

  510

  Havering

  730

  1,310

  950

  60

  100

  390

  Hillingdon

  710

  1,190

  940

  50

  40

  390

  Hounslow

  1,970

  2,750

  1,720

  150

  90

  1,140

  Kingston upon Thames

  560

  740

  450

  170

  10

  190

  Merton

  1,180

  1,720

  1,440

  60

  40

  190

  Newham

  4,920

  7,530

  6,990

  320

  180

  1,340

  Redbridge

  2,570

  4,120

  3,450

  130

  80

  960

  Richmond upon Thames

  730

  1,220

  460

  50

  30

  370

  Sutton

  670

  940

  480

  110

  90

  440

  Waltham Forest

  1,390

  6,260

  3,030

  350

  270

  1,270

  Notes:

  1. Figures given are for recipients of housing benefit

  2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest ten

  3. The data will contain estimations for non-responding authorities

  Source:

  Management Information System Quarterly Caseload counts taken on the last working day of the month in August 1996 and 1997, and on the second Thursday of the month in August 1998

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research he has commissioned on the impact of the single room rent provision on housing benefit; what were the findings of that research which has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [91778]

  Angela Eagle
  In June 1997, this Department and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions jointly commissioned the London Research Centre to carry out a study on the impact of the rent restriction rules introduced in 1996—the Local Reference Rent and the Single Room Rent. The study also focused on exceptional hardship payments and pre-tenancy determinations. The findings have been published by DETR in the report entitled "Housing Benefit and the Private Rented Sector", a copy of which was placed in the Library.

  We are considering the future of the Single Room Rent as part of our review of Housing Benefit. We will be taking account of all the available research as well as the implications for public expenditure and work incentives.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals his Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91882]

  Angela Eagle
  I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 116.
  544
  Since the date of the information previously provided, this Department has employed an additional 23 young people under the New Deal arrangements bringing the total to 41.

  CSA
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of CSA cases(a) went to appeal and (b) succeeded on appeal in the last year for which figures are available. [91837]

  Angela Eagle
  The total number of live Child Support Agency (CSA) cases as at 31 December 19981 was 873,000. During the period 1 January 1998 to 31 December 1998 there were 7,217 CSA appeals (0.83 per cent. of 873,000) of which 4,740 (65.7 per cent.) were decided in the appellant's favour.
  1 1998 is the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average cost of the appeal procedure for CSA cases. [91838]

  Angela Eagle
  The Child Support Agency, who deal with child support appeals to the point where they are submitted to The Independent Tribunal Service/The Appeals Service (ITS/TAS), advise that the average cost of a maintenance appeal is £457.31; the average cost of a departure referral is £475. ITS/TAS advise that the national unit cost of clearing a child support appeal was £221 in the 1998–99 financial year, the last year for which figures are available.

  Australia
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met the Australian Social Security Minister; and what discussions were held on the social security agreement between the United Kingdom and Australia. [92035]

  Mr. Timms
  I met Senator Jocelyn Newman, the Australian Minister for Family and Community Services, on 12 July. Senator Newman informed me that, because the United Kingdom Government do not uprate State Retirement Pensions paid in Australia, her Government intended to terminate the bilateral social security agreement between the United Kingdom and Australia. Senator Newman subsequently issued a public statement to this effect.

  It would be unfortunate if there was an end to this long-standing agreement. UK and Australian pensioners would lose out, although no one already receiving a benefit under the agreement would be affected. The UK Government will continue to work closely with the Australian Government on issues of common concern.

  NIRS2
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many pensioners have suffered unreasonable delays in receiving contributory benefits as a result of NIRS2 problems; [92193]

  List of Health Authority and National Health Service Trust appointments which expired in 1998 and for which no appointment had been made by 1 July 1999

  Region

  Body

  No. of chairs

  No. of non-executives

  North West

  Liverpool Women's Hospital National Health Service Trust1

  0

  1

  Wirral Hospital NHS Trust2

  0

  1

  Northern and Yorkshire

  Calderdale and Kirklees Health Authority3

  0

  1

  London

  Croydon Community Health NHS Trust4

  0

  1

  Enfield Community Care NHS Trust5

  0

  1

  Trent

  Grantham and District Hospital NHS Trust6

  0

  1

  South West

  Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust7

  0

  1

  West Midlands

  Walsall Community Health NHS Trust8

  0

  1

  Total

  0

  8

  1 In January, the Trust decided that they wanted to review their establishment with aim of possibly reducing the number of board members from five to four. At the end of April the Trust made the decision to stay with five board members. A collective decision was made that in trying to identify candidates that recommendations should go at the same time as recommendations to fill the November appointment.

  2 Submission to fill the vacancy sent to Minister on 8 June 1999. Delay in putting forward recommendations due to Chairmanship not being filled until March and wanting to take in to account new chairman's views on possible recommendations.

  3 Vacancy has been outstanding since June 1998. RO have been searching for suitable female candidates to put forward after discussing the requirements with the local chair. Have now identified suitable candidates who are meeting the local chairman informally later this month. A submission will go forward after local discussions are complete.

  4 New chairman appointed 1 December 1998—taking opportunity to assess the strength and weaknesses of the board before considering candidates for this vacancy.

  5 Minister indicated that he wanted ethnic minority candidate to consider for the remaining vacancy on this board. Suitable candidates specific to the local area are still being identified.

  6 When making the submission in November 1998 there were three appointments which came to an end plus on ad-hoc vacancy that needed to be filled. Regional Chairman recommended that only two of the four posts be filled. This would allow them to identify other suitable candidates coming forward from the national ad. Given that the Trust are now likely to merge the vacancy is being held open pending possible merger.

  7 Region have been searching for a suitable candidate to put forward. A submission was sent to Ministers on 6 July with candidates to fill the vacancy.

  8 Minister asked in last round for ethnic candidate to be put forward for consideration. There are few ethnic candidates on RO database and have been trying to find suitable candidates to put forward. Submission sent to Minister on 6 July.

  546
  (2) how many pensioners have so far received £10 compensation as a result of NIRS2 problems; and how many are still due to receive payment. [92194]

  Mr. Timms
  NIRS2 was originally due to be operational by February 1997. Delays in completing the system have inconvenienced many benefit claimants.

  The number of pensioners who have suffered significant delays because of the NIRS2 problems may be up to 285,000.

  The number of pensioners who have received £10 compensation as a result of NIRS2 problems, to 30 June, is 166,989. The total number of pensioners entitled to the £10 compensation payment will not be known until all cases have been reviewed.

HEALTH

  NHS Appointments
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the National Health Service trust and health authority appointments which were not made by the due date and which remained outstanding on 1 June. [90992]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 June 1999,Official Report, column 228. Information for 1 July 1999 is now available and is given in the table.

  Data Series
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new data series separated by gender, race, disability and age have been commissioned by his Department since June 1997. [90831]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department already collects and publishes a range of information about its work force analysed by gender, race, disability and age. We collect ethnicity and disability data using the Cabinet Office's classification. Further details are available from http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/stats1.htm. In addition, this Department carried out a staff attitude survey in September 1998. The information that respondents were asked to provide included details of gender, race, disability and age. Analyses using these categories were included in the survey findings.

  Infertility Treatment
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to ensure equal access to services for infertility treatment across the country. [91005]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have pledged to tackle unacceptable levels of geographical variations in access to infertility treatment and have set in motion a programme of work to achieve that aim. A Departmental survey of current health authority infertility service provision is taking place at the moment to enable the cost implications of any policy changes to be estimated. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists aim to complete their third, and final, set of evidence based clinical guidelines on infertility this autumn and these will indicate the circumstances in which infertility treatment can be most clinically effective. We can then move towards fairer access to National Health Service infertility services where those most able to benefit from such treatment receive it.

  Fluoride Review
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list(a) the professional, academic and other qualification, (b) the organisation represented by, (c) the declarable interests of, and (d) the period of appointment of, each member of the scientific review team examining fluoride and health; [90993]

  (2) when the scientific review team examining fluoride and health was appointed; when it first met; and how long it is expected to continue; [90996]

  (3) when he expects the results of the scientific review examining fluoride and health to be published; [90994]

  (4) what are the terms of reference of the scientific review of fluoride and health commissioned from York University. [90995]

  Mr. Denham
  The scientific review will assess the evidence for the safety and efficacy of fluoridation of drinking water to prevent caries. The review is being led by Professor Jos Kleijnen, Director, National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York. His team comprises two Research Fellows from the Centre and a Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health. An advisory group offering a range of expertise and perspectives will also be appointed to oversee its scientific rigour and impartiality. The contract 548
  between the Department and Professor Kleijnen begins in August and the review is due to be completed by the end of February 2000 and we will consider publication then. The date for the first meeting is being considered.

  Beta Interferon
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his letter of 30 June, regarding beta interferon, what plans he has to improve the quality of life for multiple sclerosis sufferers. [90810]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service is there to provide services for everybody on the basis of clinical need and it provides a considerable number of services to which people with Multiple Sclerosis have access. Under the present system it is, of course, for health authorities and primary care groups to plan and arrange the services available to people in their care. They are closest to the people they serve and best placed to respond sensitively to their needs.

  We remain committed to improving standards of healthcare. We have set out our plans to address unacceptable variations in services via a modernisation programme to deliver more consistent and higher quality care for patients. New treatments, including new medicines, are introduced into the NHS as fast as possible where they represent a genuine therapeutic advance and are cost effective.

  In addition, the move to new commissioning arrangements will bring about improvements in services for people with conditions like MS. Longer term agreements, reflecting dialogue between clinicians and focusing on health improvement and quality objectives will increase the emphasis on programmes of care that cross the traditional boundaries to meet patients' needs best.

  We are likely to ask the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to prepare guidance on the place of beta interferon among the range of interventions and services available for MS sufferers.

  Stroke Services
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National Service Framework for Older People will improve access to organised stroke services; and if he will make a statement. [91325]

  Mr. Hutton
  An external reference group (ERG) was set up to advise the Government on the development of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People. A number of task groups were set up to support the ERG and one of these is looking at stroke. The aim of the NSF for Older People is to improve the quality of, and reduce variations in, NHS services for older people, including older people who have had a stroke.

  The ERG will be reporting to Ministers in the coming months and it is too early to anticipate their advice. However, emerging findings will be published in the autumn with the NSF itself following in Spring 2000.

  Injury Prevention Programme
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the cost of implementing
  549
  council common position 70/98 of 23 November 1998 [OJ C404]; what was his position on this proposal; if qualified majority voting procedures applied; and if he will make a statement. [91843]

  Ms Jowell
  The United Kingdom voted in favour of the proposal for the injury prevention programme set out in Common Position 70/98 under the qualified majority voting procedure and now adopted by Decision No 372/1999/EC.

  The programme is a valuable initiative which we believe will enhance injury prevention work in the UK for a relatively modest outlay. In particular it will allow for the further development of a Community injury database, initially a continuation of the European Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System (EHLASS), which has driven the raising of safety standards safety throughout Europe.

  Implementation of the programme is expected to cost euro 14 million (estimated £9.9 million) over five years, of which the UK contribution is estimated at £358,000 per annum. This, however, will be offset by payments the UK will receive under the programme for the supply of information to the database. The precise figures for these payments has yet to be determined but similar payments to the UK under the EHLASS system in 1996 amounted to £216,000.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals his Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91886]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 116.

  The reply of 25 May 1999 gave the number of new deal staff recruited into the Department as of 1 April 1999. Since then, the Department has recruited three further employees under the new deal programme. We have now recruited a total of 11 staff, of whom five are in the 18–24-year-old category.

  Health Impact Assessments
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of health impact assessments, with special reference to the work of the Health Development Agency. [91910]

  Ms Jowell
  We are committed to applying health impact assessments to relevant key Government policies, including those with indirect health consequences, in order to protect and improve people's health. These assessments will build awareness of health and health inequality into the policy making process at every level. We anticipate the Health Development Agency maintaining an up-to-date public health evidence base which will help to underpin health impact assessments.

  Detoxification Centres
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government have taken to establish detoxification centres. [91847]
  550
  Ms Jowell
  Local authorities and health authorities are responsible for determining local needs and priorities for drug and alcohol treatment in their areas and for arranging the provision of services accordingly through the statutory or voluntary sector. Such services could include detoxification where a need for such a service is identified.

  One of the objectives of the Government's drugs strategy is to increase the participation of problem drug users in treatment programmes. One of the main objectives of the United Kingdom anti-drugs co-ordinator's first annual report and national plan is that by the end of 1999–2000 each Drug action team will have to produce an action plan to meet the local demand for detoxification and substitute prescribing services and community based structured therapeutic programmes.

  Centre for Tobacco Research
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department(a) has contributed to the establishment of and (b) plans to provide on an annual basis, for the Centre for Tobacco Research based at the University of Strathclyde. [92013]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department has made no contribution to the Centre for Tobacco Research, nor have we any plans to do so.

  Polio Vaccine (Contamination)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the implications of contamination of polio vaccine in the United Kingdom with simian virus 40 between 1955 and 1963, for the development of cancers in humans. [92020]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: The Secretary of State has received no recent representations on the implications of contamination of polio vaccine with simian virus 40.

  Methadone
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator has to tackle the problem of the misuse of prescribed methadone. [90893]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government are keen to reduce the availability of prescribed controlled drugs such as methadone on the illicit market. Revised clinical guidelines for doctors treating drug misusers were launched in April and sent to all GPs as well as specialists working within the field of drug misuse. They emphasise the importance of supervising the consumption of controlled drugs such as methadone, to improve patient compliance and prevent prescribed drugs reaching the illegal market. Instalment dispensing is also recommended, to avoid drug misusers receiving prescriptions for large quantities of drugs. The working group of experts which drew up the Clinical Guidelines also made a number of recommendations for additional controls on prescribing to addicts. These are intended to underpin the Guidelines by ensuring that only doctors who are properly trained and resourced engage in addiction treatment. The Government will soon be consulting on these proposals.

  Drug Treatment Services
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he proposes to set targets for the reduction in waiting times for drug treatment services. [90899]

  Ms Jowell
  The United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator's Annual Report and National Plan details that by 2002 all Drug Action Teams will be required to have established a locally agreed maximum waiting time for admission into a drug treatment service and be monitoring agencies' performance. The Department currently has no plans to set a maximum centrally for waiting times for drug treatment services.

  One of the conditions for local authorities to receive Drug and Alcohol Specific Grant moneys in 1999–2000 (about a quarter of them will) is to achieve three targets:
  A 10 per cent. increase in the number of problem substance misusers participating in effective treatment and care programmes purchased or provided by local authorities.
  A reduction in the time spent by problem misusers in waiting for an assessment of their needs, after engaging with a service, to 48 hours.
  A 10 per cent. increase in the proportion of decisions to approve funding made within two weeks of a misuser having been formally assessed as needing funding for a service.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Russia (Nuclear Waste)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extent of the problem of Russian ships storing decaying nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement. [91770]

  Mr. Hoon
  We are concerned about the poor state of repair of some Russian vessels around the Kola Peninsula used to store spent nuclear fuel and a lack of safe storage for this material ashore. A fuller assessment is set out in our "Background Brier entitled "The Nuclear Environment in North-West Russia". This is available on the FCO website and I am placing a copy in the Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has personally seen some of the storage ships during his visit to Murmansk in February and has announced over £3 million of assistance.

  We are actively working with the Russians, both directly and through international donor groups, to identify suitable projects. For example, Britain has offered to assist with the licensing of interim storage casks that would permit offloading spent fuel from the Lepse, a storage barge in a particularly unsafe condition and presently moored in Murmansk harbour.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further plans his Department has for assisting with the safe handling of nuclear waste in Russia; and if he will make a statement. [91769]

  Mr. Hoon
  We are in discussion with the Russian authorities, other international donors and industry experts to identify the priorities in what is a highly complex and large scale problem. An important prerequisite is a framework agreement with the Russian Government to 552
  deal with certain key issues such as the taxation, liability and auditing of nuclear assistance projects but we are looking forward to getting action on the ground at the earliest possible date. This process requires the input of various Departments here and we have convened a working group to co-ordinate the work.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many individuals his Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91888]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 116.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the purpose of the publication, "Britain: Creativity, Innovation and Quality, Design Guidelines for Implementing the Strapline for a New Identity for Britain"; how many requests for copies have been received; which consultants were engaged in the selection process for the logo; and if he will make a statement. [91842]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member for Buckingham to the answer I gave to him on 11 May 1999,Official Report, column 117.

  There have been requests for 702 copies of the guidelines.

  No design consultants were engaged in the selection process for the logo. The conception and development of the strapline were undertaken internally by FCO officials and endorsed by Ministers.

  Iraq
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1998,Official Report, column 419, on Iraq, what action he has since taken to support the Indict campaign. [91789]

  Mr. Hoon
  We continue to support the Indict campaign. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary sent me a personal message of support to Indict in March when the campaign held a meeting in the House to commemorate the eleventh anniversary of the Iraqi chemical weapons attack on the Kurdish town of Halabjah. I recently discussed the campaign with my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) and plan to speak at an Indict function in the margins of the Labour party conference. FCO officials are in regular contact with Indict representatives to offer advice and support as appropriate, and have briefed other governments on Indict's work.

  Nationality Applications (New Delhi)
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long applicants to the
  553
  High Commission in New Delhi for British nationality wait for an initial interview; and what instructions he has issued to expedite dealing with applications. [92192]

  Mr. Hoon
  All applications for registration as a British citizen made to our overseas missions are passed to the Home Office for a decision. This process, at present, takes 20 months.

  However, those resident overseas who feel that they may already have an entitlement to British nationality through circumstances of birth or descent are normally advised by the British mission to submit a passport application in order to establish their claim. They may be required to attend an interview if the entitlement is not clear.

  All our overseas missions are governed by the Citizen's Charter. They aim to process properly documented passport applications within five working days.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's efforts to assist in finding a solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. [92019]

  Mr. Hoon
  We believe a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka can be reached only through a political settlement. We have made clear that we are ready to help in the search for peace if both sides ask us to play a role.

  Dependent Territories (Environment)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what follow-up action he has taken to the conclusions of the Conference on the Environment in the Dependent Territories, organised at the Zoo, Regents Park, on 29 and 30 June by his Department, in relation to(a) degradation of coral reefs and (b) mangrove swamps. [90729]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: I thank my hon. Friend for his valuable contributions to the recent conference, "A Breath of Fresh Air", about environmental issues in the UK's Overseas Territories. We are now establishing with Overseas Territories' governments the best ways to protect these key habitats, with support where appropriate from new funding announced in the March White Paper, "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity".

  We are also publishing a report commissioned by the British Indian Ocean Territory Government on the problem of coral mortality in the Chagos Archipelago. We have commissioned an educational video for use in the Overseas Territories about key themes discussed at the conference, including coral reefs and mangrove swamps.

  Tajikistan
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the peace process in Tajikistan; and if he will support an extension of the UN Mission of Observers there. [92154]
  554
  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: The Government fully support the peace process in Tajikistan and the efforts of the United Nations. We welcome recent positive developments and hope the constitutional referendum and Presidential elections will be held on time later this year. We supported renewal of the mandate of the UN observer mission for six months when it was last discussed in the Security Council in early May and agreed by UN Security Council Resolution 1240.

  East Timor
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to support the proposed United Nations mission in East Timor; what level of troop deployment is planned for the mission; and what plans he has for UK troop deployment there. [92155]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: We have despatched seven British police officers with UN Bosnia experience and two Military Liaison Officers to East Timor. The United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), which has a British head, is now at full strength and consists of 241 international staff members, 420 UN volunteers, 280 civilian police, 50 Military Liaison officers and 4,000 East Timorese staff. We have no plans to deploy further police or military personnel to the territory.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the confidence-building measures and discussions between the two communities in Cyprus. [90466]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: In line with the UN Secretary-General's initiative of 30 September 1998, his Special Representative, Dame Ann Hercus, has been conducting a process of on-island contacts with the leaders of the two communities aimed at reducing tensions and promoting progress towards a just and lasting settlement.

  The UN Security Council, in its Resolution 1250 (1999) of 29 June, welcomed these contacts and urged the UN Secretary-General to invite the two leaders to enter without preconditions into comprehensive negotiations starting in the autumn. We have confirmed to the UN Secretary-General that he will have our full support in his efforts to get negotiations underway.

  Yemen
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the trial in the Yemen of British citizens. [92241]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House 11 January 1999,Official Report, column 21. On 22 June the trial in Aden of the eight British nationals was adjourned until 25 July when the Court plans to deliver its judgment. British consular officials, who have attended the trial from the outset, will attend also for the judgment. I can make no further comment on the case at this stage since it remains sub judice.

  Saharawi Refugees
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he is taking to assist the Saharawi refugees to return home. [91903]

  Mr. Hoon
  We fully support the United Nations in their efforts to repatriate the Saharawi refugees. We regularly urge both sides to cooperate with MINURSO in their efforts to prepare the way, and to keep to the UN Secretary-General's deadlines.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Dairy Farming
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to promote agri-environment measures for smaller dairy farmers to offset lower commodity prices. [91298]

  Mr. Morley
  Agri-environment schemes provide payments for farmers to manage their land with the objective of protecting and enhancing the natural beauty and diversity of the countryside. The schemes are not designed to offset the effects of lower commodity prices. Payment rates are calculated on the basis of the income forgone and costs associated with managing the land in accordance with scheme requirements.

  The schemes do, however, include measures which provide smaller dairy farmers with the opportunity of managing their land in an environmentally sensitive way.

  The schemes are promoted through the issue of scheme literature, project officer advice and targeted publicity.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many individuals his Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91894]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 116.

  We have recruited five individuals under the New Deal for Young People.

  Appointments (Quangos)
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many appointments to quangos he made between (i) 1 June 1997 and 31 May 1998 and (ii) 1 June 1998 and 31 May 1999. [92047]

  Mr. Morley
  The following appointments have been made by my right hon. Friend the Minister:

  (i) Between 1 June 1997 and 31 May 1998: 228

  (ii) Between 1 June 1998 and 31 May 1999: 67.

  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many members of Britain's(a) ethnic minority communities and (b) Asian community he appointed to quangos between (i) 1 June 1997 and 31 May 1998 and (ii) 1 June 1998 and 31 May 1999. [92118]
  556
  Mr. Morley
  Two members of Britain's ethnic communities were appointed in each of the periods stated. All of these were members of the Asian community.

  Departmental plans on equal opportunities, setting objectives and targets for improving representation of women, people from ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities, were published by the Government on 25 May 1999 and deposited in the Libraries of the House.

WALES

  Oncologists
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of clinical and medical oncologists per 100,000 population for each health authority in Wales. [90805]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information on NHS medical and dental staff is collected annually as at 30 September. The latest available information is in the following table. It gives the number of whole time equivalents (Wte) in post in September 1997.

  Staff in post at 30 September 1997 (excluding locums) per 1 million population1

  Consultants

  All grades

  Health authority area

  Number

  Wte

  Number

  Wte

  Medical Oncology

  North Wales

  1.5

  1.5

  1.5

  1.5

  Dyfed Powys

  —

  —

  2.1

  0.4

  Morgannwg

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bro Taf

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wales

  0.3

  0.3

  0.7

  0.4

  Clinical Oncology

  North Wales

  1.5

  0.7

  1.5

  0.7

  Dyfed Powys

  6.3

  0.7

  8.4

  2.8

  Morgannwg

  8.0

  7.4

  14.0

  11.7

  Bro Taf

  14.9

  12.0

  36.7

  30.6

  Gwent

  1.8

  1.0

  1.8

  1.0

  Wales

  5.8

  4.7

  12.6

  10.5

  1 Consultants who work in more than one health authority are counted in each health authority but only once in the total for Wales.

TREASURY

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the reduction in employers' national insurance contributions in compensation for the climate change levy will go to public sector bodies. [89952]

  Ms Hewitt
  Provisional estimates suggest that, on the basis of the illustrative rates of climate change levy set out in the Customs and Excise consultation document, the climate change levy proposals, combined with the reduction in the main rate of employers' National Insurance Contributions of 0.5 percentage points, might lower costs in the public administration sector by some
  557
  £100 million to £150 million annually. The rates of levy set out in the Customs and Excise consultation document on the climate change levy are purely illustrative and final rates will not be set until Finance Bill 2000.

  Estimates were derived from economic data published by the Office for National Statistics.

  Jill Dando
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will donate a sum equivalent to the revenue that the Inland Revenue will receive in inheritance tax from Jill Dando's estate to the reward being offered to catch her killer. [90623]

  Mrs. Roche
  I am unable to comment of the tax affairs of individuals.

  Financial Services Act 1986
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many actions have been brought under section 133 of the Financial Services Act 1986; and how many such actions resulted in prosecution. [91072]

  Ms Hewitt
  We are not aware of any actions brought under this section.

  Fuel Duty Rebate
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of the fuel duty rebate in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99; and what the projection is for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01. [91404]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Expenditure on fuel duty rebate in Great Britain as a whole and the rate of rebate per litre for diesel (the fuel predominantly used by bus operators) in each of the years requested is as follows:

  Year

  Expenditure (£ million)

  Rate of Rebate (Pence per litre)

  1995–96

  229

  25.14

  1996–97

  228

  25.14

  1997–98

  227

  25.14

  1998–99

  271

  29.85

  1999–2000

  1333

  35.07

  1 Estimated

  Number of deaths in Kidderminster registration district, where the River Severn or an unspecified river is mentioned, 1993–98

  Verdict

  Cause

  River Severn

  River not specified

  Suicide

  Drowning

  1

  0

  Open

  Drowning

  3

  1

  Cause not ascertainable

  1

  0

  Accident

  Fall into water

  1

  1

  Fall into water in course of epileptic fit

  0

  1

  Drowning

  1

  0

  Total

  7

  3

  558
  Expenditure in future years will depend on the total fuel consumed in operating eligible routes for which bus operators make claims for rebate, and on decisions still to be taken on the proportion of duty to be rebated in each year.

  Tax Certificates
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that all applications to the Inland Revenue for C1S6 and C1S5 certificates are processed before 1 August; and if he will make a statement. [90787]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 July 1999]: The Inland Revenue is doing all it can to ensure that certificate applications are processed quickly. It takes about four weeks to process a certificate application (against one week for registration cards) because of the compliance checks. Where a subcontractor applies for a certificate late there may now not be enough time to make sure that it is processed before 1 August. Where the Inland Revenue consider that there is not enough time to process the certificate application they will arrange for a registration card, or temporary tax payment card to be issued so that the subcontractor can be paid.

  River Severn (Deaths)
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of the public have died in(a) accidents and (b) suicides in the River Severn in the Wyre Forest District Council area in the past 10 years; and what was the cause of death in each case. [91581]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Lock, dated 21 July 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many members of the public have died in the River Severn.
  Between 1993 and 1998, there were seven deaths in the Kidderminster Registration District, which is broadly coterminous with the area administered by Wyre Forest District Council, where the River Severn was mentioned on the coroner's certificate of death. In addition, there were three deaths which occurred in a river not specified by the coroner. Corresponding data for years prior to 1993 are not available.
  The verdicts and underlying causes of the ten deaths are given in the table.

  NIRS2
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a copy of the terms of the contract under which Andersen Consulting are currently developing the NIRS2 computer system. [91652]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 16 July 1999]: The terms of the contract with Andersen Consulting are commercially confidential and are exempt from disclosure under paragraph 13 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Construction Industry Scheme
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms are on the waiting list to register for the construction industry scheme; and what is the average time taken from application to registration. [91655]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: There is no waiting list for subcontractors who wish to apply for registration cards or certificates for the construction industry scheme. A subcontractor must complete an application form and take it to a tax office for an identity check. This can be done almost immediately. On average it takes one week to process an application form for a registration card.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advertisements the Inland Revenue has placed to inform businesses of the need to register under the new construction industry scheme; and what has been the cost of the advertisements. [91656]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: The Inland Revenue has paid for five phases of national advertising to inform business, contractors and

  Maternities in England and Wales by multiplicity 1990–1998

  Year

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Singletons

  692,885

  685,477

  675,329

  659,962

  650,826

  633,366

  634,979

  626,814

  620,846

  Twins

  7,934

  8,160

  8,314

  8,302

  8,451

  8,749

  8,615

  8,899

  8,776

  Triplets

  201

  208

  202

  234

  260

  282

  259

  295

  297

  Quadruplets

  10

  10

  8

  12

  8

  7

  8

  7

  7

  Quintuplets

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sextuplets

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Septuplets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Total maternities

  701,030

  693,857

  683,854

  668,511

  659,545

  642,404

  643,862

  636,015

  629,926

  Social Security Acts
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received the report from the Government Actuary on the operation of the Social Security Acts for the five years from April 1990. [92525]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have today laid before the House a report that the Government Actuary has made on the operation of the Social Security Acts between 6 April 1990 and 5 April 1995 in accordance with Section 166 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  It provides a detailed look forward into the next century of the possible future costs of benefits paid out of the National Insurance Fund and the contributions likely to be needed to pay for them.
  560
  subcontractors about the construction industry scheme at a total cost of £2,450,000. The key messages have progressively moved from general awareness raising, through a call to action to 'apply now' and has featured in the main tabloids, construction press and commercial radio. On top of this there has been local and regional advertising of the local office opening times.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of businesses that should have registered under the construction industry scheme by 1 August; and what projection he has made of the number which will have done so by that date. [91658]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: The Inland Revenue estimates that approximately 635,000 businesses are due to complete application forms for the construction industry scheme. They expect 90 per cent. to have done so by 1 August.

  Birth Statistics
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish for each year from 1990 the numbers of(a) maternities and (b) sets of twins, triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets, sextuplets and septuplets born in England and Wales. [92262]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 21 July 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the numbers of maternities in England and Wales.
  The requested data are shown in the following table:

  Following the Social Security (Transfer of Functions etc.) Act 1999 this report is made to both the Treasury and the Secretary of State for Social Security—but the responsibility for laying the report rests with Treasury Ministers.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the regulation of mortgages. [92362]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury has issued a discussion document to form the basis of a review to determine whether there is a case for the statutory regulation of advice on and marketing of mortgages. Copies of the document have been placed in the Vote Office and Libraries of the House.

  Invest to Save
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend the first round of Invest to Save pilot projects. [90884]

  Mr. Milburn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Thomas) on 19 May 1999,Official Report, column 366.

  The second bidding round of the Invest to Save Budget is presently under way. Expressions of interest have been submitted to the Treasury and bidders will be advised in due course whether they will be invited to submit proposals for the final bidding stage. I expect to announce winners at the end of the year.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  BNFL
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the members of the Liabilities Management Unit of BNFL. [92055]

  Mr. Battle
  The Liabilities Management Unit (LMU) at BNFL consists of 34 BNFL staff and 1 agency worker based at the Sellafield and Berkeley sites. The Head of the LMU is Robin Sellers, based at Sellafield.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his reasons for announcing his proposals for BNFL through a written answer rather than an oral statement. [92058]

  Mr. Battle
  As the hon. Member is aware, it is a matter of judgment whether to make an announcement through a written answer or oral statement.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the new index against which BNFL's safety, health and environmental performance will be measured. [92054]

  Mr. Battle
  BNFL and the Government regard safety, health and the environment as being of paramount importance. That is why the targets set for BNFL look to the company to achieve continuous and measurable improvement against the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Index. The Index is based on similar indices used in the United States, including the US Department of Energy, and will measure the company's performance against standards achieved in conventional, radiological and environmental safety, and health. The Index is being developed by BNFL in close discussion with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agencies.

  Miners (Respiratory Diseases)
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial controls have been put in place by his Department regulating the flow of payments of compensation to former miners suffering from respiratory disease. [92063]

  Mr. Battle
  Since assuming the former British Coal's health liabilities in January 1998 the Government have made clear that they will provide the funds necessary to meet the cost of legitimate claims. Financial structures 562
  will be put in place to ensure that the funds are properly disbursed. Claims will be settled as rapidly and as fairly as possible within this framework.

  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of those ex-miners receiving compensation for respiratory diseases are having their cases settled under the expedited payment system; and what proportion are receiving payments under the system by which compensation is reduced due to other factors. [92062]

  Mr. Battle
  To date Healthcall—the service provider—has carried out some 3,300 spirometry tests. Of these, we have processed 1,793 and offers of expedited payments have been made to 500 of these. The number actually receiving payments will depend on how many claimants accept the offers.

  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the total number of recipients of compensation for former miners suffering from respiratory diseases; how many cases have been(a) settled and (b) paid; what is the average number of cases settled each week; and what steps he is taking to speed up the processing of claims. [92099]

  Mr. Battle
  The Department have received some 77,000 claims from former miners, and their dependants, for compensation for respiratory diseases. We anticipate receiving in excess of 100,000 in total. The Department is unable to estimate how many of these claimants will receive compensation until they have all passed through the procedures contained in the handling arrangements which are still to be finally agreed with those representing the claimants. Pending the signing of the handling arrangement, full and final settlements have so far been made to the seven lead cases decided by the court. In addition the Department has made offers of interim payments and bereavement awards to 13,700 claimants, totalling some £31 million.

  A contract for a national programme of spirometry testing for all respiratory disease claimants has been awarded and testing centres are being established in coalmining areas. This will enable us to make further interim payments and, in some cases, full and final offers to those who may not wish to pursue their claim further. We are also tendering for the delivery of the national medical assessment process and we hope to make the first full and final settlement offers later this year.

  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many widows of deceased miners are currently awaiting interim payments for the Respiratory Disease Litigation Scheme; how many such widows have already received payments; how many are being paid each month; and what factors underlie the current backlog. [92064]

  Mr. Battle
  We have made some 500 interim payments in the form of bereavement awards, totalling nearly £4.3 million over the last six months. A further 1,600 claims, accompanied by valid death certificates supporting the claims, have been received but require validation of the deceased's work history. The procedure for carrying out this validation has been agreed only very recently with the plaintiff solicitors. We are now processing these outstanding claims as a matter of urgency.

  Debts (Late Payment)
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports he has received from the late payment monitoring unit at Bradford University since the implementation of the first stage of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. [91902]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: The Credit Management Research Centre, based at Leeds University Business School since July 1998, has produced two "Credit Management Quarterly Review Results Bulletins" since the implementation of the first phase of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act in November 1998. They have covered the periods October 1998 to December 1998 (published in March 1999) and January 1999 to March 1999 (published in June 1999) respectively.

  The Quarterly Reviews report on and analyse payment and credit trends and specific topical issues, including the introduction of the late payment legislation. My officials keep in close touch with the work of the Centre.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 21 July. [91813]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I met the Israeli Prime Minister and later visited Winsford in the Eddisbury constituency. Later today, in addition to my duties in the House, I will have meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

  Anglo-Italian Summit
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Anglo-Italian Summit. [92763]

  The Prime Minister
  I was pleased to host the British-Italian Summit on 19 and 20 July. This is the first such Summit to take place since 1995. In addition to Heads of Government, the Summit brought together Foreign, Defence and Industry Ministers, allowing us to develop and broaden our dialogue with one of our key partners in Europe. The Summit produced three joint declarations on strengthening European Defence Capabilities; a proposal for action from our two Governments on a new European Social Agenda; and reform of the European Commission. Copies have been placed in the Library. The Summit highlighted the congruence of views between Britain and Italy on these and a number of other issues, and specifically

  Complement

  Percentage Male

  Female

  Age 40–60 years

  Age 61–72 years

  Supreme Court Judges

  11

  100

  0

  5

  6

  County Court Judges

  14

  93

  7

  10

  4

  District Judges

  4

  75

  25

  3

  1

  Resident Magistrates

  17

  88

  12

  14

  3

  Masters

  7

  71

  29

  4

  3

  564
  identified areas where Britain and Italy would work together, for example defence industry restructuring and energy liberalisation.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judicial Appointments (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions and on what dates since 1969 his Department has reviewed the method of judicial appointments in Northern Ireland; and what steps have been taken to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of religion or community origin. [91537]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Lord Chancellor assumed responsibility for judicial appointments in Northern Ireland in 1973. Successive Lord Chancellors, including the present Lord Chancellor, have adopted a policy of continuous improvement to the appointments processes, of appointment purely on merit and of ensuring equality of opportunity.

  The Lord Chancellor has recently extended his practice of advertising vacancies for judicial office to include the post of High Court Judge and such advertisements include a statement on the Lord Chancellor's equal opportunities policy.

  Posts are advertised (in professional journals) and there are job descriptions and detailed objective selection criteria as appropriate. Candidates are assessed against these criteria. Members of selection panels receive written and oral briefing which in particular covers equal opportunity issues.

  All these measures support the Lord Chancellor's objective to ensure that judicial appointments procedures are open and transparent.

  Appointments to the judiciary and magistracy and safeguards for protecting their independence are also part of the terms of reference of the Review of Criminal Justice currently in train.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate the overall composition of the judiciary in Northern Ireland according to(a) perceived community origin, (b) gender and (c) age. [91538]

  Mr. Vaz
  The current complement of full-time judicial office-holders in Northern Ireland is 53. The perceived community origin of appointees is not a factor in judicial appointments and so is not recorded as part of the judicial appointments process. Details of gender and age of these postholders are as outlined.
  565
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the dates of judicial appointments in Northern Ireland since 1969, in each case describing the perceived community origin of the appointee. [91539]

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  July 1999

  Lord Chief Justice

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Lord Justice of Appeal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  High Court Judge

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  County Court Judge

  —

  1

  —

  2

  I

  —

  2

  3

  —

  District Judge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Resident Magistrate

  1

  1

  3

  1

  1

  —

  2

  2

  1

  Masters of the Supreme Court

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  1

  2

  9

  3

  3

  1

  9

  7

  3

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court actions for mortgage repossessions have been brought in the last five years for which figures are available in(a) Edmonton and (b) Enfield Magistrates Court. [91801]

  Mr. Vaz
  Applications for mortgage repossessions are civil actions made in County Courts. The figures in Edmonton and Barnet County Courts are as follows:

  Year

  Edmonton

  Barnet

  1994

  1,518

  506

  1995

  1,106

  459

  1996

  1,126

  521

  1997

  864

  337

  1998

  920

  367

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date the Courts Service received appeal papers in respect of Mr. Liaqat Ali (ISB/F4245) husband of Mrs. Jehan Akhtar of Aylesbury; when he expects the Courts Service to let Mr. Ali and Mrs. Akhtar know the date of their appeal hearing; and if he will make a statement. [91786]

  Mr. Vaz
  It has not been possible to trace the appeal from the limited information provided. Although there are several appeals listed under the name of Liaqat Ali, none match the date of birth or reference number quoted. perhaps the hon. Member will write to me if further details can be provided.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average time between receipt of the Courts Service appeal papers in immigration cases and notification of the date of appeal to the parties in(a) May 1997, (b) May 1998 and (c) the most recent month for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [91787]

  Mr. Vaz
  No figures are available for May 1997. In May 1998, 40.9 per cent. of certified appeals and 100 per cent. of other appeals were issued within five
  566
  Mr. Vaz
  Judicial appointments in Northern Ireland from 1991 to July 1999 are as set out. Information prior to 1991 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The perceived community origin of appointees is not a factor in judicial appointments and so is not recorded as part of the judicial appointments process.

  working days. In June 1999, 100 per cent. of certified and other appeals were issued within five working days of receipt.

  Child Abduction
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when is the next planned meeting of the Parent/Carer Child Abduction Co-ordinating Group. [91788]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Parent/Carer Child Abduction Co-ordinating Group met on 14 July. The next meeting of the Group is in the process of being arranged for mid-October 1999.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many individuals the Lord Chancellor's Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91895]

  Mr. Vaz
  At present, the Lord Chancellor's Department has recruited three young people under the New Deal. We have undertaken to employ a further nine people under the scheme and arrangements are being made for their recruitment and training.

CABINET OFFICE

  Anti-drugs Co-ordinator
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the work of the UK Anti-drugs Co-ordinator. [90879]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The UK Anti-drugs Co-ordinator published his first annual report and national plan in May. The report outlined progress made in relation to the strategy during 1998–99. The plan set challenging targets for the strategy for the short, medium and long term.

  Civil Service (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of the senior civil service are from ethnic minorities. [90881]
  567
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  On 1 April 1998, 1.6 per cent. of the Senior Civil Service came from ethnic minorities.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish the Government's proposals to ensure effective inter-departmental co-ordination of policies on genetic modification, in preparation for the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle in November. [90882]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Ministerial Group on Biotechnology and Genetic-Modification reviews all areas of Government policy relating to genetic modification. There will be effective interdepartmental co-ordination in preparation for the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle with regard to all subjects under discussion.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what sources of advice he uses on the issue of genetically modified food. [90883]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Government are advised on the issue of genetically modified foods by a range of sources including expert advisory committees such as the Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP). We also receive advice from the Chief Scientific Adviser, and the Chief Medical Officer.

  My ministerial colleagues and I are also in regular contact with a large number of groups which have an interest in genetically modified foods such as consumer groups, environmental groups and biotechnology companies.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations he has received on the documents relating to genetically modified food produced by the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser and published by them. [90888]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I have received a number of representations from hon. Members, consumer groups, environmental groups and biotechnology companies.

  Biotechnology Commission
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans that the new Biotechnology Commission should start its work. [90885]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  There will be two new advisory commissions—the Human Genetics Commission and the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission. Both of the new commissions will be in place by the end of the year.

  Public Bodies
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to ensure the accountability of non-elected appointees to public bodies. [90887]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  All board members of non-departmental public bodies are accountable through Ministers to Parliament. The Government are implementing a range of measures to strengthen accountability which were set out in "Quangos: Opening the Doors", copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is the average time it takes for Government departments to answer letters from hon. Members; and what plans he has to reduce the time taken. [90889]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The majority of letters from hon. Members to Ministers are replied to within the target times set by individual Departments, which is typically 15 to 20 working days. The Government are determined to improve their performance in handling correspondence from hon. Members and Ministers are now working towards replying to at least 90 per cent. of all correspondence within the target times set by their Department.

  Social Exclusion Unit
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many visits to the city of Birmingham, and for what purpose, have been made by members of the Social Exclusion Unit. [90891]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Officials from the Social Exclusion Unit have visited Birmingham on a number of occasions as part of their work in preparing reports on a range of policy areas. Their purpose has included project visits, attendance at conferences and consultations with the local government and voluntary sector.

  Anti-drugs Strategy
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's anti-drugs strategy in South Yorkshire. [90892]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  Drug Action Teams in South Yorkshire have drawn up action plans for 1999–2000 establishing local priorities in line with the strategy. In preparing their 2000–01 action plans, they will review their priorities in the light of local circumstances. They will set local targets in line with those published in the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinators annual report and national plan.

  EU Regulations
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to use the Intergovernmental Conference next year to reduce the amount of regulation from the European Union. [90894]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  This Government achieved much through the Amsterdam Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) in terms of rasing the importance of the better European regulation agenda. In particular, the Protocol on subsidiarity and proportionality requires the Commission to take due account of the potential burdens from proposed legislation. These successes, along with the consensus among member states for a short, focused IGC, mean this Government do not intend to push for wide areas of the Treaties to be opened up for renegotiation. However, the Government do believe that the principles of better regulation should influence the EU' s decisions making process and will be pushing for this as part of their wider objectives for reform of the Commission and other institutions.

  Public-private Partnerships
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will ensure that pension rights of public service workers are protected in public-private partnerships. [90895]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on protecting pensions in PFI and PPP deals, 14 June 1999,Official Report, column 30.

  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on what steps he is taking to protect the employment rights of public sector staff under public-private partnership deals. [90898]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office announcing the publication for consultation of a Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector, 5 July 1999,Official Report, columns 388–89.

  Building

  Location

  Running costs (£)

  Status

  Comment

  Cabinet Office1

  Government offices on Great George Street

  London, SW1

  3,188,932

  Occupier/not owner

  Alencon Link2

  Basingstoke

  848,048

  Owner occupier

  Property was sold in 1999–2000

  Queen Anne's Chambers

  London, SW1

  309,388

  Occupier/not owner

  36 Whitehall2

  London, SW1

  732,243

  Owner occupier

  10/12 Downing Street2

  London, SW1

  2,798,311

  Owner occupier

  Admiralty House2

  London, SW1

  299,066

  Owner/not occupier

  70 Whitehall2

  London, SW1

  4,579,477

  Owner occupier

  Hepburn House

  London SW1

  762,911

  Occupier/not owner

  Ashley House

  London, SW1

  742,877

  Occupier/not owner

  Grosvenor House

  Basingstoke

  375,731

  Occupier/not owner

  10 Great George Street

  London, SW1

  360,768

  Occupier/not owner

  Matthew Parker Street

  London, SW1

  Nil

  Occupier/not owner

  Hercules House

  London, SW1

  91,404

  Occupier/not owner

  53 Parliament Street2

  London, SW1

  155,659

  Owner/occupier

  Hampton House

  London, SW1

  4,507

  Occupier/not owner

  11 Belgrave Road

  London, SW1

  163,005

  Occupier/not owner

  The Arch/Ripley/Kirkland House2

  London, SW1

  682,645

  Owner/not occupier

  Chessington

  Chessington

  3,008

  Sold/residual

  Dacre House

  London

  833,610

  Occupier/not owner

  Figures include costs associated with OHSA who have vacated the premises

  Murray House

  London, SW1

  591

  Sold/residual

  Sovereign House

  Norwich

  360,761

  Occupier/not owner

  Chadwick Street Centre2

  London, SW1

  86,343

  Owner/not occupier

  13–15 Great Scotland Yard2

  London, SW1

  120,652

  Owner/not occupier

  Britannia House

  London, SW1

  75,581

  Occupier/not owner

  Tufton Street

  London, SW1

  Nil

  Occupier/not owner

  No cost to Cabinet Office and now vacated

  St. Clement's House

  Norwich

  77,252

  Occupier/not owner

  St. Christopher House

  London, SE1

  146,000

  Occupier/not owner

  RAF Burtonwood

  Warrington

  86,000

  Occupier/not owner

  Civil Service College2

  Sunningdale Park

  Ascot

  1,932,616

  Owner occupier

  Belgrave Road

  London, SW1

  608,449

  Occupier/not owner

  Government Car and Despatch Agency

  Pontin Road

  London, SW8

  815,637

  Occupier/not owner

  Colchester Industrial Estate

  Cardiff

  14,765

  Occupier/not owner

  Commerce Court

  Bradford

  6,236

  Occupier/not owner

  Mount Street Business Centre

  Birmingham

  2,688

  Occupier/not owner

  Property Advisers to the Civil Estate

  Trevelyan House

  London, SW1

  864,071

  Occupier/not owner

  28 Thistle Street2

  Edinburgh

  154,381

  Owner occupier

  Alexandra House

  Leeds

  126,699

  Occupier/not owner

  West Point

  Manchester

  105,470

  Occupier/not owner

  38 George Road

  Birmingham

  198,672

  Occupier/not owner

  Beauford Court2

  Bristol

  147,141

  Owner occupier

  Better Regulation Initiative
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to introduce new regulations under the Better Regulation Initiative in the forthcoming parliamentary session. [90896]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Government will continue to put forward draft orders for consideration of the House of Commons Deregulation Committee and the Delegated Powers and Deregulation Committee of the House of Lords. The Government are also looking at the scope for reform of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 and will bring forward proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows.

  Departmental Buildings
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the location and running costs in the last year for each of his Department's buildings. [90863]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The table lists the buildings of my Department, including executive agencies, and gives the running costs for the last financial year.
  571

  Building

  Location

  Running costs (£)

  Status

  Comment

  Central Computer and Telecom. Agency

  Rosebery Court

  Norwich

  1,713,220

  Occupier/not owner

  Steel House3

  London, SW1

  62,255

  Occupier/not owner

  The Buying Agency

  Royal Liver Building

  Liverpool

  320,000

  Occupier/not owner

  Central Office of Information

  Hercules House

  London, SE1

  2,349,000

  Occupier/not owner

  Wellbar House

  Gallowgate

  45,385

  Occupier/not owner

  Sunley Tower

  Manchester

  81,017

  Occupier/not owner

  City House

  Leeds

  67,235

  Occupier/not owner

  Five Ways House

  Birmingham

  81,369

  Occupier/not owner

  The Pithay

  Bristol

  67,041

  Occupier/not owner

  Belgrave Centre

  Nottingham

  46,626

  Occupier/not owner

  Three Crowns House

  Cambridge

  51,119

  Occupier/not owner

  1 The Cabinet Office metropolitan telephone services are accounted for separately. The total cost of this service in 1998–99 was £719,138.

  2 A notional capital charge is included as part of running cost calculations for the building, as indicated in the Voted Supply Estimate. Capital charging was introduced from 1 April 1998. Departments pay capital charges, on the property they hold, from running cost provision. Departments record on the Vote matching receipts outside running costs classified as negative expenditure. Capital charge calculations are revised each year and based on the value of the property.

  3 Figure represents estimated annual running costs for Steel House. No charge was made to CCTA in 1998–99 as agreed with the property holder.

  Note:

  Figures reflect running cost expenditure in-year. Figure may be revised following completion of 1998–99 accounts.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many individuals his Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91893]

  Mr. Kilfoyle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999, Official Report, column 116.

  Family-friendly Employment Policies
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress he is making in developing family-friendly employment policies within Government departments; and if he will make a statement. [90875]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  All Government Departments already have a range of family friendly policies in place which include flexible working arrangements, help with child care and career breaks.

  Montserrat
  Montserrat
  Reproductive Health and Contraception: Catholic Church's Role
  Reproductive Health and Contraception: Catholic Church's Role
  Child Support, Scotland
  Child Support, Scotland
  NHS Wheelchair Prices
  NHS Wheelchair Prices
  Northern Ireland: Decommissioning
  Northern Ireland: Decommissioning
  Business Rates: Forthcoming Revaluation
  Business Rates: Forthcoming Revaluation
  Traffic Reduction Targets
  Traffic Reduction Targets
  Filwood, Bristol: New Bus Depot
  Filwood, Bristol: New Bus Depot
  Kurdistan: Talks under Washington Accord
  Kurdistan: Talks under Washington Accord
  Imported Vehicles for Disabled Users: Tax
  Imported Vehicles for Disabled Users: Tax
  General Pinochet: sub judice Matters
  General Pinochet: sub judice Matters
  Pen Park and Merrywood Schools, Bristol
  Pen Park and Merrywood Schools, Bristol
  Biological and Chemical Weapons
  Biological and Chemical Weapons
  Organophosphate Exposure: Comparative Data
  Organophosphate Exposure: Comparative Data
  Kairos-APAC Trust
  Kairos-APAC Trust