Written Answers of 26 July 1999

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Starch-based Products
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government have taken to encourage the use of(a) biodegradable starch-base plastics and (b) other starch-based products in place of petrochemicals [91654]

  Mr. Meale
  [holding answer 19 July 1999]: A fully biodegradable product can offer significant environmental benefits, for example where it can be composted or reused in another form. A particular type of degradable product, "inherently degradable resins" (starch mixed with polyethylene), was developed in the latter part of the 1980s. Although marketed as biodegradable, research has suggested otherwise. The micro-organisms consumed the starch, leaving the polyethylene intact.

  Our recent consultation paper, "Less Waste: More Value", emphasised the need to gain more value from waste through re-use, recycling, composting and recovery of energy. Products which are specifically designed for disposal with no beneficial recovery potential run counter to this approach.

  Right-to-buy Scheme
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authority dwellings were sold under the right to buy scheme in 1998–99. [92476]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is not yet available.

  Rented Housing (London)
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many affordable houses to rent were developed in each London borough in 1998; and if he will make a statement. [92428]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The additional rented social lettings provided in each London borough in 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:

  Borough

  1998–99

  Barking and Dagenham

  193

  Barnet

  352

  Bexley

  158

  Brent

  220

  Bromley

  167

  Camden

  174

  City of London

  0

  2

  Borough

  1998–99

  Croydon

  369

  Ealing

  222

  Enfield

  204

  Greenwich

  269

  Hackney

  582

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  266

  Haringey

  264

  Harrow

  85

  Havering

  59

  Hillingdon

  397

  Hounslow

  208

  Islington

  211

  Kensington and Chelsea

  110

  Kingston upon Thames

  84

  Lambeth

  199

  Lewisham

  367

  Merton

  119

  Newham

  354

  Redbridge

  85

  Richmond upon Thames

  44

  Southwark

  171

  Sutton

  39

  Tower Hamlets

  340

  Waltham Forest

  342

  Wandsworth

  83

  Westminster

  196

  These additional social lettings come from new build, the purchase and rehabilitation of existing property and from empty properties brought into use for temporary social housing. The ADP and LASHG also supports 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.

  On the basis of information provided to the Department by local authorities, there were at least 35 council houses built in London boroughs in 1998–99.

  Transport (Disabled) Access
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in improving accessibility to public transport for people with disabilities in London. [92404]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Progress at the national level will impact on London. We are already bringing forward regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to require new trains, buses and newly licensed taxis to be accessible to disabled people, including those in wheelchairs.

  The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations came into effect on 1 January 1999 requiring all new trains, including Underground trains, to meet requirements for wheelchair access and a range of other features to help people with disabilities. We are proposing that all new single deck buses will have to comply with similar regulations from next year and double deckers from the year after. There are now nearly 1,000 low floor buses in use throughout London, and most areas will have routes on which this type of vehicle are in operation.

  All taxis in London will be accessible by 1 January 2000 and there are already more than 16,000 accessible taxis in the fleet. National requirements on accessibility

  3
  are proposed to come into effect from 2002 and will lead to further improvements in access standards for taxis. Other provisions of the Act which come into effect in 2004 will also require reasonable steps to be taken to remove or alter barriers to access Underground stations. Investment in the Underground, which the Public Private Partnership will bring, will, amongst other things, enable work to be carried out to establish a network of key stations which would be fully accessible to those with mobility problems.

  Dedicated door-to-door services in London are currently provided primarily by the Dial-a-Ride and Taxicard schemes. Working with the Commission for Accessible Transport we will be taking forward their proposals on pilot schemes on better co-ordination of services.

  The Greater London Authority Bill places a duty on the mayor to address transport issues affecting disabled people and others who may face difficulties in using all forms of public transport. The mayor's transport strategy must (under clause 124(2)(a) of the Bill) contain proposals for transport which is accessible. London Boroughs Local Implementation Plans will have to deliver the mayoral strategy.

  Schedule 8(3) of the Bill places the mayor under a duty to have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the membership of Transport for London represents the interests of those who require accessible transport.

  Council House Sales (Bolton)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many council house sales were completed by Bolton Local Authority in each year from 1980 to 1998; what revenue accrued to the local authority; and if he will make a statement. [92696]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The available information reported by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council is in the table. Actual cash receipts will depend on the extent to which sales had been financed by loans from the authority.

  Number and capital value of sales in Bolton

  Year

  Total sales

  Value of sales (£000)

  1980–81

  681

  4,131

  1981–82

  399

  2,728

  1982–83

  305

  n/a

  1983–84

  231

  1,961

  1984–85

  271

  2,374

  1985–86

  272

  n/a

  1986–87

  307

  2,244

  1987–88

  289

  2,596

  1988–89

  396

  3,457

  1989–90

  698

  6,074

  1990–91

  683

  n/a

  1991–92

  282

  4,352

  1992–93

  198

  2,658

  1993–94

  150

  2,615

  1994–95

  156

  2,233

  1995–96

  129

  1,775

  1996–97

  90

  1,466

  1997–98

  134

  2,110

  1998–99

  154

  2,693

  Housing Green Paper
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish the Green Paper on Housing. [92538]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We intend to publish a Housing Policy Green Paper later this year.

  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will include proposals for a single tenancy for social housing for England and Wales in his Green Paper on Housing. [92539]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There are a wide range of housing policies in need of modernisation, building on the reforms the Government have put in place during our first two years. The Government are considering currently the issues which should be included for consultation in a Housing Policy Green Paper later this year. No decisions have been reached yet.

  Rail Crossing, Rovie
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will exercise his powers under the Level Crossing Act 1983, as amended by the Level Crossing Regulations 1997, to instruct ScotRail to install an automatic open crossing which is locally monitored on the rail crossing at Rovie, Rogart in Sutherland. [92531]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Secretary of State has received an application from Railtrack for an Order under the Level Crossing Act 1983 to authorise the most appropriate safety measures for the level crossing at Rovie.

  The Department is now seeking the advice of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on the safety issues at Rovie Crossing. We expect to receive HSE's advice around the middle of August. The Secretary of State will then take a decision on Railtrack's application. Any new safety measures will be for Railtrack Scotland (not ScotRail) to install.

  Planning Inspectors
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 12 July 1999,Official Report, columns 14–15, on planning inspectors, what is his Department's definition of a secret society. [92532]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Planning inspectors have a quasi-judicial role and must not only conduct themselves in an open and impartial manner, but been seen to do so. Membership of a society that is perceived by many people to operate with a degree of secrecy is therefore inconsistent with the work of an Inspector.

  Departmental Expenditure (Leeds)
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the programmes funded directly by his Department, relating to social exclusion, regeneration, community development, employment or education, currently operating in(a) the City of Leeds and (b) the Leeds Central parliamentary constituency, listing for each

  5
  programme the amount of such funding for each of the last three years and the amount planned to be spent in each of the next three financial years. [92912]

  Mr. Meale
  The information requested is not held by my Department centrally. The Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber (GOYH) has provided the following details:

  Leeds has received £17,528,250 Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Funding (SRB) in the last three years. The projected SRB spend for the next three years is £36,271,583. It is not possible to break down the figures at constituency level but three of the most significant SRB schemes cover part of the Leeds Central constituency:

  Rebuilding Our Communities: £12.5 million 7 year programme from Round 2 (1996) focusing on Chapeltown/Harehills, Hyde Park/Burley and Beeston. The scheme links housing based regeneration with programmes to improve training and employment opportunities, raise attainment and encourage new business start-ups.

  Partnership with Young People: £24 million 7 year programme from Round 3 (1997) Leeds Initiative led programme to address the needs and aspirations of young people aged 9-25 in the deprived wards of Burmantofts, Chapel Allerton, Harehills and University.

  Investing in the Community: £7.4 million 7 year programme targeted at the Beeston Hill and Holbeck communities to tackle multi-deprivation and social exclusion.

  The Urban Community Initiative Programme which tackles social deprivation in the inner city has received £3.5 million European funding, 1997–99 and new programmes for the next six years are being negotiated at the moment.

  The Capital Challenge Scheme project had £4.9 million approved in 1996, expected to be completed by March 2000 to establish a series of Customer Service centres in and around Leeds for the community to access a range of public services under one roof.

  Round 5 of the SRB includes a £25 million, 7 year bid submitted by Leeds Initiative, Better Neighbourhoods and Confident Communities. This will target the most socially excluded neighbourhoods in Leeds to address the issues of neighbourhood decline.

  Contaminated Land (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with Gloucestershire local authorities regarding funding bids via the contaminated land supplementary credit approval programme; and if he will make a statement. [93137]

  Mr. Meale
  My Department wrote to all relevant English local authorities on 21 January 1999 inviting applications for funding under the 1999–2000 contaminated land supplementary credit approval programme. The Department has not received any applications from Gloucestershire local authorities.

  Government Patents
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the Government patents held by his Department. [93079]

  Mr. Meale
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average annual cost of maintaining a local authority owned housing unit in the latest year for which figures are available. [92190]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The average annual expenditure per dwelling on repairs and maintenance by local authorities in England in 1997–98 was £663.00. This is derived from the revenue expenditures recorded by local authorities that continue to operate a Housing Revenue Account and excludes expenditure of a capital nature.

  Compliance Costs
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reductions were achieved in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department and its public bodies for the last year for which data are available; what mechanisms exist for monitoring the post-implementation costs of such regulation; and if he has established targets for reduction in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department and its public bodies. [92313]

  Mr. Meale
  Details of regulations that imposed compliance costs on business are published in the Department's regulatory impact assessments and laid in both Houses. A summary of all the regulatory assessments published by the Department and other regulatory Departments in Whitehall are published every six months in a White Paper, and are available on a monthly basis on the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit's website.

  The Department includes a section on its regulatory activity in its Annual Report.

  There is no arbitrary target for reducing the compliance costs of regulation. However, all departments are required to make an assessment of the risks, costs and benefits of any regulatory proposal that has an impact on business, charities and voluntary bodies before they decide to act. Without an assessment of this kind there can be no collective agreement of a regulatory proposal.

  Basking Shark
  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what progress is being made with the United Kingdom listing proposal for the basking shark under Appendix II of CITES; and which countries have indicated that they plan to support the initiative; [93194]
  7
  (2) what representations the United Kingdom will make to range states to seek their support for the United Kingdom listing proposal for the basking shark under Appendix II of CITES; and if he will make a statement. [93193]

  Mr. Meale
  A UK proposal to add the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) to Appendix II of the CITES Convention was submitted to the CITES Secretariat on 14 May. It was circulated for comment to all 145 CITES parties, including range states, on 31 May. We will consider responses before making a final decision on whether to submit the proposal to next year's 11th CITES Conference, by the Secretariat's deadline of 12 November 1999. We have already received indications of support from several countries.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Complaints)
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many complaints had been received by the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Complaints Commissioner by 30 June. [92947]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand that he received 53 complaints within his remit by 30 June.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the budget for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Complaints Commissioner for(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [92946]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Complaints Commissioner's office is financed by members of the CTRL High Level Forum (HLF), which comprises the developers undertaking the CTRL and associated works, and the local authorities along the length of the Rail Link. The HLF set a budget for 1999–2000 of £262,868. The budget for 2000–01 will not be set until early next year.

  Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 July 1999,Official Report, column 589, on refrigerants, if he will estimate the potential number of signatories to the Declaration of Intent in relation to reducing emissions of HFCs; and how many signatories there were at the latest available date. [93051]

  Mr. Meale
  The current number of signatories to the Declaration of Intent with the air conditioning and refrigeration industry is 205. It is difficult to estimate the potential number of signatories to the Declaration of Intent because there are a large number of smaller air conditioning and refrigeration companies in operation, many of which do not belong to a trade association. It is important to note that those who have already signed up are mostly members of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB) and much larger companies in general.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 12 July 1999,Official Report, column 12, on refrigerants, how many individual refrigerators are operating in his Department's buildings. [93052]
  8
  Mr. Meale
  Information about the number of refrigerators in my Department's buildings is not recorded centrally. The number of refrigerators in our new London headquarters buildings is as follows:

  Local refrigerators: 112

  Refrigerated cabinet: 3

  Refrigerated cold counter: 4

  Freezer: 4.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to make the training and certification of refrigeration and air-conditioning contractors a legal requirement; and if he will make a statement. [92948]

  Mr. Meale
  The proposed new Council Regulation (EC) on substances that deplete the ozone layer, which is expected to enter into force next year, will require the Government to define the minimum qualification requirements of servicing personnel who handle ozone-depleting refrigerants.

  We will be consulting industry about the appropriate level of qualification needed. We are also considering whether these requirements should be extended to cover servicing personnel handling non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.

  Air Quality (London)
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on air quality in London from January 1998 to the latest available date, listing all major pollutants, times when maximum recommended levels were breached; and by what extent. [93191]

  Mr. Meale
  The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House. Raw data on air pollution from the national monitoring networks and summary statistics, including exceedences of national and international standards and guidelines, are also available on the Department's website at:

  http:///www.environment.detr.gov.uk/airq/aqinfo.htm.

  Public Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92522]

  Mr. Meale
  The Secretary of State made the following appointments to NDPBs, nationalised industries and public corporations sponsored by the Department:

  1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998

  Chairman

  Members

  Total

  Male

  12

  179

  191

  Female

  1

  54

  55

  Total

  13

  233

  246

  Ethnic Minority

  1

  15

  16

  9

  1 April 1998 to 31 March 1998

  Chairman

  Members

  Total

  Male

  21

  335

  356

  Female

  5

  159

  164

  Total

  26

  494

  520

  Ethnic Minority

  0

  23

  23

  Full details of the Department's plan on equal opportunities are contained in "Quangos, Opening Up Public Appointments 1999–2002", published by the Government on 25 May 1999, a copy of which is deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. This sets out

  Test centre

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Leicester (Gypsy Lane)

  7,527

  8,031

  8,797

  5,084

  5,590

  Leicester (Welford Road)

  3,039

  3,352

  3,331

  2,323

  2,690

  Leicester (Wigston)

  5,328

  5,646

  6,443

  5,491

  5,196

  Loughborough

  4,132

  4,196

  4,309

  3,586

  3,600

  Melton Mowbray

  2,052

  2,196

  2,198

  1,910

  1,907

  Hinckley

  2,415

  2,224

  2,405

  1,940

  2,228

  The Driving Standards Agency keeps its test centre estate under constant review to ensure that centres can provide tests of a satisfactory standard while maintaining acceptable local levels of service in a cost effective manner. There are no plans at present to close any of the centres in Leicestershire.

  Local Education Authority Funding
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 in respect of standard spending assessments for primary education, the 10 highest and 10 lowest local education authorities in terms of SSA per pupil aged five to 10 years in maintained schools and the percentage difference, for the mean for all maintained schools, of each of the 20 authorities; [92800]

  (2) if he will list for (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 in respect of standard spending assessments for secondary education, the 10 highest and 10 lowest local education authorities in terms of SSA per pupil aged 11 to 15 years in maintained schools and the percentage difference, for the mean for all maintained schools, of each of the 20 authorities. [92799]

  Ms Armstrong
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Polegate Bypass
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received about the Polegate Bypass Project. [92569]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have received representations on the need for early completion of the Polegate bypass, from East Sussex County Council; on the need for the
  10
  our goals and objectives for improving representation of women, people from ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities.

  Driving Tests (Leicestershire)
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many practical driving tests took place at test centres in Leicestershire in each of the last five years; if the location of these centres is under review; and if he will make a statement. [92509]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The number of practical driving tests taken at the six driving test centres in Leicestershire are as follows:

  design of the Cophall Junction to be changed from a delegation led by the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker); and on the need for the scheme to be extended westwards to the A27 from a member of the public.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the groups which (i) he and (ii) his Ministers received in the last six months to discuss the Polegate Bypass Project and (b) the names of the persons who made up the groups. [92570]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In March, my noble Friend Lord Whitty received a delegation representing the Council for the Protection of Rural England, Transport 2000, Friends of the Earth and the A27 Action Group. The delegation was led by the noble Lord, Lord Rea, and the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker).

  Darwin Advisory Committee
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the findings of the Financial Management and Policy Review on the Darwin Advisory Committee; and what is the Government's response. [93284]

  Mr. Meale
  The Darwin Advisory Committee advises Ministers on the overall direction, and selection of projects, for the Darwin Initiative grant scheme, which helps developing countries conserve their biodiversity through partnership with British experts. As a non-departmental public body, the Committee is subject to a financial management and policy review every five years and my Department appointed in-house consultants in February this year to carry this out. The Review has been completed, and found in the first stage of its work that there was a continuing need for the functions
  11
  provided by the Darwin Advisory Committee and that the Committee was the most efficient and cost-effective means of fulfilling those functions.

  The second stage of the Review considered the performance of the Committee against its terms of reference, the continued relevance of the terms of reference, the effectiveness of the Committee's working methods and whether the administrative support meets desired standards. The overall impression of this stage of the Review was favourable, although some recommendations were made to enhance the running of the programme. In particular, the Review recommended that now the Initiative has been running for six years, it is timely to take stock of the direction of the Initiative and its principles.

  We accept almost all the findings of the Review and have drawn up a plan for future action taking up its recommendations. The Review and the Government response are both available on my Department's website www.detr.gov.uk and copies are being placed in the Library of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Kosovo
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had, and with whom, about improving the environmental situation in Kosovo following the conflict there; and if she will make a statement. [92199]

  Clare Short
  I met the Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Klaus Topefer, on June 15, when we discussed the UNEP mission to the Balkans. The aim of the mission, which began earlier this month, is to establish what impact the conflict has had on the environment in Kosovo and elsewhere in the Balkans. Initial assessments indicate that the main environmental threats to health are contaminated water sources and landmines. My Department has made action in both sectors a priority. We have sent twelve rapid response teams to carry out emergency surveying and demining. And we are establishing an Infrastructure Engineering Unit within our Pristina office which will focus on water and electricity rehabilitation.

  Ethiopia and Eritrea
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the current humanitarian situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea. [92819]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) on 14 July 1999,Official Report, column 388.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received concerning a humanitarian response to the drought in Ethiopia. [92818]

  Clare Short
  Representations have been received from a number of the major multilateral aid agencies and international non-governmental organisations about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ethiopia. Since 12
  January 1998 we have provided over £6 million for humanitarian actions. My officials are in Ethiopia this week making a further assessment.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Government of Eritrea regarding the reduction in the aid budget for that country. [92808]

  Clare Short
  The Government of Eritre pursue a policy of self-reliance. A reduction in bilateral development activities has taken place by agreement with the Government over the last 18 months. We continue to contribute to development and humanitarian needs in Eritrea through the EC.

  European Commission (Fraud)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of reports of alleged Commission fraud made by Dr. Nikolas Alexandrakis; if her Department has investigated these allegations; and if she will make a statement. [92870]

  Clare Short
  We take fraud against the EC budget very seriously. Specific decisions on fighting EU fraud are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer and are discussed at ECOFIN Council.

  I am not aware of the reports by Dr. Alexandrakis. However, the report of the Committee of Independent Experts, which led to the resignation of the Commission in March, revealed a lack of responsibility and accountability in the Commission's handling of external aid spending in the Mediterranean, in emergency aid and in nuclear safety in Eastern Europe. I welcome the report and the shake up which it has triggered. The new Commission and member states must now ensure that fraud and weak controls are rooted out and that EC funds are spent properly and effectively on development and other programmes.

  Botswana (HIV)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last met representatives from Botswana to discuss the problems of HIV/AIDS. [92709]

  Clare Short
  The Director of UNAIDS, Dr. Peter Piot and I discussed ways to intensify the international response to HIV/AIDS in Africa with representatives of the Government of Botswana and several other African countries during a private meeting in New York on 30 June in the margins of a United Nations conference.

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what changes are proposed to her Department's funding arrangements for non-governmental organisations; and if she will make a statement. [92378]

  Clare Short
  We are proposing to make changes to the arrangements for funding Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from the Civil Society Unit. 1999–2000 was the last year in which UK NGOs could apply for funding under the Joint Funding Scheme (JFS)
  13
  which was originally set up to support the initiatives of the voluntary sector in the UK. Over the next five years, expenditure under this scheme will be phased out and replaced by two new arrangements; the Civil Society Challenge Fund and Partnership Programme Agreements for individual organisations.

  The Civil Society Challenge Fund is expected to contribute to the achievement of the International Development Targets, in particular the reduction of poverty. It will be open to a wider range of UK civil society than was the case with the JFS and will fund projects which have a focused approach to strengthening civil society in developing countries. Applications may be submitted from October of this year. Approved projects will be funded from April 2000.

  Partnership Programme Agreements will be open to organisations who share DFID's goal of the eradication of poverty and are actively engaged in a range of DFID's strategic concerns. The Agreements will be linked to mutually agreed strategic outcomes, allow for selectivity and flexibility in the application of DFID funding and provide the opportunity for DFID and the partner organisation to maximum the effectiveness of their collaboration. The negotiation of Agreements with individual agencies will begin in Autumn 1999.

  In addition to these special schemes DFID will continue to support the work of NGOs across the range of its programmes.

  Further information on the new arrangements is available from DFID's Civil Society Unit based in East Kilbride.

  Widows (Third World)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources her Department has given in the past three years to projects specifically targeting widows in Third World and conflict zones. [92820]

  Clare Short
  Information in this form is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Yugoslavia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what sums have been provided(a) as grants and (b) as loans or credits to (a) Montenegro, (b) Macedonia, (c) Bulgaria, (d) Albania, (e) Romania and (f) Hungary since the beginning of NATO's military operation against Yugoslavia. [92720]

  Clare Short
  From the beginning of the NATO military operation, on 24 March 1999, up to 22 July, the following sums (in £ sterling) have been spent under our bilateral programme. All figures are grants. We do not provide loans to these countries from our bilateral programmes.
  14

  Projects

  Humanitarian Aid

  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  104,765

  4,776,775

  Macedonia

  164,000

  6,935,220

  Bulgaria

  670,364

  —

  Albania

  163,000

  12,034,980

  Romania

  1,217,368

  —

  Hungary

  591,758

  —

  Expenditure for Montenegro is included in that for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

  Democracy Building
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much overseas aid is being spent on democracy building in the current year; and what percentage this constitutes of total overseas aid. [91338]

  Clare Short
  We do not record expenditure on democracy building on our Policy Information Marker System (PIMS) which covers all bilateral projects with a commitment over £100,000. However, we do record expenditure to promote good government which includes activities to support democracy.

  Records of expenditure in the current financial year are not yet available. We are therefore providing figures for 1998–99 where we spent just over £300 million on projects which recorded good government as an objective. This represents almost 40 per cent. of total PIMS marked expenditure. Nearly £70 million or 8 per cent. of PIMS marked expenditure was spent on projects for which good government was the principal objective of the project. Projects may have more than one objective.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding(a) has been provided for and (b) is earmarked for future democracy-building in the Eastern Adriatic. [91337]

  Clare Short
  In Albania we have provided about £20,000 over the last year to establish citizen's advice information services.

  In Bosnia, we have provided some £8 million on democracy building projects since 1996. This has been provided through the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and for reform of the police, the media and government systems.

  In Croatia we have provided £690,000 since 1996 on support to reform of local and national government, the police and judiciary, and the media.

  In Macedonia, we have spent £25,000 in the last year to assist with the regulation of the media.

  New strategies are currently being developed for Bosnia, Albania and Macedonia to support economic and social reforms and promote democracy.

  In Kosovo, we are providing financial and in-kind support to the UN Civil Administration, some of which is used for democracy building. We are supporting independent media organisations and have contributed $1 million to the UN Trust Fund. We are now carrying out assessments of the region's needs for future reconstruction and longer-term development.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in the scientific audit of DFID-funded projects during the past 10 years which have supported the development, testing or use of GMOs; and if she will make a statement. [93149]

  Clare Short
  From the many hundreds of natural resources research projects supported over the last decade we have identified 43 which address genetic modification technologies. I shall send the hon. Member a list of these showing the principal collaborators. We have asked our international partners to identify the extent to which genetic modification technologies are used in the activities to which they allocate my Department's funding. When we have this information we shall carry out the next stages of the audit.

  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the emoluments of the(a) Chief Executive and (b) members of the Executive Management Committee of the Commonwealth Development Corporation for 1998 indicating performance-related bonus payments where applicable. [93171]

  Clare Short
  Total emoluments for CDC's Chief Executive in 1998 were £168,189 and for the members of the Executive Management Committee £819,429.

  In 1998 CDC senior management were eligible for performance related bonuses up to a maximum of 20 per cent. of basic salary. Each individual's award (within that ceiling) was made on the basis of individual performance.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the formal maximum exposure limits for each country and each sector in which the Commonwealth Development Corporation invested for each year since 1994–95. [92945]

  Clare Short
  My Department has not set formal maximum exposure limits for CDC's investments, either by sector or by country. CDC has an internal portfolio management system based on management judgment, which aims to take a prudent approach to asset allocation.

  Public Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many appointments to public bodies were made by her Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92523]
  16
  Clare Short
  Appointments made by my Department to Public Bodies for the years 1997–98 and 1998–99 are as follows:

  Year

  Total

  White

  Ethnic minority

  Male

  Female

  1 June 1997 to 31 May 1998

  41

  35

  6

  23

  13

  1 June 1998 to 31 May 1999

  15

  15

  0

  9

  6

  Information on the ethnic origin of Chairmen appointed to public bodies in the periods requested cannot be provided as the small numbers involved could lead to the identification of individuals without their consent.

  I would also like to refer my hon. Friend to my Departmental Plan on Equal Opportunities published by the Government on 25 May 1999 and deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. The plan sets objectives and targets for improving representation of women, people from ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian aid her Department is providing for Sierra Leone; and if she will make a statement. [92576]

  Clare Short
  Since January 1999 my Department has provided over £2.3 million pounds of humanitarian assistance to Sierra Leone through the supply of emergency medical supplies, assistance in the areas of water, sanitation, healthcare, shelter and agriculture.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Market Research
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the title and purpose of each item of market and opinion research commissioned by or through her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, stating in each case whether the results were published. [89686]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 5 July 1999]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Garvaghy Road
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will ask for a report from the Chief Constable of the RUC on the display of a UVF flag adjacent to the police check point on the Garvaghy Road, Portadown; and if she will make a statement. [91708]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 July 1999]: Since early 1999, many roads and streets in the Portadown area have become the focus for the erection of flags and emblems by respective communities. Complaints in respect of the erection of these have been registered by both communities.
  17
  Currently, police have powers to remove such flags or emblems only in circumstances wherein a breach of the peace is considered imminent. Outside of such circumstances, the matter of removal of the material rests with the proprietor or owner of the property in question.

  Section 31 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 provides for an offence of displaying public support for a proscribed organisation. However the flag in question commemorates the formation of the original Ulster Volunteer Force in 1912, prior to the First World War, and therefore does not satisfy the necessary elements of this offence.

  Occupational Therapists
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time occupational therapists were employed by the (i) Down Lisburn Trust, (ii) Newry and Mourne Trust and (iii) Banbridge and Craigavon Trust (1) in 1997, (2) in 1998 and (3) at the latest available date. [92012]

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

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Trust

  Full time

  Part time

  Full time

  Part time

  Full time

  Part time

  Down Lisburn

  30

  16

  29

  16

  31

  18

  Newry and Mourne

  17

  1

  17

  1

  17

  1

  Craigavon and Banbridge

  17

  11

  17

  11

  17

  11

  Housing
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer to the hon.

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Northern Health and Social Services Board

  Causeway HSS Trust

  23.036

  24.014

  27.153

  Homefirst Community HSS Trust

  70.787

  73.509

  77.053

  United Hospitals HSS Trust

  3.354

  3.354

  3.421

  Other Trusts

  0.215

  0.224

  0.223

  Total

  97.392

  101.101

  107.85

  Southern Health and Social Services Board

  Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

  25.350

  26.344

  27.194

  Craigavon and Banbridge HSS Trust

  21,742

  23.169

  23.927

  Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

  28.472

  29.461

  30.443

  Others

  8.975

  9.700

  9.702

  Total

  84.539

  88.674

  91.266

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board

  Down Lisburn HSS Trust

  58.636

  60.751

  67.319

  North and West Belfast HSS Trust

  58.604

  60.677

  67.319

  Ulster Community Hospitals HSS Trust1

  63.949

  66.234

  73.439

  South and East Belfast HSS Trust

  85.264

  88.315

  97.917

  Total

  266.453

  275.977

  305.994

  Western Health and Social Services Board

  Sperrin HSS Trust

  36.727

  38.405

  40.128

  Foyle HSS Trust

  41.935

  43.758

  45.662

  Total

  78,662

  82.163

  85.790

  1 North Down and Ards HSS Trust prior to April 1998

  18
  Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) of 17 June 1999, Official Report, column 210, on housing, what progress has been made in drafting the legislation to regulate nomination to the Board of the Housing Executive. [92031]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  A specific provision, to regulate the nominations by the Northern Ireland Housing Council to the Board of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, has been prepared for inclusion in the draft legislation mentioned in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, North on 17 June 1999,Official Report, column 210.

  Community Care
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients have been discharged from hospitals in the Down Lisburn Trust with community care packages; and how many have been retained in hospitals awaiting such packages since 1 April. [92010]

  Mr. McFall
  Since 1 April 1999, nine patients have been discharged with community care packages from hospitals within the Down Lisburn Trust. There are at present 33 hospital patients who have been waiting three weeks or more for a community care package.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the financial allocation from each health and social services board in Northern Ireland to each health trust for community care provision for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [92008]

  Mr. McFall
  Although service agreements have not yet been finalised, the financial allocations from each health and social services board in Northern Ireland to each health and social services trust for community care provision for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 are as follows:
  19
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the financial allocation from the Eastern Health and Social Services Board towards the Down Lisburn Trust in respect of community care provision for 1999–2000 has been expended to date. [92009]

  Mr. McFall
  Although service agreements have not yet been finalised, of the amount the Eastern Health and Social Services Board proposed to allocate to Down and Lisburn Trust for community care provision for 1999–2000, 24.4 per cent. has been spent to date.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response she proposes to make to the Royal Commission's report on Long-Term Care. [92015]

  Mr. McFall
  While the Commission was sitting, work was already taking place in some of the areas which the report highlights, such as developing a national strategy for carers and the extension of the direct payments scheme to people 65 and over. Where the Commission is recommending new policies for the future, these proposals will require more detailed consideration in coming months.

  Official Documents
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [92167]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [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 Northern Ireland Office 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, column 305–07.

  Belfast Harbour Estate
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the Judicial Review, in respect of D5's planning application for a shopping development at Sydenham on the Belfast Harbour estate, what plans she has for an investigation into(a) this matter and (b) other planning cases where misleading information may have been given to the Minister for the Environment in advance of a decision. [92297]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans for an investigation into this matter. The Planning Service will reconsider its advice on the application for planning permission in the light of the Judicial Review decision. The Secretary of State is not aware of any planning cases where misleading information may have been given to the Minister.

  Paramilitary Violence
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended(a) Saturday 3 July, (b) Saturday 10 July and (c) Saturday 17 July the number of violent incidents involving paramilitary groups which took place in Northern Ireland indicating how many involved (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [92424]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number of security incidents during the period are as shown:

  Period

  Death

  Shooting incident

  Bombing incidents

  27 June-3 July

  0

  5

  3

  4 July-10 July

  0

  1

  2

  11 July-17 July

  0

  0

  0

  The number of casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks during the period 27 June to 17 July are as follows:

  Period

  Assault

  Shootings

  Total

  Loyalist

  27 June-3 July

  1

  1

  2

  4 July-10 July

  0

  1

  1

  11 July-17 July

  0

  0

  0

  Republican

  27 June-3 July

  1

  1

  2

  4 July-10 July

  4

  0

  4

  11 July-17 July

  0

  0

  0

  Notes:

  1. The shooting and bombing incidents cannot as yet be firmly attributed to a grouping.

  2. Figures may be subject to minor amendment.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended(a) Saturday 3 July, (b) Saturday 10 July and (c) Saturday 17 July the number of (1) punishment beatings and (2) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland indicating how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [92425]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number of casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks during the period 27 June to 17 July are as follows:

  Assaults

  Shootings

  Total

  Loyalists

  27 June-3 July

  1

  1

  2

  4 July-10 July

  0

  1

  1

  11 July-17 July

  0

  0

  0

  Republican

  27 June-3 July

  1

  1

  2

  4 July-10 July

  4

  0

  4

  11 July- 17 July

  0

  0

  0

  Ministerial Meetings (US)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times ministers in her
  21
  Department held meetings with ministers and officials of the United States Government between 1 May 1997 and 1 January 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved and the US representatives at each meeting. [92269]

  Dates/location

  Minister

  US Representative

  22–23 May Washington

  Secretary of State

  Mr. Randolph Bell, Director, UK, Benelux and Ireland Affairs, State Department

  Ms Virginia Manuel, Department of Commerce

  Ms Nancy Soderberg, National Security Council

  Mr. Sandy Berger, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

  Mr. Jim Steinberg, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs

  Mr. Sandy Vershbow, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs

  Mr. Anthony Wayne, Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European & Canadian Affairs, State Department

  Ms Mary Ann Peters, Director for European Affairs

  Mr. Strobe Talbot, Deputy Secretary of State

  Ms Janet T Reno, Attorney General, Department of Justice

  Ms Madeleine Albright, US Secretary of State, State Department

  Mr. Larry Butler, Director for European Affairs

  Mr. Don Brandler, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs

  30 June Hillsborough Castle

  Mr. Ingram

  Mr. John Dalton, Secretary to the US Navy

  9 July London

  Mr. Ingram

  Mr. William Daly, US Secretary of State for Commerce

  3–6 August Washington

  Mr. Ingram

  Mr. Jim Steinberg, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs Ambassador Thomas Pickering, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs at the State Department

  23–24 September Washington

  Mr. Murphy

  Mr. Anthony Wayne, Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs

  Mr. Randolph Bell, Director, UK, Benelux and Ireland Affairs

  Mr. Jim Steinberg, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs

  Mr. Larry Butler, Director for European Affairs

  Mr. Don Bandler, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs

  5–13 October Washington

  Mr. Ingram

  Mr. Robert Bryant, Deputy Director, FBI

  Mr. John Lewis, Head of National Security Division, FBI

  Mr. Steve Jennings, Deputy Chief, International Counter-terrorism Unit, FBI

  Mr. Enrique Ghimenti, Chief, Global Counter-terrorism Squad, FBI

  Mr. Tim Gossfield, Supervisor, Irish Counter-terrorism Squad, FBI

  Ms Carol Stroud, Analyst, FBI

  Mr. Gerry Schroeder, Acting Counsel for Intelligence, Department of Justice

  Ms Sara Criscatelli, Attorney, Criminal Division, Department of Justice

  Mr. Dana Biehel, Deputy Chief, Terrorism and Violent Crimes Section, Department of Justice

  Mr. Ellis Mottur, Acting Assistant of Commerce for Trade Development

  Mr. Charles Ford, Minister-Counsellor for Commercial Affairs

  Virginia Manuel, Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance

  13 November Washington

  Secretary of State

  Ms Janet Reno, Attorney General, Department of Justice

  Ms Madeliene Albright, US Secretary of State,

  Mr. Sandy Berger, US National Security Adviser

  4 December Hillsborough Castle

  Secretary of State

  Jim Lyons, Special Adviser to President Clinton and Secretary of State for Economic Initiatives in Ireland

  Kathy Stephens, US Consul General

  Parades Commission
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the results of the opinion survey commissioned by the Parades Commission was published exclusively in the Belfast Telegraph; and if the full report is available to the public. [92953]

  Mr. Ingram
  This is a matter for the Parades Commission. However, I understand that two of the preliminary survey responses were made public at the time of the launch of the Commission's Annual Report. The Belfast Telegraph, the largest circulating local daily newspaper, then requested full details for publication when these became available. No other media outlet requested such details.
  22
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  NIO Ministers have met representatives of the US administration on a number of occasions, both in the United Kingdom and the US, to discuss a wide range of issues.

  The following meetings have taken place between 1 May 1996 and 1 January 1998:

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will place in the Library a copy of the final report of the opinion survey commissioned by the Parades Commission from Research and Evaluation Services. [92954]

  Mr. Ingram
  Copies of the final report will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they become available and I will send a copy to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the tender process for the commissioning of the recent public opinion survey undertaken by the Parades Commission; what was the fee agreed at time of contract; and what was the final cost. [92957]
  23
  Mr. Ingram
  This is a matter for the Parades Commission. However, I understand that three companies were invited to tender for the opinion survey. The tenders submitted by each firm were evaluated in line with Government Purchasing Agency procedures. The fee agreed at the time of contract, and the final cost, was £9,500 plus VAT.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the method of participant selection for those members of the public interviewed by Research and Evaluation Services for the Parades Commission survey published this year. [92958]

  Mr. Ingram
  This is a matter for the Parades Commission. However, I understand that the representative aspect of the survey is documented, in table 3 of the survey, by age, sex, socio-economic status, religion and area of residence, and is compared to the 1991 census. Details of relevant numbers of each category are given in tables 2 and 3 of the Survey.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make available a copy of the questionnaire used by Research and Evaluation Services in the course of compiling their recent report for the Parades Commission. [92955]

  Mr. Ingram
  I understand the questionnaire is included in the final report of the opinion survey at Appendix 1.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the breakdown of participation by members of the public in the opinion survey undertaken by Research and Evaluation Services for the Parades Commission by(a) religion and (b) postcode. [92956]

  Mr. Ingram
  This is a matter for the Parades Commission. However, I understand that the breakdowns were as set out:

  (a)

  Religion

  Percentage sample

  Roman Catholic

  37

  Protestant

  56

  None

  2

  Other

  1

  Refused

  3

  Total

  99

  (b) No breakdown of participation by postcode is available, but the interviewees reflect the geographic percentages of population relative to local government districts. These are shown in table 1 of the Survey.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Parades Commission's opinion survey was not published until 21 June. [92952]

  Mr. Ingram
  This is a matter for the Parades Commission. However, I understand the final draft of the opinion survey was not available until 16 June 1999 and that the survey was published immediately on agreement of this final draft.

  Lisburn Institute of Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account she took of(a) the
  24
  population and (b) the industrial needs of the Borough of Lisburn in making her decision on the allocation of places to Lisburn Institute of Further and Higher Education. [92951]

  Mr. McFall
  As a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review, an additional 600 full-time higher education places were secured in the further education sector over the next two years. These places have been allocated to six areas of skills needs identified as being important for the development of the regional economy. The six vocational areas are computing, construction, electronics, hospitality and catering, manufacturing engineering and software engineering.

  Colleges of further and higher education were invited to submit bids for the additional places to the Department of Education. Bids were assessed against five common criteria so that places could be awarded on the basis of a college's ability to deliver high quality, relevant provision in the specified vocational areas. The five criteria were: expertise and experience of teaching staff, links with industry; resources; senior management commitment; and track record in provision of higher education. The population of the council area in which a college is situated was not taken into consideration.

  Assembly (Salaries)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are being paid. [92573]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Yes. The Assembly, which is currently in recess, is being paid under the New Northern Ireland Assembly (Salaries and Allowances) Order 1999 which was made under the Northern Ireland (Elections) Act 1998.

  Adam Lambert
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are thought by the RUC to have been involved in the murder of Adam Lambert on 9 November 1987; how many persons were arrested in connection with this murder; how many were(a) charged and (b) convicted; and what sentences were given. [93090]

  Mr. Ingram
  Police arrested eight suspects in connection with the murder, two were charged (one was withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions) and one person was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for murder.

  Ministerial Staff
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to which office in the Northern Ireland Civil Service the Special Advisers to the former Deputy First Minister (Designate) have been transferred; what staff have been retained in the Department of the former First Minister (Designate); and if she will make a statement. [92940]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Following the resignation of the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh (Mr. Mallon) as Deputy First Minister (Designate) the appointments of his Special Advisers were automatically terminated under the
  25
  terms of their contracts. However, the future arrangements for the Office of the Deputy First Minister (Designate) are currently under consideration.

PRIME MINISTER

  Coral Reef Degradation
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral answer of 1 July 1999,Official Report, columns 419-20, which is the lead ministerial department on Her Majesty's Government's policy on coral reef degradation. [89963]

  The Prime Minister
  As is the case for a range of cross-cutting issues, there is no single Government Department responsible for coral reef degradation. Departments lead on the aspects for which they are directly responsible, consulting other Departments where necessary. For example:The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is concerned with coral reefs within the context of biological diversity and the marine environment;
  The Department for International Development deal with matters relating to coral reefs as they affect economic development in overseas coastal communities;
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for particular issues concerning coral reefs in British overseas territories; and
  The management of fisheries and deposits in the sea are largely devolved matters. Insofar as these areas may impact on coral reefs, responsibility within the UK is shared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department, the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department and the Departments of Agriculture and the Environment for Northern Ireland.
  Where particular issues involve the interests of a number of Departments, the ENV Committee provides a forum for Ministerial and official discussion of these issues. It is well known that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions takes a strong personal interest in the issue of coral reef degradation and ensures that it is accorded due attention within Government.

  Luxembourg Compromise
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Prime Minister when he last invoked the Luxembourg Compromise. [91495]

  The Prime Minister
  The Luxembourg Compromise has been invoked twice by the United Kingdom—once in July 1978 and once in May 1982.

  This Government's positive and constructive approach to Europe has meant that we can achieve successful outcomes for the United Kingdom, for example, most recently in the lifting of the beef ban.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister how many individuals his office has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91885]

  The Prime Minister
  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 26
  Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999, Official Report, column 116. One placement has been in my Office and I am delighted to say that the person is now in unsubsidised employment. Subject to the necessary security clearances, I intend to take additional New Dealers in the future.

  Business Ambassadors
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those occasions when he has met Ambassadors for British Business. [91875]

  The Prime Minister
  The Ambassadors for British Business initiative was launched by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in November 1997. It aims to harness the expertise of leading figures in Britain's private sector to promote British strengths abroad, for example by making speeches to overseas audiences in the course of travel on their company business.

  In the course of my duties, I am delighted to have met over half of the 31 business people who participate in this scheme. The Ambassadors do an excellent job in promoting British business at no cost to the taxpayer.

  Internal Histories
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the(a) purpose and (b) audience of internal histories; and what procedures determine the selection of (i) topics and (ii) authors. [91850]

  The Prime Minister
  The purpose of internal histories is to provide factual, accurate and authoritative background information for members of departments on particular topics; planning and decision making; to evaluate the effectiveness of policy and to point out possible lessons for the future. The target audience for internal histories is primarily relevant departmental staff.

  These histories are not written for publication but as public records they are considered under the Public Records Acts for release to the Public Record Office. As has been the practice under successive administrations, it is a matter for Departments whether they wish to conduct an internal history and topics are usually commissioned by senior staff in departments in response, for example, to a need for analyses of major developments or operations or to provide factual reports on particular events. Authors are usually drawn from officers from the department with relevant experience or from within their historical branches.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those foreign Governments, indicating the serving head of Government, who have received letters of protest from Her Majesty's Government regarding human rights abuses since 1970. [91869]

  The Prime Minister
  We frequently raise human rights concerns with other Governments. While occasionally we do this in writing, we more regularly do so through bilateral representations by Ministers and officials or with EU partners. For example, we have made such representations regarding China, Burma, Colombia and Belarus. However, there is no operational need to keep the type of list requested and one is therefore not available.
  27
  Ministers have made written representations for example to the Malaysian Government, the Ugandan Government, the Indonesian Government and the Government of Zimbabwe.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister how long the meeting was with KLA officials on 18 May which he attended; and if he will list the participants. [91871]

  The Prime Minister
  Details of participants were given in my earlier answer of 21 June 1999,Official Report, column 313. In line with normal practice appropriate officials accompanied me at the meeting which lasted just over half an hour.

  Gold Sales
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his letter to the President of South Africa relating to the sale of gold, delivered to the President of South Africa on 17 June. [91872]

  The Prime Minister
  As we announced on 7 May 1999 Official Report, column 485, we have undertaken the sale of gold to produce a better balance in the portfolio of UK reserves. On the advice of the Bank of England we made this public to ensure the sale was carried through on a clear and transparent basis. I wrote to the South African President on 11 June to set out these reasons in some detail and to follow up discussions we had already had with his Government. However, the letter also contained information received in confidence from the South African government. It is established practice under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose such information.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) 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; [92042]

  (2) 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. [92113]

  The Prime Minister
  The number of appointments I have made to bodies listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" are as follows:

  Between 1 June 1997 and 31 May 1998—81

  Between 1 June 1998 and 31 May 1999—58.

  In addition The Queen has made a number of appointments to such bodies on my recommendation.

  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office set out the Government's new policy on collection and disclosure of ethnic origin data for public appointees in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones) on 11 November 1998, Official Report, column 200. This policy came into effect with regard to new appointments and re-appointments from 1 April 1999.
  28
  However, owing to the small number of public appointments I have made since 1 April 1999 (two women and five men) information about ethnic origin cannot be provided since to do so would risk identifying individuals without consent.

  Information on ethnic origin with regard to appointments I have made prior to 1 April 1999 is not held in the form requested. However, I have asked my Office to research what information is available and I will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

  China (Human Rights)
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Prime Minister what improvements have been made by the Chinese Government in respect of(a) human rights and (b) the situation in Tibet since his discussions with Jiang Zemin in Beijing in October 1998. [92051]

  The Prime Minister
  We continue to monitor the observance of human rights in China and the situation in Tibet. We regularly raise our concerns with the Chinese authorities. We are addressing the issue with China through our bilateral and EU/China human rights dialogues. Since October, two rounds of talks have taken place as well as three EU/China human rights seminars. China has signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and invited the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to visit. These positive steps will help to bring about China's closer co-operation with UN human rights mechanisms. We will continue to encourage China to ratify the international covenants which it has signed and we will continue to support developments in China's legal system which we believe will bring about positive change to human rights in the longer term.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 6 July 1999,Official Report, column 433, on Special Advisers, if he will set out the terms of the similar arrangements which applied under previous Administrations as they relate to briefing hon. Members of the party in Government. [91858]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 July 1999]: The introduction of the "Model Contract for Special Advisers" in May 1997 set out for the first time in a public document the duties and responsibilities of Special Advisers. These include helping to brief party MPs and officials on issues of Government policy, which, like the other duties, is not new. It ensures that Party publicity is factually accurate and consistent with Government policy. Successive Administrations have recognised that this is an appropriate task for Special Advisers.

  Policy Unit
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions members of his policy unit have visited the Republic of Ireland on official business since 1 May 1997, indicating the name of the member and the dates of travel in each case. [92272]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 January 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting and the names of the Irish Ministers and officials at each meeting. [92270]

  The Prime Minister
  Since I came to office I have had numerous meetings with the Irish Government to discuss the political situation in Northern Ireland and a range of other issues of mutual interest. Given the frequency and nature of the meetings, it is not possible to list all the separate occasions and locations. The meetings have, however, usually been held in London, Dublin or Belfast and made public in the normal way at the time. In addition, I have of course met the Taoiseach at European and other international meetings. In line with normal practice, I was supported at the meetings by the appropriate number of officials.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister for what reason no announcement has yet been made in respect of the co-ordination within Government of animal welfare policies; when he expects to make such an announcement; and if he will make a statement. [92308]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 July 1999]: We are committed to continue working to ensure highest possible standards of animal welfare. Major steps already taken include announcing at the end of last year the end to all cosmetics testing on animals in the United Kingdom and no new licences have been issued for such tests since we came to power. We have also negotiated the phase-out across Europe of battery cages for laying hens. To date, co-ordination between Government Departments has been on an informal basis. However, this will be put on a formal basis this autumn by the establishment of an Interdepartmental Ministerial Group.

  Bilderberg Group
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister from whom members of the Government received invitations to attend meetings of the Bilderberg Group. [92863]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) on 7 May 1999,Official Report, columns 476-77.

  Who sends invitations is a matter for the Bilderberg Group.

  European Commission
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the current state of disciplinary proceedings against Commission officials implicated in alleged fraud; how many are involved; at what levels; and what is the timescale for concluding such proceedings. [92865]
  30
  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin) on 20 January 1999,Official Report, column 505 in which she undertook to write to the hon. Member. She did so on 30 April 1999 and a copy of the letter was placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The European Commission has been asked to provide an update on progress made since then and when proceedings are expected to conclude. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to write to the hon. Member when this information is received.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties. [92654]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: In accordance with the terms of the Ministerial Code, Ministers are required always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Trips in and around London will normally be made by Government car. The last time I used a train was on 22 June 1999 to travel to Birmingham to attend a Conference to mark the anniversary of the New Deal and to present awards to the 100,000th New Dealer.

  Tibet
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what discussions he proposes to have about the continued occupation of Tibet with the Chinese President Jiang Zemin, when he visits the United Kingdom in the autumn; [92188]

  (2) what representations he proposes to make to the Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, this autumn about the detention of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, recognised by the Dalai Lama as the 11 Panchen Lama of Tibet. [92189]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: We are very much looking forward to the first ever State Visit by a President of the People's Republic of China this Autumn. During President Jiang's visit we expect to discuss a full range of bilateral, regional and international issues.

  Sutherland Commission
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Mr. Öpik) of 21 July 1999,Official Report, column 1184, when he expects his Government to complete its consideration of the majority and minority reports of the Sutherland Commission; and if the Government will then make a formal response to the Commission's recommendations in respect of funding of nursing and personal care. [93030]

  The Prime Minister
  We are considering the Royal Commission's proposals and the reactions to the Commission's report. We will announce our decisions in due course.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties. [92653]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  To attend the Church of England General Synod in York in July 1998.

SCOTLAND

  European Communities Working Groups
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the European Communities working groups which met over the last 12 months with a representative from his Department in attendance; if he will list the number of times each met; if he will indicate the nature of the Government's representation; and if he will make a statement. [88472]

  Dr. Reid
  Officials from my Department regularly attended European Communities working groups when matters of importance to Scotland—in particular, fisheries, agriculture and structural funds issues—were being discussed. Occasionally, my Department was represented by officials from the United Kingdom's Permanent Representation to the European Union.

  Oncologists
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of clinical and medical oncologists per 100,000 population for each health authority in Scotland. [90806]

  Dr. Reid
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 28 June 1999,Official Report, column 30. Clinical and medical oncologists are not based throughout Scotland, but are employed in Cancer Centres in five locations—Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. They provide services at the centres and on an outreach basis according to need, to cover all health authorities. There is not a specific number of oncologists or proportion of oncologists' time assigned to each NHS Trust or Health Board.

  From 1 July, this is a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Scottish Adjacent Water Boundaries Order 1999
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons, prior to laying the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1126), his Department did not invite observations from the Scottish Parliament. [91074]

  Dr. Reid
  Observations were not invited from the Scottish Parliament because it did not exist when the Draft Order was laid before this Parliament on 8 March and debated by both Houses on 23 March.

  Genetically Modified Fish
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 21 July 1999,Official
  32
  Report, column 531, what was the transgenic nature of the work at Otter Ferry Salmon Ltd.; and what were the results of the research. [93195]

  Dr. Reid
  The work involved the production of genetically modified Atlantic Salmon. Copies of a growth hormone gene taken from Chinook Salmon were introduced into 10,000 Atlantic Salmon eggs by micro-injection. The fish were grown in a land-based containment facility for up to one year. A high level of containment was maintained throughout the project. A small number of fish were identified as transgenic, based on accelerated growth. Approximately 50 of the fish grew at four times the normal rate, with no sign of abnormalities. The project was terminated after approximately a year, and all the fish were destroyed.

  Departmental Nomenclature
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an announcement on the name by which his Department is to be known. [93604]

  Dr. Reid
  With the agreement of the Prime Minister, my Department will be known as the Scotland Office.

HEALTH

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those NHS Trusts in England which are not millennium compliant. [90104]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 7 July 1999]: At 31 May 1999, there were four out of 477 National Health Service organisations considered by the NHS Executive to be making 'unsatisfactory' progress in their preparations for Year 2000. They were: Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust; Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust; Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust; Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust. In each case action is being taken by the NHS Trusts concerned with the support of the NHS Executive to ensure they will be fully prepared with compliant systems and equipment or effective contingency plans in place by 30 September 1999, the deadline set for all NHS organisations.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to ensure Mid Essex Hospital Trust is millennium compliant. [90003]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 7 July 1999]: Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust is working towards the 30 September deadline to ensure that all systems are compliant or that effective contingency plans are in place if full compliance cannot be achieved. The NHS Trust has appointed its Director of Nursing as the new project manager in charge of its response to the year 2000 issue and the Chief Executive of the NHS Trust is personally involved in the process. The NHS Executive Eastern Regional Office year 2000 team and the NHS Trust are working closely to ensure that appropriate plans

  33
  are in place and that all deadlines are met. Work is being undertaken in the following areas, which were assessed as "unsatisfactory" in the 31 May returns:
  The production and regular updating of inventories for information technology systems.
  The identification of proposals to fix or replace information technology systems which are not year 2000 compliant.
  The assessment of legal liabilities arising from year 2000 non-compliance.
  The identification of key areas of risk, which would result in year 2000 compliance not being addressed by 30 September 1999.

  It is the NHS Trust's intention that it will meet the deadline of 30 September.

  Myodil
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the drug Myodil was granted a product licence of right under the terms of the Medicines Act 1968. [90764]

  Ms Jowell
  Documentation held by the Medicines Control Agency indicates that a product licence of right for Myodil was granted in September 1972, although the MCA cannot categorically verify that date. An entry on the MCA' s computerised Produce Licence database gives the date of authorisation as 19 November 1973. This may be the date on which the formal notification was sent to the company. There were over 39,000 applications for product licences of right and it is reasonable to assume that there would have been some delay in processing those applications.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the legal framework regulating the fluoridation of water supplies; and if he will make a statement. [91552]

  Ms Jowell
  The White Paper "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" acknowledged that present legislation on fluoridation is not working. We have commissioned a scientific review of the evidence on fluoride and health, which is due to be complete by the end of February 2000. If the review confirms that there are benefits to dental health from fluoridation and that there are no significant risks, we intend to introduce a legal obligation on water companies to fluoridate where there is strong local support for doing so.

  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of fluoridating all drinking water in the north-west. [92699]

  Ms Jowell
  Assuming the review of scientific evidence shows benefits from fluoridation and no significant risks, decisions on schemes will be taken by local authority area and costs will be assessed for each individual scheme.

  Cancer Care
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the members of the Cancer Care Action Group and the organisations for which they work; [91983]
  34
  (2) if he will report on the progress made by the Cancer Care Action Group in identifying and implementing improvements to the quality of care for patients and their relatives; and if he will make a statement. [91984]

  Mr. Hutton
  We recognise the importance of voluntary sector organisations in the care and support of patients with cancer. The Cancer Care Action Group has been established to promote more effective involvement of these organisations in the development and implementation of policy on cancer care. The Group includes representatives of cancer-related voluntary sector organisations and the National Health Service Executive. The organisations represented are:

  Breakthrough Breast Cancer

  Breast Cancer Care

  Cancer Black Care

  CancerBacup

  Cancerlink

  Colon Cancer Concern

  Crocus Trust

  Help the Hospices

  Leukaemia Care Society

  Macmillan Cancer Relief

  Marie Curie Cancer Care

  National Cancer Alliance

  National Conference of Cancer Self Help Groups

  National Council for Hospices and Specialist Palliative Care Services

  The Prostate Cancer Charity

  St. Christopher's Hospice

  Sargent Cancer Care for Children

  Sue Ryder Foundation

  Women's Nationwide Cancer Control Campaign.

  The Group is chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer and representatives of the NHS Executive and members of the National Cancer Forum also attend.

  The Cancer Care Action Group first met in January 1999. It reviewed and advised on current cancer policy initiatives, the development of the National Health Service Cancer Information Strategy and psychosocial support for patients with cancer. The group also identified the need for further work to improve voluntary sector involvement in initiatives to improve quality in the NHS, and in education and training for health professionals.

  Nurses (Expenses)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he is planning to take to ensure that nurses are refunded the costs of all work-related journeys; [92208]

  (2) how many clinical nurses working in the community are not refunded for the cost of their work-related journeys; [92207]

  Mr. Denham
  It is the responsibility of local employers to ensure that systems are in place to refund all staff for the costs of expenses necessarily incurred on National Health Service business. I am not aware of any clinical nurses working in the community who are not refunded
  35
  expenses necessarily incurred on NHS business. I will be happy to look into any particular case the hon. Member has in mind.

  Doctors (General Practice)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the procedures for the selection of doctors to vacant general practices; and when those procedures were last revised. [92228]

  Mr. Denham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no current plans to review the procedures for the selection of doctors to vacant general practices.

  The procedures were last revised on 10 December 1998 when The National Health Services (General Medical Services) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1998 were issued.

  Barnet Hospital
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people failed to attend appointments arranged for acute treatment at Barnet Hospital in 1998–99. [92365]

  Mr. Denham
  Data are not collected from individual hospitals, only National Health Service trusts. Barnet General Hospital is part of Wellhouse NHS Trust.

  In 1997–98 there were 6,592 did not attends (DNAs) for first outpatient attendances and 19,183 DNA's for subsequent outpatient attendances arranged for acute treatment, at Wellhouse NHS Trust.

  In 1998–99 there were 753 failed to attends for elective inpatient admission and 6,370 DNAs for outpatient appointments.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 1999,Official Report, column 362, on primary care groups (management allowances), when he expects the information requested to be available centrally. [92394]

  Mr. Denham
  Validated information is expected to be available in the autumn.

  Children (Care and Treatment)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives he has announced to enhance the care and treatment of children. [92439]

  Mr. Hutton
  A number of major initiatives have recently been announced. The "Sure Start" project is aimed at developing partnerships and local services for young children and their families in areas of disadvantage to ensure that the health, educational, social and emotional needs of children aged under 5 years are met, and that they arrive at school ready to thrive. In England £452 million has been committed to the development of the Sure Start project over the next three years.

  On child and adolescent mental health services, specific targets have been set in the National Priorities Guidance 1999–2002—which reflects the unevenness and inequality in the current pattern of these services, recognises our
  36
  commitment to service improvement and features an additional investment of £84 million over the next three years.

  On 13 July the Department and the Department for Education and Employment Ministers wrote to chief executives of local education authorities offering funding to support local healthy schools programmes to safeguard and improve the physical and mental health and well being of pupils and teachers as a factor in improving school standards. The budget for this programme in 1999–2000 is £4 million.

  Last May we announced the introduction of Diana Children's Community Nursing Teams, to help families in the community with children suffering from life threatening illnesses, the budget for which is £4.2 million over the next three years.

  The "Quality Protects" programme, which is funded at £375 million over the next three years, was announced last September. This initiative will transform the management and delivery of children's social services and provide better life chances for children in the care of local authorities and children in need.

  AD2000
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been recruited to take part in the AD2000 trial based at the Clinical Trials Unit University of Birmingham; what the target number of participants is; and when he expects the trial to be completed. [92434]

  Mr. Hutton
  The AD2000 study opened to recruitment in the West Midlands in October 1998 and the national launch was held in December 1998. As of 21 July, 239 patients had been entered from 20 centres. The target is 3,000 participants. The first results—on the short-term effects of donepezil on behavioural problems, activities of daily living, and well-being of carers—are expected to become available in the year 2000. The AD2000 study is also investigating the longer-term effects of donepezil on disease progress and the cost-effectiveness of donepezil, in particular the need for institutionalisation. Long-term effectiveness results are not expected until after the year 2002 when recruitment should be completed.

  Nurses (Salaries)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average salary of(a) male and (b) female nurses. [92436]

  Mr. Denham
  We estimate that the average annual basic pay for male and female nurses (qualified and unqualified), after the implementation of the April 1999 pay award, is £15,900 and £16,000 respectively. The national terms and conditions for National Health Service nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff are the same for male and female staff. Therefore, the difference between these figures simply reflects the variations in the grade and seniority mix of male and female nurses.

  These estimates are based on the results from the Department's August 1997 Earnings Survey, scaled up to reflect pay awards since August 1997. The figures are the average full-time equivalent basic pay levels i.e. the basic

  37
  pay of part-time staff was scaled up to that of full-time staff, and exclude payments for overtime and other leads and allowances.

  Acute Care
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in the NHS have no(a) piped oxygen facilities and (b) air conditioning or temperature control in their acute wards. [92371]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Under-age Tobacco Sales
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with national representatives of trading standards officers about implementation of the proposed Draft Tobacco (Prohibition of Advertising and Promotion) Regulations 1999. [R] [92249]

  Ms Jowell
  Officials of the Department have met representatives of the Local Government Association and trading standards officers' umbrella body, the Local Authorities Co-ordinating body on Food and Trading Standards to discuss the proposed Enforcement Protocol for local authorities to tackle under-age tobacco sales.

  Draft Concordat (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish, before the summer adjournment, the most recent draft concordat between his Department and the National Assembly for Wales. [92333]

  Ms Jowell
  Work on the health and social care concordat is proceeding well. A draft of the concordat should be ready to be discussed with colleagues in Wales once the overarching concordats have been put to the First Secretary. I do not intend to publish the concordat in advance of that.

  Imported Food Regulations 1984
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions have been made for breaches of the Imported Food Regulations 1984 since they came into force. [92697]

  Ms Jowell
  The general provisions of the Imported Food Regulations 1984 and the Imported Food (Scotland) Regulations 1985 were replaced by the Imported Food Regulations 1997, which apply to the whole of Great Britain. Figures on the number of prosecutions under these Regulations are not kept centrally.

  Doctors (Complaints)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about the procedure available to investigate complaints against doctors; and if he will make a statement. [92637]

  Mr. Denham
  The procedures for investigating complaints against doctors generate much interest and are regularly the subject of correspondence. Complaints often involve complex assessments of clinical judgments which require expert review. Detailed guidance has been provided to National Health Service employers for the 38
  handling of complaints and any disciplinary action which needs to be taken as a result. Investigations need to be dealt with as quickly as possible. They should balance the employer's responsibility to protect the interests of patients with the need to ensure fair treatment for the doctor complained against.

  Northwick Park Hospital
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to modernise the accident and emergency department at Northwick Park hospital; and at what cost. [92631]

  Mr. Denham
  Northwick Park Hospital, which forms part of The North West London Hospitals National Health Service Trust, has received two tranches of NHS modernisation funding to develop its accident and emergency facilities:

  February 1999—£782,000 to provide 5 additional treatment rooms, a new x-ray machine and enable improvements to the entry areas and layout within the Department; May 1999—£630,000 to provide a six bedded resuscitation unit and ancillary accommodation.

  Implementation of these improvements will help to reduce the length of time patients wait to be treated and the quality of the environment in which they are treated.

  GM Crops
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if GM crops designed to produce products or by-products with medicinal properties will be subject to regulation under the Medicines Act 1968. [92722]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: Products and by-products made from genetically modified crops which satisfied the definition of a medicinal product, as defined in Article 1 of Directive 65/65/EEC, would be subject to medicines legislation. The Medicines Act does not cover the regulation of crop cultivation. The Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions is responsible for implementing Directive 90/220 on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to provide a substantive answer to the questions tabled for answer on 7 July 1999 about millennium compliance by the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Ref. 90003 and 90104). [92580]

  Mr. Denham
  I have replied to the hon. Member today.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when will he reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam of 3 March concerning a constituent, Mrs. J. Timms. [92925]

  Mr. Denham
  I shall reply to the hon. Member's letter shortly.

  Acquired Brain Injuries
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 December 1998,Official

  39
  Report, column 258, on acquired brain injuries, when the consultation on new guidance will commence; and when it will be completed and published. [92568]

  Mr. Hutton
  Consultation is currently taking place with the National Health Service and the voluntary sector. It is expected that the guidance will be published in the spring of 2000.

  Beta Interferon
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 1999,Official Report, column 139, on beta interferon, when he plans to announce his decisions following the consultation on the paper, "Faster Access to Modern Treatment". [92734]

  Mr. Denham
  Ministers will be making an announcement in due course.

  Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 by local authorities. [93070]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of people receiving direct payments is increasing steadily. The latest data which are available show 1,400 people receiving direct payments on 30 September 1998, compared with 1,000 people on 1 December 1997. The Department is working with local authorities, users and other stakeholders to increase further the number of people who are able to benefit from the increased independence which direct payments can offer.

  North and East Devon Health Authority
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 525, on the North and East Devon Health Authority, when he plans to publish his assessment of the Appeal Court decision. [92567]

  Mr. Denham
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Residential Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 1999,Official Report, column 204, on residential allowance, when he will publish his proposals for consultation. [92566]

  Mr. Hutton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Dr. Moor
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the costs to the NHS of(a) the legal and administrative arrangements for the selection to the vacant general practice formerly held by Dr. Moor of Wigrove Road, Fenham, Newcastle and (b) subsequent locum and other temporary arrangements after Dr. Moor's resignation. [92237]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.
  40
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Dr. Moor resigned from his general practice in Wigrove Road, Fenham, Newcastle and what was the date of each subsequent(a) advertisement of the practice, (b) selection panel hearing and (c) appeal hearing. [92235]

  Mr. Denham
  Dr. Moor resigned from his practice in Wingrove Road, Fenham, Newcastle on 31 March 1998.

  The advertisement for the practice vacancy appeared in the British Medical Journal on 30 January 1998.

  Selection panel hearings have been held on the following dates:

  27 and 28 February 1998

  2 October 1998

  21 July 1999.

  There have been no appeal hearings to date.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he directed the advertising of the vacancy to the general practice formerly held by Dr. Moor of Fenham, Newcastle to be made a second time; and how many NHS patients were on the practice list at the time. [92236]

  Mr. Denham
  An appeal on a point of law by an unsuccessful Partnership was made against this practice vacancy and was subsequently upheld.

  Accordingly my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State instructed the Health Authority to select a fresh selection panel to reconsider the original applications in accordance with Regulation 17(11) of the General Medical Services Regulations 1992.

  There were 3,393 patients on the practice list at the time the vacancy was declared.

  Medical Student Places
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce a decision on the allocation of additional medical student places. [92461]

  Mr. Denham
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England announced the allocation of 684 extra medical student places to Higher Education Institutions on 22 June 1999. These were in addition to 158 places that had already been allocated earlier this year. An announcement of more than 100 further places is planned for the spring of next year.

  General Practice Vacancies
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appeals against selections to general practice vacancies were handled by the NHS Executive; what was the average length of time from advertising the practice vacancy to the appeal; and in how many cases (i) more than one appeal was heard and (ii) the same practice vacancy was advertised more than once, in each year since 1994. [92233]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of the
  41
  instructions and guidance issued by his Department to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, since its establishment. [93053]

  Mr. Denham
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Lancashire and South Cumbria (Health Authority Reorganisation)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to make changes to the health authority structures in the regions of Lancashire and South Cumbria; [92926]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the savings which could be made from the unification of North West Lancashire and South Lancashire health authorities in terms of management costs. [92927]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Health Service Executive North West is presently considering the impact of recent policy changes on organisations across the whole region, including health authorities and trusts. It is proposing to engage Members of Parliament, health authorities, NHS trusts, primary care groups, community health councils and others in local dialogue to discuss the way ahead. At this stage, the regional office has no specific intentions, nor has it made any recommendations for health authority changes in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Any reconfigurations which may emerge from this process will reflect these discussions and not be driven purely by financial considerations.

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency units in England and Wales have been closed following merger with a neighbouring accident and emergency unit in each year since 1980. [92571]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not collected centrally. It is for health authorities to decide what facilities are required for local populations.

  Public Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92516]

  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is given in the table. The Department's goals and objectives for ensuring recruitment from all sections of the community were published by the Government on 25 May in "Quangos: Opening Up Public Appointments 1999–2002" copies of which are available in the Library.

  The names of those appointed as chairman as at 1 March 1998 are listed in the Departmental Public Appointments Annual Report 1998, copies of which are available in the Library. Information as at 1 April 1999 will be published shortly and copies of the 1999 Annual Report will be placed in the Library.

  They show that between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999, 13.1 per cent. of all appointments made were to people from an ethnic minority background while
  42
  48.1 per cent. were to women. This compares with 10.7 per cent. and 45.5 per cent., during the previous 12 month period.

  Appointments made by gender and ethnicity between 1978–98 and 1998–99

  Appointments made between 1 April 1997–31 March 1998

  Appointments made between 1 April 1998–31 March 1999

  All posts

  White

  Male

  555

  658

  Female

  487

  620

  Ethnic minority

  Male

  77

  106

  Female

  48

  87

  Total male

  632

  764

  Total female

  535

  707

  Chairman

  White

  Male

  106

  146

  Female

  62

  89

  Ethnic minority

  Male

  6

  8

  Female

  2

  4

  Total male

  112

  154

  Total female

  64

  93

  Workplace Back Pain
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investment his Department is making in pilot projects to combat back pain in the workplace. [92929]

  Ms Jowell
  We are providing £500,000 to support pilot projects under the 'Back in Work' programme. Project proposals of between £5,000 and £50,000 have been invited from businesses, trade unions and workplace organisations. The closing date for applications is 31 August.

  This programme is part of the Healthy Workplace Initiative which is jointly sponsored by the Department and the Health and Safety Executive. The Healthy Workplace Initiative was launched on 9 March this year by myself and my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for health and safety.

  Social Care Workers
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage the social care work force to obtain additional qualifications. [92937]

  Mr. Hutton
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Quality Projects Initiative
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the progress of the Quality Projects Initiative. [92936]

  Mr. Hutton
  The quality protects programme was launched in September 1998 and is designed to transform the management and delivery of children's social services. It is supported by a new £375 million special children's grant.
  43
  All local authorities are required to submit an annual quality protects management action plan (MAP) to show how they intended to improve their children's services. The MAPs for Year 1 submitted in January were all assessed as reaching an acceptable standard. As a result of this I wrote to all local authorities confirming that subject to Parliamentary approval they would be receiving payment of their allocation of the children's special grant for 1999–2000. In their MAPs due to be received in January 2000 we will expect to see evidence of real improvements in the quality of services being provided by local authorities.

  On 29 June we published a national overview report, Mapping Quality in Children's Services: An Evaluation of Local Responses to the Quality Protects Programme, which presents the key messages and findings from the first round of MAPs. Copies of the report are available in the Library. It identifies many examples of good practice from across the country but it also highlights major areas where improvement is urgently needed. To support local authorities tackle some of these development needs we will be publishing a national work programme later in the summer which will set out a plan of work by the Department at national, regional and local level. Sixteen quality protects project teams have been set up within the Department to develop policy and disseminate good practice on a range of issues including disabled children, children's participation, placement choice, new child protection guidance and ethnic minority children.

  We shall also be publishing our revised objectives for children's services, supported by a full set of performance indicators, which sets out clearly our expectations of the part to be played by local authorities in delivering better outcomes for some of the most vulnerable children in our society.

  We have appointed eight regional development workers to drive forward measures to improve services and to work with local authorities to help implement their management action plans.

  When we launched the quality protects programme we said that elected members had a crucial role in ensuring that the programme was a success. In order to help members understand their roles and responsibilities, we have recently held seven joint Departmental/Local Government Association regional seminars for members.

  Personal Social Services
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of total gross expenditure in England in 1998–99 on personal social services was accounted for by services for(a) children and (b) the elderly. [92938]

  Mr. Hutton
  Gross expenditure data for England in 1998–99 on personal social services are not available until spring 2000. Comparative data for 1997–98 showed that 50 per cent. of total gross expenditure was accounted for by services for the elderly and 23 per cent. for children.

  Casualty Department Modernisations
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many casualty department modernisation 44
  schemes are planned this year to (a) provide for expansion or redevelopment and (b) improve telemedicine links. [92928]

  Mr. Denham
  Of the 169 Accident and Emergency modernisation schemes going forward this year, there are 63 involving expansion and redevelopment. A further 45 schemes involve redesign or general refurbishment of Accident and Emergency departments. In addition 34 schemes will improve telemedicine links.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the preparedness of key sectors of the UK infrastructure for the millennium bug. [91385]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Plaskitt),Official Report, columns 14-15.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Question Time
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council if she will ensure that oral questions to the Secretaries of State for Defence, Culture, Media and Sport, International Development and Northern Ireland last for one hour each. [91386]

  Mr. Tipping
  No. Within the current time available this could only be done at the expense of questions to other Ministers.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has for reform of Question Time. [91486]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have no immediate plans for procedural change but am prepared to look at any constructive proposals. Some adjustment to the question rota will be discussed through the usual channels in the autumn to reflect the consequences of devolution.

  Thursday Sittings
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the experiment in relation to Thursday sitting hours. [91387]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, South-West (Dr. Starkey),Official Report, column 16.

  House of Lords Reform
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on progress on proposals for the reform of the House of Lords. [91388]

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on progress on proposals for the reform of the House of Lords. [91389]
  45
  Mrs. Beckett
  The Royal Commission on the reform of the House of Lords issued a consultation document in March of this year and I understand that, in response, it has received over 1,300 written submissions concerning the long-term reform of the House of Lords from members of the public, MPs, peers, academics and a range of organisations.

  The Commission is keen to secure the widest possible range of views on the issues raised by its terms of reference and it has organised a series of public meetings throughout the UK to enable it to probe and test the written evidence it has received and to hear the views of members of the general public. The final meeting will be in London on 27 July.

  There is no reason to believe that the Royal Commission will not report on schedule by the end of this year.

  Legislative Process
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to speed up the legislative process. [91485]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have no plans to speed up the legislative process as such. The House's procedures already provide sufficient flexibility in cases of urgency. I am looking at ways of improving the quality of legislation. When this involves the publication of draft Bills for pre-legislative scrutiny, this may appear to lengthen the legislative process.

  Gender Impact Assessment
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the President of the Council 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. [92004]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 July 1999,Official Report, column 636, by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health.

  As part of the Government's commitment to ensuring that their policies are relevant to the lives that people live today, my Department will work closely with the Women's Unit to develop good practices for carrying out gender impact appraisal.

  Management and Services Review
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the Report of Mr. Michael Braithwaite on the Review of Management and Services to the House of Commons Commission. [93530]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  On 26 October 1998, Mr. Michael Braithwaite was invited by the House of Commons Commission to undertake a review of the system of management and decision-making responsibilities for services to the House which was set up following the inquiry in 1990 by Sir Robin Ibbs.
  46
  The Commission has considered the Report of the team lead by Mr. Braithwaite at three meetings, the last of which was on 19 July. The Report was published today as House of Commons paper 745.

  The Commission is grateful to Mr. Braithwaite and his colleagues for reporting fully on the complex issues referred to them and for their constructive recommendations. The team considers the proposals in the Report provide a coherent framework for building on the Ibbs Report's recommendations on management, financial control and decision-making in the House.

  The Commission welcomes comments from Members, staff of the House and others which should be addressed, in writing, to the Secretary of the Commission.

  Parliamentary Data and Video Network
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what monitoring is undertaken of the frequency with which hon. Members and staff are unable to access the PDVN network; with what results; and if he will make a statement. [92801]

  Mr. Allan
  The Parliamentary Data and Video Network (PDVN) is monitored on an operational basis with real time information. This indicates to Parliamentary Communications Directorate staff when an individual piece of infrastructure equipment is not responding to the network. This is a dynamic process and is actioned for fault reporting purposes.

  There is no individual monitoring of access problems by individuals, but trends are established and pursued. It is currently not possible to report on the availability of individual services on the PDVN. Tools to provide this information will be implemented in the coming months.

  Regrettably, there have recently been some serious problems with the network infrastructure which have prevented access to PDVN users. A project to replace the overloaded components of the network was initiated some time ago and will be implemented during the forthcoming summer recess.

  Women's Organisations (Consultation)
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the President of the Council if she will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by her Department during this session; and if their responses have been published. [86996]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Privy Council Office has made no proposals for primary legislation during this Session.

  However, the Government are committed to making sure that policies are inclusive and take full account of the needs and experience of all those affected by them. "Guidelines on Policy Appraisals for Equal Treatment", published in November 1998, commit policy makers to assessing how proposals affect different groups of people.

DEFENCE

  Army Personnel Centre
  Ann Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Army Personnel Centre for the financial year 1999–2000. [93586]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Chief Executive of the Army Personnel Centre has been set the following Key Targets for 1999–2000.Key Target 1—The percentage of filled posts (excluding posts gapped for less than 28 days and all posts for private soldiers and subaltern officers) to be 91 per cent. or greater.
  Key Target 2—The proportion of personnel posted in-year by the APC, whose rank and Service qualifications of the post, to be 92 per cent. or greater.
  Key Target 3—The percentage of in-year postings authorised by the APC where personnel are given at least 6 months notification (see Note) to be 52 per cent. or greater.

  Note:

  Short-notice operational requirements and postings following initial training and long career courses are excluded
  Key Target 4—The percentage of change requests received by the APC which are authorised and/or accurately processed within 5 working days of receipt at the Document Handling Centre to be 93 per cent. or greater.
  Key Target 5—The percentage of due terminal benefits made by the fifth working day after discharge/retirement of following receipt of the correct authorisation paperwork by Pensions Division, whichever is later, to be 97 per cent. or greater.
  Key Target 6—To achieve a year-on-year reduction of 1 per cent. in operating costs.

  2nd Division
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of transferring the HQ of 2nd Division from York to Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement. [91320]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The main cost of the move will be works required to prepare the headquarters building in Edinburgh, for which some £250,000 has been allowed in this current financial year, and staff transfer costs, for which provision of some £750,000 has been made over the next two years. As far as savings in annual staff costs are concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 19 July 1999,Official Report, column 424.

  Depleted Uranium Ammunition
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of targeting depleted uranium ammunition on dummy armour. [91844]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Elizabeth Peace to Mr. John Bercow, dated 26 July 1999:
  I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the environmental assessment of targeting depleted uranium (DU) on dummy armour as such firings were part of a research programme managed by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
  48
  DU ammunition was last fired at the DERA Eskmeals range at hard targets or dummy armour in September 1995. Public concern about the risk of contamination from DU prompted DERA, in December 1993, to commission an independent study by W S Atkins Environment. The report of the study, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, concluded that there was no significant risk to the public, site personnel or the environment. The comprehensive environmental monitoring programme, that DERA continues to conduct, confirms that this is still the case. The monitoring reports are all within the public domain; the most recent reports, for 1995/96, were presented to the Environment Agency and local councils at the beginning of last year and further reports will be available to the public in due course as a matter of routine.
  I hope the above is helpful.

  JP233 System
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exports of JP233 Runway Denial System the Government have approved; and if he will make a statement on JP233 system support technicians with respect to their recall from abroad by his Government. [91880]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 July 1999,Official Report, column 286. The Government are strongly committed to applying the terms of the Ottawa Convention under which JP233 would be prohibited as an anti-personnel landmine. The recall or reassignment to other tasks of any technicians working overseas is a matter for their employer.

  Chinook Helicopters
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (1) pursuant to his answer of 14 July 1999,Official Report, column 229, if he will place the full contents of the Air Safety Action Message CH-47-99-ASMA-02 161228Z in the Library and indicate the actions taken by his Department for each of the checks identified; [92096]

  (2) if he will assess, in relation to the crash of Chinook ZD576, the circumstances of the US incident that resulted in the issuing of the Air Safety Action Message CH-47-99-ASAM-02 161228Z; and if he will make a statement; [92088]

  (3) if he will list the reported instances of hydraulic contamination reported on Chinook helicopters for each year since 1993; [92086]

  (4) if hydraulic contamination has been identified as the (a) possible and (b) confirmed cause of instances of uncommanded flight manoeuvres on the Chinook helicopter since December 1993; [92087]

  (5) if Air Accidents Investigation Branch personnel investigating the fatal crash of RAF Chinook ZD576 have identified problems relating to hydraulic contamination; and if he will make a statement; [92061]

  (6) what instances of (a) confirmed and (b) suspected hydraulic contamination have been reported on Chinook helicopters since the issuance of the Air Safety Action Message CH-47-99-ASAM-02 161228Z. [92085]

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what design changes were made to the FADEC software for RAF Chinook MK2 after May 1994; and what was the cost to his Department of this work; [92329]
  49
  (2) pursuant to his answer of 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 96, on Chinook helicopters, if the redesign changes incorporated in the FADEC software undertaken by Textron Lycoming between 1989 and June 1994 were covered by warranty; [92324]

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 96, on Chinook helicopters, what was the cost to his Department of the redesign changes incorporated in the FADEC software by Textron Lycoming between 1989 and June 1994; [92323]

  (4) how many representations he has received since 1 May, requesting that he re-open the inquiry into the loss of the RAF Chinook on the Mull of Kintyre. [92330]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to the hon. Members and copies of my letters will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what criteria the Government will decide what proportion of the costs incurred by the British armed forces(a) during the air campaign over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and (b) as part of the contribution to KFOR, will be met from the Treasury Contingency Reserve and what proportion from his Department's budget; and if he will make a statement. [92295]

  Mr. George Robertson
  As I explained to the House on 21 June 1999,Official Report, column 743, it has been agreed with my Treasury colleagues that the Reserve will cover the net additional costs of those operations where my Department is unable to accommodate them without detriment to other commitments.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops the UK has pledged to KFOR; how many have been deployed so far; and when he expects all the UK troops pledged to KFOR to be deployed. [92823]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The United Kingdom has provided all of the forces for NATO which were requested by NATO. We currently have around 10,000 personnel committed to KFOR operations.

  The withdrawals of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment, the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles and the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, which I announced on 19 July 1994, Official Report, column 418, means that number will reduce to around 7,000 by mid-October as other nations build up their contributions.

  The UK contribution to KFOR will be kept under review.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions(a) he, (b) British military personnel and (c) his officials, (i) have had and (ii) will have with (1) French, (2) German and (3) Spanish authorities to review operations surrounding the Kosovo conflict. [91577]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Ministry of Defence is looking at the lessons learned from the Kosovo conflict, and is contributing to similar work at NATO. I and my 50
  Department will continue to have contacts with Allies, including France, Germany and Spain on a wide range of issues, including lessons learned.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers aged under 18 years are currently deployed in NATO's K-FOR in(a) the Balkans and (b) Kosovo. [92126]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Information is not available in precisely the detail requested. However, as at 1 June 1999, 17 soldiers aged under 18 were stationed in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to provide a figure for the number of Serbian tanks destroyed in Kosovo. [92493]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The NATO Munitions Effectiveness Assessment Team is carrying out a full assessment of the damage inflicted on Serbian military vehicles. Their findings are expected by the end of the year.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he will make for the winter accommodation of British forces in Kosovo in respect of(a) corimec cabins, (b) new hard-walled buildings and (c) requisitioned buildings; and what is the latest date by which (i) these decisions must be taken and (ii) the purchase and construction cycle must start and finish. [92490]

  Mr. George Robertson
  On Friday 23 July, the Defence Procurement Agency placed a contract with Hunting Engineering Ltd. to supply, build, maintain and operate temporary field accommodation (TSA) for our forces in Kosovo at an estimated cost of about £110 million. TFA will comprise hard-walled living accommodation, appropriate to the range of weather conditions encountered in the area, together with administrative and other facilities. The accommodation is planned to be fully deployed by December and is expected to obviate the need to occupy requisitioned buildings.

  Cadets
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people recruited to each of the armed forces in the most recent year for which figures are available had been a member of the(a) Army Cadets, (b) Sea Cadets, (c) Air Training Corps and (d) Combined Cadet Force. [92540]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Full information is not available to answer the question precisely as raised. The information available for Financial Year 1998–99 is as follows:Of the people who joined the Army, 2,762 had been members of the Army Cadets, and 562 had been members of the Combined Cadet Force.
  Of the people who joined the Naval Service, it is known that 371 had been members of the Sea Cadets, 232 had been members of the Combined Cadet Force, and 456 had been members of either the Air Training Corps or the Army Cadets. This is based on research covering about 85 per cent. of entrants in the year.
  Of the people selected to join the Royal Air Force, 693 had been members of either the Air Training Corps or the Combined Cadet Force (RAF section).

  Joint Strike Fighter
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the expenditure made by his Department on the Concept Demonstration phase of the Joint Strike Fighter project for each financial year from 1995–96 to 1999–2000. [91336]

  Mr. George Robertson
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the right hon. Member.

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 26 July 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about expenditure made on the Concept Demonstration Phase of the Joint Strike Fighter project for each financial year from 1995–96 to 1999–2000. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.

  Payments made by my Department to the United States on the Concept Demonstration Phase of the Joint Strike Fighter programme from 1995–96 to 1999–2000 are as follows:

  Year

  £ Million

  1995–96

  Nil

  1996–97

  9.0

  1997–98

  46.7

  1998–99

  34.1

  1999–2000

  21.0(Forecast)

  All figures are at outturn prices for the years in question.

  Armed Forces (Deaths)
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many 16 and 17 year-olds have died while on service and in training in the UK armed forces since 1982; and if he will list the causes of death in each case. [92492]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  A total of 92 Service personnel who were aged 16 or 17 have died since 1 January 1982. Nearly half these deaths occurred off-duty, and the majority of these were as a result of traffic accidents. A summary of the information is as follows:

  Cause of death

  Deaths

  Battle wound or injury

  Direct result of action by or against organised enemy

  3

  Other battle casualties

  1

  Intentional inflicted non-battle casualties

  Assault

  11

  Self-inflicted

  29

  Accidental injuries

  Off duty

  342

  Schemes and exercises

  4

  All other training

  8

  On duty

  5

  Natural causes (diseases)

  419

  All deaths

  92

  1 This death arose from a fight off duty

  2 All self-inflicted deaths occurred off duty

  3 35 of the deaths were as a result of RTAs

  4 Includes one death as a result of heart failure that is recorded as occurring on duty

  Public Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92517]

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

  (a) 1 June 1997 to 31 May 1998: 37; (i) 32 male, five female; (ii) 37 white. This includes the following appointments of Chairmen: His Honour Judge Rogers (Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors), Mr. John Bridgeman (National Employers' Liaison Committee) and Mr. G. Richards (Oil and Pipelines Agency).

  (b) 1 June 1998 to 31 May 1999: 31; (i) 24 male, seven female; (ii) 31 white. This includes the following appointments of Chairmen: Sir John Cadogan (Defence Nuclear Safety Committee), Sir Michael Beetham (RAF Museum), Sir Barry Wilson (Royal Naval Museum) and Baroness Dean (Armed Forces Pay Review Body).

  These figures include new appointments as well as reappointments.

  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.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the recruitment totals from 1990 to the present for each TA centre in Devon. [89182]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to the hon. Member and copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Armed Forces Deployments
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops(a) are serving with NATO and (b) are involved in peacekeeping operations. [90983]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Some 16,300 UK Service personnel are currently serving with NATO, either in support of NATO operations in Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia, or in Headquarters appointments. Just over 300 are deployed in support of the UN's peacekeeping operation in Cyprus.

  Turkish Defence Minister (Visit)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the dates of the recent visit to the United Kingdom of the Turkish Defence Minister; what was his itinerary; which Ministers and companies he met; and what portion of the cost of the visit was met by the United Kingdom Government. [920841

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Turkish Defence Minister visited the United Kingdom on 12-14 July. On 13 July, he held meetings with the Secretary of State for Defence, and visited Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill. On the evening of the 13th, the Under-Secretary of State for Defence held a dinner in his honour. On 14 July, he visited Flag Officer Sea Training and the Permanent Joint Headquarters. He met representatives of the following UK companies: Marconi Electronics Systems Ltd., Matra British Aerospace Dynamics UK, Alvis plc, GKN Westland Helicopters Ltd. and British Aerospace plc. The United Kingdom Government paid for the in-country costs of the Turkish Defence Minister; the Turkish ambassador held a private dinner on 12 July.

  Personnel (Bosnia)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom service personnel have been killed in Bosnia in the last three years. [92214]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 21 July 1999]: Since 1 January 1996, 23 United Kingdom Army personnel have died while serving in Bosnia. There were no deaths of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel.

  None of these deaths were the result of hostile action.

  Turkey
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom military personnel have visited Turkey in each of the last three years; and in which capacities. [90441]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Senior military personnel who have visited Turkey in the last three years are as follows: in 1997, the Commander in Chief Fleet; in 1998, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, the new Commander in Chief Fleet, the Assistant Chief of the General Staff and Flag Officer Sea Training and in 1999, the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Chief of the Air Staff and the Judge Advocate General. There have also been high-level visits to UK forces deployed on Operation 'Northern Watch'. A full list of all military personnel who have visited Turkey is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Armed Forces Chaplains
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the religious faiths ministered to by chaplains in each of HM armed forces; if he will list for each faith(a) the number of chaplains at each rank and (b) the highest rank obtained by a chaplain since 1969; what bodies govern the promotion of chaplains; and when the rules governing armed service chaplains were last amended; [92932]
  54
  (2) if he will break down into budget heads the annual cost of the chaplaincy service for each of the armed forces. [92933]

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

  Absence without Leave
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women were reported absent without leave in 1998; and how many were not recovered. [92735]

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

  Firearms Training
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 98, on firearms training, if he will list the schools where a combined cadet force gives pupils access to firearms training; how many firearms, of what calibre, are stored on school premises; and how many pupils are enrolled in training programmes each year. [92677]

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

  Armed Forces (Religious Faiths)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons in each of the armed forces subscribe to or identify with each major religious faith according to personnel records. [92934]

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

  Weapons Exports
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) of 15 July 1999,Official Report, column 286, on weapons exports, from which section of the defence budget the costs are to be met; what is the size and timing of the expenditure involved; and by what means Parliament will be informed of the expenditure after it has been incurred. [92423]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The costs will be met from Section J of Vote 1. The exact size and timing remains to be determined, but I refer my hon. Friend to the Minute laid before Parliament on 4 February 1999 which reported the estimated cost to be between £15 and £17 million. Once the gift has been made in full, it will be recorded in the Appropriation Account.

  Portsmouth Naval Base
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what physical constraints would prevent Portsmouth Naval Base becoming the home base port for the two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy if their overall weight displacement was over 46,000 tons. [92422]
  55
  Mr. George Robertson
  The size of the new aircraft carrier is currently estimated to be up to 40,000 tonnes but this will very much depend on the design selected. There are no known physical constraints that would prevent Portsmouth Naval Base from becoming the base port for the vessels currently envisaged.

  Treasury Contingency Fund
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what applications his Department has made to the Treasury Contingency Reserve for funds in each year since 1989; how much was requested; how much was received; and if he will make a statement. [92283]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Suppliers (Contracts)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts exist with suppliers outside the United Kingdom for the replacement of ordnance and ammunition expended in operations by the British armed forces; which companies service those contracts, and for which items; and if he will make a statement. [92284]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Anglo-US Defence Co-operation
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many staff from the United States Defence Nuclear Facilities Safety Board have been stationed at the Atomic Weapons Establishment as part of an exchange of staff since 1 January 1997; [92257]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the collaboration between the Atomic Weapons Establishment and the United States Defence Nuclear Facilities Safety Board; and if he will list the co-operative agreements between the Atomic Weapons Establishment and the United States Defence Nuclear Facilities Safety Board which have been in existence since 1 January 1990, indicating when each agreement was made; [92258]

  (3) how many staff from the Atomic Weapons Establishment have been stationed at the United States Defence Nuclear Facilities Safety Board as part of an exchange of staff since 1 January 1997; [92256]

  (4) how many times members of staff from the Atomic Weapons Establishment have visited the United States Defence Nuclear Facilities Safety Board since 1 January 1997; on what dates each visit took place; and what was the purpose of each visit. [92255]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Low Flying Sorties
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties under 220 feet were undertaken during(a) the Kosovo conflict and (b) the Gulf War. [92634]
  56
  Mr. George Robertson
  The RAF did not undertake any operational low-level sorties during the course of the Kosovo campaign. Precise figures for the Gulf war are not available, but in excess of 170 operational low-level sorties were flown by the RAF at altitudes below 250 feet.

  Royal Tournament
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 July 1999,Official Report, column 426, on the Royal Tournament, if he will arrange for performances of the Royal Military Tattoo 2000 to be staged at principal garrison towns in addition to those at Horse Guards Parade in London. [92627]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Royal Military Tattoo 2000 is the Armed Forces' flagship contribution to the nation's Millennium celebrations with a theme of Defence of the Realm: Past, Present and Future. It will combine pageantry, son et lumière and state of the art technology and has been specifically design for production on Horse Guards Parade. It is not suited to being staged at other venues around the country without major modification and considerable additional expense.

  Royal Ordnance, Bridgwater
  Mr. Tom King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the strategic security of supply for ammunition and explosives in relation to Royal Ordnance. Bridgwater, indicating the actions he is proposing. [92553]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: The Ministry of Defence recognises that the British Armed Forces need to have access to reliable sources of supply for ammunition and explosives. We are currently negotiating with Royal Ordnance potential partnering arrangements covering a wide range of ammunition products. It is too early to predict the outcome of these negotiations. The industrial base required to support the company's likely future business, including individual Royal Ordnance factories, is a matter for the company.

  RAF Menwith Hill
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all current bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom and the United States affecting RAF Menwith Hill. [92943]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The presence of the United States Visiting Forces at RAF Menwith Hill is governed by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951 and other arrangements appropriate to the relationship which exists between the governments of the United Kingdom and United States for the purposes of our common defence. These arrangements are confidential and are withheld under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations.

  Married Quarters
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average annual cost of maintaining a Defence Housing Executive administered married quarter for the latest year for which figures are available. [92191]
  57
  Mr. Spellar
  In the Defence Housing Executive (DHE) 1999 Corporate Plan, the action plan sets out a key target relating to the unit cost of housing and aims to achieve a figure of less than £5,400 per property. The figure is calculated by dividing the total cost of the DHE (£349,152 million including some £100 million rental payment to Annington Homes Ltd) by the number of properties occupied (including those which are Substitute Services Families Accommodation) (63,195). The equivalent figure for Financial Year 1998–99 is £5,460. The cost of the upgrade programme is not included as this is outside the routine cost of housing provision.

  Future Aircraft Carrier
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the impact of recent operations in South East Europe on the Future Aircraft Carrier programme. [91335]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Recent operations in the Gulf and the Balkans have demonstrated the important part that aircraft carriers can play in supporting a range of activities from peacekeeping to military action. We are carrying out a full study into the lessons learned from the Kosovo conflict. Initial conclusions will be made available to the House in the Defence White Paper in the autumn and a more definitive account should be available by next spring.

  Overseas Students (Sandhurst)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if, in respect of overseas students at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for each year from 1992 to 2000 inclusive, he will list the total number of overseas students indicating their countries of origin. [92488]

  (2) in respect of overseas students at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (a) what is the current cost per student to (i) the defence budget and (ii) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office budget and (b) what is the total annual cost to those budgets. [92489]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Armed Forces Training
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers, sailors and airmen were in training on 1 April. [92944]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  On 1 April 1999, the number of soldiers, sailors and airmen/airwomen under training were:

  Naval Service (including RN ratings and RM other ranks)—3,542

  Army soldiers—12,490

  RAF airmen/airwomen—2,345.

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has(a) undertaken and (b) assessed in relation to the heath effects of (i) radiation emanating from military use of infra-red cameras and (ii) microwave radiation emitted from
  58
  military surveillance equipment; what guidance is issued to personnel using this equipment; what instructions have been issued to medical staff in order to monitor any effects from the use of this equipment; and what instructions have been issued to military personnel to protect civilians from radiation exposure. [92935]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Traumatised Service Personnel
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) financial and (b) material assistance his Department has provided to the Ty Gwyn clinic for traumatised service personnel at Colwyn Bay; what similar facilities exist elsewhere in the United Kingdom; and what rules govern the admissions policy of military hospitals for dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. [92736]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My Department does not provide financial or material assistance to the Ty Gwyn clinic, and I am not aware of any similar facilities in the United Kingdom which specialise in the treatment of traumatised Service personnel. Admission of Service personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder to the Duchess of Kent's Psychiatric Hospital, Catterick, would be on the basis of clinical judgment. Former Service personnel are eligible for treatment of post traumatic stress disorder at the Duchess of Kent's Psychiatric Hospital, free of charge as NHS patients, if they live within the catchment area of the hospital. If not, the cost of treatment would need to be met by their local health authority in accordance with NHS budgetary procedures. Admission of former Service personnel would depend on spare capacity being available.

  Armed Forces Personnel
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have(a) left and (b) joined the (i) Army, (ii) Navy and (iii) RAF in the last two years for which figures are available. [88704]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [pursuant to his reply 2 July 1999, c. 293]: I regret to inform the hon. Member that some of the information I gave was incorrect. For outflow of UK Regular Forces between 1 April 1998–31 March 1999, the figure for the Royal Air Force should read 4,889 and the total should read 27,435.

  Tomahawk Missiles
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the cessation of production of Block III Tomahawk missiles in the United States later this year on the capabilities of the Royal Navy submarine fleet. [91328]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Tomahawk Block III production line at Raytheon was closed for new orders some time ago, and we expect that the missiles ordered by the UK will all have been delivered by the end of 1999. The capabilities of the RN submarine fleet will not be affected by the closure.

  The US Department of Defence has now embarked on a programme for refurbishment and upgrade of older missile stock up to Block III standard which will carry it

  59
  through the period up to 2004–05, when the next version of Tomahawk, called Tactical Tomahawk (TACTOM), becomes available. The replacement of the Royal Navy's Tomahawk missiles used in the Balkans, currently being negotiated, will come from this refurbishment and upgrade programme.

  Ballistic Missile Pre-feasibility Study
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the unclassified version of the summary of the ballistic missile defence pre-feasibility study. [92487]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am placing in the Library today a declassified version of the report which presents the findings of the Ministry of Defence UK Ballistic Missile Defence Pre-Feasibility Programme. In addition to the report itself, I am placing in the Library two related documents, an Executive Summary of the report and a Statement of Work, setting out the scope of the Pre-Feasibility Study.

  Trident Warhead
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work is(a) in progress and (b) planned on changing the Trident warhead from fixed to variable yield. [93172]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The UK has flexibility in the choice of yield for the warheads on its Trident missiles.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Racial Discrimination
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government intend to submit to the relevant international bodies its latest periodic reports under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. [93579]

  Mr. Straw
  The United Kingdom's Fifteenth Report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and its first Report under the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities were submitted to the United Nations and Council of Europe respectively on 23 July 1999. Copies of the Reports have been placed in the Library.

  Leave to Remain
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to replace the current application forms for foreign nationals wishing to apply for leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [93580]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The current application forms expire on 14 October 1999. Revised versions of the seven existing forms will be prescribed during September and it 60
  is planned to make them available before the end of that month. From the time they are issued until 1999, applications may be made on either the newly prescribed forms or the present versions. Only the new forms may be used for applications made on, or after, 15 October 1999. Copies will be placed in the Library as soon as they are available.

  Immigration Rules
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the purpose of the concession to Immigration Rules in respect of the one year rule and women suffering domestic violence. [92471]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Under the Immigration Rules, spouses of British Citizens or of people settled in the United Kingdom are not given settlement on arrival or following the marriage; they are granted an initial period of 12 months. At the end of this 12 month probationary period, settlement will be granted if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the marriage is still subsisting and that each of the parties has the intention of living permanently with the other as his or her spouse.

  If, for whatever reason, the marriage has broken down during the probationary year, settlement is normally refused. That is because the fundamental reason for the person's admission in the first place—to continue or commence stable family life—no longer exists. In the past, cases where violence was the reason for the breakdown of a marriage have been considered sympathetically but it was held that domestic violence could not normally override the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

  The probationary period is intended as a safeguard against abuse. If settlement were granted immediately there would be no recourse against applicants who desert their partners as soon as they arrive in the country. The absence of a probationary period would also allow more bogus marriages to escape detection. We, therefore, have no intention of abolishing this requirement of the Rules, which in the generality of cases is the only sensible way to operate a firm but fair immigration control.

  However, we were aware that this policy placed a small minority of individuals in a distressing dilemma in that their insecure immigration status left them feeling "trapped" in a violent marriage. They faced a stark choice between staying within the violent relationship or leaving their sponsor and being refused settlement.

  As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend on 16 June 1999, Official Report, columns 164-65, the domestic violence concession has been introduced for overseas spouses who wish to remain in the United Kingdom, but who wish to leave their partner because of domestic violence before completion of the 12 month probationary period. The concession allows them to settle in the United Kingdom even though they are no longer living with their sponsor provided they comply with the conditions set out in the concession.

  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to monitor the impact of the concession to immigration rules on domestic violence and the one year rule. [92470]
  61
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The concession will be closely monitored in order to assess its effectiveness. Arrangements have been made for officials to note the details of all applications under this concession once a decision has been reached.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties. [92675]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: I last travelled by train during the course of my official duties when I visited a Drugs Arrest Referral Scheme, the Television Video Links Project and delivered a speech at the Association of Chief Police Officers' Conference in Manchester on 14 July.

  Passport Agency
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what computer systems, printers, laminators and other production equipment which were planned to have been replaced by the introduction of new systems by private contractors are still being used at(a) Liverpool and (b) Newport offices of the Passport Agency; and if he will make a statement. [92905]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The United Kingdom Passport Agency planned to retain its existing main computer and some peripheral equipment in all its Regional passport offices until the new issuing system had been implemented in all six offices. This was to facilitate communication and data collection, service telephone inquiry bureau and provide a contingency.

  In the Liverpool office, older equipment continues to be used to service urgent applications for customers calling at the office, in the telephone inquiry bureau and in administrative sections. In Newport, the older system is used in the telephone inquiry bureau and in administrative sections.

  The delay in implementing new systems at other passport offices will mean longer use of old equipment and the Agency is negotiating with support companies to ensure maintenance and development work is carried out.

  Wormwood Scrubs
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 July 1999,Official Report, column 466, on Wormwood Scrubs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the action plan drawn up in response to the Chief Inspector of Prisons' first 15 recommendations contained in his 1996 inspection report including the response to the recommendations to date; and if he will make a statement. [93026]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I have arranged for copies of the response to the first 15 recommendations contained in Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' report of his 1996 inspection of Wormwood Scrubs to be placed in the Library.

  Child Curfews
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forecast he has made of the number of 62
  local child curfews (a) applied for and (b) implemented, in the first year of the provision being available; and if he will make a statement. [92885]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have not made a forecast. Applying for a local child curfew is optional for local authorities, to be considered in the light of the wider crime and disorder strategies they are developing under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and of the outcome of local consultation.

  Gender Impact Assessments
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by his Department since June 1997, stating in each case whether the outcome has been(a) put out to consultation and (b) published. [91683]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her on 22 July 1999,Official Report, column 636, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health.

  As lead department for race equality issues, the Home Office is committed to ensuring that through the impact of its policies, all sections of society are treated equally. The Department is working closely with the Women's Unit to develop good practice for carrying out gender impact appraisal.

  Policy appraisal for equal treatment—including the impact of policies on women—is an integral part of policy development. Guidance was issued throughout the department on 4 December 1998 and is part of the department's policy development checklist.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed dated 10 March seeking his Department's approval for an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall relating to crime reduction. [92773]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: We have no record of having received the letter of 10 March to which the right hon. Member refers, but have since received a copy from his office.

  "Kno Way" is an excellent example of a project involving the police, business and the voluntary sector in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. It is to be particularly praised in addressing the issue of safety for vulnerable and elderly people.

  An exhibition about the project in the Upper Waiting Hall of the House of Commons would have the full support of my Department. I will be writing to the right hon. Member formally to record my views.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter dated 7 June from Mr. K. Allden, of Brixham, South Devon, concerning an incident involving the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. [93186]

  Mr. Boateng
  Mr. Allden was sent a reply to his letter on 14 July.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the earliest date of unopened post received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [93029]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There is currently no unopened post in the Mail Handling Section. However, there is a separate procedure for dealing with applications and accompanying fees in the Travel Documents Case Management Unit. These letters are normally unopened until they are processed and a cashier issues a receipt for the fee. As at 26 July, the earliest date of unopened Travel Documents applications was 16 June.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current backlog of cases at the Liverpool office of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and how many of these cases have been outstanding for over(a) six months, (b) 12 months and (c) two years. [92898]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  At 30 June 1999, the current backlog of cases in the Liverpool office stands at 95,200. 84,000 cases have been outstanding for six months; 50,800 have been outstanding for 12 months and 3,200 for two years. This Government inherited large backlogs and are putting in place steps to deal with them.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made with the pilot implementation of the integrated information technology system in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [92902]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Pilot implementation will begin only after the system has passed its contractual acceptance tests. Those tests represent the final stage of the formal testing process which began in June. I intend that the testing should be exhaustive. The pilot stage is accordingly unlikely to begin much before the end of this year.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases are held in the Central Work in Progress Store of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and how many of the cases have been outstanding for more than(a) six months, (b) one year and (c) two years. [92901]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There are approximately 110,144 cases held in the Work in Progress Store of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Of these cases, 20,927 have been outstanding for more than six months, 36,330 have been outstanding for more than one year, and 52,887 have been outstanding for more than two years.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets he has set for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to reply to correspondence from(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public; and what has been the performance of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in meeting those targets in each month since the beginning of 1999. [93028]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Home Office Public Service Agreement commits the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to reply to 95 per cent. of correspondence 64
  from (a) hon. Members within 15 working days. Since January 1999, a monthly average of 16 per cent. met the target.

  In respect of (b), correspondence from members of the public, the Home Office Public Service Agreement commits the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to reply to 95 per cent. of correspondence within 20 working days. Since January 1999, a monthly average of 72 per cent. met the target.

  UK/US Treaties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the current bilateral(a) treaties and (b) agreements between the United Kingdom and US Governments which include provisions relating to the interception of communications. [93073]

  Mr. Straw
  There are arrangements appropriate to the relationship which exists between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States for the purpose of our common defence. It is the long-standing practice of this Government and previous Administrations not to comment on the detail of such confidential arrangements.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place in the period 1 May 1997 to 31 December 1998 between Ministers and United States citizens concerning the interception regime operated in the United Kingdom. [93072]

  Mr. Straw
  During the period in question, I have had discussions with the Attorney-General of the United States Government on several occasions about the interception regime operated in the United Kingdom, in particular in the context of encryption and the use of intercept product as evidence.

  Passports
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if court orders can be endorsed in children's passports; and if he will make a statement. [93165]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Where children hold passports, a court can require the surrender of a passport to prevent a child being removed from the jurisdiction, and so the endorsement of a court order may not be necessary. However, the endorsement of passports with summaries of court orders has been considered by the Parent/Carer Child Abduction Co-ordinating Group, which is an interdepartmental group of officials, together with Re-unite. The Group will be looking at the effectiveness of introducing endorsements of the passports of children at risk of abduction.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the contract for the supply of blank passports to the Passport Agency which expires in October 1999 has been renewed. [93088]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Discussions are in progress with the contractor to ensure a continuing supply of blank passport books.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place for the updating of photographs on children's passports before a formal renewal of the passport is required; and if he will make a statement. [93166]
  65
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There is no legal requirement for the photograph on a child's passport to be updated before the formal renewal of the passport after five years. While the appearance of young children can change rapidly, a photograph provides evidence to an immigration officer of basic characteristics, and only in a minority of cases would a child not be able to be identified. The United Kingdom Passport Agency has issued passports to young children for many years without difficulty prior to the policy change in October 1998 requiring separate passports. An application can be made for an amended passport with a new photograph in at a cost of £11.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals have been made to his Department for private sector involvement in the issuing of passports; if he will list the proposals received; and if he will make a statement. [93168]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It would not be appropriate to disclose details of the proposals submitted for Private Sector Involvement in the Issue of the British Passport. This information is commercially confidential. The high level criteria applied in awarding the United Kingdom Passport Agency's contract for the passport issuing arrangements were security, continuity of service, compatibility, management information systems, archive system, commercial and technical criteria, examining support/speed/method/customer service, evergreening and cultural compatibility. On the basis of these criteria, contracts were awarded to the supplier who put forward the best solution.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors led to the timing of the introduction of new computer systems at the Passport Agency; and if he will make a statement. [93169]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The factors that led to the timing of the introduction of the new computer systems in the United Kingdom Passport Agency were the need to modernise existing systems, to enhance the Agency's capacity to prevent passport fraud and improve the security of the British passport, to replace obsolete printing equipment, to provide better customer information and to continue to improve the Agency's efficiency and effectiveness and the need for the introduction of the new system to coincide with its quiet season between October and the end of the year. The new computer systems were introduced at the Agency's request.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date work on the procurement of private sector involvement in the issuing of passports began; and if he will make a statement. [93170]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The procurement exercise to involve the private sector in the issuing of passports began with the placing of a notice in The Official Journal of the European Communities and Government Opportunities on 25 October 1996. A description of the procurement methodology is given in Annexe B of the summary of the business case for private sector involvement which has been placed in the Library.
  66
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports have been issued by the Passport Agency in each year since 1995–96 and in 1999–2000 to date. [93167]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is given in the table.

  1 April to 31 March

  Number

  1995–96

  4,686,524

  1996–97

  5,076,035

  1997–98

  4,872,233

  1998–99

  4,737,057

  1999/20001

  1,988,562

  1 The final figure includes up to 18 July 1999 and shows record levels of production

  Stalking
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought under anti-stalking legislation; how many such prosecutions were successful; and in how many cases the Crown Prosecution Service has appealed against the sentences given. [92234]

  Mr. Boateng
  Available data from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, for 1997 and provisionally for 1998, are given in the table.

  Part IV of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 provides that the Attorney-General may refer to the Court of Appeal sentences for certain offences which he believes to be unduly lenient, for the Court of Appeal to review and, if appropriate, increase. Offences contrary to sections two and four of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 do not come within the ambit of part IV and so there have been no such references.

  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and convicted at all courts for offences under s2 and s4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 19971 England and Wales, 1997 and 19982

  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and convicted at all courts for offences under s2 and s4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 1 England and Wales, 1997 and 1998 2

  Offence/disposal

  1997

  1998 2

  Section 2—Offence of harassment (summary)

  Total proceeded against

  507

  4,304

  Total convicted

  249

  2,221

  Conviction rate3

  49

  52

  Section 4—Putting people in fear of violence

  Total proceeded against

  243

  1,505

  Total convicted

  76

  522

  Conviction rate3

  31

  35

  1 Came into force on 16 June 1997

  2 Provisional

  3 The number of offenders convicted at all courts as a percentage of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts

  Police Service (Women)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women left the police service before reaching normal retirement age in each of the last five years; what were the reasons for their early retirement; if he will list the number and reasons for women's early retirement in Merseyside Police; and what initiatives he has to retain in and recruit women to the police service. [92259]
  67
  Mr. Boateng
  The Police service, supported by the Government, seeks to encourage applications to the police service from all under represented groups. As part of this strategy, we are proposing to review the whole recruitment process from application to selection with a view to removing any discriminatory practices.

  Women now represent 15.17 per cent. of police officers in England and Wales and there has been a steady increase in female representation at senior ranks. There are now three women chief constables out of a total of 43.

  Numbers of women leaving the service in England and Wales

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Police dismissed or required to resign

  118

  95

  110

  14

  18

  Police voluntary resignations

  194

  187

  172

  258

  241

  Police medical retirements

  380

  390

  376

  348

  316

  Police ordinary retirements

  78

  30

  63

  40

  53

  Police deaths

  4

  9

  11

  7

  6

  Total wastage

  774

  711

  732

  667

  634

  Left before ordinary retirement

  696

  681

  669

  627

  581

  Women leaving the Merseyside Police

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Police dismissed or required to resign

  4

  4

  0

  0

  1

  Police voluntary resignations

  5

  1

  2

  9

  5

  Police medical retirements

  23

  26

  33

  19

  20

  Police ordinary retirements

  2

  1

  0

  0

  3

  Police deaths

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Total wastage

  34

  32

  35

  28

  30

  Left before ordinary retirement

  32

  31

  35

  28

  27

  Single Currency
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much expenditure his Department(a) has incurred to date and (b) expects to incur in the future, on preparations for possible United Kingdom entry into the European single currency; and if he will make a statement. [92554]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: Following the publication of the Government's Outline National Changeover Plan, the Home Office is considering what preparation may be necessary for the introduction of the euro. The Home Office has no specific budget for euro preparations.

  Existing staff resources have been used in the initial management planning that has taken place to date. No additional cash expenditure has been incurred. Nor will any additional funds be sought in the foreseeable future to draw up plans. Departmental changeover work will continue using existing staff resources.

  Ms Loraine Whiting
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a public inquiry into the death of Ms Loraine Whiting, a constituent of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey. [92497]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: This tragic case has already been investigated at a Coroner's inquest and by the Police Complaints Authority. I do not consider that a further inquiry would bring any significant new information about the case to light.
  68
  While we are encouraged with the steady increase in the number of women officers and we welcome local force initiatives, we do accept that women are still poorly represented, and we intend to look at what further action can be taken to increase female representation throughout the service.

  The number of women who left the police service before reaching normal retirement age, together with the number and reasons for women taking early retirement in Merseyside are listed in the tables:

  Immigration Appellate Authority
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the Immigration Appellate Authority to send an explanatory statement to Mr. Wright of Holne, near Buckfastleigh, Devon, in relation to its decision of 2 December 1998 to refuse a visa to his wife Mrs. Miranda Musraj (Wright); and if he will make a statement. [92216]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 21 July 1999]: The Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) sent an explanatory statement to Mrs. Musraj (Wright) and her representative on 23 July 1999. The date set for the hearing of the appeal is 18 August 1999 at 10 a.m. at Taylor House, London. It is not the normal practice of the IAA, who are completely independent of the Home Office, to send a copy of the statement to any person other than the appellant and their nominated representative.

  Public Safety Radio Communications Project
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that Bedfordshire Police Authority has sufficient funds to cover the introduction of the Public Safety Radio Communications Project. [92533]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), which is responsible for managing the Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP) is at an advanced stage of negotiations with British Telecommunications which will lead to a firm price for authorities to consider as part of their business case.
  69
  Over the next three years, the police service will receive an additional £1.24 billion in central government funding. The Government have also relaxed the rules on the use of capital receipts from the sale of assets. Police Authorities now have the freedom to use all proceeds from sales for capital investment. The scope for additional funding for the PSRCP is under consideration.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers left the Metropolitan police other than through ill health and ordinary retirement(a) during 1998 and (b) during 1999 to date. [93085]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the number of officers leaving the Metropolitan police other than through ill health and ordinary retirement was 645 in 1998 and 389 to 22 July 1999.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the number of police officers expected to retire from the Metropolitan police(a) during 1999, (b) in 2000 and (c) in 2001. [93086]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the number of officers expected to retire from the Metropolitan police service during 1999 to 2001 is:

  1999: 1,000

  2000: 950

  2001: 900.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of officers who left the Metropolitan police other than through ill health and normal retirement during the past two years(a) left the police service altogether and (b) transferred to other UK police forces. [93087]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the information requested is given in the table:

  Percentage

  1997

  1998

  Officers leaving the police service altogether

  18.4

  23.1

  Officers transferring to other police forces

  18.8

  13

  Note:

  When 100 per cent. = the total number of officers who left the Metropolitan police in each year.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detective inspector and detective chief inspector posts within the Metropolitan Police remain unfilled. [93083]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that at the end of June, 73 detective inspector posts were unfilled, and there was one detective chief inspector more than the budgeted manpower target.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police recruits were admitted to each initial training course at the Metropolitan Police Training College at Hendon(a) during 1998 and (b) during 1999 to date. [93084]
  70
  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the number of police recruits admitted to each initial training course at the Metropolitan Police Training College at Hendon during 1998 and 1999 to date, is as given in the table:

  Recruit intake

  1998

  1999

  Intake 1

  93

  143

  Intake 2

  71

  142

  Intake 3

  153

  183

  Intake 4

  140

  145

  Intake 5

  183

  90

  Intake 6

  178

  93

  Intake 7

  174

  1110

  Intake 8

  131

  —

  Intake 9

  149

  —

  1 expected

  Tobacco
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with national representatives of trading standards officers about implementation of the proposed Draft Tobacco (Prohibition of Advertising) Regulations 1999. [R] [92248]

  Mr. Straw
  To date, I have had no meetings to discuss the proposed Draft Tobacco (Prohibition of Advertising) Regulations 1999 with national representatives of trading standards officers.

  Football Offences
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in London have been charged with offences under the Football (Offences) Act 1991 following incidents at London clubs. [92396]

  Kate Hoey
  The Metropolitan Police advise that in season 1998–99 there were 47 arrests under the Football (Offences) Act 1991. Of these, 24 people were charged with offences under the 1991 Act. A further eight people were issued with a caution. Information is not readily available for earlier years and I will write to my hon. Friend when this becomes available.

  Firearms Consultative Committee
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the future of the Firearms Consultative Committee. [93082]

  Mr. Boateng
  Under the terms of the Firearms Consultative Committee Order 1996, the Firearms Consultative Committee will continue in existence until 1 February 2000. It is open to the Government at that stage to make a further Order for three years. This will be considered nearer the time.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to appoint a new chairman to the Firearms Consultative Committee. [93081]

  Mr. Boateng
  We are presently considering the arrangements for chairing the Firearms Consultative Committee.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans he has made in relation to the possibility of a national firefighters' strike. [92899]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There are already well-established contingency arrangements for dealing with threats of industrial action in the fire service. These include arrangements, where possible and where needed, for military assistance to fire authorities so that emergency fire cover can be provided. The Government are also ready to consider such other measures as may be appropriate, to discharge their overriding responsibility for ensuring the protection and security of the public.

  Police Discipline
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings against two police officers

  Population in prison by ethnic group, sex and nationality—England and Wales 31 March 1999

  Ethnic group (percentage)

  Type of prisoner

  Total

  Total percentage

  White1

  Black

  South Asian

  Chinese and other

  Males and Females

  64,212

  100

  82

  12

  3

  3

  British Nationals

  58,884

  100

  86

  10

  2

  2

  Foreign Nationals

  5,262

  100

  79

  12

  3

  6

  Unrecorded

  66

  100

  33

  35

  11

  21

  Males

  61,036

  100

  82

  12

  3

  3

  British Nationals

  56,199

  100

  86

  10

  2

  2

  Foreign Nationals

  4,775

  100

  81

  13

  3

  3

  Unrecorded

  62

  100

  34

  33

  12

  21

  Females

  3,176

  100

  76

  19

  1

  4

  British Nationals

  2,685

  100

  86

  11

  1

  2

  Foreign Nationals

  487

  100

  50

  0

  0

  50

  Unrecorded

  4

  100

  23

  59

  3

  15

  1 Includes those with no recorded ethnic group

  Firearms Clubs
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 98, on firearms training, if he will list those schools that have target-shooting clubs approved by his Department; how many firearms, of what calibre, are stored on school premises; and how many pupils are enrolled in these clubs each year. [92678]

  Mr. Boateng
  For reasons of security, it is not our policy to publish the locations at which firearms are stored. Records of the number and calibre of firearms held by individual schools and of the number of pupils enrolled in the shooting club are not kept centrally. Each school club appoints a responsible adult to take charge of all aspects of shooting at the school. The responsible adult must have personal experience of the weapons used by the school and at least one year's experience of exercising control of the age group of pupils concerned. This adult is issued with a firearm certificate by the police on which the club's guns are entered. Before any school club is granted approval, the police inspect the armoury in which 72
  involved in a disturbance on the Holloway Road on 17 March 1996; and what measures have been taken to address the concerns of the victims. [92679]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that a Commander's Discipline Board found two officers guilty of making an unnecessary arrest, and disciplined them. Both officers were cleared of using excessive force. The person who was arrested made a formal complaint, which led to disciplinary proceedings. It will have been for the Police Complaints Authority to inform the complainant of the outcome.

  Local Inmates Database
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 July 1999,Official Report, column 77, on the Local Inmates Database, what is the ethnic composition of the prison population. [92930]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The requested information is given in the table. This information is included in the April 'Prison Population Briefing' at the internet site http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/areas/prisf htm.

  the guns will be stored. No club is allowed to hold more guns on the club certificate than can be safely stored in the armoury under secure conditions. Nor are they allowed to possess guns with muzzle energies and velocities greater than those stipulated on the range safety certificate.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Film Council
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the ways in which the establishment of the new Film Council will benefit the British film industry. [91340]

  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the ways in which the establishment of the new Film Council will benefit the British film industry. [91359]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Film Council will deliver a coherent strategy for the development of a sustainable UK film industry, taking forward the vision set out in the Film
  73
  Policy Review. The Council will be a Lottery distributor in its own right, guaranteeing, for the first time, a dedicated share of Lottery resources for film amounting to at least £27 million, a significant increase on previous years.

  Over the next three years, the Film Council will receive in the region of £150 million to put into support for the film industry and film culture.

  Cyclists (Royal Parks)
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress he has made on proposals to improve provision for cyclists in the Royal Parks. [91348]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Royal Parks Agency has agreed to provide a number of new cycle routes through the Royal Parks. Progress depends on the availability of resources and the outcome of consultation. I have asked the Agency to consider how provision for cyclists can be extended further.

  New Opportunities Fund
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the New Opportunities Fund will award its first grants. [91349]

  Mr. Banks
  The New Opportunities Fund announced its first awards on 12 July 1999. A total of £1,870,443 has been awarded under its out-of-school-hours child care programme to 115 projects across the UK creating a total of 8,736 new out-of-school child care places.

  Funding Agreements
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the objectives are of the three-year funding agreements negotiated by his Department with its sponsored bodies. [91350]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Funding agreements provide a focus for my Department's relationship with its sponsored bodies. They detail the outputs which each of the bodies has agreed to achieve in return for public funding.

  BBC Scotland
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the relationship between BBC Scotland and the rest of the BBC. [91352]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I have had no such discussions. The BBC's Royal Charter and Agreement ensure the Corporation's independence in the management of its day-to-day affairs.

  Cultural Events (Access)
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures his Department is taking to provide greater access to cultural events for schoolchildren from a wider range of social backgrounds. [91353]

  Mr. Banks
  Working with our sponsored bodies, my Department encourages all publicly funded organisations to ensure the widest possible access to cultural events. The 74
  New Audiences fund, managed by the Arts Council of England, has provided grants to pilot projects aimed at attracting new and younger audiences to such events. For example, New Generation Audiences will provide free tickets to cultural events to schoolchildren and encourage them to exchange information using the latest technologies.

  Seaside Resorts
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to encourage family holidays at UK seaside resorts, with particular reference to Scarborough and Whitby. [91354]

  Janet Anderson
  Our strategy, "Tomorrow's Tourism", contains a host of initiatives designed to promote quality in tourism in this country, including a model regeneration plan for resorts. It also identifies actions to help increase access to tourism for those with low incomes, for families, for elderly people and for people with disabilities.

  Single Regeneration Budget awards of over half a million pounds to the Yorkshire and Humberside Coastal Tourism Initiative (which includes Scarborough and Whitby) and almost £3 million to the Falsgrave Community Investment Initiative in Scarborough will help encourage families to holiday in the area.

  National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on progress with the establishment of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. [91355]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  NESTA is preparing to launch its main programmes in the Autumn and has already launched eight pioneer projects.

  Cricket
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to encourage more state schools to play cricket. [91356]

  Mr. Banks
  As well as the various initiatives aimed at encouraging sport in schools through Sport England's Active Schools programme, the English and Wales Cricket Board have an number of initiatives aimed specifically at encouraging schools to play cricket. These include the Wrigley Schools Cricket Tournament, a Kwik Cricket based competition for state primary schools and the production of a new Development Game for secondary schools designed to bridge the gap between Kwik and hardball cricket.

  Social Exclusion
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the contribution that arts and sport can make to tackling social exclusion; and if he will make a statement. [91357]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My Department has led an inter-departmental Policy Action Team which reported to the Social Exclusion Unit on the contribution arts and
  75
  sport can make to combating social exclusion. The team found that participation in the arts and sport can develop individuals' talents and self-confidence, encourage collective effort and contribute to improvements in health and education attainment and reductions in crime and unemployment. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Netball
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support his Department provides for netball in Essex. [91358]

  Mr. Banks
  This year, Sport England will provide the All England Netball Association with over £420,000 to promote netball in all parts of the country, including Essex. Some of this funding will be used to employ a team of seven development officers, one of whom is responsible for Essex.

  Essex Local Authorities are planning to run a netball event as part of the Millennium Youth Games next year with the support of lottery funding.

  Competitive Sports (Schools)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to encourage competitive sport within schools. [91360]

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution the national lottery is making to encourage the playing of competitive sporting fixtures in schools. [91365]

  Mr. Banks
  We are well aware of the value of encouraging competitive games both within and between schools. As well as being one of the criteria schools have to meet to be awarded a Sportsmark, we have asked Sport England to ensure that arranging inter-school competitive fixtures is a key part of the job description of the new Active Schools Co-ordinators. This initiative will be supported by £30 million from the Lottery Sports Fund.

  Sports (National Lottery Funding)
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he will take to ensure that sports bodies which receive money from the national lottery are accountable for their spending. [91361]

  Mr. Banks
  Sports bodies are fully accountable to Sport England for all aspects of their projects and are required to sign a contract to this effect before receiving funding.

  Youth Music
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when schools will be able to apply for funding to promote youth music from the new body set up by his Department and the Department for Education and Employment. [91362]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The National Foundation for Youth Music, which is a charitable body operating independently of Government, is currently consulting on 76
  its proposed criteria and eligibility. The consultation period will conclude on the 1 October, after which finalised criteria and eligibility will be published.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of children who will benefit from the new National Foundation for Youth Music. [91368]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The National Foundation for Youth Music is an independent body, and is responsible for identifying its policies and outputs without reference to Ministers. The Foundation's ultimate aim is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to access music-making.

  Museum Attendance
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact of introducing free entry for children on museum attendance. [91363]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The number of child visits at those national museums and galleries in England which adopted free entry for children from April this year is being regularly monitored. An assessment of the policy's effectiveness will be made when sufficient information is available from which to draw reliable conclusions.

  Royal Parks Constabulary
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will review the powers of the Royal Parks Constabulary constables in relation to the area and roads surrounding St James's and Hyde parks. [91364]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I have no plans to review the powers of the Royal Parks Constabulary in relation to the area and roads surrounding St. James's and Hyde Parks. The Constabulary's primary duty is to maintain order in the Royal Parks and making them safe for park users. If there is a need to apprehend a person beyond the boundary of a Royal Park, they can call upon the Metropolitan Police for assistance. Constitution Hill in the Green Park, Birdcage Walk in St James's Park, and the North, South, West and East Carriage Drives in Hyde Park are already the policing responsibility of the Royal Parks Constabulary.

  Sports (Women)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action his Department is taking to increase the proportion of adult women who participate in sport. [91366]

  Mr. Banks
  The Government has made clear its determination to improve opportunities for women at all levels in sport, whether as participants, competitors, coaches or administrators. We are working closely with the Sports Councils and others to find ways to encourage more women to take part in sport, and our Sports Strategy will address the issue of increasing participation by all sections of the community.

  Football World Cup 2006
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has made to the Football Association about the bid to host the 2006 World cup. [91367]

  Mr. Banks
  The Government are providing the fullest diplomatic and promotional support for The FA's bid in accordance with FIFA bidding guidelines. As Parliamentary time allows, I will continue to meet members of the FIFA Executive when they visit this country, and accompany the 2006 bid team abroad when requested.

  I am determined that The FA's bid should continue to be pursued with the utmost vigour and integrity, and very much hope that the bidding process between now and July 2000 will be conducted in a spirit of friendly rivalry. I believe it is an excellent bid with a very good chance of success.

  Millennium Dome
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what will be the arrangements by which schools may apply for free tickets for schoolchildren to the millennium dome. [91372]

  Janet Anderson
  The New Millennium Experience Company has sent to schools an Information and Booking form for educational visits to the Dome at Greenwich. The form is available from NMEC's 12 regional offices. The form includes details about the Education Tours scheme through which up to one million free tickets will be available to schools. Each school will be able to apply for up to 100 free tickets. As the brochure explains, details of how to apply for free education tours will be sent to schools in September. Copies of the Information and Booking Form will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the effect which the millennium experience will have on the tourist industry. [91373]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The British Tourist Authority (BTA) has estimated the number of overseas visits to the UK in 2000 as 27.5 million. The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) forecasts 2.4 million overseas visitors to the Dome. The BTA has also indicated that as a direct result of the Millennium Experience an additional £300m-£500m of overseas tourist revenue will be brought into the UK economy. It is conceivable that as a result of the Millennium celebrations this figure could be doubled if the knock-on effect to related industries is taken into account. The BTA has further estimated that 10,000–15,000 new tourism-related jobs will be created. This is excellent news for the whole of the UK.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the representation of the various English regions through the Millennium Experience. [91374]

  Janet Anderson
  While there are no exhibits within the Dome which are dedicated specifically to the English regions, there are a number of opportunities for regional 78
  representation. For example, I am pleased to say that as part of the "Our Town Story" project, the Wirral is due to have its day in the Dome on 31 May 2000.

  "Our Town Story", sponsored by McDonald's, is linked to the Theatre space and Education Centre at the Dome. It enables more than 20,000 schoolchildren and other members of the community in every education authority and library board area in the UK to stage a performance in the Dome telling the story of their community. The "Our Town Story" stage will seat 500 people and will be a professionally equipped theatre space.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the importance being attached to religion in the organisation of the millennium celebrations. [91375]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Government recognise the important significance of the year 2000 as a Christian anniversary, and is keen to see this reflected in the official celebrations. However, we also wish to ensure that celebrations are accessible and relevant to people of all religious persuasions and none. Through the Lambeth Group, my Department, the Millennium Commission and the New Millennium Experience Company are working closely with the Christian churches, ecumenical groups and other faith communities to ensure that the spiritual aspect of the occasion receives proper recognition. We are also working with Church groups in the four nations of the UK to deliver ecumenical Millennium Church Services in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast on Sunday 2 January 2000.

  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures will be in place to facilitate visits from schoolchildren from the most peripheral parts of the United Kingdom to the dome at Greenwich; and if small, rural schools in Scarborough and Whitby will be eligible for such arrangements. [91376]

  Janet Anderson
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is not responsible for travel arrangements to the Dome for schoolchildren or any other groups. Very few, if any, visitor attractions subsidise or pay for school travel and very few provide significant numbers of free entry tickets for schoolchildren. NMEC is providing up to one million free school tickets under the Education Tour scheme. All schools in the UK can apply for these tickets. NMEC has also worked hard to negotiate deals with travel providers and operators which represent good value for money for visitors to the Dome. NMEC has informed schools about these providers and operators in their area.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of school pupils from Scotland will be able to visit the dome on a free basis. [91377]

  Janet Anderson
  There are up to one million free tickets available to schoolchildren. Final details of allocations, including the ballot arrangements, will be announced in due course. However, the free tickets will be on a pro rata to school population basis. Under the Education Tours Scheme, schools in Scotland will be allocated about 8.5 per cent. of the free tickets. However,
  79
  NMEC are not able at this stage to indicate how those tickets will be finally apportioned to the individual Local Education Authorities (LEA's) or individual schools.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will extend the duration of the millennium dome exhibition beyond 31 December 2000. [91378]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Millennium Experience at the Dome is planned as the centrepiece of the nation's millennium celebrations and will run for one year from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000, and be a truly unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience for visitors. The Government are committed to identifying a sustainable, viable use for the Dome after the Millennium Experience ends and launched a competition for that purpose on 4 March 1999. The competition is proceeding well and the outcome will be announced in Spring 2000.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what training Millennium Dome staff will receive in order to deal with problems; and what powers they will have in respect of the public. [91267]

  Janet Anderson
  All staff will receive appropriate training in line with best practice for the nature and scope of their duties and responsibilities.

  Sports Participation
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action his Department is taking to increase the proportion of(a) pensioners, (b) people with disabilities and (c) people from ethnic minorities who participate in sport. [91311]

  Mr. Banks
  The Government fund Sport England to develop programmes in all these areas. On(a), Sport England believes in lifelong participation in sport, and its Active Communities programme has seen substantial investment in initiatives with particular appeal to older participants, such as capital Lottery funding for walking, keep-fit/yoga, swimming, cycling, golf and bowls. For example, 290 awards have been made to bowls projects, grants of £26 million supporting project costs of £42.5 million. Through the monitoring of completed Lottery projects, Sport England reports that participation among senior citizens at these facilities has doubled.

  Sport England also monitors the age structure of the population and its Facilities Planning Model (a mathematical model aimed at assessing the needs for sport and recreational facilities) is used, on a local community and national level, to determine facilities required for each age group, including older people. Through its advice to local authorities Sport England encourages the needs and concerns of older people to be incorporated in Local Sports Strategies and Best Value practices.

  Other work in this area includes support for GP referral schemes, working with the health sector to encourage physical activity to maintain good health.

  On (b), Sport England has adopted the approach that, wherever possible, support should be channelled through mainstream sport rather than separate disability
  80
  organisations. This decision was based on consultation and feedback from all parts of sport for people with disabilities.

  Sport England has overseen the formation of the National Federation of Disability Sport, which brings together all the key disability sports organisations. With the election of a management board and appointment of key staff at both a national and regional level, it is able to ensure that people with disabilities can receive proper sporting opportunities.

  As well as its own Disability Advisory Group, Sport England also has a service team of staff with the appropriate skills to co-ordinate and audit the disability work that Sport England is doing across the range of all its service areas, including Lottery programmes. Baselines of sporting provision for people with disabilities in England have been established and research carried out to find out their exact needs.

  On (c), Sport England has made special efforts to tackle the problems that exist in this area, including setting up its own advisory Group and working with the Commission for Racial Equality jointly to appoint two staff to work on anti-racism initiatives with the governing bodies of sport.

  Six sports were initially identified as priority areas for work: cricket, basketball, rugby league, rugby union, athletics and swimming. The starting point for each sport is the formulation of a racial equity statement.

  Sport England has also given financial support to help develop action plans for sports which seek the elimination of racism.

  Sport England has contracted the Office for National Statistics to conduct a survey to measure accurately levels of participation by members of the ethnic minorities. By establishing the sporting needs of the Black, Asian and other ethnic minorities support can be much more effectively tailored.

  Sport England has also organised and run generic equity workshops for the governing bodies of sport. This is a structured programme and part of the Running Sport range of education and training support.

  In addition, following the publication of the Football Task Force's report "Eliminating Racism from Football", I asked the football authorities to consider how they could implement the recommendations.

  This has been a good start, but I want to ensure that racism is tackled by all sports. To that end I have written to the Governing bodies of cricket, tennis, athletics, rugby union and league asking them how the problems can be addressed within their sports. I hope to meet with those Governing Bodies, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Local Government Association to discuss how we can go about removing racism from sport in the very near future.

  Lottery Funding (East Midlands)
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will take steps to ensure that
  81
  the Gedling Borough Council area receives a comparable share of the lottery money per capita to other parts of the country; [91561]

  (2) what steps he is taking to address the unequal regional distribution of lottery grants, with particular reference to the East Midlands. [91560]

  Mr. Banks
  We recognise that some parts of the country have done less well than others from Lottery funding. We are determined to ensure that Lottery money is allocated more fairly and equitably in the light of need across the whole of the United Kingdom.

  The National Lottery Act 1998 contained a number of measures designed to bring this about. Distributors must now examine the needs of their sectors systematically and draw up strategic plans which reflect those needs and their proposals for addressing them. They have new powers to encourage specific applications where these are not forthcoming spontaneously, to delegate decision-making closer to the grass roots, and to enter into joint schemes. Revised Policy Directions issued to the distributors last year also stressed the need to ensure that all parts of the country have access to Lottery funds.

  Last November, my Department hosted a conference in Barnsley to discuss how the Lottery can assist in the regeneration of coalfield communities. In addition, we are working with the distributors to examine the reasons for the low take-up of funds in many coalfield areas. The results of the first phase of this research, which establishes the extent of the problem, were published on 13 July 1999. We are currently analysing these results and are about to commission further work to consider what needs to be done to ensure that such areas receive their fair share of Lottery money.

  Welsh Language Television
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to improve the reception of television channels carrying Welsh language programmes throughout Wales; and if he will make a statement. [92711]

  Janet Anderson
  BBC Wales and S4C analogue broadcasts presently reach 97.6 per cent. of the population of Wales. The nine Welsh transmitter sites in the launch phase for digital terrestrial television will deliver BBC services to 70 per cent. of the population and S4C services to 63 per cent. BBC and S4C also broadcast their services on digital satellite, and will broadcast on digital cable when available. The BBC, ITC and the digital broadcasters are now considering plans for the further development of digital terrestrial television across the UK.

  Public Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92520]
  82
  Mr. Chris Smith
  The information is noted in the following table, which includes all appointments which fall under my responsibility or where my role is to advise my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, or through him Her Majesty The Queen.

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Her Majesty The Queen and Prime Minister

  1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998

  1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999

  Gender

  Male

  72 (62.6%)

  121 (64.3%)

  Female

  43 (37.4%)

  67 (35.7%)

  Total appointments

  115

  188

  Of which chairmen:

  Male

  12 (92.3%)

  14 (82.3%)

  Female

  1 (7.7%)

  3 (17.7%)

  Total

  13

  17

  Ethnicity

  White

  95 (82.6%)

  153 (81.3%)

  Ethnic

  8 (6.9%)

  12 (6.4%)

  Unknown1

  12 (10.4%)

  23 (12.2%)

  Of which chairmen:

  White

  12 (92.3%)

  13 (76.4%)

  Ethnic

  0

  0

  Unknown1

  1 (7.7%)

  4 (23.5%)

  1 Where information on ethnic background is not known or where appointees have declined to disclose this information

  My Department has published an action plan on equal opportunities in "Quangos—Opening up Public Appointments 1999–2002", which was published by the Government on 25 May 1999 and deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. The action plan sets out DCMS objectives and targets for improving representation of women, people from ethnic minority groups and from people with disabilities.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Compliance Costs
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reductions were achieved in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department and its public bodies for the last year for which data are available; what mechanisms exist for monitoring the post-implementation costs of such regulation; and if he has established targets for reduction in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department and its public bodies. [92317]

  Mr. Mudie
  Details of regulations that imposed compliance costs on business are published in the Department's regulatory impact assessments and laid before the House. A summary of all the regulatory impact assessments published by the Department and the other regulatory Departments in Whitehall are published every six months in a White Paper, and are available on a monthly basis on the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit's website.

  The Department published details on the quality and quantity of its regulatory activity in the Departmental Annual Report.
  83
  There is no arbitrary target for reducing the compliance costs of regulation. However, all Departments are required to make an assessment of the risks, costs and benefits of any regulatory proposal that has an impact on businesses, charities and voluntary bodies before they decide to act. Without an assessment of this kind there can be no collective agreement of a regulatory proposal.

  University Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many professors were appointed to university posts in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity. [92511]

  Mr. Mudie
  The available data include those entering their current Higher Education Institution on appointment as professors either on promotion or as a result of a move from a professorial post elsewhere. Those gaining professorial rank within their existing institution are therefore excluded.

  Figures for the two most recent years are shown in the table.

  Professors entering Higher Education Institutions in the UK

  1996–1997

  1997–1998

  Ethnicity

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  White

  209

  43

  264

  41

  Black Caribbean

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Black African

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Black Other

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Indian

  3

  0

  2

  1

  Pakistani

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Bangladeshi

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Chinese

  3

  0

  3

  0

  Asian Other

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Other

  7

  0

  5

  1

  Information not provided

  55

  7

  63

  9

  Total

  279

  50

  339

  53

  Public Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92515]

  Mr. Mudie
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment made a total of 68 appointments and re-appointments to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) in 1997–98. Of these, 48 were men and 20 were women. Three were from ethnic minorities. Included in the total of 68, are the appointments or re-appointments of seven chairs, all of whom were men. None was from an ethnic minority.

  In 1998–99, my right hon. Friend made a total of 142 appointments and re-appointments to NDPBs. Of these, 101 were men and 41 were women. Nineteen were from ethnic minorities. Included in that total of 142, are the appointments or re-appointments of eight chairs, one of whom was a woman. None was from an ethnic minority.

  Secondary School Teachers
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures the Government are taking to expand the availability of secondary school teachers specialising in(a) physics, (b) mathematics and (c) information technology; and if he will make a statement. [92577]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The wide ranging reforms to the teaching profession set out in our Green Paper "Teachers—meeting the challenge of change" will make teaching more attractive. Over time, it will substantially boost our ability to ensure the supply of high quality teachers we need.

  We are also investing £130 million in shorter term measures, many of which target these shortage subjects. Last October, I announced £5,000 incentives for graduates in maths and science subjects to go into teaching. These have already brought a substantial increase in PGCE applications in those subjects, by 37 per cent. for maths and 33 per cent. for physics. This comes on top of £10 million of financial assistance for trainee teachers in shortage subjects, including maths, physics and technology, and the waiver of PGCE tuition fees. We have also launched a scheme to recruit 600 mature maths and science graduates and match them to vacancies in schools. Other action targeting these subjects includes the high-profile national advertising campaigns of the Teacher Training Agency. They also work closely with higher education institutions and professional subject associations on a range of initiatives to boost recruitment to teaching.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children of secondary school age have a statement of Special Educational need and what proportion that represents of the overall numbers of such children in(a) North West Leicestershire, (b) the county of Leicestershire, not including the City of Leicester, (c) the City of Leicester, (d) the East Midlands and (e) England. [92507]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information available is shown in the table.

  Numbers and percentage of pupils in maintained secondary schools by local education authority area in England January 1999 (provisional)

  Numbers of pupils with statements of Special Educational need

  Numbers of pupils in schools

  Percentage of pupils with statements

  Rutland

  68

  2,122

  3.2

  Leicestershire

  1,318

  42,598

  3.1

  City of Leicester

  677

  17,979

  3.8

  East Midlands

  6,615

  277,995

  2.4

  England

  77,370

  3,123,048

  2.5

  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children of primary school age have a statement of Special Educational need and what proportion that represents of the overall numbers of such children in(a) North West

  85
  Leicestershire, (b) the county of Leicestershire, not including the City of Leicester, (c) the City of Leicester, (d) the East Midlands and (e) England. [92508]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information available is shown in the table.

  Numbers and percentage of pupils in maintained primary schools by local education authority area in England January 1999 (provisional)

  Numbers of pupils with statements of Special Educational need

  Numbers of pupils in schools

  Percentage of pupils with statements

  Rutland

  53

  2,595

  2.0

  Leicestershire

  940

  50,205

  1.9

  City of Leicester

  619

  30,428

  2.0

  East Midlands

  5,655

  381,082

  1.5

  England

  69,833

  4,460,614

  1.6

  Table A: Expenditure in each year and the amount of Government support

  £

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  LEA's Education Capital Programme, supported by the following government programmes and initiatives1

  5,273,000

  27,505,000

  8—

  Annual Capital Guidelines3

  1,563,000

  2,155,104

  3,426,036

  Supplementary Credit Approvals4

  368,000

  323,000

  1,019,000

  New Deal for Schools5

  677,000

  1,705,684

  2,862,282

  Class Sizes

  9—

  380,822

  755,330

  Removal of Outside Toilets

  9—

  64,024

  9—

  Energy Management

  9—

  186,150

  9—

  Security in Schools6

  9—

  193,000

  201,000

  National Grid for Learning6

  9—

  998,000

  900,000

  Grant to Voluntary Aided Schools (inc. VA Challenge Fund)7

  154,000

  170,000

  188,000

  Grant to Grant Maintained Schools

  149,345

  276,172

  504,157

  1 Education Capital Programme: Includes capital expenditure supported by the Authority's own resources.

  2 Education Capital Programme 1998–99: This figure is provisional only, based on estimates by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  3 Annual Capital Guidelines: This is used in the calculation of the LEA's Basic Credit Approval (BCA), where the LEA's capital receipts are taken into account. Just because a project has been taken account of in calculating the ACG, it does not mean that the LEA has to use its BCA for that purpose.

  4 Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA): Unlike BCA, receipts are not taken into account when calculating the level of SCA. However, unless the SCA specifically says otherwise, the LEA is not obliged to use the SCA for the purpose for which it was calculated.

  5 New Deal for Schools (NDS): Some of the grant figures for VA schools would have changed slightly in order to reflect the actual costs of the project.

  6 National Grid for Learning and Security in Schools: While the majority of the expenditure supported by the grant will be capital in nature, some will be revenue. It is not possible to isolate the two elements.

  7 VA Grant: Capital grant is paid in respect of Governors' liability, at a rate of 85 per cent. Actual amount of grant paid may change depending on the costs of project on tender.

  8 Not available.

  9 Not applicable.

  Note:

  The following initiatives had not been established in 1997–98: Toilets, Energy, Class Sizes and National Grid for Learning.

  Table B: Provisional Indicators: Amounts already committed as TRADE AND INDUSTRY part of future ACGs and Grants provided resources allow

  £000

  To be part of:

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Annual Capital Guideline

  3,123,002

  767,493

  VA Grant

  0

  0

  NDS Grant

  1,471,000

  238,719

  Class sizes

  0

  0

  Note:

  There has been no application from Leicestershire for PFI credits.

  Leicestershire Education Authority
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what capital investment in schools in the Leicestershire Education Authority has taken place in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 to date; and what the planned levels are for the next two years. [92579]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Table A shows the capital investment the Government have made in schools in Leicestershire in the three years up to 1999–2000. Table B shows the level of investment the Government intend to make for the following two financial years, provided resources allow. This represents commitments arising from existing projects. We cannot indicate what investment we will make in new projects in Leicestershire at this stage.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution the Office of Science and Technology plans to make to exhibitions at the Millennium Dome. [91148]

  Mr. Battle
  The prime responsibility for exhibitions at the Millennium Dome rests with the New Millennium Experience Company.
  87
  However, officials from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Science and Technology have had several discussions with the New Millennium Experience Company about ideas and source material for exhibits which promote greater public understanding of science, engineering and technology and its key role in shaping the world of the 21st century. These have covered such areas as sustainable development, bio-engineering and future transport technology.

  Post Office
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many appointments to the Post Office within the last 12 months have been made before the final date of(a) trawl and (b) external application was reached. [91001]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I understand from the Post Office that it does not use a trawl system for job vacancies. All vacancies filled internally are subject to an open resourcing policy, which enables anyone in any grade in the organisation to apply. Closing dates for the receipt of applications for all posts filled internally or externally are strictly adhered to, and the Post Office is not aware of any appointments made within the last 12 months before the final dates for either internal or external applications were reached.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1999,Official Report, column 474, on Parcelforce, if the loans to Parcelforce have been repaid; and if they are repayable at commercial rates of interest. [91178]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 13 July 1999]The loans to Parcelforce from the Post Office Group Centre have not been repaid.

  It is Post Office normal practice to charge its constituent businesses, including Parcelforce, interest at a commercial rate on their in-year funding requirements. As Parcelforce is not a legal entity and therefore has no share capital, other loans to Parcelforce from the Post Office Group Centre are treated within the Post Office Group as a surrogate for equity and, as such, do not carry an obligation for interest payments.

  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of Crown post offices; and when he will lift the moratorium on conversion of Crown post offices to agency status. [91314]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  As announced in the White Paper "Post Office Reform: A World Class Service for the 21st Century" published on 8 July, the Government have agreed a strategy for the future of Crown post offices, which reflects proposals put by the Post Office to the trade unions, of retaining a core of directly owned and managed Crown offices at which at least 15 per cent. of the total business transacted by the counters' network will be done. The lifting of the moratorium on the conversion of Crown offices to agency status was announced on 7 December 1998 by the former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson).
  88
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the future of the powers of entry, search and arrest currently enjoyed by the Investigation Branch of the Royal Mail under his proposals for a limited company. [91481]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Consolidation of the reform package in primary legislation will involve changes to a range of existing powers in order to reflect the new framework which separates Government ownership from Post Office business operations and introduces new, independent regulation. The future of the powers of entry, search and arrest, currently available to the Investigation Branch of the Royal Mail will be considered in this wider context.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if(a) the postal archives and (b) the Post Office Museum will become part of the public limited company under his proposals for the Post Office. [914801

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Post Office is currently looking at plans for the future management of its heritage collection in the light of the recent closure of the National Postal Museum. No firm decisions have yet been reached but we will be assessing the impact of public limited company status on any proposed plans.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has held with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the future of the Post Office Archives and the Post Office Museum; and if he will make a statement. [91479]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  There have not been any discussions between Departments, but the Post Office is considering proposals for the future management of its heritage collection in the light of the recent closure of the National Postal Museum in London. I understand that the Public Record Office and Museum and Galleries Commission guidelines continue to be met.

  Viewing of the philatelic collection is available by appointment, as has always been the case. The artefacts collection is currently not on public display, but is accessible through written application to:

  The Post Office Archives Centre

  Freeling House,

  Mount Pleasant Complex,

  London.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, under the proposal for the Post Office outlined in the Post Office White Paper, the Government will underwrite any debt issued or raised. [91739]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  As the White Paper sets out, the Government believe that borrowing by the Post Office should, on value-for-money grounds, be from the National Loans Fund, but at a commercial rate without a Government guarantee.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the studies carried out in Europe by the European Commission referred to on page 19 of the Post Office White Paper regarding the need for greater competition in postal services. [91747]
  89
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The European Commission had the following studies carried out in accordance with Article 7(3) of the Postal services directive 97/67/EC:Study of the impacts of liberalisation in the postal sector: Liberalisation of incoming and outgoing intra-community cross-border mail (Price Waterhouse Coopers)
  Study on costing and financing of universal service obligations in the postal sector in the European Union (NERA)
  Study on the weight and price limits of the reserved area in the postal sector (Ctcon)
  Study on the liberalisation of clearance, sorting and transport (Ctcon)
  Study of the impact of liberalisation of direct mail (Arthur Andersen)
  Modelling and quantifying the scenarios for liberalisation (MMD).

  The first five of the above are available on the internet at http://www.ispo.cec.be/ under "postal services". We understand that the sixth will be available shortly.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Post Office Regulator will be required to publish details of internal transfer pricing arrangements under the proposals in the Post Office White Paper. [91736]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government are committed to a transparent regulatory regime. The new postal services Commission will therefore not only have powers to require information, but to publish information for the benefit of consumers and in the interests of good regulation. They will, therefore, have the ability to publish details of internal transfer pricing arrangements. The Government do not propose to require them to do so.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, under the proposed public limited company status for the Post Office, it will be possible for the company to be put into(a) receivership by creditors, (b) voluntary liquidation and (c) compulsory liquidation. [91740]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Once the Post Office has become a public limited company under the Companies Acts, it will be subject to the full range of company law.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Post Office's power to acquire land by compulsory purchase order will apply to its non-monopoly services following its conversion to a public limited company. [91745]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Post Office privileges which have been granted in the past, including the Post Office's power to acquire land by compulsory purchase in certain circumstances, were provided to facilitate the universal service obligations (USO) placed on the Post Office. The USO is not limited to services within the monopoly area. For example, it also covers standard parcels and the registered letter service. The Government have decided that these privileges should remain for now but that they should be kept under review by the Regulator.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he made of the compatibility of his proposals relating to the duties to be owed by the directors of the Post Office plc with the provision of the Companies Acts. [91751]
  90
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The intention of transforming the Post Office into a public limited company is to underline the clear separation of the functions of ownership and management. In particular it will make it absolutely clear that the Directors owe their duties to the company and not directly to the Government as owner. This will reinforce the new arm's length relationship between the Government and the Post Office Board.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he has implemented to ensure that the transfer of Royal Mail Priority Services to Parcelforce does not result in any monopoly services being delivered by Parcelforce. [91735]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  No monopoly business is carried by Parcelforce. However, as set out in the White Paper, under the transfer of Priority Services much of the operational activity, at least initially, continues to be carried out by Royal Mail. This raises the possibility of the Post Office monopoly business improperly subsidising wider Parcelforce business in the competitive arena. The Government therefore asked its auditors for the Post Office to look at the business case for the transfer; at the basis on which revenues and costs would be treated under the new arrangements; and, in particular, whether this was on a defensible basis from a competition point of view and with accounting transparency. In the light of the advice from the auditors, the Government have confidence that the arrangements are satisfactory. They will continue to be monitored by the auditors until the Regulator has its own arrangements in place.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional Government services the Government plans to deliver through the sub-post office network. [91748]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The unrivalled reach of the nationwide network of post offices, and the trust in which it is held by its customers, make it ideally suited as a delivery channel for a wide variety of Government business. As at present, Post Office Counters Ltd. will remain free to bid for this business.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to introduce legislation to create the Post Office as a public limited company. [91752]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  As soon as parliamentary time permits, primary legislation will be brought forward to consolidate the reform of the Post Office and the postal market.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry over what periods the Post Office will be permitted to borrow under the proposals in the Post Office White Paper. [91750]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The precise terms, including maturity of any borrowing, will depend on the investment concerned and will be discussed with the Post Office as part of the notification and approval process.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if debt incurred by the Post Office under the proposals in the Post Office White Paper will be accounted for as Government debt. [917431
  91
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Under national accounts definitions, as the Post Office is in the public sector, Post Office debt will score within the Public Sector Net Cash Requirement (previously Public Sector Borrowing Requirement) which is closely related to changes in Public Sector Net Debt.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what mechanism the company referred to at paragraph 18, page 51 of the Post Office White Paper will enforce the duties which it is proposed the directors of that company will owe to that company. [91734]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Once the Post Office has become a public limited company under the Companies Acts, it will be subject to the full range of company law. Its directors will be subject to the legal duties imposed on directors under those Acts.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the non-monopoly services of the Post Office will account for the cost of capital tied up in its fixed assets; and how such fixed assets will be valued under the arrangement proposed in the Post Office White Paper. [91737]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Postal Services Directive 97/67/EC lays down specific requirements about transparency of accounts which address these issues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has instructed the Post Office to comply with these requirements and will be ensuring that they do so. How the non-monopoly services of the Post Office will account for the cost of capital tied up in its fixed assets, and how such fixed assets will be valued, will be a matter in the first instance for the Board of the Post Office. These accounts will be independently audited and, in due course, will also be subject to scrutiny by the new independent regulator, the Postal Services Commission. All services will be included.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what power the proposed Post Office Regulator will have to ensure fair competition by the Post Office in the area of those non-monopoly services which are still subject to the universal service obligation. [91744]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The regulator will have a range of powers to ensure that the Post Office competes fairly and does not act anti-competitively, including in the competitive area. It is proposed that the Postal Services Commission will have concurrent powers with the Director-General of Fair Trading to apply competition rules in respect of the Post Office (and other licensed postal operators).

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Post Office will be included in the proposed Utilities Bill. [91741]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  No. We intend to bring forward separate legislation on the Post Office as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plan he has to ensure that following its conversion to a public limited company Ministers remain accountable to Parliament for the Post Office. [91757]
  92
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The current arrangements will remain in place and in fact be strengthened. The Post Office is currently required by the Post Office Act 1969 to provide my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State with its accounts and annual reports and my right hon. Friend is required to lay them before each House. This arrangement will continue. An obligation will also be laid on the Regulator to report annually to my right hon. Friend and this report will also be laid before each House. In addition, the Government have undertaken to report annually to Parliament on the progress of the reforms set out in the White Paper, and particularly on the functioning of the arm's length relationship. The aim will also be to report once the Strategic Plan has been approved, though commercially confidential details of the Plan will not be revealed. But the Government will not be involved in the day to day management or detailed issues, as noted on pages 44-45 of the White Paper.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what safeguards will be incorporated in the measures proposed in the Post Office White Paper to ensure that the terms of the loan arrangement, other than the rate of interest, are on an arm's length basis. [91742]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Post Office Board will be clearly accountable for running the business successfully on the basis of a rolling five-year strategic plan agreed with the Government. Any borrowing for growth investments will be on commercial terms. The Government will be responsible for approving annually the five-year rolling strategic plan and approving borrowing for major acquisitions and other growth investments, but otherwise will not be involved in normal management and commercial matters which fall to the Post Office.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers will be given to the Post Office regulator to ensure that the debt: equity ratio of the Post Office non-monopoly services will be similar to those operating generally in the private sector of these markets, under the arrangement proposed in the Post Office White Paper. [91755]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To place the Post Office on a more commercial footing, and one where it can be better benchmarked against its competitors, the balance sheet will be restructured with the Post Office ceasing to hold, and have access to interest from, the present level of accumulated External Financing Limit surpluses. It is planned that the change will take effect on 1 April 2002. During the interim period, the Government will consider with the help of professional advisers the appropriate shape of the balance sheet.

  The Regulator will be responsible for ensuring fair competition and that there is no undue cross subsidy from the monopoly to competitive market, nor an abuse of a dominant position. In particular, it is intended that the Regulator will be able to require the Post Office to provide regulatory accounts and other financial information clearly distinguishing between monopoly and competitive services, and in the competitive area, between Universal Service Obligation (USO) and non-USO services. It is also intended that the Regulator will have a power to impose changes in accounting practices if this would facilitate transparency.
  93
  Until we have primary legislation, the Regulator will advise my right hon. Friend on these and other matters relating to the Secretary of State's regulatory duties in relation to the Post Office.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what fee will be paid by the Department of Social Security to sub post offices for administering cash benefit payments under the arrangements applicable from 2003. [91749]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The contractual arrangements between the Benefits Agency and Post Office Counters Ltd. are commercially confidential, as are the contractual arrangements between Post Office Counters Ltd. and certain retail banks under which customers of those banks can access their accounts at post offices.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the proposals in the Post Office White Paper, what measures will be put in place to ensure that charges between the monopoly service provider division of the Post Office and the non-monopoly service provider divisions are arrived at on an arm's length basis; what services will be included in these arrangements; and how they will be valued. [91756]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Postal Services Directive 97/67/EC lays down specific requirements about transparency of accounts which address these issues. The Secretary of State has instructed the Post Office to comply with these requirements and will be ensuring that they do so. All services will be included. How they will be valued will be a matter in the first instance for the Board of the Post Office. These accounts will be independently audited and, in due course, will also be subject to scrutiny by the new independent regulator, the Postal Services Commission.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Post Office exemption from traffic regulations will apply to its non-monopoly service vehicles under the proposals set out in the Post Office White Paper. [91753]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Post Office privileges which have been granted in the past, including those relating to aspects of traffic regulations, were provided to facilitate the universal service obligations (USO) placed on the Post Office. The USO is not limited to services within the monopoly area. For example, it also covers standard parcels and the registered letter service. The Government have decided that these privileges should remain for now but that they should be kept under review by the Regulator.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many community sub-post offices there are in the United Kingdom. [91766]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I understand from the Post office that at the end of May 1999 there were 2,082 community sub-post offices in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what borrowing limits his Department will propose be laid down by Parliament for borrowing by the Post Office under the proposed arrangements for borrowing subject to Government approval set out in the Post Office White Paper. [91754]
  94
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Under the new framework announced in the White Paper, the Post Office will be able to borrow for growth investments up to an annual limit of £75 million in each of the next five years. The Post Office will be free to seek approval for growth investments costing more than £75 million, as necessary, but the approval of Ministers will be required. The Government will approve Post Office requests for borrowing for these larger investment cases which are consistent with the rolling five-year strategic plan, commercially robust, and pose no undue risk to the taxpayer. The precise terms of any borrowing will depend on the investment concerned.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the possible steps being considered by his Department under its proposals to liberalise further the postal market referred to at page 21 of the Post Office White Paper. [91746]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  This is a matter to be considered by the new regulatory body, the Postal Services Commission, not the Department. The White Paper makes it clear that the Regulator should be free to consider all appropriate mechanisms.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those countries included in his Department's analysis of the postal services of other countries in which the postal services have been reformed in a way similar to that proposed in the Post Office White Paper; and what system of price regulation was adopted, listing in each case the appropriate formula. [91738]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Among the developed countries, Australia, New Zealand, all the Nordic countries, Ireland, Belgium and Austria have now adopted models of a government-owned plc. Of the different systems of price regulation, the information available is as follows:

  Australia
  Australia Post sets charges which are reviewed by an external body, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The Government may disallow a variation of postage rates for ordinary post within Australia.

  Denmark
  In the reserved area the Minister of Transport determines the conditions for the fixing of postal charges for inland letters covered by the exclusive right. Tariffs are determined by Post Danmark and are approved on the basis of a price cap model. This consists of the rates being regulated by the percentage development in the gross price index (consumer price index) with deduction of 1 per cent.

  Ireland
  The Regulator is responsible for sanctioning tariff increases for letter post only.

  New Zealand
  Maintains a relationship between the price of the standard letter and movements in the Consumer Price Index.

  Sweden
  There is a price cap on the domestic letter rate for private individuals. The charge to private individuals for delivery of letters weighing up to 500g may be increased by a maximum of the average change in the net price index over a three year period.
  95
  Belgium
  The postal service provider sets the tariffs and pricing structures for public service activities within the pricing framework laid down in its management contract (with the Government). Price ceilings are subject to the approval of the relevant Government minister.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has met representatives of the Post Office to discuss the reduction in the size of the network; and if he will make a statement. [92017]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  There have not been any such meetings. The Government remain committed to a nationwide network of post offices, and will be discussing with the Post Office the criteria for access to post offices which we intend to publish by the end of this year. The Regulator will have a duty to monitor performance against these criteria.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff were employed by the Post Office in Scotland for each of the past five years; and what forecast he has made of staff levels for each of the next five years. [92005]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I understand from the Post Office that the numbers of staff employed in Scotland for each of the last five years were as follows:

  Post Office

  Year

  Royal Mail

  Counters Ltd.

  Parcelforce

  Total

  1995

  13,286

  1,276

  920

  15,482

  1996

  13,675

  1,270

  930

  15,875

  1997

  14,028

  1,203

  940

  16,171

  1998

  14,872

  1,207

  950

  17,029

  June 1999

  14,541

  1,152

  926

  16,619

  No forecasts of staff levels in Scotland for the next five years are available.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices in Scotland were closed on a temporary basis in each of the past five years; and how many of these were subsequently re-opened. [92016]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I understand from the Post Office that the numbers of sub-post offices closed in Scotland on a temporary basis and subsequent reopenings in each of the last five years were as follows:

  1994–95
  29 temporary closures of which two reopened within the year; nine other offices reopened from previous years' closures.

  1995–96
  17 temporary closures of which three reopened within the year; three other offices reopened from previous years' closures.

  1996–97
  41 temporary closures of which five reopened within the year; 14 other offices reopened from previous years' closures.

  1997–98
  35 temporary closures of which four reopened within the year; eight other offices reopened from previous years' closures.

  1998–99
  44 temporary closures of which 14 reopened within the year; eight other offices reopened from previous years' closures.
  96
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for continuation of free postal services for(a) Braille material and (b) talking books, as part of his programme of Post Office restructuring. [91949]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 19 July 1999]As set out in the White Paper on Post Office Reform, the Government believe that there is a genuine need for special services for the blind and has made clear that the Post Office will continue to be obliged to provide them under the reform programme.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what level of losses sustained by non-monopoly services of the Post Office following its conversion to plc status will be regarded as constituting a subsidy from the monopoly services of the Post Office. [92052]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  It will be the responsibility of the Regulator to ensure that any cross-subsidy from the monopoly area to competitive activities is the minimum required, in their opinion, to ensure the continued provision of services required by the universal service obligation at a uniform tariff. It will be for the Regulator to determine the extent to which this is affected, if at all, by plc status.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date Ministers were advised that the Horizon project should be cancelled. [92134]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The decision to proceed with the Horizon project in a restructured form and without the benefit payment card culminated in an agreement in principle signed between ICL and Post Office Counters Ltd. on 24 May 1999.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Minister has specific responsibility for the Horizon Project. [92067]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]I have specific responsibility under the Secretary of State for Post Office issues, including the Post Office's interest in the Horizon project.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices in(a) urban, (b) suburban and (c) rural areas are provided with a guaranteed minimum level of income. [92413]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 22 July 1999]I understand from the Post Office that, as part of the new subpostmasters remuneration system, all sub-post offices receive some level of guaranteed minimum income. The system, which was specifically designed to help support smaller, mainly rural offices, includes a fixed element and an element which varies according to the amount of business a sub-post office handles. The fixed element is a larger proportion of the overall pay for small offices.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what payments are made per transaction to post offices for processing each DSS benefit payment; and what payments will be made where post offices act as agents for banks and individual payments not made via automated credit transfer into bank accounts. [92346]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The remuneration arrangements between Post Office Counters Ltd. and subpostmasters and subpostmistresses are commercially confidential.
  97
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average number of transactions of DSS benefit payments processed by post offices broken down by category of post office; and what estimates he has made of the forecast decrease in transactions as automated credit transfer is encouraged. [92347]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I understand from the Post Office that the number and percentage in 1998–99 of DSS benefit payment transactions processed by category of post office are as follows:

  Number of transactions

  Percentage

  Crown offices

  181,469,895

  23.9

  Sub-post offices

  572,503,350

  75.4

  Community offices

  4,555,729

  0.6

  Other

  759,288

  0.1

  Existing paper-based methods of paying benefits at post offices are to be progressively phased out between 2003 and 2005 in favour of more modern means of payment based on the existing Automated Credit Transfer system.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) post offices and (b) sub-post offices there are in each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales; how many have been opened in each of the last five years; and how many have been closed. [92460]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I understand from the Post Office that it is not possible to provide figures for post offices and sub-post offices opened and closed in each of the last five years in each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales. However, I will shortly be placing in the Library a list of the numbers as at the end of March 1998 of Crown post offices and sub-post offices in each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales. I will forward a copy of this list to the hon. Member as soon as is practicable.

  Insolvency
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has commissioned during the current review of company law into the services provided by insolvency practitioners and their cost; when the results of that research will be published; and if he will make a statement. [91783]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  A comprehensive review of company law was announced in March 1998 with the aim of a final report in the Spring of 2001. A consultation document on the strategic framework was published earlier this year with the intention to publish a summary of responses in the autumn.

  In February this year a separate review, joint with the Treasury, of company rescue mechanisms was announced which will include consideration of the cost of and access to the service of insolvency practitioners. This review is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

  Miners (Respiratory Diseases)
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines his Department has set for 98
  the length of time which former miners suffering 80 per cent. emphysema should expect to wait for a spirometer test. [92121]

  Mr. Battle
  This is the longest running personal injury action in the UK and the development of an agreed assessment process, which can handle the 77,000 claims received, has inevitably taken some considerable time. However, as soon as agreement in principle on spirometry testing was reached in March we awarded the contract for the programme of spirometry testing throughout Scotland, England and Wales to Healthcall Services Limited. This is principally to help prioritise claims for the full medical assessment process, but will also enable us to extend offers of interim payments to new categories of miners and, in some cases, make full and final offers. Some 3,300 claimants have already been assessed, and we anticipate that the majority of the remaining existing claimants will be completed by the Autumn, with the most elderly being considered first. This should help ensure that those with severe disabilities are invited to be tested at an early stage.

  Airlines
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive further evidence from the Director General of Fair Trading about the proposed alliance between American Airlines and British Airways. [91219]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 13 July 1999]: My officials have held a number of discussions with officials from the Office of Fair Trading and I have met the Director-General of Fair Trading three times to discuss this case. I am not yet at a stage at which I can reach a final decision.

  Gender Discrimination
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in Scotland have(a) taken cases alleging gender discrimination to an employment tribunal and (b) had their cases upheld in the last 12 months for which figures are available and in the three previous years. [92129]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The number of people in Scotland who have taken cases alleging gender discrimination to an Employment Tribunal over the period 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 was 192 of which 11 were upheld. The following table provides the figures for the last three financial years.

  Year

  Applications

  Upheld

  1996–97

  196

  20

  1997–98

  240

  28

  1998–99

  196

  16

  Electronic Correspondence
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will make it his policy to reply to electronic correspondence electronically; and if he will make a statement. [92028]

  Mr. Byers
  It is already my policy to respond to electronic correspondence electronically where practicable.

  Genetic Testing
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce restrictions on the use of genetic testing by employers; and if he will make a statement. [92251]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government are considering carefully the Human Genetics Advisory Commission's report on "The Implications of Genetic Testing for Employment", which was published on 14 July 1999. We intend to publish our response in due course.

  Biotechnology
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Minister for Science has completed his examination of the growth of biotechnology clusters announced on 16 April; and if he plans to publish the report of the findings. [92246]

  Mr. Battle
  The study led by my noble Friend the Minister for Science on biotechnology clusters has been completed and the report will be published shortly.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 19 July 1999,Official Report, column 374, on statutory instruments, for what reasons the cost of providing the information would be disproportionate. [92478]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 22 July 1999]It would have exceeded £500.

  Ilisu Dam
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will request from the Swiss Government, their consent to place in the Library their environmental impact assessment into the Ilisu Dam project. [92757]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Environmental Impact Appraisal Report (EIAR) is being prepared for the company bidding for this project; supplemental reports are being prepared for the Swiss authorities. We have already asked the company and the Swiss authorities whether they are prepared to allow ECGD to release these documents. They have advised that they are not prepared to agree release at the present time. We understand that they intend to release the reports when they have been finalised.

  BNFL
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the value of BNFL's operations in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on future market opportunities for BNFL in the United States. [92815]

  Mr. Battle
  In 1997, the turnover of Westinghouse's nuclear business—which BNFL acquired for $900 million along with Morrison Knudsen in March this year—was $1.1 billion. BNFL's US subsidiary, BNFL Inc, earned revenue of $67.6 million. BNFL's current US order book is worth a potential $9 billion if all contract options are exercised. BNFL has been set the target of enhancing its financial performance further through material and progressive growth in profits generated from ordinary 100
  activities. Its success in winning an increasing share of the US clean-up business will help contribute towards this goal.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what method is being used by BNFL to put a value on its United States contracts for the purpose of Government proposals to sell its stake in the company. [92816]

  Mr. Battle
  BNFL has been set the target of increasing the overall contribution made by its US business to BNFL profits, and of increasing towards 15 per cent. the proportion of BNFL profits derived from the US business.

  MOX Shipments
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 29 June 1999,Official Report, column 116, on MOX shipments, if he will list the qualifications and career experience of the technical experts advising on the process of separating plutonium from MOX fuel. [92761]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith), 7 July 1999,Official Report, column 578. The advice in that reply was given by the Head of the Safeguards Office in the Department of Trade and Industry who has a first class honours degree in chemistry. This official worked initially for the Ministry of Defence at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, dealing with plutonium chemistry, measurement methods and underground nuclear testing. He then moved to the UKAEA's Harwell Laboratory, where he led work on the development of radiometric instrumentation for the non-destructive measurement of nuclear materials. Before moving to the DTI as Head of the Radiation Dosimetry Branch of the National Physical Laboratory, this official was responsible for the UK's long-term research and development programme concerning the management and disposal of radioactive wastes at the then Department of the Environment. The official has been chairman of the IAEA' s Standing Advisory Group on Safeguards Implementation since August 1996.

  Competitiveness Indices
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his Department's currently preferred indices of competitiveness; and what their levels were in May of each year since 1979. [92561]

  Mr. Byers
  The Competitiveness White Paper, published on 16 December 1998, announced the Government's intention to develop a set of competitiveness indicators to measure the UK's progress. This work is in hand and will be published in due course.

  Unfair Dismissals
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what proportion of(a) men and (b) women who have appealed to an employment tribunal in respect of unfair dismissal during the last 12 months have had their claim upheld. [92510]
  101
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Between 1 July 1998 and 30 June 1999, the Employment Tribunals received a total of 35,017 applications for unfair dismissal. Of those determined at a tribunal hearing the following numbers were upheld:

  Male

  Female

  Total determined

  3,585

  1,770

  Numbers successful

  1,493

  791

  Arms Exports (Africa)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences Her Majesty's Government have (a) granted and (b) refused for the export of arms to (i) Zimbabwe, (ii) Uganda and (iii) Rwanda for the period 1 January 1998 to the present day; and if he will make a statement. [91333]

  Dr. Howells
  The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 January 1998 and 7 July 1999, 46 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 23 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Rwanda, Uganda or Zimbabwe of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List.

  In the same period, two applications for such SIELs were refused; no applications for such OIELs were refused in full.

  Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings and OIELs may also cover a range of countries. Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all of the relevant ratings and/or countries.

  Individual Licences issued between 1 January 1998 and 7 July 1999 covering the export to Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of applications refused for such SIELs

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Rwanda

  PL5006

  1

  0

  0

  Uganda

  ML2

  1

  0

  0

  ML3

  2

  0

  0

  ML6

  2

  0

  0

  ML11

  1

  0

  1

  ML15

  0

  0

  1

  Zimbabwe

  ML1

  11

  0

  3

  ML2

  7

  0

  2

  ML3

  5

  1

  4

  ML4

  1

  1

  0

  ML5

  3

  0

  0

  ML6

  3

  0

  3

  MLIO

  4

  0

  4

  ML11

  7

  1

  4

  ML13

  1

  1

  2

  ML15

  1

  0

  1

  102

  Individual Licences issued between 1 January 1998 and 7 July 1999 covering the export to Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of applications refused for such SIELs

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML22

  3

  0

  0

  PL5002

  0

  0

  3

  PL5017

  4

  0

  0

  PL5018

  1

  0

  2

  PL5021

  2

  0

  0

  This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict. This information should be considered in light of the answer given by the then Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

  Certain Open General Export Licences cover the export to specified countries, including Uganda and Zimbabwe, of certain goods on the Military List. Copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

  Premium Telephone Lines
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review the regulatory framework governing the use by businesses of premium telephone lines; and if he will make a statement. [92276]

  Mr. Wills
  The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) has responsibility for regulating premium rate services. ICSTIS enforces an effective Code of Practice which has provisions to ensure that consumers are given adequate information to enable them to take informed decisions about the use of premium rate services. The Code ensures that the costs of calls to premium rate lines used by businesses must be given in advertisements and has provisions limiting the time spent by callers on these services. ICSTIS and Oftel are planning to review the regulatory framework for premium rate services later this year to ensure that consumers continue to benefit from the right level of protection.

  Money Lenders
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review the regulatory framework governing the activities of private money lenders; and if he will make a statement. [92275]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published last week the Government's Consumer Strategy White Paper "Modern markets: confident consumers", which sets out many proposals to improve and review consumer credit legislation. These include:
  reviewing the consumer credit licensing system;103 requiring wealth warnings to be included in documents given to prospective customers instead of transient advertisements on radio, television and cinema;changing the wealth warning required in advertisements for equity release schemes;changing the way the annual percentage rate of charge (APR) of the total charge of credit is calculated in the UK so that it is calculated on the same basis throughout the European Union;changing the way the APR for low-start mortgages is calculated; and reviewing rules on extortionate credit.
  A copy of the White Paper is available from the Library of the House.

  Compliance Costs
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reductions were achieved in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department and its public bodies for the last year for which data are available; what mechanisms exist for monitoring the post-implementation costs of such regulation; and if he has established targets for reduction in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department and its public bodies. [92314]

  Mr. Byers
  Details of regulations which impose compliance costs on business are published in the Department's regulatory impact assessments copies of which are placed in the Libraries of both Houses. A summary of all regulatory impact assessments published by the Department and the other regulatory Departments in Whitehall are published every six months by way of Command Paper, and are available on a monthly basis on the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit's website. Where appropriate, regulatory impact assessments also contain information on how a regulation will be monitored.

  The Department published details on its regulatory activity in its Departmental Expenditure Plans Report (Cm. 4211). Recent examples of measures already taken or planned to reduce burdens on business include:
  the establishment of a new Small Business Service which will offer smaller firms practical assistance to help them meet their regulatory obligations. Consultation on its proposed role began on 30 June;
  consultation on proposals for a new service to help new small employers get to grips with running a payroll, to be operated through the Small Business Service;
  plans to consult on increasing the threshold below which companies need not have their accounts independently audited from its current level of £350,000; and
  proposals to amend the Working Time Regulations to give more flexibility and to reduce the detailed record-keeping for employers.

  Although there is no arbitrary target for reducing the compliance costs of regulation we are committed to minimising the burden of regulation on business. In addition all Departments are required to make an assessment of the risks, costs and benefits of any regulatory proposal which has an impact on businesses, charities and voluntary bodies before they decide to act. Without an assessment of this kind there can be no collective agreement to a regulatory proposal.

  Government Patents
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the Government patents held by his Department. [93078]

  Dr. Howells
  There are 15 patents currently in force for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is the proprietor. Their details are as follows:

  GB2325266: Blind or Curtain

  GB2323496: Measurement of Effective Radiating Area of a Transducer

  GB2309777: Interferometer

  GB2307052: Real Time Radiation Resistant Meter

  GB2293162: Apparatus for Verifying the Performance of Optical Fibre Measurement Equipment

  GB2289345: Optical Lenses

  GB2285150: Timing Apparatus

  GB2278738: Electromagnetic Machine GB2278434: A Broadband Interferometer

  GB2265525: Method of Allocating Broadcasting Criteria in a Network

  GB2226443: Helium-Neon Lasers

  GB2238449: Improvements in or relating to T. D. M. A. Systems

  GB2215847: Magnetometers Using High Temperature Superconductors

  GB2211930: Improvements in or relating to Monitoring Pyrogenic Processes

  EP0862745: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Level Gauging Device.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Gender Impact Assessments
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by his Department since June 1997, indicating in each case whether the outcome has been (a) put out to consultation and (b) published. [919991

  Angela Eagle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 22 July 1999,Official Report, column 636, by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Women.

  As part of the Government's commitment to ensuring that its policies are relevant to the lives that people live today, this Department is working closely with the Women's Unit on gender issues. Our approach to developing policy initiatives is consistent with the principles set out in the joint document from the Cabinet Office, Home Office and Department for Education and Employment, "Policy Appraisal for Equal Treatment", which was published in November 1998.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families claiming family credit have (a) one child, (b) two children, (c) three children, (d) four children, (e) five children and (f) six children or more; and if he will break these numbers down by regions. [92574]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.
  105

  Number of children in families receiving family credit by Government Office Region as at February 1999

  Number of children

  All children

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6 or more

  GreatBritain

  788.1

  301.5

  281.5

  135.0

  49.7

  14.2

  6.3

  North East

  51.0

  20.8

  19.1

  8.2

  2.0

  0.7

  *0.1

  North West

  120.8

  47.0

  43.7

  20.0

  7.0

  2.3

  0.8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  92.8

  34.2

  34.2

  15.9

  5.8

  1.9

  0.8

  East Midlands

  64.0

  23.6

  23.1

  11.4

  4.3

  1.1

  0.5

  West Midlands

  83.7

  30.3

  28.6

  15.3

  6.3

  2.1

  1.0

  Eastern

  52.0

  19.4

  18.6

  8.6

  3.9

  1.0

  0.6

  London

  60.2

  21.6

  20.3

  11.2

  4.7

  1.4

  0.9

  South East

  71.9

  26.1

  25.2

  13.1

  5.2

  1.7

  0.6

  South West

  62.4

  23.0

  22.0

  11.8

  4.4

  0.6

  0.6

  Wales

  49.3

  19.4

  18.1

  8.3

  2.8

  0.5

  *0.2

  Scotland

  80.0

  36.0

  28.6

  11.2

  3.2

  0.8

  *0.2

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred. Figures marked "*" are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide to the current situation.

  2. Cases are allocated to each Government Office Region by matching the postcode against the 1999 version of the Postcode Directory.

  3. Children are defined as aged 0–18.

  Source:

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what new instructions have been issued regarding counting money in claimants' current accounts as capital for the purpose of determining entitlement to housing benefit. [92575]

  Angela Eagle
  We have not issued any new instructions regarding counting money in claimants' current accounts as capital for the purpose of determining entitlement to Housing Benefit. The policy remains that all holdings with a clear monetary value are treated as a claimant's capital. This includes the amount held in their current account after offsetting any amounts of income paid into the account used in the assessment of Housing Benefit entitlement.

  Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent studies have been commissioned by the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board relating to the needs of severely and profoundly deaf people; and what recommendations from those studies his Department has acted on. [92562]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board (DLAAB) is an advisory body and does not itself commission work. However, in 1998 the Board was commissioned by the Department of Social Security to undertake a study on deafness in children and young adults. This work will be completed shortly.

  In addition, the Department more recently commissioned the Board to undertake a study of deaf-blind people who had claimed DLA. The Department is currently acting on certain findings arising from this work, in particular recommendations on improving evidence gathering on claims from deaf-blind people and on the need to increase the understanding of the problems arising from the combination of deafness and blindness amongst those responsible for administrating Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.
  106
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many members of the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board are (a) deaf and (b) have a professional specialism in hearing impairment. [92563]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board has one member who has a severe hearing impairment. She is consultant psychiatrist in mental health services for deaf people and has been a trustee of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People since 1996.

  Benefits (Scotland)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, for each state benefit, he will forecast the number of claimants and total cost by benefit for Scotland for the next three years together with forecasts for(a) Scotland's pro-rata share of the United Kingdom administration costs and (b) budgeted costs for the central and local administration and the branch network for facilities in Scotland. [92390]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 23 July 1999,Official Report, column 673.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the level of spending on social security in Scotland in each of the last five years(a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the United Kingdom total broken down to show spending on (i) benefit payments, (ii) Scotland's pro-rata share of United Kingdom administration costs and (iii) actual spending on central and local administration and the branch network for facilities in Scotland. [92389]

  Mr. Timms
  DSS accounts for its administrative costs operationally (by Agency and Business Unit). It does not maintain accounting records by geographical territory and it is therefore not possible to provide reliable expenditure information covering all Departmental operations in the format requested. An estimate of Social Security Benefit Expenditure in Scotland in the past five years can be found in the table.
  107
  Estimated Social Security benefit expenditure in Scotland (and as a percentage of Great Britain expenditure)

  Year

  Expenditure (£ million)

  Percentage

  1994–95

  7,970

  10.0

  1995–96

  8,300

  9.9

  1996–97

  8,680

  9.9

  1997–98

  8,920

  10.0

  1998–99

  9,120

  10.0

  Notes:

  1. Expenditure excludes payments of certain benefits to people living overseas.

  2. Expenditure figures have been rounded to nearest £10 million.

  Source:

  The above figures are consistent with those published in the Departmental Report 1999.

  Pensions
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the difference was in each year since 1980 between the amount by which pensions would have increased for married couples, with the spouse as a dependent adult, if they had been based on(a) the retail prices index and (b) average earnings. [92485]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table. Information is also provided on what the rate would have been if the link uprating by the higher of earnings or prices had been retained.

  Basic pension for married couples including dependency increase

  £s per week

  Uprating date

  Actual rate paid increased by Retail Prices Index

  Rate if increased by higher of earnings or prices

  Rate if increased by AverageEarnings

  November 1980

  43.45

  43.45

  43.45

  November 1981

  47.35

  48.40

  48.40

  November 1982

  52.55

  52.45

  53.75

  November 1983

  54.50

  57.00

  58.40

  November 1984

  57.30

  59.85

  61.35

  November 1985

  61.30

  65.05

  66.70

  July 1986

  61.95

  68.00

  69.75

  April 1987

  63.25

  71.85

  73.65

  April 1988

  65.90

  77.45

  79.40

  April 1989

  69.80

  84.25

  86.35

  April 1990

  75.10

  92.40

  94.75

  April 1991

  83.25

  101.20

  105.05

  April 1992

  86.70

  108.90

  113.05

  April 1993

  89.80

  114.10

  118.50

  April 1994

  92.10

  117.65

  122.15

  April 1995

  94.10

  121.65

  126.30

  April 1996

  97.75

  125.05

  131.25

  April 1997

  99.80

  130.30

  136.75

  April 1998

  103.40

  135.65

  142.35

  April 1999

  106.70

  142.30

  149.30

  Notes:

  1. The Retail Prices Index (all items) has been used as published by the Office for National Statistics

  2. Average Earnings Index Whole Economy (Non Seasonally Adjusted) as published by the Office for National Statistics

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating

  4. Figures based on a man plus a dependent wife both aged under age 80 where the man has 100 per cent. entitlement

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Opinion of the Advocate General in the 108
  case of Preston and Others v Wolverhampton Healthcare NHS and Others (Case Number C78/98) will be published; and what is the reason for the delay. [92536]

  Mr. Timms
  The European Court of Justice has indicated that the Advocate General is due to issue his opinion on 14 September 1999 in the case of Preston and Others v Wolverhampton Healthcare NHS Trust and Others (case number C78/98).

  The Advocate General had been expected to issue his opinion on the case on 6 July 1999. The date on which an opinion is issued is a matter for the Advocate General. We are unaware of the reason for the delay on this particular case.

  Lone Parents
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the impact of the New Deal on the incomes of lone parents who have been helped into work. [92473]

  Angela Eagle
  The New Deal for Lone Parents provides practical help and advice for lone parents on Income Support who want to make the move into work. Since it was launched, the service has helped over 16,500 lone parents into work.

  In addition, a range of new measures will mean that lone parents will be even better off in work. Key initiatives include; the National Minimum Wage; the new 10p starting rate of income tax, from which people on low incomes gain up to £2.88 a week; and the Working Families Tax Credit which, from October, will guarantee a minimum income of £200 a week for every family in full-time work.

  Analysis of benefit administration data for a sample of around 300 lone parents who moved into work and on to Family Credit following participation in the New Deal for Lone Parents as at March 1998 showed that they were, on average, £40 a week better off.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) new claims of invalidity benefit were made in each year since 1995, (b) exits from incapacity benefit to other work or benefits were made in each year since 1995 and (c) claimants of incapacity benefit were resident in each local authority in (i) Tyne and Wear, (ii) the counties of Northumberland and Durham, and (iii) the area covered by the former county of Cleveland in each year since 1995. [92225]

  Mr. Bayley
  The number of new claims which resulted in an award of Incapacity Benefit, and the number of people leaving Incapacity Benefit for each year since it was introduced in April 1995 are set out in the table.

  The main reasons for leaving Incapacity Benefit are receipt of a medical certificate advising that the recipient can return to work, a decision by the adjudication officer that the person does not satisfy the medical test of incapacity (the all work test) and the award of State Retirement Pension. It is estimated that every year about 100,000 people who have been sick for 28 weeks or more

  109
  leave Incapacity Benefit voluntarily for work. However, detailed information on the destinations of Incapacity Benefit leavers is not routinely collected and it is not known how many actually return to work in any year.

  Incapacity Benefit recipients

  Spells commencing

  Spells Terminating

  13 April 1995 to 31 March 1996

  508,600

  558,900

  1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997

  514,100

  568,000

  1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998

  481,600

  560,200

  Incapacity Benefit Recipients by County, Metropolitan or Unitary Authority North-East

  29 February 1996

  28 February 1997

  28 February 1998

  Tyne & Wear

  Gateshead

  12,351

  13,241

  10,901

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  12,554

  13,661

  11,348

  North Tyneside

  9,487

  9,729

  8,511

  South Tyneside

  8,612

  9,294

  7,700

  Sunderland

  19,116

  20,049

  16,581

  Durham

  Chester-le-Street

  3,007

  3,300

  2,736

  Darlington

  3,860

  4,185

  3,323

  Derwentside

  5,363

  6,138

  4,944

  Durham

  4,307

  4,600

  3,629

  Easington

  11,234

  12,169

  9,913

  Sedgefield

  5,972

  6,501

  5,615

  Teesdale

  772

  883

  730

  Wear Valley

  3,859

  4,202

  3,690

  Northumberland

  Alnwick

  1,016

  1,278

  952

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  995

  859

  709

  Blyth Valley

  3,982

  4,416

  3,365

  Castle Morpeth

  1,666

  1,998

  1,621

  Tynedale

  1,768

  1,931

  1,641

  Wansbeck

  3,901

  4,418

  3,427

  Former County of Cleveland

  Hartlepool UA

  6,095

  6,294

  5,391

  Middlesborough UA

  7,232

  7,455

  6,223

  Redcar & Cleveland UA

  8,309

  9,031

  7,036

  Stockton-on-Tees UA

  7,862

  8,548

  7,052

  Notes:

  1. Figures are from a 5 per cent. sample of the computer and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

  2. Figures are also subject to a rating factor to account for missing postcodes.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many winter fuel payments have been made in respect of last winter; how many of the payment cheques issued have not been cashed; and how many payments are still due to be paid; [928511

  (2) if he will list the number of winter fuel payments and their value made in each month in the current year. [928531

  Mr. Timms
  The administration of Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Willetts, dated 23 July 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary questions asking how many winter fuel payments (WFP) have been made in respect of last winter; how
  110
  Notes:

  1. Figures are from a 1 per cent. sample of claims to Incapacity Benefit made in Great Britain.

  2. A person may commence or leave benefit more than once during a year.

  3. Figures are for all rates of Incapacity Benefit (IB). Incapacity Benefit replaced Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit from 13 April 1995.

  4. Figures for IB spells terminating during the period includes recipients who automatically transfer to State Retirement Pension.

  The table below gives the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients in local authority areas in Tyne and Wear, Durham, Northumberland and the former county of Cleveland as at the end of February each year from 1996 to 1998. Comparable figures are not available for 1995.

  many of the payment cheques have not been cashed and how many payments are still due to be paid. You also asked if he would list the number of winter fuel payments (and their value) made in each month in the year.
  I am unable to provide all of the information in the format requested, as this would only be available at disproportionate cost. The Benefits Agency (BA) does not collect statistics on the number of uncashed payments.
  Delivery of the payments was broadly similar to the previous winter and about 10 million payments were automatically issued last winter to eligible customers. This figure does not include those customers who were identified as entitled to a WFP at a later date because of a retrospective award of a qualifying benefit or those whose benefits were maintained clerically.
  Approximately 1.4 million £50 payments were issued automatically to pensioners receiving Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) by the end of November 1998. A further 8.6 million £20 or £10 payments were issued to other eligible pensioners by the end of January 1999. Around 3.4 million of the £20 or £10 payments were issued via Automated Credit Transfer to the customer's bank account, 5.2 million were

  111
  sent to Post Offices for issue along with the weekly pension payment and the remainder issued via girocheque or payable order directly to the customer's address.
  BA records indicate that payments have been issued to all customers where the information held suggested entitlement. BA offices will investigate claims from customers who may have expected a payment, but did not receive one, if they contact the office which normally deals with their pension or benefit.
  Approximately 113,000 of the payments issued to Post Offices were returned to BA offices without being cashed. Staff investigated the reason for non-collection (for example, death of the pensioner or prolonged hospitalisation); the vast majority of these have now been re-issued.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the numbers of (a) single pensioners and (b) married couple pensioners in each year since 1980. [92486]

  Mr. Timms
  Information is not available in the format requested. State Retirement Pensions are paid to individuals. Category A pension is payable on a person's own contribution record and Category B pension is paid to a married woman (or a widow) on her husband's insurance record. It is not possible to identify someone's marital status from the category of pension. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Retirement pensioners by gender November 1980 to March1999 Millions

  Men and Women

  Men

  Women

  November 1980

  9.1

  3.2

  5.9

  June 1981

  9.2

  3.2

  6.0

  May 1982

  9.4

  3.2

  6.1

  March 1983

  9.4

  3.2

  6.2

  March 1984

  9.5

  3.2

  6.3

  March 1985

  9.6

  3.2

  6.4

  March 1986

  9.8

  3.3

  6.5

  September 1987

  9.9

  3.4

  6.6

  March 1988

  10.0

  3.4

  6.6

  March 1989

  10.0

  3.4

  6.6

  September 1990

  10.2

  3.5

  6.7

  March 1991

  10.2

  3.5

  6.7

  March 1992

  10.2

  3.5

  6.7

  March 1993

  10.2

  3.5

  6.7

  March 1994

  10.3

  3.6

  6.7

  March 1995

  10.3

  3.6

  6.7

  March 1996

  10.4

  3.7

  6.8

  March 1997

  10.6

  3.8

  6.8

  March 1998

  10.8

  3.9

  6.9

  March 1999

  10.9

  4.0

  6.9

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand and shown in millions.

  2. Figures include pensioners resident in GB and overseas but exclude Northern Ireland.

  3. Figures may not total due to rounding.

  Source:

  Pensions Strategy Computer System (PSCS), 5 per cent. sample of "live" cases. Prior to March 1996 the figures are based on a 10 per cent. sample.

  Departmental Costs (Scotland)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the amounts his Department and its agencies spends on(a) running costs, (b) wage costs and
  112
  (c) other administrative costs for those facilities and staff based in Scotland; indicating the headquarters administration costs and the total costs for the branch network. [92357]

  Mr. Timms
  DSS accounts for its administrative costs operationally (by Agency and Business Unit). It does not maintain accounting records by geographical territory and it is therefore not possible to provide reliable expenditure information in the format requested. For information on the Benefits Agency in Scotland, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Welsh) on 16 July 1999,Official Report, columns 349–50.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) 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; [92142]

  (2) how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will make a statement. [92514]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.

  Details of all1 appointments made to this Department's Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs)

  1 June 1997 to 31 May 1998

  1 June 1998 to 31 May 1999

  Total

  190

  142

  Male

  119

  88

  Female

  71

  54

  Asian

  10

  3

  Other ethnic minorities

  7

  3

  1Includes appointments to the Department's Tribunal NDPBs, made by the Lord Chancellor or President of the Independent Tribunal Service.

  The overall reduction in the proportion of ethnic minority appointments made to this Department's public bodies has been caused by the fact that there have been no new non-judicial appointments to the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS). This is because ITS is to be replaced by The Appeals Service, which will only comprise of judicial appointees, on 1 April 1999. Non-judicial ITS appointments currently make up 69 per cent. of all this Department's public appointments. While effort is made to ensure social diversity on our remaining public bodies, the constitution of these bodies restricts the pool from which suitable candidates can be sought. For example, legislation governing war pensions committees stipulates that members should be drawn from ex-service organisations.We have two overall commitments for equal opportunities and public appointments:
  the equal representation of women and men, pro-rata representation of members of ethnic minority groups, and increased participation of disabled people; and
  the appointment on merit, using fair selection procedures, which recognise non-traditional career patterns as suitable qualifications for appointment.

  This Department's plan on equal opportunities was published on 25 May 1999, in the document "Quangos: Opening Up Public Appointments", and was deposited in

  113
  the Library. This plan sets objectives and robust targets for improving the representation of women from 36 per cent. towards 50 per cent., from 5.8 per cent. towards 7.5 per cent. for people from ethnic minority groups, and that people with disabilities are appropriately represented.

  Social Security (Scotland)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the additional (i) headquarters functions, (ii) buildings, (iii) computer systems and (iv) other administrative functions which would be required for a separate Scottish social security system on the basis that the system inherited his Department's staff, buildings and systems in Scotland. [92676]

  Mr. Timms
  No. Social security is a reserved matter handled on a GB-wide basis and there are no plans to change this. The information requested is therefore not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

TREASURY

  Low-paid Workers
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total cash value of(a) the extra money paid to low-paid workers as a result of the introduction of the minimum wage in 1999–2000 and (b) the increase in child benefit in 1999–2000. [91226]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 13 July 1999]: It is not possible to give a cash value for the extra money paid to low-paid workers as a result of the introduction of the minimum wage. However, the Low Pay Commission estimated in its first report that the average increase in income for those affected by the minimum wage would be 30 per cent.

  The estimated total cash value of the increase in child benefit between 1998–99 and 1999–2000 is £0.9 billion.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue will begin to publicise the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Person's Tax Credit. [91830]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Plans are already in hand to launch a high profile publicity campaign in early September. The campaign will consist of TV and national press advertising, leaflets and posters.

  NIRS2
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to instruct the Inland Revenue to consult with pension providers in respect of the proposed NIRS2 compensation package. [92146]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 20 July 1999]: The Government are considering the content of the Public Accounts Committee report, "Delays to the new National Insurance Recording System". A full response will be given to the Public Accounts Committee on all recommendations. Meanwhile, the Inland Revenue is in regular contact with the pensions industry.

  Contributions Agency
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if staff at the Contributions Agency aged 60 years or over were allowed to continue in employment on a year-to-year basis until the age of 65, prior to the Agency's transfer from the Department of Social Security. [92202]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In July 1996, the Contributions Agency (CA) advised its staff that they were considering changing the normal retirement age because the Agency was faced with a need to reduce staff numbers. After lengthy consultation with Trade Union Side, the CA gave notice in August 1997 that with effect from 31 July 1998 the normal retirement age for all staff would be 60. As a transitional measure, people could be retained for up to 12 months, but not beyond age 62 for people at pay bands B2 and B3 (equivalent to Executive Officer level); and not beyond age 65 for people in pay bands up to and including B1 (equivalent to Administrative Officer level). No extensions of service were to be given beyond 31 July 1999.

  Tobacco Products
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the tax revenue raised from tobacco products in 1998. [92240]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The amount of tax revenue (excise duty and VAT) raised from tobacco products in 1998 was £10,090 million.

  Value Added Tax has been estimated from Office for National Statistics figures for household final consumption expenditure on tobacco.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the sums paid to the Exchequer by political parties reimbursing the Government for the cost of services supplied by special advisers to backbenchers of the governing party(a) from 1 May 1987 to 1 May 1997 and (b) since 1 May 1997. [92074]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 21 July 1999]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which the Prime Minister gave him today.

  National Assembly for Wales
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish, before the summer adjournment, the most recent draft of the concordat between the Treasury and the National Assembly for Wales. [92327]

  Mr. Milburn
  Work on the concordat is proceeding well. I hope to be in a position to put a draft concordat to the Assembly Cabinet shortly. I do not intend to publish the concordat in advance of that.

  VAT (Labour-intensive Services)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Commission's current proposals regarding the application of VAT on labour-intensive services. [92831]
  115
  Dawn Primarolo
  The Commission's proposal, which provides for Member States to apply a reduced rate of VAT to certain local labour-intensive services on an experimental basis, is still under discussion in a Council working group. Member States have been asked to draw up a list of services which would be covered by the measure but no agreement has yet been reached.

  Smuggling
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to purchase x-ray machines capable of screening articulated lorries and containers to assist in combating illegal immigration and alcohol and tobacco smuggling; and if he will make a statement. [92768]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are currently no plans for such purchases.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds have been allocated in(a) the present financial year and (b) in 2000–01 for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to purchase x-ray machines capable of screening articulated lorries and containers to assist in combating alcohol and tobacco smuggling. [92769]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No such funds have been allocated in the present financial year. Funding plans for 2000–01 have not yet been finalised.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the revenue value of detected alcohol and tobacco fraud and smuggling for each of the last three financial years from(a) sources within the EU, (b) sources outside the EU and (c) diversion fraud. [92765]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I regret that Customs do not hold records that differentiate between sources within and sources outside the EU.

  The revenue value of smuggled tobacco and alcohol products detected by Customs for the last three financial years has been:

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Smuggled

  29

  76

  140

  Diversion Fraud

  No comparable figures

  207

  245

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the target levels for the present financial year for the detection of alcohol and tobacco fraud and smuggling; and what progress has been made in achieving these target levels in the first three months of the current financial year. [92766]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs targets for the detection of alcohol and tobacco smuggling and fraud for the present financial year are:
  to detect alcohol and tobacco fraud and smuggling to the revenue value of £307 million, and to disrupt or dismantle 25 major excise smuggling organisations.
  Data in respect of our performance against these targets during the first three months of the year (April-June) are still being collated and validated. However, the emerging results are encouraging and, if this pattern continues, Customs consider they are on course to achieve the targets by the end of 1999–2000.
  116
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) fines, (b) charges and (c) convictions have resulted each year since 1 January 1990 from the (i) detection of fraud and (ii) detection of misdeclaration of goods on (1) cigarettes, (2) hand rolling tobacco, (3) cigars, (4) spirits, (5) cider, (6) fortified wines, (7) wine and (8) beer entering the United Kingdom. [92764]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I regret that central records are not kept in this format.

  Excise Goods
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are(a) in place and (b) planned to prevent the purchase of non-duty paid excise goods through the internet. [92767]

  Dawn Primarolo
  HM Customs and Excise are aware of the risks from this form of smuggling. Staff at postal and courier depots have been alerted and Customs are looking separately at the wider issues involved.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those proposals for private finance initiatives for each department of state made since 1 May 1997, stating for each the proposed(a) contribution from private finance and (b) date of commencement; and if he will list in each case whether the sums involved count against the ceilings for public investment set by the Treaty of Maastricht. [92771]

  Mr. Milburn
  (a) Table 1 gives the details underpinning Table B 16 of 1999 FSBR covering PFUPPP projects signed from 1 May 1997 to 1 April 1999. Under PFI, the public sector contracts for services not assets, and capital investment is only one of the activities undertaken by the private sector in order to supply these services. The figures in Table 1 therefore do not reflect the total value of these contracts, but do reflect Treasury estimates of capital expenditure by the private sector.

  (b) Table 2 shows a list and start dates of those projects which the Treasury has been informed are operational.

  Table 1: PFI/PPP projects signed since 1 May 1997 (as at 1 April 1999)

  £ million

  Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  LB Islington (LA)

  22

  Kent IT (LA)

  7

  Harrow (IT) LA

  1

  Isle of Wight Waste Mgt (LA)

  13

  Kirklees Waste Mgt (LA)

  33

  LU Power

  108

  LU Prestige

  222

  Luton Airport Parkway

  20

  Brent Street Lighting (LA)

  8

  Hereford and Worcester Waste (LA)

  57

  NE Derbys Social Housing (LA) (0.4)

  n/a

  Berwick on Tweed Soc Housing (LA)

  2

  Lambeth Vehicles (LA)

  10

  Manchester Energy (LA)

  4

  Tower Hamlets HAT (LA)

  23

  Sheffield Offices (LA)

  28

  Total

  558

  117

  Table 1: PFI/PPP projects signed since 1 May 1997 (as at 1 April 1999)

  £ million

  Defence

  AFPAA (IT)

  150

  DFTS

  70

  Army Mail

  11

  MSHATF

  100

  Hawk Simulator

  10

  Tidworth Water and Sewage

  6

  Joint Service College

  68

  Attack Helicopter Training

  165

  Yeovilton (Family Quarters)

  8

  RAF Lossiemouth (Family Quarters)

  24

  RAF Lyneham Sewage

  5

  RAF Mail

  12

  RAF Fylingdales (Power Station)

  7

  RAF Basic Training (Bulldog Replacement)

  30

  RAF Cosford/RAF Shawbury (Family Quarters)

  13

  Fire Fighting Training Unit

  35

  Total

  714

  Scotland

  Mearnskirk Hospital (Geriatric Beds)

  2

  Dundee Hospital Energy Mgt System

  3

  Baldovie Waste/energy (LA)

  43

  HM Prison Kilmarnock

  32

  Dundee Teaching Hospital (Parking)

  3

  Highlands and Islands Airport

  10

  Hairmyres Hospital

  68

  Law Hospital

  100

  Highland Council (IT)

  13

  SCRA Integrated Info System

  3

  Falkirk (LA)

  65

  Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

  180

  Education IT (Moray Council)

  6

  Edinburgh 60 (Care of Elderly) Beds

  2

  Almond Valley Seafield Sewage

  140

  Cumnock Community Hospital

  9

  Inverness Psychiatric Unit

  17

  North Ayrshire College Kilwinning

  9

  Perth and Kinross Office Accommodation

  15

  West Lothian (Elderly) Beds

  2

  Other Scottish Health

  10

  Total

  732

  Department of Trade and Industry

  National Physical Laboratory

  82

  High Performance Computing Project (IT)

  17

  ELGAR

  26

  RA Strategic Partnership

  14

  Total

  139

  Wales

  Chepstow Community Hospital

  8

  A55

  112

  Total

  120

  Department for Social Security

  Prime

  350

  Total

  350

  Home Office

  Prisons Energy

  36

  Prisons Catering

  5

  2 Passport Agency Contracts

  30

  Wiltshire Police (LA)

  3

  Total

  158

  Agecroft prison (Forest Bank)

  55

  Pucklechurch Prison

  30

  Rainsbrook (Onley) STC

  5

  Derby (Ilkeston) Police Station (LA)

  4

  Northumbria Police (LA)

  2

  118

  Table 1: PFI/PPP projects signed since 1 May 1997 (as at 1 April 1999)

  £ million

  Hassockfield (Medomsley) STC

  10

  Greater Manchester Fire Station (LA)

  5

  Thames Valley Police HQ (LA)

  10

  Derbyshire Police HQ

  27

  Mid Glamorgan Wales Probation (LA)

  4

  Total

  226

  Health

  Carlisle

  65

  Dartford and Gravesham

  94

  Norfolk and Norwich

  144

  South Bucks

  45

  North Durham

  61

  Greenwich

  84

  Oxleas

  18

  Calderdale

  65

  Oxfordshire Mental Health Trust

  9

  Bromley Healthcare

  118

  South Manchester University Hospital

  66

  Mayday Healthcare

  8

  Black Country Mental Health

  6

  Barnet General Hospital (Wellhouse)

  54

  Surrey CC residental homes (LA)

  29

  LB Westminster residential (LA)

  4

  Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  85

  Harrow Health (LA)

  4

  Bay Community NHS Trust

  7

  Eastern Regional Office Fulborn

  10

  Thames Gateway NHS Trust

  6

  Leeds Community and Mental Health NHS Trust

  5

  Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust

  62

  Total

  1,049

  Department for Further Education and Employment

  Employment Service IT (IT)(ES)

  116

  University College London (HE)

  28

  Kings College London (HE)

  142

  University of Durham (HE)

  0

  Falmouth College of Arts (HE)

  3

  Hammersmith and West London College (FE)

  2

  Runshaw College (Adult Education) (FE)

  2

  Tynemouth College (FE)

  0

  Wyggeston and QE Sports Centre

  2

  Waltham Forest (LA)

  1

  Hull Primary School (LA)

  2

  Hillingdon School (LA)

  18

  Colfox School (LA)

  15

  Clarendon College (FE)

  17

  Dudley LEA (LA) IT

  26

  Portsmouth New School (LA)

  12

  Enfield New School (LA)

  16

  Lewisham Schools Catering (LA)

  4

  ES IT Partnership (IT) (ES)

  6

  South Thames College

  3

  Total

  415

  Inland Revenue

  Longbenton

  120

  Edinburgh

  10

  Glasgow

  10

  Stockport

  6

  Bootle

  12

  Total

  158

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  English Heritage/RCHME/HSIS

  2

  Total

  2

  119

  Table 1: PFI/PPP projects signed since 1 May 1997 (as at 1 April 1999)

  £ million

  Lord Chancellors Department (Including the Northern Ireland Court Service)

  ARAMIS

  30

  Northern Ireland Courts

  30

  Total

  60

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Berlin Embassy

  17

  2 small vehicle service contracts

  3

  Total

  20

  Northern Ireland Departments

  PLANAPS IT System

  1

  Belfast Hospital Renal Unit

  3

  Royal Group of Hospitals Equipment

  2

  Contract Energy Services (Craigavon) (0.5)

  0

  Renal Dialysis Facilities (0.3)

  0

  Training and Employment

  7

  Clinical Waste Disposal

  4

  Table 2: Operational PF1 projects signed since 1 May 1997

  Project name

  Department

  Start date

  ES IT

  DfEE/ES

  May 1998

  Agecroft Prison

  Home Office

  —

  Hull Primary Schools

  DfEE/LA

  January 1999

  Dudley Schools IT

  DfEE/LA

  January/February 1999

  Lewisham Schools—catering contract

  DfEE/LA

  February 1999

  Falmouth College of Arts—student housing

  DfEE

  September 1998

  King's College London—UMDS

  DfEE

  July 1999

  Stockport Accommodation

  Inland Revenue

  April 1999

  Manchester Accommodation

  Inland Revenue

  August 1998

  Edinburgh Accommodation

  Inland Revenue

  December 1998

  Glasgow Accommodation

  Inland Revenue

  December 1998

  PRIME

  Department of Social Security

  April 1998

  Customs Duty
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been collected each year since 1 January 1990 in (a) customs duty and (b) indirect tax from (i) cigarettes, (ii) hand rolling tobacco, (iii) cigars, (iv) spirits, (v) cider, (vi) fortified wines, (vii) wine and (viii) beer entering the United Kingdom by (1) post and (2) private carrier. [92770]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The table provides details of Excise Revenue for Post for the calendar years 1993–1998. Earlier information is not available. This does not include VAT and Customs Duty, which are not readily available. Excise duties are recorded as a global sum; the breakdown in the table is based on samples of goods imported.

  Import duty schedule: net receipts

  £000

  Calendar year

  Tobacco

  Spirit

  Wine

  Total

  1993

  15

  1

  2

  18

  1994

  44

  2

  6

  52

  1995

  94

  4

  13

  111

  1996

  131

  6

  18

  155

  1997

  140

  6

  19

  165

  1998

  144

  6

  20

  170

  120

  Table 1: PFI/PPP projects signed since 1 May 1997 (as at 1 April 1999)

  £ million

  Laboratory IT System (0.8)

  1

  Accruals Accounting Payroll System IT

  3

  Kinnegar Sewage

  13

  Total

  34

  National Savings

  IT System

  100

  Total

  100

  Serious Fraud Office

  Document management IT

  4

  Total

  4

  Overall total

  4,681

  Note:

  Local Government Figures-Projects shown are for additional Central Government revenue There are no ceilings for public investment set by the Treaty of Maastricht.

  Table 2: Operational PFI projects signed since 1 May 1997

  There are no ceilings for public investment set by Treaty of Maastricht.

  It is assumed that private carrier means fast parcel operators, for which the revenue is not separately recorded.

  Duty Free
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1999,Official Report, column 859–60, if he is able to estimate the increased revenue to the Treasury as a result of the abolition of duty free shopping for this financial year and the next. [93160]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We have estimated that the abolition of duty free sales within Europe could yield £120 million in revenue receipts in a full year, but this does depend entirely on how the companies providing the services seize on the new commercial opportunities that are now open to them. This estimate will be kept under review as further information on the marketing strategies of the operators becomes available.

  Duty Differentials
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the duty differential on (a) beer, (b) spirits and (c) tobacco between the United Kingdom and the rest of the European Community. [93141]

  Mrs. Roche
  Any changes to the levels of UK alcohol and tobacco duties is a matter for the Chancellor's Budget deliberations.

  VAT rates in the European Community (standard rates and reduced rates; and main items subject to reduced rates')

  Percentage

  Member state

  Standard rate

  Reduced rate

  Austria

  20

  10—Food; books; newspapers public transport

  Belgium

  21

  12—Food (coal only); social housing

  6—Food; books; public transport; water supplies

  0—Newspapers

  Denmark

  25

  0—Daily newspapers

  Finland

  22

  17—Food

  8—Pharmaceuticals; public transport

  0—Newspapers

  France

  20.6

  5.5—Food; public transport; pharmaceuticals; books

  2.1—Newspapers

  Germany

  16

  7—Food; books and newspapers; local public transport

  Greece

  18

  8—Food; public transport; pharmaceuticals

  4—Books and newspapers

  Ireland

  21

  12.5—Domestic fuel and power; newspapers; new housing

  0—Food; books; pharmaceuticals

  Italy

  20

  10—Certain foods; domestic fuel and power, public transport; pharmaceuticals

  4—Basic foodstuffs; books and newspapers; certain social housing

  Luxembourg

  15

  12—Fuel (other than gas and electricity)

  6—Fuel (gas and electricity)

  3—Food; books and newspapers; pharmaceuticals

  Netherlands

  17.5

  6—Food; books and newspapers; public transport; water supplies pharmaceuticals

  Portugal

  17

  12—Certain foods

  5—Food; books and newspapers; public transport; water supplies; hotels; pharmaceuticals

  Spain

  16

  7—Food; water supplies; public transport

  4—Basic foodstuffs; books and newspapers; pharmaceuticals

  Sweden

  25

  12—Food

  6—Newspapers

  United Kingdom

  17.5

  5—Domestic fuel and power

  0—Food; books and newspapers; public transport; children's clothing; new housing;water and sewerage services; pharmaceuticals; aids for the disabled; charities

  1Taken from European Commission Document XXI/148/98—EN 'VAT rates applied in the Member States of the European Community'

  Compliance Costs
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reductions were achieved in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department, its public bodies and by other departments for which Treasury Ministers are responsible for the last year for which data is available; what mechanisms exist for monitoring the post-implementation compliance costs of such regulation; and if he has established targets for reduction in the compliance costs of regulation administered by his Department and its public bodies and by other Departments for which Treasury Ministers are responsible. [92316]

  Mrs. Roche
  Details of regulations that imposed compliance costs on business are published in the Chancellor's Departments' regulatory impact assessments and laid in both Houses. A summary of all the regulatory impact assessments published by the Chancellor's
  122
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of VAT in each of the member states of the European Union for each of the main commodities and services. [93125]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The table details the standard and reduced rates of VAT in each member state and the main commodities and services subject to a reduced rate.

  Departments and the other regulatory Departments in Whitehall is published every six months in a White Paper, and is available on a monthly basis on the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit's website.

  There is no arbitrary target for reducing the compliance cost of regulation. However, all Departments are required to make an assessment of the risks, costs and benefits of any regulatory proposal that has an impact on businesses, charities and voluntary bodies before they decide to act. Without an assessment of this kind, there can be no collective agreement of a regulatory proposal.

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Minister from his Department has attended each of the meetings of the European Council of Finance Ministers held in 1999 to date. [93173]
  123
  Ms Hewitt
  Attendance at the meetings of the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers held in 1999 to date, is set out as follows:

  Date

  18 January

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer

  8 February

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer

  15 March

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself

  10 May

  Myself

  25 May

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Paymaster General

  12 July

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Migration (North-East)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the level of net migration from each local authority area in Tyne and Wear and the counties of Durham and Northumberland in each of the past five years, separately identifying net migration (a) within and (b) outside the North East. [92462]

  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. Jim Cousins, dated 26 July 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question for an estimate of the level of net migration from each local authority area in Tyne and Wear and the counties of Durham and Northumberland.
  The estimates of net migration are not sufficiently reliable to be published as a separate component of the total population estimate for each local authority. It is not, therefore, our policy to release them.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often and when the definition of unemployment used for measuring unemployment has been changed since 1979. [92556]

  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. Austin Mitchell, dated 26 July 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the definition of unemployment.
  The ONS measure of unemployment, derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and counts as unemployed people who are: a) without a paid job; b) available to start work within the next two weeks and c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained. The LFS has used the ILO definition since 1984. Prior to this a slightly different definition was used. This included people who were without a paid job who were looking for work in the reference week, or prevented from seeking work by temporary sickness or holiday, or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained or were waiting for the results of a job application. Full-time students who were seeking work but who were not available to start work in the next two weeks because they had to complete their education were excluded. The definition was used from spring 1979 to spring 1983.
  124
  The Labour Force Survey measure of unemployment has been compiled and published on the same definition since 1984 (annually 1984–1991; quarterly 1992 to March 1998) and a monthly moving average of each three month period from April 1998.
  The ONS also published the monthly numbers of people who are claiming unemployment related benefits, also known as the Claimant Count. There have been nine changes affecting the coverage of the monthly claimant count since 1979 which have been significant enough to warrant a recasting of the consistent seasonally adjusted series. Further details of these discontinuities are given in the November 1995 edition of Labour Market Trends, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Multinationals
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of United Kingdom gross domestic product is accounted for by multinational corporations. [92680]

  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. Austin Mitchell, dated 26 July 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on multi-national corporations.
  The proportion of gross domestic product accounted for by multi-national corporations is not available.
  Some limited information on the activity of foreign owned businesses was published in an article Globalisation: scope, issues and statistics' in the November 1997 edition of Economic Trends, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. This article included:
  information on the proportion of net output accounted for by foreign-owned manufacturing enterprises derived from the Annual Census of Production;
  estimates of the proportion of turnover and persons employed accounted for by foreign owned businesses involved in certain service industries.

  Foreign Investment
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of total investment in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Australian and (c) the New Zealand economy was accounted for by gross foreign direct investments in each year since 1970. [92682]

  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. Austin Mitchell, date 26 July 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on foreign direct investment.
  The proportion of foreign direct investment in the UK of total investment over the last ten years, expressed as a percentage is:

  1989: 16.7

  1990: 16.2

  1991: 8.7

  1992: 9.2

  1993: 10.2

  1994: 5.7

  1995: 11.1

  1996: 13.2

  1997: 16.9

  1998: 26.2

  125
  More information can be found on the ONS databank available through the House of Commons library. The ONS does not publish information for Australia and New Zealand, although data are published in the OECD publication International Direct Investment Yearbook 1998, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Money Trading
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was traded on a daily basis on average (a) on the UK foreign exchanges and (b) in the rest of the world in each year since 1979. [92565]

  Ms Hewitt
  Average daily turnover during April in foreign exchange spot, forwards, and swaps is set out in the table:

  $ billions

  1989

  1992

  1995

  1998

  UK

  184

  291

  464

  637

  Rest of World

  534

  785

  1,108

  1,345

  These are estimates derived from triennial surveys coordinated by the Bank for International Settlements since 1989.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Excheuer what proportion and number of people in each of the regions to be covered by the new regional development agencies are in the age range (a) 50 to 65 years, (b) 65 to 85 years, (c) 85 and over, (d) above pensionable age and (e) above 50 years; what proportion of the population as a whole in each region these figures represent; and if he will provide figures on the same basis showing the estimated population figures for (i) 2004, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2014, (iv) 2019 and (v) 2024. [93438]

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

  Letter from John Fox to Mr. Eddie O'Hara, dated 26 July 1999:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics has been asked to reply to your recent question asking for population statistics for the new Regional Development Agencies. I am replying in Dr. Holt's absence.
  The population estimates and projections for the age-groups you have requested are given in the attached tables.
  Mid-1997 population estimates for English Regional Development Agency areas

  Population (000)

  Percentage of population

  1997

  North East

  50–64

  426.3

  16.4

  65–84

  372.9

  14.4

  85+

  42.6

  1.6

  Pensionable age

  482.4

  18.6

  Age 50+

  841.8

  32.4

  North West and Merseyside

  50–64

  1,129.6

  16.4

  65–84

  956.7

  13.9

  85+

  124.9

  1.8

  Pensionable age

  1,250.6

  18.2

  Age 50+

  2,211.3

  32.1

  126

  Mid-1997 population estimates for English Regional Development Agency areas

  Population (000)

  Percentage of population

  yorkshire and humberside

  50–64

  816.5

  16.2

  65–84

  704.8

  14.0

  85+

  93.5

  1.9

  pensionable age

  922.5

  18.3

  Age 50+

  1,614.8

  32.1

  East Midlands

  50–64

  689.2

  16.6

  65–84

  587.5

  14.1

  85+

  74.0

  1.8

  Pensionable age

  761.3

  18.3

  Age 50+

  1,350.8

  32.5

  West Midlands

  50–64

  885.8

  16.6

  65–84

  742.9

  14.0

  85+

  88.8

  1.7

  Pensionable age

  961.3

  18.1

  Age 50+

  1,717.6

  32.3

  South West

  50–64

  823.4

  16.9

  65–84

  785.4

  16.1

  85+

  118.2

  2.4

  Pensionable age

  1,027.5

  21

  Age 50+

  1,727.1

  35.4

  Eastern

  50–64

  883.9

  16.6

  65–84

  754.9

  14.2

  85+

  99.9

  1.9

  Pensionable age

  983.4

  18.4

  Age 50+

  1,738.9

  32.6

  Greater London

  50–64

  1,002.7

  14.1

  65–84

  807.4

  11.3

  85+

  121.1

  1.7

  Pensionable age

  1,072.6

  15.1

  Age 50+

  1,931.3

  27.1

  South East

  50–64

  1,307.1

  16.4

  65–84

  1,121.0

  14.1

  85+

  167.6

  2.1

  Pensionable age

  1,476.5

  18.6

  Age 50+

  2,595.8

  32.6

  1996-based subnational population projections for English Regional Development Agency areas

  Population (000)

  Percentage of population

  2004

  North East

  50–64

  464.3

  18.1

  65–84

  372.4

  14.5

  85+

  43.0

  1.7

  Pensionable age

  481.5

  18.8

  Age 50+

  879.7

  34.3

  North West and Merseyside

  50–64

  1,229.6

  17.9

  65–84

  950.9

  13.9

  85+

  122.1

  1.8

  Pensionable age

  1,251.7

  18.3

  Age 50+

  2,302.6

  33.6

  127

  1996-based subnational population projections for English Regional Development Agency areas

  Population Percentage of (000) population

  Population Percentage of

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  50–64

  901.4

  17.7

  65–84

  708.3

  13.9

  85+

  93.7

  1.8

  Pensionable age

  930.1

  18.3

  Age 50+

  1,703.4

  33.5

  East Midlands

  50–64

  785.9

  18.4

  65–84

  607.5

  14.2

  85+

  77.1

  1.8

  Pensionable age

  796.8

  18.6

  Age 50+

  1,470.5

  34.3

  West Midlands

  50–64

  970.3

  18.1

  65–84

  755.7

  14.1

  85+

  93.4

  1.7

  Pensionable age

  992.1

  18.5

  Age 50+

  1,819.4

  34.0

  South West

  50–64

  963.1

  19.1

  65–84

  813.1

  16.1

  85+

  123.3

  2.4

  Pensionable age

  1,079.5

  21.4

  Age 50+

  1,899.4

  37.6

  Eastern

  50–64

  1,012.3

  18.3

  65–84

  800.2

  14.5

  85+

  106.8

  1.9

  Pensionable age

  1,051.4

  19.0

  Age 50+

  1,919.3

  34.7

  Greater London

  50–64

  1,098.5

  15.1

  65–84

  764.9

  10.5

  85+

  108.2

  1.5

  Pensionable age

  1,025.4

  14.1

  Age 50+

  1,971.6

  27.1

  South East

  50–64

  1,499.3

  18.1

  65–84

  1,169.1

  14.1

  85+

  172.2

  2.1

  Pensionable age

  1,554.6

  18.8

  Age 50+

  2,840.6

  34.4

  Population Percentage of (000)

  population

  2009

  North East

  50–64

  497.8

  19.6

  65–84

  367.1

  14.4

  85+

  50.3

  2.0

  Pensionable age

  499.5

  19.6

  Age 50+

  915.1

  36.0

  North West and Merseyside

  50–64

  1,285.5

  18.8

  65–84

  957.8

  14.0

  85+

  138.7

  2

  Pensionable age

  1,312.0

  19.2

  Age 50+

  2,382.0

  34.9

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  50–64

  960.3

  18.8

  128

  Population Percentage of (000)

  population

  65–84

  713.3

  13.9

  85+

  107.0

  2.1

  Pensionable age

  981.8

  19.2

  Age 50+

  1,780.6

  34.8

  East Midlands

  50–64

  833.2

  19.1

  65–84

  630.6

  14.5

  85+

  91.7

  2.1

  Pensionable age

  863.5

  19.8

  Age 50+

  1,555.5

  35.7

  West Midlands

  50–64

  1,005.7

  18.7

  65–84

  777.7

  14.5

  85+

  109.5

  2.0

  Pensionable age

  1,055.8

  19.7

  Age 50+

  1,892.9

  35.3

  South West

  50–64

  1,031.8

  20.0

  65–84

  847.1

  16.4

  85+

  144.5

  2.8

  Pensionable age

  1,175.3

  22.8

  Age 50+

  2,023.4

  39.2

  Eastern

  50–64

  1,078.0

  19.1

  65–84

  836.1

  14.8

  85+

  127.5

  2.3

  Pensionable age

  1,152.2

  20.4

  Age 50+

  2,041.6

  36.1

  Greater London

  50–64

  1,206.5

  16.3

  65–84

  754.8

  10.2

  85+

  113.9

  1.5

  Pensionable age

  1,053.3

  14.2

  Age 50+

  2,075.1

  28.0

  South East

  50–64

  1,602.9

  18.9

  65–84

  1,219.2

  14.4

  85+

  198.0

  2.3

  Pensionable age

  1,692.0

  20.0

  Age 50+

  3,020.0

  35.7

  Population (000)

  Percentage of population

  2014

  North East

  50–64

  518.5

  20.5

  65–84

  400.5

  15.9

  85+

  52.9

  2.1

  Pensionable age

  532.2

  21.1

  Age 50+

  972.0

  38.5

  North West and Merseyside

  50–64

  1,341.0

  19.7

  65–84

  1,056.7

  15.5

  85+

  142.7

  2.1

  Pensionable age

  1,398.1

  20.5

  Age 50+

  2,540.4

  37.3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  50–64

  1,011.9

  19.6

  65–84

  794.7

  15.4

  85+

  110.5

  2.2

  Pensionable age

  1,054.2

  20.5

  Age 50+

  1,917.1

  37.2

  129

  Population (000)

  Percentage of population

  East Midlands

  50–64

  871.2

  19.7

  65–84

  716.9

  16.2

  85+

  97.6

  2.2

  Pensionable age

  946.5

  21.4

  Age 50+

  1,685.8

  38.1

  West Midlands

  50–64

  1,047.4

  19.5

  65–84

  859.9

  16.0

  85+

  115.5

  2.1

  Pensionable age

  1,132.7

  21.0

  Age 50+

  2,022.7

  37.6

  South West

  50–64

  1,075.6

  20.4

  65–84

  971.9

  18.4

  85+

  151.9

  2.9

  Pensionable age

  1,297.1

  24.6

  Age 50+

  2,199.3

  41.6

  Eastern

  50–64

  1,115.6

  19.3

  65–84

  963.1

  16.7

  85+

  136.3

  2.4

  Pensionable age

  1,271.1

  22.0

  Age 50+

  2,215.0

  38.4

  Greater London

  50–64

  1,365.4

  18.1

  65–84

  824.3

  10.9

  85+

  110.8

  1.5

  Pensionable age

  1,112.6

  14.7

  Age 50+

  2,300.4

  30.5

  South East

  50–64

  1,683.0

  19.5

  65–84

  1,400.1

  16.2

  85+

  207.2

  2.4

  Pensionable age

  1,859.0

  21.5

  Age 50+

  3,290.3

  38.1

  Population (000)

  Percentage of population

  2019

  North East

  50–64

  540.5

  21.5

  65–84

  426.0

  16.9

  85+

  56.0

  2.2

  Pensionable age

  565.3

  22.5

  Age 50+

  1,022.5

  40.7

  North West and Merseyside

  50–64

  1,425.3

  20.9

  65–84

  1,120.6

  16.5

  85+

  148.7

  2.2

  Pensionable age

  1,476.8

  21.7

  Age 50+

  2,694.6

  39.6

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  50–64

  1,086.2

  20.9

  65–84

  850.1

  16.4

  85+

  116.0

  2.2

  Pensionable age

  1,123.1

  21.7

  Age 50+

  2,052.3

  39.6

  East Midlands

  50–64

  938.8

  20.9

  65–84

  778.3

  17.3

  85+

  104.5

  2.3

  130

  Population (000)

  Percentage of population

  Pensionable age

  1,019.5

  22.7

  Age 50+

  1,821.6

  40.5

  West Midlands

  50–64

  1,123.0

  20.8

  65–84

  915.2

  16.9

  85+

  122.7

  2.3

  Pensionable age

  1,199.1

  22.2

  Age 50+

  2,160.9

  40.0

  South West

  50–64

  1,161.0

  21.5

  65–84

  1,065.4

  19.7

  85+

  161.8

  3.0

  Pensionable age

  1,406.6

  26.0

  Age 50+

  2,388.2

  44.2

  Eastern

  50–64

  1,210.5

  20.5

  65–84

  1,046.2

  17.7

  85+

  147.7

  2.5

  Pensionable age

  1,373.3

  23.3

  Age 50+

  2,404.3

  40.8

  Greater London

  50–64

  1,520.2

  19.8

  65–84

  880.9

  11.5

  85+

  112.4

  1.5

  Pensionable age

  1,193.1

  15.5

  Age 50+

  2,513.4

  32.7

  South East

  50–64

  1,837.4

  20.8

  65–84

  1,521.5

  17.2

  85+

  221.8

  2.5

  Pensionable age

  2,007.9

  22.7

  Age 50+

  3,580.8

  40.5

  Public Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will make a statement. [92513]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government announced in their publication "Quangos—Opening up Public Appointments 1999–2002" (copies deposited in the Libraries of both Houses) their commitment to the equal representation of women and men in public appointments and a pro rata representation of members of ethnic minority groups. In moving towards achieving these commitments, the Chancellor's departments have set an ambitious overall goal that women should form a minimum of 40 per cent. of appointments to Chancellor's Departments' Public Bodies by 2003 (or for small bodies that at least one appointment should be held by a woman). There is also a goal that each of the Chancellor's Departments' Public Bodies should include at least one appointment from a member of the ethnic minorities by 2003 and that ethnic minorities should account for a minimum of 4 per cent. of appointments to larger bodies. The following table gives details of appointments made to NDPB's of the Chancellor's departments and agencies over the periods requested. Information on the number of appointments by both gender and ethnic origin cannot be provided since the number of new appointments in each category is less than five.
  131

  NDPB

  Appointments 1997–98

  Appointments 1998–99

  Policy Holders Protection Board

  4

  1

  Royal Mint Advisory Committee

  3

  2

  Statistics Advisory Committee

  2

  0

  Social Security Contributions
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the forecast levels of social security contributions for(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland for each of the next three years. [92391]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 23 July 1999,Official Report, column 699.

  Social Security Contributions (Scotland)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the level of social security contributions in Scotland over each of the last five years(a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the United Kingdom total. [92388]
  132
  Dawn Primarolo
  The available estimates of the share of National Insurance contributions made by Scottish residents are based on a 1 per cent. sample of National Insurance records in respect of employees. The latest information available is given in the table:

  Estimated Scottish share of UK total Percentage

  Scottish estimate £ billion

  1994–95

  8.7

  3.7

  1995–96

  8.6

  3.8

  1996–97

  9.0

  4.2

WALES

  Primary School Funding
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on primary school funding in Wales. [93146]

  Mr. Hain
  This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

CABINET OFFICE

  Office of Public Service
  Mr. Shepherd
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Government propose to make an order in council to place the former functions of the Office of Public Service within the remit of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Code of Practice on Open Government. [92645]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  An order-in-council restoring the Parliamentary Ombudsman's jurisdiction over the part of the Cabinet Office whose functions were formerly carried out by the Office of Public Service was approved at Her Majesty's Privy Council Meeting on 21 July. The Order, which will also bring that part of the Cabinet Office

  Date/Minister

  Location

  Meetings

  12 July-16 July 1997 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Washington

  Janet Caldow, Institute of Electronic Government

  Larry Haas, Office of Management and Budget

  Dr. Harold C. Relyea, Library of Congress

  Dr. Thomas, Brookings

  Bob Stone, National Performance Review

  John Kamensky, National Performance Review

  Patrick Kennedy, President's Management Council

  David Barram, US General Services Admin

  Senator Sam Brownback, Chairman of the Senate Oversight of Gov. Sub-Committee

  Smartcards
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the benefits of requiring the carrying of smartcards by persons seeking access to Government services. [91718]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  There is no intention that people should be obliged to carry smartcards to obtain general access to public services. However, the experience of the private sector shows that smartcards can be popular and effective. The Government is interested in the benefits which smartcards can offer both for secure authentication and the enhancement of privacy.

  Civil servants by Department, responsibility level1 and gender, 1 April 1998

  SCS

  G6/G7

  SEO/HEO

  EO

  AO

  AA

  Total

  Department

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service

  2—

  2—

  25

  2—

  225

  143

  39

  73

  30

  97

  6

  11

  330

  328

  Agriculture

  101

  15

  568

  119

  1,753

  826

  1,515

  885

  891

  1,562

  615

  1,076

  5,443

  4,483

  Cabinet Office

  103

  28

  212

  78

  334

  137

  204

  215

  179

  318

  88

  102

  1,120

  878

  Charity Commission

  8

  2—

  19

  13

  73

  64

  65

  105

  46

  78

  27

  28

  238

  290

  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal

  29

  5

  137

  147

  24

  25

  47

  110

  60

  193

  83

  313

  380

  793

  Crown Prosecution Service

  42

  5

  1,081

  864

  187

  228

  348

  936

  331

  994

  137

  633

  2,126

  3,660

  Culture, Media & Sport

  13

  8

  48

  24

  94

  45

  157

  81

  56

  53

  13

  19

  381

  230

  Customs and Excise

  65

  8

  363

  91

  4,912

  1,559

  5,051

  3,147

  2,376

  3,448

  1,244

  1,848

  14,011

  10,101

  Defence

  358

  26

  4,090

  351

  17,816

  3,104

  12,923

  4,479

  8,993

  12,119

  5,153

  7,785

  49,333

  27,864

  Education and Employment

  115

  35

  467

  209

  1,769

  1,431

  3,918

  9,044

  4,204

  13,229

  530

  1,006

  11,003

  24,954

  Environment, Transport & the Regions

  206

  47

  1,089

  217

  2,123

  767

  2,912

  1,148

  1,638

  3,049

  821

  1,824

  8,789

  7,052

  Export Credits Guarantee Department

  16

  2—

  47

  11

  85

  27

  57

  36

  31

  41

  16

  23

  252

  140

  FCO: Diplomatic Service

  413

  30

  519

  140

  1,151

  319

  774

  622

  512

  770

  146

  98

  3,515

  1,979

  Friendly Societies, Registry of

  10

  2—

  14

  5

  31

  7

  18

  18

  13

  24

  9

  2—

  95

  57

  134
  within the remit of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, will be laid before the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times ministers in his Department met members and officials in the United States Government between 1 May 1997 and 1 December 1997; and if he will list the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved and the names of the US ministers and officials at each meeting. [90424]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Cabinet Office Ministers had the following meetings with the following members and officials in the United States Government between 1 May and 1 December 1997.

  The Central Information Technology Unit (CITU) in the Cabinet Office is currently chairing an Interdepartmental Steering Group on Smartcard Technology, which is developing a framework for their possible use in service delivery.

  Civil Servants
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants are in post in each department and grade broken down by(a) gender and (b) ethnicity. [92512]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Civil Service Statistics personnel statistics are collated and published annually by the Cabinet Office. The latest information shown in the tables, is for staff in post at 1 April 1998.
  135

  Civil servants by Department, responsibility level1 and gender, 1 April 1998

  SCS

  G6/G7

  SEO/HEO

  EO

  AO

  AA

  Total

  Department

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  M

  W

  General Register Office—Scotland

  2—

  2—

  8

  2—

  34

  7

  22

  23

  14

  49

  22

  30

  100

  109

  Health

  279

  140

  498

  315

  615

  536

  344

  586

  233

  751

  140

  250

  2,109

  2,578

  Health and Safety Commission/Executive

  66

  12

  615

  75

  1,097

  454

  153

  226

  311

  836

  2—

  2—

  2,240

  1,600

  HM Prison Service

  71

  9

  475

  85

  1,454

  537

  2,486

  1,309

  19,975

  4,920

  3,971

  2,079

  28,432

  8,939

  Home Office

  85

  24

  426

  152

  1,554

  775

  2,047

  1,720

  868

  1,753

  607

  1,165

  5,587

  5,589

  Information, Central Office of

  5

  2—

  22

  14

  97

  87

  23

  15

  14

  26

  10

  7

  171

  150

  Inland Revenue

  226

  21

  2,401

  567

  5,564

  2,505

  5,800

  6,886

  5,001

  13,968

  3,725

  10,238

  22,717

  34,185

  International Development

  41

  5

  142

  35

  147

  87

  114

  95

  111

  216

  41

  53

  596

  491

  Intervention Board

  5

  2—

  26

  6

  120

  71

  124

  145

  186

  337

  43

  68

  504

  630

  Land Registry

  23

  6

  132

  56

  650

  264

  1,026

  1,518

  988

  2,520

  277

  952

  3,096

  5,316

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  45

  16

  177

  118

  643

  668

  853

  1,394

  1,572

  3,083

  656

  1,386

  3,946

  6,665

  National Savings

  9

  2—

  42

  9

  311

  219

  159

  252

  515

  1,494

  410

  982

  1,446

  2,960

  National Statistics, Office for

  25

  5

  122

  67

  347

  306

  337

  391

  309

  793

  134

  317

  1,274

  1,879

  Northern Ireland Office

  19

  2—

  17

  6

  19

  19

  12

  42

  15

  26

  13

  21

  95

  120

  Office for Standards in Education

  15

  2—

  134

  63

  29

  17

  31

  23

  23

  66

  6

  49

  238

  220

  Office of Electricity Regulation

  9

  2—

  24

  16

  41

  24

  17

  32

  9

  49

  2

  25

  100

  150

  Office of Fair Trading

  8

  5

  45

  14

  62

  42

  57

  43

  25

  70

  16

  22

  213

  196

  Office of Telecommunications

  2—

  2—

  38

  18

  33

  14

  10

  20

  2

  8

  5

  6

  92

  70

  Office of Water Services

  6

  2—

  9

  7

  23

  23

  26

  26

  10

  32

  2—

  11

  80

  100

  Ordnance Survey

  5

  2—

  40

  2—

  342

  75

  869

  206

  144

  174

  21

  18

  1,421

  477

  Public Record Office

  2—

  2—

  15

  11

  52

  39

  59

  31

  57

  64

  66

  46

  250

  190

  Registers of Scotland

  2—

  2—

  16

  6

  127

  104

  197

  221

  137

  133

  62

  109

  540

  570

  Royal Mint

  2—

  2—

  21

  2—

  108

  11

  50

  45

  29

  74

  9

  14

  220

  146

  Scottish Courts Service

  2—

  2—

  17

  2—

  109

  22

  102

  117

  63

  190

  135

  132

  430

  464

  Scottish Office

  136

  23

  426

  125

  809

  305

  527

  383

  348

  697

  397

  622

  2,643

  2,155

  Scottish Prison Service

  14

  2—

  102

  32

  771

  104

  2,050

  269

  965

  262

  114

  123

  4,016

  790

  Security and Intelligence Services

  30

  2—

  208

  19

  1,242

  259

  1,475

  515

  350

  481

  105

  250

  3,410

  1,530

  Serious Fraud Office

  7

  2—

  24

  8

  25

  12

  13

  16

  8

  22

  5

  9

  82

  70

  Social Security

  88

  36

  605

  277

  2,714

  1,971

  8,562

  13,668

  12,990

  36,684

  5,220

  10,666

  30,179

  63,302

  Trade and Industry

  197

  37

  781

  194

  1,623

  700

  906

  666

  966

  1,573

  362

  796

  4,835

  3,966

  Treasury

  67

  12

  168

  49

  154

  71

  81

  64

  59

  150

  16

  42

  545

  388

  Treasury Solicitor

  39

  8

  92

  73

  36

  31

  35

  56

  31

  51

  13

  14

  246

  233

  Welsh Office (including OHMCIS)

  53

  20

  149

  49

  264

  137

  218

  270

  163

  366

  190

  253

  1,037

  1,095

  Departments with less than 150 staff

  69

  8

  82

  38

  120

  71

  93

  69

  79

  136

  67

  73

  510

  395

  Total

  3,139

  617

  16,778

  4,785

  51,913

  19,249

  56,906

  52,241

  65,930

  108,029

  25,754

  45,597

  220,420

  230,518

  1 Responsibility levels are an approximate assignment of staff to a level of seniority broadly equivalent to the former service wide grades.

  2 In order to preserve confidentiality number withheld and the total rounded to the nearest 10 as there are less than 5 staff at this level.

  Civil Servants by Department, responsibility level1 and ethinic origin3—1 April 1998

  SCS

  G6/G7

  SEO/HEO

  EO

  AO

  AA

  Total

  Department

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service

  2—

  2—

  30

  2—

  324

  9

  54

  8

  81

  18

  14

  5

  510

  40

  Agriculture, Fisheries & Food

  104

  2

  573

  11

  1,717

  50

  1,376

  53

  1,832

  144

  1,378

  140

  6,980

  400

  Cabinet Office

  84

  2

  204

  2—

  314

  7

  271

  27

  302

  46

  96

  15

  1,271

  98

  Charity Commission

  12

  2—

  26

  2—

  137

  7

  155

  20

  98

  23

  55

  19

  483

  71

  Crown Prosecution Service

  45

  2—

  1,581

  118

  328

  16

  1,098

  88

  976

  139

  494

  49

  4,522

  410

  Culture, Media & Sport

  17

  2—

  49

  2—

  83

  2—

  59

  5

  75

  16

  18

  7

  301

  33

  Customs & Excise

  70

  2—

  421

  12

  6,020

  158

  7,022

  486

  4,691

  570

  2,173

  258

  20,397

  1,490

  Defence

  333

  8

  3,717

  61

  17,476

  275

  13,784

  224

  18,059

  378

  10,878

  366

  64,247

  1,312

  Education & Employment

  105

  2—

  492

  9

  2,049

  64

  6,707

  646

  8,507

  1,426

  698

  109

  18,558

  2,250

  Environment, Transport & the Regions

  260

  2—

  1,145

  37

  2,182

  121

  3,068

  180

  3,237

  392

  1,424

  127

  11,316

  860

  Export Credits Guarantee Department

  10

  2—

  36

  2—

  79

  8

  54

  10

  47

  18

  19

  11

  245

  49

  Foreign & Commonwealth Office

  387

  2—

  544

  2—

  1,195

  23

  1,071

  38

  856

  96

  134

  29

  4,187

  191

  Health

  367

  14

  760

  36

  1,036

  85

  674

  167

  892

  289

  5

  2—

  3,734

  600

  Health & Safety Executive

  73

  2—

  635

  7

  1,400

  45

  324

  26

  980

  99

  2—

  2—

  3,410

  178

  HM Prison Service

  61

  11

  521

  45

  1,493

  31

  3,227

  140

  22,437

  664

  5,039

  204

  32,778

  1,095

  Home Office

  79

  2—

  495

  8

  1,804

  62

  2,702

  278

  1,680

  503

  1,261

  286

  8,021

  1,140

  Information, Central Office of

  2—

  2—

  34

  2—

  142

  6

  22

  9

  29

  9

  14

  2—

  250

  25

  Inland Revenue

  244

  2—

  2,904

  39

  7,737

  228

  12,019

  585

  17,367

  1,274

  11,286

  1,149

  51,557

  3,280

  International Development

  25

  2—

  78

  2—

  138

  2—

  185

  14

  237

  39

  51

  10

  714

  68

  Intervention Board

  2—

  2—

  23

  2—

  130

  2—

  174

  12

  371

  42

  73

  11

  770

  67

  Land Registry

  26

  2—

  172

  2—

  833

  16

  2,294

  66

  3,083

  210

  1,092

  89

  7,500

  384

  136 137

  Civil Servants by Department, responsibility level 1 and ethnic origin 3—1 April 1998

  SCS

  G6/G7

  SEO/HEO

  EO

  AO

  AA

  Total

  Department

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  W

  EM

  Lord Chancellors Department

  50

  2—

  274

  2—

  1,192

  36

  1,890

  196

  3,812

  536

  1,704

  161

  8,922

  933

  National Savings

  6

  2—

  43

  2—

  505

  2—

  402

  2—

  2,076

  14

  1,185

  7

  4,217

  26

  National Statistics, Office for

  32

  2—

  177

  7

  590

  24

  641

  49

  954

  77

  404

  11

  2,798

  170

  Office for Standards in Education

  11

  2—

  82

  2—

  10

  2—

  22

  2—

  18

  7

  18

  2—

  161

  18

  Office of Electricity Regulation

  9

  2—

  37

  2—

  58

  2—

  36

  8

  44

  8

  19

  6

  203

  26

  Office of Fair Trading

  8

  2—

  37

  2—

  60

  2—

  43

  26

  41

  25

  9

  13

  198

  66

  Ordnance Survey

  5

  2

  40

  2—

  363

  2—

  893

  12

  231

  2—

  19

  2—

  1,551

  20

  Royal Mint

  2—

  2—

  22

  2—

  117

  2—

  95

  2—

  102

  2—

  23

  2—

  360

  2—

  Scottish Office

  139

  2—

  436

  2—

  769

  2—

  592

  2—

  716

  5

  466

  2—

  3,118

  14

  Other Scottish Departments

  64

  2—

  348

  2—

  762

  2—

  976

  6

  1,044

  5

  915

  6

  4,109

  18

  Security & Intelligence Services

  29

  2—

  219

  2—

  1,480

  2—

  1,760

  6

  773

  2—

  440

  2—

  4,701

  14

  Serious Fraud Office

  7

  2—

  33

  2—

  31

  2—

  22

  10

  18

  2—

  9

  6

  120

  32

  Social Security

  99

  2—

  627

  21

  4,075

  65

  18,596

  855

  39,217

  3,134

  11,214

  1,029

  73,828

  5,110

  Trade & Industry

  196

  2—

  857

  22

  1,861

  131

  1,188

  157

  1,678

  414

  764

  155

  6,544

  880

  Treasury

  66

  2—

  165

  7

  171

  6

  106

  22

  145

  47

  33

  20

  686

  100

  Treasury Solicitors Department

  32

  2—

  88

  6

  38

  6

  41

  16

  41

  15

  16

  2—

  256

  45

  Welsh Office (including OHCMI)

  73

  2—

  195

  2—

  396

  2—

  477

  2—

  522

  6

  438

  2—

  2,101

  14

  Departments less than 100 with known ethnic origin

  41

  2—

  106

  6

  162

  11

  107

  28

  83

  38

  33

  17

  532

  100

  Total

  3,181

  53

  18,226

  478

  59,257

  1,527

  84,227

  4,482

  137,352

  10,744

  53,910

  4,331

  356,156

  21,620

  1 Responsibility levels are an approximate assignment of staff to a level of seniority broadly equivalent to the former service wide grades.

  2 In order to preserve confidentiality number withheld and the total rounded to the nearest 10 as there are less than 5 staff at this level.

  3 Number of non-industrial staff who responded to departmental surveys on ethnic origin.

  Note:

  W = White, EM = Ethnic Minority

  Source:

  Mandate and Departmental Returns

  Minister without Portfolio
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings the former Minister without Portfolio held with members and officials of the United States Government during his visit in January 1998 to Florida and Washington; and if he will list the date and

  Official

  Date

  Location

  Capricia Marshall, Executive Assistant to the First Lady

  5 January 1998

  The White House, Washington

  Melanne Verveer, Deputy Chief of Staff to the First Lady

  5 January 1998

  The White House, Washington

  Mark Penn, White House, pollster

  5 January 1998

  The White House, Washington

  Ellen McCullough Lovell, Director of the White House Millennium Programme

  5 January 1998

  The White House, Washington

  Gender Impact Assessment
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by his Department since June 1997, stating in each case whether the outcome has been (a) put out to consultation and (b) published. [91677]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Women on 14 July 1999,Official Report, House of Lords, column 636.

  Anti-drugs Co-ordinator
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator has met Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 January 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting and the names of the Irish Ministers and officials at each meeting. [92271]
  138
  location of each meeting and the names of the United States officials who took part in each meeting. [92285]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The itinerary of the former Minister without Portfolio shows the following meetings with United States Government officials during his visit to Florida and Washington in January 1998:

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator has not had any meetings with either Ministers or officials of the Irish Government.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action the Government are taking to tackle age discrimination within Government departments. [92204]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Cabinet Office has this week issued "Age Diversity in the Civil Service: Guidance for Departments and Agencies".

  This Guidance is designed to help Departments and agencies to implement the Code of Practice published by the Department for Education and Employment in June. It includes advice on avoiding age and age-related criteria, such as age limits, for recruitment, selection, training and development.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Meat Inspection Charges
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the organisations which he has met to discuss meat inspection charges. [R] [90386]

  Mr. Rooker
  Since the beginning of this year, my right hon. Friend the Minister and I have separately met representatives of the Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers (now the British Meat Federation) and jointly met a delegation of small plant operators led by an all-party group of hon. Members. I have also had meetings with a representative of turkey producers, the National Farmers Union, Dr. Richard North, and a further meeting with representatives of the all-party parliamentary group. With the Parliamentary Secretary, I have recently met with representatives of the Small Abattoir Federation (SAFe) and the Country Landowners Association (CLA), and with my right hon. Friend the Minister I have met with the Meat and Livestock Commission. These meetings included discussions on charging, but, with the exception of that with SAFe, they were not set up specifically for that purpose.

  In addition, all Ministers in the Department have had issues of charging raised with them when attending functions around the country.

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) of 17 June 1999,Official Report, columns 216-18, on the Common Fisheries Policy, if alternative management measures include (a) the amendment of the existing quota and (b) the introduction of a permit system. [91767]

  Mr. Morley
  I have placed in the Library of the House copies of the research objectives of the study to which he refers. These include evaluation of possible adjustment of the operation of the quota system. This is not intended to affect quota share. It does not include a permit system.

  Gender Impact Assessment
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by his Department since June 1997, stating in each case whether the outcome has been(a) put out to consultation and (b) published. [91678]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government is committed to making sure that its policies are fair and inclusive and take full account of the needs and experiences of all those affected by them.

  Although the nature of the Ministry's responsibilities means that much of its activity does not have a gender-specific impact, the Ministry has guidance in place which requires, among other things, the preparation of an impact analysis during policy development in cases where there is the possibility of differential impact on differing groups such as men and women. No formal impact assessments have been drawn up since June 1997. The women's organisations listed in the answer given by my
  140
  hon. Friend the Minister of State on 23 June 1999, Official Report, column 418, have been contacted for views on a wide range of policies, and on legislative proposals.

  Beef Premiums
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will pay 80 per cent. of the beef premium on the first instalment. [92431]

  Mr. Rooker
  The EC legislation currently specifies that the advance of the beef special premium is at 60 per cent. of the total payment. Although increases in the advance have been authorised in the past there has been no proposal to date from the Commission to increase the rate this year.

  Pigmeat
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers he has to invoke Article 36 of the Treaty of Rome to restrict the importation of pigmeat; and if he will make a statement. [92429]

  Mr. Rooker
  In certain circumstances, Article 30 (ex Article 36) of the Treaty allows the maintenance of restrictions on the free movement of goods where these can be justified for the protection of the health and life of humans or animals or on the grounds of public morality or policy. However, it is clear from Rulings by the European Court of Justice that we cannot use Article 30 to impose higher UK standards on imports where EU law has been harmonised as it has been in the case of both pigmeat and farm animal welfare.

  Lay Holdings
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy not to increase the number of lay holdings over 10 hectares owned by corporate bodies. [92430]

  Mr. Morley
  The Wash Fishery Order 1992 restricts all lay holders to a maximum holding of 10 hectares. The Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee are grantees of the Order and can allocate larger areas to lay holders only if they have obtained ministerial permission. To date, the Committee has not made a formal request to do so.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate his Department has made of the effect of the proposed climate change levy on protected horticulture; and if he will make a statement. [92298]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice) on 15 June 1999 Official Report, column 118.

  Defensive Labelling
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to minimise defensive labelling by food producers in respect of nut content. [92491]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are urging industry to take action on so-called defensive labelling, such as "may contain nuts", so that it is restricted to cases where it is really necessary
  141
  and not used as an alternative to improving production procedures. The UK Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have both recently produced guidance notes for their members on this. Discussions with industry are continuing.

  Public Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92519]

  Mr. Morley
  The appointments made to public bodies are:

  Chairmen

  Total

  (a) 1997–98

  Total

  30

  223

  Male

  27

  190

  Female

  3

  33

  White

  30

  221

  Ethnic

  —

  2

  (b) 1998–99

  Total

  4

  85

  Male

  3

  67

  Female

  1

  18

  White

  4

  83

  Ethnic

  —

  2

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

  Veterinary Laboratory Agency
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the 1998–99 Annual Report and Accounts for the Veterinary Laboratory Agency. [93601]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I am pleased to announce that the 1998–99 Annual Report and Accounts for the Veterinary Laboratory Agency were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  I should like to congratulate all staff on their achievements during the year.

  TB (Badgers)
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response the Government have received to the submission on recommendation 69 on TB and badgers, which they made to the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention. [93603]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Following submission of the document in April, the UK Government has responded to a number of subsequent questions from the Secretariat to the Bern Convention and has supplied additional technical information. At the request of the Secretariat, the information has been consolidated into a single document,142
  which has been forwarded to the Secretariat and is now being sent to delegates of the Standing Committee. A copy of this latest document, which supersedes the earlier one, has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Easter 1998 Floods
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer) of 31 March 1999,Official Report, column 744, on floods, what further progress the Environment Agency has made in implementing its Action Plan in response to the Independent report on the Easter 1998 floods. [93605]

  Mr. Morley
  The Chairman of the Agency has provided me with a report of progress up to the end of June 1999. Copies are being placed in the House Libraries.

  I am pleased to note that the Agency remains on course for completing the substantial work programme set out in the Action Plan. In line with the priorities that I set out last October, the Agency has received an independent report on its management structures and skills base and the recommendations will be implemented by next April. An elaboration of the Environment Agency's flood defence supervisory duty was published in May, along with interim high level targets for the Agency and other flood and coastal defence operating authorities. The Agency is now working with others to ensure that flood and coastal defences are identified and inspected; the results recorded and assessed; and appropriate action to remedy defects put in hand. Consultation on further development of high level targets and the supervisory duty is in hand.

  The Agency has reported that indicative maps of floodplains have been produced ahead of the September target, and are currently being distributed to local authorities for use in both development control and emergency planning. These maps are being used to review the Agency's database of properties at risk of flooding. Further work has been done on flood warning, with an extension to the number of properties now able to receive direct Automatic Voice Messages through the telephone system. Flood warning messages have been reviewed and a new system to replace the present colour-coded warnings is planned from September 2000. The Agency is embarking on a significant programme of work, both internally and with partners such as local authorities and the emergency services, to ensure that the necessary preparations are made. I have agreed with the Agency that it is important to ensure that these arrangements are introduced successfully and are coupled with a campaign to increase public awareness.

  The programme of improvements to the Agency's telemetry network is starting following MAFF agreement to grant aid work in England. The National Assembly for Wales is separately considering the telemetry programme in Wales.

  The Agency continues to make good progress in implementing the Easter Floods Report and I will ensure that the House is updated on future progress.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gender Impact Assessment
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by his Department since June 1997, stating in each case whether the outcome has been(a) put out to consultation and (b) published. [91679]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 22 July 1999,Official Report, column 609, by my right hon. friend the Minister for Women.

  As part of the Government's commitment to ensuring that its policies are relevant to the lives that people live today, my Department is working closely with the Women's Unit to develop good practices for carrying out gender impact appraisal.

  My Department has not carried out any gender impact assessments since June 1997.

  Palestine National Authority
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to support the Palestine National Authority in developing its economy. [92239]

  Mr. Hoon
  Our support for the Palestine National Authority in the development of its economy includes our aid assistance of £8 million each year to the Authority, our support for the Interim Economic Issues (for which £2 million has been set aside by the Department for International Development) and technical assistance to the Ministry of Economy and Trade and Negotiations Affairs Department. The UK also contributes 16 per cent. of EC aid to the Palestinians. We expect this to amount to over £50 million over the next five years.

  Concordat (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish, before the summer adjournment, the most recent draft of the concordats between his Department and the National Assembly Wales. [92326]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Work on the international relations and European Union concordats, in which my Department has a considerable interest, is preceding well. We hope to put the draft concordats to the Assembly Cabinet shortly. The concordats will not be published in advance of that.

  Minurso Mission
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to provide a contingent of personnel to the United Nations Minurso mission organising the referendum in the Western Sahara. [92636]

  Mr. Hoon
  We have no plans at present to reintroduce a contingent to Minurso due to heavy commitments elsewhere.

  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which states which are parties to the Partial Test Ban Treaty have not(a) signed and (b) ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. [92754]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Those states which are parties to the Partial Test Ban Treaty but have neither signed nor ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty are: Afghanistan, Botswana, Bahamas, Central African Republic, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Gambia, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga and Trinidad and Tobago.

  Those states which are parties to the Partial Test Ban Treaty but have signed but not ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burma, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Western Samoa and Zambia.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to encourage the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. [92758]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We continue to urge those states which have not yet ratified the treaty to do so as soon as possible—in particular those whose ratification is essential for it to enter into force.

  Britain has played a leading role in preparing for a Special Conference of states that have ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty this October in Vienna, to consider ways of accelerating the process of bringing the treaty into force.

  General Affairs Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 19 and 20 July; and if he will make a statement. [92707]

  Ms Quin
  1. The General Affairs Council in Brussels on 19 July 1999 adopted the A points listed in document 10103/99. Copies of the documents listing the A points will be placed in the Library as soon as they become available.

  Open Debate

  2. The GAC had a wide-ranging exchange of views in public session on lessons from Kosovo for the EU's external relations. They agreed that more needed to be done to improve the effectiveness and consistency of EU responses to international crises. An important first step should be to make sure the new CFSP structures introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty worked.
  145
  Presidency Presentation on Procedure

  3. The Council noted the Presidency's plans for taking forward preparatory discussions for the Inter-Governmental Conference.

  Middle East Peace Process

  4. The GAC agreed conclusions welcoming the new government in Israel and looking forward to further developments in the Middle East Peace Process. The GAC hoped that the forthcoming visit to the region by the Presidency, Commission and EU special envoy would further enhance ties with the region.

  CFSP

  5. The GAC was joined over lunch by Javier Solana, appointed Secretary-General of the Council and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy by the European Council at Vienna. He looked forward to starting his new post in late October or November, and outlined key areas for immediate work, including ways of strengthening CFSP and implementing the Common Strategy on Russia.

  WTO/New Round: Commission Communication

  6. The Commission presented a Communication on the proposed new trade Round. The General Affairs Council will return to the subject in October.

  Western Balkans

  7. The GAC welcomed the appointment of Mr. Bernard Kouchner as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General. It stressed the urgency of setting up an international civilian presence in Kosovo. It gave political agreement to a Regulation setting up a European Agency for Reconstruction.

  8. The GAC examined the EU sanctions regime and agreed that measures affecting the Serb people rather than the Belgrade regime would be the first to be lifted. They agreed to examine ways to alleviate the situation of democratic bodies in the FRY. They affirmed that parties competing in elections in the FRY should not have anyone convicted or indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia as candidates.

  9. The GAC welcomed plans for the Stability Pact summit in Sarajevo on 30 July and heard a presentation by Mr. Bodo Hombach, EU Special Representative and Co-ordinator of the Pact.

  10. The GAC welcomed the informal political dialogues to be held on 20 July with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, and decided to consider the creation of EU/Croatia consultative task force. It agreed with the Commission that it would be feasible to envisage opening negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Macedonia.

  East Timor

  11. The GAC discussed East Timor and reiterated its strong support for the UN-organised consultation process which enables the East Timorese people to express their views as to the future of the territory.

  Twinning

  12. The GAC discussed ways of improving procedures for the financing of twinning projects.

  Nomination of the Commission

  13. The GAC approved Member States' formal nomination for the new Commission.
  146
  European Conference

  14. The third meeting of the European Conference took place on 19 July, attended by Foreign Ministers of EU Member States, Central and Eastern European candidate countries, Cyprus, Malta and Switzerland. Discussion focused on the Western Balkans, looking at the way forward and lessons to be learned from the Kosovo crisis. The Conference also agreed conclusions on combating transnational organised crime.

  Co-operation Councils with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

  The first Co-operation Councils with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were held on 20 July, following the entry into force of their Partnership and Co-operation Agreements with the EU on 1 July.

  GCHQ (Pension Rights)
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 1999,Official Report, columns 307-08, if he is now able to estimate the cost of compensation for loss of pension rights which have been incurred in respect of the 14 former employees of GCHQ. [92459]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 22 July 1999]: GCHQ officials are close to reaching agreement with the CCSU on the basis for calculating the amount of compensation in each of the 14 individual cases; there remain issues relating to tax and to the precise method of payment which may have implementations for the overall cost. It is expected these will all be resolved soon. The Government Actuaries department will then be asked to calculate the precise cost of the scheme.

  Sudan
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current IGAD negotiations concerning the civil war in Sudan. [92822]

  Mr. Hoon
  In the run up to the current IGAD peace negotiations in Nairobi, we have been pressing the case for a comprehensive ceasefire and for the IGAD Partners Forum proposal of a secretariat which would support a sustained and accelerated negotiation.

  We are following the course of the talks closely, but it is too early to confirm how successful the talks have been.

  International Criminal Court Treaty
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to put forward detailed proposals for the ratification of the International Criminal Court Treaty. [92810]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Government will bring forward legislation to enable ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as soon as the Parliamentary timetable permits. We are strongly committed to the Court and want to be among the first sixty States to ratify.

  Burma
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the State Peace and Development Council in Burma concerning dialogue with the Committee Representing the People's Parliament. [92811]

  Mr. Hoon
  Our policy is to press the SPDC to enter into substantive dialogue with democracy leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic minority leaders. We do so regularly.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the introduction of sanctions on Burma. [92812]

  Mr. Hoon
  Our leading role in international action on Burma is supported by the interest shown by the public, non-governmental organisations and pressure groups in the UK in bringing pressure to bear on the regime. Representations received include calls both for and against sanctions.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Burmese Government concerning the re-opening of universities and colleges. [92813]

  Mr. Hoon
  Since universities and colleges closed in 1996, we have raised the issue with the Burmese regime on a number of occasions. We shall continue to do so. The question has also been covered in UN resolutions, most recently that of the UN Commission on Human Rights adopted in April 1999.

  Child Soldiers
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Governments of(a) Liberia, (b) Colombia, (c) Nigeria, (d) Sri Lanka, (e) Sudan, (f) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (g) Sierra Leone and (h) Ethiopia concerning the rehabilitation of child soldiers. [92809]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We believe that the use of children as soldiers, in contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, is one of the worst violations of children's rights. We are working to encourage and assist the demobilisation and rehabilitation of child soldiers around the world.

  The majority of child soldiers today are fighting in guerilla organisations, not for governments. We therefore need to take a broad approach to the issue.

  Our approach is based on a combination of support for international efforts in this field, in particular the work of the UN Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu, whose recent visits have included Sri Lanka, Colombia and Sudan; discussions with governments, such as the Governments of Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone; ensuring that the needs of former child soldiers are effectively addressed in any post-conflict reconstruction, eg in Sierra Leone; and, with the Department for International Development, support for practical
  148
  measures to address this issue, eg in Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Sierra Leone.

  We have heard allegations that Ethiopia may have used child soldiers in its war with Eritrea, but we have seen no evidence to confirm this. We continue to monitor the situation. We are not aware of any reports of the use of child soldiers in Nigeria.

  Balkans
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the(a) mandate and (b) composition of the 13 July High Level Group for Kosovo and the Western Balkans. [92828]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  At the Cologne Summit of 20 June, the Heads of State of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the US directed that the economic reconstruction process be guided by the High Level Steering Group. The first meeting of this group took place on 13 July under the joint chairmanship of Yves Thibault de Silguy of the European Commission and James Wolfensohn of the World Bank, and was attended by Finance Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and Finland, the Managing Director of the IMF, the President of the EIB and the President of the EBRD, the Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, and the Deputy Secretary-General to the UN.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties. [92753]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: In accordance with the terms of the Ministerial Code, Ministers are required always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. The last time I used a train in the course of my official duties was on Saturday 26 June to travel to Gatwick Airport to board a commercial flight to Rio de Janeiro to attend the EU Latin America and Caribbean Summit.

  Botswana
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Botswana. [93161]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Relations between the UK and Botswana are excellent, and several thousand British citizens live and work in Botswana. British exports to Botswana amounted to around £20 million last year, while imports from Botswana amounted to about £77 million. The Department for International Development maintains an aid programme in-country aimed at poverty reduction, education, HIV/AIDS awareness and public sector reform. The British Council is engaged by the Government of Botswana to recruit teachers from the UK, and to place trainees in UK institutions.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list with dates and
  149
  details all public interest immunity certificates he has issued since 1 May 1997. [92733]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: Details of the two public interest immunity certificates signed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs since 1 May 1997 are as follows:

  Date

  Case

  30 October 1998

  R v. Mullen

  10 April 1999

  Paul and John Grecian v. HM Customs and Excise

  In both cases, disclosure of the documents referred to in the certificates would have caused real harm to the work of the security and intelligence agencies.

  In addition, one certificate was signed by another Foreign Office Minister, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, on 26 September 1997 in the case of Rowland and Norgen v. Bock and Gouden Akker Properties. Disclosure of the document referred to in the certificate would have caused serious harm to the UK's foreign relations and could have revealed the identity of an informant.

  Postal Services (Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the postal services between the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia will be returned to the level applying before the recent military operation. [92638]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 23 July 1999]: The United Nations civilian presence in Kosovo has identified 10 key areas which are priorities for rehabilitation. The postal service is one of these.

  The Royal Mail have informed us that they hope to re-establish a surface mail service between the UK and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) within the next fortnight, but that no alternative route for air mail services has yet been identified given the flight ban between the territory of the EU and that of the FRY.

  Sanctions and Arms Embargoes
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the sanctions and arms embargoes currently implemented by the United Kingdom. [93581]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As of today's date, the United Kingdom implements Security Council resolutions which impose arms embargoes or wider sanctions regimes in relation to Angola, Iraq, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Government have also implemented an arms embargo on Ethiopia and Eritrea, called for in non-binding SCR 1227 (1998).

  The United Kingdom implements additional sanctions imposed by the European Union of Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burma, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Gambia, Libya and Sudan.

  The UK currently implements two arms embargoes as a result of decisions by the OSCE—on Armenia and Azerbaijan.
  150
  There is also a national arms embargo on Iran.

  I shall keep the House informed of current sanctions regimes and arms embargoes and their scope on a yearly basis. All new sanctions or arms embargoes and any amendments to existing sanctions or arms embargoes will be announced at the time. We shall be laying a list of sanctions regimes and arms embargoes implemented by the UK in the Libraries of the Houses. A "Summary of Additional UK Restrictions on the Export of Strategic Goods" which includes details of additional national controls, will be annexed to this list. Both documents will shortly be available on the FCO website. These documents replace the "Summary of Government Commitments Regarding the Application of Strategic Export Controls", copies of which are currently in the Libraries of the Houses and on the FCO website. An updated version of the sanctions list will be laid in the Library annually or more frequently if policy changes require a revision.

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be available. [93582]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Copies of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy's annual report for 1998–99 will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses this week.

  The foundation makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of democracy overseas. Its activities include providing assistance to political parties, parliaments, the independent media, trade unions, human rights groups, women's groups and other non-governmental organisations involved in political development.

  In 1998–99, the foundation received £3,168,815 from the FCO, along with £211,256 from corporate and charity sources. With these funds it supported 274 new projects and managed another 223. It directed most of its funds to supporting democratic institutions in its priority areas, which are: Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Anglophone Africa. It also supported worthwhile projects in other parts of the world, such as South East Asia and the Middle-East.

  In particular, the foundation initiated three important technical assistance projects in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nigeria and Indonesia, all of which are undergoing crucial transition processes towards fair and free democracy. The foundation can also pride itself on groundbreaking work in Qatar in the lead up to their Central Municipal Council elections, where women were given the vote and allowed to stand as candidates for the first time ever in the Gulf states. Most recently, the foundation has been preparing the ground to initiate projects in Kosovo, if and when this is appropriate.

  Export Restrictions (Balkans)
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what United
  151
  Kingdom specific export restrictions currently apply to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia; for what reasons; and what proposals the Government have to lift them. [93583]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  UK national export controls in general apply to all countries.

  The only UK specific export control currently in place on Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia is Group 3, Part 1, Schedule 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, which prohibits the export without an export licence of certain all-wheel drive utility vehicles capable of off-road use, heavy-duty recovery vehicles and drop-sided trucks.

  This control was introduced to address concerns that such vehicles might be used by paramilitary groups against British troops deployed on peacekeeping duties in the former Yugoslavia.

  We are currently taking steps to remove this control in respect of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, as we no longer perceive the uncontrolled export of these vehicles as a threat to British troops.

  EU Arms Embargo
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent changes there have been to the EU arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement. [93584]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Council of the European Union adopted on 19 July a Council Decision amending Common Position 96/184/CFSP to allow transfers of small arms to the police forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This decision was taken in order to promote peace and stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Member States are required to inform the Council of any transfers made under this exemption. The export of small arms to the police forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina remains licenseable under the terms of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended.

  Diplomatic Immunity
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were alleged to have been committed in 1998 by persons entitled to immunity. [93585]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  From a community of over 17,500 persons entitled to immunity, 21 alleged serious offences by such persons were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1998. "Serious offences" are defined in accordance with the 1985 White Paper on Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges, i.e., as any offence that would in certain circumstances carry a maximum penalty of 6 months or more imprisonment. The majority of alleged serious offences in 1998 involved driving under the influence of drink and shoplifting.

  Lord Levy
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature of the briefings provided to Lord Levy prior to his recent visit to Syria and Jordan. [93054]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provided Lord Levy with background briefing on Syria and Jordan before his visit.
  152
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 20 July 1999,Official Report, column 962, on the middle-east, if he will place in the Library the full texts of telegrams from British posts in Jordan and Syria concerning the diplomatic missions carried out by Lord Levy. [92941]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Under the Code of Practice on access to government information, exemption 2, internal telegrams are not made public. This is in line with previous government practice.

  However, I can inform the hon. Member that our Ambassador in Amman reported that Lord Levy's was
  "a highly successful visit which has given a valuable fillip to bilateral relations".

  Our Ambassador in Damascus said he was "most grateful" to Lord Levy for undertaking a programme of "notably warm and substantive meetings".

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) of 13 July 1999,Official Report, column 140, on the Prime Minister's personal representative, if he will list Lord Levy's official engagements in Jordan and Syria. [92942]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) on 13 July 1999,Official Report, column 140.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 July 1999,Official Report, column 464, on ministerial visits, if he will list the dates on which he and his ministers plan to be absent from the office during the summer adjournment for reasons other than departmental business. [93089]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Ministers' holiday plans during the summer adjournment are personal and it is not the normal practice to disclose such information.

  UN Commission on Human Rights
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 July 1999,Official Report, column 597, on the 55th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, what are the terms of reference of the Special Rapporteur study; and what measures he will take to promote public awareness of the study. [92931]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities recommended the appointment of a Special Rapporteur in August 1998. The mandate has to be endorsed by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), currently under way in Geneva. Subject to ECOSOC's approval, the Special Rapporteur will carry out a study on the concept practice of Affirmative Action to be presented to the Sub-Commission. The Special Rapporteur will invite comments from governments and NGOs preparing his study.

  Public Appointments
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92521]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The following appointments or reappointments were made to FCO non-departmental public bodies in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Total number of appointments

  33

  54

  21

  Male

  24

  35

  14

  Female

  9

  19

  7

  Of White origin

  33

  47

  18

  Of Black origin

  —

  3

  —

  Of Asian origin

  —

  3

  3

  Other

  —

  1

  —

  154
  1997

  Mr. D. A. Thompson

  Baroness Shirley Williams

  1998

  Sir R. Braithwaite

  Baroness Kennedy

  1999

  Sir Keith Morris; of White origin

  Ernie Ross MP1; of White origin.

  Information on the ethnic origin of individuals appointed before 1 April 1999 was given in confidence. We cannot therefore disclose it.
  1 Mr. Ross was appointed by the Secretary of State as one of 13 governors of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The governors in turn elect one of their number, in this case Mr. Ross, to act as chair.

  Sentencing of Women
  Sentencing of Women
  Immigration Act Detainees: Access to Internet
  Immigration Act Detainees: Access to Internet
  Immigration Act: Voucher Scheme
  Immigration Act: Voucher Scheme
  Macpherson Inquiry Papers: Access
  Macpherson Inquiry Papers: Access
  HM Prison Risky
  HM Prison Risky
  Foreign Nationals: Leave to Remain in UK
  Foreign Nationals: Leave to Remain in UK
  Euan Sutherland and Christopher Morris
  Euan Sutherland and Christopher Morris
  International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
  International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
  Passport Agency: Business Plan
  Passport Agency: Business Plan
  Macpherson Inquiry: Costs
  Macpherson Inquiry: Costs
  Louis Farrakhan
  Louis Farrakhan
  Gold Prices: Effect on South Africa
  Gold Prices: Effect on South Africa
  Wales: Spending Review and Objective 1 Status
  Wales: Spending Review and Objective 1 Status
  Labour Market Status
  Labour Market Status
  Unemployment: Local Authority Wards
  Unemployment: Local Authority Wards
  Privileges Committee Report
  Privileges Committee Report
  Human Rights: Joint Committee
  Human Rights: Joint Committee
  Personal Representatives of Ministers: Security Clearance
  Personal Representatives of Ministers: Security Clearance
  Government Departments: Sponsorship
  Government Departments: Sponsorship
  Leaks of Official Information
  Leaks of Official Information
  House of Lords Ministers: Visits to European Commission
  House of Lords Ministers: Visits to European Commission
  Questions for Written Answer
  Questions for Written Answer
  Reserve Forces: Gulf War and Medical Discharge
  Reserve Forces: Gulf War and Medical Discharge
  Strategic Defence Review
  Strategic Defence Review
  Royal Navy: Orthopaedic Surgeons
  Royal Navy: Orthopaedic Surgeons
  Haslar Hospital Intensive Care Unit
  Haslar Hospital Intensive Care Unit
  Armed Forces: Retirement of Senior Medical Officers
  Armed Forces: Retirement of Senior Medical Officers
  Armed Forces: Secondary Care Medical Treatment
  Armed Forces: Secondary Care Medical Treatment
  School Curriculum: Religious Education
  School Curriculum: Religious Education
  Public Policy: Privatisation of Arms Industry
  Public Policy: Privatisation of Arms Industry
  Assisted Areas
  Assisted Areas
  National Museums and Galleries: Ticketing
  National Museums and Galleries: Ticketing
  GM and non-GM Crops: Pollen Dispersal
  GM and non-GM Crops: Pollen Dispersal
  Scotland: Concordats
  Scotland: Concordats