Written Answers of 24 June 1999

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kosovo
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral Statement of 14 June 1999,Official Report, column 22–33, on Kosovo, what response he has received from Hashen Thaqi about ending violence in Kosovo. [87591]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As the Prime Minister pointed out in his statement to the House on Kosovo on 21 June 1999,Official Report, columns 761–64, and at the G8 Summit, the KLA has now agreed an undertaking to demilitarise in phases over 90 days, beginning with an immediate ceasefire.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to support the gathering of evidence in Kosovo on behalf of the War Crimes Commission. [87875]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are doing all we can to help ICTY investigate crimes against humanity in Kosovo. A UK Scenes of Crime team has been initially tasked by ICTY to examine sites of two of the worst atrocities thought to have taken place in Kosovo. The UK team was the first such team operating on the ground in Kosovo.

  In April, we appointed a UK Kosovo war crimes co-ordinator who is responsible for ensuring that as much information as possible is passed to ICTY that might be relevant to the Tribunal's investigations.

  We have contributed an extra £290,000 this year to ICTY in addition to the UK's assessed contribution of US$5.1 million.

  Euro (EC Seminars)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will deposit in the Library documentation relating to the seminars provided by the European Commission to EU consumer organisations in November and December on training in important aspects of the transition to the euro, from the consumer's viewpoint; [87672]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the (a) nature and (b) cost of the assistance supplied by the European Commission to the TUC to encourage public debate on EMU; [87686]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the nature of the project financed by the European Commission relating to vulnerable sectors of the population and preparation for the advent of the euro. [87659]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.
  424
  These projects appear to be financed by the European Commission from the European Union Budget, line B3–306, Information Programme for European Citizens (Prince).

  The Prince programme exists to stimulate public debate on the EMU. I understand that the Commission gave the European Trades Union Congress (ETUC) 200,000 euro under the Prince programme in 1997. ETUC distributed this money to the national trades union organisations. The money received by the TUC was used to help organise seven conferences aimed at stimulating public debate on the EMU.

  The seminars for consumer organisations were also organised under the Prince programme.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Special Advisers (US Visits)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 17 May 1999,Official Report, column 253, which special advisers visited the United States of America on 10 and 11 September 1997; and if he will list the meetings which these special advisers held with members and officials of the US Government during the visit, stating the dates and locations of each meeting and the names of the US ministers and officials at each meeting. [87414]

  Mr. Byers
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett), as the then President of the Board of Trade met Charlene Barshefsky (US Trade Representative), William Daley (US Commerce Secretary) and Elizabeth Moler (US Deputy Energy Secretary) during her visit to the United States of America in September 1997. She also participated in other meetings involving Senators and Congressmen. She was accompanied by her Special Adviser, Mr. Corry, at these meetings.

  US Tariffs
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the tariffs imposed by the United States on European Union goods as a result of the banana dispute. [87506]

  Mr. Wilson
  The point at issue in this dispute is the compatibility of the EU's banana import regime with the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

  This regime was revised during 1998 to take account of the earlier adverse WTO rulings, but the WTO Panel ruled on 12 April that the revised regime is still not fully WTO-compliant. In addition, the WTO arbitrator determined that the annual loss to the US from the current regime is $191.4 million. On 19 April, the US was given formal WTO authority to retaliate up to that level.

  The US issued a revised retaliation list on 9 April removing several sectors which had been included on an earlier list. Whilst this scaling down was welcome, we remain acutely aware that many UK businesses are adversely affected by the retaliation still in effect.

  We are continuing to make representations to the US about the harm which is being caused to UK businesses in the affected sectors.
  425
  We are also continuing to press for the EU to work with the US and other interested parties to achieve an early end to this unnecessary damage to business. We are pressing for further intensive consultations with all the parties involved on the options for reforming the banana regime, in order to make it unambiguously compatible with the WTO.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to the letter of 18 May from Rosemary Maddock of Highclere, Slapton, near Kingsbridge, Devon, about a former employee of Anchorpac Ltd. [87986]

  Mr. Wills
  I understand that a reply was sent by an Official in the Employments Relations Directorate on 23 June.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rosemary Nelson
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the security force helicopters operating in the Ashgrove area of Lurgan on Sunday 14 and Monday 15 March were equipped with still or video cameras; and if photographs or video footage from them has been made available to the policy inquiry team investigating the murder of Rosemary Nelson. [86174]

  School

  Education and Library Board area

  Management Type

  Capital cost (£000)

  Number of part-time places

  Harryville Primary School, Ballymena

  North Eastern

  Controlled

  80

  52

  St. Joseph's Primary School, Crumlin

  North Eastern

  Maintained

  60

  52

  Bloomfield Road Primary School, Bangor

  South Eastern

  Controlled

  90

  52

  Abbey Primary School, Newtownards

  South Eastern

  Controlled

  70

  52

  St. Aloysius' Primary School, Lisburn

  South Eastern

  Maintained

  90

  52

  Craigavon Primary School, Gilford1

  Southern

  Controlled

  20

  12

  St. Clare's/St. Colman's Abbey Primary School, Newry

  Southern

  Maintained

  55

  52

  Ballykelly Primary School

  Western

  Controlled

  66

  52

  1This is an extension to an existing nursery unit

  FE Lecturers (Conditions of Service)
  Mr. John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if lecturers in Northern Ireland further education colleges prior to April 1993 were employed on conditions of service similar to the Silver Book agreement in England. [87785]

  Mr. McFall
  Yes, subject to minor regional variations.

  Paramilitary Violence
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 12 June the number of(a) punishment beatings and (b) punishments shootings which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [87962]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number of paramilitary attacks during the period 6–12 June 1999 are as shown.
  426
  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 8 June 1999]All matters of security force activity in this area over the period of 12–15 March are the subject of major lines of inquiry for Mr. Port's continuing investigation. It is not, therefore, appropriate to go into detail at this stage. However, he has access to all the available information, in whatever form.

  Weapons Amnesty
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many weapons and of what calibre were collected during the 1971 weapons amnesty; and how those weapons were disposed of. [87154]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 June 1999]The Northern Ireland Office does not hold the information in the form requested. I understand, however, that a total of 1,619 firearms and 99,440 rounds of ammunition were handed in.

  Pre-school Places
  Mr. Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for each(a) controlled, (b) maintained, (c) integrated and (d) voluntary sector school in each Education and Library Board area the number of, and the expenditure on, PEAG places for the school year 1998–99. [87674]

  Mr. McFall
  Under 1998–99 Pre-school Education Development Plans, my Department approved the establishment of new statutory nursery units at the following schools.

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Assaults

  4

  2

  Shootings

  2

  0

  Total

  6

  2

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 12 June the number of violent incidents involving paramilitary groups which took place in Northern Ireland indicating how many involved(a) Loyalist and (b) Republican groups. [87961]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number of security incidents during the period 6–12 June 1999 are as shown:

  Number

  Deaths

  0

  Shooting incidents

  2

  Bombing incidents

  3

  427
  The number of casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks during the period are as follows:

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Assaults

  4

  2

  Shootings

  2

  0

  Total

  6

  2

  Notes:

  1. Figures may be subject to minor amendment

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

  Belfast Harbour
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government have for any sum exceeding the projected £70 million raised from the proposed privatisation of Belfast Harbour; and if she will make a statement. [88118]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The scheme for transferring Belfast Port to the private sector has not yet been finalised and no plans beyond the £70 million assumed in the Northern Ireland estimates for 1999–2000 have therefore been made.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  London River Police
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 June 1999,Official Report, column 332, on the London River Police, what estimate he has made of the (a) cost of overtime payments and (b) total cost for the service, over the millennium public holiday, at a strength of (i) 89 and (ii) 101. [87405]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police tells me that all police officers on duty on the millennium public holiday will be entitled to overtime payment for being on duty. It is likely that every officer will be working a 12-hour duty, at an average cost of £297.69 per officer.

  The total cost of the millennium public holiday river policing arrangements, based on a 12-hour duty on 31 December and a 12-hour duty on 1 January, using the same figure will be £595.38 per officer. This gives a total cost of £52,988.82 for 89 officers, and £60,133.38 for 101 officers.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 June 1999,Official Report, column 332, on the London River Police, for what reasons there will be a reduction in the number of river police in the period to 1 January 2000. [87402]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that the reduction of numbers of river police, to 89 from 101, will align resources more closely to known and potential policing demands and so enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the river police.

  Prisons (Cell Confinement)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in which prisoners are confined to cells for 22 hours a day or more; how many prisoners in each prison are so confined; and what the reasons are. [87957]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Prison Service does not collect centrally information on the time individual prisoners spend confined to their cell.

  Provisional data show that, for the year 1998–99, the average time prisoners were locked in their cells was 13.4 hours on a weekday and 14.7 hours at weekends.

  Within a prison establishment, the period for which individual prisoners or groups of prisoners are unlocked will vary according to a number of factors, including their level on the incentives and earned privileges scheme. Some prisoners may be confined to their cells for most of the day, though usually only for short periods. Reasons for this might include for the maintenance of good order and discipline, because the individual prisoner has declined regime activity or because of operational demands.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 9 May, in regard to the return of Mr. Melik's passport. [87839]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Mr. Melik was granted leave to remain as a visitor and his passport returned to him on 21 June. A reply to the hon. Member will shortly be sent to this effect.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay, of 9 May in regard to the return of documents belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Strange. [87840]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I will reply shortly, but can say that Mrs. Strange has been given leave to remain in the United Kingdom for a further 12 months and her passport was returned on 22 June.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the performance of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [87838]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's caseworking operation is undergoing major accommodation and organisational changes. These changes are necessary to modernise the work of the Directorate to enable it to meet the Government's commitment to a fairer, firmer, faster immigration control. I regret any delays caused by this.

  My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, has established a project team, working to tight deadlines, to plan and deliver urgent measures to ensure the Directorate returns to previous levels of service.
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  The team is looking at a range of organisational and strategic measures aimed at improving the performance of the Integrated Casework Directorate, and has developed systems for projecting future output levels so as to target improvements more effectively.

  Siemens Business Services delivered the computer system on 14 June. It will now be rigorously tested and piloted to ensure that the Directorate's requirements are met. The system will then be progressively introduced and should become operational early next year.

  Police Car Response Times
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 June 1999,Official Report, column 93, on police car response times, what plans he has to commission research on this matter. [87975]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have no plans to commission research on this subject.

  Wormwood Scrubs
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' report on his inspection of HMP Wormwood Scrubs to be published. [88449]

  Mr. Straw
  I understand that Sir David Ramsbotham intends to publish his inspection report on Wormwood Scrubs prison on Monday 28 June. I have arranged for copies of his report to be placed in the Library and the Vote Office on publication.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Film Companies (Locations)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support the Government give to encourage film companies to use British locations. [87877]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government fund the British Film Commission (BFC), which provides information and advice to overseas and domestic film production companies on making use of suitable British locations and

  £000

  Project/programme title

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1996–97 to 1998–99

  Good Government (Voter Registration Programme)

  147

  —

  30

  177

  In-Service Education

  296

  226

  16

  539

  Health Management Strengthening

  106

  24

  —

  130

  Hospital Maintenance

  40

  14

  9

  63

  Primary Health Care

  60

  87

  —

  148

  Economic Management Capacity Building

  —

  —

  50

  50

  Assistance to Auditor General

  —

  —

  50

  50

  Mainstreaming Poverty and Gender

  —

  —

  25

  25

  Records Management Improvement Project

  —

  —

  120

  120

  Action Aid Capacity Building

  —

  —

  100

  100

  Total expenditure

  649

  351

  400

  1,402

  430
  facilities. In addition, the Government contribute to the British Film Office in Los Angeles which provides similar advice within the Hollywood community.

  The UK also has a network of regional film commissions which work to attract filming to their regions. On 15 June the British Tourist Authority published its "Movie Map" which highlights the number of first class films which were made in this country.

  Stonehenge (Vandalism)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of damage to Stonehenge and the World Heritage Area over the period of the summer solstice; and if he will make. a statement. [88091]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  While I deplore the public disorder at Stonehenge over the summer solstice, I am pleased that specialist staff from English Heritage have ascertained that there has been no structural damage to the monument. The modern perimeter fence was damaged and there was some scuffing and dislodging of lichen caused by those who climbed on the stones. The National Trust has also confirmed that although there were people camping and lighting small fires on its adjoining land within the area of the World Heritage Site, no damage was caused beyond scorching and flattening of grass.

  BBC Director-General
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the BBC concerning the procedures for selecting the next Director-General; and if he will make a statement. [88149]

  Janet Anderson
  None. The appointment of the Director-General of the BBC is a matter for the Board of Governors.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Gambia
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects for which aid has been provided to the Gambia during the last three years and the amounts for each project. [87946]

  Clare Short
  The following table shows British aid provided to the Gambia during the last three years. (The totals have been rounded up or down to the nearest £000).

  Kosovo
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about her Department's involvement in the planned reconstruction of Kosovo. [88115]

  Clare Short
  The European Union, with the support of the World Bank, will assume the lead role in the reconstruction of Kosovo within the overall UN-led civil implementation structure. We are in close touch with all the international agencies, as well as bilateral donors, concerned with reconstruction.

  The European Union and World Bank, who have set up a joint headquarters in Brussels, are coordinating damage and needs assessment and will be organising a series of donor conferences over the coming months to mobilise the necessary international effort to help reconstruct Kosovo.

  We are working to ensure that the arrangements for managing EU assistance are effective and allow programmes to be implemented speedily. We are also seeking to ensure that the World Bank plays as wide a role in reconstruction as the legal status of Kosovo will allow.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people were employed by the Child Support Agency Independent Case Examiner in each of the past three years; [87575]

  (2) how many cases have been dealt with by the Child Support Agency Independent Case Examiner in each of the past three years;[87573]

  (3) what was the average time taken by the Child Support Agency Independent Case Examiner to conclude each case referred to him in the past three years;[87574]

  (4) what plans there are to review the role and responsibility of the Child Support Agency Independent Case Examiner. [87576]

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

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Jim Murphy, dated 23 June 1999:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency Independent Case Examiner.
  I have answered three of your questions by presenting the information in table format annexed to this letter.
  Table 1 shows the numbers of staff employed by the Independent Case Examiner (ICE). Senior management grades and the Independent Case Examiner herself are included in the category of investigation staff. The ICE Office began its work on 7 April 1997 but staff were recruited and receiving training from the preceding February.
  Table 2 shows the intake of cases for two complete years of operation. It breaks down the number dealt with to those which received a full investigation and those which were rejected. When a complaint is received, the issues are identified and ICE check that
  432
  the case can be accepted. If, for example, the Child Support Agency's complaints procedures have not been exhausted ICE will reject the case.
  The rise in figures might at first sight suggest a deterioration in CSA customer service, however, this can be attributed to the legitimately rising workloads coupled with rising awareness of ICE following the launch of the first ICE Annual Report in September 1998 which generated a great deal of media interest and new work. September 1998 was the highest intake for ICE in a single month.
  Table 3 gives the average time taken to carry out an investigation and report findings. A process was introduced in 1998/99 which allows appropriate cases to be identified and referred to the Child Support Agency for early resolution of the problem by taking prompt action. Thus negating the need for a full investigation by ICE. One effect of this initiative is to lengthen the average time taken to resolve those complaints where early resolution proved impossible and full investigation was needed.
  In your fourth question you asked what plans there are to review the role and responsibility of the ICE. The post of Independent Case Examiner is a three year, fee paid, contract with the Department of Social Security, with the possibility of renewal by mutual consent. The three-year period for Mrs Parker does not expire until February 2000. Any announcements about this will be made to Parliament in the normal way.
  The ICE acts as an impartial referee and conducts investigations into cases where CSA customers feel that they have been badly treated by the Agency. The ICE makes recommendations on redress, whether that takes the form of an apology, or financial compensation, and also makes recommendations on how the Agency might improve its administrative systems for the benefit of customers. The ICE role does not extend to investigating complaints relating to Child Support legislation, or those which have undergone, or are undergoing, investigation by the PCA.
  There are also certain criteria that need to be satisfied for a complainant to obtain the services of the ICE. The ICE will only take on a case if the Agency's own complaints procedures have been exhausted, and the complainant has received a letter from, or on behalf of, myself in response to their complaint, within the last 6 months.
  I hope you find this helpful.

  Table 1: Number of staff employed by ICE

  Year

  Investigation staff

  Support staff

  Total

  1996–97

  35

  5

  40

  1997–98

  36

  5

  41

  1998–99

  34

  4

  38

  Table 2: Intake of cases

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Number at start of year

  0

  267

  New cases

  1,087

  1,536

  Total

  1,087

  1,803

  Dealt with:

  Rejected

  616

  832

  Investigated

  204

  474

  Total dealt with

  820

  1,306

  Carried forward

  267

  497

  Table 3: Average time for investigation and report

  weeks

  Year

  Early resolution

  Full report

  1997–98

  —

  17.4

  1998–99

  17.2

  33.6

  Note:

  These figures should be viewed in conjunction with Table 2 showing increased intake and outputs

  Stakeholder Pensions Advisory Group
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress he has made in setting up his stakeholder pensions advisory group. [88722]

  Mr. Darling
  The new stakeholder pensions advisory group will complement the formal consultation process for stakeholder pensions. It will draw on the experience of people with day-to-day experience of pensions—including employers and the pensions industry—to help make sure that the detail of stakeholders pensions is right, and that costs for the pensions industry and employers are kept to a minimum.

  Members of the group will be: Chair: Tom Ross (Aon Consulting and Scottish Life); large employer: Mark Hodgkinson (Barclays Bank); medium-sized employer: Judy Lever (Blooming Marvellous Ltd.); small employer: Ken Lewis (Dutton Engineering); insurance industry: Adrian Boulding (Legal & General); occupational pension scheme: David Morgan (CMT); independent financial adviser: Terry Bennet (PIFC); union fund: Joanne Segars (TUC); trust manager: Dugald Eadie (Hendersons).

  Housing Benefit Claimants (Rent)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for how many current recipients of housing benefit their eligible rent is below the actual rent which they pay because of (i) the single room rent rules, (ii) the average reference rent rules and (iii) either of the above; and, in each case, what is the average amount by which the eligible rent falls short of the actual rent paid. [87778]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested. We do not centrally collect information of individuals' contractual rent because it will commonly include items not eligible for Housing Benefit.

  The measures which limit the rent for Housing Benefit purposes are:

  certain service charges included in the contractual rent which are not generally eligible for Housing Benefit, for example, charges for cleaning, laundry, fuel, meals and personal care and nursing;

  the range of determinations, including determinations of single room rents, made by rent officers in respect of most claims from tenants living in the private rented sector; and

  where local authorities consider that the rent is unreasonably high or the accommodation overlarge or the eligible rent is nonetheless too high in respect of a particular case.

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the existing pension schemes with charges at or below one per cent. to which he referred in his press statement of 2 June; and if he will make a statement on whether these schemes meet the other proposed requirements of stakeholder pensions. [86459]

  Mr. Darling
  I have written to the hon. Member today in response to his question. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

  Poverty Audit Index
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to establish and publish the Poverty Audit Index. [87087]
  434
  Angela Eagle
  We will publish the first annual report on tackling poverty and social exclusion later this year.

  Incapacity and Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women have claimed (i) invalidity benefit and (ii) incapacity benefit in each year since 1991. [87589]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  The number of spells of Invalidity Benefit1 (1991–92 to 1994–95) and Incapacity Benefit2 short-term higher rate and long-term rate (the equivalent of Invalidity Benefit) (1995–96 to 1997–98) that commenced during each statistical year

  Men

  Women

  1991–92

  233,000

  90,000

  1992–93

  239,000

  98,000

  1993–94

  242,000

  106,000

  1994–95

  232,000

  109,000

  1995–96

  174,000

  97,000

  1996–97

  179,000

  104,800

  1997–98

  182,000

  104,000

  1Invalidity Benefit from 1991–92 to 1994–95.

  2Incapacity Benefit at the short-term higher and long-term rates (the equivalent of Invalidity Benefit) from 1995–96 to 1997–98.

  Notes:

  1. It is possible for a person to have more than one spell of benefit during a year.

  2. Figures are from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants.

HEALTH

  Yellow Card Scheme
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he proposes to take to increase the awareness of the yellow card scheme among medical and dental practitioners. [86157]

  Ms Jowell
  The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) continue to investigate methods to increase the awareness of the yellow card scheme among medical and dental practitioners.

  A survey of general practitioners was recently undertaken and consideration is currently being given to the findings. Steps that have already been taken or are planned include:
  Education:

  A forthcoming edition of "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" will include a special feature on what happens to reports of suspected adverse reactions and how they help to protect public health.

  The MCA and CSM representation and presentations at conferences attended by doctors and pharmacists.

  Encouraging Medical Schools to include adverse drug reactions and promote an understanding of the methods of drug safety monitoring as core parts of the curriculum.

  Publication of articles in medical and pharmaceutical journals.

  Making yellow cards more widely available and easier to use and introducing alternative reporting methods eg fax, phone and electronic.
  435
  An electronic yellow card that automatically populates the fields of a pre-formatted yellow card and allows the GP to send the report directly to the MCA via a modem is already in use by a number of GPs.

  Improving feedback on the scheme, including changing the format and content of the bulletin "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" and the MCA and CSM internet homepages.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what maintenance checks are made on refurbished NHS wheelchairs before they are despatched to disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [87571]

  Mr. Hutton
  National Health Service Supplies arranges contracts on behalf of NHS trusts for the repair, modification and maintenance of wheelchairs.

  Rehabilitation engineers are employed by NHS trusts and among their duties carry out checks on a representative batch of the work completed by the repairers. If the batch inspected fails to meet the standard required, the whole consignment is rejected and has to be reprocessed by the repairer.

  Nurses (Costs)
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average daily cost to the NHS of employing nursing staff through private employment agencies, at each grade; and if he will make a statement; [87425]

  (2) what is the average daily cost of nursing staff employed directly by the NHS, at each grade; and if he will make a statement. [87426]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Insulin Pen Needles
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects pen needles used by insulin-dependent diabetics to be available free of charge; and if he will make a statement. [87641]

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make an announcement concerning the prescribing of insulin pen needles; and if he will make a statement. [87644]

  Mr. Denham
  We have received representations from most of the organisations consulted. We are considering them, and are seeking clarification on certain points before we make our final decisions.

  ME
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress made by the working group on ME. [87872]

  Mr. Hutton
  The chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis working group, supported by a sub group looking at children's issues and a wider reference group, is making good progress and remains on target to report to the Chief Medical Officer by the end of next year.

  Cloning
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Government response to the Joint Human Genetics Advisory Commission and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority report, "Cloning Issues in Reproduction, Science and Medicine", to be published. [88432]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government's response to the joint Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC) and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) report, "Cloning Issues in Reproduction, Science and Medicine" has today been placed in the Library.

  Following public consultation, the joint HFEA/HGAC report's recommendations included the proposal that consideration be given to regulations under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 to allow research for therapeutic purposes which involved cloning techniques.

  The Government reaffirm their policy that human reproductive cloning is ethically unacceptable and cannot take place in this country. Also, more evidence is needed of the potential benefits to human health before the use of cloning for therapeutic purposes is allowed in research. We recognise that regulations to allow therapeutic research should be very carefully considered. We believe, however, that more evidence is required of the need for such research, its potential benefits and risks and that account should be taken of alternative approaches that might achieve the same ends.

  That is why we have asked the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Liam Donaldson, to set up and chair an independent expert advisory group to seek the views of a range of experts, both here and abroad, so that we have a clearer idea of the potential benefits of such research for human health.

  We expect it will begin work during the summer and report its findings to Ministers early next year.

  We welcome the HGAC/HFEA report's recognition that the safeguards currently in place are wholly adequate to prevent human reproductive cloning in the United Kingdom, and that the Government's policy of forbidding this practice received support during the public consultation.

  The Government accept the report's recommendations that the adequacy of the safeguards and related issues should be kept under review in order to address public concerns about the rapidity of development in these areas at the cutting edge of science and medicine.

  NHS Procurement
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to modernise NHS procurement. [88643]

  Mr. Denham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health is today publishing the report of a Cabinet Office Review of NHS Procurement which sets out a range of recommendations to develop NHS procurement.
  437
  Copies have been placed in the Library. We have accepted the broad thrust of these recommendations and the Department of Health, NHS Trusts, and the NHS Supplies Authority will now start to put in place the new arrangements to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of purchasing and supply in the NHS.

  A key recommendation was to establish a Supplies Co-ordination Body, drawn from the existing NHS Supplies Authority purchasing and strategy functions to provide a stronger central focus for procurement work. We are announcing today our intention to establish a NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency from 1 April 2000 to take this work forward in the Department of Health.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times are for orthopaedic (i) initial consultation and (ii) operations in(a) Dorset, (b) Somerset and (c) Bristol; and if he will make a statement on the procedures for the referral of a patient for an operation to a hospital outside his health authority area. [88020]

  Mr. Denham
  The latest information available on inpatient and outpatient orthopaedic waiting times in Avon, Dorset and Somerset Health Authorities is shown in the tables:

  Percentage

  Avon

  Dorset

  Somerset

  Waiting time for trauma and orthopaedic inpatients—Quarter 4 1998–99

  0–5 months

  57

  100

  70

  6–11 months

  34

  0

  25

  12–17 months

  9

  0

  5

  18 months plus

  0

  0

  0

  Waiting time for trauma and orthopaedic outpatients—Quarter 4 1998–99

  0–3 weeks

  25

  20

  20

  4–12 weeks

  30

  46

  29

  13–25 weeks

  19

  32

  29

  26 weeks plus

  26

  2

  22

  Under the new arrangements for commissioning patient services, general practitioners and consultants will retain the clinical freedom to refer patients for the most appropriate treatment and will base their decision on their professional judgment and assessment of the case.

  Where there are consistent patterns of referrals to a service, whether a specialised service or more locally, these are being built into service agreements. Cases that do not fit this will be covered by the new arrangements for out of area treatments. Unlike the extra contractual referral arrangements, there is no formal prior approval mechanism for out of area treatments, so the process for such referrals is simpler.

  All out of area treatment referrals will be covered by the standards for quality and effectiveness specified in the main commissioner's service agreement and will be treated under the same agreements and on exactly the same basis.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Press Releases
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the number of pages issued as press releases from his Department for 16 and 17 June; and if he will make a statement. [87973]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Department issued nine Press Releases consisting of 29 pages.

  Age Diversity
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means he plans to monitor the effectiveness of the recently published code of practice for age diversity in employment. [87855]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  We plan to evaluate fully the effectiveness of the Code of Practice for Age Diversity. The evaluation will look in detail at employer policies and practices in recruitment and employment and the impact this has on age diversity in their workforce. After a competitive tendering exercise, we have commissioned an independent organisation, NOP, to carry out a large scale research project to help evaluate the effectiveness of the Code.

  An employer survey will involve telephone interviews with a random sample of companies employing 10 or more people. The sample will provide a good coverage of different industrial sectors, regions and size of employers. There will also be in-depth case studies in order to explore practices and attitudes towards age discrimination in employment in more detail and to discuss the issues with managers and workers at the establishment.

  In addition, a random sample of older people will be interviewed on their current situation and their employment experiences and on whether they have experienced any employment discrimination on grounds of age.

  In order to provide a baseline against which to measure change, an initial survey or employers and individuals has been carried out prior to the publication of the Code. Two further surveys will be carried out, towards the end of this year and in late Autumn 2000 to measure the impact of the Code. The evaluation will be completed and findings published early in 2001.

  We will also be using the range of key labour market indicators that we set out in Annex E of Action on Age to monitor changes and trends in the labour market activity of older workers. These will be published annually in June/July.

  Expelled Pupils
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many year 11, 10 and 9 pupils were expelled from schools in London and the South East in 1997–98. [87856]
  439
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of permanent exclusions for pupils aged 15, 14 and 13 is shown in the following table:

  Academic year 1997–98 (age as at August 1997)

  15

  14

  13

  Inner London

  106

  174

  147

  Outer London

  250

  349

  249

  London (Total)

  356

  523

  396

  South East

  355

  513

  355

  Total (London and South East)

  711

  1,036

  751

  This total represents a significant reduction from the 1996–97 year when 757 pupils aged fifteen, 1,070 pupils aged fourteen and 847 pupils aged thirteen were permanently excluded from schools in London and the South East.

  Rainsford School, Chelmsford
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 21 May 1999,Official Report, column 475, when he expects to reach a decision on the appeal made by Rainsford School, Chelmsford, against the direction of Essex County Council to admit a pupil, whose name has been supplied to his Department. [88081]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Officials have now received the necessary information from Essex LEA and are drawing up advice for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make his final decision on the case shortly.

  EU Education Council
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Council of EU Education Ministers held on 7 June. [88573]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  On 7 June, the Council of EU Education Ministers held an exchange of views on the preparations for the implementation of the new EC education and training programmes Leonardo da Vinci II and Socrates II. Ministers also discussed the contribution of education to the European Employment Pact and Forward Planning in the field of education.

  Ministers received information on the Conference of European Education Ministers in Budapest from 24 to 26 June 1991, and on the Conference of EU Higher Education Ministers which will take place in Bologna on 18 and 19 June. No formal decisions were taken.

  A copy of the official minutes of the Council will be placed in the Library when they become available.

  School Standards and Framework Act 1998
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to consult on draft regulations under section 38 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. [88572]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  These are significant regulations on which it will be important to have the widest debate. The Education Sub-Committee of the Education and Employment Select Committee is conducting an Inquiry into the Role of Governing Bodies, taking evidence from governing body, head teacher and other interests. As the 440
  Inquiry is expected to be completed before the summer recess, I have written to the Chairman of the Sub Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North (Mr. Wicks), to inform him that we plan to consult on the regulations in September 1999 to enable account to be taken of the Inquiry's recommendations. Copies of my letter have been placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the occasions when special advisers in his Department have travelled abroad in an official capacity accompanied by Ministers; and if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion and the place visited. [82431]

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what dates special advisers from his Department have travelled abroad on official business since 2 May 1997; which countries were visited on each occasion; and what were the names of the special advisers who travelled abroad on each occasion. [87410]

  Mr. Prescott
  In the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999, Special Advisers in my Department have accompanied Ministers overseas in an official capacity on 36 occasions to Asia and the Far East, Australasia, the USA, South America and mainland Europe. The total cost of travel and any hotel accommodation is £68,500. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

  A303(T)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about progress towards construction on the A303 (T) of(a) the Winterbourne Stoke bypass, (b) the cut-and-cover tunnel past Stonehenge and (c) a flyover at Countess Roundabout. [86846]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The responses to the Public Consultation on these proposals are being considered. An announcement will shortly be made.

  Drivers (Licences and Insurance)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the numbers of drivers(a) driving without a full licence and (b) driving without adequate insurance; and what plans he has to reduce these numbers. [87149]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In 1997 there were 130,500 prosecutions for driving without a licence, 46,000 for driving while disqualified and 48,500 for failing to produce a driving licence. This suggests that in any one year 225,000 people or approximately 0.8 per cent. of drivers are detected driving while unlicensed. We intend, when a suitable legislative opportunity occurs, to introduce legislation to empower police services to have
  441
  direct access, in defined circumstances, to the driver licensing database so that offences can be more readily detected at the roadside.

  It is estimated that between 4 per cent. and 6 per cent. of motorists drive while uninsured, an offence for which 310,500 people were prosecuted during 1997. Plans for a motor insurance database have been drawn up by the insurance industry with the support of my Department. Once implemented, police will be able to check insurance details at the roadside.

  Rail Services (Carriage of Bicycles)
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will discuss with the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and South West Trains the re-instatement of bicycle carriage on all trains to a minimum of 10 spaces per five car train. [87256]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The franchise agreements which govern the provision of service require train operators to provide facilities for the carriage of bicycles, so far as it is practicable for them to do so and subject to the availability of space on their rolling stock. The only five car trains operated by South West Trains are Wessex Electrics on services from London Waterloo to Southampton—Bournemouth, Weymouth and Poole. These

  Date

  Location

  DETR

  Irish Minister

  23 February 1998

  Dublin

  Angela Eagle

  Tom Kitt, Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs

  24–25 April 1998

  Chester

  Michael Meacher

  Noel Dempsey, Minister for the Environment

  25 January 1999

  London

  Glenda Jackson

  Mary O'Rourke TD, Minister for Housing

  19 February 1999

  Dublin

  Hilary Armstrong

  Robert Molloy, Minister for Housing

  25 February 1999

  London

  Michael Meacher

  Joe Jacob, Minister for Agriculture

  Relevant officials were also in attendance.

  Road Safety (Traffic Speeds)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of how the Slow Down Campaign will benefit vulnerable users of rural roads. [87635]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The DETR is currently engaged in a comprehensive review of speed policy. This will include a full assessment of the measures needed to improve speed management in rural areas and the safety of all road users, particularly the more vulnerable pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. Officials have met a number of interested parties, including the Slower Speeds Initiative (formerly the Slow Down Campaign).

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many crashes on rural roads causing injury were associated with excessive speed, listing the fatalities, serious injuries and slight injuries, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [87634]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The national reporting system for injury road accidents does not specifically record whether an accident took place on a "rural road". However, the 1998 casualty data for accidents which took place on roads with a speed limit in excess of 40 mph are shown in the table.
  442
  trains can currently carry five bicycles per five car unit in specially designed racks. We have made it clear that one of the key criteria to be considered in any franchise renegotiation will be the commitment to promote Integrated Transport.

  Welsh Highland Railway
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to approve the application for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 for the reconstruction of the Welsh Highland Railway between Dinas and Porthmadog. [87583]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The application is being given the most careful consideration and I will ensure that my hon. Friend is informed of the outcome.

  Ministerial Meetings (Ireland)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 January 1998 indicating the dates and locations, the Ministers involved and the names of the Irish Ministers and officials in each case. [87428]

  Mr. Prescott
  The information for DETR is as follows:

  The contribution of speed to these accidents is not comprehensively recorded, but it is estimated that speed is a contributory factor in one third of road accidents on all roads.

  Casualties on non built-up1 roads: GB 1998

  Severity

  align="right">Casualties

  Fatal

  1,855

  Serious

  14,321

  Slight

  71,882

  All severities

  88,058

  Note:

  Roads with a speed limit in excess of 40 mph with the exception of motorways

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many listed buildings in each category have been destroyed since 1992. [87629]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department records, on a financial year basis, cases where local planning authorities in England notify the Department that they intend to grant consent for the total demolition of a listed building, consents which the Department itself issues, and other total demolitions which are brought to our attention. Since
  443
  the House of Lords judgment in the case of Shimizu (UK) Ltd. v. Westminster City Council, the demolition of a curtilage building is likely to be treated as an alteration and hence is no longer included in the demolition statistics from 1997–98. The figures for the last seven years are:

  Year

  Grade I

  Grade II*

  Grade II

  1992–93

  0

  0

  68

  1993–94

  0

  2

  62

  1994–95

  1

  12

  79

  1995–96

  2

  0

  49

  1996–97

  1

  5

  55

  1997–98

  0

  2

  56

  1998–99

  0

  0

  50

  Records are not kept centrally on the extent to which consents are implemented.

  Recycling
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what measures he is taking to encourage recycling by(a) local authorities, (b) businesses and (c) individuals; [87950]

  (2) what measures he is taking to encourage a market for recycled products with particular reference to paper; [87951]

  (3) what measures he is taking to encourage the use of recycled products. [87952]

  Mr. Meale
  In July 1998 the Government established a Market Development Group to consider the measures that could be taken to enhance the markets for recycled materials, including paper, and to develop proposals to help overcome any barriers. The Group considered a range of measures, including the use of economic instruments; quality standards and specifications for recycled goods and materials; the concept of eco-design; whether longer term contracts for the sale of recyclable materials might be helpful; and whether it is desirable to set mandatory levels of recycled content for specified goods.

  The Group has now finished its work and its report and recommendations for action will be published for consultation at the same time as the draft waste strategy.

  Wembley
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with English Partnerships about the regeneration of Wembley around the new English National Stadium. [87792]

  Mr. Raynsford
  English Partnerships, LB Brent, the English Stadium Trust and Development Company, Sports England and the Government Office for London have jointly sponsored a comprehensive regeneration framework for Wembley. This work is shortly to be completed and in its next stage involves an area masterplan running in parallel with the design of the stadium and intended to secure a significant upgrade in Wembley's economic and physical environment.
  444
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with local police and transport police about passenger safety and crowd control at Wembley Park, Wembley Central and Wembley Stadium stations. [87788]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Wembley's ability to handle large crowds through its public transport infrastructure was central to its successful bid for the new National Stadium. Issues of passenger safety and crowd control are a matter for the long standing and successful liaison arrangements between the stadium operator, local police, London Transport and other rail operators.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to ensure that the quality of the built environment surrounding the new English National Stadium is adequate to accommodate international events. [87790]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This is a matter for the London Borough of Brent as local planning authority in the first instance. Their unitary development plan contains policies to protect and enhance the built environment around the Stadium which they will apply to the planning application for the Stadium when it is made and those for other development proposals as they come forward.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he will take to ensure that the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium brings economic benefits to the local area. [87845]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Wembley Park Regeneration Partnership between local public and private sector interests was formed for just this purpose. The Partnership has secured Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund support of £15,255,000, towards an overall £137 million seven year programme of infrastructure and training/employment initiatives in the Business Park surrounding the Stadium. The programme commenced in April 1996.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the applicability of lessons learned from the regeneration at Greenwich to the regeneration of Wembley. [87793]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There are distinct differences between the Greenwich Peninsula and the development context at Wembley; not least in the depth and extent of contaminated land and pre-existing levels of transport provision. We are keen however that appropriate lessons from both Greenwich and other key London Regeneration sites are incorporated into the Wembley solution.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with Sport England and the local planning authority on the capacity of the public transport infrastructure around the new English National Stadium. [87789]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Wembley's successful bid for the National Stadium was based on the adequacy of its local transport infrastructure. The impact of the Stadium on this infrastructure will turn both on detailed design which will not be unveiled until mid summer, and the substance of the planning application to the London Borough of Brent, which I understand will not be made until October. In the
  445
  meantime I am a member of the Stadium Development Monitoring Committee, which is the natural focus for visitor management issues, and at which Sport England are represented.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Government Office for London about the SRB5 bid for Wembley submitted by the London Borough of Brent; and on what dates. [87794]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning met with GOL officials and the London Development Partnership on 14 June to discuss all London bids in the current SRB round.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson), has to visit Wembley to inspect the public transport infrastructure around the new English National Stadium. [87791]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My hon. Friend has been invited by the London Borough of Brent to visit the area in early July. No itinerary has yet been finalised but there may well be an opportunity to visit the Stadium environs.

  Liquid Petroleum Gas
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what grants are available towards the cost of converting private motor vehicles to be able to use liquid petroleum gas. [87959]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme, funded by my Department, provides grants towards the cost of converting new vehicles (up to one year old) to run on alternative fuels, such as liquid petroleum gas. The value of the grant, which can cover up to 75 per cent. of the conversion costs, is determined by the improvement in emission performance as a result of the conversion. To date, the Powershift programme which is targeted at fleet operators has assisted in the purchase of over 1,000 vehicles.

  Voluntary Sports Clubs
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 February 1999,Official Report, column 245, on voluntary sports clubs, what was the outcome of the review into rate relief for non-profit making sports clubs; and if he will make a statement. [87874]

  Mr. Meale
  We are making good progress with the review of the arrangements under which local authorities may grant relief from non-domestic rates to non-profit making sports clubs and will issue a consultation paper later in the year.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many hours HSE inspectors have spent undertaking field inspections of genetically modified trial crop sites for each month since October 1997. [87602]
  446
  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 22 June 1999]Over the period in question, on average, HSE has devoted 75 inspector hours per month to inspection and enforcement on GM trial sites under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1997 (as amended) as required by the agency agreement with DETR. The detailed figures requested are given in the following table, up to April 1999, which is the most recently available information.

  Inspection hours

  1997

  October

  58.8

  November

  75.6

  December

  92.4

  1998

  January

  105.2

  February

  79.8

  March

  86.5

  April

  71.4

  May

  56.7

  June

  132

  July

  118

  August

  16.8

  September

  153.3

  October

  109.2

  November

  79.8

  December

  75.6

  1999

  January

  42.3

  February

  21

  March

  0

  April

  58.8

  Transport Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the outcome of the Transport Council held in Luxembourg on 17 to 18 June; and if he will make a statement. [87977]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Transport Council met in Luxembourg on 17 June. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council expressed its condolences to the French and Austrian transport Ministers following the recent fatal fires in the Mont Blanc and Tauern Tunnels. The Presidency said that, during the coming months, the Council would be considering recommendations on tunnel safety, in accord with the remit of the European Council in Cologne.

  The Council agreed a common position on a draft Directive aimed at avoiding pollution at sea by ensuring that ships discharge their waste while they are in port into properly planned and adequate waste reception facilities.

  A common position was agreed on an amendment to the guidelines on transport Trans-European Networks (TENs), to clarify the eligibility of sea and inland ports for TENs funding.

  The Council agreed a Resolution giving its support to the definition phase of the Galileo satellite navigation project. Ministers agreed that the Council should maintain oversight of this work, and at my request the Resolution included an instruction to the Commission to present the

  447
  results to the Council as soon as they are available, to allow early consideration of the validity of the project and of its advantages compared with current systems and their developments. The Council agreed to my suggestion that the Commission should in any case present a further report to the October Council.

  The Council agreed a Resolution expressing concern about growing air traffic delays. I expressed concern about the inconvenience caused to business and leisure travellers and stressed the need to ensure that the powers in EUROCONTROL' s new Convention were implemented and properly used to improve the situation.

  The Council took note of reports by Member States on action they are taking to deal with the Year 2000 computer problem in their transport sectors, and agreed to return to the issue at the October Council. The Commission undertook to convene a high-level group to consider whether additional action was needed at Community level.

  I joined others at the Council in suggesting that it is time for further progress to be made on EU rail liberalisation. At the end of the debate no agreement was reached, and the Presidency asked for further work to be done.

  Under other business, the Council heard reports from the Commission on its negotiations towards Community membership of EUROCONTROL and the proposed new European Aviation Safety Authority. The Commission also reported on: the successful outcome of the renegotiation of the Warsaw Convention, which brings air passenger liability rights in line with Community rules; the establishment of a high-level group to prepare for an "innovation forum", as requested by the informal Transport Council at Dortmund; and the proposed allocation of quotas for lorry transit traffic through Switzerland.

  Out-of-town Stores
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy towards planning applications for out-of-town stores. [88119]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government's policy toward out-of-town retail development is set out in our Response to the House of Commons Environment Committee report on Shopping Centres [Cmnd 3729], which reaffirmed our commitment to Planning Policy Guidance note 6 (PPG6): Town Centres and Retail Developments. Further clarification of PPG6 was given in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, West and Hessle (Mr. Johnson) on 11 February 1999,Official Report, columns 309–10.

  Walking
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of journeys were on foot in the most recent year for which data are available. [88162]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In 1995–97, 28 per cent. of journeys in Great Britain were on foot.

  Urban Task Force Report
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Urban Task Force report will be published. [88448]

  Mr. Prescott
  The Urban Task Force report will be published at 10.30 am on Tuesday 29 June. Copies of the Report and the Executive Summary will be placed in the Vote Office and the Library.

  Rail Performance
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's latest assessment of trends in rail performance. [88571]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My Department has today published the latest quarterly Bulletin of Rail Statistics, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Comparing the fourth quarter of 1998–99 with the fourth quarter of 1997–98, punctuality fell from 93.3 per cent. to 92.5 per cent. This is an unacceptable decline in performance. At the Rail Summit in February this year, rail companies agreed to improve performance year on year.

  A calculation error made in 1996 means that the figures for national average punctuality have previously been understated. This does not affect the percentage punctuality figures that have been published for individual operating companies. The reliability figures are also unaffected.

  However, current measures, including the corrected figures in this Bulletin, remain misleading. They are derived from Passenger Charter statistics, which do not cover all services and allow operators to disregard days ("void days") on which performance is very bad. The shadow Strategic Rail Authority are currently consulting on an improved measure of punctuality and reliability to be finalised this Autumn.

  Punctuality is just one of a number of factors considered important by passengers. The new National Passenger Survey will ensure that all major passenger concerns will be monitored for each TOC. This will allow precise identification of areas for improvement and give passengers a voice in the running of the railway. First results from the National Passenger Survey will be published by the end of the year.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Treasury Counsel (Common Law)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Attorney-General what(a) representations he made, (b) correspondence he had and (c) meetings he held about (i) the creation of the vacancy for Treasury Counsel (Common Law) in May 1997 and (ii) the filling of the vacancy. [88016]

  The Attorney-General
  Soon after I was appointed Attorney-General in May 1997, I became aware of the fact that I would need to appoint a new First Treasury Counsel (Common Law) relatively soon as, although it was a matter for the Lord Chancellor, I believed that the then incumbent might be appointed as a High Court
  449
  judge shortly. The then Solicitor-General and I consulted widely, in meetings between May and November 1997, with members of the senior judiciary, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and others who could assist us in reaching a view as to who should be appointed as the next First Treasury Counsel (Common Law). I appointed Philip Sales after a meeting with him on 17 November 1997.

  My Department had correspondence with the Treasury Solicitor's Department on the subject and latterly with the Lord Chancellor's Department so that the announcement of the judicial appointment could be synchronised with the announcement of Mr. Sales' appointment.

  Hayes v. Attorney-General
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library copies of the witness statements disclosed by the respondent in the case of Hayes v. Attorney General. [88017]

  The Attorney-General
  No. The statements are subject to legal professional privilege.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the documents disclosed by the respondent in the case of Hayes v. Attorney General and place copies in the Library. [88018]

  The Attorney-General
  No. The documents were disclosed to the applicant only for the purposes of the proceedings in the employment tribunal, where the interests of justice required their disclosure. Many of the documents contain information about third parties which was imparted to me and to others in confidence. I believe that it would be inappropriate to disclose them further. It was not necessary to compile a list of the documents disclosed in the case and to publish a full list now would also breach the confidences referred to above.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine TB
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response the Government have made to recommendation 69 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention regarding TB and badgers. [88644]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The Government submitted a formal response to this recommendation on 12 April. A copy has been placed in the House Libraries.

DEFENCE

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the closure of the TA base in Caernarfon was announced; and if he will make a statement on the consultation carried out prior to the decision. [82268]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]The Territorial Army (TA) Centre in Caernarfon will remain open as the home of Company 3 Caernarfon Detachment, the Royal Welsh Regiment. This was announced on 17 November 1998. The plan was included,450
  but not challenged, during the extensive rounds of consultation with the Army, TA and TAVRAs, held before decisions were taken in November.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to encourage recruitment to the Territorial Army. [87876]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Territorial Army units continue to recruit locally to meet the overall target of some 10,000 recruits for this year. A national campaign to raise awareness of the TA and to attract recruits was run in February/March of this year involving the press, TV and a National Open Day. This was designed to show that the TA is maintaining its recruitment effort throughout the reform process. A further national campaign specifically aimed at recruiting into the Royal Army Medical Corps is planned for the autumn.

  HMS Newcastle
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (i) current crew size and (ii) establishment of HMS Newcastle; and if he will make a statement. [86379]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The ship's company of HMS Newcastle on 11 June 1999 was 215 and her complement 226.

  HMS Monmouth
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the long term future of HMS Monmouth. [86384]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  On current plans HMS Monmouth will remain operational for the foreseeable future.

  HMS Birmingham
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the short-term and long-term future of(a) HMS Birmingham and (b) HMS London; and if he will make a statement. [86374]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  HMS London was decommissioned earlier this month. HMS Birmingham is currently on operational duty and is expected to be decommissioned later this year.

  HMS Beaver
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the(a) operational state and (b) future of HMS Beaver; and if he will make a statement. [86373]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  HMS Beaver was decommissioned earlier this year and has since been placed on the disposal list.

  Helicopters (Royal Family)
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances Chinook helicopters are made available by his Department for travel by the Royal Family. [87783]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Royal Family's rotary wing air travel requirements are normally met by a dedicated Sikorsky S76C+ operated by the Royal Household or else by chartered helicopter. However, RAF
  451
  Support Helicopters, including the Chinook, are available to transport members of the Royal Family if required, subject to other operational requirements.

  Gambia
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what talks have taken place between British Military personnel and the Chief of Staff of the Gambian armed forces in recent months; and what was the purpose of the talks. [87948]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Two British military officers visited Gambia in May this year. The purpose of the visit was primarily fact finding, but also to make contact with the Gambian military. During the visit the British officers paid a call on the Chief of Staff of the Gambian armed forces, Colonel Jatta. Discussions covered regional peacekeeping matters.

  Submarine Spent Nuclear Fuel Cores
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of submarine spent nuclear fuel cores that have been transported to Sellafield in each of the last 10 years. [87706]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 22 June 1999]The number of spent submarine fuel cores that have been transported to BNFL Sellafield for long term storage in each of the last 10 years was:

  Year

  Fuel cores

  1989

  1

  1990

  2

  1991

  1

  1992

  1

  1993

  0

  1994

  1

  1995

  3¼

  1996

  3

  1997

  ¼

  1998

  1

  1999 (to date)

  1

  These figures are rounded to the nearest ¼ reactor fuel core. Each "NTL3M" transport container will carry a number of individual components equivalent to ¼of a submarine reactor fuel core.

  NATO Peacekeeping Force (Young Soldiers)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the deployment of under 18 year olds from British armed forces in the international peace force in Kosovo. [87976]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer 1 gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Ms Jones) on 22 October 1998,Official Report, column 1161, in which I stated that Service personnel would no longer be deployed if under 17 years of age. That policy applies to the operations currently underway in Kosovo.

  Greenwich Hospital
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the annual financial estimates and accounts for Greenwich Hospital. [88574]
  452
  Mr. Spellar
  Greenwich Hospital is a Crown charity, of which my right hon. Friend is the sole trustee. It derives all its income from its property and investments and applies it for the benefit of seafarers and their dependants. I am today laying before Parliament copies of the audited accounts for Greenwich Hospital for 1997–98. Following an undertaking given during the passage of the Greenwich Hospital Bill in 1967 by the then Under-Secretary of State for the Navy (Mr. Foley) it has been the practice also to place in the Library of both Houses copies of the annual financial estimates for Greenwich Hospital which, nowadays, are prepared solely for this purpose. This practice no longer serves a useful purpose, given the more informative published financial accounts, and I have therefore decided to discontinue it.

  Tomahawk Missiles
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to replace stocks of Tomahawk missiles used in the Kosovo theatre; what contracts exist with the United States for replacement of Tomahawk stocks; and if he will make a statement. [87829]

  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. and learned Member.

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 24 June 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about proposals for the replacement of stocks of TOMAHAWK missiles used in the Kosovo theatre, and contracts with the United States for replacement of TOMAHAWK stocks. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  The arrangements for obtaining replacement TOMAHAWK missiles for those expended in the Kosovo campaign are being discussed with the US government. The US government is approaching these discussions in a positive manner but I am unable to provide further details at present.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the(a) total expenditure by his Department on Tomahawk missiles from the United States and (b) average cost of each missile, including support costs. [87831]

  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 hon. and learned Member.

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley, to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 24 June 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Ministry of Defence's total expenditure on TOMAHAWK missiles from the United States and the average cost of each missile, including support costs. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  Total expenditure on the procurement of Tomahawk missiles, under the current Foreign Military Sales case with the US, is to be some £52M. The average procurement cost per missile is just over £800K. In addition each missile is likely to need two planned refurbishments at a cost of £210K per refurbishment, but no such payments will be incurred for missiles which have been expended.

  453
  Missile costs make up only a part of the overall cost of procuring the Tomahawk system. Overall costs include the procurement of the missiles, test and training systems, submarine weapon handling, and fire control systems, and provision of a mission planning and targeting facility.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tomahawk missiles were(a) available for use by the British armed forces and (b) in stock on (i) 20 March and (ii) 16 June. [87833]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am withholding the detailed information you requested under Section 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Sufficient Tomahawk missiles were available throughout the conflict to enable the UK to maintain its significant contribution to the successful NATO campaign.

  Defence Aviation Repair Agency
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress made with setting up the Defence Aviation Repair Agency. [87830]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) came into being on 1 April this year and I had the pleasure of attending the Agency's Launch Day on 7 April 1999 at St. Athan. DARA has been formed by merging the former Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation with elements of the RAF's Maintenance Group Defence Agency and provides MOD's deep maintenance (third line) capability for fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The Ministerial Advisory Board, which I chair, has approved the DARA's Corporate Plan which is now being implemented. This includes moving to Trading Fund status in due course.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to renegotiate the RAF repair, overhaul modification and upgrade contracts held by private companies once responsibility for such contracts is transferred to the new Defence Aviation Repair Agency; which RAF repair, overhaul, modification and upgrade contracts are currently under review; and if he will make a statement. [87832]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department has no plans to renegotiate or review these contracts as a result of the launch of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) and no responsibility for the administration of such contracts is being passed to the Agency.

  TA Deployment
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army are currently deployed on operations in(a) Kosovo, (b) Bosnia and (c) Germany. [88128]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 21 June 1999,Official Report, column 300. There are currently no members of the Territorial Army deployed to Germany.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 June 1999,Official Report, column 148, if he will place in the Library the
  454
  March 1999 paper produced by his Department's Gulf Veterans' Illness Unit in respect of testing for the presence of depleted uranium. [87834]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Copies of the detailed paper entitled "Testing for the Presence of Depleted Uranium in UK Veterans of the Gulf Conflict: The Current Position" were placed in the Library of the House when it was published on 19 March 1999.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 June 1999,Official Report, column 146, on depleted uranium, by what means service personnel can identify a vehicle damaged by depleted uranium ammunition; and if he will make a statement. [87835]

  Mr. George Robertson
  If Service personnel must, for operational reasons, approach damaged vehicles, they will visually examine the vehicle to identify if the damage is consistent with depleted uranium calibre ammunition. However, Service personnel are instructed not to approach any damaged vehicles unless operationally necessary, due to the wide variety of dangers they present.

WALES

  Gwrych Castle
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the condition of Gwrych Castle; and if he will make a statement. [87987]

  Mr. Michael
  Since June 1997 I have received letters on six occasions (from three sources) expressing concern about the deteriorating condition of Gwrych Castle. It is privately owned but the ownership is presently subject to legal dispute. When this has been resolved, Cadw: Welsh Historic monuments would be willing to consider grant assistance towards a project to repair the fabric of this Grade 1 listed building.

  Following the transfer of functions, CADW will be responsible to the National Assembly.

  Education Budgets
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the education budgets for each county in Wales for(a)1998–99 and (b)1999–2000, indicating the additional allocations of ring-fenced education funding from central Government. [87985]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Local authority education budgets1

  £000

  Budget

  Budget

  Local authority share of earmarked funding

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Isle of Anglesey

  28,906

  30,755

  1,196

  1,689

  Gwynedd

  47,433

  50,045

  1,979

  2,833

  Conwy

  40,172

  42,388

  1,651

  2,407

  Denbighshire

  36,711

  37,732

  1,554

  2,233

  Flintshire

  59,366

  62,705

  2,417

  3,494

  Wrexham

  46,783

  49,392

  1,904

  2,737

  Powys

  55,711

  58,850

  2,217

  3,158

  Ceredigion

  32,580

  34,325

  1,234

  1,747

  455

  Local authority education budgets1

  £000

  Budget

  Budget

  Local authority share of earmarked funding

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Pembrokeshire

  50,340

  53,410

  1,986

  2,853

  Carmarthenshire

  75,554

  81,158

  2,942

  4,165

  Swansea

  90,124

  93,102

  3,588

  5,142

  Neath Port Talbot

  60,023

  63,616

  2,224

  3,215

  Bridgend

  54,499

  57,682

  2,198

  3,155

  Vale of Glamorgan

  45,366

  47,707

  1,961

  2,833

  Cardiff

  117,464

  124,672

  4,868

  7,189

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  108,752

  114,760

  4,208

  6,014

  Merthyr Tydfil

  28,401

  29,991

  1,114

  1,571

  Caerphilly

  73,246

  78,797

  3,055

  4,404

  Blaenau Gwent

  30,587

  32,087

  1,214

  1,762

  Torfaen

  39,309

  41,784

  1,654

  2,380

  Monmouthshire

  31,377

  32,788

  1,281

  1,864

  Newport

  59,228

  62,340

  2,323

  3,356

  Wales

  1,211,932

  1,280,086

  48,767

  70,201

  1Net of all education specific grants and excluding all continuing education and payments to the Further and Higher Education Funding Councils

  Source

  Local authority revenue account returns

  This will be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales from 1 July 1999.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Law Reform
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the timetable for the implementation of outstanding Law Commission recommendations for law reform. [87781]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Government will assess the priority for legislation implementing Law Commission recommendations in the context of the legislative programme as a whole.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for legislation to implement outstanding Law Commission reports on law reform. [87780]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Government are considering carefully a number of Law Commission reports. Legislation implementing those Law Commission recommendations, which the Government accept, will be introduced when Parliamentary time allows.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the savings in costs to public and private funds of the implementation of outstanding Law Commission recommendations over the last four years. [87782]

  Mr. Vaz
  No such assessment has been made to date. However, under the Better Regulation provisions we will in future be required to make an assessment of the risks, costs and benefits whenever new legislation is published.

  Treasury Counsel (Common Law)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what(a) representations he
  456
  made, (b) correspondence he had and (c) meetings he held about (i) the creation of the vacancy for Treasury Counsel (Common Law) in May 1997 and (ii) the filling of the vacancy. [88019]

  Mr. Vaz
  None.

CABINET OFFICE

  Government Consultation Papers
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make publicly available on a monthly basis a list of Government consultation papers, indicating the title, summary of the proposals, the issue date and the deadline for submissions. [87867]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I have no plans to publish a monthly list of Government consultation papers. Each Government department and agency is responsible for publishing its own consultation papers, including a summary of proposals and a deadline for submissions. Last year, the Cabinet Office published a guide on conducting written consultation exercises. This states that departments should publicise the existence of consultation documents (for example through an approximately targeted press release), and wherever possible the internet should be used to publish and receive replies.

  Ministerial Visits
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Ministers have visited the north-west region since May 1997; and which constituencies they visited. [88389]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the pension arrangements for departmental Special Advisers. [87963]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The pension arrangements for Special Advisers are set out in the published Cabinet Office document, "Special Advisers Pay System", which is available in the Libraries of the House.

  Special Advisers are not eligible to be members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, nor do their salaries include any element for pension contribution. Instead, a pension contribution of up to a maximum of 16 per cent, of salary is paid directly into an Adviser's existing or new occupational or personal pension scheme.

TREASURY

  Families (Support)
  Ms Stuart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has put in place to support families. [87068]
  457
  Mr. Milburn
  The Government have announced an ambitious programme of support for families which will mean that by the end of this Parliament we will be spending an extra £6 billion a year on our 13.8 million children.

  Families will benefit from the largest ever increase in Child Benefit—an extra £2.50 a week for the eldest child from this April—and further three per cent. real increases for all children from next April. Together with the introduction of the new Children's Tax Credit in April 2001, a family with one child will receive double the support for their child compared to May 1997—£23 a week. We are also targeting extra support on the poorest families through the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit and increases in IS. On average, £750 more will be going to each of 5.75 million children in low-income households every year by the end of this Parliament. The WFTC will make 1.5 million families on average £24 a week better off, benefiting three million children. It will provide a guaranteed minimum income of £200 a week (£10,400 a year for a family with someone in full-time work on the National Minimum Wage.

  These measures combined will lift 700,000 children out of poverty. Families with children will, on average, be £740 a year better off.

  English Wine (Duty)
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of current duty rates on the competitiveness of English wines. [87069]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Chancellor takes account of the state of all sectors of the alcoholic drinks industry in the run up to the Budget.

  EU Withholding Tax
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the proposals for a European withholding tax. [87070]

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the European Commission's proposal for a council directive to ensure a minimum of effective taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments within the Community. [87075]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government will not accept the draft directive on Savings in its current form because of its likely impact on our financial markets, particularly the Eurobond market. The ECOFIN Council and the European Commission have come to accept our case, agreed a further review and asked us to submit our proposals for excluding the Eurobond market.

  We have received a number of representations from both individuals and City Institutions who share our concern to protect the interests of the UK financial markets. We welcome dialogue and are continuing to work closely with the City.

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment HM Treasury has made of the effects of the proposed European withholding tax on the financial sector in London. [87084]
  458
  Dawn Primarolo
  The treatment of international bonds as provided for under the draft European Commission Directive on the taxation of savings risks serious damage to the competitiveness of EU financial markets, in particular wholesale markets. The current draft Directive is therefore unacceptable to the UK.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about Public Service Agreements on key public services. [87071]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have fulfilled our commitment to publish Public Service Agreements covering all the public services. They set out the concrete improvements to be delivered in return for the extra investment we are making.

  Single Currency (Convergence Criteria)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the convergence criteria to be adopted prior to joining the single currency. [87073]

  Ms Hewitt
  The EC Treaty stresses the need for a"high degree of sustainable convergence"
  in EMU. The Government's fundamental economic test for EMU membership is the same. I have set out five economic tests which must be met before UK membership of the single currency can be considered. Our assessment of those tests concluded that the UK needs a period of stability in order to demonstrate convergence which is settled and sustainable. The Government's new macro-economic framework will help to deliver that stability.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of families who will be eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit in its first year of operation. [87074]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We estimate that 1.4 million families will be eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit in 2000–01, the first full year of operation. These families will on average be £24 a week better off from WFTC alone, or £1,280 a year. Taken together with the reforms to tax, NICs and the largest ever increases in Child Benefit, the WFTC will lift 700,000 children out of poverty.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Working Families Tax Credit. [87093]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Work is proceeding to plan for the introduction of the Working Families' Tax Credit. From October, this new Tax Credit will provide a guaranteed minimum income of £200 for families with one member in full time work earning the National Minimum Wage.

  Third-world Debt
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress was made at the G8 summit in Cologne on reducing the debt burden for the world's poorest countries. [87076]
  459
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress was made on debt relief at the Cologne summit. [87081]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  At the G7 Finance Ministers Meeting in Frankfurt, I took forward my proposals for faster, deeper and wider debt relief. Agreement was secured at the G8 Summit in Cologne on an initiative which will reduce the debt owed by the poorest countries by $100 billion.

  Pensioners (Taxation)
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from pensioner organisations concerning tax payments from pensioners' incomes; and if he will make a statement. [87078]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Treasury Ministers have received a number of representations on income tax matters, including matters relating to pensioners.

  VAT (Service Industries)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to raise the VAT threshold for businesses in the service sector. [87079]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No. A differential threshold for service traders would further complicate the VAT system and create uncertainty, thereby increasing compliance costs for business and administrative costs for Government. Recent consultation on the effect and level of the threshold revealed only minimal support for such a change.

  Housebuilding (Brown-field Sites)
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce fiscal measures to encourage housebuilding on brown-field sites. [87080]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Government have no present plans to introduce fiscal measures to encourage housebuilding on brown-field sites. However, the Deputy Prime Minister has announced the Government's desire to see the proportion of new homes provided on brown-field sites increased to 60 per cent. over the next ten years. The Government are considering a wide range of measures to help achieve this target. We will study the recommendations of Lord Rogers' Urban Task Force with great interest; and will publish an Urban White Paper later in the year.

  Gold Reserves
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the present value in sterling of the United Kingdom's gold reserves; and what its valuation was on 1 January. [87082]

  Mr. Milburn
  Table 2 of the Quarterly Report on UK Official Holdings of Foreign Currency and Gold for the period October to December 1998 and January to March 1999 provide a breakdown of the size and composition of the United Kingdom's reserve holdings.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the economic tests to be met before any British application to join the single European currency. [87083]

  Ms Hewitt
  In his statement to the House of Commons in October 1997, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out five economic tests which will have to be met before any decision to join a successful single currency can be taken. Applying the economic tests, the Government have concluded that there is no realistic prospect of the UK economy having demonstrated, before the end of this Parliament, convergence which is sustainable and settled. Barring any fundamental and unforeseen change in economic circumstances, making a decision, during this Parliament, to join is not realistic. This position was restated by the Prime Minister in a statement to the House of Commons on 23 February 1999,Official Report,columns 179–84.

  Mr. Beard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effects of UK non-membership of EMU on his policy of ensuring economic stability. [87088]

  Ms Hewitt
  Locking in stability is a key element of the Government's economic strategy. Reform of the macroeconomic policy framework through a new, open and transparent monetary framework and a new fiscal framework is helping to deliver low inflation and sound public finances.

  Achieving sustainable convergence with the euro area is one of the five economic tests which will have to be met before any decision to join is taken.

  Income Tax (Self-assessment)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been surcharged for failing to return their completed self-assessment forms on time. [87085]

  Dawn Primarolo
  People who fail to return their completed self-assessment forms on time are charged a penalty of £100, and a further penalty of £100 if the return is more than six months late. Surcharges are applied to people who are late in paying the tax due on their self-assessment. There is a 5 per cent. surcharge where payment is more than 28 days late, and a further 5 per cent. surcharge where payment is more than six months late.

  The numbers of surcharges and penalties are increasing all the time as more late-issued returns become overdue. However, the great majority of returns are issued in April, and returns and payments become due at the end of the following January.

  Figures for the main issue of returns are as follows:

  1996–97 tax return, issued in April 1997

  First fixed filing penalty (issued in February 1998)–670,000

  Second fixed filing penalty (issued in August 1998) –335,000

  First surcharge for late payment (issued in March 1998)–142,000

  Second surcharge for late payment (issued in August 1998)–59,000

  1997–98 tax return, issued in April 1998

  First fixed filing penalty (issued in February 1999) –748,000

  First surcharge for late payment (issued in March 1999)–180,000.

  Kosovo (Cost)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) has been and (b) he estimates will be the effect on the contingency fund of (i) the conflict in Kosovo and (ii) the measures to be taken following the peace agreement relating to Kosovo. [87086]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Ministry of Defence estimates the total additional cost of Kosovo military operations up to the end of May was £43 million (excluding the costs of munitions). It has been agreed that military costs will form the basis of a claim on the Reserve to the extent that they cannot be absorbed without detriment to other priorities.

  It is too early to say what the costs to Departmental Expenditure Limits or the Reserve will be of all the measures to be taken following the peace agreement.

  Taxation
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in tax payable in the last two years. [87089]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Figures for tax receipts were published in table B10 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the reform of the landfill tax. [87090]

  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend announced a number of changes to the landfill tax in his 1999 Budget. The case for any further changes will be examined as and when the need arises.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed climate change levy. [87091]

  Ms Hewitt
  The climate change levy will make a very significant contribution to meeting the Government's legally binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions set under the Kyoto Protocol, and their domestic goal of a 20 per cent. cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. The levy will encourage energy efficiency in business and is expected to save around 1.5 million tonnes of carbon a year by 2010.

  The design of the levy reflects closely the recommendations made by Lord Marshall. It will entail no increase in the overall burden of tax on business as revenues will be fully recycled via a 0.5 percentage point cut in the main rate of employer National Insurance Contributions. Business will also benefit from an additional £50 million for schemes aimed at promoting energy efficiency and support for renewable sources of energy, like solar and wind power.

  The Government recognise the need for special consideration to be given to the position of energy intensive industries given their energy usage and exposure to international competition. Consequently, the Government intend to set significantly lower rates of tax for those energy
  462
  intensive sectors that agree targets for improving their energy efficiency and these detailed negotiations are now underway.

  The Government also want to work with business on the detailed design and administration issues relating to the levy and have just completed a consultation covering these issues.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the climate change levy is to be imposed on combined heat and power schemes. [87681]

  Ms Hewitt
  It is the intention that climate change levy should be charged on industrial and commercial use of electricity. The levy will be charged at the point of supply to the final consumer which means that the input to generation will be exempt.

  Combined Heat and Power (CHP) schemes are a form of electricity generation. The Customs and Excise consultation document asked for views on whether they should be treated as conventional generators, by relieving their input fuels and applying the levy to their outputs, or afforded special treatment whereby their input fuels are subject to the levy and the electricity they produced relieved. Officials are currently analysing responses to this exercise.

  Economic Stability
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal steps he is taking to ensure economic stability. [87092]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Chancellor's recent Budget continued to lock in sound public finances and to ensure that our tough fiscal rules will be met. By providing a £6 billion boost to the economy, the Budget is supporting monetary policy and helping to steer a course of stability and lay the foundations for high and sustainable levels of growth and employment.

  Tax Hypothecation
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to allocate funds raised by particular taxes to specified services. [87094]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No. The Government determine their expenditure according to their priorities. However, we look at each case on its merits.

  Capital Controls
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the UK's policy advice to developing countries on capital controls; and what assessment he has made of IMF agreements which prohibit a Government from imposing capital controls. [86942]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 14 June 1999]We encourage emerging markets to carry out capital account liberalisation in a careful and well sequenced manner. However, the use of controls on capital inflows may be justified during transitional periods as emerging markets strengthen the institutional and regulatory environment in their domestic financial systems. Controls on capital outflows may sometimes be necessary in exceptional
  463
  circumstances. But controls on capital flows, particularly on outflows, carry costs and are no substitute for necessary reforms.

  The international financial crisis has clearly demonstrated that the IMF should play a constructive role in helping countries to liberalise their capital accounts in an orderly way. But the IMF should also further refine its analysis of the experience of countries with the use of capital controls.

  World Bank (Social Principles)
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to ensure that the social principles drafted by the World bank will be adhered to by the IMF and World bank in any future financial crisis lending. [86988]

  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has consistently stressed the importance of preserving investment in the health, education and social programmes which are essential for growth and poverty reduction. The World bank are currently working with the IMF to translate the social principles into good practices in social policy, and this work is due to be completed by the Annual Meetings later this year. It will create an operational guide for the World bank and IMF which I hope will be drawn upon by the two institutions.

  Ms Drown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on incorporating the social principles drafted by the World bank into macro-economic decision-making. [86987]

  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has consistently stressed the importance of preserving investment in the health, education and social programmes which are essential for growth and poverty reduction. He therefore welcomed the endorsement given by the Development Committee at the Spring Meeting in April to the social principles which the World bank had drafted following his call for action in this area at the Annual Meetings last year.

  As a matter of urgency, it was agreed that the World bank should report back to the Annual Meetings on policies and practices that could support national and international implementation of the social principles.

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the operation of ISAs; and if he will make a statement. [87420]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government will keep ISAs under review and listen to the views of providers and consumers. A large number of providers are providing both CAT and non-CAT ISAs through a variety of channels and we have no plans to change ISA rules.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the people employed as paid 464
  special advisers in his Department since 1 May 1997, the dates of their employment and to which minister each was attached. [87455]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  Dates of employment

  Name

  From

  To

  Minister served

  Ed Balls

  3 May 1997

  —

  Chancellor

  Charlie Whelan

  3 May 1997

  13 January 1999

  Chancellor

  Ed Miliband

  3 May 1997

  6 April 1999

  Chief Secretary

  Ed Miliband

  10 May 1999

  —

  Chief Secretary

  Andrew Maugham

  6 May 1997

  27 July 1998

  Chief Secretary

  Spencer Livermore

  4 August 1998

  —

  Chief Secretary

  Ian Austin

  21 June 1999

  —

  Chancellor

  Insurance Companies (Regulation)
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the working procedures within his Department regarding the regulation of insurance companies. [87628]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have no plans to review working procedures regarding the regulation of insurance companies. The Transfer of Functions (Insurance) Order 1997 transferred Department of Trade and Industry responsibility for regulation of insurance business to the Treasury. The Contracting Out (Functions in Relation to Insurance) Order 1998 empowered the Treasury to authorise a third-party—the Financial Services Authority—to carry out most of these functions from 1 January 1999. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Financial Services and Markets Bill will vest this responsibility with the Financial Services Authority in its own right. In the meantime, the Treasury retains statutory and policy responsibility.

  Employment Rate (Shrewsbury and Atcham)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in Shrewsbury and Atcham(a) on the last date for which figures are available and (b) in May 1997. [87796]

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

  Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 24 June 1999:
  In the absence of the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the number of people employed in Shrewsbury and Atcham.
  Information is available for the number of Employee Jobs, derived from the Annual Employment Survey (AES) for September 1997 (latest available date) and September 1996. The persons holding these jobs may live outside the area shown.

  Employee jobs at September

  Thousand

  Year

  Shrewsbury and Atcham1

  1996

  38.3

  1997

  39.0

  1Local Authority District

  EU Tax Reform (Joint Working Group)
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the organisations represented on the joint working group with business representatives set up by the Paymaster General to examine EU tax reform; which representatives were invited from the accountancy profession; and if he will make a statement. [87988]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The joint Government-CBI Group on EU tax issues is an informal working group whose main purpose is to allow the Government to get the views of business on European tax matters. At the first meeting of the Group in March, the CBI's team consisted of senior CBI officials and representatives of major companies.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish a revised version of PFI Technical Note No. 1 on How to Account for PFI Transactions. [88733]
  466
  Mr. Milburn
  I am today issuing revised Treasury guidance, approved by the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB), setting out the rules governing accounting for PFI transactions within Government.

  I am placing a copy of the Revised Guidance in the Library.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to improve the fiscal position of people over retirement age. [87077]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Government recognise that pensioners need fair and decent support. The average pensioner household will be £240 a year better off as a result of measures in the March 1998 and March 1999 Budgets. These measures include a fivefold increase in the winter allowance from £20 to £100, the introduction of a Minimum Tax Guarantee which will mean that no-one over 64 will pay income tax unless their income is over £110 a week, and the minimum income guarantee through Income Support which is set at £75 per week for single pensioners from April 1999.

  House of Lords: Age Limit
  House of Lords: Age Limit
  Advocate General for Scotland
  Advocate General for Scotland
  Scottish Parliamentary Counsel
  Scottish Parliamentary Counsel
  Wormwood Scrubs
  Wormwood Scrubs
  A.12: Advertisement Hoardings
  A.12: Advertisement Hoardings
  Human Reproductive Cloning
  Human Reproductive Cloning
  Tobacco Promotion
  Tobacco Promotion
  Contaminated Foodstuffs: Risk Assessment
  Contaminated Foodstuffs: Risk Assessment
  Food Poisoning and Slaughterhouse Processes
  Food Poisoning and Slaughterhouse Processes
  Submerged Islands and Territorial Waters
  Submerged Islands and Territorial Waters
  Mr. Akin Birdal
  Mr. Akin Birdal
  Iraq: Enforcement of UN Sanctions
  Iraq: Enforcement of UN Sanctions