Written Answers of 28 June 1999

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for Disability Living Allowance have been allowed(a) at the appeal stage and (b) after an initial refusal, in each of the last three years; and how many applications have been allowed in total. [88229]

  Mr. Timms
  The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Brian Cotter, dated 25 June 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many applications for disability living allowance have been allowed (a) at the appeal stage and (b) after an initial refusal, in each of the last three years; and how many applications have been allowed in total.
  The information you have requested is as follows:

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  DLA claims allowed at appeal by ITS

  13,346

  12,710

  16,261

  DLA claims allowed on review

  44,784

  44,288

  31,629

  Number of DLA claims awarded

  239,669

  211,249

  175,597

  Total number of claims awarded 1996–99

  —

  —

  626,515

  Note:

  Independent Tribunal Service

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Gay Relationships
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages to the social security system of recognising gay relationships. [87348]

  Angela Eagle
  In the contributory benefits system, all rights to contributory benefits derived from another person's contributions are based on the concept of a legal marriage.

  In income-related benefits, a couple is treated as a single unit, and benefit is calculated on the basis of the couple's combined needs and resources. A couple means either a married couple, or a man and a woman who are living together as husband and wife. In this country, current legislation permits a contract of marriage between members of the opposite sex only. Income-related benefits rules, which define an unmarried couple as comprising a man and a woman, follow this principle.

  Currently, we have no plans to carry out an assessment of the Social Security system as proposed. However, we do keep the system under review and aim to build a modern Social Security system which reflects today's changed society.
  2

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what independent assessment he plans to make of the Year 2000 compliance of his Department's business-critical information technology systems. [88402]

  Angela Eagle
  Aspects of the Department's Year 2000 Programme as well as the Programme overall have already been subject to more than 20 independent assessments since work commenced in 1995. The latest one was conducted by IMPACT consultancy in May. This assessment was undertaken to fulfil our part in Action 2000's Independent Assessment Project of essential sectors of the national infrastructure. Findings will be disclosed at the National Infrastructure Forum on 13 July.

  The Department will be commissioning a further round of independent assessments of all delivery organisations later in the year and the results will be made available as part of the National Infrastructure Project monitoring phase.

DEFENCE

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the TA units due to be disbanded within the next six months; [88378]

  (2) if he will list the TA units which have been disbanded since 28 November 1998. [88365]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In accordance with the announcement on the restructuring of the Territorial Army made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 November 1998,Official Report, columns 749-71, the following battalion and company units are due to disband by 1 July 1999:
  Royal Armoured Corps

  Scottish Yeomanry—elements are to transfer to the Queen's Own Yeomanry

  Kings Own Yorkshire Yeomanry (Light Infantry)—the elements are to re-role

  Royal Armoured Corps Pool of Officers

  Royal Regiment of Artillery

  201 (St. Albans) and 202 (Swaffham) Batteries 100 Regiment Royal Artillery

  289 Commando (Poole) Battery Royal Artillery

  Royal Engineers

  72 Regiment Royal Engineers

  106 (Dewsbury), 350 (Chilwell) and 575 (Buxton) Field Squadrons 73 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers

  74 Independent Field Squadron

  125 (Stafford) and 202 Field Squadrons 75 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers

  76 (less HQ and Workshop) and 78 (less Tunbridge Wells) Engineer

  Regiments Royal Engineers

  77 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers

  220 Field Squadron, 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)

  198 Field Park Squadron Royal Engineers

  Military Works Force-will be reduced

  3
  Infantry1

  Lowland Volunteers

  3rdBattalion Royal Highland Fusiliers

  3rdBattalion The Black Watch

  3rdBattalion The Highlanders

  7th/8thBattalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  5thBattalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

  6th/7thBattalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

  The London Regiment

  5thBattalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  6thBattalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  6thBattalion Royal Anglian Regiment

  7thBattalion Royal Anglian Regiment

  4thBattalion The Kings Own Royal Border Regiment

  5th/8thKings Regiment

  3rdBattalion The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment

  4th/5thGreen Howards

  4thBattalion The Queen's Lancashire Regiment

  3rdBattalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment

  4thBattalion Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

  3rdBattalion The Cheshire Regiment

  3rdBattalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers

  2ndBattalion The Royal Regiment of Wales

  2ndRoyal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment

  3rdBattalion the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment

  The Staffordshire Regiment

  5thBattalion The Light Infantry

  6th Battalion The Light Infantry

  7thBattalion The Light Infantry

  4thBattalion Royal Green Jackets

  5thBattalion Royal Green Jackets

  4th/5th Battalion The Royal Irish Rangers

  4thBattalion The Parachute Regiment

  10thBattalion The Parachute Regiment

  Royal Logistic Corps

  562 Transport Squadron, 151 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps

  67 Stores Squadron Royal Logistic Corps

  166 Logistic Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps

  143 Stores Squadron Royal Logistic Corps

  209 Printing Troop

  241 General Support Squadron Royal Logistic Corps

  280 and 281 Movement Control Squadrons Royal Logistic Corps

  65 Petroleum Squadron Royal Logistic Corps

  68 Vehicle Squadron Royal Logistic Corps

  HQ 86 Postal and Courier Regiment Royal Logistic Corps

  Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron Royal Logistic Corps

  Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  202 Port and Reclamation Company 105 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  207 Workshop Company 105 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  HQ Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Pool of Officers

  TA Specialist Increment REME

  4
  Adjutant General's Corps (Royal Military Police)

  152, 163, 164, 165, 251 and 254 Provost Companies Royal Military Police

  Bands

  Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Band

  South Nottinghamshire Hussars (Yeomanry) Royal Horse

  Artillery Band

  Royal Signals Band

  Royal Highland Fusiliers (Territorial) Band

  Warwickshire Band Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  Yorkshire (Volunteers) Band

  Berkshire and Hampshire Band

  Light Infantry Burma Band

  Army Medical Services (Territorial Army) Band

  No further units other than those affected by SDR and listed above are due to disband between 1 July and 31 December 1999.

  115 new Infantry Battalions with a total of 64 companies will be formed as opposed to the current 33 battalions. Capbadge affiliations will remain at Company level.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many TA soldiers have left the service since November 1998(a) voluntarily and (b) compulsorily. [88364]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In the period of 1 November 1998 to 30 April 1999, 7,980 soldiers left the Territorial Army and 3,690 joined. Of those leaving, 7,271 left on completion of their engagement, 194 left voluntarily before their term of engagement was complete and 515 were compulsorily discharged for reasons including failure to complete training, misconduct, inefficiency or poor health.

  Departmental Spending (Scotland)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent in Scotland in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [87419]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Information on total defence expenditure is not generally held on a regional basis. However defence expenditure on equipment in UK regions is available. The latest available figures for equipment expenditure in Scotland (as published in "UK Defence Statistics 1998") are as follows:

  Year

  £million

  Perccentage

  1990–91

  600

  18

  1993–94

  550

  7.5

  1994–95

  550

  8.5

  1995–96

  600

  9

  1996–97

  550

  8

  1Of total UK expenditure on equipment

  Note:

  These figures are VAT-exclusive and rounded to the nearest £50 million and 0.5 per cent. respectively. They relate to the locations of the defence equipment contractors and do not take account of those of sub-contractors. If the latter could be allowed for, the regional distribution might differ significantly from that shown.

  Peacekeeping Force (Kosovo)
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to follow the
  5
  UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations' guidelines on the minimum age for peacekeepers in relation to the UK members of the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo. [88015]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 24 June 1999]I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 24 June 1999,Official Report, column 451.

  Location/unit

  Notes

  Kosovo

  The 1st Battalion The Irish Guards

  Battalion Headquarters, 2 companies, fire support company

  The 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers

  1 company

  The 1st Battalion The Green Howards

  1 company

  The 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment

  Includes a company from The 3nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

  The 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Regiment

  —

  The 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

  Includes a company from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment

  Bosnia

  The 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers

  Battalion Headquarters, 2 companies, fire support company Includes a company of Gurkhas

  The 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

  Includes a company of Gurkhas

  Northern Ireland

  The 1st Battalion The Green Howards

  Includes a company from the 1st Battalion The Black Watch

  The 1st Battalion The Royal Scots

  Includes a company from The 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment

  The 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards

  —

  The1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment

  —

  The Royal Dragoon Guards

  Armour in the infantry role

  32 Regiment Royal Artillery

  Artillery in the infantry role

  The 1st Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers

  Resident

  The 1st Battalion The Scots Guards

  Resident

  The 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment

  Resident

  The 1st Battalion The Queen's Lancashire Regiment

  Resident

  The 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets

  Resident

  The 1st Battalion The King's Regiment

  —

  In addition, there are six Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, comprising both full-time and part-time members, which are wholly committed to Northern Ireland.

  Units are not 'deployed' to Germany. The following infantry battalions are, however, currently in Germany:

  Location/unit

  Notes

  Germany

  2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  —

  2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets

  —

  lst Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales

  —

  Kosovo
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the command structure of the KLA; what measures he is taking to ensure co-operation with KLA elements which are not part of the central structure; and if he will make a statement. [87301]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The KLA's command structure is presently based on military lines. It consists of the KLA Interim Government of Kosovo (IGOK) below which is the KLA's General Staff. The staff commands and controls the seven Operational Zones (OZ) found throughout the province. The OZs in turn command a number of KLA brigades and independent battalions.
  6

  Infantry Battalions
  Mr. DuncanSmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Army infantry battalions are currently deployed in(a)Kosovo, (b)Bosnia, (c)Northern Ireland and (d)Germany. [88125]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 24 June 1999]The information requested is as follows:

  It is for General Jackson and his military commanders on the ground to determine how to deal with individual groups with whom they may have contact. They will be dealt with on an impartial basis but will be expected to act in accordance with the undertaking on demilitarisation given by the KLA to KFOR on 21 June.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units now not deployed in Kosovo are warned to deploy to Kosovo; and where are these units now deployed. [88126]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 24 June 1999]I am withholding this information on the future movement of units in accordance with exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to Defence, Security and International Relations.

  Submarine Spent Nuclear Fuel Cores
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarine spent nuclear fuel cores are currently held at(a) HMS Vulcan, (b) Rosyth, (c) Devonport and (d) Sellafield. [87707]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 22 June 1999]The number of submarine spent fuel cores currently held is as follows:

  (a) Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment: 2 fuel cores

  (b) Rosyth Dockyard: 1 fuel cores

  (c) Devonport Dockyard:1¾ fuel cores

  (d) BNFL Sellafield: 46¼fuel cores.

  7
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what day the new Used Core Transport Package for transporting submarine spent fuel cores entered into service. [87704]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 22 June 1999]The first operational use of the new Used Fuel Flasks (UFFs) was Thursday 10 June 1999.

  Nuclear Transfers (USA)
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights of special nuclear material from RAF Brize Norton to the United States and vice versa have occurred in each of the last five years. [88142]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The number of flights carrying special nuclear material each year between UK and US depends on programme requirements which are confidential between the two governments. I am therefore withholding the information requested under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations.

  Sports Grounds
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sports grounds there are on MOD sites. [88494]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information sought is not held centrally and will have to be collected from various sources. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Veterans Advice Cell
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned expenditure on the Veterans Advice Cell for each of the next five years. [88703]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Planned expenditure for the Ministry of Defence Veteran's Advice Unit is currently set at £172,000 per year until 2002–03, which is the duration of our current formal forward spending plans. It is anticipated that provision will continue at the same level in future years. This amount covers the employment costs for the three Warrant Officers operating the Unit and associated costs, including telecommunications, apportioned clerical support, training and publicity material.

  Environmental Programmes
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reward those sectors of the armed forces that achieve higher levels of performance in environmental programmes, with particular reference to recycling. [88441]

  Mr. Spellar
  All sectors of the armed forces are required to comply with the Secretary of State's environmental policy statement and the environmental policies and practices set out in JSP 418, the Ministry of 8
  Defence's environmental manual. JSP 418 encourages all personnel to identify opportunities for recycling. The Secretary of State' s environmental policy statement is incorporated into JSP 418, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to encourage all sections of the armed forces and their bases to participate fully in environmental joint programmes, with particular reference to re-cycling. [88442]

  Mr. Spellar
  All sections of the armed forces comply with the guidance provided in the MOD's environment manual, JSP 418, which provides detailed policy on waste reduction initiatives based on recycling.

  RAF Pilots
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF pilots are serving in(a) the Balkan theatre,(b) Turkey, (c) Kuwait, (d) Saudi Arabia, (e) Cyprus, (f) the Falkland Islands, (g) Northern Ireland and (h) elsewhere outside the United Kingdom. [88369]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The following table shows the number of trained RAF pilots serving in various theatres of operations as at 1 June 1999.

  Theatre of operations

  Number of RAF pilots

  Balkans1

  108

  Turkey

  22

  Kuwait

  16

  Saudi Arabia

  35

  Cyprus

  10

  Falkland Islands

  23

  Northern Ireland

  67

  Other overseas

  195

  1 Balkans theatre includes personnel serving in: Italy, Corsica, Bosnia, Croatia and Macedonia

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of training a pilot in the RAF from entry into service to active flying service for(a) fast jets, (b) transport and other aircraft and (c) helicopters. [88371]

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

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with representatives of commercial airlines since May 1997 on the recruitment of former service men as pilots; and if he will make a statement. [88372]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I wrote to representatives of seven major UK commercial airlines on 5 April of this year to develop a dialogue on the recruitment of former Royal Air Force personnel as pilots. No Ministerial discussions have taken place.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of(a) fast jet pilots, (b) transport and support aircraft pilots and (c) helicopter pilots on active service in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [88370]
  9
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The information requested is set out by Service in the table:

  Fast jet

  Multi engined

  Rotary wing

  Date

  RN1

  RAF

  RAF

  RN

  Army 3

  RAF

  1 April 1999

  52

  874

  837

  512

  369

  518

  1 April 1998

  49

  943

  866

  536

  370

  507

  1 April 1997

  57

  991

  898

  564

  344

  506

  1 April 1996

  66

  1,062

  1,002

  594

  323

  524

  1 April 1995

  67

  1,090

  1,050

  624

  311

  530

  1 April 1994

  67

  1,124

  1,119

  612

  286

  532

  1 April 1993

  2—

  1,371

  1,046

  2—

  282

  539

  1 April 1992

  2—

  1,397

  1,081

  2—

  258

  552

  1 April 1991

  2—

  1,394

  1,122

  2—

  218

  542

  1 April 1990

  2—

  1,389

  1,200

  2—

  215

  544

  1 Figure excludes Royal Marines for which no historical data held. However, as at 1 June 1999 there were an additional 32 Royal Marine officer and 20 Royal Marine other ranks helicopter pilots on the trained strength.

  2 RN figures by specialisation, prior to 1 April 1994, could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  3 The figures for Army Helicopter pilots exclude reservists mobilised for operations in Bosnia as well as: member of Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service), Gurkha's Locally Employed Personnel and individuals engaged on Full Time Reserve Service.

  Sexual Discrimination
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) estimates he has made of the number of cases involved and (b) provision his Department has made in respect of future compensation claims for sexual discrimination. [88374]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is inherently difficult to forecast the number of applications likely to be made to Employment Tribunals in which sexual discrimination is alleged. However, based on the number and value of cases settled in the previous two years and cases outstanding my Department could expect about 10–12 applications at a total value of some £250,000 will be settled this financial year from Service or former Service personnel.

  Similar information relating to civilian employees of the Department is not held centrally.

  Army Families Federation
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met representatives of the Army Families Federation; and what was discussed. [88362]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I met representatives of the Army Families Federation at their annual conference on 23 September 1998. In my speech and in the question and answer session I discussed the Policy for People initiative announced as part of the Strategic Defence Review. This included the Service Families Task Force, education, health and welfare. In addition, last week I met AFF representatives and Army families in Germany to hear their current concerns at first hand.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department was first informed 10
  that Parts IVA and IVB of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 were no longer in force. [88795]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My Department, together with others, was informed earlier this month that there was some doubt whether these provisions had been effectively renewed by the 1998 and 1999 Continuance Orders, and that advice was being sought on this point.

  Strategic Stock
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the United Kingdom's strategic stock of(a) ordnance and (b) fuel was used during NATO operations in Kosovo; what assessment he has made of the impact on the United Kingdom's defence capability; and what estimate he has made of (i) the length of time required and (ii) the cost to replace the stock used. [87196]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am withholding information on the percentage of the United Kingdom's ordnance stock used during the NATO operation in Kosovo, and the length of time taken to replace ordnance stocks, under exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (information where disclosure would harm national security on defence). The UK does not hold a strategic stock of fuel. Stocks of fuel are continually replenished in order to maintain them at appropriate levels.

  We have not yet conducted a full analysis of the impact of operations in Kosovo. While timely and measured steps are being taken to replace ordnance, it is too early to make a meaningful estimate of the cost involved.

  St. Malo Accord
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the instances of military co-operation which(a) have arisen and (b) are planned consequential to the St. Malo Accord. [85218]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Letter of Intent on co-operation in crisis management and operations, signed between the UK and France at St. Malo in December 1998, has moved work forward on planning for non-combatant evacuation operations; joint exercises; improved links between operational headquarters; co-ordination of naval deployments; information exchanges on peacekeeping activities; Year 2000 computer problems; logistics; and arrangements for dealing with the media. We will continue to develop our co-operation in these areas.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will announce the Government's final response to the recommendations contained in Sir Ian Glidewell's report following his review of the Crown Prosecution Service; and if he will make a statement. [88910]

  The Attorney-General
  Shortly after coming into office, I set up a review of the Crown Prosecution Service. Its terms of reference, 12 June 1997,Official Report, columns 533–34, went to the fundamentals of the Service.
  11
  An examination of the organisation and structure of the CPS was required along with consideration of what changes might be necessary to provide for more effective and efficient prosecution of crime.

  The terms of reference reflected the concerns expressed in the Labour Party paper, "The Case for the Prosecution". That paper was prepared while in opposition after considering the disquiet expressed by a wide range of individuals about the criminal justice system.

  As is well known by now, Sir kin Glidewell conducted the review, assisted by Sir Geoffrey Dear and Robert McFarland.

  I published Sir lain' s Report on 1 June 1998,Official Report, columns 42–52. The report was widely and warmly received. It acknowledged the achievements of the CPS including, most importantly, the establishment of an independent, national, prosecution service. However, it also confirmed many of the concerns that had been expressed about the CPS. It made 75 recommendations.

  I was able to accept immediately the broad thrust of the Report which sets an agenda for re-ordering the priorities of the CPS to focus on the core business of prosecuting. A key recommendation concerned the appointment of a Chief Executive. That was a specific recommendation I was able to accept immediately: Mark Addison was appointed and took up the post within a matter of days. David Calvert-Smith QC was appointed DPP in November 1998. The Director and Chief Executive have together given a strong lead, driving forward the reform of the CPS.

  While some of the recommendations affect the internal operation of the CPS, other recommendations are relevant to a number of criminal justice agencies, including the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Home Office and the police. These inter-agency recommendations have been taken forward by the relevant agencies working together in co-operation.

  On 30 November 1998 I was able to announce an interim Government response to the Glidewell Report, 30 November 1998,Official Report, columns 67–70. That interim response identified what had by then been achieved and what remained under consideration.

  Today, I am able to provide the final Government response to Sir lain Glidewell's Report. I have placed in the Library of the House a chart which identifies whether the Government accepts or otherwise each individual recommendation. Where necessary, the chart shows how recommendations are planned to be taken forward with a timetable for action. Sixty-four recommendations are shown as accepted, accepted in part or in principle, or implemented. Only two of the recommendations are rejected; these are identified below. The remaining few recommendations are shown as noted or considered. I shall focus on some of the key aspects.

  On 19 April 1999 I announced a new national framework for Criminal Justice Units building on a key recommendation in the Glidewell Report, 19 April 1999, Official Report, columns 397–98. The Criminal Justice Units will provide joint police/CPS administration, having sole conduct of fast-track cases and responsibility for the prosecution of cases in the magistrates' courts. Chief Crown Prosecutors working together with Chief
  12
  Constables must produce by the end of November this year joint outline plans for implementing the Criminal Justice Units. Progress will be monitored.

  I can now announce that CPS Trial Units will also be established, again building on a key recommendation in the Glidewell report. The Trial Units will be responsible for all prosecutions in the Crown Court. They will provide a means by which CPS lawyers can focus on the most serious cases and a structural mechanism through which CPS Higher Court Advocates will be able to exercise their rights of audience to the benefit of the justice system.

  The creation of Criminal Justice Units and Trial Units will go a long way to defining more clearly the relationship between the key agencies of the police, CPS and courts, as the Glidewell Report recommended. One crucial area of local co-operation concerns the listing of cases at court. The Glidewell Report made recommendations regarding listing practices at both Magistrates' Courts and Crown Court centres. These recommendations have been accepted. Improved case preparation by the CPS and inter-agency moves towards better case management should lead to more effective listing practices which will ensure that cases are prepared and listed for trial more quickly. Work is underway on the preparation of national protocols to guide local arrangements in this respect.

  Over a period, as a result of fast-tracking and effective listing, the CPS will be able to deploy more lawyers on the more serious cases and thereby achieve the shift in the centre of gravity recommended by the Glidewell Report.

  After careful consideration, two of the Glidewell Report recommendations have been rejected, though the concerns that prompted the recommendations are being addressed in other ways.

  First, the Glidewell Report recommended that the CPS install a new costing system. The CPS commissioned an independent consultant to consider this complex area in close detail. As a result, it has been decided that the existing activity based costing system should be retained but improved to reflect the objectives identified by the Glidewell Report.

  Secondly, the Glidewell Report recommended that as soon as practicable the CPS should take over from the police responsibility for witness warning. The possibility of transferring this responsibility has been considered carefully but is not thought to be a practical option, or a proper reflection of the respective constitutional priorities of the CPS and the police. Though the recommendation is rejected, the new framework for joint CPS/police administration will enable the police and CPS to work together to provide a better service to victims and witnesses by building on established arrangements.

  Related to this second recommendation is the Glidewell recommendation that responsibility for giving information and explanations to complainants/victims should transfer from the police to the CPS as soon as resources permit. The Government are committed to improving the service that the criminal justice system as a whole provides to victims and the Glidewell recommendation is accepted in principle. The issues raised with implementing this recommendation will be taken forward on a national basis as part of on-going work on the treatment of victims and witnesses. This will involve a scoping/options study,

  13
  and a detailed analysis of the resource implications. In the meantime, the CPS and criminal justice agencies will consider what immediate action can be taken to improve the current level of service which victims receive.

  The reforms brought about by the Glidewell Report must be seen alongside the re-structuring of CPS Areas. When this Government came into office, I announced our intention that the CPS national structure should move from the existing 13 geographical Areas to 42 geographical Areas coterminous with police areas (save for London in which the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Constabulary should be counted as one CPS Area). This initiative is aimed at enhancing local effectiveness, promoting local inter-agency co-operation and local accountability. It is an initiative which the Glidewell Report endorsed believing it to provide the basis for a genuinely new start for the CPS.

  In April, the 42 CPS Area structure was implemented. The selection process for the new Chief Crown Prosecutors (CCPs) took into account Sir lain Glidewell's vision of their role and responsibility as individuals of stature whose competence and integrity would be crucial to the success of the move to a decentralised, locally accountable, national service. The Glidewell Report also recommended that Area Business Managers (ABMs) be appointed to take responsibility for Area management and administration, thereby enabling the CCPs to focus on the business of prosecuting. The CCPs and ABMs are now in post helping to implement locally the reform of the CPS.

  The move to 42 CPS Areas is an important part of what I intend to be a significant cultural change for the CPS, one which will greatly enhance the public service provided by its staff. There are encouraging signs that the cultural change is well underway with the CPS becoming a more flexible and locally accountable organisation, responsive to local needs and circumstances.

  In turn, this means a changing role and a changing culture for CPS national headquarters. It will provide the national framework for prosecuting, manage the resources available to the Service as a whole and facilitate the joined-up approach to improving the criminal justice system to which the Government are committed. Its principal role will be to provide support to the Areas, enabling them to deliver a prosecution service locally. The signs are that this new emphasis is already being noticed and welcomed by the Areas. As a public service responsible for spending £0.3 billion of public funds each year and accountable to Parliament there must be accounting and monitoring systems. The DPP and Chief Executive are continuing to work together to ensure that the central demands made of Areas are reviewed and that bureaucracy is minimised.

  The Glidewell Report acknowledged that there would continue to be a need for a structure separate to the local Areas responsible for handling the most serious and sensitive of cases which require resources not normally available in CPS Areas. The Report recommended two separate but parallel management structures to handle this category of casework. First, a central pool and secondly a national network of CPS staff with a division of the casework between the two and each reporting into CPS headquarters. These recommendations have been accepted in principle but with the CPS taking forward a proposal that there should be a single management structure for
  14
  this category of casework embracing both the central pool and the national network of CPS staff reporting into CPS headquarters. This will provide a cohesive framework for prosecuting this category of cases with a clear line of responsibility and answerability.

  The move to 42 CPS Areas coterminous with police force areas is a significant opportunity for the CPS and other criminal justice agencies to work together locally to deliver the Government's objectives for the criminal justice system as a whole, namely, to reduce crime and to deliver justice fairly and effectively. The structure of local criminal justice liaison bodies is being revised, as the Glidewell Report recommended, to take account of the 42 Area structure. A joint measure and targets on the timeliness in dealing with cases through the prosecution process are being established to complement existing targets for improving the time taken to prosecute persistent young offenders. Joint targets reinforce the message that agencies must work together to make the whole system more effective, not just to improve individual parts sometimes to the detriment of other agencies.

  Accepting another of the recommendations, work is progressing to identify common casework statistics so that meaningful comparisons can be made agency-by-agency, facilitating a better understanding of how the system is working.

  I announced in November that the Glidewell Report recommendations concerning the CPS Inspectorate were accepted with some modifications. I can now announce that the Government propose to put the Inspectorate on an independent statutory basis as soon as the legislative timetable permits. With this in mind, a new Chief Inspector, Stephen Wooler, took up his post in March of this year. He is driving forward the work necessary to the reform of the Inspectorate which will enhance its independence, expand its role and responsibilities and thereby provide the scrutiny of the Service which will support public confidence in the CPS.

  Two other key initiatives have inter-acted with the Glidewell report. First the Narey reforms for reducing delay in the criminal justice system, and, secondly, the publication of the criminal justice system's Strategic Plan and Business Plan published as a response to the two strategic objectives set by the Government. Additionally, the Glidewell reforms of the CPS must take into account the Government's response to the recommendations contained in Sir William Macpherson's Report of his inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. This is not the moment to focus on each of these matters. Suffice it to say that they, along with the Glidewell reforms and the move to 42 CPS Areas, represent a key theme of this administration, namely the modernisation of public service by developing a cohesive and coherent approach to policy with agencies and Departments working together for the benefit of the community as a whole. This approach will, I believe, deliver a modern criminal justice system worthy of that title.

  The cultural, structural and organisational changes that are happening to the CPS must be carefully managed. A lesson of the past is that a rush to change is a recipe for error. Whilst I intend proper progress will be made I also

  15
  intend the changes to be managed with care, ensuring that we get it right for society as a whole while being sensitive to CPS staff.

  I am pleased to take this opportunity of commending all those who have worked together so hard to take forward the recommendations. I include, of course, not only members of the CPS but those of other agencies and Government Departments within the criminal justice system. The good-will and determination to work together to make for a better system has enabled brisk progress to be made on what is a substantial initiative within the criminal justice system.

  As superintending Minister for the CPS I pay particular tribute to all members of CPS staff who have faced a period of uncertainty with professional resolve. The reforms will, I believe, enhance their individual roles, increase their job satisfaction, and lead to improved morale.

  I believe that the Glidewell reforms have laid a sure foundation for a better Crown Prosecution Service and a better criminal justice system working for the benefit of the community. The CPS has embarked on its new start; by taking forward Sir Iain Glidewell's recommendations it is well on the road to fulfilling what Sir Iain described as its potential to become a lively, successful and esteemed part of the criminal justice system.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Attorney-General on what date his Department was first informed that Parts IVA and IVB of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 were no longer in force. [88798]

  The Attorney-General
  As is now known, a lawyer in my office read an article in Criminal Law Week suggesting that the provisions were not in force. This was drawn to the attention of the Home Office and following a request for advice I reached the view on 17 June that Parts IVA and IVB of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 were no longer in force.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC (Portadown)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the distance between Portadown RUC station and the location of the attack on 27 April 1997 on the late Robert Hamill. [85502]

  Mr. Ingram
  The RUC have advised that the distance a person would have to travel between these locations is around 250m.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Royal Ulster Constabulary officers were on duty within Portadown RUC Sub-Division between 11 pm on Saturday 26 April 1997 and 4 am on Sunday 27 April 1997. [85501]

  Mr. Ingram
  The RUC have advised that there were 19 police officers on duty in Portadown Sub-Division between 11.00 pm on Saturday 26 April 1997 and 4.00 am on Sunday 27 April 1997.
  16

  Location of Victims' Remains
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on her review of the operations to locate the disappeared in Northern Ireland. [88335]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Agreement between the United Kingdom and Irish Governments signed on 27 April includes a formal reporting mechanism. The Agreement requires the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains to report to both Governments on its activities no later than one year after its establishment and annually thereafter. Through that formal mechanism, the two Governments will be in a position to review the operation of the Commission's activities. At this time, developments at the search sites are being followed with close interest and we continue to hope that the remains of the victims will be located.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to replace the open provision juvenile justice Provisions by a single closed provision at Lisnevin Centre; when she expects to announce her decision on the provision; and what assessment she has made of the option of retaining open provision facilities for children in the Province. [88467]

  Mr. Ingram
  Following recent changes in the law relating to juvenile offenders, only the most serious or persistent offenders can be placed in custody. Most boys in custody are held in the only secure accommodation available—this is at Lisnevin. There has been a significant fall in the numbers in custody due to this legislation and also the introduction of a new determinate sentence and there is considerable spare capacity in the system. A review of the need for custodial places—both open and secure–is being carried out. The outcome of the review will be published in due course.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date her Department was first informed that Parts IVA and IVB of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 were no longer in force. [88800]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Northern Ireland Office was first so informed on 21 June 1999.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Millennium Compliance
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the President of the Council what steps the Government are taking to inform the public on the principal issues relating to the millennium date change. [87242]

  Mrs. Beckett
  As part of the Government's continuing public information programme, "The Millennium Bug—Facts Not Fiction" booklet has been produced and widely distributed earlier this month. The quarterly returns of Government Departments, agencies and key parts of the wider public sector are available too on the Internet, as is
  17
  the Government-commissioned tracking research of public perceptions of the Bug. Preparations across the national infrastructure are being brought together and disclosed through the National Infrastructure Forum.

  Privy Council Meetings
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on arrangements for convening meetings of the Privy Council. [87244]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Queen normally holds a meeting of the Council every month except January, August and September. Additional Councils are convened if urgent business requires it.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  EU Question Time
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to institute a separate ministerial question period for European Union matters. [87243]

  Mr. Tipping
  European Union matters feature in questions to virtually every Department and so are answered on the Floor of the House every sitting day. I do not think it would be either practical or desirable to confine such questions to a single, separate period or to create an additional period just for such questions.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the President of the Council on what date her Department was first informed that Parts IVA and IVB of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 were no longer in force. [88799]

  Mrs. Beckett
  On 18 June 1999.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Russian Military
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian Federation Government concerning the level of civilian control over its military; and if he will make a statement. [88330]

  Ms Quin
  The Prime Minister discussed the rapid deployment of Russian paratroops to Pristina with Russian Prime Minister Stepashin at the G8 Cologne Summit on 18 June. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this incident with Foreign Minister Ivanov on 13 June. The Russians agreed that trust is important for closer co-operation between our forces on the ground in Kosovo. We have also supported training courses for the Russian military on civilian and democratic management of the armed forces.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his 18
  Department was first informed that Parts IVA and IVB of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 were no longer in force. [88794]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Home Office informed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 21 June 1999.

  Ethiopia-Eritrea (Conflict)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning casualties from the conflict in Ethiopia and Eritrea. [88359]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have seen differing reports of casualties throughout the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. We have no reliable figures, but estimate that total casualties are high on both sides: approximately 40,000 Ethiopian and 20,000 Eritrean.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Governments of(a) Ethiopia and (b) Eritrea, concerning the conflict between the two countries. [88360]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have always supported UN and OAU efforts to resolve the conflict. I discussed the issues with the OAU Secretary General on 28 May and with the UN Secretary General on 25 June. I have also discussed the war with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister and the Ambassadors of Ethiopia and Eritrea in recent months. Our message has been clear: both sides must stop fighting immediately and implement the OAU Framework peace proposals.

  Democratic Republic of the Congo
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the meeting of the heads of seven African states in Pretoria on 17 June to discuss the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [88358]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Reports from the region reinforce our view that the meeting was a positive step in preparation for a regional summit scheduled to take place in Lusaka. If real progress is to be made there all parties will need to show the political will and commitment to achieve a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

PRIME MINISTER

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Prime Minister how many public interest immunity certificates have been issued by Ministers or their officials since 1 May 1997; and if he will list the occasions on which such certificates have been issued. [85359]

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General's statement on 11 July 1997,Official Report, columns 616–17, made clear that, in accordance with the approach adopted by the previous Government, public interest immunity will not be asserted by the Government unless the relevant Minister believes

  19
  that disclosure of a document or piece of information will cause real damage to the public interest and that this test would be applied rigorously.

  Where public interest immunity applies, the Government's policy is to make voluntary disclosure if it considers that the interest of justice outweighs the public interest in withholding the document or information in question. In all cases a claim for public interest immunity is subject to the power of the court or other tribunal to order disclosure.

  Prior to 1 May 1997, no centrally maintained record for Government public interest immunity certificates was kept. However, on the best information available from a trawl of the main relevant Departments, I can disclose that PII certificates have been issued and other parties notified on the following number of occasions:

  Year

  Home Departments1

  NIO

  FCO

  1995

  17

  8

  1

  1996

  10

  0

  2

  1997

  15

  5

  1

  1998

  14

  220

  1

  1999 (to date)

  4

  8

  1

  1 Peior to 1997, DTI, MOD and HO only are included; after 1997, all relevant Departments

  2 13 of the 20 cases in 1998 relate to a single occasion involving the movement of 13 prisoners with HMP Belfast

  Honours List
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister how many nominations for honours in respect of the most recent Honours List were received broken down by each English county; and what percentage were successful. [87352]

  The Prime Minister
  Each year the Nominations Unit receive in excess of 7,000 nominations direct from members of the public. In addition, Government Departments will have received several thousand nominations from national organisations and members of the public. Information on nominations is not held in a form which relates them to particular counties or particular Honours Lists. Nor is it normal practice to release information about nominations.

  However, my hon. Friend may wish to refer to the 1999 Birthday Honours List within the features section in the News Centre on the No.10 Downing Street website (http"//www.number-10.gov uk/i ndex.html) which contains information about those who have received honours.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister at what level of command the decision was made to supply Russian troops occupying the airport at Pristina; and what items were supplied in what quantities. [88465]

  The Prime Minister
  Following receipt of a request from the commander of the Russian forces in Kosovo, Commander KFOR, Lieutenant General Mike Jackson, took the decision to provide the supplies that were needed. The priority was for bottled water, and 15,000 litres were 20
  supplied on 16 June. In addition, a small number of maps of the local area were provided. Offers of fuel and medication were turned down by the Russians.

  EU Charter of Rights
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his priorities for the inclusion of topics in an EU charter of rights. [88608]

  The Prime Minister
  As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 118, we welcome this initiative. We believe that the Charter should make the fundamental rights which already exist and are applicable at Union level more visible to the Union's citizens. The incoming Finnish Presidency has been given responsibility for taking this work forward and we look forward to working with them.

  Wal-Mart
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications(a) by telephone or (b) directly he received from the White House relating to his meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart. [88700]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Prime Minister if (1) during his meeting this year with the Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart, there was discussion of planning matters; [88697]

  (2) what other Ministers were present at his meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart; [88698]

  (3) for what reason the Minister for Trade was not present at his meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart; [88699]

  (4) what discussions he has had about the planning issue raised during his meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. [88707]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 May 1999,Official Report, columns 451–52.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many meetings he has had with representatives of the American Government where the proposed merger of Wal-Mart with Asda was discussed; [88508]

  (2) how many meetings his staff have had with representatives of the American Government where the proposed merger of Wal-Mart with Asda was discussed; [88509]

  (3) how many meetings (a) he and (b) his staff have had with representatives of Wal-Mart in connection with their proposed merger with Asda. [88803]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date(a) he and (b) his Office were first informed that

  21
  Parts IV A and IV B of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 were no longer in force. [88731]

  The Prime Minister
  My office was informed on 18 June. I received an updated briefing note on Monday on my return from the Cologne European Council.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Rural Bus Services
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library figures for each relevant local authority in England of the number of(a) new bus services and (b) enhancements to existing bus services in rural areas which have resulted from the use of rural bus subsidy grant; and if he will give examples for each authority of such new and enhanced services. [82636]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information provided by each local authority has been placed in the Library. It shows that the first year of this new grant has been a success with a total in England alone of 658 new services and 842 enhanced services as a result of the grant's introduction.

  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what subsidies have been provided to(a) Shropshire County Council and (b) Telford & Wrekin Council to support rural bus services in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000. [88148]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  1998–99 was the first year of the new Rural Bus Subsidy Grant. In that year Shropshire County Council and Telford & Wrekin Council were allocated the sums of £630,354 and £76,048 respectively, for the support of rural buses. The same amounts have been allocated for 1999–2000.

  Multi-modal Transport Study (London and South-West Corridor)
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account the multi-modal study of the London to South West Corridor announced in the Trunk Roads Review will take of the Railtrack report on the feasibility of reducing the peripherality of the western extremities of the rail network. [86197]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  A key objective of the London to South West and South Wales multi-modal study is to examine the scope for reducing congestion by better management and modal shift. The study will, therefore, encompass the main rail routes, and assess the potential for encouraging the transfer of passenger and freight trips from road to rail. The Railtrack report has already indicated that the railway to Penzance can be upgraded to provide higher speeds with corresponding reductions in journey times to London, reducing the peripherality of the far south-west. The report also considers enhancement of the freight gauge and the provision of intermodal terminals. We will ensure that its findings are taken into account in the multi-modal study.
  22

  Coastguard (Donaldson Report)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the terms of reference are for Lord Donaldson's report on the future of coastguard stations; when Lord Donaldson was asked to advise his Department; when the report will be completed; and if it will be made available to the public. [87194]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Lord Donaldson's Terms of Reference were set by agreement with the Trade Unions and management of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

  Lord Donaldson accepted the Terms of Reference in early May and he will reply to the Deputy Prime Minister as soon as possible.

  Local Authority Publicity
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend legislation regarding the code of practice on local authority publicity so that local authorities must not only have regard to this code but actively enforce it. [88075]

  Mr. Meale
  We have no plans to amend the legislation on the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity. In the paper "Local Leadership, Local Choice", laid before the House on 24 March 1999 (Cm 4298), we have made proposals, including a draft Bill, for a new framework to deliver high standards in all aspects of conduct throughout local government.

  Highways Agency Estate
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the surplus properties held by the Highways Agency are held for road schemes that have been cancelled. [88088]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Highways Agency currently holds 563 surplus properties on cancelled schemes. The Agency sells all its surplus property through a phased disposals programme which is designed to ensure the greatest return to the public purse, while not flooding any local property market. Existing tenancies are honoured and in some cases it will be necessary to complete statutory procedures, such as the making of revocation orders, before property can be sold.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which road schemes are(a) currently in progress and (b) planned for the next two years on motorways and trunk roads. [88112]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The major new schemes currently under construction are listed. Those we plan to start in the next two financial years are listed. In addition we plan this year to spend £765 million on maintenance and £187 million on making better use of the existing motorway and trunk road network.
  23 Major new road schemes currently under construction:

  Al2 Hackney—M11 Contract 1

  Al2 Hackney—M1l Contract 3

  A12 Hackney—M11 Contract 4

  A564 Derby Southern Bypass Contract B

  A13 West of Heathway—Thames Avenue

  London Primary Route Signing South West Contract

  Manchester Outer Ring Road Re-signing Contract 2

  London Primary Route Signing East Contract

  M5 J18–19 (Bridge Strengthening)

  M60 Denton—Middleton Contract 1

  M60 Denton—Middleton Contract 3

  A30 Honiton to Exeter Imp (Part of A30/A35 Exeter—Bere Regis). This scheme is being built under a Design Build Finance and Operate contract (DBFO)

  Major new road schemes planned for next two years:1999–2000

  A2/M2 Cobham—Junction 4

  AI Tempsford Junction Improvements

  London Primary Route Signing North West Contract

  A13 Ironbridge—Canning Town1

  A13/A117 Woolwich Manor Way1

  Al3 Movers Lane1

  A13/A112 Prince Regent Lane (contingent scheme subject to satisfactory completion of statutory procedures)1

  2000–01

  AI Willowburn—Denwick

  A6 Great Glen Bypass

  A27 Polegate Bypass

  A41 Aston Clinton Bypass

  A43 Silverstone Bypass

  A43 Whitfield Turn—Brackley Hatch Improvement

  A1033 Hedon Road, Hull Improvement

  1 These schemes are part of the A13 Thames Gateway DBFO Project for which a contract will be awarded this year. The actual start of works dates will be determined by the DBFO Company.

  Motor Vehicle Tax Rises
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the effect has been on the annual costs of his Department of the changes in fuel duty and vehicle licence fees since May 1997. [88089]

  Mrs. Liddell
  This information is not available. Records are not kept centrally.

  Ministerial Transport
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) on how many days over the last six months he has used(a) a car, (b) a bus and (c) a train for his official duties; [88101]

  (2) on how many occasions in the last six months he has travelled to work at his office by (a) car and (b) public transport. [88097]

  Mr. Prescott
  I travel by car and by public transport on a regular basis on my official visits and journeys to my office.
  24
  Ministers are required under the Ministerial Code to always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

  London Underground
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are(a) the cost to date and (b) the anticipated future cost of legal, financial and other professional advice in respect of the Public-Private Partnership for the London Underground. [88102]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 12 May 1999,Official Report, columns 154–55. We have made a commitment to provide the House with updated figures at six monthly intervals. London Transport will not know the overall requirements or costs for external advice until the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) transaction has been completed, but the Government are working together with LT to ensure that we receive the best advice while minimising the overall costs of implementing the PPP.

  Public Sector Housing
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many public sector houses for rent are currently empty. [88098]

  Ms Armstrong
  On 1 April 1998 there were an estimated 95,300 vacant public sector properties in England.

  Urban Development Corporation
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when each of the urban development corporations was wound up; and what residual costs fall to be paid in 1999–2000. [88065]

  Mr. Caborn
  The following urban development corporations ceased operations on 31 March 1998 and were dissolved on 1 July 1998:

  Birmingham Heartlands

  Black Country

  London Docklands

  Merseyside

  Plymouth

  Teesside

  Trafford Park

  Tyne and Wear.

  Residual property, rights and liabilities were transferred to the Commission for the New Towns, now part of English Partnerships (EP). Its budget for unavoidable liability costs in 1999–2000 amounts to £24.2 million.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if additional money beyond the £300 million so far allocated to the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme will be required to provide the average grant to the number of homes given in his answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 88, and to make grants at equivalent levels in Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [88151]
  25
  Mr. Meale
  The estimated average grants under the proposed New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) are based on the use of seven year operating leases to fund the installation of central heating systems under New HEES Plus. They include the full cost of the lease over the term.

  The resources allocated to this area cover the estimated number of properties improved through New HEES and also the separate programmes in Scotland and Wales in 2000–01 and 2001–02, including the operating lease charges during these years.

  The nature of the separate programmes in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Parliament and the Assembly respectively.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, columns 88–89, what obligation will there be under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme to target the most vulnerable households. [88154]

  Mr. Meale
  The objective of the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is to target the most vulnerable households, and this will be carried through the operation of the scheme and the specification for work set for scheme managers.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, columns 88–89, if the figures for average value of grant-assisted work given there included administrative costs. [88150]

  Mr. Meale
  They do not include administrative costs incurred by scheme managers but include those incurred by installers.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 87, what value of grant-assisted work was assumed in his model to calculate the reduced heating costs for an average three bedroom semi-detached house. [88155]

  Mr. Meale
  Under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), the value of the work on each individual property will be up to £700 in the case of New HEES, and up to £1,800 with New HEES Plus, depending on the energy efficiency of the property prior to improvement.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 87, what is the basis for his statement that New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme and New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Plus will substantially move households out of fuel poverty. [88157]

  Mr. Meale
  Our view that the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) and New HEES Plus will substantially move households out of fuel poverty is based on a careful assessment of the fuel cost savings which householders will derive from the comprehensive packages of assistance provided.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the expenditure required (i) per household and (ii) for all households in England, to achieve a minimum 26
  SAP rating of 30, and a minimum SAP increase in houses included for treatment of 10 points, in all homes with a current SAP rating of (a) less than 10, (b) less than 20, and (c) less than 30. [88156]

  Mr. Meale
  Estimates of the expenditure required were published in the English House Condition Survey 1991, Energy Report, SO 1996. (Page 225, Table 19.4). A similar analysis using data from the 1996 English House Condition Survey is planned.

  Household Projections (Hampshire)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the projected estimate of the number of new households in Hampshire in 2016(a) in 1992 and (b) at the most recent date; and if he will make a statement. [88121]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The 1992-based household projections gave a projection of 0.783 million households for Hampshire for 2016. Preliminary information on counties from the 1996-based household projections was sent to Regional Planning Conferences in May. These new figures show a projected 0.81 million households in Hampshire in 2016.

  Out-of-town Supermarkets
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the number of car journeys made to out-of-town supermarkets in the last year for which figures are available. [88328]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Data are not available on the number of car journeys made to out-of-town supermarkets.

  Local Authority Housing (Single Mothers)
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authorities do not make housing provision for single mothers under the age of 18 years. [88393]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (the homelessness legislation), all housing authorities are obliged to secure temporary housing for homeless single mothers under the age of 18 years if they are not intentionally homeless and there is no other suitable accommodation available for them to occupy in the district. Local authorities are also empowered to allocate housing under Part VI of the 1996 Act to people on their housing registers. Information on the number of local housing authorities who make provision of housing for young single mothers through their housing registers is not held centrally.

  Walking
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many officials in his Department are directly employed promoting walking policies; and what proportion this figure represents of the total number of people employed by his Department. [88163]
  27
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Work in support of walking policies, including research, accounts for the whole of one post and a significant part of nine others. On 1 April 1999 there were 3,450 full-time equivalent civil servants working in DETR (Central).

  A5/M1 Link (Bedfordshire)
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional funding he plans to make available for the A5/M1 link road in Bedfordshire. [88171]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The possible A5/M1 link road in Bedfordshire would form part of the Luton Northern Bypass, which is a major long-term local authority scheme. Bedfordshire County Council and Luton Borough Council are currently working on a joint 5-year local transport plan submission for the area. I understand that the Translink public transport scheme is likely to be their highest priority major project.

  In the Trunk Road Review the A5 Dunstable Bypass and the M1 Junction 6A-10 Widening were included in the London to South Midlands Study area—which is in the Tranche 2 of the Government funded study programme. The study will address a range of transport issues including motorway congestion, development pressures and access to major urban areas such as Luton and Dunstable and possible local solutions including any A5/M1 Link North of Dunstable.

  Rail Services (North Kent)
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what discussions he has had with Railtrack regarding the introduction of 12 car trains between North Kent and London; [88203]

  (2) what discussions he has had with Railtrack regarding the introduction of trackside equipment to allow North Kent Networker trains to make use of their REGEN braking system; [88202]

  (3) what discussion he has had with Railtrack regarding the upgrading of the power supply on North Kent lines to allow longer trains to run; [88204]

  (4) what discussions he has held with Railtrack regarding the completion of new track signalling systems for North Kent commuter lines. [88201]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This is a matter for Railtrack who are currently discussing with OPRAF and Connex the options for introducing 12 car trains between North Kent and London and the related issues of new track signalling systems, upgrading the power supply and facilitating the use of REGEN braking system in Networker trains.

  Station Refurbishment
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to require a train operating company to implement a refurbishment of a particular station. [88401]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Train operating companies are obliged to meet certain minimum standards at stations which are set out in their franchise agreements. These do 28
  not cover refurbishment of stations which is primarily the responsibility of Railtrack with the train operating companies.

  Millennium Dome (Transport Links)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on transport links and access to the Millennium Dome from East London and Essex. [87234]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Millennium Experience will be a 'car free' event, with parking at the Dome site restricted to Orange Badge Holders only and extensive parking controls in place on and around the Greenwich peninsula. The transport strategy devised for the Experience therefore focuses on access to the Dome site being made by public transport.

  For visitors travelling from East London and Essex, the most convenient public transport route will be travel by surface rail to either Stratford or West Ham stations, or where appropriate the Docklands Light Railway to Canning Town station, and transfer on to the extended Jubilee Line to make the short journey to North Greenwich station, which is located adjacent to the entrance of the Dome site.

  For visitors who seek to make the first leg of their journey by car, the New Millennium Experience Company is intending to manage a small number of formal park and ride facilities around London at which a limited number of visitors each day, who pre-book in advance, will be able to leave their vehicles before completing their journey on convenient public transport links. For visitors travelling from East London and Essex, the most convenient park and ride facility will be the proposed site in the north east sector of London which, subject to planning permission, will be located at Stratford. Visitors parking at the Stratford site would be transferred the short distance to Stratford station by shuttle bus, where they would again take the extended Jubilee Line to North Greenwich Station.

  House Building (Green-field Land)
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the amount of green-field land that will be required to meet the Government's targets for new house-building by(a) 2010 and (b) 2015. [88785]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government does not set targets for new house-building. Housing requirements are derived both locally and regionally and land for housing is allocated through the planning process. The Government's target is that 60 per cent. of additional housing should be built on previously developed land or should re-use existing buildings.

  Charity Shops (Rate Relief)
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of the effects of rate relief granted to charity shops on the development of small and medium-sized towns. [88615]
  29
  Mr. Meale
  No assessment has been made of the effects of granting rate relief to charity shops. However, as part of the Treasury's overall review of charity taxation my Department is considering whether there is a need to issue further guidance to local authorities to ensure that only those charity shops which 'wholly or mainly' sell donated goods receive rate relief.

  Specialist Shops (Local Government Assistance)
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what financial assistance is available through local government to support small and specialist shops in small and medium-sized towns; and if he will make a statement. [88616]

  Mr. Meale
  There is no specific financial assistance available for small and specialist shops in small or medium sized towns. The Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) does fund comprehensive regeneration schemes put forward by local partnerships (which may include local authorities) in deprived areas. These schemes usually have multiple objectives and it is not possible to quantify their benefit to particular business groups. However, small shops may benefit from schemes which assist business start-ups, living over the shop, environmental improvements and provision of security measures.

  The Government are considering measures to reduce the rate burden on small businesses as was stated in our White Paper "Modern Local Government—In touch with the People" published last July. We intend to consult further on proposals in the autumn.

  Horse Riders
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish proposals permitting horse riders to use certain footpaths; and if he will make a statement. [88351]

  Mr. Meacher
  We are considering recommendations for improvements to rights of way legislation submitted by the Countryside Commission (now the Countryside Agency) and expect to issue a consultation paper shortly.

  London and South Wales Multi-modal Study
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account the London and South Wales multi-modal study has taken of the report by MDS Transmodal on the benefits of increasing the gauge to allow piggyback freight. [88736]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The study will address these issues.

  EU Regional Chambers
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 1999,Official Report, column 377, who appoints the members of European Regional Chambers; what are their duties; with what other regional bodies they are in partnership; by what tests they are considered suitable for designation under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998; and what further responsibilities arise from that designation. [88686]
  30
  Mr. Caborn
  As I said in my answer on 10 June 1999,Official Report, column 377, regional chambers have no formal status in relation to the European Union; they are therefore not "European" regional chambers.

  Regional chambers are voluntary partnerships formed by local authorities and other regional stakeholders with an interest in the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the region. Membership is decided by the stakeholders themselves. However, for the chamber to achieve designation the basis for the selection of the membership must meet criteria set out in the White Paper 'Building Partnerships for Prosperity' published in December 1997, and general principles set out in further guidance issued by the Department in August 1998. The White Paper criteria and the further guidance also cover non-membership issues. Copies are in the Library.

  The Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 imposes no duties or responsibilities on regional chambers but designation enables them to play a consultative and scrutiny role in relation to the Regional Development Agencies. The Government also believe that regional chambers are well placed to take over the role of regional planning bodies, but it is for the existing planning bodies to decide whether and how this should be done.

  Otherwise, it is for the regional chambers themselves, as voluntary partnerships, to decide their own work programmes and the extent of their partnership activity.

SCOTLAND

  Salmon Fishery Boards
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to restructure the district salmon fishery boards; and if he will make a statement. [87691]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The District Salmon Fishery Boards Order 1999 came into effect on 3 May. It replaced the previous provisions of Schedule 2 of the Salmon Act 1986 on the composition of district salmon fishery boards, allowing boards greater freedom to determine optimum size and structure for themselves. The Order will facilitate mergers of boards, through offering the scope for pooling resources and promoting more science-based fisheries management in line with the Report of the Scottish Salmon Strategy Task Force. A number of boards have already elected to take advantage of the new Order and this is reflected in the Lochaber Salmon Fishery District Designation Order 1999, the Conon Salmon Fishery District Designation Order 1999 and the North and West Salmon Fishery District Designation Order 1999.

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

  Oncologists
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many clinical and medical oncologists are employed per head of population in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [87869]
  31
  Dr. Reid
  The information available is shown in the table.

  Medical and clinical oncologists employed in the NHS in Scotland

  (30 September 1998)

  Rate per 100,000 population

  Headcount

  WTE1

  Headcount

  WTE1

  Medical oncologists

  38

  30.7

  0.74

  0.60

  Clinical oncologists

  75

  70.3

  1.46

  1.37

  1Whole-time equivalent

  Source:

  Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency

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

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to cap local authority spending in the current year. [89115]

  Dr. Reid
  None. This year we fulfilled our Manifesto commitment to abolish crude and universal capping; instead Scottish local authorities were issued with indicative expenditure guidelines. Most authorities have exercised their new discretion sensibly. Eight authorities have set budgets in excess of the guideline, although in most cases by small amounts. Three authorities have made large increases; they are East Dunbartonshire, Aberdeenshire and Perth and Kinross.

  I have consulted the First Minister, who will be responsible for this matter after 1 July. We have decided not to cap any authorities this year. However we have called in the three authorities named above to discuss why they have made such large increases and put them on warning that we will expect them to return to guideline next year.

WALES

  Hospital Waiting Lists (North Glamorgan)
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what estimate he has of the number of patients within the North Glamorgan Trust who are awaiting cardiac surgery(a) at the University of Wales Hospital and (b) at Morriston Hospital; and what is the average waiting time for each list; [86834]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of patients with the North Glamorgan Trust who are awaiting orthopaedic surgery (a) at the University of Wales Hospital and (b) at Morriston Hospital; and what is the average waiting time for each list. [86835]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Data are not held centrally on the numbers of patients waiting for in-patient or day case treatment in one NHS trust following an out-patient consultation in a hospital of another NHS trust.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Community Hospital, Porthmadog
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the letter from Keith Blake of the Health Services and Management Division of the Welsh Office, addressed to Gwynfor Hughes of Porthmadog, dated 9 June, in relation to the future of the proposals for the new community hospital at Porthmadog. [88588]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The Department's letter of 9 June set out the current position regarding funding for the North Merionydd/East Dwyfor Community Hospital scheme.

  An Outline Business Case for the new hospital was approved by the Department in February 1999 and the scheme was considered for public funding in 1999–2000.

  The Secretary of State's spending decisions for 1999–2000 made provision of £83 million for NHS capital expenditure to complete on-going schemes and for discretionary capital expenditure by Trusts. Funding was not allocated to this scheme.

  Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the business plan submitted by North Wales Heath Authority for a new community hospital to serve North Meirionydd and Eastern Dwyfor was accepted by his Department; and what the current position is with regard to this project. [88620]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The Outline Business Case for the North Merionydd/East Dwyfor Community Hospital was formally approved by the Department in February 1999.

  Funding has not been allocated for this project to commence in 1999–2000.

  I am unable to comment on the funding position for 2000–01.

  Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if it is his Department's policy that the decision on whether to include in the 1999–2000 Capital Programme provision for a new community hospital to serve North Meirionnydd and Eastern Dwyfor, at Porthmadog, is a matter for the North Wales Health Authority. [88619]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  It is a matter for the North Wales Health Authority to decide if it wishes to continue its support for the provision of a new Community Hospital at Porthmadog.

  The Department's policy is that NHS Trusts must provide confirmation of Health Authority support before a Business Case can be approved.

  North Wales Health Authority did support in full the proposals from Gwynedd Community Health NHS Trust for the new Community Hospital at Porthmadog, and the Outline Business Case was subsequently approved by the Department and the scheme was considered for public funding in 1999–2000.
  33
  The Health Authority has confirmed that its position remains unchanged and it will continue to support the Trust's proposals.

  Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Textphones
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current number of public textphones; and what plans Her Majesty's Government have to increase the level of provision. [88411]

  Mr. Wills
  There are currently 84 public textphones in the country, provided by BT. The Government are planning to consult on the provision of public textphones in a consultation later this year on improving access to telecommunications for the disabled. This is part of its further implementation of the Revised Voice Telephony Directive (98/10/EC). This should result in an increase in the provision of public textphones, especially in places such as railway stations and shopping centres.

  Nuclear Reactors
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors, indicating those which are in operation. [88398]

  Mr. Battle
  The RBMK (Chernobyl-type) nuclear reactors of which we are aware are Chernobyl 1–2, Chernobyl 3*, Ignalina 1, Ignalina 2*, Kursk 1–4*, Kursk 5 (under construction), Leningrad (Sosnovy Bor) 1–4* and Smolensk 1–3*. Those marked with an asterix are in operation.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the safety of remaining Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors; and if he will make a statement on programmes of remedial action to which Her Majesty's Government have contributed. [88397]

  Mr. Battle
  The UK continues to work with our G7 and European partners to improve nuclear safety in the countries concerned. This is undertaken through a number of multilateral assistance programmes funded through the G7 Nuclear Safety Account (NSA), International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) Technical Co-operation Programme and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development managed Chernobyl Shelter Fund. The UK also funds a bilateral programme of activities through its Nuclear Safety and Health Budget which is administered by the DTI.

  The most recent assessment of the safety of Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors was undertaken in June at the IAEA in Vienna where there was a meeting of strengthening nuclear safety in Eastern Europe. All nuclear countries who operate Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors (RBMK) attended along with leading international organisations that provide nuclear safety assistance to them. The meeting concluded that there is no question that considerable progress on nuclear safety has been made in
  34
  Eastern Europe and in their operation of nuclear power plants where they have demonstrated clear progress in operational safety improvements.

  Papers distributed at the meeting and copies of the presentations can be accessed through the IAEA website.

  Electricity Generation
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what way the climate change levy will promote the efficient generation of electricity; and if he will make a statement. [88200]

  Mr. Battle
  The proposed climate change levy will be levied downstream on energy supplied to industrial and commercial users. This will ensure that domestic consumption of energy is excluded. Since it is a downstream tax there will be relatively little impact on the mix of fuels used, and efficiency, in generation.

  However, the Government are looking closely at the possibility of exempting new forms of renewable energy, like wind power, from the levy. The consultation document issued by Customs and Excise sought views on whether, and if so, how this could be done. The treatment of Combined Heat and Power plants is also being considered. In addition, the Government have announced that there will be an extra £50 million a year for schemes aimed at promoting energy efficiency and additional support for renewables.

  Finally, the White Paper, "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation", sets out the Government's broad energy policy, including radical reforms to the electricity market. These reforms will bring greater competition to electricity generation and lower prices for consumers.

  Climate Change Levy
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a breakdown of(a) the current emission levels and (b) the estimated emission levels following the introduction of the climate change levy by industrial sector; and if he will make a statement. [88300]

  Mr. Battle
  The following table showing 1997 emissions of greenhouse gases by source was published by the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions on 13 May 1999. Emission levels by industry following the introduction of the climate change levy will depend upon the structure and rate of the levy. However, in total the levy is expected to save around 1.5 million tonnes of carbon a year by 2010 thereby making a significant contribution to meeting both the legally binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions set under the Kyoto protocol and the Government's domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.
  35

  Summary report of UK greenhouse gas inventory in 1997, by IPCC source categories—United Kingdom

  Thousand tonnes

  CO2 emissions

  CO2 removals 1

  CH4

  N2O

  NOx

  CO

  NMVOC

  SO2

  HFC

  PFC

  SF6

  Greenhouse gas source and sink categories

  (CO2 equivalent)2

  All energy (fuel combustion + fugitive)

  528,775

  —

  862

  23.3

  1,827

  4,701

  1,138

  1,644

  —

  —

  —

  Fuel combustion

  520,944

  —

  94

  23.2

  1,823

  4,676

  748

  1,632

  —

  —

  —

  Energy industries3

  184,615

  —

  20

  6.7

  468

  95

  10

  1,213

  —

  —

  —

  Manufacturing industries and construction4,5,6

  914,401

  —

  13

  3.1

  214

  428

  27

  242

  —

  —

  —

  Transport

  123,756

  —

  21

  11.8

  965

  3,818

  647

  54

  —

  —

  —

  Other sources5,7,8

  118,205

  —

  40

  1.6

  142

  330

  63

  114

  —

  —

  —

  Other8,9

  2,967

  —

  —

  0.1

  35

  5

  1

  8

  —

  —

  —

  Fugitive emissions from fuels

  7,832

  —

  768

  —

  4

  25

  390

  12

  —

  —

  —

  Solid fuels10

  1,566

  —

  327

  —

  —

  4

  6

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Oil and natural gas3

  6,265

  —

  441

  —

  4

  21

  384

  7

  —

  —

  —

  Industrial processes4

  11,839

  —

  1

  69.4

  5

  385

  223

  16

  3.067

  0.095

  0.053

  Mineral products

  9,531

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Chemical industry6

  814

  —

  —

  69.3

  2

  —

  113

  11

  —

  —

  —

  Metal production4

  1,495

  —

  1

  —

  3

  385

  2

  5

  —

  0.035

  0.030

  Other production

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Production of halocarbons and SF6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1.350

  0.001

  —

  Consumption of halocarbons and SF611

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1.717

  0.060

  0.023

  Solvent and other product use

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  582

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Agriculture

  —

  —

  1,004

  98.9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enteric fermentation12

  —

  —

  893

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Manure management12

  —

  —

  111

  5.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Agricultural soils

  —

  —

  —

  93.9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Land use change and forestry

  27,075

  11,557

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Changes in forest and other woody biomass stocks13

  —

  10,457

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Forest and grassland conversion. Abandonment of managed lands. CO2 emissions and removals from soil14

  23,409

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other15

  3,667

  1,100

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Waste

  29

  —

  861

  0.5

  —

  1

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Solid waste disposal on land16

  —

  —

  826

  —

  —

  —

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wastewater treatment16

  —

  —

  35

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Waste incineration

  29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total national emissions and removals

  -567,719

  1,557

  2,727

  192.0

  1,832

  5,088

  1,951

  1,660

  3.067

  0.095

  0.053

  CO2 emissions from biomass17,18

  5,749

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  International bunkers19

  30,262

  —

  5

  1.2

  258

  103

  56

  124

  —

  —

  —

  1 Removals of CO2 reported as negative.

  2 To express in terms of weight of carbon emitted the figures for emissions and removals of CO2 should be multiplied by 12–44.

  3 Includes emissions from own-energy gas use on offshore installations.

  4 Combustion emissions of CO2 from iron and steel are included in "manufacturing industries and construction". Process emissions from the iron and steel industry are included in "metal production". Limestone use in the iron and steel industry is classified under "mineral products".

  5 Emissions from off-road vehicles are reported under "manufacturing industries and construction" and "other sectors".

  6 The emissions of CO2 from ammonia manufacture are reported under "chemical industry".

  7 Small combustion sources including residential, commercial and institutional sectors.

  8 Emissions from stationary combustion at military installations are reported under "other sectors".

  9 Naval vessels and military aircraft.

  10 Fugitive emissions of CO2 from coke ovens and patent fuel production are calculated according to a carbon balance on the coal consumed and the coke, patent fuel, blast furnace gas and coke oven gas produced. Emissions from flaring of coke oven gas are also included.

  11 Emissions arise from refrigeration, electronics applications, electrical insulation, foams, aerosols and training shoes.

  12 Emissions from cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, farmed deer and poultry.

  13 Removals include removals to forest soil and litter (-2,151 Gg CO2) and to forest products (-1,111 Gg CO2).

  14 Emissions include removals to soils from set aside of arable land and emissions from soils from liming. CO2 emissions arise from limestone and dolomite use.

  15 Emissions include emissions from soils as a result of upland drainage (1,467 Gg CO2), lowland drainage (1,467 Gg CO2) and peat extraction (733 Gg CO2). Removals are increases in crop biomass. CO2 removal from salt marshes is no longer reported because it is considered anthropogenic.

  16 Sewage sludge disposed of by landfill is included under "solid waste disposal on land".

  17 Emissions arise from wood, straw, biogases and poultry litter combustion for energy production.

  18 CO2 emissions are given for information only and are not included in totals.

  19 Emissions are given for information only and are not included in totals.

  Source:

  NETCEN
  36 37

  Electrolysis Process
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of people employed(a) directly and (b) indirectly in UK companies who use the electrolysis process; and if he will make a statement. [88197]

  Mr. Battle
  This information is not available from official statistics. One of the main industries which uses electrolysis is the chloralkali industry, and estimates from the Chemical Industries Association for employment in the chloralkali industry suggest that 4,000 people are directly employed in this industry.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the amount of energy used by UK companies in the electrolysis process within the chemical industry; and if he will make a statement. [88173]

  Mr. Battle
  ETSU, part of AEA Technology, estimate that 16 peta joules of energy were used in the manufacture of chlorine through the electrolysis process in the UK in 1990. This represented roughly 1 per cent. of the amount

  Petroleum

  Gas

  Electricity

  Coal3

  Total

  Percentage change between 1990 and 1998 1

  Industry4

  -15.4

  23.8

  2.8

  -26.6

  0

  Domestic

  42.9

  19.9

  16.6

  -46.8

  13.5

  Transport

  9.8

  —

  46.6

  —

  10.1

  Other users5

  -25.6

  39.6

  21.4

  -64.8

  12.8

  All final consumers

  5.3

  24.1

  13.4

  -35.7

  8.8

  Energy consumption by final users 19981 (thousand tonnes of oil equivalent)

  Industry4

  6,973

  16,734

  8,898

  6,044

  38,648

  Domestic

  3,544

  30,983

  9,404

  2,325

  46,267

  Transport

  52,892

  0

  667

  0

  53,562

  Other users5

  3,275

  10,281

  7,804

  325

  21,684

  All final consumers6

  66,684

  57,999

  26,774

  8,695

  160,162

  Energy consumption by final users 19901 (thousand tonnes of oil equivalent)

  Industry4

  8,242

  13,522

  8,655

  8,237

  38,655

  Domestic

  2,480

  25,835

  8,066

  4,368

  40,758

  Transport

  48,179

  0

  455

  2

  48,635

  Other users5

  4,402

  7,364

  6,426

  922

  19,217

  All final consumers6

  63,302

  46,720

  23,601

  13,529

  147,265

  1Based on final consumption of energy as given in table. 1998 figures are provisional. 1990 figures are published in the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1998" and 1998 provisional figures are published in "Energy Trends" May 1999

  2 Includes coke oven gas used by industry

  3 Consists of coal and other solid fuels

  4 Manufacturing industry, construction, mining and quarrying of non energy materials and water supply industries

  5 Comprises of public and commercial services and agriculture

  6 Totals may not sum due to rounding

  Vibration White Finger
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many validating doctors to examine claims for vibration white finger have been approved; and if he will list the location of each of these doctors. [87454]

  Mr. Battle
  Many claims received by the Department are accompanied by reports from Vascular Consultants. However, many of these reports contain insufficient detail on which to assess a claim. The Department is making offers on the basis of reports, wherever possible, but only where we are satisfied that the resulting offer is fair and properly reflects the individual's entitlement. The Department has satisfied itself that it can make offers 38
  of energy used by manufacturing industry in 1990. No later information is available and it should be noted that the figures for energy consumption for the manufacture of chlorine through the electrolysis process may have changed significantly since 1990.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes the Government plan in the extent of assisted areas coverage. [88111]

  Mr. Wills
  We will announce the results of the review as soon as we are ready to do so.

  Utilities (Consumption)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the percentage increase in the consumption of oil, gas and electricity by(a) industry and (b) the general public since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [88000]

  Mr. Battle
  The percentage changes in, and levels of, final consumption of fuels between 1990 and 1998 are as follows:

  based on the reports of 19 consultants. These consultants are based in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Doncaster, Nottingham, Cardiff, Dundee, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Paisley, Washington Tyne and Wear and Edinburgh.

  The Department has always made clear to the plaintiff solicitors that making offers, based on acceptable consultant's reports, was an interim measure to allow payments to be made until the tendering process for the delivery of the agreed Medical Assessment Process (MAP) was completed. We hope to award the contract for the delivery of the medical assessments shortly and are hopeful that significant offers of full and final payments will start flowing in the late summer.
  39

  Agricultural and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Industries
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in the(a) agricultural and (b) pharmaceutical biotechnology industry in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000. [87769]

  Mr. Battle
  This information is not available from official statistics.

  A report published earlier this year by the Biolndustry Association1 estimates employment in dedicated biotechnology companies to be between 35–40,000 (with the sector growing annually by over 20 per cent. over the period 1995–98). Of these it estimates that 8–10,000 are employed in the biopharmaceuticals sector, and 3,000 in the biotechnology dedicated area of agriculture.

  In addition there is a significant number of people engaged in biotechnology related-work among the 60,000 UK employees of established pharmaceutical companies2 and the 615,000 employed in the UK agriculture sector.3
  1"Industrial markets for UK biotechnology—trends and issues"2 Monitor Company: The UK Pharmaceutical Industry at a Crossroads3MAFF Statistics

  "Processing the Future"
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government are preparing to implement the recommendation of the report of the Foresight Process Industry Group, "Processing the Future". [87266]

  Mr. Battle
  The Process Industry Group has made a valuable contribution to the Foresight programme. We welcome their "Processing the Future" report. We are pleased that they are willing to develop their ideas in the second round of Foresight. These will be of special interest to the new Manufacturing 2020 and Chemicals Foresight Panels.

  The Government emphasised the importance which it attaches to multi-disciplinary research and closer joint working between the Research Councils in allocating the Science Budget last autumn. The Research Councils are implementing these policies, and are taking account of the report's recommendations in their planning.

  As the process industries are so diverse, there is a wide range of innovation initiatives supported by Government and the Research Councils. For example, 21 per cent. of the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council's research grant support is of relevance to process industries. EPSRC also have a number of joint activities in the process industries with other Research Councils. These include the process industries sector of the Innovative Manufacturing Initiative (EPSRC with the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council), Biomolecular Science (BBSRC) and a Medical Engineering LINK programme (EPSRC, BBSRC and the Medical Research Council). In the chemicals sector (perhaps the biggest process industry), DTI and EPSRC support initiatives on process plant instrumentation, catalysis, polymer processing and colloid technology.
  40
  Since the publication of the report, we have engaged trade associations from across the processing industries in discussions on the implications of the report. PIG members have made presentations to various learned societies and industrial sectors. As they refine their ideas within the Foresight agenda, we will play close attention to developments.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Family Mediation
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the availability of legal aid for family mediation under the provisions of the Access to Justice Bill[Lords]. [88008]

  Mr. Vaz
  The current availability of legal aid for family mediation, contained in Part III of the Family Law Act 1996, will be maintained following the implementation of the Access to Justice Bill. The detailed provisions, including the assessment of the suitability of cases for mediation under section 29 of the Family Law Act, will be contained in the Funding Code, which is being developed by the Legal Aid Board for use by the future Legal Services Commission in assessing applications for public funding. The Bill provides that the criteria set out in the Code shall reflect the principle that, in many family disputes, mediation will be more appropriate than court proceedings. The Board is currently assessing responses to a consultation paper on the Code. Before coming into effect, the Code will be subject to Parliamentary approval through the affirmative procedure. Only organisations with a suitable contract will be able to conduct family mediation sessions for publicly funded clients.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the measures taken by his Department since May 1997 to support family mediation. [88006]

  Mr. Vaz
  Since May 1997 the provision of publicly funded mediation for family proceedings under Part III of the Family Law Act has been implemented by means of contracts for family mediation services granted by the Legal Aid Board. Funding has been provided to assist national mediation bodies and local mediation services with the development of mediation services to meet the contract requirements in appropriate circumstances. The provisions of Section 29 of the Family Law Act, requiring applicants for legal aid funding for family proceedings to attend a meeting to consider whether mediation might be suitable for their case, have been implemented across England and Wales on a pilot basis and the pilot will be extended later this year.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures his Department intends to take to promote an increased take-up of family mediation. [88007]

  Mr. Vaz
  The provision of legal aid funding for mediation in family disputes is already available in many areas and will be made available throughout England and Wales. As part of the process of providing publicly funded mediation, funding is being provided for the support and development of mediation services in appropriate
  41
  circumstances. The provisions of Section 29 of the Family Law Act, requiring applicants for legal aid funding for family proceedings to attend a meeting to consider whether mediation might be suitable for their case, are being implemented in some areas on a pilot basis and will also be implemented throughout England and Wales.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date his Department was first informed that Parts IVA and IVB of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 were no longer in force. [88797]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Lord Chancellor was informed on 21 June 1999.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Lifelong Learning
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the lifelong-learning initiative announced by the new opportunities fund will benefit local libraries. [87208]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The £200 million New Opportunities Fund stream for Community Access to Lifelong Learning will make a substantial contribution towards developing the infrastructure for a Public Libraries IT Network, linking local libraries to each other and to the National Grid for Learning by 2002.

  Seaside Resorts
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance he plans to provide for English seaside resorts. [87210]

  Janet Anderson
  Seaside resorts represent a very important sector of our domestic holiday market. "Tomorrow's Tourism", our tourism strategy, sets out the action that resorts need to take to adapt to changes in holiday-taking trends. It includes a model eight-stage regeneration plan. The English Tourism Council will work with regional and local authorities to encourage adoption of this model plan and the sharing of best practice by seaside resorts.

  Hotels Rating Scheme
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what benefit tourists will gain from the new harmonised rating scheme for hotels and guesthouses. [87211]

  Janet Anderson
  The consistency of ratings made under the new schemes by the AA, RAC and new English Tourism Council will be much easier to understand than the different ratings we have now and will therefore reflect better what tourists want to know. The new ratings place more emphasis on quality and so provide greater incentive for improved standards. There should be a greater incentive also for providers of accommodation to participate in the schemes, thus increasing the proportion of accommodation which is inspected and rated for use 42
  by tourists. These and other benefits should quickly begin to be found when the schemes are launched to consumers this September.

  BBC Funding
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the review of the future funding of the BBC.[87213]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I asked Gavyn Davies to report to me on the future funding of the BBC by the end of July. I understand that the panel are on course to do this.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to receive the final recommendations from the BBC funding review panel; and if he will make a statement. [87224]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I expect to receive the review panel's conclusions by the end of July. I will then consult publicly on the findings.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what benefits he expects to secure for the public and sporting clubs from the new funding agreements with the Sports Council. [87214]

  Mr. Banks
  The funding agreements for Sport England and UK Sport provide an explicit and challenging statement of the outputs and levels of performance we expect to be delivered in return for our public investment in sport.

  Rugby Grounds
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to improve safety and spectator comfort at rugby grounds. [87215]

  Mr. Banks
  The Government are determined that spectators of all sports should be able to enjoy the action in safety and comfort. In April I announced new roles for both Sport England and the Football Licensing Authority in our drive to modernise sports grounds across the country. Sport England is to fund a £10 million improvement scheme over the next four years to help top rugby league and rugby union teams, and the major cricket counties to improve safety at their grounds. In addition, the Football Licensing Authority will be reconstituted as the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and will have an advisory role on safety issues associated with all sports which use outdoor sports stadiums, including rugby. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that these are welcome developments.

  Tourism
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ensure that tourism companies and organisations in all parts of the country are consulted on the implementation of the Government's new tourism strategy. [87216]
  43
  Janet Anderson
  We shall. We are currently engaged in a 10-venue series of events across England both to further publicise our strategy, "Tomorrow's Tourism", and to consult with tourism companies and organisations on its implementation in their own regions.

  Green Spaces Initiative
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what facilities for children will be provided by the green spaces initiative funded by the New Opportunities Fund. [87217]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  By 2002 the New Opportunities Fund will have committed £125 million to projects throughout the UK designed to help urban and rural communities improve their environment by creating access to green spaces of educational, recreational, or environmental value to the community.

  Many of the wide variety of projects which may be funded under the initiative will be of specific benefit to children. These are likely to include community use of green spaces for play and recreation, or the creation of safe routes to schools.

  The New Opportunities Fund is consulting widely on the development of the initiative and plans to invite the first applications by the end of this year.

  BBC (Impartiality)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the BBC's obligation to guarantee political impartiality. [87219]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Broadcasters are required to treat matters of political controversy and those relating to current public policy with due impartiality. They must aim for accuracy and ensure that, over a reasonable period of time, a proper balance of different points of view is achieved. The Governors of the BBC are well aware of their obligations in this respect.

  New Opportunities Fund
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what directions he has given to the new opportunities fund about how it should allocate the extra £80 million it has been awarded. [87220]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  None. The New Opportunities Fund is pursuing six initiatives which will receive funding altogether of £1.5 billion. The revised forecast for Lottery income during the licence period means that money will be available earlier to meet these commitments.

  Museums Access (Disabled)
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if proposals to secure access to museums and galleries for disabled people have been included in funding arrangements negotiated with organisations sponsored by his Department. [87223]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Yes. All the funding agreements between my Department and the sponsored national museums and galleries include proposals related to promoting access for people with disabilities.
  44

  Tobacco Sports Sponsorship
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure the removal of tobacco sponsorship from sport. [87226]

  Mr. Banks
  Draft regulations banning tobacco advertising were published on 17 June 1999. It is our intention, subject to consultation, to bring the general advertising regulations into force on 10 December. Tobacco sponsored sports events will have until 2003, or (in exceptional global cases) 2006, in order to allow them time to secure alternative sponsors.

  Millennium Dome
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what special arrangements and fares exist for people travelling from north Yorkshire to the Millennium Dome. [87230]

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage visitors from the north of England to the Millennium Dome. [87232]

  Janet Anderson
  The New Millennium Experience Company working with the travel industry, including rail and coach operators, aims to deliver packages combining travel and Dome entry. These will give visitors value for money and encourage all those who wish to visit the Dome to do so. Following the company's announcement of ticket prices on 18 March, the travel industry has already confirmed a range of attractive and competitive packages. For example, National Express has announced return coach travel and entry to the Dome for just £29.99 from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales. I am sure that the people of North Yorkshire will take advantage of these good value packages.

  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures his Department is taking to promote the Millennium Dome overseas. [87231]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The British Tourist Authority (BTA) is promoting the Millennium Dome overseas as part of its campaign—"Britain: Now is the time". In addition the BTA's website www.visitbritain.com has information on the Dome as well as links to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). The Department's website www.culture.gov.uk also contains information on the Dome and links to NMEC's site.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are for a religious service or moment on the opening night at the Millennium Dome. [87235]

  Janet Anderson
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is discussing the arrangements for the Opening Celebrations at the Dome with a number of interested parties including the Royal Household, the Government and Lambeth Palace. The nature and scope of the Celebrations will be announced in due course.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many temporary and permanent jobs he estimates will be created through the Millennium Dome. [87233]
  45
  Janet Anderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton), today,Official Report colunn 13.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates he has made of the numbers likely to visit the millennium exhibition in the first year. [87236]

  Janet Anderson
  The Millennium Experience is planned as a one-year event running from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. The New Millennium Experience Company estimates that it will attract 12 million visitors during the year of operation.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the private companies which(a) have made and (b) are to make, financial contributions to the Millennium Dome. [86238]

  Janet Anderson
  The following businesses and organisations have been announced as sponsors: BAA, Barclays, Boots The Chemists, British Aerospace, British Airways, BSkyB, BT, Camelot, CGU, Coca Cola, Corporation of London, De Beers, Ford, GEC, Kodak, L'Oreal, Manpower, Marks and Spencer, Mars, McDonald's NatWest Group, Premier Brands, Prudential, Reuters, Roche, Tesco, Wall's, Woolwich and 3Com.

  In addition, financial support for the Faith zone is being provided by organisations with Christian affiliations (the Laing Family Trusts, the Jerusalem Trust, three other trusts and foundations, and an international company with links to the UK), and from the Vedic tradition (the Hinduja Foundation). Payment of sponsorship moneys depends on the contractual arrangements made with the sponsors. NMEC's Annual Report and Financial Statements 1998–99 will be placed in the House Libraries in due course and will include audited figures for that financial year.

  Museums and Galleries (Children's Visits)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many children have visited national museums and galleries since 1 April. [87212]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  There were over 338,000 visits by children to the national museums and galleries and their branches sponsored by my Department during April and May this year.

  Sporting Excellence
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received about promoting sporting excellence in the United Kingdom. [87218]

  Mr. Banks
  I have regular discussions with representatives from a wide range of organisations with an interest in the development of sporting excellence in this country.

HEALTH

  HIV/AIDS
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the cumulative number of people who had been diagnosed HIV positive(a) broken down by
  46
  probable means of transmission and (b) in total in (i) England and (ii) each region of England, for each year from 1981 to 1998, and for 1999 to date; [84802]

  (2) how many people diagnosed with AIDS and not known to have died there were in (a) England and (b) each region of England in each year from 1981 to 1998, and in 1999 to date; [84797]

  (3) if he will list the cumulative number of people diagnosed with AIDS in (a) England and (b) each region of England in each year from 1981 to 1998, and in 1999 to date; [84800]

  (4) if he will list the cumulative numbers of people with AIDS who died in (a) England and (b) each region of England in each year from 1981 to 1998, and in 1999 to date; [84799]

  (5) how many people were newly diagnosed HIV positive (a) broken down by probable means of transmission and (b) in total in (i) England and (ii) each region of England, for each year from 1981 to 1998, and for 1999 to date; [84801]

  (6) if he will list the cumulative number of people who had been diagnosed HIV positive and are not known to have died (a) broken down by probable means of transmission and (b) in total in (i) England and (ii) each region of England, for each year from 1981 to 1998, and for 1999 to date; [84803]

  (7) how many people with AIDS died in (a) England and (b) each region of England in each year from 1981 to 1998, and in 1999 to date. [84798]

  Ms Jowell
  The information has now been placed in the Library.

  Biomedical Scientist
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to return salary levels for biomedical scientists within the NHS in comparison to doctors to the level which obtained in 1984; and if he will make a statement. [86470]

  Mr. Denham
  The pay of biomedical scientists, who are also called Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers, is negotiated in the Professional and Technical Staffs Whitley Council. The Management Side has made a pay offer for 1999–2000 based on issues specific to these staff, including recruitment and retention, affordability, National Health Service output targets and the economic context. We are also discussing with all NHS unions the proposals to modernise the NHS pay system published in "Agenda for Change" on 15 February 1999.

  Standing Conference of Women's Organisations
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings he has had with the Standing Conference of Women's Organisations in the last 12 months; and how many he had in the previous 12 months. [87646]

  Ms Jowell
  On 16 September 1997, I presented Mimi Johnson, representing the Standing Conference of Women's Organisations, with the Commonwealth Award for Excellence in Women's Health. There have been no
  47
  other meetings between Ministers and the Standing Conference of Women's Organisations (SCWO) in the past 24 months.

  As a member of the Women's National Commission, the Government's official advisory body for women, SCWO has the opportunity to participate in consultation on specific issues requested by Government Departments, and to input their concerns on any other matters.

  The Government are particularly grateful to SCWO for their help in publicising and promoting the Listening to Women campaign.

  Representatives from the SCWO participated in regional events in Manchester (22 February 1999), Birmingham (26 March 1999), Reading (21 May 1999), and the International Women's Day Meeting in London on 8 March 1999, which were held as part of the Listening to Women consultation exercise. These meetings enabled a wide range of women to speak face to face with Government and were attended by either my noble Friend the Baroness Jay or myself, in our role of Ministers for Women.

  Hospital Dispensing
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce measures to ensure the centralised collection of information on medicines dispensed in hospitals. [87857]

  Mr. Denham
  "Information for Health", published in September 1998, provides the strategic direction for the development of information and Information Technology in the National Health Service to 2005. This charges Local Health Communities with developing Local Implementation Strategies for Information that indicate how the national objectives will be achieved. Part of the Local Implementation Strategy will be to show how all acute trusts will be able to achieve adequate Electronic Patient Record Systems by 2005. This includes the electronic ordering and record of supply of medicines. Providing the necessary piloting work is supportive, information about medicines dispensed in hospitals will then be capable of transmission over the NHSnet to support central analyses, as required.

  Nutrition
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of patients who are malnourished on admission to hospital; [87282]

  (2) what steps he is taking to improve standards of nutritional knowledge among medical and nursing staff; [87283]

  (3) how many hospital trusts have published written nutritional standards; and if he will make a statement. [87284]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 21 June 1999]: Research studies have shown that 40 per cent. of adult patients and 15 per cent. of children are malnourished on admission to hospital. Several important reports about hospital nutrition have been published in the last decade which both educate hospital staff and contribute to development of local nutritional standards. We do not centrally record the various policy documents in many areas of care produced
  48
  by each National Health Service trust but the Commission for Health Improvement would take hospital nutrition into account in its rolling programme of local service reviews.

  Pharmaceutical Products (Parallel Imports)
  Mr, Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to announce proposals with regard to parallel imports of pharmaceutical products; [87969]

  (2) when he intends to reply to the letter of 7 May from the Association of Pharmaceutical Importers. [87968]

  Mr. Denham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State replied to the letter from the Association of Pharmaceutical Importers and we have no current plans to announce proposals with regard to parallel imports of pharmaceutical products.

  NHS Staff (Morbidity Rates)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health service staff(a) died and (b) became ill as a result of contracting a disease or picking up an infection while in hospital for each year since 1990. [88123]

  Mr. Denham
  Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 there is a statutory obligation on all employers to report illnesses or infections contracted through work to the Health and Safety Executive. The National Health Service Executive does not collect this information separately but seeks to ensure through guidance that employers comply with the legislation, and that all illnesses and infections falling within the categories laid down in the Regulations are reported.

  Mental Health Provision
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has collected on the availability of acute service beds for mental health service patients. [88577]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table sets out the data for the latest year available.

  Average daily number of available beds and average daily number

  of occupied beds, mental illness wards open overnight

  (i.e. 24 hours),

  England 1997–98

  Ward classification

  Available beds

  Occupied beds

  Children

  short stay

  403

  285

  long stay

  119

  99

  Elderly

  short stay

  7,382

  6,119

  long stay

  7,410

  6,090

  Other ages

  secure unit

  1,921

  1,566

  short stay

  14,458

  13,188

  long stay

  4,908

  4,300

  Residential care

  1,282

  1,159

  49

  A and E Provisions (South Shropshire)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will visit South Shropshire to examine the accident and emergency provisions in that area. [88847]

  Mr. Hutton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to visit South Shropshire. I visited Kidderminster Hospital accident and emergency department, which serves South Shropshire, on 28 May, and I met a local councillor from South Shropshire to discuss accident and emergency provision.

  National Donor Register
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what mechanism is in place for updating the National Donor Register to include those people who have changed their name to ensure that they remain on the register; [88712]

  (2) how many kidneys have been donated, in the last year, as a direct result of the National Donor Register being contacted; [88710]

  (3) how many times in the last year the National Donor Register has been contacted by the donor co-ordinators in order to find out if the potential donor is registered; [88709]

  (4) if all the donors listed on the National Donor Register are still alive; and what mechanism is used to delete from the National Donor Register those potential donors who have died without donating; [88711]

  (5) how many hon. Members are listed on the National Donor Register. [88714]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is not possible to say how many kidneys have been donated as a direct result of the National Health Service Organ Donor Register being contacted. During 1998, the last full calendar year for which figures are available, 78 kidneys were retrieved from donors whose names were included on the register.

  The NHS Organ Donor Register is confidential and it is therefore not possible to say how many hon. Members are registered.

  The NHS Organ Donor Register is reliant on registrants providing information when they change name or address. The mechanisms for doing so are the same as those for registering in the first place. These are accessible through vehicle driving licence applications and changes, through the UK Passport Agency on the issue of a new passport, when registering with a general practitioner or by using the leaflets available in libraries, GP surgeries and other public places.

  Every effort is made to ensure that the NHS Organ Donor Register is accurate. In order to improve accuracy, links are being established with the Office for National Statistics to cross reference information about deaths. The NHS Organ Donor Register is held alongside the National Transplant Database. The Database cross references with the Register with the aim of ensuring that any donor whose name is recorded on the Register is removed on donation.

  It is not possible to say how many times local transplant co-ordinators contact the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority in order to access the Register
  50
  as this information is not available centrally. There are currently 7.5 million names on the Register with 58,000 applications to be processed. In the vast majority of cases, families of potential donors are content that the donation should go ahead knowing that their relative wished to be an organ donor or had registered with the NHS Organ Donor Register.

  NHS Prescriptions (Transparency Directive)
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the criteria to exclude products from NHS prescription which he has notified to the European Commission to comply with Article 7 of Council Directive 89/105 EEC (the Transparency Directive). [88504]

  Mr. Dobson
  Since 1989 six criteria have been separately notified to the Commission. I have advised the Commission of the full set which currently apply, which are: first, under the Selected List Scheme, medicinal products in seventeen therapeutic categories which are excluded from prescription on the grounds that, on expert advice, they had no clinical or therapeutic advantage over other, cheaper, drugs in the following categories:

  mild to moderate painkillers

  indigestion remedies

  laxatives

  cough and cold remedies

  vitamins

  tonics

  benzodiazepine sedatives and tranquillisers

  antidiarrhoeal drugs

  drugs for allergic disorders

  hypnotics and anxiolytics

  appetite suppressants

  drugs for vaginal and vulval conditions

  contraceptives

  drugs used in anaemia

  topical anti-rheumatics

  drugs acting on the ear and nose

  drugs acting on the skin

  Secondly, products may be considered as "borderline substances" which are not truly medicinal products with clinical or therapeutic value and are excluded from National Health Service prescription on that ground.

  Thirdly, as well as being freely available on sale over the counter to the general public, the cost to the NHS if the product(s) were to be supplied on prescription could not be justified at any price likely to be economic to the manufacturer and that the supply of the product is not considered a priority for the use of the limited resources available to the NHS.

  Fourthly, that products which none the less may meet a legitimate clinical or therapeutic need when properly prescribed, are subject to misuse by drug misusers, and such misuse, or the manner in which the product is administered by drug misusers, gives rise to the risk of physical or mental morbidity and alternative products are available to meet all legitimate clinical or therapeutic needs.

  Fifthly, a medicinal product or a category of medicinal products may be excluded entirely from supply on NHS prescription. It may alternatively be excluded except in specified circumstances, or except in relation to specified conditions or categories of condition, or specified categories of patient. A medicinal product or a category of

  51
  them may be so excluded where the forecast aggregate cost to the NHS of allowing the product (or category of products) to be supplied on NHS prescription, or to be supplied more widely than the permitted exceptions, could not be justified having regard to all the relevant circumstances including in particular: the Secretary of State's duties pursuant to the NHS Act 1977 and the priorities for the expenditure of NHS resources.

  Sixthly, products which comprise an injection device prefilled with a drug may be excluded from supply on NHS prescription if the same drug is available and can be used more economically in a container which may be used in conjunction with a refillable injection device.

  London Chest Hospital
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the terms of South Essex Health Authority's contract with London Chest Hospital in relation to heart by-pass operations; and if he will set out the annual number of operations (i) covered by the contract and (ii) performed, for the health authority over the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [88175]

  Mr. Denham
  The information available is given in the table.

  Coronary artery by-pass grafts performed on South Essex Health

  Authority residents by the Royal Hospitals Trust

  Operations

  Year

  Actual number performed

  Planned within service level agreement

  1994–95

  219

  1n/a

  1995–96

  165

  150

  1996–97

  120

  124

  1997–98

  189

  120

  1998–99

  212

  126

  1999–2000

  —

  233

  1Prior to the establishment of the Royal Hospitals Trust

  Sources:

  South Essex Health Authority—actual number performed Royal Hospitals NHS Trust—planned

  Speech and Language Therapists
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the reasons for the disparity in remuneration between speech and language therapists and other health care professionals of similar qualification. [88625]

  Mr. Denham
  Basic pay rates for speech and language therapists have increased by between 158 per cent. (minimum) and 170 per cent. (maximum) since 1984, more than those for any other professional staff group in the National Health Service. Qualification is one of many factors influencing decisions on pay. We published proposals to modernise the National Health Service pay system on 15 February 1999. Our aim is a pay system which gives employers effective ways of rewarding people for taking on more responsibility and developing new skills.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Walsall, North 52
  will receive replies to his letters of 6 May (ref. POH(2)5608/22) and 18 May (ref. POH(2)5608/22) regarding constituents. [88618]

  Mr. Denham
  I replied to both of my hon. Friend's letters on 24 June.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Active Schools Co-ordinators
  Ms Stuart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what role there will be for the New Deal in the recruitment by Sport England of the new Active Schools co-ordinators. [87221]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Sport England can employ people through the New Deal programme in the same way as any other employer, providing they satisfy the requirements of the programme. We hope that they will do so.

  School Visits (Insurance Cover)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice he has circulated to schools in connection with the desirability of insurance cover for(a) residential courses involving at least one night away from home, (b) day visits starting and concluding within school hours and (c) day visits extending beyond normal school hours; and what assessment he has made of difficulties for schools in meeting insurance liabilities in connection with such courses. [88235]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department's 1998 publication, "Health and Safety of Pupils on Education Visits: A Good Practice Guide", strongly advises group leaders to ensure that adequate insurance is in place for all kinds of school visit, no matter when or where the visit is made. It recommends them to clarify with their LEA what insurance already exists and what additional or special cover may be needed, and gives examples. The booklet was produced after an extensive consultation, which did not suggest that schools found it hard to insure visits or meet the costs.

  Bett Report
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to respond to the Bett report on higher education remuneration. [88624]

  Mr. Mudie
  The independent review of higher education pay and conditions was established by the higher education employers: it is for them and the relevant trades unions to respond to the recommendations.

  Further Education Funding Council
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Further Education Funding Council expects to announce firm allocations of finance to further education colleges to promote proposed curriculum changes. [88234]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Further Education Funding Council intends to consult shortly on its proposals for ensuring that the funding methodology reflects the proposed curriculum changes arising from the Qualifying for Success policies. Decisions on this will be taken by the Council at its
  53
  December meeting this year, which will then be reflected in the provisional allocations for the 2000–01 academic year, to be issued to colleges in March 2000.

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from local educational authorities about difficulties in modifying computer systems to reflect changes in the system of student support. [88623]

  Mr. Mudie
  We have received no representation from local education authorities about difficulties in modifying computer systems.

  The upgrades to the computer systems are needed to enable the local education authorities to administer the new Student Support arrangements. The majority of the system upgrades are being handled by three IT suppliers, while 40 local education authorities have in house IT teams.

  The new arrangements represent a very big change for all those concerned—LEAs, the Student Loans Company, Higher Education Institutions and students and their families. As with any new system it will take time to bed in. Officials in the Department have engaged all these parties in designing the new system, setting the deadlines and agreeing all other features of the new student loan arrangements. All of us are concerned to ensure that students receive their loans at the start of the term.

  We have been informed by the IT suppliers that by mid July the local education authorities would have received all the upgrade required to administer the new Student Support arrangements.

  FE Lecturers (Pay and Conditions)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received from the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education concerning pay and conditions for further education lecturers; and what reply he has sent. [88236]

  Mr. Mudie
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met recently with representatives of NATFHE to discuss issues they wished to raise about pay and conditions for further education lecturers. We have received a number of letters from hon. Members enclosing copies of a letter which NATFHE members had been encouraged to send. We have replied to those representations, noting that we are providing very substantial extra funds for further education—£725 million over the next two years. Colleges are responsible for the pay and conditions of their staff. Nevertheless, we take every opportunity to encourage unions and employers to work together to determine a sensible way forward under the improved circumstances we have created.

  FE Teaching Staff
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received regarding the pay and conditions of teaching staff in the further education sector; and if he will make a statement. [88063]
  54
  Mr. Mudie
  Ministers have recently met representatives of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, the Sixth Form Colleges Employers Forum, the National Joint Council for Sixth Form Colleges and the Association of Colleges and have discussed issues about the pay and conditions of further education lecturers. We have received a number of letters from hon. Members, enclosing copies of a letter which NATFHE members had been encouraged to send. We have replied to those representations, noting that we are providing very substantial extra funds for further education—£725 million over the next two years. Colleges are responsible for the pay and conditions of their staff. Nevertheless, we take every opportunity to encourage unions and employers to work together to determine a sensible way forward under the improved circumstances we have created.

  FE Colleges
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to publish a White Paper on the future of further education colleges and TECs; and if he will make a statement. [88005]

  Mr. Mudie
  We will be announcing our proposals for post-16 education and training shortly and will make a statement at that time.

  Ministerial Meetings (Ireland)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [87427]

  Mr. Mudie
  There have been two meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 January 1998.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Michael Martin, the Irish Minister for Education and Science, at a bilateral on education issues in Dublin in October 1998. On the same day he also met Mary Harney, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to discuss employment issues. Three DfEE officials accompanied the Secretary of State.

  In addition my hon. Friend the Minister for School Standards spoke at an Anglo-Irish International Conference on Information and Communication Technology in Dublin in May 1999. Tom Kit, the Irish Minister for Labour and Trade Consumer Affairs, also spoke at the conference.

  Ministers have also met their counterparts at meetings on European Union business.

  Booster Classes
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is made available to schools to fund year 6 booster classes.v [87678]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Currently, El 8 million has been made available for schools to run additional literacy and numeracy classes. We will make an announcement shortly about funding for 1999–2000 and beyond.
  55

  Post-16 Education
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, columns 99–100, on post-16 education, when he plans to announce his proposals for post-16 education. [87866]

  Mr. Mudie
  We plan to announce our proposals for post-16 education and training shortly.

  Mobile Cranes
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what public funding is available towards the costs of training drivers of mobile cranes with particular reference to requirements to meet LGV licence conditions; and if he will make a statement. [87900]

  Mr. Mudie
  Training courses for drivers of mobile cranes are included in Schedule 2(a) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and are therefore eligible for funding from the Further Education Funding Council.

  Devon Youth Music Service
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department will take to resolve the outstanding issues concerning Devon County Council's funding for the Devon Youth Music Service. [88009]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government provided, through the Music Standards Fund, funding to Devon Local Education Authority for centrally provided music services. Subsequent arrangements between the LEA and Devon Youth Music are not a matter for the Department

  Specific grants supporting Department of Education and Employment (DfEE) initiatives launched since May 1997

  £ million

  DfEE specific grant

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–100

  Standards Fund

  School Effectiveness/Improvement

  —

  71.5

  126.5

  Induction for Newly-qualified Teachers

  —

  2.4

  1—

  Baseline Assessment

  —

  4.7

  1—

  National Curriculum Assessment

  —

  11.4

  1—

  Effective use of National Curriculum Results

  —

  5.6

  1—

  School Leadership

  —

  9.6

  15

  Advanced Skills Teachers

  —

  1.2

  9.4

  Local Recruitment Measures

  —

  —

  2.9

  Early Years Training and Development 4 year olds

  —

  4.5

  4.5

  Early Years Training and Development 3 year olds

  —

  —

  1.5

  Early Excellence Centres

  —

  9

  9

  National Literacy Strategy—Primary

  —

  24.6

  24.4

  Summer Literacy Schools and Key Stage 3 Literacy

  —

  3.7

  6.5

  National Numeracy Strategy—Primary

  —

  —

  24.8

  National Numeracy Strategy—Key Stage 3

  —

  —

  0.5

  Summer Numeracy Schools

  —

  0.3

  1.5

  Playing for Success

  —

  1.5

  1.5

  Family Literacy

  —

  2

  2.5

  Family Numeracy

  —

  —

  0.5

  Local Authority Lifelong Learning Development Plans

  —

  —

  4.5

  Qualifications

  —

  9.5

  9.5

  Work Related Learning

  —

  2

  2

  Special Educational Needs

  —

  9

  17.5

  Social Inclusion: Pupil Support

  —

  11.3

  28.7

  Drug Prevention

  —

  3.5

  3.7

  56
  for Education and Employment. None the less, officials have been in contact with both the County Council and Devon Youth Music to offer advice.

  European Social Funds (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to transfer responsibility for payments and financial management of European social funds to the National Assembly for Wales as part of the regionalisation programme for the European Social Fund; and if he will make a statement. [87995]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales wrote to me on 23 February 1999 accepting in principle responsibility for these payments and the financial management of the Welsh European Social Fund Programmes from the start of the new period in January 2000.

  Education Initiatives (Funding)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the education initiatives launched since May 1997 under which specific grants are allocated(a) through the Standards Fund and (b) by other means, stating in each case and for each financial year the funding provided by central Government. [88170]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table lists the education initiatives launched since May 1997 for which funding is allocated to schools and local education authorities through the Standards Fund and other specific grants showing for each initiative the amount of funding provided by the Government in each financial year. The figures for the Standards Fund do not include Local Education Authorities' contributions. For 1999–2000, the 5.7 per cent. increase in Education Standard Spending Assessment included provision for Authorities' contributions to the Standards Fund.
  57

  Specific grants supporting Department of Education and Employment (DfEE) initiatives launched since May 1997

  £ million

  DfEE specific grant

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–100

  Youth Service

  —

  1.0

  1.0

  National Grid for Learning

  —

  51.0

  52.2

  School Security

  —

  15.0

  16.4

  Beacon Schools

  —

  1.3

  4.5

  Specialist Schools

  —

  19.3

  43.9

  Education of Traveller and Displaced Persons

  —

  —

  8.9

  Expanding central music services

  —

  —

  6.2

  Protecting central music services

  —

  —

  28.9

  Ethnic Minority Pupil Achievement

  —

  —

  81.6

  Access Fund for pupils aged 16–19 in schools

  —

  0.0

  6.0

  Year 6 Booster Classes

  —

  13.5

  4.0

  Asset Management Plans

  —

  —

  7.0

  Health Education Partnerships: Pilot projects

  —

  0.6

  2.0

  Numeracy Consultants and Leading Maths Teachers

  —

  0.6

  —

  Portable CD Rom Systems for SEN Coordinators

  —

  4.0

  —

  Books for Schools

  23.5

  73.5

  —

  Childrens Parliament

  —

  0.04

  —

  Reduction of Infant Class Sizes (Revenue)

  —

  22.0

  72.0

  Total Standards Fund

  23.5

  367.1

  630.5

  Capital grants paid through the Standards Fund

  Removal of Outside Toilets

  —

  16.5

  —

  Energy Management

  —

  13.2

  —

  New Deal for Schools

  83.0

  165.0

  225.0

  Reduction of Infant Class Sizes (Capital)

  —

  45.4

  80.0

  Total Capital

  83.0

  240.1

  305.0

  Other specific grants

  Education Action Zones

  —

  11.9

  30.0

  Nursery Education Grant

  637.0

  130.0

  —

  Total other specific grants

  637.0

  141.9

  30

  Total All Grants

  743.5

  749.1

  965.5

  1Part of School Improvement Grant

  Notes:

  1. Grant for the Education of Traveller and Displaced Persons was in existence prior to May 1997 but became a Standards Fund grant in 1999–2000.

  2. Ethnic Minority Pupil Achievement replaced the schools' education element of the Home Office Section 11 grant.

  3. Both grants for the reduction of class sizes will be paid through the Standards Fund mechanism in 1999–2000 but are covered by their own Regulations.

  4. The Books for Schools grant includes provision for grant maintained schools paid via the Funding Agency for Schools.

  5. In 1998–99 a large proportion of nursery education funding was channelled through the Revenue Support Grant.

  Class Sizes
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children aged five to seven years in(a) Bath and North-East Somerset and (b) South Gloucestershire were in classes of more than 30 pupils in each year from 1992 to date. [88217]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information is shown in the following table.

  The Government have pledged to reduce infant class sizes so that no 5, 6 or 7-year-old is in an infant class of more than 30 pupils. The number of infants in classes larger than 30 has already been reduced by some 130,000 between January 1998 and January 1999.

  Number of pupils in key stage 1 classes with 31 or more pupils

  taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools

  Bath and North East Somerset

  South Gloucestershire

  January 1996

  1,100

  3,361

  January 1997

  952

  3,752

  58

  Number of pupils in key stage 1 classes with 31 or more pupils

  taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools

  Bath and North East Somerset

  South Gloucestershire

  January 1998

  1,211

  3,391

  January 1999(provisional)

  1,019

  1,402

  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many classes for pupils aged five to seven years in(a) Bath and North-East Somerset and (b) South Gloucestershire had more than 30 pupils in each year from 1992 to date. [88218]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information is shown in the table.

  The Government have pledged to reduce infant class sizes so that no 5, 6 or 7-year-old is in an infant class of more than 30 pupils. The number of infants in classes larger than 30 has already been reduced by some 130,000 between January 1998 and January 1999.
  59

  Number of key stage 1 classes with 31 or more pupils taught by

  one teacher in maintained primary schools

  Bath and North East Somerset

  South Gloucestershire

  January 1996

  34

  103

  January 1997

  29

  114

  January 1998

  37

  103

  January 1999(provisional)

  31

  43

  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many classes for pupils aged five to seven years in(a) South Gloucestershire and (b) Bath and North-East Somerset had 30 or fewer pupils in each year from 1992 to date. [88213]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information is shown in the following table.

  The Government have pledged to reduce infant class sizes so that no five, six or seven-year-old is in an infant class of more than 30 pupils. The number of infants in classes larger than 30 has already been reduced by some 130,000 between January 1998 and January 1999.

  Number of key stage 1 classes with 30 or fewer pupils taught by

  one teacher in maintained primary schools

  Bath and North East Somerset

  South Gloucestershire

  January 1996

  146

  211

  January 1997

  161

  205

  January 1998

  166

  226

  January 1999(provisional)

  165

  308

  Teaching Consultation
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to announce the results of his consultation on teaching. [88165]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  An announcement following the consultation exercise on the Green Paper, "Teachers: meeting the challenge of change" will be made shortly.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid-Kent dated 24 April about the definition of a parent in a ballot on grammar schools. [88196]

  Mr. Mudie
  A reply has been issued today, Monday 28 June 1999.

TREASURY

  Brazil
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the United Kingdom's contribution to Brazil's financial rescue package, with particular reference to the impact of the adjustment policies required of the Brazilian Government on Brazilian citizens. [87882]
  60
  Ms Hewitt
  Financial tensions in Brazil have eased significantly following the IMF-led international financial support package agreed last year, and this has allowed Brazilian interest rates to fall. The UK Government directly contributed $11 billion to the financial support package. The UK will continue to play an active role in monitoring Brazil's performance under its IMF programme. Continued adherence under the IMF programme is essential if the recovery in investor confidence is to be maintained.

  The IMF programme requires Brazil to narrow its large fiscal deficit. This fiscal adjustment will have a negative impact on growth in the short term but it is necessary if stability is to be restored. Macroeconomic stability is an important precondition for a sustainable economic recovery which will raise living standards and should benefit all sections of society. The Brazilian Government, the IMF and the World Bank have worked together closely to ensure that the impact of the adjustment programme on the poor and vulnerable is minimised. The World Bank have undertaken a number of projects in Brazil with a social dimension.

  Women's Organisations (Consultation)
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published. [86990]

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

  The Treasury encourages a wide-ranging consultation, in particular through the Pre-Budget consultation process. The Pre-Budget Report sets out the direction of economic policy and outlines measures under consideration in the run-up to the Budget. A range of organisations have submitted responses to the Pre-Budget and other consultations. Some individual groups have published responses to the Pre-Budget Report and Budget 99, including the Women's Budget Group. Treasury Ministers and officials also consult regularly with the Women's Budget Group on a range of issues, through a series of meetings and seminars.

  Withholding Tax
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the impact of (i) a 20 per cent. withholding tax(a) with and (b) without, an exemption on interest earnings abroad and (ii) a requirement for the provision of information on capital income to the tax authority of a relevant country, on (A) levels of fraud, (B) money-

  61
  laundering, (C) reduced bank transparency and (D) the movement of funds to overseas tax havens; and if he will make a statement. [88399]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We are doing a great deal of detailed work on an assessment of the impact of the draft European Commission Directive on the taxation of interest from savings—in close co-operation with the City of London. We have made it clear that we will not agree to any 62
  Directive which damages our financial markets or which would require the United Kingdom to introduce a withholding tax.

  The government strongly support international initiatives, through the EU, OECD, the G7 and the Financial Action Task Force on money laundering, to improve the international sharing of information relevant to inquiries into financial crime, tax evasion and avoidance.
  63

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Personal Data Transfers
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what respect the Safe Harbour proposal on personal data transfers differs from the rules that will apply under the 1995 EC Data Protection Directive. [88107]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Consistent with the Directive's requirement for "adequate" rather than "equivalent" protection in third countries, the draft "safe harbour" proposals do not reproduce all the Directive's detailed provision. However, they contain the key components of the data protection regime created by the Directive: provision for individuals to be informed; restrictions on the use and disclosure of individuals' data without consent; requirements for data security and data quality; individuals' rights of access and rectification and enforcement arrangements. The proposals are still under discussion.

  Trespassers
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1994 and in which police authority areas, section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 has been used; and if he will make a statement. [88093]

  Mr. Boateng
  The use of powers to direct trespassers to leave land under section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is an operational matter for the senior officer present at the scene. Records are not maintained centrally on the numbers of occasions on which such powers are used.

  Stonehenge
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to reimburse from central Government the cost to Wiltshire local taxpayers of policing and protecting the Stonehenge World Heritage Area; and if he will make a statement. [88092]

  Mr. Boateng
  Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, the budget of Wiltshire Police Authority will increase this year by 3.4 per cent. to £68.9 million, which is above the national average increase of 3.1 per cent. Around 80 per cent. of the police authority's spending comes from central Government.

  The Government congratulate Wiltshire Constabulary on their handling of the disorder at Stonehenge on 21 June. Police forces can from time to time face particular demands on their resources. We would normally expect forces to meet any additional costs from within their existing budgets, or from contingency reserves.

  Passports
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the time-scale for processing 64
  passport applications at the Peterborough Passport Office received (a) by post and (b) by special arrangement with Post Office Counters. [88166]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The processing time for passport applications received by the Peterborough Passport Office by post is 33 days and for applications received via Post Office Counters is seven days.

  The Passport Agency is currently prioritising applications by customers' declared travel dates, and the processing time for postal work at the Peterborough Passport is for non-urgent applications.

  Applications received via Post Office Counters are easier to process, and generally have more urgent travel dates. Non-urgent applications received by partners would not be given priority over urgent postal applications.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements the UK Passport Agency has made with Post Office Counters for fast-tracking the processing of passport applications. [88164]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  In view of its current operational problems, the Agency has changed the arrangement with Post Office Counters Ltd., and the Liverpool Office is now dealing with applications from them in 20 working days, and from its five other passport offices in 15 working days.

  Due to its current backlog of work, the Agency is prioritising all applications by travel dates and there are delays in some offices in processing non-urgent work received from the Post Office.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of telephone calls from members of the public to each of the Passport Agency's offices which were left unanswered in each of the last 12 months. [88506]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information on the number of calls receiving a courtesy message during the last 12 months is shown in the table. This record represents the nearest equivalent to the number of calls left unanswered. These figures include repeat calls. The Passport Agency cannot at present determine the proportion of repeat calls. These figures are collated centrally and cannot be broken down to an estimate for each office in any accurate way.

  Month

  Total

  1998

  June

  288,000

  July

  308,000

  August

  131,000

  September

  100,000

  October

  90,,000

  November

  80,000

  December

  95,0000

  1999

  January

  118,000

  February

  210,000

  65

  Month

  Total

  March

  452,000

  April

  460,000

  May

  1,110,000

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the public the Passport Agency has agreed to pay(a) compensation and (b) ex-gratia payments to during the last 12 months; and what is the total sum of money involved. [88513]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Passport Agency's compensation policy is to reimburse the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by customers as a direct consequence of clear operational errors, or failure to provide an acceptable level of service by means of an ex-gratia payment.

  Each case is considered carefully on its merits. It is not the Agency's normal policy to make compensation payments for distress and inconvenience arising from such errors and failures. Records of compensation payments are not split into compensation and ex-gratia categories.

  The information requested on compensation payments made by the Agency in the last 12 months is shown in the table.

  Month

  Number of complaints where compensation paid

  Total compensation paid (£)

  1998

  June

  160

  5,256

  July

  266

  7,460

  August

  244

  6,079

  September

  188

  7,234

  October

  194

  7,453

  November

  180

  8,127

  December

  179

  7,166

  1999

  January

  181

  5,785

  February

  196

  7,955

  March

  245

  5,453

  April

  256

  7,748

  May

  219

  7,551

  Month

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  Total

  January 1996

  5,574

  34,400

  22,888

  26,576

  16,878

  4,572

  111,488

  February 1996

  5,053

  40,450

  16,583

  20,444

  20,457

  5,570

  108,557

  March 1996

  3,031

  39,272

  17,230

  27,627

  18,689

  6,670

  112,519

  April 1996

  3,790

  45,565

  30,442

  33,885

  31,145

  9,064

  153,891

  May 1996

  6,554

  53,689

  36,175

  36,409

  36,181

  7,674

  176,682

  June 1996

  5,244

  52,807

  37,277

  39,236

  41,368

  8,230

  184,162

  July 1996

  3,916

  48,820

  38,450

  41,798

  46,739

  5,645

  185,368

  August 1996

  2,615

  32,717

  15,019

  25,708

  22,982

  3,349

  102,390

  September 1996

  2,641

  36,859

  23,636

  25,402

  23,855

  1,682

  114,055

  October 1996

  4,072

  29,323

  21,206

  18,945

  16,225

  3,593

  93,394

  November 1996

  2,294

  15,079

  10,384

  12,905

  13,321

  2,391

  56,374

  December 1996

  2,279

  12,399

  6,435

  6,654

  7,821

  289

  35,877

  66
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for(a) new passports and (b) renewed passports the Passport Agency has received in each month since January 1996. [88783]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested on the numbers of applications for new and renewal passports is set out as follows:

  (a) Applications for new passports

  Month

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  January

  251,416

  188,230

  190,490

  152,392

  February

  248,914

  207,815

  250,487

  217,924

  March

  277,060

  233,848

  238,029

  326,094

  April

  256,504

  216,327

  192,314

  304,653

  May

  382,388

  283,733

  268,357

  306,083

  June

  330,684

  267,757

  244,900

  —

  July

  307,225

  248,624

  233,388

  —

  August

  276,812

  234,103

  230,835

  —

  September

  162,861

  140,485

  198,630

  —

  October

  141,095

  126,325

  124,095

  —

  November

  149,160

  126,034

  162,103

  —

  December

  72,121

  67,947

  95,493

  —

  Total

  2,856,240

  2,341,128

  2,429,121

  111,307,146

  (b) Applications for renewed passports

  Month

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  January

  200,740

  182,316

  167,118

  133,694

  February

  167,357

  176,278

  202,910

  176,531

  March

  178,702

  180,609

  176,988

  225,903

  April

  166,004

  157,767

  167,118

  198,302

  May

  211,634

  189,558

  202,910

  201,010

  June

  172,632

  166,749

  176,988

  —

  July

  164,136

  156,418

  168,073

  —

  August

  163,782

  165,872

  179,665

  —

  September

  167,538

  111,095

  109,214

  —

  October

  102,799

  108,695

  96,898

  —

  November

  124,729

  116,654

  131,618

  —

  December

  58,565

  61,819

  67,570

  —

  Total

  1,878,609

  1,773,830

  1,847,070

  935,440

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in respect of each office of the Passport Agency the number of unprocessed passport applications which were outstanding at the end of each month from January 1996 to date. [88511]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested on the numbers of unprocessed passport applications outstanding at the end of each month from January 1996 is set out in the table.
  67

  Month

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  Total

  January 1997

  3,512

  39,153

  14,526

  22,296

  18,499

  2,791

  100,777

  February 1997

  3,250

  41,716

  25,554

  29,847

  28,774

  5,400

  134,543

  March 1997

  1,620

  52,395

  29,042

  33,435

  24,798

  4,265

  145,555

  April 1997

  2,723

  59,353

  35,593

  45,757

  36,037

  4,798

  184,261

  May 1997

  3,133

  67,690

  51,279

  40,438

  39,413

  6,302

  208,255

  June 1997

  4,796

  69,589

  52,393

  60,078

  46,914

  3,353

  237,123

  July 1997

  4,014

  67,217

  53,356

  57,029

  49,989

  1,860

  233,467

  August 1997

  3,389

  51,004

  31,074

  31,789

  32,942

  5,372

  155,525

  September 1997

  3,166

  31,489

  20,059

  28,760

  18,026

  2,784

  105,284

  October 1997

  2,300

  28,842

  18,277

  21,997

  22,368

  3,415

  97,199

  November 1997

  2,766

  20,990

  13,536

  19,682

  21,376

  5,059

  83,409

  December 1997

  1,944

  23,648

  13,924

  16,613

  19,556

  2,612

  78,297

  January 1998

  2,382

  31,808

  32,012

  34,906

  31,169

  6,290

  139,017

  February 1998

  2,742

  59,798

  41,843

  37,735

  36,090

  7,309

  185,517

  March 1998

  3,724

  70,242

  57,172

  47,046

  58,959

  6,713

  243,856

  April 1998

  3,640

  49,089

  38,577

  43,214

  46,810

  7,896

  189,226

  May 1998

  4,205

  48,124

  7,636

  27,452

  25,846

  7,733

  120,996

  June 1998

  5,456

  74,155

  58,238

  68,422

  48,836

  8,018

  263,125

  July 1998

  4,179

  70,527

  48,272

  56,388

  49,012

  11,373

  239,751

  August 1998

  2,439

  26,348

  23,744

  26,597

  34,144

  11,440

  124,712

  September 1998

  3,775

  2,907

  41,606

  20,827

  47,376

  3,314

  119,805

  October 1998

  7,268

  1,867

  38,250

  3,125

  42,435

  4,903

  97,848

  November 1998

  7,048

  27,419

  13,986

  3,494

  55,470

  9,165

  116,582

  December 1998

  4,205

  48,124

  7,636

  27,452

  25,846

  7,733

  120,996

  January 1999

  5,249

  31,173

  39,966

  31,380

  40,532

  18,610

  166,910

  February 1999

  8,095

  81,396

  60,206

  57,540

  58,605

  14,351

  280,193

  March 1999

  9,809

  71,387

  68,784

  53,817

  72,810

  24,417

  301,024

  April 1999

  9,530

  97,030

  90,403

  61,992

  102,102

  36,016

  397,073

  May 1999

  11,684

  143,093

  934,411

  383,751

  127,416

  25,049

  487,658

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, in each month from January 1994 to date and in respect of each of the Passport Agency's six offices, was the time taken to process(a) new applications and (b) renewal applications; and if he will make a statement. [88627]

  Average maximum processing times in working days

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  1994

  January

  2

  5

  3

  4

  3

  3

  February

  3

  8

  5

  7

  4

  4

  March

  3

  8

  5

  6

  6

  6

  April

  2

  7

  5

  5

  7

  7

  May

  3

  13

  7

  9

  11

  8

  June

  4

  15

  9

  11

  15

  8

  July

  5

  13

  10

  10

  13

  7

  August

  4

  11

  7

  7

  7

  4

  September

  1

  8

  4

  8

  4

  6

  October

  1

  4

  5

  3

  5

  6

  November

  3

  3

  3

  1

  5

  2

  December

  5

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  1995

  January

  2

  4

  3

  4

  4

  4

  February

  1

  6

  4

  6

  6

  6

  March

  2

  5

  5

  5

  6

  4

  April

  2

  6

  5

  6

  7

  6

  May

  3

  7

  6

  6

  10

  7

  June

  2

  11

  8

  7

  13

  6

  July

  3

  10

  8

  8

  14

  10

  August

  5

  9

  7

  6

  9

  8

  September

  5

  9

  6

  7

  7

  5

  October

  4

  7

  6

  8

  8

  8

  November

  4

  3

  4

  4

  3

  4

  December

  5

  4

  2

  3

  5

  2

  68
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The table shows the average maximum times taken at each of the Passport Agency's offices to process all straightforward, properly completed applications in each month from January 1994. The Passport Agency does not collate this information separately for new and renewal applications and the figures represent the maximum turnaround times for all applications:
  69

  Average maximum processing times in working days

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  1996

  January

  4

  5

  5

  5

  5

  4

  February

  3

  5

  3

  4

  4

  3

  March

  2

  5

  3

  5

  5

  4

  April

  4

  5

  5

  5

  6

  5

  May

  2

  6

  6

  6

  7

  6

  June

  2

  7

  8

  9

  10

  7

  July

  2

  8

  8

  10

  12

  8

  August

  1

  7

  6

  7

  10

  5

  September

  1

  7

  6

  6

  7

  5

  October

  5

  8

  7

  7

  9

  6

  November

  3

  5

  5

  6

  5

  4

  December

  2

  3

  3

  4

  1

  4

  1997

  January

  2

  5

  3

  3

  5

  3

  February

  2

  7

  4

  5

  8

  6

  March

  2

  8

  6

  7

  7

  8

  April

  3

  8

  7

  7

  8

  7

  May

  2

  10

  8

  8

  10

  6

  June

  3

  10

  10

  9

  10

  7

  July

  5

  14

  12

  13

  14

  7

  August

  6

  14

  11

  12

  16

  7

  September

  3

  11

  8

  10

  11

  5

  October

  3

  8

  7

  12

  9

  5

  November

  2

  7

  6

  7

  7

  6

  December

  3

  8

  8

  10

  10

  6

  1998

  January

  4

  6

  7

  7

  8

  7

  February

  5

  7

  8

  7

  9

  8

  March

  5

  9

  10

  9

  11

  7

  April

  5

  9

  7

  8

  12

  7

  May

  5

  10

  10

  12

  14

  8

  June

  5

  14

  14

  21

  23

  10

  July

  5

  22

  15

  20

  20

  10

  August

  4

  19

  11

  13

  12

  13

  September

  2

  6

  8

  6

  13

  9

  October

  4

  9

  14

  5

  15

  6

  November

  3

  17

  7

  2

  16

  9

  December

  2

  17

  4

  15

  23

  9

  1999

  January

  2

  16

  5

  12

  11

  8

  February

  4

  20

  11

  20

  10

  14

  March

  6

  25

  12

  28

  16

  16

  April

  6

  33

  15

  36

  18

  21

  May

  5

  46

  27

  33

  26

  31

  The Passport Agency has, for a number of years, had a very good record of delivering services. The average annual maximum processing time on straightforward properly completed applications has been under 10 working days in each of the financial years from 1994–95 to 1997–98.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the revenue which the Passport Agency will forgo in the current financial year as a result of the extension of the period of passport validity free of charge. [88510]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Passport Agency's estimate of the income forgone as a result of the use of two year exceptional extensions to clear quickly, straightforward
  70
  renewal applications is £1.08 million, based on an average fee of £18. The income will be recouped in two years.

  The cost of processing an exceptional extension is much less than a full 10-year passport. Hence, in terms of matching income and expenditure the loss is much less than £18.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average period of time for determining passport applications in each of the Passport Agency's six offices in each month from January 1996 to date. [88515]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  71

  Average processing time in working days

  Month

  Belfast

  London

  Newport

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Glasgow

  1996

  January

  4

  4

  5

  5

  5

  4

  February

  3

  3

  4

  5

  3

  4

  March

  4

  2

  5

  5

  3

  5

  April

  5

  4

  5

  5

  5

  6

  May

  6

  2

  6

  6

  6

  7

  June

  7

  2

  9

  7

  7

  10

  July

  8

  3

  10

  8

  8

  12

  August

  5

  1

  7

  7

  6

  10

  September

  5

  1

  7

  7

  5

  7

  October

  6

  5

  7

  8

  7

  9

  November

  4

  3

  6

  5

  4

  5

  December

  4

  2

  4

  3

  3

  1

  1997

  January

  3

  2

  3

  5

  3

  5

  February

  6

  2

  5

  7

  4

  8

  March

  8

  2

  7

  8

  6

  7

  April

  7

  3

  7

  8

  7

  8

  May

  6

  3

  8

  9

  8

  9

  June

  7

  3

  9

  10

  10

  11

  July

  7

  5

  13

  14

  12

  14

  August

  7

  6

  12

  14

  11

  16

  September

  5

  3

  10

  11

  8

  11

  October

  4

  3

  12

  8

  7

  9

  November

  6

  2

  7

  7

  6

  7

  December

  6

  3

  10

  8

  8

  10

  1998

  January

  7

  4

  7

  6

  7

  8

  February

  8

  5

  7

  7

  8

  9

  March

  8

  5

  9

  9

  10

  11

  April

  7

  5

  8

  9

  7

  12

  May

  9

  5

  12

  10

  10

  14

  June

  9

  5

  21

  14

  14

  23

  July

  10

  5

  21

  22

  15

  20

  August

  13

  4

  13

  19

  11

  13

  September

  9

  2

  6

  6

  8

  13

  October

  6

  4

  6

  9

  13

  15

  November

  8

  4

  3

  17

  9

  16

  December

  9

  2

  15

  14

  4

  22

  1999

  January

  8

  2

  12

  16

  5

  11

  February

  14

  4

  20

  20

  11

  10

  March

  16

  6

  28

  25

  12

  16

  April

  21

  6

  36

  33

  15

  18

  May

  31

  5

  33

  46

  27

  26

  June1

  36

  6

  40

  38

  34

  36

  1 Up to week ending 20 June 1999

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed currently(a) in total and (b) broken down by grade at each of the Passport Agency's offices. [88802]

  Mr. Milke O'Brien
  The total number of staff currently employed in the Passport Agency is 1,828. The breakdown by grade is shown in the table:

  Grade

  Number

  Grade 5

  2

  Grade 6

  2

  Grade 7

  11

  72

  Grade

  Number

  Senior Executive Officer

  18

  Higher Executive Officer

  65

  Executive Officer

  194

  Administrative Officer

  870

  Administrative Assistant

  666

  Total

  1,828

  The Agency has transferred 197 staff to Siemens Business Services, but they are still working on producing Passports in Partnership with United Kingdom Passport Agency.
  73

  Grade

  HQ

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  Total

  Permanent staff in post

  Senior Civil Servant

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Grade 6

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Grade 7

  5

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  10

  Senior Executive Officer

  12

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  18

  Higher Executive Officer

  26

  6

  8.67

  7

  6

  8

  3

  64.67

  Executive Officer

  10

  33

  42

  31.56

  28

  34.59

  13.2

  192.35

  P03

  11.4

  118.5

  163.31

  106.7

  116.5

  97.88

  53.4

  667.69

  P02

  0

  0

  27.98

  1

  0

  11

  1

  40.98

  PO1

  4

  43.5

  15.23

  31.4

  9

  22.59

  11.5

  137.22

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  1

  0.95

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1.95

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  72.4

  204

  260.14

  179.66

  161.5

  176.06

  83.1

  1,136.86

  Permanent staff in substantive grades

  Senior Civil Servant

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Grade 6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Grade 7

  6

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  9

  Senior Executive Officer

  7

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  13

  Higher Executive Officer

  21

  6

  4

  5

  5

  5

  3

  49

  Executive Officer

  14

  31

  26.43

  25.56

  20

  23.59

  12.2

  152.78

  P03

  15.4

  120.5

  175.23

  103.2

  124.5

  106.9

  44.6

  690.33

  P02

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  P01

  6

  43.5

  53.48

  44.88

  10

  36.57

  22.3

  216.73

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  72.4

  204

  260.14

  179.64

  161.5

  176.06

  83.1

  1136.8

  Number of part-year appointments

  Senior Civil Servant

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  P03

  0

  0

  6

  67.27

  30

  0

  2

  105.27

  P02

  0

  0

  2

  2

  0

  0

  12

  16

  PO1

  0

  0

  40.61

  24.18

  15

  33

  22

  134.79

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  0

  0

  48.61

  93.45

  45

  33

  36

  256.06

  Number of daytime casual staff

  Grade 5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  P03

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  P02

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  PO1

  1

  0

  35

  87.43

  35

  109.59

  13

  281.02

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  1

  0

  35

  87.43

  35

  109.59

  13

  281.02

  Number of evening casual staff

  Grade 5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  P03

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  P02

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  P01

  0

  0

  0.54

  28.08

  3.5

  31.86

  0

  63.98

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  0

  0

  0.54

  28.08

  3.5

  31.86

  0

  63.98

  74 75

  Grade

  HQ

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  Total

  Number of daytime fixed term appointments

  Grade 5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  PO3

  0

  3

  3.76

  12.64

  0

  0

  0

  19.4

  PO2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  P01

  0

  0

  0

  6.24

  6

  2.08

  0

  14.32

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  1

  3

  3.76

  18.88

  6

  2.08

  0

  34.72

  Number of evening fixed term appointments

  Grade 5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  PO3

  0

  0

  0.54

  11.88

  0

  0

  0

  12.42

  PO2

  0

  0

  0

  8.64

  0

  0

  0

  8.64

  PO1

  0

  0

  0.54

  0.54

  26.5

  6.48

  0

  34.06

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  0

  0

  1.08

  21.06

  26.5

  6.48

  0

  55.12

  Number of recurring temporary appointments

  Grade 5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  PO3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  PO2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  P01

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Number of seasonal days

  Grade 5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  720.97

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  977.11

  0

  0

  0

  24

  PO3

  0

  0

  192.58

  998.36

  463.5

  0

  29.5

  6,676.1

  PO2

  0

  0

  587.58

  1,008.7

  465.5

  0

  203

  911.42

  P01

  31

  0

  1365.2

  0

  1,179.5

  3,477.2

  538

  9,285.3

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  31

  0

  2145.3

  3,705.2

  2,108.5

  3,477.2

  770.5

  16897

  Number of days overtime

  Grade 5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  4.03

  0

  0

  10.35

  0

  0

  0

  14.38

  Higher Executive Officer

  33.87

  22.26

  16.35

  30.33

  52.5

  35.5

  4.52

  195.33

  Executive Officer

  27.78

  37.5

  226.68

  96.98

  135

  220

  58.83

  802.77

  PO3

  8.06

  182.78

  769.51

  450.12

  758

  533.5

  310.31

  2,701.97

  PO2

  0

  0

  229.83

  12.1

  174

  65.5

  29

  510.43

  P01

  0

  11.46

  261.58

  555.09

  255

  566.5

  175.75

  1,825.38

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  4.37

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4.37

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  73.74

  258.37

  1,504

  1,155

  1,374.5

  1,421

  268.1

  6,054.63

  76 77

  Grade

  HQ

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  Total

  Number of days deputising

  Grade 5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  0

  0

  12

  0

  0

  25

  0

  37

  Executive Officer

  0

  0

  104

  0

  14

  153

  0

  271

  PO3

  0

  0

  4.5

  0

  23

  90

  13.5

  131

  PO2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  PO1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8.5

  8.5

  Typing Manager (RO)/SPS (HQ)

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Support Manager 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  0

  0

  123.5

  0

  37

  268

  22

  450.5

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) telephone and (b) written inquiries have been received in each of the Passport Agency's six offices in each of the last 12 months. [88621]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Passport Agency's published telephone inquiry number is a single non-geographical number (0870 5210410). The inquiry service is fronted by an automated menu system which, depending on the option selected, then routes calls to either an appropriate

  Telephone inquiries

  Month

  Recorded/ courtesy messages

  Belfast

  Glasgow

  London

  Liverpool

  Newport

  Peterborough

  June 1998

  516,045

  13,521

  25,918

  22,512

  37,624

  46,013

  21,596

  July 1998

  563,559

  11,196

  24,457

  15,305

  36,151

  41,376

  25,153

  August 1998

  279,214

  9,047

  26,776

  15,168

  1—

  34,086

  23,936

  September 1998

  202,702

  8,744

  26,724

  26,805

  1—

  1—

  25,592

  October 1998

  291,458

  10,764

  23,576

  30,123

  13,569

  1—

  1—

  November 1998

  131,726

  7,366

  23,348

  31,195

  20,129

  26,481

  15,103

  December 1998

  192,176

  1,412

  17,292

  20,712

  17,969

  22,465

  16,796

  January 1999

  332,296

  875

  21,984

  26,725

  21,445

  32,911

  25,566

  February 1999

  370,537

  4,152

  20,878

  23,691

  17,421

  35,479

  27,982

  March 1999

  668,287

  4,876

  25,914

  38,020

  15,060

  30,148

  29,470

  April 1999

  669,048

  9,249

  19,822

  15,324

  10,914

  25,695

  20,036

  May 1999

  1,388,522

  9,175

  16,706

  17,053

  6,893

  26,240

  12,988

  Management information not available due to refurbishment work.

  Written inquiries

  Month

  Belfast

  Glasgow

  London

  Liverpool

  Newport

  Peterborough

  June 1998

  182

  538

  111

  1,866

  1,874

  602

  July 1998

  197

  591

  120

  2,430

  1,712

  813

  August 1998

  293

  679

  88

  1,494

  2,238

  473

  September 1998

  243

  574

  110

  1,589

  1,802

  502

  October 1998

  91

  539

  87

  1,304

  1,631

  496

  November 1998

  157

  353

  111

  1,736

  913

  813

  December 1988

  262

  588

  159

  1,399

  600

  118

  January 1999

  193

  423

  144

  2,200

  3,058

  464

  February 1999

  208

  528

  194

  1,566

  2,600

  2,171

  March 1999

  262

  800

  241

  2,025

  2,856

  2,376

  April 1999

  428

  839

  231

  2,016

  2,808

  2,162

  May 1999

  156

  2,468

  358

  2,152

  2,014

  1,944

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passport applications in each month since January 1996 have been endorsed with a two year extension; and if he will make a statement. [88505]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Passport Agency currently has backlogs and in order to clear quickly straightforward renewal applications, certain existing passports are being extended provided certain criteria are fulfilled.
  78
  recorded message (for general inquiries) or an operator (for specific inquiries).

  An element of the calls are, therefore, answered centrally by recorded messages, whilst the remainder are transferred to the local office to be answered by an operator. If all lines to the local office are busy, customers receive a courtesy message for that office. To provide the full picture, the number of calls answered centrally by recorded and courtesy messages has also been included.

  The number of extensions that have been made are as follows:

  Number

  May 1999

  -18,918

  June 1999 (to date)

  -19,178

  Total

  38,096

  79
  The only other extensions that have been made by the Passport Agency since January 1996 have been a total of 183 made by the out-of-hours duty officer in the London office to facilitate travel for those requiring an emergency service.

  The temporary extension of passports is a sensible easement to reduce queues and assist people to travel. Arrears of passport applications are double the amount last year and have been caused by an exceptional rise in applications since April, additional applications arising from the requirements for children to have separate passports and arrears which accrued following the introduction of a new issuing system which is being piloted in Liverpool and Newport. The criteria to be met before extensions are given are that the holders details remain unchanged, the passport has not expired more than five years previously, the passport is not damaged or altered, the passport is not subject to restrictions, and the applicant's appearance is clearly identifiable.

  These extended passports are properly issued passports valid for travel and immigration authorities abroad have been made aware of the position. There is no relaxation in security and proper checks are made before the passports are extended. The measures are temporary and expected to cease by September when current backlogs are expected to be cleared.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the Passport Agency's business plan for 1999–2000. [88512]

  Children's applications for passports

  Months

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  Total

  1999

  January

  3,272

  19,240

  24,887

  24,310

  14,634

  6,181

  92,524

  February

  3,749

  24,465

  28,779

  25,054

  27,193

  8,141

  117,381

  March

  5,458

  27,483

  45,336

  19,614

  39,312

  14,337

  151,540

  April

  3,496

  38,812

  34,131

  31,548

  32,971

  11,370

  152,328

  May

  6,333

  33,888

  53,502

  39,498

  39,824

  18,487

  191,532

  June'

  3,453

  15,723

  23,487

  21,573

  19,296

  7,706

  91,238

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  August

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  September

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  October

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  November

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  December

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  25,761

  159,611

  210,122

  161,597

  173,230

  66,222

  796,543

  1998

  January

  2,337

  7,877

  10,154

  9,348

  6,372

  1,640

  37,728

  February

  2,355

  9,427

  10,426

  9,833

  5,446

  2,011

  39,498

  March

  2,769

  10,865

  11,383

  11,844

  7,877

  2,549

  47,287

  April

  2,138

  9,728

  9,924

  9,646

  5,715

  2,401

  39,552

  May

  2,693

  13,834

  13,920

  13,392

  9,894

  3,635

  57,368

  June

  2,682

  14,316

  12,819

  12,610

  8,687

  3,044

  54,158

  July

  3,738

  12,127

  14,220

  10,473

  8,559

  2,724

  51,841

  August

  3,890

  7,518

  12,544

  9,639

  8,956

  2,348

  44,895

  September

  1,592

  1,067

  9,473

  7,639

  7,301

  2,160

  29,232

  October

  3,170

  4,384

  10,934

  5,545

  9,662

  4,029

  37,724

  November

  4,751

  11,635

  15,081

  7,607

  20,202

  6,330

  65,606

  December

  3,276

  9,175

  11,439

  6,871

  6,432

  4,417

  41,610

  Total

  35,391

  111,953

  142,317

  114,447

  105,103

  37,288

  546,499

  1997

  January

  2,385

  8,610

  9,732

  8,822

  5,795

  1,022

  36,366

  February

  2,474

  8,247

  9,835

  9,566

  6,224

  1,471

  37,817

  March

  2,805

  9,295

  10,788

  9,943

  6,917

  1,588

  41,336

  80
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Agency is working to a three year Corporate Plan. 1 expect to receive the Agency's Business Plan for 1999–2000 in the next few weeks, to take account of decisions on the full implementation of the new computerised issuing arrangements.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in providing telephone answering facilities at each of the Passport Agency's offices. [88507]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Agency is currently recruiting additional staff, some of whom could be allocated to the telephone inquiry bureau (TEB) at each local office. In the short term, this could help to improve the service by extending the use of existing telephone equipment.

  The Agency has appointed consultants to review all technical and business options and make recommendations for improving the telephone inquiry service. This initiative takes forward an Agency's commitment to improve communications for members of the public. It will include modernising government initiatives and investigate the opportunity to automate progress inquiries using the new computer system.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children's applications for passports have been received at each of the Passport Agency's six offices in each month from January 1996 to date. [88514]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information on the numbers of applications for passports for children under the age of 16 years is set out in the table:
  81

  Children's applications for passports

  Months

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  Total

  April

  2,058

  8,257

  8,918

  9,453

  6,100

  1,314

  36,100

  May

  3,204

  11,899

  12,901

  11,746

  9,057

  1,074

  49,881

  June

  3,369

  11,052

  11,336

  10,016

  8,430

  8,430

  52,633

  July

  4,305

  10,132

  10,368

  9,057

  6,320

  1,121

  41,303

  August

  3,946

  7,646

  9,075

  6,499

  4,862

  1,275

  33,303

  September

  1,893

  5,282

  6,101

  4,893

  4,165

  464

  22,798

  October

  2,275

  5,245

  5,441

  4,593

  3,717

  1,326

  22,597

  November

  2,434

  4,354

  6,461

  5,214

  3,655

  1,678

  23,796

  December

  1,813

  3,026

  3,695

  2,756

  1,987

  1,146

  14,423

  Total

  32,961

  93,045

  104,651

  92,558

  67,229

  21,909

  412,353

  1996

  January

  2,714

  8,548

  1,214

  9,580

  6,457

  1,699

  30,212

  February

  2,560

  7,391

  17,377

  9,096

  6,066

  2,060

  44,550

  March

  3,204

  9,331

  11,442

  10,638

  6,809

  1,920

  43,344

  April

  2,273

  8,366

  9,382

  9,485

  5,591

  2,075

  37,172

  May

  3,848

  12,034

  14,568

  13,440

  10,118

  3,194

  57,202

  June

  3,554

  10,555

  12,676

  11,313

  8,671

  2,730

  49,499

  July

  4,676

  10,162

  10,418

  9,809

  6,809

  1,784

  43,658

  August

  3,554

  7,637

  8,974

  6,444

  4,560

  1,474

  32,643

  September

  1,711

  5,157

  5,451

  5,479

  4,136

  1,025

  22,959

  October

  2,415

  4,683

  5,803

  4,457

  2,907

  792

  21,057

  November

  2,531

  4,764

  7,108

  4,506

  4,164

  1,358

  24,431

  December

  1,708

  2,829

  4,021

  2,589

  1,764

  654

  13,565

  Total

  34,748

  91,457

  108,434

  96,836

  68,052

  20,765

  420,292

  1 Includes up to 20 June 1999

  Note:

  These figures do not take account of applications for children to be included in an adult passport, a facility that was available until 5 October 1998.

  Risk Assessment
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress and conclusions of his Department's Study on assessing dangerous offender risk in practice. [88520]

  Mr. Boateng
  A project commenced in November 1998 to examine issues associated with the risk assessment and risk management process with dangerous and sex offenders. The research is assessing consistency of practice between the police and other agencies, as well as identifying good practice. The fieldwork is being undertaken in six police force areas in England and Wales and is due to be completed towards the end of 1999.

  A review of the literature in the area of risk assessment and risk management has also been undertaken and is likely to be published by the end of 1999.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress and conclusions of his Department's comparative study of risk assessment scales in use by the Prison Service and Probation Service. [88519]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Research, Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office has received an interim report of a study conducted by the University of Wales and the Probation Studies Unit, Oxford, on behalf of the Home Office, entitled "Evaluating Risk and Need Assessment in Probation Services". The study examined how the risk scores obtained from the two risk assessment instruments commonly used by probation services compared with actual reconvictions over a 12 month period. The findings so far are provisional but indicate that both tools are able to produce risk measures
  82
  which are significantly related to subsequent reconviction. We expect to receive the final report at the end of October and to publish it in December.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress and conclusions of his Department's survey of prison and probation officers' experience of risk assessment scales. [88518]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Research, Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office is working on a draft report entitled, "Risk of Re-offending and Needs Assessments: the user's perspective" which is expected to be published in December alongside other research on risk assessment. It will look at the practical experiences and attitudes of probation officers using risk and needs assessment tools and make recommendations about the structure and use of any new system.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have had(a) visits curtailed and (b) closed visits enforced because of drugs being smuggled during prison visits in the latest period for which figures are available. [88302]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information on closed visits enforced because of drug smuggling is not yet available centrally. Information on curtailed visits is not collated centrally.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into a correlation between drug abuse and the level of opportunity for work, training or recreation in prison. [88305]
  83
  Mr. George Howarth
  No research has been commissioned specifically into the correlation between drug misuse and the level of opportunity for work, training or recreation in prison. However, we have set targets for purposeful activity within prison regimes based on the belief that constructive and structured regimes can contribute towards a reduction in offending of all kinds.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quantities of what unauthorised drugs were found in HM prisons and young offenders' institutions in each of the last five calendar years. [88301]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information on the number of seizures of different drugs found in prison establishments is outlined in the table. However, data on quantities of drugs found are not available.

  Drug finds in prisons in England and Wales 1994–98

  Type of drug found

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Amphetamines

  120

  242

  197

  161

  152

  Barbiturates

  70

  82

  56

  41

  23

  Cannabis Resin

  4,859

  6,442

  4,897

  4,093

  3,054

  Cannabis Herbal

  252

  288

  223

  240

  188

  Cocaine

  108

  143

  97

  98

  86

  Crack

  0

  12

  21

  32

  39

  Heroin

  350

  678

  1,034

  992

  1,079

  LSD

  49

  28

  18

  11

  11

  Other (Miscellaneous)

  406

  643

  673

  548

  454

  Total

  6,214

  8,561

  7,216

  6,216

  5,086

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mandatory drug tests on prisoners proved(a) positive and (b) negative in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and in what proportion of positive tests disciplinary action was taken. [88708]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In 1998, 88,304 mandatory drug tests were undertaken, and some 20,152 of those tests were positive for drugs. This figure includes results from both random and targeted tests. During 1998, a total of 15,672 offences of "unauthorised use of a controlled drug" were punished under the Prison Rules. Not all positive tests lead to disciplinary action for a number of reasons including:
  If a prisoner were imprisoned for less than the retention period of the drug that tested positive, no charge could be laid because the misuse could have taken place whilst in the community. The maximum retention time for benzodiazepines and cannabis is 30 days.Similarly, if a prisoner tested positive twice within a short space of time, they might not be charged on the second occasion because both positive results could have arisen from the same incident of misuse.A prisoner might be released after being tested but before any charge could be laid.A few prisons operate a policy of cautioning a prisoner outside an adjudication for a first offence of cannabis misuse.
  There will always be a small number of cases where a procedural error, for example failure to charge within 48 hours of the discovery of an offence, means that the case cannot proceed to adjudication.
  84

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what dates(a) he first sought legal advice about the status of Parts IVA and IVB of the Prevention of Terrorism (Emergency Provisions) Act 1989, (b) he received that legal advice and (c) he advised the police not to rely on those Parts of the Act; [88732]

  (2) on what date instructions were given to draft the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 (Revisal of Parts IVA and IVB) Order 1999; and if he will make a statement. [88801]

  Mr. Straw
  Instructions were given on 21 June 1999 to draft the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 (Revival of Parts IVA and IVB) Order 1999.

  The Law Officers received a written request from my Department for legal advice about the status of Parts IVA and IVB of the Act, and other related matters, on 1 June. They received Counsel's opinion on 17 June and gave their written advice to my Department on the same day. My officials provided me with detailed advice on 18 June.

  Chief Officers were advised on 23 June 1999 that Parts IVA and IVB of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1989 had not been in force since 22 March 1998 and that they should not, therefore, rely on these provisions. Prior to this, on 28 May, informal advice had been given to the Secretary of the relevant Committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers to the effect that a question mark had arisen about the status of the provisions and that urgent advice was being sought.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of inmates were locked in their cells for(a) less than 10 hours a day, (b) between 10 and 15 hours a day, (c) between 15 and 20 hours a day and (d) in excess of 20 hours a day in each prison and young offenders' institutions in the most recent period for which figures are available. [88304]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Prison Service collects, for each establishment, only the average time that all prisoners spend locked in their cells. The table shows the proportion of the prison population held in prisons where the average time locked in cell in May 1999 was as stated. Data are provisional and subject to validation by prisons. This excludes performance at Portland prison where reliable information for May is not yet available.

  Percentage of population held in prisons where average time

  locked in cell in May 1999 was as stated

  Weekdays

  Weekends

  Hours

  Average prisoner population within each band

  Percentage

  Average prisoner population within each band

  Percentage

  More than 20

  0

  0

  1,196

  2

  Between 15 and 20

  17,369

  27

  33,809

  53

  Between 10 and 15

  41,678

  65

  23,774

  37

  Less than 10

  5,106

  8

  5,374

  8

  64,153

  64,153

  Dangerous Personality Disorders
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about his plans for new legal powers to detain people with dangerous personality disorders; and if he will make a statement. [88516]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government have received a number of informal comments following my statement to the House of Commons on 15 February,Official Report, columns 601–03. We expect to receive more formal comments when the consultation paper setting out our proposals in more detail is issued.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 15 February 1999,Official Report, columns 601–03, when he plans to publish a consultation document on powers for the detention of people with dangerous personality disorders. [88500]

  Mr. Straw
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and I plan to publish a detailed consultation paper on the management of dangerous people with severe personality disorder shortly.

  Sex Offenders Register
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress and conclusions of his Department's evaluation of the Sex Offenders Register. [88517]

  Mr. Boateng
  The evaluation of the Sex Offender Register began in August 1998. This is examining how the police are in practice administering the registration requirement, and how effective the Act is considered to be. The evaluation will be available towards the end of this year, at which point we will consider its implications for the effective operation of the Act in the future.

  Emergency Planning
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of emergency planning requirements in Cumbria. [88352]

  Mr. George Howarth
  None. The assessment of what is required in Cumbria is the responsibility of the local agencies.

  For 1999–2000, Cumbria County Council was allocated a £204,288 grant. The Chief Executive was informed on
  86
  26 May that, as a result of the new scheme, this would be reduced to £183,859 for 2000–01 and again to £136,486 for 2001–02.

  Civil defence grant has never been provided on the basis of an assessed need for each specific area and is only a contribution towards the total requirement. The new scheme is based on the following rationale:
  All 178 grant eligible authorities will receive a basic allocation of £45,000 to ensure a minimum level of service, and the delivery of basic standards of preparedness.
  County Councils will receive an allocation of £;10,000 for each of the District Councils within the County boundary in recognition of the service that a County must provide to constituent Districts.
  Remaining grant after the first two elements have been addressed will be allocated according to Bellwin thresholds. The Bellwin Scheme, operated by the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, sets a level of expenditure above which central Government may contribute to costs incurred by local authorities in responding to a major incident. The use of Bellwin acknowledges the relationship between population size and the work load of emergency planning teams in large areas.

  Some work done by local authorities can be charged to outside industry and in Cumbria, for example, the cost of work done with the nuclear industry under specific legislation, can be reclaimed from them.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the future funding for emergency planning services in(a) England and Wales and (b) Cumbria. [88353]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Home Office provides civil defence grant to eligible local authorities in England and Wales to offset some of the expenditure incurred by them in meeting their civil defence duties. The grant is not intended to meet the full cost of emergency planning services.

  The total amount of grant for England and Wales has been set at £14.038 million for this year and the next two years. Cumbria have been allocated £204,288 for 1999–2000, £183,859 for 2000-01 and £136,486 for 2001–02. The reduction is the result of a new mechanism for allocating civil defence grant.

  Gas Lighter Refills
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make an announcement about the outcome of the consultation exercise seeking views on the proposal to ban the sale of gas lighter refills to people below a certain age. [89020]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I intend to make an announcement tomorrow morning.

  Paraguayan Chaco Project
  Paraguayan Chaco Project
  NATO: Local Procurement of Goods and Services
  NATO: Local Procurement of Goods and Services
  EU Development Spending
  EU Development Spending
  Neighbourhood Renewal: The Arts and Sport
  Neighbourhood Renewal: The Arts and Sport
  Antarctica: Over-fishing
  Antarctica: Over-fishing
  Belgrade: Damage to Embassies
  Belgrade: Damage to Embassies
  Kosovo: Demilitarisation
  Kosovo: Demilitarisation
  Conflict Resolution Initiatives
  Conflict Resolution Initiatives
  Filming and Broadcasting Steering Group
  Filming and Broadcasting Steering Group
  House of Lords: Proposed Film
  House of Lords: Proposed Film
  Appellate Committee Hearings: : Photocopying and Fax Facilities
  Appellate Committee Hearings: : Photocopying and Fax Facilities
  Legal Aid in Cases of Public Importance
  Legal Aid in Cases of Public Importance
  No. 2, Marsham Street
  No. 2, Marsham Street
  UN Peacekeeping Operations: Memorandum of Understanding
  UN Peacekeeping Operations: Memorandum of Understanding
  NATO Operations: Costs
  NATO Operations: Costs
  Depleted Uranium Use in Yugoslavia
  Depleted Uranium Use in Yugoslavia
  NATO Air Campaign: Termination
  NATO Air Campaign: Termination
  Kosovo: UK Units' Flying Hours
  Kosovo: UK Units' Flying Hours
  Kosovo: British Service Personnel Deployed
  Kosovo: British Service Personnel Deployed
  Medicines Selected List Scheme: Exclusions
  Medicines Selected List Scheme: Exclusions
  Hepatitis C and Haemophiliacs
  Hepatitis C and Haemophiliacs
  Mobile Phones: Health Risks
  Mobile Phones: Health Risks
  UN World Conference on Science
  UN World Conference on Science
  Primary and Secondary School Spending per Capita
  Primary and Secondary School Spending per Capita
  Walkergate, Durham: Planning Application
  Walkergate, Durham: Planning Application