Written Answers of 4 March 1999

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Road Fuel Gases
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) HGV vehicles and (b) public transport vehicles have been converted to road fuel gases since January 1997. [72918]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland does not hold figures for HGV vehicles converted to road fuel gases. The public transport company "Translink" has indicated that none of their public transport vehicles has been converted to road fuel gases since January 1997.

  Exiles
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been exiled from Northern Ireland by paramilitary groups since the Good Friday agreement. [73354]

  Mr. Ingram
  Information is not collected by the Government in the form requested.

  Schizophrenia Psychoses
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were discharged from mental illness hospitals in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and how many of them were taken into local authority residential care in the same year. [73359]

  Mr. McFall
  The information available is as follows:

  Year

  Deaths and discharges

  Discharges to statutory sector residential accommodation

  1993–94

  1,394

  57

  1994–95

  1,448

  50

  1995–96

  1,396

  37

  Statutory sector refers to facilities managed by Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research projects her Department is funding in the current year to test the effectiveness of community care for people suffering from schizophrenia psychoses; and if she will make a statement. [73364]

  Mr. McFall
  The Department of Health and Social Services is funding no such projects in the current year either directly or through the Research and Development Office (RDO). In general, in order to ensure that funded 822
  research projects are of high quality, the RDO does not attempt to cover all possible areas of concern, but does seek to facilitate the dissemination of research findings.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the admissions by diagnosis and order of admission indicating the percentage changes over the previous year in numbers and rates per 100,000 population of patients suffering from schizophrenia psychoses in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available. [73367]

  Mr. McFall
  The table shows admissions for schizophrenia at Northern Ireland Mental illness hospitals by first admission and total admissions in 1994–95:

  First admissions

  Total admissions

  Number

  254

  1,152

  Percentage change since 1993–94

  -8.3

  +9.2

  Rate per 100,000 population

  9.4

  4.3

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were admitted for a hospital stay more than once during the last year in Northern Ireland. [73363]

  Mr. McFall
  In year ending 31 March 1996, 224 people with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia were admitted to hospital more than once during the year with the same diagnosis.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many current occupants of National Health Service hospital and unit beds in Northern Ireland have a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses; and what these occupied beds represent as a percentage of(a) mental and (b) all beds in Northern Ireland. [74269]

  Mr. McFall
  This information is not held centrally. Information on diagnosis for current bed occupants is not available as diagnosis is only given on discharge.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people discharged from mental illness hospitals in Northern Ireland in the last year after a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses, having been proved vulnerable homeless, subsequently became voluntary homeless. [74272]

  Mr. McFall
  This information is not held centrally.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what official visits she, her Ministers or officials have made to Zimbabwe since May 1997; whom they met; and what was discussed. [73685]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  None.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to issue information from her Department to help the public make an informed decision when they vote on the single currency. [73585]
  823
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Any plans by the Government to issue information during a referendum campaign on whether or not the UK should join the single currency would be made in the light of the Government's response to the recommendations from the Neill Committee on the conduct of referendums. The Government will announce their conclusions on those recommendations when my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary publishes a White paper and draft Bill before the summer recess.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the subject areas within her Department's responsibilities which will be covered by the information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency. [73671]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter 8 of the Treasury's Outline National Changeover Plan provides further information. Copies of the Plan are available in the House Library.

  Brit Awards
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list those ministers in her Department who were present at the recent Brit awards in an official capacity; and who or what organisation was acting as their sponsor or host. [73496]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  No Minister in my Department attended the Brit Awards in an official capacity. I attended the awards on the acceptance of a personal invitation from the British Phonographic Industry Limited.

  Wheelchair Service
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total estimated cost, including(a) printing, (b) times and (c) staff, in the preparation of the booklet, "The Wheelchair Service", by the Southern Health and Social Services Council; which other area health boards and area health councils have already published documents on the Wheelchair Service; to what extent there is duplication amongst the documents; and if she will make a statement. [73572]

  Mr. McFall
  The total external cost of publishing the booklet "The Wheelchair Service—The Experiences and Perceptions of Users", is estimated at £4,800 shared equally between joint publishers, Southern Health and Social Services Board and Southern Health and Social Services Council. The project began in December 1997 and was completed in January 1999. Two members of staff from the Council and three board officers were involved in developing the booklet as part of their on-going responsibilities to commission and assess the service needs of their users. As an integral part of the Board's and Council's activities, the total staff time attributed to this project is estimated at 25 man-days over the 13 month period. A detailed breakdown of staff costs is not readily available.

  The Western and Northern Health and Social Services Boards have carried out reviews of their commissioning arrangements for wheelchair services within the past three years. Reports of these reviews, which were conducted
  824
  as an integral part of the Board's activities, were not formally published. Whilst these reviews may have covered some of the same ground, they were specific to their respective areas and therefore cannot be considered to constitute any duplication.

  The provision of wheelchairs appropriate to the needs of users and supplied by an efficient service is a key element in promoting the independence and mobility of people with disabilities. Their views are important in informing and shaping the services they use and this most recent survey has provided users, and their carers, with a vehicle for contributing to the improvement of a service upon which they greatly depend.

  Rates
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if district councils are obliged to set a rate in public; and if she will make a statement. [73570]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Section 23 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 requires that every meeting of a district council shall be open to the public. A council may, by resolution, exclude the public from a council meeting whenever publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest, for example, in the case of meeting at which confidential business is to be transacted or for other special reasons defined by the council. There is, however, no specific legislation which obliges a district council to set a rate in public.

  Pensioners (Concessionary Travel)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland are registered as pensioners; and how many(a) males over 65 years and (b) females over 60 years use concessionary fare schemes. [73985]

  Mr. McFall
  The latest available information shows that at 15 January 1999 there were 237,546 persons in receipt of State Retirement Pension. This total is comprised of 82,963 males and 154,583 females.

  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland does not hold figures for males over 65 years and females over 60 years who use concessionary fare schemes.

  Sewage Disposal
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when the permitted level of expenditure per household for providing new sewage disposal provision was last determined; and what sum is used as the basis for determining the viability of a new project; [73982]

  (2) if she will increase the permitted level of expenditure per household for connection to mains sewage disposal; and if she will make a statement. [73983]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Water Service under its Chief Executive, Mr. H. R. F. Plester. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  825
  Letter from D. Carson to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 2 March 1999:
  You recently asked the Secretary of State to answer two Parliamentary Questions about the permitted level of expenditure per household for connection to mains sewerage, when it was last determined and whether the level of expenditure will be increased. You also asked what sum is used as the basis for determining the viability of a new project.
  These questions have been forwarded to the Chief Executive of Water Service, Mr. HRF Plester, for reply. Mr. Plester is currently on leave and I am replying as the Service's Director of Finance.
  The Department of the Environment's statutory duty, under the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1973, to provide sewerage facilities operates within the limitations that such provision must be both practicable, in engineering terms, and can be made at reasonable cost. Since 1973, therefore, reasonable cost allowances have been available for first time connections to the sewerage infrastructure. The maximum allowance is currently £2,300 per domestic property (or equivalent). This maximum was set in 1986. It is currently under review by the Department.
  The Water Service test of viability for any new sewerage extension project is the £2,300 maximum reasonable cost allowance multiplied by the number of properties to be served by the scheme.
  Perhaps I can clarify by giving a model example. If, for instance, the number of domestic properties to be served by a sewer extension scheme is ten then the total Departmental expenditure available for the work is the reasonable cost maximum multiplied by ten—10 x £2,300 = £23,000. If the actual cost of provision is at or below this level, and the work involved is practicable, then the Water Service can programme the project in its capital works planning, subject to overall priorities.
  If the cost of any scheme is estimated to be in excess of the maximum allowance calculated for the work then the applicant (or applicants) for the sewer extension may agree to pay the additional monies necessary to take the work ahead. The Water Service can then also programme the project in its capital works planning, subject to practicability and overall priorities.
  I hope this explains the position clearly for you. Mr. Plester is happy to arrange a meeting to go into the matter in greater depth if you should wish this on his return. His secretary Mrs. Lynda Boyd can make necessary diary arrangements if contacted at the telephone number given above.

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the value of beef exports from Northern Ireland following the lifting of the ban; and if she will make a statement.[73751]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  There is only one company involved in the export of beef from Northern Ireland since the lifting of the ban. In the circumstances the requested information cannot be provided as it is commercial in confidence.

  CS Sprays
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Royal Ulster Constabulary has issued its police officers with CS sprays; how many police officers in Northern Ireland currently carry CS sprays; and for what reasons they were issued. [74266]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Royal Ulster Constabulary has not issued CS sprays to its officers.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if CS gas has been issued to the Royal Ulster Constabulary at any time since 1969. [74267]
  826
  Mr. Ingram
  CS Gas has not been on issue to officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary since circa. 1970.

  Good Practice
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Equality Commission is modelling future good practice for the new Government departments in Northern Ireland by including those directly affected by its decisions in its consultations.[73737]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: The Equality Commission has not yet been established, however paragraph 4(3)(a) of Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 gives the Commission the authority to issue guidelines on the form and content of equality schemes.

  It will be for the Commission, when it is formed, to decide on the extent of any consultation on those guidelines. Equality schemes will include details of each public authority's arrangements for consulting on matters to which a duty under section 75 of the Act is likely to be relevant.

  Equality Commission Working Group
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list those who were invited to the 19 February consultative meeting of the Equality Commission Working Group, indicating those who attended. [73739]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: I have placed in the Library a list of those who were invited to the 19 February consultative meeting of the Equality Commission Working Group and have indicated those who attended.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish the list of those who were circulated with the consultative paper prepared by the Equality Commission Working Group. [73738]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: I have placed in the Library a list of those organisations and individuals to whom the Consultative Paper, prepared by the Equality Commission Working Group, was circulated.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and which organisations, excluding the existing equality agencies, are represented on the Equality Commission Working Group. [73736]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: In addition to representatives of the existing equality bodies, the Working Group includes a representative of the trade unions to which the majority of staff in the existing bodies, belong and an independent Chairman, Dr, Joan Stringer. The views of other organisations are being taken into account through a consultation process.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will place in the Library copies of the working papers being considered by the Equality Commission Working Group.[73740]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: Copies of working papers on the Equality Commission Working Group are a matter for the Group and not my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
  827
  I have arranged for a copy of the Consultative Paper to be placed in the Library. The final report of the Working Group, which I expect to receive during the first half of March, will also be placed in the Library.

  Equality Commission
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals she has to ensure persons dealing with disability and racial discrimination in employment in the new Equality Commission will have similar expertise to that of their colleagues for the Fair Employment Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission. [73741]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: This is a matter being considered by the Working Group and I await their proposals. The current resources in respect of disability and race will be made available to the Equality Commission and I expect there to be continuity of personnel dealing with both issues. Staff development will be a key consideration for the new Commission.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to ensure that advice is given to employers and assistance to disabled complainants between the establishment of the Equality Commission and the introduction of the new disability enforcement powers. [73742]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: During the period between the establishment of the Equality Commission and the introduction of the new disability enforcement powers the Labour Relations Agency will continue to help employers and individuals with information on the employment provisions of the legislation and assistance related to its effects on industrial relations practices and procedures. In addition the DDA Helpline will continue to provide good practice advice and signpost callers to appropriate organisations.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals she has to ensure that a complainant raising more than one type of discrimination receives appropriate advice and assistance. [73743]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: The single Equality Commission will help facilitate those complaints raising more than one type of discrimination. The Equality Commission Working Group is considering such matters as a staffing structure for the Commission to enable it to deliver services most effectively. I expect to receive the final report of the Group's recommendations in mid-March.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to ensure the networking proposals of the draft legislation for a disability rights commission in Northern Ireland are implemented by the new Equality Commission. [73744]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: The intention is that with regard to disability the Equality Commission will have a similar role and functions to the Disability Rights Commission in Great Britain. The timing of the necessary legislation will be a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
  828
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the sums granted to the Equality Commission to deal with disability discrimination in Northern Ireland will reflect the amount given for similar purposes in Great Britain with suitable adjustments for the higher rate of disability in Northern Ireland than Great Britain. [73745]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: The Equality Commission will continue to have the resources available to the Northern Ireland Disability Council. The funding required by the Equality Commission to cover new responsibilities will be a matter for the Assembly. However, I expect that account will be taken of the amount given for similar purposes in Great Britain and of local circumstances.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, following the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Disability Council, the new Equality Commission will take its place on the National Disability Council. [73746]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: Following the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Disability Council arrangements will be put in place to facilitate a close working relationship between the National Disability Council and the Equality Commission.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in her Department. [74362]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".

  Provisional Sinn Fein
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public money will be given(a) this year and (b) next year to (i) Provisional Sinn Fein and (ii) FACT and FAIR. [70055]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments is as follows:

  (a)In 1998–99, Sinn Fein is expected to receive £42,000 as Party Allowance in carrying out Assembly duties; FAIR (Families Acting for Innocent Relatives) will receive £4,000 in financial support; FACT (Families Against Crime and Terrorism) will receive no public money.

  (b)No decisions have been taken on allocations for 1999–2000.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amounts in her Department's budget for 1998–99 can be attributed to spending on disabled people; and what proportion this represents of total departmental spending.[71280]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, an estimated £42.2 million has been identified as spending on specific measures to assist the disabled in 1998–99.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Arms Export Licences
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for arms export licences were outstanding on 4 January. [71843]

  Dr. Howells
  The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. At the end of 4 January 1999, 778 applications for Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 114 applications for Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) covering the export of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List, received since 2 May 1997, were awaiting a decision. Some applications may have been received on which no determination had been made as to whether or not the goods were controlled under the Military List. Such applications are not included.

  This information should be considered in light of the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

  This information does not cover any applications for Media OIELs that may have been pending at this time. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the issues covered by his Department's responsibilities with which(a) Lord Simon and (b) Lord Sainsbury do not deal. [72802]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 24 February 1999]: Lord Simon and Lord Sainsbury conform fully with the Ministerial Code in relation to all the DTI's responsibilities.

  Brit Awards
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those Ministers in his Department who were present at the recent Brit awards in an official capacity; and who or what organisation was acting as their sponsor or host. [73349]

  Mr. Byers
  The Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs attended the Brit Awards in his official capacity as Minister responsible for copyright issues. He was the guest of British Music Rights.

  India (Trade Mission)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the business men and women who took part in the recent trade mission to India. [73307]

  Mr. Byers
  Several British trade missions and exhibitor groups were associated with the recent Indian Engineering Trade Fair. UK Groups from Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Machine Tools Technologies 830
  Association, Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, business Link Sandwell and business Link Sussex attended. A full list of companies participating is in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has made for him to lead a trade delegation to India since he took up his present office. [73692]

  Mr. Byers
  I hope to visit India later this year and will be accompanied by a business delegation.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations were received by his officials during the recent Indian trade mission about ministerial attendance on that mission. [73287]

  Mr. Byers
  No such representation was received by my officials during the recent India trade mission.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the actions taken by his Department further to the testing of nuclear devices by(a) India and (b) Pakistan. [73977]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), on 10 July 1998,Official Report, columns 687–88.

  Measurement Units (Harmonisation)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the state of the negotiations concerning the end of the derogation established by Directive 89/617/EEC relating to the harmonisation of units of measurement. [73769]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 25 February 1999,Official Report, column 438.

  Road Haulage Firms
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many road haulage firms have gone into liquidation in each year from 1995 to 1998. [74305]

  Dr. Howells
  The following table shows company compulsory liquidations and individual bankruptcies for the road transport industry in England and Wales, 1995–98. The road transport industry includes road haulage, car hire, taxis, bus services and other road passenger transport. Detailed figures solely for road haulage are not available.

  Insolvencies: road transport industry England and Wales

  Year

  Company compulsory liquidations

  Individual bankruptcy orders

  1995

  204

  924

  1996

  197

  1,008

  1997

  174

  971

  19981

  130

  597

  1To quarter 3

  Source:

  DTI
  831
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many road haulage firms have transferred their head offices from the United Kingdom to mainland Europe in the last five years. [74306]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information is not available in this form. Companies are required to register an address for correspondence for various legal purposes including goods operator licensing. This need not be the head office address so transfers of head offices would not be recorded as such.

  BNFL
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the interim report by KPMG on the proposed privatisation of BNFL; when the final report will be made public; and if he will make a statement. [73538]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 15 December 1998, Official Report, column 455.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what controls he proposes to introduce on the sale of fireworks. [74634]

  Dr. Howells
  The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 introduced comprehensive controls on the types and sizes of fireworks which can be supplied to the general public. I have no plans to introduce further controls on fireworks. However, I have asked DTI officials to explore ways in which the voluntary agreement on the selling period for fireworks in the run-up to Bonfire night can be strengthened and to consider the issue of sales in advance of the Millennium celebrations.

  FE Lecturers (Employment Right)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effects on the employment rights of further education lecturers of the judgment in Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Ltd.v. Lister by the Court of Appeal on 16 October 1998; and if he will make a statement. [74699]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Court of Appeal's judgment in this case is consistent with established case law of the UK courts and of the European Court of Justice. Following a transfer of an undertaking within the meaning of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC Acquired Rights Directive of 1977 (which the Regulations implement in the UK), changes to the terms and conditions of affected employees are unlawful if they are for a reason connected to the transfer. There are no special considerations relating to further education lecturers.

  EU Patent Directorate
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of whether the EU Patent Directorate COM (95) 661 infringes the Convention on Biological Diversity. [74492]
  832
  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: The adopted text of Directive 98/44/EC on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions (EU Patent Directive) explicitly states that it is without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States with regard to international agreements, including the convention on Biological Diversity. Moreover, the Directive notes that as the Community is party to the Convention, Member States must have regard to those aspects of the convention which concern patent rights when implementing the terms of the Directive. More generally, the relationship between patent rights and the Convention will be one of the agenda items for discussion at international level Convention meetings later this year. The United Kingdom Government have, and will continue to play, an active role in these discussions.

  Mirror Group Newspapers
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Lord Donoughue will be interviewed about his role in Mirror Group newspapers as part of the departmental investigation into its flotation. [74762]

  Dr. Howells
  The inspectors appointed under Companies Act powers to investigate and report on the flotation of Mirror Group Newspapers are independent of my Department. Their inquiries are conducted in private and it is not our policy to comment on who the inspectors decide to interview or not to interview during the course of their investigation.

  Rogue Directors Hotline
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish complaints made to the Rogue Directors Hotline. [74763]

  Dr. Howells
  Complaints made to the Rogue Directors Hotline are treated as confidential and accordingly details of individual cases cannot be given. The Insolvency Service will publish statistics relating to the Hotline in its next Annual Report for the year to 31 March 1999.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to review the Post Office's policy of imposing a charge on membership cards for members of credit unions.[73913]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: Charging arrangements relating to credit union transactions at post offices are an operational and commercial matter for the Post Office, which incurs costs in providing such a service.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations his Department has received from scientists concerning the use of mobile phones; and what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on this subject. [74529]

  Mr. Wills
  The Department has received no formal representations from scientists on this subject. Officials of the Department are in regular contact with scientists both in the UK and overseas, and in particular with the National Radiological Protection Board. I have not discussed this subject with ministerial colleagues.

  Power Station Emissions
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on the likely fuel mix for electricity generators in the United Kingdom of the European Commission proposals due to be considered in March to introduce ceilings for emissions of acid rain gases; and if he will make a statement. [74373]

  Mr. Battle
  Proposals expected from the European Commission for a National Emissions Ceilings Directive under the EU Acidification Strategy will cover UK-wide emissions in the year 2010, not just those from power stations. Emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen from new and existing large combustion plant, including power stations, are already limited under the Large Combustion Plants Directive (88/609/EEC).

  Although the levels of any proposed new emissions ceilings have not yet been finalised by the Commission, during the preparation of the 1998 White Paper on the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation (Cmnd 4071) we were mindful of these and other, related proposals already endorsed in principle. Therefore, subject to the outcome of future negotiations, I expect that any agreed national emissions ceilings for the United Kingdom will be fully compatible with the Government's

  18–24 year old 6 month plus claimants of unemployed-related benefits

  (i) May 1997-April 1998

  (ii) April 1998-January 1999

  Total offlows from the claimant count

  222,011

  177,902

  Average monthly offlow from the claimant count

  20,183

  19,767

  Total change in stock of claimants

  50,129

  42,950

  Average monthly change in stock of claimants

  -4,557

  -4,772

  Total change in stock of claimants (per cent.)

  -30

  -36

  Monthly percentage point change in stock of claimants

  -2.7

  -4

  Note:

  All data are seasonally adjusted

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what(a) reviews, (b) task forces and (c) advisory groups have been established by his Department since 1 May 1997; what costs they have incurred to date; and what reports they have published. [71522]

  Mr. Mudie
  Unfortunately the information asked for on "costs" is available only at disproportionate cost. Therefore, the reply is limited to the name of the body and refers to published reports only.

  Reviews

  Adventure Activities Licensing Scheme

  Bureaucratic Burdens on Teachers reported on 16 January 1998

  National Curriculum for the Year 2000

  Prior Options Review of the FEFC

  Prior Options Review of HEFCE

  Qualifications Appeals Systems reported in July 1998

  Quinquennial Review of Investors In People UK

  Quinquennial Review of the Teacher Training Agency

  834
  stated aim of ensuring secure, diverse and sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices, as set out in the White Paper.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74365]

  Mr. Byers
  Any contact with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists".

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many individuals in the target group of the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds have left unemployment (i) between May 1997 and the nationwide commencement of the New Deal and (ii) between the nationwide commencement of the New Deal and the latest available date. [71131]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The information is provided in the following table, based on the monthly count of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or National Insurance Credits:

  Scottish Fee Support Review Body ('Quigley Review')

  TECs (Review of The Role of)
  Review of the Threshold Exempting Employers with Fewer than 20 Employers from the Employment Provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 produced a report on 12 June 1998.

  Task Forces
  Careers Service Special Needs Task Force
  Disability Rights Task Force reported on the role and functions of a Disability Rights Commission on 12 June 1998.

  Standards Task Force

  New Deal Task Force has published 3 reports:
  Meeting The Needs Of The Disadvantaged—November 1998 Business Participation in Welfare-to-Work: lessons from the United States—January 1999
  Environment Task Force Advisory Group?Sub-Group Report On Linking Funding Sources—February 1999

  Numeracy Task Force published:
  Numeracy Matters—preliminary report published for consultation in January 1998
  The Implementation of the National Numeracy Strategy, final report in July 1998

  Skills Task Force published its first report in September 1998
  835
  Advisory Groups

  Adult and Community Learning Fund Advisory Group

  Advisory Committee for Disabled People in Employment and Training

  Bureaucracy Advisory Group

  Careers Education and Guidance Consultative Advisory Group

  Creative and Cultural Education National Advisory Committee

  Development of Individual Learning Accounts Advisory Group

  Education and the Teaching of Democracy published its final report titled "Education for citizenship and the teaching of democracy in schools" on 22 September 1998.

  Education Development Plans (EDPs) Advisory Group

  Further Education Student Support Advisory Group

  Gifted and Talented Children

  Independent/State School Partnerships published an Interim Report in May 1998, and a final report on 7 October 1998.

  National Year of Reading

  New Deal Task Force Advisory Group

  New Start Advisory Group

  Personal, Social And Health Education Advisory Group

  Post-16 Partnership Advisory Group

  Race Employment and Education Forum (Reef) Advisory Group

  Raising Ethnic Minority Pupil Achievement Advisory Group

  Skills Policy Action Team Advisory Group

  Special Educational Needs National Advisory Group

  University for Industry Design and Implementation Advisory Group.

  Early Education (Three-year-olds)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to provide nursery provision for three-year-olds through the education SSA allocation; and if he will make a statement. [72058]

  Ms Hodge
  £390 million will be allocated to double the participation of three-year-olds in free early education places over the next three years. Local Education Authorities also continue to receive funding for under fives through SSA.

  In 1999–2000, some £40 million will be allocated as a specific grant to the 50 local authority areas with the greatest social need; in the following two years specific grant will be distributed across all authorities. The Early Years Development and Childcare Plans will show how new places will be secured in the maintained, private and voluntary sectors.

  Pre-School Learning Alliance
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what representations he has received from the Pre-School Learning Alliance; [73289]

  (2) if he will make a statement on future funding for the Pre-School Learning Alliance. [73688]

  Ms Hodge
  The Pre-School Learning Alliance (PLA) regularly contacts Ministers and officials in the Department about a wide range of issues, including grant funding for the Alliance, which—for 1999–2000—is under active consideration.
  836
  PLA members play an active part in the delivery of child care and early years education through early years development and child care partnerships and I believe they will play an important role in the expansion of child care and nursery education in the future.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the level of the direct financial contribution to further and higher education made by industry for the last year for which figures are available; and if he will break down this amount by(a) in-company training, (b) other forms of vocational training and (c) non-vocational studies.[73976]

  Mr. Mudie
  The information requested is not identifiable separately in data collected currently.

  Physical Education Students
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the level of discretionary awards for physical education students in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [74232]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: From September 1999, LEA's existing powers to make discretionary awards will be replaced by the new student support arrangements introduced under the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998. For most HE and FE students who would otherwise have been eligible for discretionary awards, support will centre on access funds which we have increased significantly. LEAs will be able to support existing discretionary award holders during the remainder of their courses and will also be able to make discretionary payments to new students under the provisions of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998, if they choose to do so. Separate estimates are not made for individual subjects.

  Pupil Referral Units
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupil referral units have been established. [74787]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There are currently 319 Pupil Referral Units in England.

  National Homework Guidelines
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to evaluate the effect of introducing national homework guidelines. [74789]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Inspections of schools by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) look at the effect of homework polices on the quality of education provided and the standards achieved by pupils. Inspection reports will therefore provide important evidence about the effect over time of introducing national guidelines. We are also considering other ways in which the guidelines might usefully be evaluated, once schools have had time to develop and implement their own homework polices in the light of them.
  837
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received about the introduction of national homework guidelines. [74788]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There were 379 written responses to the consultation on these guidelines, which ran from 21 April 1998 to 30 June 1998. Most of the responses were from primary schools. They raised a range of issues, many of which we addressed in the final version of the guidelines, published in November 1998. Since the guidelines were published we have received 81 letters from schools and members of the public.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74351]

  Mr. Mudie
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the first trials of genetically modified crops to be completed; and what period of evaluation would be required thereafter before an application for commercial planting of a genetically modified crop could be considered. [69822]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The first trials of genetically modified (GM) crops in the United Kingdom were completed in the late 1980s. Since then several hundred further trials of GM crops have been completed. Each series of trials is subject to a consent which requires a report of the trial itself and a post trial monitoring report to be completed and submitted to the regulatory authorities. This information is used as part of the assessment of subsequent applications for trials. Those carrying out the trials also evaluate their work and often publish the results in the open literature where the information is accessible to all.

  The recently announced farm-scale evaluations of three types of herbicide tolerant GM crops to evaluate their impact on farmland wildlife will begin in April 1999 (for spring-sown rape and maize) and autumn 1999 (for autumn-sown rape). These trials will each continue for four years. It is intended that progress reports will be prepared at the end of each growing season so early results can be considered as they become available. The progress of the trials will be overseen by a steering committee. The evaluation of the results from each growing season will enable the committee to influence how subsequent stages of the trials should be undertaken.

  Under the current legislation applications for commercial planting must be considered as soon as they are received by one of the European Competent
  838
  Authorities. Applications must contain the information laid down in the relevant directive (90/220/EEC) and an assessment of possible impacts on the environment. Once the Competent authority is satisfied that the required information has been provided, it must forward the dossier to the commission within 90 days of the application being made, with an opinion on whether or not approval should be granted. The dossier is then circulated to the other member states which must give an opinion to the EC within 60 days. If there is a qualified majority in favour of the product an EU wide marketing consent is granted.

  Once an EU wide consent has been granted under directive 90–220, commercial planting may commence, subject to any limitations and conditions set out in the consent and subject to the other necessary approvals having been granted, such as, the placing of the GM variety on the National List of Seeds or the EU Common Catalogue, approval under the Novel Foods Regulations and/or approval for the use of the relevant herbicide to be used on the new GM crop.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what transitional arrangements he plans to make in respect of staff employed by grant-maintained schools who serve as councillors on the local authority to which the school becomes accountable. [72568]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer Monday 22 February 1999]: I do not intend to make any transitional arrangements. Teachers employed by grant-maintained schools who serve as councillors on the local authority to which the school becomes accountable will, therefore, be disqualified from holding office as a councillor on that authority from 1 September 1999.

  Biosafety Protocol
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will report progress in the Colombia negotiations on the Biosafety Protocol; and when he plans to make a statement on the final outcome.[72947]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Extraordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, meeting in Cartagena, Colombia failed to reach agreement on a biosafety protocol which is intended to govern the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs). The UK worked tirelessly alongside our European partners to seek to achieve a text acceptable to all sides that would secure adequate protection for the environment while avoiding the creation of unnecessary barriers to trade. However, while the EU' s proposal for a compromise package received widespread support, there was not consensus.

  Among the key issues on which agreement could not be reached were how to deal with commodities intended for use as food or feed or for processing, the requirements for documentation or labelling of LMOs subject to transboundary movement and the relationship of the protocol to other international instruments.
  839
  It was agreed to suspend the session of the Extraordinary COP and to reconvene, no later than the fifth ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties which will be in May 2000, with a view to concluding the negotiations.

  The UK, together with its European partners, will continue to participate actively in the process, with a view to concluding the Biosafety Protocol as a cornerstone of the international framework for biosafety.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on implications for the United Kingdom of the breakdown in negotiations on the Biosafety protocol. [74148]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: The Government were disappointed that the Extraordinary Conference of the Parties that met in Cartagena last week was suspended and therefore not able to adopt the Biosafety Protocol. Among the key issues on which agreement could not be reached were how to deal with commodities intended for use as food or feed or for processing, the requirements for documentation or labelling of LMOs subject to transboundary movement and the relationship of the protocol to other international instruments.

  The Government consider it important to maintain the momentum gained in Cartagena towards the development of international rules and procedures covering the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs). The UK, together with its European partners, will continue to participate actively in the process, with a view to concluding the Biosafety Protocol as a cornerstone of the international framework for biosafety.

  There are no immediate implications for the UK of the breakdown since the European Community legislation already controls all releases and marketing of LMOs within the Community including imports into the Community. At the international level, the Government will continue to promote the use of the UNEP International Technical Guidelines for Safety in Biotechnology wherever possible since these are currently the mainstay of the international framework for biosafety.

  Private Toll Roads
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many private toll roads there are; and if he will list them. [73752]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are in the United Kingdom 3 public road crossings that are the subject of private finance concessions—at Dartford, Severn and Skye. There are also 8 privately owned tolled crossings linking public highways that were promoted by statute in the 18th and 19th centuries (and which must have their tolls approved by the Secretary of State). They are:

  The Aldwark Bridge, Yorkshire

  The Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol

  The Dunham Bridge, Lincolnshire

  The Rixton & Warburton Bridge, on the Manchester Ship Canal

  The Shrewsbury (Kingsland) Bridge

  The Swinford Bridge (Oxfordshire)

  The Whitchurch Bridge (Oxfordshire)

  The Whitney on Wye Bridge (Hereford & Worcester).

  840
  Also there are 2 toll roads that were established by Royal Charters of 1443 and 1619—respectively Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbots and College Road, Dulwich. They do not need to apply to the Secretary of State for approval of their tolls—and that is the case also where a toll is charged for the use of a private road. I do not have a complete list of private toll roads, but some examples are the roads of Kewstoke Woods, Weston-super-Mare, Kynance Cove, Cornwall, and Porlock, Devon.

  Domestic Air Conditioning
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the Building Services Research and Information Association's work on the fitting of domestic air-conditioning systems; what assessment his Department has made of future trends in domestic air-conditioning; how such trends affect the Government's climate change policies; and if he will make a statement. [74036]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The project on small scale air conditioning completed by the Building Services Research and Information Association last year is a valuable study into the future market potential for small scale air conditioning in the UK.

  A preliminary assessment suggests that domestic emissions of carbon dioxide might increase by a number in the range 0.1 to 0.2 million tonnes of carbon in 2010 because of increased use of domestic air conditioning. This range is equivalent to between about 0.05 and 0.1% of UK CO2, emissions in 1990. We are considering this with a variety of other policy options in our analysis of responses to the recent climate change consultation paper.

  Housing (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the London Borough of Wandsworth on the number of council owned properties that are boarded up in various parts of the Borough of Wandsworth, waiting to be sold. [74295]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have had no such discussions. Specific figures for the numbers of boarded up properties awaiting sale are not recorded as part of the Housing Investment Programme process.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Leader of Wandsworth Council on the Council's policy to develop low cost housing within the borough; and if he will make a statement. [74295]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Ministers have had no discussions with the Leader of Wandsworth Council about its policy of providing low cost housing. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to his question on 5 June 1998,Official Report, column 373.

  I have no plans to make a statement.

  Departmental Websites
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the cost of the Department's website is projected to rise to £550,000 in the year 2000–01. [74008]
  841
  Mr. Meacher
  DETR's Web site has grown rapidly in the past year: the number of hits per month is 16 times higher and the volume of information on the site has trebled. This is in line with the Government's policy of making as much information as possible available via electronic media.

  The projected rise in expenditure reflects continued anticipated growth in the provision of on-line information over the next two years. It also reflects the development of e-commerce platforms and more on-line searchable databases.

  Household Projections
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the research commissioned by his Department on the disparity between the rate of household formation and the number of dwellings completed. [73919]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: Research which has been commissioned by my Department to investigate the accuracy of certain housing data that are provided by local authorities has not yet been completed. The Department's policy is to publish research unless there are good reasons not to do so.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish revised household projections as a range of figures, and explain the assumptions made in so doing. [73916]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: The Government agreed in their response to the report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee on Housing that suitable sensitivity analyses would be published alongside the next set of household projections (Cm 4080, para 125).

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he is offering to local authorities on the use of the predicted rates of household formations in drawing up local development plans. [73917]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: Planning Policy Guidance note 11 "Regional Planning", a draft of which was published for consultation on 15 February, makes clear that regional planning bodies should work with Government Offices and other regional stakeholders to establish the level of housing required to meet the region's housing needs. In making this assessment, the Government's latest published household projections should be taken into account. Urban capacity studies should also be undertaken. Against this background of need and capacity, regional planning bodies are expected to take a realistic and responsible approach to future housing provision and should justify their views at the public examination of draft regional planning guidance. In preparing development plans (structure plans and UDPs) local authorities will be expected to reflect the housing figures set out in Regional Planning Guidance issued by the Secretary of State. Outside UDP areas, local plans are expected to be in conformity with the relevant structure plan.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish new household projections. [73918]
  842
  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer Wednesday 3 March 1999]: The task of preparing the revised household projections has yet to be completed and a timetable for their publication has therefore still to be determined.

  Vehicle Registration Details
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require a person selling a motor vehicle to provide the odometer mileage at the time of sale and for the information to be printed on the registration document for the vehicle. [74781]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government are currently reviewing their policy on collection of mileage information. The Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team, set up by the Home Office, is considering the options and will be making recommendations shortly.

  Brown-field Sites
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many hectares of brown-field sites have been developed for private residential accommodation since January 1998. [74686]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is not yet available. Latest figures, which relate to 1993, show the number of hectares of 'land previously developed for urban uses' (as defined by the Department's Land Use Change Statistics) that changed to residential use. These can be found in Annex A of the publication "Land Use Change in England No.13", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

  The Land Use Change Statistics can provide more recent estimates for (a) the percentage of land changing to residential use that was previously developed, and (b) the percentage of new dwellings built on previously developed land. In 1996, the latest year for which a reliable estimate is available, 47 per cent. of land changing to residential use was previously developed, and 53 per cent. of new dwellings were built on previously developed land (56 per cent. including conversion of existing dwellings).

  We will be investigating the robustness of figures relating to hectares of land changing use to see if this will enable more timely provision of results.

  Acid Rain
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to support the proposals due to be considered by the European Commission in March to impose national emission ceilings on acid rain gases; and if he will make a statement. [74372]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have supported the EC Acidification Strategy as a means of reducing ecosystem damage from acid emissions, and will continue to do so. It also supports the principle of a national emission ceilings directive. The Government will give careful consideration to the detail of the proposed directive once it has been
  843
  published by the European Commission. Both the Strategy and the proposed directive will take forward the large reductions the UK has already achieved and further reductions planned for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions. Between 1990 and 1996 the UK reduced total sulphur dioxide emissions by 46% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 25%. Current policies are expected to deliver reductions of 74% and 58% respectively by 2010.

  English Partnerships
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the expected spend of English Partnerships for the current year for the(a) North West, (b) North East, (c) West Midlands, (d) East Midlands and (e) Yorkshire and Humberside Regions. [74672]

  Mr. Caborn
  Based on the latest estimates, the total expected spend for 1998–99 for these regions of English Partnerships is as follows:

  £million

  (a) North West

  92.0

  (b) North East

  47.0

  (c) West Midlands

  48.0

  (d) East Midlands

  26.5

  (e) Yorkshire and Humberside

  53.0

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the funding available to English Partnerships for the year 1999–2000 is planned to be retained centrally; and what projects are currently being considered for this funding.[74670]

  Mr. Caborn
  The total land and property programme, excluding the coalfields portfolio, for 1999–2000 is projected to be £371.6m(based on DETR's receipts targets). It is currently proposed that EP will be allocated £46.6m to take forward the responsibilities identified on 23 June 1998, Official Report, column 438. These include the reclamation and development of the Greenwich site, the setting up and running of databases on brownfield sites, and managing the programme of Millennium Villages. EP will also be responsible for the land and property programme for London (£56.3m) for next year; and will manage the ring-fenced Coalfields Portfolio (£49.6m) on behalf of and in liaison with the RDAs.

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is English Partnerships' current draft budget for the regional development agencies for the financial year 1999–2000 for the(a) North West, (b) North East, (c) Yorkshire and Humberside, (d) West Midlands and (e) East Midlands Regions. [74669]

  Mr. Caborn
  The land and property budgets for Regional Development Agencies will be set by the Department, not by English Partnerships, in consultation with the RDAs. The budgets have yet to be finalised.
  844
  The latest provisional budgets for these Regions, for the main land and property programmes, excluding administration and the coalfields portfolio, for 1999–2000 are as follows:

  Region

  £million

  North West

  73

  North East

  30

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  41

  West Midlands

  34.3

  East Midlands

  16

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much additional funding to that made available by Government English Partnerships is expected to be generated from the public, private and voluntry sectors for the current year 1998–99 for the(a) North West, (b) North East, (c) Yorkshire and Humberside, (d) West Midlands, (e) East Midlands and Regions.[74671]

  Mr. Caborn
  The following amounts of additional funding are expected to be generated for projects in 1998–99:

  £million

  Region

  Other public

  Private

  North West

  18.71

  90.71

  North East

  25.89

  213.83

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  13.59

  65.14

  West Midlands

  23.75

  22.41

  East Midlands

  18.06

  27.89

  Note:

  1. The category "Other public" includes funding from voluntary sector organisations.

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much additional funding has been generated for every £1 spent by Government through English Partnerships in the(a) North West, (b) North East, (c) West Midlands,(d) East Midlands and (e) Yorkshire and Humberside regions in each of the past five years. [74674]

  Mr. Caborn
  Until April 1998, English Partnerships did not collect data of this sort on a regional basis. It is therefore not possible to provide a full answer.

  English Partnerships publishes estimates of the value of private sector funding in its Annual Reports. The national totals have been as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1994–95

  300

  1995–96

  580

  1996–97

  630

  1997–98

  767

  For 1998–99, the estimated additional private sector funding for these regions is expected to be as follows:

  Region

  £million

  North West

  90.71

  North East

  213.83

  West Midlands

  22.41

  East Midlands

  27.89

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  65.14

  845
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total budget allocation for English Partnerships for(a) 1998–99and (b) 1999–2000, broken down by funding held centrally, funding allocated by regional offices and funding transferred to the regional development agencies. [74673]

  Mr. Caborn
  The budget allocations for the English Partnerships land and property programme spend for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 is as follows:

  £million

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Central

  72.0

  46.6

  Regional

  339.3

  56.3

  Transferred to RDAs

  —

  267.7

  Total

  411.3

  370.6

  Notes:

  1. Central spend excludes the ring-fenced funding for the Greenwich Millennium Project.

  2. Regional spend in 1999–00 by EP is for London

  3. The above figures do not include the funding for the coalfields portfolio (49.6 million) which is to be managed centrally by EP on behalf of and in liaison with the RDAs.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department; [74366]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74355]

  Mr. Meale
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists".

  Ministerial Visits
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the visit of the Minister for London and Construction to Bromsgrove was first planned; and when the hon. Member for Bromsgrove was informed of the visit. [74561]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In January I agreed in principle to make a Labour Party campaign visit to the West Midlands on Friday 19 February. It was confirmed on Tuesday 16 February that I would visit Bromsgrove along with other West Midlands locations, and I wrote to the hon. Member at the House of Commons on Wednesday
  17 February.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Theatre and Museum Funding
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the funding of theatres and museums by local authorities. [74235]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: In 1997–98 local authority funding for the arts is estimated to have been £194 million, and for museums £139 million.

  Children's Theatre
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what representations he has received concerning the future of children's theatre in London;[74233]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon about its funding; and if he will make a statement. [74238]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: My Department has recently received a substantial number of letters from members of the public expressing concern for the future of the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. We have held no discussions with representatives of the Polka Theatre, as this is a matter for the London Arts Board, London Borough Grants and the London Borough of Merton. I understand also that the Unicorn Theatre is in the process of addressing the serious financial situation it faced earlier in this financial year.

  Museum Visits
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to collect information about the number of(a) primary and (b) secondary school visits to museums. [74237]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: Museums and galleries sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport all regularly collect data on school visits, and in most cases those by primary and secondary schools can be distinguished.

  The Museums and Galleries Commission hope to include a request for information on primary and secondary school visits in their DOMUS (Digest of Museum Statistics) general survey of Registered museums, questionnaires for which will be issued in the summer. This will furnish information for the wider sector.

  Funds have been allocated to allow free entry for children to currently charging national museums in England from April this year. Data on visits made by children will be collected on a regular basis so that the impact of this policy is carefully monitored. Most visits by organised school parties are already free.

  Millennium Dome
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government have for the Millennium Dome after 2000; and if he will make a statement. [75157]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government have today launched a competition to invite bids for alternative uses of the Dome on its present site after the Millennium Experience finishes at the end of December 2000. I have placed copies of the brochure for stage one of the process in the Libraries of the House. Decisions will be taken by the Government following appraisal of detailed bids, submitted at later stages, by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) and English Partnerships and consultation with the Millennium Commission.

  The Government's objective is to ensure a sustainable alternative use of the Dome which reflects its cultural significance and contributes fully to regeneration both of

  847
  the Greenwich Peninsula as a whole and more widely. The Government will wish to achieve good value for money from the disposal of the Dome and related land, and will have regard to whether the proposal would generate receipts which at least match those which could have been achieved if the site were clear and disposed of for ordinary commercial development. The Government will also pay close attention to the regeneration and cultural outputs likely to be delivered by any proposed use, and its compatibility with proposals for developing the rest of the peninsula and the wider Thames Gateway area.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in her Department. [74361]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".

  Web Sites (Parliamentary Privilege)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the President of the Council if she will set up a Select Committee to consider what parliamentary privilege will apply to hon. Members' web sites; and if she will make a statement. [73678]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Committee on Standards and Privileges is already able to examine any questions of privilege.

SCOTLAND

  Departmental Hospitality
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate his Department's expenditure on hospitality and entertainment in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [69254]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 4 February 1999]: Expenditure on official hospitality to the Scottish Office in the financial year 1997–98 was £62,596. Provision of £75,000 has been made for 1998–99. Budgets for the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 have not yet been set.

  Nurses (Pay)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which establishments in Scotland have paid a regular lead to nursing staff in each year since 1970; what was the annual value of the lead; what was its purpose; and if he will make a statement. [69055]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The exact information required is not available centrally.

  National terms and conditions for nursing staff include a range of leads and allowances paid under certain circumstances. Details of all such allowances were set out
  848
  in Annex 1 of the Health Departments' 1998 evidence to the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, copies of which are held in the Library. This included information on the current national rate of payment and a brief description of conditions for payment. Information on the value of leads and allowances is only available from 1986 onwards and copies of the relevant circulars issued to the NHS in Scotland have been placed in the Library. All NHS bodies which employ nurses on national contracts pay these leads and allowances, if qualifying conditions are met. Since 1994 employers have had the flexibility to increase leads and allowances locally, which some NHS Trusts have done. In their sixteenth report for 1999, laid before Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, the Review Body recommended that on-call and stand-by allowances should be increased by 19% from 1 April 1999 and urged Trusts to increase relevant leads and allowances.

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

  Single Currency
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the subject areas within his Department's responsibilities which will be covered by the information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency. [73667]

  Mr. Dewar
  The Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter eight of the Treasury's Outline National Changeover Plan provides further information. Copies of the Plan are available in the House Library.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to issue information from his Department to help the public make an informed decision when they vote on the single currency. [73656]

  Mr. Dewar
  Any plans by the Government to issue information during a referendum campaign on whether or not the UK should join the single currency would be made in light of the Government's response to the recommendations from the Neill Committee on the conduct of referendums. The Government will announce their conclusions on those recommendations when my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary publishes a White Paper and draft Bill before the summer recess.

  Brit Awards
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those Ministers in his Department who were present at the recent Brit awards in an official capacity; and who or what organisation was acting as their sponsor or host. [73490]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The Minister for Education, Scottish Office, attended the Brit awards ceremony as a guest of the British Phonographic Industry.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what official visits he, his Ministers or officials have paid to Zimbabwe since May 1997; whom they met; and what was discussed. [73458]

  Mr. Dewar
  No Scottish Office Minister has visited Zimbabwe in an official capacity since May 1997. The Chief Social Work Inspector attended the All Africa Conference on Community Service at Kadoma from 24 November to 2 December 1997 at the invitation of Prison Reform International to advise on the development of alternatives to prison. The Kadoma Declaration and Action Plan were subsequently endorsed by the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

  Air Miles
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Air Miles have been earned by him and each of his Ministers; and how he proposes to use them. [73331]

  Mr. Dewar
  The Government's policy on the use and disposal of air miles was set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12 January 1999,Official Report, column 141.

  Detailed information on any air miles earned by Ministers as a result of official travel is not recorded centrally.

  Agriculture Business Improvement
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the approved six year budget for the agriculture business improvement scheme of 1994; what sums have been made available to the Highland agriculture industry; and what plans he has to vire part of the approved budget to other sectors. [73191]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: The Agriculture Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) forms part of the Objective 1 Highlands and Islands Agricultural Programme (HIAP), along with the Marketing Scheme and the Crofting Township Development Scheme. There is no separate budget provision for the ABIS.

  The original budget provision for the HIAP was around £23 million, but due to the strength of sterling against the ecu, this figure is now nearer £20 million. To date, almost £14.6 million has been committed under HIAP, and all three Schemes remain open to applications from farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands.

  As a consequence of consistent underspending against the HIAP budget provision, it is possible that all of the resources allocated to the Programme will not now be required. The Government are reviewing the budgetary provision for HIAP, but no decision has been taken on the possible virement of resources. The Government are planning to announce improvements to the ABIS next month to help stimulate uptake of the available funds.

  Woodland Grant Scheme
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to change the rules of the Woodland Grant Scheme.[75416]
  850
  Mr. Macdonald
  We are making two changes to the rules of the Woodland Grant Scheme today.

  We are keen to improve value for money from the Woodland Grant Scheme and have concluded that the payments currently offered for creating new woodland do not reflect the economies of scale available when creating very large forests. Payments for these large forests significantly reduce the funds available for delivering our other forestry objectives.

  We have therefore decided that from today, fixed rate grants will no longer be available for applications to create new woodlands of 300 hectares or more. They will be replaced by a grant linked to the overall costs likely to be incurred by the applicant over the first ten years. Normally the grant will be 60 per cent. of the costs, which will be agreed in negotiation with the owners. However, where there are particularly important public benefits in relation to achieving Biodiversity Action Plan targets, or helping crofter or community-based forestry schemes, it may be possible to pay 80 per cent. of the agreed costs. These payments will not exceed the grant that would have been paid using the current fixed rate grants.

  The rules of the Woodland Grant Scheme have also been amended from today so that grants are no longer available for land where the landowner has terminated an agricultural tenancy by means of a contested notice to quit. This change, which follows a recommendation in the Scottish Land Reform Policy Group's Report, is intended to discourage landowners from terminating tenancies, against the wishes of their tenants, in order to convert the land to woodland.

  Both these changes will apply throughout Great Britain.

  More detailed information on these changes is available from the Forestry Commission.

  Student Hardship Funds
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the expenditure by Scottish universities on hardship funds in the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [74559]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government distribute resources to further and higher education institutions in the form of Access Funds to enable them to assist students whose access to, or continuance, in education may be inhibited by financial difficulties. Many institutions also have funds of their own which are used for a similar purpose.

  The Access Fund resources distributed to Universities and other higher education institutions in Scotland in respect of academic year 1998–99 amounted to £3.473 million.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74363]

  Mr. Dewar
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration and Nationality Department
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long the Immigration and Nationality Department paper room, where files are stored, is planned to remain closed for access to casework files. [72860]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate Croydon paper store, which holds casework files on which there is no current action, is no longer closed.

  Ethnic Minorities (Crime)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 February 1999,Official Report, columns 554–45,if he will list the submissions and briefing papers prepared by his officials on crime among ethnic minorities. [73625]

  Mr. Boateng
  I regard details of the frequency and substance of the advice I receive from officials as confidential. The incidence of crime amongst the general population is regarded as of importance, whatever the ethnic origins of the victims or alleged perpetrators, and I receive regular advice thereon.

  Police Contingent (Bosnia)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last visited the British police contingent in Bosnia. [73499]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have not visited Bosnia. The then Minister of State at the Home Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael), visited the British contingent in December 1997. 1 will be visiting Bosnia later this year. The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) hopes to visit at some point. A number of Chief Constables have visited as has a Home Office official.

  Women's Royal Voluntary Service
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has paid in each of the last three years to support the Women's Royal Voluntary Service; and how much of the money was in respect of that organisation's core activities. [74197]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Home Office has provided grant in aid to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) since its inception in 1938. The levels of grant for the years in question were as follows:

  £

  1996–97

  5,840,000

  1997–98

  5,548,000

  1998–99

  5,298,000

  All of the grant provided was in support of the organisation's core activities.

  Race Relations Act 1976
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to strengthen the provisions of the Race Relations Act in relation to the restaurant and hotel trade. [74016]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The restaurant and hotel trade is subject to the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 in terms of both employment and the provision of goods and services. There are some exceptions which may apply for genuine occupational qualifications designed to protect racial authenticity—for example, in certain restaurants.

  The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) has reviewed the Race Relations Act 1976 and put forward 57 recommendations for change including one to replace the genuine occupation qualifications for authenticity, which relate to working where food and drink are served in a particular setting. The Department has carried out a public consultation on the proposals which concluded on 18 December 1998.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced when he published the report of the Inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence that the Race Relations Act 1976 will be extended to cover the public services.

  The Government will bring forward proposals in due course, including a response to the CRE recommendations.

  CS Sprays
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints about CS sprays have been submitted to the Police Complaints Authority since 31 March 1998. [74250]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Police Complaints Authority have provided the following information regarding complaints which they have received between 1 April 1998 and 1 March 1999.

  Force

  Cases about CS

  Complaints about CS

  Avon and Somerset

  10

  11

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  13

  13

  Cheshire

  8

  10

  Cleveland

  12

  14

  Cumbria

  7

  9

  Derbyshire

  5

  5

  Devon and Cornwall

  12

  12

  Dorset

  2

  2

  Durham

  5

  5

  Dyfed-Powys

  1

  1

  Essex

  8

  9

  Gloucestershire

  7

  7

  Greater Manchester

  33

  33

  Hampshire

  12

  15

  Hertfordshire

  1

  1

  Humberside

  8

  9

  Kent

  14

  15

  Lancashire

  3

  4

  Leicestershire

  10

  10

  Lincolnshire

  3

  3

  Merseyside

  56

  60

  Metropolitan Area 1

  2

  2

  Metropolitan Area 2

  1

  1

  Metropolitan Area 3

  7

  7

  853

  Force

  Cases about CS

  Complaints about CS

  Metropolitan Area 4

  2

  2

  Metropolitan Area 5

  6

  6

  Norfolk

  4

  4

  North Wales

  6

  7

  North Yorkshire

  1

  1

  Northumbria

  12

  12

  South Wales

  18

  19

  South Yorkshire

  3

  3

  Staffordshire

  9

  10

  Suffolk

  11

  14

  Surrey

  1

  1

  Sussex

  1

  1

  Warwickshire

  7

  8

  West Mercia

  16

  16

  West Midlands

  36

  37

  West Yorkshire

  15

  18

  Wiltshire

  1

  1

  Grand totals

  396

  425

  Note:

  A case may include more than one complaint. The first column indicates the number of cases and the second indicates the number of actual complaints.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in England and Wales currently carry CS sprays. [74248]

  Mr. Boateng
  Decisions about equipping police officers with CS spray are the responsibility of chief officers of police. In this, they are governed and monitored by the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) self-defence, arrest and restraint sub-committee.

  ACPO have advised that details on the number of police officers trained in the use of CS spray are not held centrally. However, all but 3 police forces in England and Wales now issue CS spray to their officers. These are Northamptonshire, Sussex and Nottinghamshire.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if special constables are being trained to carry and use CS sprays. [74249]

  Mr. Boateng
  Special constables do carry and use CS spray. They use the same equipment and receive the same training as regular Police Constables in accordance with guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Firearms Act 1968
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what register of organisations authorised to hold devices under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 is compiled; if this register is available for inspection by members of the public; and where this register is held. [74251]

  Mr. Boateng
  Records of companies and individuals with the authority of the Secretary of State under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended) to purchase, acquire, possess, manufacture, sell or dispose of prohibited weapons are maintained by the Home Office for those in England and Wales and by the Scottish Office for those in Scotland. These records are not available for public inspection for reasons of security and commercial confidentiality.

  Kosovo Liberation Army
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on KLA fundraising activity in the United Kingdom, indicating what representations he has received on the issue. [74434]

  Mr. Straw
  I am not aware of any representations about fund raising by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA or UCK).

  The Government attach great importance to countering terrorist fund raising. Under our Presidency of the G8, we hosted a conference on terrorist fund raising in London last December. In the same month, my Department published a consultation paper, "Legislation Against Terrorism" (CM 4178), which invited views on proposals for strengthening the law in this area.

  The police and Security Service attach a high priority to countering all forms of terrorist activity in the United Kingdom. Any credible information or intelligence is fully investigated.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report from Mr. J. J. Rowe, QC on the operation in 1998 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989. [75334]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today arranged for copies of Mr. Rowe's report to be placed in the Library. Mr. Rowe recommends that the legislation should be renewed for a further twelve months. A draft Order is being laid before the House today which continues in force most provisions of the Act for a further twelve months. This order is subject to affirmative Resolution in both Houses.

  Horseracing
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the Tote. [74662]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) on 25 February 1999,Official Report, column 395.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74357]

  Mr. Straw
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in his Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".

  The Sunday Telegraph (Injunction)
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he held with(a) the Prime Minister, (b) officials at No. 10 Downing Street and (c) other Ministers prior to seeking an injunction against The Sunday Telegraph; and if he will make a statement. [74663]
  855
  Mr. Straw
  As has already been made clear by the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman, the Prime Minister's office was informed about the action I was taking. The Minister of State, Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng), was also informed. As I said to the House in my statement on 22 February 1999,Official Report, column 27,
  "This was a decision that I made, and for which I am personally responsible".

  Macpherson Report
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the independent investigator appointed to inquire into the unauthorised publication of extracts from the Macpherson report will have the power to interview persons who have had access to the report outside direct Government employment; and if he will make a statement. [74664]

  Mr. Straw
  The conduct of the inquiry, including the question of who should be interviewed, is a matter for the investigator to determine.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if Ministers who had access to the Macpherson report prior to 21 February will be interviewed in the leak investigation, instituted by his Permanent Secretary; and if he will make a statement; [74666]

  (2) if (a) officials and (b) ministerial advisers who had access to the Macpherson report prior to 21 February will be interviewed by the leak investigation instituted by his Permanent Secretary; and if he will make a statement. [74668]

  Mr. Straw
  It would not be in the interests of the leak investigation now under way to give these details.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the terms of reference of the leaks investigation instituted by his Permanent Secretary into the unauthorised publication of extracts from the Macpherson report; and if he will make a statement. [74667]

  Mr. Straw
  The independent investigator has been asked by my Permanent Secretary to establish who was responsible for the leak and what lessons might be learned for the future.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid Funding Council
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the loss to the Legal Aid Funding Council from fraud in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96, (c) 1996–97, (d) 1997–98 and (e) 1998–99. [74121]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Legal Aid Board is responsible for the administration of legal aid.

  An estimate of the amounts lost through fraud over the past five years cannot be provided as it is not possible to quantify accurately the amounts that have been fraudulently claimed. The claims will usually contain some element of bone fide work and the percentage
  856
  relating to false claiming cannot be accurately determined. However, the Legal Aid Board will seek to recover from solicitors any costs which were considered to be either wrongly or fraudulently claimed.

  The total amounts recovered from either negotiating repayment, recouping from further claims submitted or rejecting the claims as a result of the Legal Aid Board's investigations were:

  £

  1994–95

  524,276

  1995–96

  1,180,770

  1996–97

  807,706

  1997–98

  1,081,000

  1 April 1998 to 31 December 1998

  317,308

  The Legal Aid Board has an active approach to the prevention and detection of fraud or abuse of the legal aid scheme. Designated officers have been appointed in area offices to detect and investigate suspicious claims and take appropriate action at an early stage. It also has a Central Investigation section whose role is to undertake detailed investigations of suspected abuse or fraud referred to it. The Board's policy is to seek prosecution of individuals in all cases where there is substantial prima facie evidence of dishonesty.

  Jerome Charles
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will name the judge who took the decision at Aylesbury Crown Court in June 1998 to give bail to defendant, Jerome Charles. [74132]

  Mr. Hoon
  His Honour Judge Catlin granted bail on 26 June 1998.

  Censuses
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the current annual storage and maintenance costs for the original enumerators' books for the 1841/51–1911 decennial population censuses for England and Wales; and how many visitors to the Public Record Office in the last five years were granted access to(a) the original 1841–1891 census enumerators' books and (b) micro-film or other copies of those books. [74018]

  Mr. Hoon
  The current storage and maintenance costs for the original enumerators' books for the 1841/51 to 1911 decennial censuses for England and Wales are estimated at £225,000 per annum.

  In the last five years, 150 visitors to the Public Record Office have been granted access to original returns from the 1841 to 1891 censuses. No precise record has been kept of the number of visitors who have been granted access to micro-film or other copies of those books; our best estimate based on the number of visitors to the Census Room at Chancery Lane and, from 1997, to the Family Records Centre in Islington is 77,000 in 1993–94; 79,000 in 1994–95; 74,000 in 1995–96; 82,000 in 1996–97; 138,000 in 1997–98.
  857
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all instruments which have prescribed periods of extended retention of decennial census returns, under the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958.[74020]

  Mr. Hoon
  The following Lord Chancellor's Instruments under the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958 have prescribed periods of extended retention of decennial census returns by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and its successor the Office for National Statistics:Lord Chancellor's Instrument (Retention of Public Records) No. 5, 1985: allowed retention of the 1921 and 1951 returns for 10 years; now expired
  Lord Chancellor's Instrument (Retention of Public Records) No. 23, 1992: allowed retention of the 1961 returns for 10 years
  Lord Chancellor's Instrument (Retention of Public Records) No. 38, 1996: allowed retention of the 1921 and 1951 returns for an additional 10 years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if the 1921, 1951 and 1961 census returns are closed to public inspection for 100 years. [74019]

  Mr. Hoon
  The census returns for 1921, 1951 and 1961 are closed to public inspection for 100 years.

  The closure period is intended to safeguard the confidentiality of the personal information collected in the census. Successive Governments have given an undertaking that the information would remain confidential. Protection of the credibility of the undertaking is crucial to maintaining the quality of the information collected.

  Departmental Records
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications were approved during the period 1993 to 1998, under the provisions of section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958, to reduce previously determined periods of closure on departmental records. [74017]

  Mr. Hoon
  During the period 1993–98 inclusive, 142,000 applications were approved, under the provisions of section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958, to reduce previously determined periods of closure on departmental records.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74358]

  Mr. Hoon
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".

  Aldershot Magistrates Court
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what reports he has received on cases where there has been a failure to attend at Aldershot Magistrates Court in each of the last three years. [74665]
  858
  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor's Department collects some data on the number of witnesses expected to attend but who do not turn up. The data are obtained from a small sample of cases included in the witness waiting times survey that is undertaken for two weeks every June and November. The first such survey was undertaken in November 1997. The survey is carried out at all petty sessional division level and the results for North East Hampshire include the Alton courthouse as well as Aldershot.

  The November 1998 survey showed that 26% of witnesses, from a sample of 61 expected witnesses, did not attend. The equivalent figure for June 1998 was 12% from a sample of 33 and for November 1997, 22% from a sample of 55. No similar data are collected for defendants and other parties to proceedings and such data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

TREASURY

  10 Pence Starting Rate
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the
  Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to introduce the 10 pence starting rate of income tax. [72426]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government will introduce a 10 pence starting rate of income tax when it is economically right to do so. The Chancellor made this clear in his statement on the pre-Budget report. The new rate will be incorporated in the income tax system in the way that best meets the Government's objectives of improving work incentives and promoting a fair and efficient tax system.

  Economic Policy
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the ways in which tax, spending and monetary policy are co-ordinated. [72427]

  Mr. Milburn
  Effective monetary and fiscal policy co-ordination is assured by setting out policy objectives in an open and transparent way and through the Treasury observer at MPC meetings. The success of the arrangements is demonstrated by the fact that inflation is close to target, the public finances are in sound order and long-term interest rates are around their lowest level for 40 years.

  Euro
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's policy with respect to the exchange rate between sterling and the euro. [72428]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government's policy is for a stable and competitive sterling-euro exchange rate over the medium term, consistent with the objective of price stability.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on preparations for eventual British membership of the eurozone. [72441]
  859
  Ms Hewitt
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23 February 1999,Official Report, columns 179–84.

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to help business adjust to the introduction of the euro. [72442]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury has run a major information and direct mail campaign for the 1.6 million small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with a business telephone line. We have established twelve regional euro forums to take forward preparations at a local level. Firms can now also pay taxes, file accounts, issue and redenominate shares and receive certain grants in euro.

  The Government's business information campaign was highly successful and resulted in over 350,000 copies of the Treasury's business factsheets being requested by UK firms and intermediaries. In addition, three quarters of a million factsheet leaflets have been requested and there have been three and a half million "hits" on our euro website.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with(a) the EU Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers about how the rate of entry for sterling joining the euro will be fixed. [74130]

  Ms Hewitt
  The procedure for adopting the exchange rate at which sterling would be fixed irrevocably against the euro, should the UK decide to join the single currency, is set out in Article 109L(5) of the Treaty.

  Fuel Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from the transport and road haulage industry about tax on fuel. [72429]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have received a number of representations from the Road Haulage industry about the tax on fuel. Representations have been received directly from the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and the Automobile Association. In addition many haulage operators have written to their Members of Parliament who have passed the letters on to Government Ministers.

  All of the representations received will be carefully considered in the run up to the Budget on 9 March and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the fuel tax escalator on the viability of the UK transport industry. [72433]

  Ms Hewitt
  The viability and competitiveness of the UK transport industry is taken into account when setting road fuel duty rates.

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the revenue which the Exchequer will receive in 1998–99 from the taxation of motor fuels; and what were the figures for the previous three years. [72435]

  Ms Hewitt
  The latest forecast for the receipts from all hydrocarbon oil duties for 1998–99 is £21.8 billion.
  860
  As set out in Table K2 of the Customs and Excise Annual Report, receipts from duty on motor fuels for the previous three years were £15,436 million in 1995–96, £16,928 million in 1996–97 and £19,246 million in 1997–98.

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from motoring organisations on his policy of increasing petrol and diesel prices each year. [72451]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have received representations from the Automobile Association about the policy of increasing petrol and diesel prices each year.

  The representations will be carefully considered in the run up to the Budget on 9 March and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of low-income families in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland who will benefit from the working families tax credit. [72430]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We estimate that in the first full year, 1.3 million families in the UK will benefit from the help given by the Working Families Tax Credit and of these 130,000 of them will be families in Scotland.

  Beer Duty
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding duties on beer. [72431]

  Mrs. Roche
  Treasury Ministers receive many representations about beer duty including letters from members of the public. In the run up to the Budget formal submissions have been received from the Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association, the Society of Independent Brewers and the Campaign for Real Ale.

  Exchequer Share of GDP
  Mr. Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of GDP was represented by all taxes and national insurance in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; and what is his forecast for 1998–99. [72434]

  Mr. Milburn
  The ratio of net taxes and social security contributions to GDP was 35.4 per cent. in 1996–97 and 36.4 per cent. in 1997–98. The new forecast for 1998–99 will be published on 9 March with the Budget.

  Inflation Target
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress made towards meeting his inflation target.[72436]

  Ms Hewitt
  The success of the new monetary framework is demonstrated by the fact that inflation is close to its target, long-term interest rates are around their lowest level for 40 years and inflation expectations have fallen.

  Public Investment
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase public investment over the next three years. [72437]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Government intend to double net public investment by 2002.

  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his plans for increasing public investment over the next three years. [72446]

  Mr. Milburn
  My right hon. Friend receives representations from many organisations and individuals about public investment, which is set to rise over the next three years from £4.3 billion net in 1998–99 to £10.8 billion in 2001–02. This extra investment will help reverse the decline in net wealth and deliver improved public services in health and education.

  Money Purchase Pension Schemes
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the operation of money purchase pension schemes. [72438]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury and DSS published a consultation document—"Helping to Deliver Stakeholder Pensions: Flexibility in Pension Investment"—on 3 February. It proposes a new financial instrument which will be suitable for all money purchase pension schemes including stakeholder pensions.

  Domestic Tourism (VAT)
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the VAT regime as it is applied to the tourism and hospitality industry in the United Kingdom. [72444]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Most tourist services, including hotel and holiday accommodation, are subject to VAT at 17.5 per cent. However, no VAT is levied on public transport, printed matter and many items of food, and tourists also benefit from this. Additionally, many small businesses in the tourist industry are not VAT registered and thus charge no VAT at all to their customers.

  Business (Tax Burden)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the tax burden on business. [R][72445]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Chancellor has received a number of representations on a variety of subjects, including tax.

  Building Societies
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what analysis the Government have made of the long-term advantages of a substantial mutual building society sector. [72447]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government are aware of a number of studies in this field.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. Fabian Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what support the Treasury is giving to local credit unions; and if he will make a statement. [72448]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury does not provide direct support to credit unions, but is responsible for their legislative framework. The Treasury is currently consulting on proposals to remove some of the restrictions on their powers, and established a task force to consider how banks and building societies could assist credit unions. I also await the report of a policy action team which is looking at other ways to help their development.

  Savings Ratio
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he takes of the savings ratio in policy decisions. [72449]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government are aiming to promote economic stability and part of this strategy is to avoid large cyclical swings in the saving ratio such as those seen in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

  Road Haulage Taxes
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the road haulage industry on the levels of vehicle excise duty and fuel tax. [72450]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have received a number of representations from the road haulage industry about vehicle excise duty and fuel tax. Representations have been received directly from the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and the Automobile Association. In addition Government Ministers have received letters from other Members of Parliament and from individual haulage operators.

  All of the representations received will be carefully considered in the run up to the Budget on 9 March and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

  Exports
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the value of the United Kingdom's exports in the last 12 months to countries that are currently in recession. [72452]

  Ms Hewitt
  A quarter of the world is in recession and no country is immune from the effects of the current instability in the world economy. For example, in the three months to January, the value of UK exports to Japan and South Korea were down 25 per cent. on a year earlier, and even larger falls have been seen in exports to various other crisis-bound economies in Asia and elsewhere. But as a result of the tough and decisive action the Government has taken, Britain is now better placed to steer a course of stability in an uncertain and unstable world.

  Census (2001)
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government's proposals for the 2001 Census of Population will be published; and if he will make a statement. [75406]
  863
  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have decided that, subject to appropriate legislative approval, a Census of Population should be taken throughout the United Kingdom in 2001; the proposed date is Sunday 29 April. Further details are published today in "The 2001 Census of Population" (Cm 4253), which I have presented to Parliament jointly with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  In April this year the Census Offices will conduct a Census Rehearsal with the aim of making sure that the procedures for delivery and collection of the census forms, and the systems for processing the data and producing outputs, will be effective. The Census Rehearsal will also be used as the final opportunity to assess public reaction to the proposed census questions.

  After evaluation of the 1999 Census Rehearsal results, the Government in Westminster will prepare a draft Order in Council with respect to the Census in England and Wales and will lay it before Parliament for approval in accordance with the Census Act 1920. As a result of devolution, it will be for the Scottish Parliament to make the necessary specific arrangements for the conduct of the Census in Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the arrangements for the Census there will be made by the local administration.

  Employee Transport
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will remove the tax burden on employers providing public transport for their work force; and if he will make a statement. [72439]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestions.

  Illegal Drugs (Devon and Cornwall)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of illegal drugs have been seized by Customs and Excise in Devon and Cornwall over the last five years.[73651]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: Over the last five financial years (up to and including 24 February 1999), Customs and Excise has seized some 31,625 kgs of illegal drugs in Devon and Cornwall.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to increase the level of Class B drug seizures by Customs and Excise in Devon and Cornwall over the next two years. [73654]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: Customs measure their effectiveness in the fight against drugs smuggling by concentrating on the drugs prevented from entering the UK and on the number of trafficking organisations disrupted and dismantled rather than on the level of seizures and the Department does not, therefore, plan on the basis of seizures made either nationally or locally.

  Drug Sniffer Dog Unit, Plymouth
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dogs there were in the Drug Sniffer Dog Unit at Plymouth prior to its closure.[73652]
  864
  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: The Customs drugs dog unit at Plymouth comprises of three dogs. The unit is still operational. Customs managers in the south-west are currently reviewing the local deployment of anti-smuggling resources; closure is only one of a number of options currently being considered.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what official visits he, his Ministers or officials have paid to Zimbabwe since May 1997; whom they met; and what was discussed. [73465]

  Ms Hewitt
  No Treasury ministers have visited Zimbabwe on official business since May 1997. There are no central records of official travel by Treasury officials and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Debt Relief
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of CAFOD's proposals for the relief of debt. [74265]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Chancellor took into account the views of CAFOD, among others, in his recent proposals to deliver faster, deeper and wider debt relief to heavily indebted poor countries.

DEFENCE

  Defence Secondary Care Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Defence Secondary Care Agency; and what was the figure at the time of its establishment. [72795]

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

  Letter from Major General C. G. Callow to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 4 March 1999:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about how many people are currently employed by the Defence Secondary Care Agency and what was the figure at the time of its establishment. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the DSCA.
  The Agency was launched on 30 April 1996, bringing together all the single Service elements of the Defence Medical Services. We do not have available a staffing total of sufficient accuracy for that day. However, our Annual Report for the year 1996/97 records the average total number of military and civilian personnel within the DSCA as 2,519.
  We now have a total of 2,504 personnel currently employed in the Agency.

  Army Aircraft Crashes
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the attributed causes of each Army aircraft crash in the last five years. [72934]

  Mr. Spellar
  There have been a total of 13 Army aircraft accidents during the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1998. A list of these accidents and attributable cause is shown in the table.
  865

  Date

  Aircraft

  Location

  Cause

  19 March 1994

  Lynx

  Crossmaglen

  NOR

  10 April 1994

  Lynx

  Portadown

  HF(A)

  23 July 1994

  Lynx

  Crossmaglen

  HF(A)

  22 September 1994

  Lynx

  Mendig Germany

  TF

  11 November 1994

  Gazelle

  Middle Wallop

  HF(A)

  20 August 1995

  Lynx

  Ploce Croatia

  HF(A)

  3 April 1996

  Lynx

  Crossmaglen

  HF(N)

  7 September 1996

  Lynx

  Stafford

  TF

  3 October 1996

  Gazelle

  Belize

  HF(N)

  14 March 1997

  Gazelle

  Middle Wallop

  HF(O)

  28 September 1997

  Gazelle

  Carlisle

  HF(A)

  12 March 1998

  Gazelle

  Nanyuki Kenya

  HF(A)

  22 December 1998

  Lynx

  Gornji Vakuf Bosnia

  1—

  1BOI not yet finalised

  Key:

  NOR Natural and Operating Risks

  HF(A) Human Factor—Aircrew

  HF(N) Human Factor—Non Aircrew

  HF/O Human Factor—Organisational Fault

  TF Technical Fault

  Defence Agencies
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will set targets for the(a) Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency and (b) Army Personnel Centre for the year 1999–2000. [72804]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 24 February 1999]: I will publish targets for the Army Personnel Centre, APC, for the year 1999–2000 by the end of April 1999.

  The Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency will cease to exist after 31 March 1999. Following the Strategic Defence Review, a new, tri-Service Defence Storage and Distribution Agency will be established from 1 April 1999. The new Agency's Key Targets will also be published in April this year.

  Defence Analytical Services Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which targets the Defence Analytical Services Agency did not meet in 1997–98; and what monitoring he has undertaken for those targets in 1998–99. [71903]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: The Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) met all its Key Targets in 1997–98. The performance of DASA is monitored by the Owner's Advisory Board which is chaired by the Owner—the department's Principal Finance Officer—and consists of customer representatives and external advisers. The Chief Executive of DASA has frequent formal and informal meetings with the Owner to report on progress during the year and submits periodic written reports on progress against targets. The Owner acts for the Secretary of State in overseeing the performance of the agency.

  Gun and Rocket Propellant
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the Defence Scientific Advisory Committee's 1997 report on the manufacture of gun and rocket propellant in the UK. [73393]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 26 February 1999]: No. I am withholding publication under Exemptions 2 and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Nuclear Tests (India and Pakistan)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the actions taken by his Department further to the testing of nuclear devices by(a) India and (b) Pakistan. [73978]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 2 March 1999,Official Report, column 685. In support of the policy set out there my Department has reviewed and strengthened its procedures to ensure that no defence-sponsored training is provided to Indian or Pakistani nationals that might contribute to the development of nuclear weapons or their means of delivery.

  Military Exercises
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the benefits of the combined maritime and air exercise in Malaysia carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72846]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the combined maritime and air exercise in Malaysia carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72837]

  (3) how many personnel were deployed on the combined maritime and air exercise in Malaysia carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72970]

  (4) if he will list those countries which had armed forces involved in the combined maritime and air exercises in Malaysia carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72974]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: The Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy (RN) participated in Exercise FLYING FISH 97, which took place in Malaysia as part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), between 12–30 April 1997. The RAF deployed 450 personnel specifically to participate in this exercise. In addition, the RN had a number of ships in the area, taking part in Exercise OCEAN WAVE, from which approximately 1,900 personnel participated in Exercise FLYING FISH. The other armed forces participating were from New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. Exercise FLYING FISH was the first of a new series of multinational tri-service exercises conducted under the auspices of the FPDA. The UK made the largest contribution to the exercise and also provided the command platform from which the exercise was controlled. The exercise improved the operational capability of UK forces which might need in future to deploy to the Asia-Pacific region in support of the FPDA. It also demonstrated the UK's capability to operate and sustain a RAF and RN deployment over large distances from the UK, and our ability to co-operate effectively with our other FPDA partners.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many personnel were deployed on the two desert exercises in Jordan carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72826]

  (2) what was the cost of the two desert exercises in Jordan carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72827]

  867
  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 1 March 1999] Nine hundred and ninety seven UK servicemen were deployed on the two desert exercises conducted in Jordan in September and October 1997. The in-theatre cost of the exercises was £1.7 million, excluding the cost of ammunition and of spares consumed during the exercise which are not readily identifiable.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the benefits of the brigade exercise in Poland carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72832]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the brigade exercise in Poland carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72834]

  (3) what was the cost of the brigade exercise in Poland carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72973]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: Participation in Exercise ULAN EAGLE, which took place at the Drawko-Pomorskie training area in North East Poland in October 1997, was intended to give 20 Armoured Brigade training experience in warfighting at formation level, and to increase the readiness state of Brigade. The exercise is assessed to have achieved its aims. The cost of the exercise was £3.4 million, including movement costs to and from Poland but excluding the cost of ammunition and of spares consumed during the exercise.

  Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom the Secretary of the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee is responsible. [74311]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Secretary of the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee is responsible to the Committee as a whole; that is the Government Members and Press and Broadcasting Members alike. His accountability was included in Open Government Document No. 93/06, which was published when the old D Notices were replaced by the current Defence Advisory Notices on 1 August 1993. A copy of the OGD was placed in the House of Commons Library on 23 July 1993.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the Ministry of Defence Police Agency is answerable to him. [74310]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The MOD Police is an Agency of the Ministry of Defence and the Secretary of State for Defence has ultimate responsibility for determining the size, policy and resources framework within which the Agency operates, acting through the MOD Police Committee. The Chief Constable has, however, exclusive statutory authority for the professional direction and control of MOD Police officers and the Force is independent from political or Departmental influence in the maintenance and operation of the law.

  Gurkhas
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to discuss with the Indian Government a review of pensions paid to retired Gurkhas who have served with the British and Indian armies. [74128]

  Mr. Spellar
  Gurkha pensions are paid in accordance with the 1947 Tri-Partite Agreement between the UK, India and Nepal and are linked to the Indian Army pension code. Last year a review took place, incorporating the 1996 Indian Government 5th Pay Commission, which resulted in substantial rises for all our 26,000 British Gurkha pensioners and their families. The pension increases resulting from this review have been backdated
  to 1 January 1996. We have no current plans to hold discussions with the Indian Government on the issue of Gurkha pensions.

  Jungle Training Exercise (Thailand)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries had armed forces involved in the jungle training exercise in Thailand carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72848]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: Thailand and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the jungle training exercise in Thailand carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998.[72851]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: This exercise, involving a company of Royal Marines, was intended to maintain and develop their capability to conduct operations in a jungle environment. It was assessed to have succeeded in its aim.

  Duke of York's Military School
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to set targets for the Duke of York's Military School for 1999–2000. [72986]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: I expect to set targets for the Duke of York's Military School by the end of April 1999.

  Alpine Avalanches
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance he has offered to the Austrian and French authorities following avalanche emergencies in the Alps in the last 12 months. [74136]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: During the recent avalanche emergency in Austria, the Austrian authorities requested help from nations in the form of medium lift helicopters. This was the first request of its type in the last 12 months that we have received from either Austrian or French authorities. Our offer of a Puma helicopter was not required as lift from nations with nearer military bases was more readily available.

  Landmine Clearance
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving members of Her Majesty's armed forces qualified in landmine clearance are currently involved in mine clearance operations; where they are serving; and to whom they are on secondment. [74207]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: In total 59 personnel are involved in, or training for, mine clearance operations, as follows:
  Geneva Centre for International Humanitarian Demining—One Officer as technical adviser;
  Bosnia Mine Action Centre (Mostar)—One Officer as technical adviser;
  UN Development Programme (New York)—One Officer on Training Study Team;
  UK Mine Information and Training Centre, Minley—Three personnel;
  Falklands Islands Explosive Ordnance Destruction detachment—Six personnel;
  Bosnia Stabilisation Force—46 personnel involved in co-ordination of mine clearance, emergency disposal of mines and unexploded ordnance, and mine awareness training;
  Kosovo—One officer in Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Mine Action Cell.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the use of serving members of Her Majesty's armed forces in landmine clearance work overseas. [74208]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: As part of the programme to increase the Ministry of Defence's contribution to humanitarian de-mining, which I announced on 27 October 1997, Official Report, columns 609–20, we have offered up to five additional military personnel to the United Nations in support of de-mining projects overseas.

  Deployment
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current proportion of(a) the Army and (b) Land Command, (i) committed and (ii) warned to deploy for operations. [74058]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 2 March 1999] The information requested is as follows:

  percentage

  Committed to operations

  Warned to deploy on operations

  Army personnel

  35.6

  20.4

  Land Command personnel

  54.6

  31.3

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Ministry of Defence Police; and what was the figure ten years ago. [72991]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
  870
  Letter from Walter Boreham to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 4 March 1999:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the complement of the Ministry of Defence Police, both the current manning levels and those of ten years ago, as this falls into my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.
  The strength for the Ministry of Defence Police on 23rd February 1999 was 3,609 with 245 civilian support staff. The strength figure of 1st May 1989 was 4,613 and 92 civilian staff.

  Army District Organisations
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the restructuring of the Army district organisation in the United Kingdom. [75407]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I announced on 28 October 1998,Official Report, columns 360–67, that, subject to consultation with the Trades Unions, we planned to restructure the Army district organisation to produce a more effective and efficient framework for the administration of Army units in the United Kingdom. Following this consultation, I am now able to confirm that the restructuring will proceed as follows: the number of regional districts will reduce from six to three, covering Scotland and the North of England, Wales and the West of England and South-East England. Divisional headquarters for the higher administration of Army units in these regions will be at Craigiehall near Edinburgh, Shrewsbury and Aldershot. These reforms will also mean that the headquarters of the 3rdDivision, based at Bulford in Wiltshire, will be freed of its regional administrative responsibilities and able to concentrate on its operational role including the command of its deployable units throughout the country. In addition, the London District headquarters will reduce to the status of a brigade headquarters and the headquarters of 43 (Wessex) Brigade will be transferred from Exeter to Bulford.

  As I announced on 2 March 1999, Official Report, column 657, units of the Defence Vetting Agency which are currently widespread around the country will be collocated at Imphal Barracks, York, making use of space vacated by the headquarters 2ndDivision.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74352]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Professional lobbyists have no role in formulating policy within the Ministry of Defence.

  Defence Diplomacy
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the budget for defence diplomacy for 1999–2000. [74655]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The budget for centrally funded Defence Diplomacy activities for 1999–2000 will be found from within the Defence Military Assistance Fund (DMAF). The planned DMAF budget for the next financial year will be around £16 million. This represents an increase of some £5 million over 1998–99. The enhancement is specifically intended to fund additional Defence Diplomacy initiatives.
  871
  No decision has yet been taken on the final allocation of the DMAF for 1999–2000, but the majority will be utilised to fund Defence Diplomacy-related activities. The remainder will subsidise military assistance under the Support to Wider British Interests Mission.

  Top Level Budget Holders also fund activities undertaken as part of the Defence Diplomacy Mission. Figures for these activities are not identified separately.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means his Department assesses the impact of defence diplomacy. [74654]

  Mr. George Robertson
  We are developing a range of Defence Diplomacy objectives that will be embedded in the Department's planning process. Performance against those objectives will be assessed for each of the management areas concerned. In addition, a Committee chaired by the Deputy Policy Director has been created to oversee the implementation of Defence Diplomacy activities.

  Chief of Defence Logistics
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the planned budget and total staff of the Chief of Defence Logistics after 1 April 2000. [74652]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Logistics (CDL), will form on 1 April 1999. It will combine the three existing single-service logistics organisations, and headquarters logistic staff currently based in London, into a fully integrated logistics organisation. CDL will operate as a Top Level Budget Holder.

  Detailed budgetary allocations to individual budget holders in the Ministry of Defence are made only one year in advance. Details for 1999–2000 will appear in the forthcoming Supply Estimates for that year and in the supporting information published alongside the Government Expenditure Plans. But, in broad terms, our plans for the financial year 2000–2001 envisage cash expenditure of the order of £4.5 billion in CDL's area of responsibility. The detailed budget will be published next year in Supply Estimates for 2000–2001.

  Work continues to determine the structure of the unified DLO post 1 April 2000, however, initial staff numbers will be broadly comparable to the sum of the three Principal Administrative Officers' organisations which, as published in the UK Defence Statistics 1998, number some 41,400.

  Unified Defence Logistics Organisation
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what logistical responsibilities and budgets will be left to the individual services following the implementation of a unified defence logistics organisation after 1 April 2000. [74648]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Following the implementation of the unified defence logistics organisation, the individual services will retain responsibility (including the budgets) for logistics at the Front-line.

  Defence Strategic Plan
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends publishing his Department's annual Defence Strategic Plan. [74657]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Defence Strategic Plan is a classified document and is therefore not published.

  Strategic Defence Review
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to enable the Defence Council to exercise collective ownership of the implementation of the Strategic Defence Review. [74656]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Implementation of the Strategic Defence Review is discussed regularly at meetings of the Defence Council.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key milestones and timetables for deliverance of the Strategic Defence Review implementation. [74646]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Key targets for the Department and a timetable for achieving them, reflecting the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review, were set out in the Ministry of Defence's Public Service Agreement, published in December.

  A number of key milestones in the implementation of the Strategic Defence Review have already been achieved, including: decisions on the command structure, location and timetable for the establishment of a Joint Helicopter Command involving battlefield helicopters of all three Services, and a Joint RN/RAF Harrier force (Joint Force 2000); detailed decisions on the restructuring of the TA; the establishment of a Veterans Advice Unit and an inter-Departmental Services Families Task Force; plans for the reorganisation and enhancement of the Defence Medical Services; and the trialling of the principles of Smart Procurement through pilot Integrated Project Teams in the Procurement Executive and the logistics area.

  Over the coming weeks, I anticipate being able to announce further significant achievements in the implementation of SDR measures.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what practical measures he plans to take to ensure that the implementation of the Strategic Defence Review is an open and transparent process. [74658]

  Mr. George Robertson
  We have sought to ensure that the openness which characterised the conduct of the Strategic Defence Review continues in its implementation. We have consulted widely within the Department, with the Trades Unions and with affected local authorities on implementation of individual aspects, and will continue to do so. Where appropriate (for example, in taking forward the Smart Procurement initiative) we have involved defence industry. We consulted widely on the detailed implementation of TA restructuring and on the restructuring and enhancement of the Defence Medical Service before taking decisions. I held a seminar at RUSI on 22 October 1998 to discuss the Review with journalists, academics and other
  873
  interested parties. We have kept Parliament informed as implementation of individual aspects progresses and will report further in the Defence White Paper later in the year.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sierra Leone Report
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when and how he was made aware of certain key conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone; [73702]

  (2) by what means the copy of the draft report of the Foreign Affairs Committee Sierra Leone inquiry which was sent in the second week in January was delivered to his office; [73574]

  (3) when (a) he and (b) his Ministers first saw the copy of the draft report of the Foreign Affairs Committee Sierra Leone inquiry sent to his office during the second week of January; and what he did with the draft report; [73576]

  (4) what use was made by (a) him, (b)
  his Ministers, (c) his Department's PPSs, (d) advisers and (e) officials of the draft report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone; [73704]

  (5) with whom, and when, he discussed the draft report of the Foreign Affairs Committee Sierra Leone inquiry which was sent in the second week in January; [73575]

  (6) when (a) the Minister who signed the written answer to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) of 16 February 1999, Official Report,column 751, and (b) the officials who drafted the written answer first learnt of the fact that a copy of the draft report had been received in his Department; [73636]

  (7) how many copies were made of the leaked Foreign Affairs Committee documents relating to the committee's Sierra Leone inquiry; and to whom they were circulated; [73799]

  (8) who received the fax containing the leaked Foreign Affairs Committee document received in the second week of January; and if he will list the (a) officials and (b) Ministers who had sight of the document; [73939]

  (9) with which other members of the Government (a) he and (b) his Ministers discussed the existence of leaked Foreign Affairs Committee documents before the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) agreed to the answer to the question from the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) of 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 259–60; [73911]

  (10) in which office the fax machine that received the leaked Foreign Affairs Committee document relating to the committee's Sierra Leone Inquiry was located; [73936]

  (11) when (a) he, (b) any of his Ministers, (c) his officials, (d) his advisers and (e) his departmental parliamentary private secretaries first discussed leaked Foreign Affairs Committee documents relating to the Committee's Sierra Leone inquiry with the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross); [73897]

  874

  (12) if he will place in the Library the original fax of the leaked Foreign Affairs Committee document relating to the committee's Sierra Leone Inquiry; [73937]

  (13) when (a) he, (b) his Ministers, (c) his officials, (d) his advisers and (e) his departmental parliamentary private secretaries first knew that the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) was the source of the leaked documents relating to the Foreign Affairs Committee's Sierra Leone inquiry; [73896]

  (14) how many pages long the faxed document was containing the draft Foreign Affairs Committee report on the Sierra Leone inquiry which was received during the second week in January; [73938]

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), his PPS, his advisers, or civil servants, had sight of or discussions about the Foreign Affairs Committee's Sierra Leone (i) report, (ii) draft report and (iii) amendments or selected details of the draft or final version before 8 am on Tuesday 9 February; [73699]

  (2) who was responsible for the leaks to him subsequent to the leak of the full draft of the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone; [73696]

  (3) what action he took to report to the House the leak of the key conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan), 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 259–60; [73701]

  (4) who in his office saw the leaked draft of the Foreign Affairs Committee's report on Sierra Leone; if it was discussed with him; and if it was discussed with or shown to other Ministers, PPSs, civil servants or special advisers; [73698]

  (5) what actions he took when he received the leaked draft report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone in the second week of January; and what actions he took when he received subsequent leaks of the report's key conclusions; [73697]

  (6) what actions he took to report the leak of the draft report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone to (a) the House and (b) the Committee. [73700]

  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will specify the dates and times of all the discussions he held with his Permanent Secretary about the draft report between its receipt in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the publication of the Committee's report; [74287]

  (2) if he will identify the Minister, official or special adviser whose office fax machine received the draft copy of the Foreign Affairs Committee's report on Sierra Leone from the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross); [74286]

  (3) when the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), informed the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee that (i) he and (ii) members of his official and political staff had received a copy of the draft report on Sierra Leone; [74290]

  875

  (4) when he first informed the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee that (i) he and (ii) members of his official and political staff had received a copy of the draft report on Sierra Leone. [74289]

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action he took when he discovered that the Foreign Affairs Committee's draft report on Sierra Leone had been passed to his office in January; [73631]

  (2) when (a) he, (b) Ministers, (c) his Department's officials and (d) special advisers first saw a copy of the draft report from the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone; [73635]

  (3) how long after receiving (a) the leaked draft and (b) the leaked key conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone he informed the Permanent Secretary that these documents were in his possession; [74327]

  (4) how he indicated to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) that he had received the leaked draft copy of the report by the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone; [74330]

  (5) what account the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), took of the leak of the draft report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone in answering the question from the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham on 16 February 1999, Official Report, column 751 (ref. 71829); [74334]

  (6) if any (a) special adviser, (b) Minister, (c) hon. Member, (d) official or (e) other person solicited a copy of the draft of the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone from the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross); [74329]

  (7) which special adviser at his Department received the leaked key conclusions of the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Sierra Leone; [74328]

  (8) if he will list all those (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers, (c) officials, (d) hon. Members and (e) others who were (i) told about and (ii) given copies of the leaked draft of the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone before 8 am on 9 February 1998; [74326]

  (9) what account he took of paragraph 1.1.(iii) of the Ministerial Code when approving the answer given by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), to the question from the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham on 16 February 1999, Official Report, column 751(ref. 71829); [74336]

  (10) what account the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), took of paragraph 1.1.(iii) of the Ministerial Code when answering the question from the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham on 16 February 1999, Official Report, column 751(ref. 71829); [74335]

  (11) if he will list the (a) complete and (b) partial (i) copies and (ii) drafts of select committee reports, apart from the one relating to Sierra Leone from the Foreign Affairs Committee, which he has received before publication. [73577]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answers 26 February and 1 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham
  876
  (Mrs. Gillan) on 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 259-60 and to my Statement to the House on 24 February 1999, Official Report, column 415.

  The draft report was seen by me, the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) and a limited number of officials.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if(a) he, (b) his officials, (c) his special advisers and (d) his Ministers provided (i) assistance and (ii) advice to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) in the drafting of amendments to the Foreign Affairs Committee draft report on Sierra Leone. [73633]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 26 February 1999]: No action was taken to publish or disclose any part of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Report on Sierra Leone, or to interfere in any way with their preparation or the Committee's deliberations on them. No advice or assistance was given to any Member of the Select Committee in the drafting of amendments.

  Leaked Documents
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list all leaked Foreign Affairs Committee documents that reached(a) him, (b) his ministers, (c) his officials, (d) his advisers and (e) departmental parliamentary private secretaries during (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999 and the dates on which they were received; [73806]

  (2) if he will send to the Clerk of the Foreign Affairs Committee all leaked Committee documents and copies of them that are or have been in his or his Department's possession and that are rightfully the property of the committee, the House or hon. Members. [73902]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: I refer to my earlier answer to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 259-60, and to my statements in the House 24 February 1999, Official Report, column 415, and 2 March 1999, Official Report, column 894.

  My office received, shortly before its publication in December 1998, the command paper version of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee's Report on Human Rights. It was seen by myself and by a limited number of officials.

  My office received in January 1999 a copy of a draft version of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Report on enlargement. It was seen by the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin), and by a limited number of officials. Reflecting the fact that the subject matter was not controversial, it was not shown to me.

  No action was taken to publish or disclose any part of these Reports, or to interfere in any way with their preparation or the Committee's deliberations on them. No advice or assistance was given to any Member of the Select Committee in the drafting of amendments.

  Sierra Leone
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates on
  877
  which he held meetings with (a) the Permanent Secretary and (b) Ministers to discuss (i) the Legg report and (ii) the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone (HC 116) of Session 1998–99. [73176]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I have discussed the issued arising from Sandline International's activities in Sierra Leone on many occasions since May 1998 with both the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), and the Permanent Under-Secretary.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which officials drafted the answers to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham of 16 February 1999,Official Report, column 751 (ref. 71829), and 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 259–60(ref. 71836). [74333]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: The first answer was drafted by officials in the Parliamentary Relations Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the second by officials in my office, after consultation with me.

  Foreign Affairs Committee
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish all his Department's correspondence with the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) since his appointment to the Foreign Affairs Committee. [73634]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 26 February 1999]: There is no correspondence which has any bearing on the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on Sierra Leone or otherwise on my hon. Friend's membership of the Select Committee.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent meeting with the Foreign Minister of Spain. [72213]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 22 February 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed a variety of issues concerning Gibraltar with his Spanish counterpart on 21 February. He pressed the Spanish Foreign Minister to reduce the present unacceptable delays at the border. He gave Sr. Matutes details of Gibraltar's record in transposing EU directives, on which the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had produced inaccurate public statements. He said that there were currently no problems over fishing in British waters around Gibraltar and that the outstanding charges against Spanish fishermen were a matter for the courts. He defended the validity of Gibraltar driving licences, and reaffirmed our and the Government of Gibraltar's willingness to look into any evidence of illegal activity concerning money laundering. The Ministers agreed on the importance of improving bilateral relations and overcoming differences between them. They agreed to meet again.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he raised the Spanish proposals for joint sovereignty of Gibraltar during his meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister on 21 February; what was the 878
  result of the discussions on the issues of border delays and possible restrictions on commercial over-flights; and if he will make a statement. [73177]

  Ms Quin
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Woodward) today at column 877. The meeting between the Foreign Secretary and the Spanish Foreign Minister on 21 February was not part of the Brussels Process. The Spanish proposals tabled at the last Brussels Process meeting were not discussed in detail. We have made clear we will respond to Sr Matutes' proposals at the next meeting of that process. The Foreign Secretary confirmed to Sr Matutes that we were happy to have such a meeting.

  At their meeting, the Foreign Secretary pressed his Spanish counterpart to reduce delays at the border and expressed concern at reports that Spain was considering introducing restrictions on overflights of Spain by aircraft to and from Gibraltar. The Ministers agreed to meet again.

  European Council (Cardiff)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress achieved with a United Kingdom lead consequential to the joint letter of President Chirac and Chancellor Kohl to the Cardiff European Council. [74438]

  Ms Quin
  Since the Franco-German letter written to the Prime Minister before the Cardiff European Council, the UK has taken the lead in agreeing joint statements with Spain on economic reform and employment, Sweden on social inclusion, and Germany on tax, in advance of the Vienna European Council. In addition, we issued a joint statement on defence with France at the Anglo-French summit in St. Malo last December, and are vigorously pursuing this debate with partners in the run up to the Washington NATO Summit in April and the Cologne European Council in June. There has been a widespread welcome from our EU partners for our approach.

  EU Commission (Work Programme)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Commission's 1999 work programme as set out in COM (98) 609, detailing each proposal listed. [74442]

  Ms Quin
  A copy of the Commission's Work Programme (COM (98) 604 and COM (98) 609) has been deposited in the Library of the House. This includes a full list of the new legislative initiatives proposed by the Commission. The Government's reaction to the Work Programme was made in explanatory memoranda Nos. 12841/98 and 12840/98, submitted on 8 December 1998.

  East Java
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the use of British-made water cannon against persons outside the Maspion electronics and plastics factory in Surabaya, East Java, on 17 February; and if he will make a statement. [74400]
  879
  Mr. Fatchett
  We understand that Tactica water cannon was used in Surabaya on 17 February. These water cannon were licensed under the previous Administration. No water cannon have been approved for export under our Government.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to discuss the use of British Tactica water cannon with the Indonesian Government. [74371]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have made clear to the Indonesian authorities that British-supplied equipment should not be used against civilians to prevent the exercise of their rights of free expression, assembly and association, or in violation of, other international human rights standards.

  Departmental Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he proposes to make in his Department's cash limits and running costs limits for 1998–99. [75216]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates the following change will be made in addition to the changes I announced on 11 February 1999,Official Report, column 361.

  The cash limit for Class II, Vote 2 (Other External Relations) will be increased by £10,000,000 from £265,611,000 to £275,611,000. The additional provision is required to provide assistance to Sierra Leone. It will be used to provide additional practical support to ECOMOG, to help train and equip a democratically accountable Sierra Leone army, and to provide support for peace negotiations.

  The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place a copy of the draft interim agreement on Kosovo in the Library. [75217]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The draft Kosovo agreement is not a public document. I will, however, place a Foreign Office summary of the draft agreement in the Library of the House.

  NATO Enlargement
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary will join NATO. [75218]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary will deposit their instruments of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty at a ceremony in Independence, Missouri on 12 March. The Government warmly welcome this, fourth, enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. It is another step towards overcoming the artificial divisions across our continent created during the Cold War and will help to spread security and stability for the benefit of all.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recommendations were made by the Human Rights Workshop in Jakarta. [74369]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Many concrete suggestions for follow-up action emerged from the four working groups of the Workshop (police and judiciary; women's and children's rights; human rights education, awareness and institution building; and labour rights). The two co-Chairmen of the Workshop, Marzuki Darusman of Indonesia National Human Rights Commission and Professor David Hams of the University of Nottingham, drew particular attention to a number of these recommendations in the communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Workshop.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what follow-up action the United Kingdom Government took after the Human Rights Workshop in Jakarta. [74370]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We are working closely with EU partners and Indonesian human rights groups to turn the proposals generated at the Workshop into concrete projects to enhance human rights in Indonesia.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74354]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists.

  Public Consultations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish his Department's collation and assessment of responses to its public consultations. [73960]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office follows the Cabinet Office guidance on how to conduct written consultation exercises. This includes publicising and making available the results of such exercises wherever practicable.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pilot Projects
  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the pilot projects instigated by his Department since 1 May 1997, indicating the area in which each pilot took, or is taking place. [72639]

  Angela Eagle
  We are reforming the welfare system around our central aim of work for those that can, security for those that cannot. We have initiated a number of prototype and pilot project
  examining ways of getting people back into work and delivering more flexible, efficient00 services. A list of the main initiatives is provided in the table.
  881

  Pilot project

  Locations

  New Deal for Lone Parents

  Sheffield East, Cambridgeshire, North Cheshire, North Worcestershire, Cardiff and Vale, Clyde Valley, North Surrey and Warwickshire.

  New Deal for Disabled People: Personal Adviser Pilot. Tranche 1: 6 areas from September 1998

  Lanarkshire: Clyde Valley and Coatbridge (Hamilton, Motherwell, Coatbridge and Bellshill); Eastern Valleys (Aberdare, Blackwood, Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale, Merthry Tydfil); Sandwell (Smethwick, West Bromwich); Bolton; Central Sussex (Brighton, Hove); Bristol East and Bath.

  New Deal for Disabled People: Personal Adviser Pilot. Tranche 2: 6 areas from Spring 1999

  Newham (Plaistow, Stratford, Canning Town); South Tyneside (Gateshead, South Shields); Mercia East (Boston, King's Lynn, Skegness) South Devon (Plymouth, Saltash, Torbay, Tavistock, Totnes, Kingsbridge); Bedfordshire (Bedford, Luton); North Yorkshire (Harrogate, Scarborough, York, Northallerton).

  Incapacity to Work Pilot Measures (from April 1999)

  All 12 New Deal for Disabled People pilot areas; plus South-west Scotland (Ayr, Dumfries, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Stranraer); Grampian and Shetland (Aberdeen, Peterhead, Lerwick); and South-east Birmingham

  Single Work-Focused Gateway

  June 1999 The Basic Model; Essex, Warwickshire, Clyde Coast and Renfrew and Lea Roding.
  November 1999 Call Centres Model; Somerset, Buckinghamshire, Gwent Borders and Calderdale and Kirklees. November 1999 Private/Voluntary Sector Model; Suffolk, North Nottingham, Leeds and North Cheshire.

  Pensioner Take Up of Income Support Pilot

  Glasgow, York, Preston, Stroud, Lambeth, East Renfrewshire, Torbay, Torfaen and South Staffordshire.

  Better Government Strand of Active Modern Service for Pensioners Programme (from April 1999 to April 2000)

  Bolton, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Mid and East Devon, Harrow, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Stirling and Wolverhampton.

  Adapt

  East London and Anglia, Yorkshire, West Country

  Lewisham Integrated Service Prototype

  London Borough of Lewisham

  Lone Parent Integrated Service Prototype

  Ealing, Acton, Euston, Highgate and London Borough of Camden

  Note:

  There are also a number of other small-scale prototypes and pilots that are on-going or planned.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the subject areas within his Department's responsibilities which will be covered by the information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency. [73674]

  Angela Eagle
  The Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter eight of the Treasury's Outline National Changeover Plan provides further information. Copies of the Plan are available in the House Library.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to issue information from his Department to help the public make an informed decision when they vote on the single currency. [73582]

  Angela Eagle
  Any plans by the Government to issue information during a referendum campaign on whether or not the UK should join the single currency would be made in the light of the Government's response to the recommendations from the Neill Committee on the conduct of referendums. The Government will announce 882
  their conclusions on those recommendations when my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary publishes a White paper and draft Bill before the recess.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will initiate a take-up campaign for disability groups similar to the campaign directed at older people; and if he will make a statement. [74300]

  Mr. Bayley
  We are already working with the Disability Benefits Forum to identify ways of improving information and advice about disability benefits. We are determined to improve the administration of these benefits to ensure that decisions about entitlement are right at the outset and that they remain correct. These are necessary steps which must be taken before decisions can be made about the need for a take-up campaign.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the financial savings to the social security budget arising from the reduction in incapacity benefit payments to disabled people will be used to improve the level of other services or support for disabled people. [74302]
  883
  Mr. Bayley
  The savings on Incapacity Benefit as a result of measures in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill, rising to £700 million a year after ten years, will be more than offset by additional expenditure on benefits for sick and disabled people, as we meet increasing demand and seek to do more for those in the greatest need. In this Parliament alone expenditure will increase by £1 billion in real terms.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many prosecutions for fraud there have been since 1 May 1997 where one of the accused has been an asylum seeker. [74005]

  Mr. Timms
  The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action his Department is taking as a result of the review of fraud in respect of social security benefits to minimise the risk of fraud and to make the social security system secure; and if he will make a statement. [74192]

  Mr. Timms
  We will publish shortly a document setting out our strategy for combating Social Security fraud and error in the light of the consultation on the Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: securing the future".

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 1999,Official Report, column 464–63, on benefit fraud, when the fraud strategy document will be published. [74751]

  Mr. Timms
  We will be publishing the strategy shortly.

  Learning Disabilities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will increase the income support disregard from £15 to £30 a week for people with learning disabilities. [74301]

  Mr. Bayley
  Our welfare reform programme has focused on making work pay and providing new and innovative ways to help people on benefit make an early return to work. The Disabled Person's Tax Credit, to be introduced in October this year, will ensure that sick and disabled people, who are able to work for 16 hours or more per week, are better off in work. In addition, the New Deal for Disabled People is exploring ways of improving opportunities for those who want to move into or stay in work.

  Pensioners' Incomes
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners have gross incomes of(a) above £50,000, (b) £30,000 to £49,999, (c) £20,000 to £29,999, (d) £10,000 to £19,999, (e) £5,000 to £9,999 and (f) up to £4,999. [74006]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.
  884

  Number of pensioners within given bands of gross income

  Thousand

  Annual income

  Single pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Above £50,000

  10

  50

  £30,000 to £49,999

  20

  130

  £20,000 to £29,999

  70

  270

  £10,000 to £19,999

  520

  1,100

  £5,000 to £9,999

  2,380

  1,060

  Up to £4,999

  1,160

  20

  Total

  4,160

  2,630

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 10,000 pensioners, although they are not necessarily accurate to that degree. Columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

  2. Estimates of annual income assume no in-year variation in income.

  3. Estimates are not available for incomes of individuals within couples. Therefore estimates for couples relate to the combined income of both partners.

  4. Pensioners are defined as single people over State pension age (60 and over for women, 65 and over for men) and couples (married of cohabiting) where the head is over State pension age.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey 1996–97

  Pensions
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has for the election of trustees by pension holders as part of the arrangements for the administration of stakeholder pensions; and if he will make a statement. [74201]

  Mr. Timms
  We expect that many trust-based stakeholder pension schemes will include trustees who are nominated or elected by members of the scheme. The precise requirements applying to the composition of the trustee board in stakeholder pension schemes have not yet been decided. We expect to consult further on this issue in drawing up the detailed regulations that will apply to stakeholder pension schemes.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of extending mobility allowance to persons of retirement age. [74010]

  Mr. Bayley
  The cost of extending both the higher and lower rates of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance to people disabled after the age of 65, or who claim after the age of 65, is estimated to be approximately £2 billion.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of how many people in Wakefield District will benefit from the changes in national insurance contributions to be introduced in April. [74041]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available.

  Throughout Great Britain, some 20 million people will pay an average of nearly £70 a year less in National Insurance contributions as a result of the abolition of the employee entry fee in April 1999. The information is not available by district.

  Task Forces
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which(a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74459]

  Mr. Timms
  Most task forces and reviews are short-term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to sit on some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would be inappropriate and disproportionate.

  Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory non-departmental public bodies have come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  Since May 1997, the Department has consulted publicly on proposals outlined in the following documents which have arisen from policy reviews:

  Pensions Review Consultation Document

  Stakeholder Pensions: a Consultation Document

  New Ambitions for Our Country: A new contract for welfare (Cm 3805)

  Children First: a new approach to child support (Cm 3992)

  Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: securing the future (Cm 4012)

  A New Contract for Welfare: Support for Disabled People (Cm 4103)

  A New Contract for Welfare: Support in Bereavement (Cm 4104)

  Supporting People: a new policy and funding framework for support services

  A New Contract for Welfare: Partnership in Pensions (Cm 4179) Strengthening the Pensions framework: a Consultation Document.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the current level of debt owed to the Child Support Agency by absent parents; and of this, what proportion is deemed(a) collectable and (b) possibly uncollectable; [74342]

  (2) what is the current backlog of cases in the Child Support Agency, and how many of these are (a) more than six months old and (b) over one year old. [74343]

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

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. lain Duncan Smith, dated 3 March 1999:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the level of debt and backlog within the Child Support Agency.
  At 31 January 1999 the amount of child support full maintenance assessment debt was £507,794,866. This can be broken down further to £296,044,407 (58.3%) collectable debt, £197,532,203 (38.9%) possible uncollectable debt and £14,218,256 (2.8%) deferred debt. Deferred debt is where the Agency has deferred the debt indefinitely, provided non-resident parents meet certain conditions
  886
  on payment of regular maintenance and any remaining debt. Where appropriate the parent with care will be compensated for the loss of this money.
  To further increase the flow of maintenance and to help non-resident parents pay the arrears that they owe, wherever possible the Agency makes every effort to re-schedule debts; re-scheduled debts are those where the Agency has negotiated a closely monitored agreement with the non-resident parent to pay arrears by instalments. The amount of debt re-scheduled included in the £507,794,866 at 31 January 1999 was £395,578,470 (78%).
  I cannot provide precisely all the information that you have requested on the current backlog, but have provided as much as possible from the most recent information available.
  At 31 January 1999, there was a total of 278,518 maintenance applications outstanding.
  We normally refer to our maintenance assessment backlog as cases that are over 52 weeks old and have not yet been assessed.
  At any time, the Agency would expect to have a normal head of work of around 210,000 maintenance applications. The speed with which assessments can be cleared is constrained by the complexities of the current legislation which can require up to 104 separate pieces of information to be collected and verified before an assessment can be made, however the Agency is steadily reducing the time taken and is clearing the backlog of applications from the early years.
  Our original estimated volume of backlog cases outstanding in April 1997 was 225,000; by 31 January 1999 we had cleared 251,000, and in practice now expect to need to clear 300,000 cases. This is because as we have proceeded in clearing this work we identified more cases in the backlog than originally estimated. In June 1998 we introduced a major improvement of the Child Support Computer System (CSCS) which provided automated management information. To make full use of the automated information all of the existing cases on CSCS had to be checked to ensure their management information status was correct. This exercise involved validating 1.25 million cases, work was completed in December and means that we now have a reliable automated count of all work on hand.
  To clear these 300,000 cases by 31 March will require the Agency to clear around 50,000 cases in February and March. Although this is very challenging we cleared over 27,000 in January, and therefore expect to clear the 300,000 cases.
  We envisage that the extra resources which will be released as a result of clearing the maintenance assessment backlog will enable more resources to be concentrated on improving customer service and ensuring that parents meet their responsibility so that children receive the maintenance they are entitled to on a regular basis.
  I hope this is helpful.

  BASIS
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many arrests have been made in January by Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service Southern Command; [74345]

  (2) what is the current budget for Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service; and of this, what proportion is allocated to the (a) Northern and (b) Southern Commands; [74347]

  (3) how many arrests made by BASIS Southern Command have led to (a) prosecutions and (b) successful convictions since its establishment. [74346]

  Mr. Timms
  Questions on Benefits Agency operational matters are the responsibility of the Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.
  887
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. lain Duncan Smith, dated 3 March 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many arrests have been made in January by BASIS Southern Command; what is the budget for BASIS; and of this, what proportion is allocated to Northern and Southern Commands respectively; how many arrests made by BASIS Southern Command have led to (a) prosecutions and (b) successful convictions since its establishment.
  During January 1999 the BASIS Southern Command made ten arrests.
  The budget for BASIS is managed centrally and not split into two commands. It covers not only the Investigation Staff but also Support Staff and Goods and Services. The budget for this financial year is £8.2 million of which £6.34 million has been spent to date.
  BASIS was formed in April 1998. Since that date the police have made 360 arrests based on information supplied by BASIS Command. One hundred and forty-eight of these have been submitted for prosecution of which ninety-four have to date been successful.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) under the new system of periodic review of disability living allowance, how often recipients of the benefit will have their situation reviewed; [74749]

  (2) what information will be required from the recipients of disability living allowance when their situation is reviewed under the new system of review. [74750]

  Mr. Bayley
  From April 1999, a new fairer system of periodic inquiry into benefit entitlement will commence for existing recipients of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). People selected for inquiry action will be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire, based on the current claim form for DLA. This will provide the Benefits Agency (BA) with an up to date picture of the need that the individual has help with personal care and mobility and allow the BA to determine whether a review of entitlement would be appropriate. This will enable awards to be increased or decreased in line with entitlement. Initially, cases will be selected on a proportional basis across the range of awards to be included in the inquiry process.

  Some disabling conditions, and the needs that they generate, change very little over time, whilst others can be very variable in effect and/or degenerative in nature. The BA is working to establish the proper frequency with which individuals should be asked about their current needs, so that, in the future, inquiries can be made at the most appropriate time and new claimants can be advised from the outset when inquiries are likely to be made in their case. This action does not affect the responsibility of all claimants to tell the BA about changes that may affect benefit entitlement.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated expenditure for child benefit for the current tax year. [74746]
  888
  Angela Eagle
  The estimated expenditure figure for Child Benefit for 1998–99 is £7.252 billion.
  Note:Figure is consistent with that contained in Pre-Budget Report of November 1998.

  Unemployment Statistics
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people under retirement age who are not working and are not in receipt of state benefits for each of the past four years. [74160]

  Angela Eagle
  The information requested for four years is not available. Estimates for the last three years are in the table:

  Number of adults, under retirement age, not working and not in Not in receipt of any benefits

  Note in receipt of any benefit

  In receipt of Child Benefit or One Parent Benefit only

  1994–95

  2,240,000

  5,320,000

  1995–96

  2,180,000

  5,420,000

  1996–97

  2,180,000

  5,240,000

  Notes:

  1. The analysis was undertaken on adults (aged between 16 and 64, inclusive, for men and 16 and 59, inclusive, for women).

  2. Adults who were temporarily not working, on industrial action, were ILO unemployed, part time students, unoccupied, had temporary or long term sickness or undertaking unpaid family work were defined as not working.

  3. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non response.

  4. Estimates rounded to nearest 10,000.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey (Great Britain).

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74364]

  Mr. Timms
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".

  Social Fund
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the changes to the Social Fund Budgeting Loan Scheme will be introduced; and when details of the Discretionary Social Fund Budget for 1999–2000 will be announced. [75417]

  Angela Eagle
  The changes to the Social Fund Budgeting Loan Scheme will be introduced on 5 April 1999. Applications for Social Fund budgeting loans will be decided according to a few simple set factual criteria, rather than the discretion of the officer deciding the application. This will mean that those on the lowest incomes who apply for a loan will no longer be asked detailed questions on what they intend to do with the money before a decision can be made. In keeping with the Government's aims for an active modern Social Security service, these changes will make the applications
  889
  process much simpler, and the decisions process quicker, fairer, less intrusive and easier to understand, while administration of the scheme will be more cost-effective. In connection with these changes, I am, today, placing in the House Library copies of the updated Social Fund Guide containing the revised Secretary of State Directions and Guidance to Social Fund officers on the new scheme.

  We can also announce today that the total discretionary Social Fund budget for 1999–2000 will be £535.2 million, representing an increase of £34 million over the corresponding budget for 1998–99. Of this total, £98 million will be allocated to Community care Grants, £436.7 million to loans and £0.5 million will be set aside as a contingency reserve. To further improve the fairness of the Social Fund scheme we shall be allocating the loans budget to each Benefits Agency district with a view to achieving greater consistency in the level of successful applications across districts. Full details of budget allocations to individual Benefits Agency districts will be placed in the House Library on 24 March.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Asbestos
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to promote the establishment of an international framework for asbestos control in Third World countries. [73964]

  Clare Short
  We have no plans to promote the establishment of an international framework as such but we support the European Council Regulation on the export and import of dangerous chemicals and the Basle Convention DFID has assisted partner countries on the use and handling of asbestos in specific cases. Further details of DFID's role is contained in the answer to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 20 July 1998,Official Report, column 395.

  Aid (Kenya)
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on UK(a) bilateral and (b) multilateral aid to Kenya. [74031]

  Clare Short
  Britain's development assistance strategy for Kenya is set out in the Kenya Country Strategy Paper published by my Department last year, copies of which are publicly available and will be sent to my hon. Friend.

  Task Forces
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by her Department since May 1997 which(a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74463]

  Clare Short
  Since 1 May 1997 the Department for International Development (DFID) has undertaken a review of international development policy, and a review 890
  of DFID's relationship with Civil Society. Neither of these initiatives involved the recruitment of external members by public advertisement. Both reviews involved consultation with a wide variety of interested groups and individuals, who were invited to input in order to add their wide experience and knowledge to our work. A report on the consultation which DFID conducted with Civil Society, North and South, will be published shortly.

PRIME MINISTER

  Task Forces
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many reviews and task forces he has established since May 1997; and how many of them have reported, [71151]

  (2) if he will list the consultative and advisory committees set up by the Government since May 1997.
  [73345]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government are determined to deliver its Manifesto commitments. Reviews, task forces and advisory and consultative committees are helping to ensure that decisions are soundly based and representative of a wide range of views. The establishment and management of individual reviews, task forces, consultative and advisory committees is a matter for Ministers in the Department concerned.

WALES

  Child Care
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on after-school child care places and activities. [72032]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Guidance to the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships in each local authority area in Wales was issued last month. The Partnerships are now preparing plans for the development of child care provision to meet the needs of their areas, including new out of school child care, which may be eligible for funding from the New Opportunities Fund.

  The New Opportunities Fund has allocated £14.3 million over the next three years for out of school child care in Wales, of which £1.3 million is to support integrated child care and education projects. In 1999–2000, the Training and Enterprise Councils in Wales will have funding of £0.9 million to provide infrastructure support (including training, business support and information) for out of school child care provision eligible for NOF funding.

  In addition funding of £1.5 million will be available in 1999–2000 for the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships to take forward the development of child care provision, including out of school provision, in their areas.

  The New Opportunities Fund has allocated £11.7 million specifically for out of school learning activities in Wales over the next three years. Funding is targeted at

  891
  disadvantaged areas and NOF plan that provision is available in at least one quarter of primary schools and a half of secondary schools and special schools.

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

  International Standard Swimming Pool
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about proposals for an international standard 50 metre swimming pool for Wales. [73545]

  Mr. Michael
  In December last year the SPORTLOT National Panel invited bids from local authorities interested in developing a replacement facility for the Wales Empire Pool. The local authorities in Cardiff, Swansea and Torfaen have expressed their interest and have been given until 15 March to submit detailed plans. A special meeting of the SPORTLOT National Panel will then be held on 7 May to consider all the applications. As with all applications for Lottery funding, the Panel will take its decision independently of Government.

  Schizophrenia
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were discharged from mental illness hospitals in Wales in each of the last three years; and how many of them were taken into local authority residential care in the same year. [73361]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The following table gives, for NHS trusts in Wales, the number of deaths and discharges relating to patients whose main diagnosis was schizophrenia. The number discharged may include cases of the same patient being discharged more than once for separate periods of care. Reliable estimates of the number discharged to local authority care are not available.

  Year

  Number of deaths and discharges

  1996

  1,715

  1997

  1,815

  1998

  1,713

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

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research projects his Department is funding in the current year to test the effectiveness of community care for people suffering from schizophrenia psychoses; and if he will make a statement. [73366]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  There are no research projects being funded into schizophrenia in the current year. The Welsh Office is funding a conference on "Effective Interventions in Schizophrenia" on 16 March following a two year research project which started in 1996–97. This project demonstrated clinical effectiveness in Schizophrenia and was undertaken by Llandough Hospital, Cardiff at a cost of £75,000.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
  892
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of those convicted of crimes in Wales in the last year for which figures are available have ever been admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses. [73356]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him on 25 February 1999,Official Report, column 393. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has responsibility for this issue.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what official visits he, his Ministers or officials have paid to Zimbabwe since May 1997; whom they met; and what was discussed. [73555]

  Mr. Michael
  None

  National Assembly
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which company or companies gave his Department professional advice(a) on the use of Crickhowell House as part of the National Assembly project and (b) when Crickhowell House was first let in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement. [73608]

  Mr. Michael
  Professional advice was given to my Department regarding the use of Crickhowell House as part of the National Assembly for Wales by PACE (Property Advisers to the Civil Estate), Symonds Group, Crown and Company and the Powell Dobson Partnership. An independent review of their work was undertaken by Gooch and Wagstaffe and the AYH Partnership.

  Negotiations in 1991–92 for the acquisition of Crickhowell House for the Welsh Health Commons Services Authority were undertaken by Gooch and Wagstaffe and Bevan Ashford.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will allow representatives of(a) Plaid Cymru, (b) Wales Liberal Democrats and (c) the Conservative Party to view, on a confidential basis, papers relating to
  (i) funding already allocated by his Department and
  (ii) contracts signed by his Department, for the period after 1 July relating to spending within the control of the National Assembly for Wales. [74297]

  Mr. Michael
  I announced on 14 December 1998 my Department's future budgets and expenditure plans, which will be inherited by the Assembly. Further details will be included in the Welsh Office's Departmental Report, which will be published in late March.

  I should also be happy for my Department to provide information on public expenditure in Wales in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, in response to any request received.

  Autism
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given to local authority social services departments in Wales regarding the criteria to be employed under best value assessments for autism-specific services. [73627]
  893
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The Local Government Bill, which includes best value provisions, is currently being considered by Parliament. The Bill makes provision for the National Assembly to be responsible for administering best value in Wales. The Bill provides a broad framework for best value and it will be for the Assembly to determine the more detailed aspects of the policy and how it will operate in Wales. The Assembly is likely to want to draw on the experience of all Welsh authorities involved in best value pilot studies. Once the Bill is enacted and the pilot studies have made further progress, the Assembly will wish to consider what guidance to issue to local authorities on best value.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many autism-specific places are currently provided by social services departments in Wales for individuals with autism-specific disorders within(a) residential services, (b) day services and (c) respite case services. [73628]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  While information on services for the disabled is collected centrally, this does not include information on the autism-specific places provided by social services departments in Wales.

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

  Employment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of(a) new jobs announced and (b) jobs lost in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [74182]

  Mr. Hain
  Records of individual job losses and gains are not held centrally. However, in the 12 months to September 1998, employee jobs in Wales rose by 15,000.

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

  Traffic Congestion (Woodbank Junction)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects measures to be put in place to alleviate traffic queues at the Woodbank Junction (English Border); and if he will make a statement. [74188]

  Mr. Hain
  This is a cross border scheme largely (almost entirely) situated in Cheshire. It is intended to relieve severe traffic congestion which occurs at the traffic signal controlled junction, particularly during the morning and evening peaks and at weekends. The scheme is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR); and it will be for them to carry out the route study proposed in the English roads review. DETR will be making an announcement on the timing of this, and other studies, in due course.

  Economy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the (1) Wales TUC and (2) Wales CBI to discuss the economy of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [74185]

  Mr. Michael
  I have met representatives of the CBI and TUC in a variety of settings including discussions about the Assembly. The most recent direct meeting was 894
  on 1 February when I met representatives of Wales CBI at a lunch to discuss ways in which the Assembly could carry out its statutory duty to consult business. Both CBI Wales and the Wales TUC are keenly interested on the way the Assembly will promote the economy of Wales and I shall be speaking about this to the annual conference of Wales TUC in April.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce the new boundaries for assisted area status; and if he will make a statement. [74186]

  Mr. Hain
  The new assisted areas map comes into force on 1 January 2000. The new map must be agreed in time for this deadline. The Commission have asked Member States to submit their proposals by 31 March 1999.

  Welsh Arts Council
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 1998,Official Report, column 285, on the Welsh Arts Council, if he will make a statement on his latest plans on this matter; and when he expects to make an announcement on the appointment of a chairman. [74316]

  Mr. Michael
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 February 1999,Official Report, column 437.

  Following the transfer of functions, such appointments will be a matter for the National Assembly in future.

  Dental Services
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on NHS general dental services in Wales, by health authority area, in each year since 1995–96. [74259]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Details of expenditure on NHS general dental services in Wales including expenditure by the Dental Practice Board, are in the table.

  £000

  Health authority

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Clwyd

  107

  —

  —

  Dyfed

  220

  —

  —

  Gwent

  143

  —

  —

  Gwynedd

  115

  —

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  37

  —

  —

  Powys

  128

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  94

  —

  —

  West Glamorgan

  21

  —

  —

  Dental Practice Board

  50,262

  —

  —

  Total

  51,127

  —

  —

  Bro Taf

  —

  117

  116

  Dyfed Powys

  —

  358

  208

  Gwent

  —

  164

  119

  Morgannwg

  —

  34

  79

  North Wales

  —

  189

  287

  Dental Practice Board

  —

  52,903

  56,166

  Total

  —

  53,765

  56,975

  Source:

  Annual accounts of family health service authorities 1995–96 and annual accounts of health authorities 1996–97 and 1997–98
  895
  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

CABINET OFFICE

  Ministerial Flights (Concorde)
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions(a) ministers and (b) their staff have flown on Concorde since 1 May 1997; and how much the flights have cost. [68851]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  For information on the use of Concorde by Ministers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 1 March 1999,Official Report, column 527. Information on the occasions when civil servants within individual Departments have used Concorde is not held centrally.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what official visits he, his ministers or officials have paid to Zimbabwe since May 1997; whom they met; and what was discussed. [73459]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  Since 1 May 1997, neither I nor any other Minister in the Cabinet Office has visited Zimbabwe.

  Two officials of the Cabinet Office have visited the country in the last 21 months.

  The first official visited Zimbabwe between 19 and 30 May 1998 and provided keynote speeches at four conferences on performance management. The conferences were organised by the British Council in partnership with the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (ZIPAM).

  The second official visited between 20 and 23 May 1998, and held discussions with Government and non-Government organisations on current events in Zimbabwe and the region.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the subject areas within his Department which have relevance to an information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency regime. [73750]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  HM Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter eight of the Treasury's Outline Changeover Plan provides further information. Copies of the Plan are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74368]
  896
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists".

  Archway Tower, London
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what has been(a) the total capital expenditure and (b) the income from lettings on Archway Tower, London N19 for (i) each of the last three years and (ii) the current year to date; and if he will make a statement. [74071]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. John Locke, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from John Locke to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated March 1999:
  The Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Peter Kilfoyle, has asked me as Chief Executive of Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) to respond to your Parliamentary Question about capital expenditure and income from lettings on Archway Tower.I believe you are already aware that Archway Tower forms part of the portfolio of vacant office buildings declared surplus by Other Government Departments and inherited by PACE on 1 April 1996.The state of repair of Archway Tower was in breach of the terms of the lease and left the building incapable of occupation. Following abortive surrender negotiations with the landlords, and in an effort to defray the costs of holding Archway Tower, a decision was taken in March 1998 to refurbish the building and bring it into a usable condition.Archway Tower has remain vacant since April 1995 and there have been no lettings since that date due to the condition of the building. Similarly, during the last 7 months of refurbishment work the building has been unoccupiable.Capital expenditure and income from lettings from when PACE assumed responsibility for Archway Tower is as follows:

  £million

  Date

  Capital expenditure

  Income

  1 April 1996–31 March 1997

  nil

  nil

  1 April 1997–31 March 1998

  nil

  nil

  1 April 1998-to date

  3.498

  nil

  Refurbishment work is expected to be complete by April 1999 and the Agency hopes to have tenants in place later in the year. With the likelihood of the grant of a rent free period to offset the fit out costs of a future occupier, I do not envisage any income from letting during the 1999–2000 Financial Year.

  Task Forces
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which(a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74469]
  897
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Most task forces and reviews are short-term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to sit on some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would often be inappropriate and disproportionate.

  Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory non-departmental public bodies have come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  Review

  Review of Quangos

  A consultation paper was published and the Government consulted widely on the proposals contained in that paper (for making 'quangos' more open, accountable and effective). Copies of the consultation paper were sent to all MPs, all local authorities and all 'quangos'—as well as to key academics and interested members of the public. The consultation paper was also published on the Internet and Internet users were able to e-mail comments direct to the review team. Responses to the consultation paper were published and copies placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Review of Existing Drugs Strategy

  Consultation was held with a wide range of key professionals, organisations and key population groups—eg Drug Action Teams, young people, teachers, parents, drug mis-users, via meetings, visits and conferences, correspondence and an Internet e-mail address. The strategy document was published as a White Paper "Tackling Drugs to build a Better Britain" (Cm 3945) on 27 April 1998.

  Review of the Women's National Commission

  Consultation was held with women's organisations through correspondence and meetings. Copies of the Review's Report were placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Review of the Charter Programme

  A consultation paper was issued on 16 September 1997 to wide range of organisations and individuals—also made available on the Internet. Responses to the consultation paper were published and copies placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The Review of Export Promotions

  Extensive consultation was held with members of the export community. Written and oral submissions were taken; meetings were held with individuals and groups.

HEALTH

  Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations apply to the(a) use, (b) possession, (c) production and (d) supply of gamma hydroxy butyrate. [72901]

  Ms Jowell
  Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate is a medicinal product by virtue of Article 1 of European Commission Directive 65/65. Activities with this product carried on in the course of a business are regulated by the Medicines Act 1968 (as amended).

  It is a criminal offence to place on the market, produce, sell or supply this product other than in accordance with licences or registration required by this Act. Possession for personal use is not regulated by medicines legislation.

  Electro-convulsive-therapy Treatment
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of electro-convulsive-therapy treatment for mental health patients. [73003]

  Mr. Hutton
  Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) can be used for a variety of conditions, including depression, mania and certain forms of schizophrenia. It has been shown to be of most benefit where other treatments have failed.
  898
  Of those established by my Department since 1 May 1997, the Better Regulation Task Force, has external members recruited by way of public advertisement. Members of this task force are unpaid and receive expenses only. The details of the persons appointed are as follows:
  Matti Alderson (Director General, Advertising Standards Authority)
  Deirdre Hutton (Chair of the Scottish Consumer Council).

  Public consultation exercises have been conducted by the following task forces and policy reviews:

  An expert group, chaired by Genevra Richardson, Professor of Law at Queen Mary and Westfield College, has been appointed to undertake a review of mental health legislation in England and Wales and to make recommendations on the scope of a new legislative framework by 1 July 1999. The group's report will include advice on appropriate safeguards which should apply to the use of Electro-Convulsive Therapy.

  Mental Health Beds
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health regions plan to increase the number of mental health beds; and by how many. [73225]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Mental Health Modernisation Fund will be used to increase the number of mental health beds in all eight health regions. £19 million has already been allocated to health authorities, part of which is being used to increase the number of 24 hour staffed beds. In addition health authorities have just been invited to apply for additional resources for secure beds. Details are set out in circular Health Service Circular/Local Authority Circular 1999–038, copies of which are available in the Library.

  It is not yet possible to provide a regional breakdown.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue information from his Department to help the public make an informed decision when they vote on the single currency. [73587]

  Ms Jowell
  Any plans by the Government to issue information during a referendum campaign on whether or not the United Kingdom should join the single currency would be made in light of the Government's response to the recommendations from the Neill Committee on the conduct of referendums. The Government will announce their conclusions on those recommendations when my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary publishes a White Paper and draft Bill before the summer recess.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the subject areas within his Department's responsibilities which will be covered by the information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency. [73669]

  Ms Jowell
  Her Majesty's Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter 8 of the Treasury's Outline National Changeover Plan provides further information. Copies of the plan are available in the Library.

  Medicines (Classification)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what appeal mechanism he will establish in respect of decisions by the Medicines Control Agency to classify foodstuffs as medicines. [73314]

  Ms Jowell
  We do not propose to give the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) the power to decide that a foodstuff is a medicine. The MCA has consulted on legislative proposals for classifying medicinal products, which include introducing a statutory right to a formal review of the agency's provisional decisions. The agency is now considering responses to the consultation exercise. We will decide in due course whether and what review arrangements we wish to put before Parliament.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if health foods and dietary supplements will have to satisfy the same licensing criteria as medicines when the remit of the Medicines Control Agency is extended; [73319]

  (2) what limitations he plans to place on the Medicine Control Agency's proposed new power to declare any food product to be a medicine. [73313]

  Ms Jowell
  The powers of the licensing authority, of which the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is an executive arm, are set out in the Medicines Act 1968 and secondary legislation including the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994. We have no proposals to extend the remit of the MCA to health foods and dietary supplements, which will continue to be subject to food law.
  900
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of health food products which could be reclassified as medicines. [73312]

  Ms Jowell
  We can make no such estimate since under European Commission law and United Kingdom law, health foods are not medicines.

  Chronic Pain Management
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy to establish chronic pain management programmes in the NHS on the model of that at St. Thomas' Hospital in London. [73949]

  Mr. Hutton
  Research has shown pain management programmes, similar to the model at St. Thomas' Hospital, to be effective for selected patients whose chronic pain is not relieved by conventional treatments. Against that background, it is for health authorities and National Health Service trusts to plan local pain services, in consultation with health professionals, to meet local needs.

  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the terms of reference of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [73957]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence will be not be operational until April this year, the officers and non-officer members have yet to be appointed and the terms of reference will be a matter for the Board of NICE to discuss at its first meetings.

  A discussion paper, Faster access to modern treatment, sets out its detailed proposals for how the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will carry out appraisals of clinical and cost effectiveness of individual health treatments. No firm decisions have been taken either on the topics to be referred to NICE, or on the precise methods of appraisal to be used.

  Schizophrenia
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were discharged from mental illness hospitals in each health district in the last year; and how many were admitted for a hospital stay more than once during the year; [74389]

  (2) how many people discharged from mental illness hospitals in each health district in England in the last year after a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses, having been proved vulnerable homeless subsequently became voluntary homeless. [74275]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table shows the estimated number of discharges in England in 1997–98 after a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses.

  Information on the number of patients admitted more than once during the year and on vulnerable homeless subsequently becoming voluntary homeless is not available centrally.
  901

  Estimated live discharges with a primary diagnosis schizophrenia psychoses, by health authority of treatment

  Number

  England

  31,020

  Northern and Yorkshire

  3,450

  Bradford

  210

  County Durham

  180

  East Riding

  70

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  290

  Leeds

  600

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  100

  North Cumbria

  280

  Northumberland

  180

  Sunderland

  100

  Tees

  420

  Wakefield

  230

  North Yorkshire

  510

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  280

  Trent

  1,670

  Barnsley

  120

  North Derbyshire

  200

  South Derbyshire

  30

  Doncaster

  180

  Leicestershire

  10

  Lincolnshire

  360

  North Nottinghamshire

  280

  Nottingham

  240

  Rotherham

  0

  Sheffield

  160

  South Humber

  100

  Anglia and Oxford

  2,410

  Bedfordshire

  280

  Berkshire

  470

  Buckinghamshire

  320

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  350

  East Norfolk

  20

  Northamptonshire

  340

  North West Anglia

  170

  Oxfordshire

  190

  Suffolk

  270

  North Thames

  6,840

  Hillingdon

  170

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  920

  Enfield and Haringey

  480

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  630

  Barking and Havering

  320

  Brent and Harrow

  630

  Camden and Islington

  1,030

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  320

  East London and the City

  1,050

  North Essex

  510

  South Essex

  490

  East and North Hertfordshire

  190

  West Hertfordshire

  120

  South Thames

  3,270

  Bexley and Greenwich

  320

  Bromley

  620

  Croydon

  0

  East Kent

  250

  West Kent

  500

  Kingston and Richmond

  150

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  410

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  350

  East Surrey

  130

  West Surrey

  400

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  500

  West Sussex

  120

  902

  Estimated live discharges with a primary diagnosis schizophrenia psychoses, by health authority of treatment

  Number

  South and West

  4,330

  North and Mid Hampshire

  200

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  320

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  290

  Isle of Wight

  110

  Somerset

  350

  South and West Devon

  290

  Wiltshire

  420

  Avon

  610

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  520

  Dorset

  440

  North East Devon

  490

  Gloucestershire

  300

  West Midlands

  3,000

  Birmingham

  600

  Coventry

  300

  Dudley

  230

  Herefordshire

  70

  Sandwell

  120

  Shropshire

  290

  Solihull

  80

  North Staffordshire

  360

  South Staffordshire

  260

  Walsall

  150

  Warwickshire

  250

  Wolverhampton

  140

  Worcestershire

  260

  North West

  5,600

  South Lancashire

  160

  Liverpool

  380

  Manchester

  650

  Morecambe Bay

  220

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  280

  Salford and Trafford

  430

  Sefton

  460

  Stockport

  180

  West Pennine

  320

  Bury and Rochdale

  330

  North Cheshire

  290

  South Cheshire

  280

  East Lancashire

  500

  North West Lancashire

  350

  Wigan and Bolton

  400

  Wirral

  390

  Not Known

  0

  Notes:

  1. The data have been rounded

  2. Figures for 1997–98 are provisional, no adjustments have yet been made for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed)

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics

  NHS Translators
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the(a) average salary and (b) hourly rate for a translator employed by the NHS. [74170]

  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is not available centrally. National Health Service trusts have the power to set terms and conditions for all their staff, including translators.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the NHS in the latest year for which figures are available of providing(a) translators and (b) translation services for public information. [74169]
  903
  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is not available centrally. The decisions and working arrangements for translators and translation services are made at local level. The responsibility for employing translators, interpreters, linkworkers and advocates lies with health authorities and National Health Service trusts.

  Dentists
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of dental contract holders had an NHS list which (i) increased and (ii) decreased between March 1997 and March 1998 in each health authority area and in total in England. [74004]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: The percentage of dental contract holders for each health authority having a National Health Service list which increased or decreased between March 1997 and March 1998 is shown in the table.

  General Dental Service: dental contract holders with an increase and decrease in list size between March 1997 and 1998: by health authority—England

  Health authority

  Percentage with an increase

  Percentage with a decrease

  England

  31.4

  68.3

  Avon

  33.4

  66.3

  Barking and Havering

  34.0

  66.0

  Barnet

  33.8

  64.0

  Barnsley

  35.8

  64.2

  Bedfordshire

  35.6

  61.9

  Berkshire

  28.3

  71.3

  Bexley and Greenwich

  38.5

  61.5

  Birmingham

  30.2

  68.8

  Bradford

  26.3

  73.0

  Brent and Harrow

  29.0

  70.5

  Bromley

  30.6

  68.4

  Buckinghamshire

  21.8

  77.7

  Bury and Rochdale

  35.8

  63.3

  Calderdale and Kirlees

  34.5

  64.3

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  25.5

  74.5

  Camden and Islington

  25.7

  73.7

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  30.8

  69.2

  County Durham

  39.6

  60.4

  Coventry

  26.0

  74.0

  Croydon

  30.8

  69.2

  Doncaster

  43.5

  56.5

  Dorset

  22.6

  76.9

  Dudley

  23.9

  76.1

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  27.4

  71.9

  East Kent

  31.3

  67.3

  East Lancashire

  32.9

  66.4

  East London and The City

  34.8

  64.6

  East Norfolk

  26.2

  73.8

  East Riding

  36.8

  63.2

  East Surrey

  27.3

  72.0

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  31.1

  68.9

  East and North Hertfordshire

  37.6

  62.4

  Enfield and Haringey

  35.4

  64.1

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  36.8

  63.2

  Gloucestershire

  26.7

  73.3

  Herefordshire

  35.1

  63.2

  Hillingdon

  25.0

  75.0

  Isle of Wight

  40.0

  60.0

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  29.6

  69.0

  Kingston and Richmond

  24.8

  75.2

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  29.6

  70.0

  Leeds

  39.1

  60.9

  Leicestershire

  31.3

  67.8

  Lincolnshire

  35.8

  64.2

  Liverpool

  34.8

  64.4

  904

  General Dental Service: dental contract holders with an increase and decrease in list size between March 1997 and 1998: by health authority—England

  Health authority

  Percentage with an increase

  Percentage with a decrease

  Manchester

  28.5

  70.9

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  27.3

  72.3

  Morecambe Bay

  38.3

  60.5

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  34.3

  65.0

  North Cheshire

  35.4

  63.3

  North Cumbria

  44.8

  55.2

  North Derbyshire

  34.7

  65.3

  North Essex

  34.1

  65.0

  North Nottinghamshire

  45.5

  54.5

  North Staffordshire

  32.6

  65.2

  North West Anglia

  27.8

  72.2

  North West Lancashire

  35.5

  64.5

  North Yorkshire

  40.3

  59.2

  North and East Devon

  22.0

  78.0

  North and Mid Hampshire

  31.2

  68.8

  Northamptonshire

  35.4

  64.6

  Northumberland

  42.7

  57.3

  Nottingham

  27.3

  72.7

  Oxfordshire

  26.4

  72.0

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  29.2

  70.8

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  28.8

  70.5

  Rotherham

  47.9

  47.9

  Salford and Trafford

  29.4

  70.6

  Sandwell

  28.4

  69.1

  Sefton

  31.6

  68.4

  Sheffield

  38.0

  62.0

  Shropshire

  27.3

  71.9

  Solihull

  42.4

  55.9

  Somerset

  24.6

  75.4

  South Cheshire

  31.6

  67.1

  South Derbyshire

  25.9

  72.8

  South Essex

  33.9

  65.0

  South Humber

  30.9

  67.6

  South Lancashire

  36.0

  62.9

  South Staffordshire

  34.0

  66.0

  South and West Devon

  27.3

  72.7

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  31.4

  68.6

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  34.4

  65.6

  Stockport

  26.0

  74.0

  Suffolk

  27.0

  73.0

  Sunderland

  20.9

  79.1

  Tees

  38.8

  61.2

  Wakefield

  48.9

  51.1

  Walsall

  43.4

  56.6

  Warwickshire

  30.5

  69.5

  West Hertfordshire

  30.4

  69.1

  West Kent

  35.0

  64.6

  West Pennine

  30.8

  68.4

  West Surrey

  34.6

  65.4

  West Sussex

  26.8

  73.2

  Wigan and Bolton

  32.4

  67.1

  Wiltshire

  26.1

  73.9

  Wirral

  31.0

  68.0

  Wolverhampton

  22.0

  78.0

  Worcestershire

  22.8

  76.5

  Notes:

  1. Comparisons between March 1997 and March 1998 are affected by the reduction in the registration period to 15 months.

  2. Comparisons are for dentists with contracts at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 1998 and excludes dentists with no registrations on both dates.

  3. Dentists with contracts in several HAs are counted in each HA in which they have a contract but only once in the England total.

  4. The percentage increases and decreases may not equal a 100 per cent. because some dentists will have an unchanged list size.
  905
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the total revenue raised from patient charges in the salaried dentist scheme in (i) 1995 to 1996, (ii) 1996 to 1997 and (iii) 1997 to 1998; [74002]

  (2) what was the total spend on salaried dentists in England by health authority in (i) 1995 to 1996, (ii) 1996 to 1997 and (iii) 1997 to 1998; [74001]

  (3) how many (i) adults and (ii) children are registered with salaried dentists in each health authority; and how many salaried dentists there were in each health authority in (a) March 1996, (b) March 1997 and (c) March 1998. [74003]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 3 March 1999]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Dissolved NHS Trusts
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial arrangements are being made in respect of the 37 NHS trusts dissolved on 1 April 1998. [75335]

  Mr. Denham
  Pursuant to the dissolution of thirty-seven National Health Service trusts on 1 April 1998, and their reconfiguration through the establishment of eighteen new trusts on that date, we propose to create originating debt for the new trusts equal to the net assets transferred to them and therefore to remit the outstanding debt of the dissolved trusts.

  These operations involve no overall loss to the Exchequer. Her Majesty's Treasury has presented a minute to the House, on 2 March 1999, giving the particulars and circumstances of the proposed remission which it has approved in principle.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74356]

  Ms Jowell
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".

  National Radiological Protection Board
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish the funding made available to the National Radiological Protection Board from(a) his Department, (b) other Government departments and (c) the telecommunications industry in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [74710]

  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is in the table.

  £000

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1995–96

  Department of Health (Revenue grant)

  5,783

  5,893

  5,859

  Department of Health (Capital grant)

  520

  520

  1,249

  Other Government Departments

  2,070

  2,060

  2,140

  Telecommunications industry

  less than 20

  less than 20

  less than 20

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner. [69889]

  Mr. Morley
  The following executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department have a statutory basis:

  Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales

  Agricultural Wages Committees

  Apple and Pear Research Council

  British Potato Council

  Food from Britain Council

  Home Grown Cereals Authority

  Horticultural Development Council

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Milk Development Council

  Regional Flood Defence Committees

  Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

  Sea Fish Industry Authority.

  Agricultural Wages Committees already come within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner. The following are due to be covered shortly by means of an Order in Council:

  Apple and Pear Research Council

  British Potato Council

  Food from Britain Council

  Home Grown Cereals Authority

  Horticultural Development Council

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Milk Development Council

  Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

  Sea Fish Industry Authority

  United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards

  Wine Standards Board of the Vintners' Company.

  Regional Flood Defence Committees come within the jurisdiction of the Local Government Ombudsman.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69953]

  Mr. Morley
  In answer to(a) and (b) there is no statutory requirement for any of my Department's Executive non-departmental public bodies to publish minutes, agendas or documents of their meetings. The following make minutes of meetings available on request:
  Agricultural Wages Board
  Agricultural Wages Committees (if no specific case is mentioned) Food from Britain
  United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards.

  The British Potato Council circulates the minutes of its meetings to interested organisations.
  907
  (c) In line with the commitment given in "Quangos: Opening the Doors", all of my Department's executive non-departmental bodies either have, or shortly will have, a register of interest in place.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69981]

  Mr. Morley
  There is no statutory requirement for any of the executive non-departmental public bodies to(a) admit members of the public to all board and committee meetings (b) hold public meetings or (d) operate a form of complaints procedure.

  (a) The British Potato Council invites the NFU and other bodies to committee meetings.

  Some meetings of Regional Flood Defence Committees are open to the public.

  The Horticultural Development Council admits the public to its AGM.

  (b) The following hold public meetings: British Potato Council

  Horticultural Development Council

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Milk Development Council

  Sea Fish Industry Authority

  Regional Flood Defence Committees

  Horticulture Research International holds numerous open days and offer numerous events and activities.

  (c) There is a statutory requirement to have lay or consumer representation on:

  Apple and Pear Research Council

  British Potato Council

  Horticultural Development Council

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Milk Development Council

  Sea Fish Industry Authority

  (d) The following operate a complaints procedure:

  Apple and Pear Research Council

  Food from Britain Council

  Home Grown Cereals Authority

  Horticultural Development Council

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Milk Development Council

  Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

  Sea Fish Industry Authority.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69840]
  908
  Mr. Morley
  In answer to(a) and (b) there is no statutory requirement for any of my Department's Advisory non-departmental public bodies to publish minutes, agendas or documents of their meetings. The following make minutes of meetings available on request:

  Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes

  Farm Animal Welfare Council

  Food Advisory Committee

  Consumer Panel

  Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee;

  publish summaries of their discussions and hold press briefings after committee meetings;

  Veterinary Products Committee;

  issues a summary of discussions as a press release.

  (c)In line with the commitment given in "Quangos: Opening the Doors", all of my Department's advisory non-departmental bodies either have, or shortly will have, a register of interests in place.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69964]

  Mr. Morley
  There is no statutory requirement for any of my Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings or to hold public meetings. The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and the Food Advisory Committee have done both on occasions. The Veterinary Products Committee has held one public meeting. The Consumer Panel and the Farm Animal Welfare Council will both be holding an open meeting in 1999.

  The following advisory non-departmental public bodies have lay or consumer representatives on their boards:

  Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes

  Advisory Committee on Pesticides

  Consumer Panel

  Consumers Committee for Great Britain

  Food Advisory Committee

  Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee

  Veterinary Products Committee.

  This is not a statutory requirement.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the issues for discussion before the Agriculture Council on 22 and 23 February, indicating the position he proposes to take on each issue. [72747]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 24 February 1999]: Every six months, at the beginning of an EU Presidency, the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend and the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin) outlines to the House meetings expected during the Presidency. Every month, she gives the House details of the items expected at meetings of the Council of Ministers during the month.
  909
  After each meeting of the Agriculture Council, I report back to the European Scrutiny Committee on the business conducted at the Agriculture Council meeting. The Government have recently extended arrangements for scrutinising Council business to include the Second and Third Pillars of the Treaty on European Union, as well as the First Pillar. The Government will continue to promote the interests of the United Kingdom at all meetings of the Council of Ministers. However, it has not been the practice of successive Administrations to indicate the position that Ministers propose to take in advance of Council.

  Quarantine
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations his Department has received from current providers of quarantine facilities in the recent consultation exercise on quarantine reform. [70602]

  Mr. Rooker
  During the consultation exercise representations were received from the following providers of quarantine facilities:

  Aquithie Boarding and Quarantine Kennels and Cattery

  Dover and Folkestone Quarantine Kennels

  Firs International Quarantine

  Foredown Kennels and Cattery

  Four in Hand Kennels

  Galley Hill International Kennels and Cattery

  Knightwood Kennels

  Moonwinds Quarantine and Boarding Kennels and Cattery

  Oakenshaw Grange

  Par Air (Livestock) Ltd.

  St. Andrews Farm Kennels.

  Responses were also received from the Quarantine Association and Quarantine Kennels Owners Association U.K.

  The main view expressed in these representations was that the Government should provide compensation to quarantine kennels owners if the present arrangements are changed; some suggested that the quarantine period should be reduced rather than dispensed with altogether.

  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which organisations were contacted during the consultation process on changes to the quarantine regulations. [73470]

  Mr. Rooker
  A list has been placed in the Library of the organisations that were sent a consultation letter which was issued by this Department on 23 September 1998. Separate consultations were held by the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Bonemeal
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in authorising the production of saleable meat and bonemeal from rendering plants specifically dedicated to the by-product of pig abattoirs. [R] [73794]
  910
  Mr. Rooker
  The commercial market for meat and bone meal (MBM) has traditionally depended on its use in animal feed and in fertiliser. Because of the risk of transmission of BSE, the use of MBM in farm animal feed and agricultural fertiliser is currently prohibited.

  The Government will only consider relaxation of the rules prohibiting the inclusion of animal proteins in feedingstuffs and fertilisers, which are intended to prevent the transmission of BSE to cattle either directly or through cross examination, if SEAC advise that it is safe to do so. We would also wish to consult the EU Commission on any proposal to change the rules.

  The Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) is currently producing an industry strategy paper for adding value to animal by-products, which includes restoration of the value of meat and bone meal from the rendering of porcine waste in dedicated plants through the incorporation of this material in poultry feed. Experience has shown that the effective enforcement of such selective controls is extremely difficult, and failure could prejudice the progress made so far in eradicating BSE and in restoring export markets. We are currently discussing with the MLC whether their paper should go to SEAC or whether further work should be done first to address the need for safeguards to avoid contamination of farm animal feed not intended for poultry.

  Farmers' Corporation Tax
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with Treasury Ministers about prohibiting putting farmers' corporation tax on the same basis as farmers' income tax in terms of offsetting trading losses against future profit; and what was the outcome of those discussions. [R] [73798]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have had no discussion with Treasury Ministers on this matter. While taxation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I understand that trading losses, including trading losses of farmers, can already be carried forward against future profits from that trade for Corporation Tax just as they can be for Income Tax.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the consignments of live sheep that pass through lairages in the Dover region prior to export are inspected by his veterinary officials to ensure that they are being transported in compliance with the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997; what steps his veterinary officials take to ensure that sheep which pass through lairages in the Dover region prior to export are given the rest periods required by the 1997 Order; what proportion of loadings prior to export of live sheep at lairages in the Dover region are inspected by his veterinary officials; and if he will make a statement. [74321]

  Mr. Morley
  The level of targeted spot checks carried out at the Dover lairages depends on the resources available, but at present the aim is to check one of the four lairages on each sailing day. Additionally, Local Authority enforcement officers carry out random checks
  911
  of vehicles en route, and of lairages. This supplements the arrangements under which all animals exported for further fattening or slaughter are checked at Dover
  port.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Government have evaluated to deal with the problem of the spread of bovine TB outside those areas which are subject to the randomised badger cull. [73218]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]Tuberculosis in cattle is a serious and multi-faceted problem in this country, and we consider that the only way to develop a sustainable control policy in the long term is to implement the wide ranging five point strategy, involving research and control, which I announced last August. That strategy reflects our evaluation of the Krebs Report, and of the ideas contained in several hundred letters commenting on it.

  We are willing to consider additional action which could usefully complement existing measures. Among the ideas being considered at present are more rapid responses to TB incidents, more comprehensive local testing, local badger culling outside the trial areas, and better advice to farmers on protecting the health status of cattle herds. We have not yet come to any conclusions. We are keeping an open mind while we discuss matters with interested parties. We will give serious consideration to any proposal which might help towards a solution.

  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many confirmed transmissible spongiform encephalopathy cases there were by species in animals other than cattle in Great Britain at the latest available date. [73410]

  Mr. Rooker
  Scrapie, one of the family of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, has been present in sheep for over 250 years. This disease has been notifiable since 1 January 1993 in response to the EC Directive governing trade in sheep and goats (91/68/EEC). The numbers of cases of scrapie in sheep and goats confirmed in Great Britain from 1 January 1993following:

  Number of cases

  Sheep

  2,281

  Goats

  8

  As regards other spongiform encephalopathies, the to 1 March 1999 are as follows table gives the number of cases confirmed in exotic animals and felines in Great Britain since 1986:

  Species

  Number of cases

  Ankole cow

  2

  Bison

  1

  Cheetah1

  5

  Domestic cat

  85

  Eland

  6

  Gemsbok

  1

  Kudu

  6

  Nyala

  1

  912

  Species

  Number of cases

  Ocelot

  2

  Oryx(Arabian)

  1

  Oryx (scimitar horned)

  1

  Puma

  3

  Tiger2

  2

  Lion

  1

  1Four litter mates also died in zoos abroad

  2Plus one inconclusive

  Note:

  Data as at 25 February 1999

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Chief crown Prosecutor
  Mr.Burnett
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the full range of salaries, other payments and benefits to be paid to or provided for Chief Crown Prosecutors. [74123]

  The Attorney-General
  The table lists the areas in which positions of Chief Crown Prosecutor are available together with the salary range into which each position is categorised. In addition, all permanent appointments are pensionable from the outset under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.

  Area

  Salary Range

  London

  £54,230–£90,400

  Greater Manchester

  £49,130–£
  80,400

  West Midlands

  West Yorkshire

  Hampshire

  £44,560–£
  71,470

  Lancashire

  Merseyside

  Northumbria

  South Wales

  Avon & Somerset

  £40,430–£
  63,490

  Cheshire

  Cleveland

  Derbyshire

  Devon & Cornwall

  Essex

  Humberside

  Kent

  Leicestershire

  Nottinghamshire

  South Yorkshire

  Staffordshire

  Sussex

  Thames Valley

  West Mercia

  Bedfordshire

  £33,456–£
  54,323

  Cambridgeshire

  Cumbria

  Dorset

  Durham

  Dyfed-Powys

  Gloucestershire

  Gwent

  Hertfordshire

  Lincolnshire

  Norfolk

  Northamptonshire

  North Wales

  North Yorkshire

  Suffolk

  Surrey

  Wiltshire

  Warwickshire

  913
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Attorney-General how many applicants there have been for the posts of Chief Crown Prosecutor; and how many such applicants have come from(a) the Crown Prosecution Service, (b) solicitors in private practice and (c) barristers in private practice. [74122]

  The Attorney-General
  The total number of applicants for the posts of Chief Crown Prosecutor was 209, of which:

  (a)148 were from the Crown Prosecution Service;

  (b)22 applicants were from solicitors in private practice;

  (c)13 applicants were from banisters in private practice.

  The remaining 26 applicants came from a variety of sources not included in the categories above.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74360]

  The Attorney-General
  Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants:
  Contact with Lobbyists".

  Director of Public Prosecutions
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all salary and other payments and all benefits paid to and provided for the Director of Public Prosecutions in(a)1994–95, (b)1995–96, (c) 1996–97, (d)1997–98 and (e)estimated for 1998–99. [74125]
  914
  The Attorney-General
  The post of Director of Public Prosecutions attracts a salary which equates to that of a High Court Judge and is reviewed annually following recommendations by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB). The salaries of High Court Judges are published in the SSRB's annual reports.

  From 21 April 1992 to 31 October 1998, the post of Director of Public Prosecutions was held by Dame Barbara Mills QC. Her appointment was pensionable from the outset under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). In addition, Dame Barbara was pensionable under a Supplementary Scheme, with benefits accruing at the same rate as under the PCSPS, in respect of that part of her pay exceeding the Inland Revenue earnings cap limits which are applied to the PCSPS.

  In departing from the post on 31 October 1998, she received a severance payment under the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.

  Mr. David Calvert-Smith QC was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions on 1 November 1998, with a starting salary, again equating to that of a High Court Judge, of £116,045 which rose to £117,752 on 1 December 1998. His appointment is pensionable under the PCSPS and the Civil Service Supplementary (Earnings Cap) Scheme. Pension and lump sum benefits will be provided through these schemes which have a value corresponding to those available to a High Court Judge under the Judicial Pension Scheme.

  In addition to salary and pension benefits, an official car and chauffeur are made available to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  Army District Restructuring
  Army District Restructuring
  Foreign Fishing Vessels: Economic Link to UK
  Foreign Fishing Vessels: Economic Link to UK
  Genetically Modified Food: Approval and Labelling
  Genetically Modified Food: Approval and Labelling
  Architecture: Role of Structural Engineering
  Architecture: Role of Structural Engineering
  Millennium Dome: Future Use
  Millennium Dome: Future Use
  Licensed Software and the Public Service
  Licensed Software and the Public Service
  Severn Tunnel
  Severn Tunnel
  Stolen Vehicles: Licensing
  Stolen Vehicles: Licensing
  Vehicle Excise Duty Refunds
  Vehicle Excise Duty Refunds
  Genetically Modified Crops: English Nature's Advice
  Genetically Modified Crops: English Nature's Advice
  Northern Ireland: Suicides
  Northern Ireland: Suicides
  Car Parking in Black Rod's Garden
  Car Parking in Black Rod's Garden
  Dispute Resolution by Mediation
  Dispute Resolution by Mediation
  Alternative Dispute Resolution
  Alternative Dispute Resolution
  Family Records Centre: 1901 Census
  Family Records Centre: 1901 Census
  Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner
  Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner
  Kosovo: Draft Agreement
  Kosovo: Draft Agreement
  FCO: Cash Limit Increase
  FCO: Cash Limit Increase
  NATO: Accession of New Members
  NATO: Accession of New Members
  UN Security Council Members: Nuclear Weapons Policy
  UN Security Council Members: Nuclear Weapons Policy
  China: Human Rights
  China: Human Rights
  Murmansk: Foreign Secretary's Visit
  Murmansk: Foreign Secretary's Visit
  EU/ASEAN Summit: Burmese Participation
  EU/ASEAN Summit: Burmese Participation
  Gibraltar
  Gibraltar
  Immigration Centre: Visa Delays
  Immigration Centre: Visa Delays
  Mr. Salah Idris
  Mr. Salah Idris
  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989
  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989
  Human Rights Instruments: UK Ratification
  Human Rights Instruments: UK Ratification
  Fire Service College
  Fire Service College
  Asylum Refusals: Judicial Review
  Asylum Refusals: Judicial Review
  Female Prisoners: Distance from Home
  Female Prisoners: Distance from Home
  Wackenhut (UK) Ltd: Prison Service Contracts
  Wackenhut (UK) Ltd: Prison Service Contracts
  Business Mail: Date Stamping
  Business Mail: Date Stamping
  Woodland Grant Scheme
  Woodland Grant Scheme
  Scottish Parliament: Opening Sitting
  Scottish Parliament: Opening Sitting
  Charitable Organisations Supported by DFID: Standards
  Charitable Organisations Supported by DFID: Standards
  WTO: Participation by Developing Countries
  WTO: Participation by Developing Countries
  Somalia
  Somalia
  Operation Lifeline Sudan: Funding
  Operation Lifeline Sudan: Funding