Written Answers of 8 March 1999

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those hon. Members who are planned to go, or have been, to Sweden to lecture on the single currency and EMU for the British Council. [75130]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I understand from the British Council that no hon. Members have travelled to Sweden to lecture on the Council's behalf on the single currency and EMU. The Council is organising a conference in Sweden later this month with the title "Outside EMU—North European Perspectives" at which the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) will speak.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the ministerial visits made to(a) Argentina and (b) Taiwan in 1998. [75020]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  (a) There were six ministerial visits to Argentina in 1998. These were as follows:
  The Minister for Sport visited Argentina from 26 to 28 March in connection with the World Cup 2006 campaign.
  The Minister for Education and Employment visited from 18 to 21 April in connection with educational co-operation.
  The Minister for Transport in London visited from 12 to 14 July in connection with transport co-operation.
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), visited from 2 to 4 August to discuss bilateral relations.
  The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Minister for the Environment visited from 10 to 13 November for the Climate Control Conference.

  (b) The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office visited Taiwan privately from 14 to 20 February 1998, at the invitation of the British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, in connection with inward investment opportunities.

  Ambassadors and High Commissioners
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ambassadors and high commissioners there are; how many of them(a) are women, (b) are members of ethnic minorities, (c) have Oxbridge degrees and (d) were educated at public schools; and if he will make a statement. [74880]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As of 1 March 1999 there were 148 Ambassadors and High Commissioners and High Commissioners/Ambassadors designate. Seven are women. None are members of ethnic minorities. Eighty-four have degrees from Oxford or Cambridge 2
  universities. Information on the schools they attended is incomplete but at least sixty were educated at private schools and at least fifty-eight were educated at state schools.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the UN to be able to conduct a referendum on the future of the Western Sahara. [74872]

  Mr. Fatchett
  In his report of 11 December 1998 the UN Secretary-General stated that it is the United Nations' intention to hold the referendum in the Western Sahara in December 1999, provided that it receives full co-operation from the parties involved. We fully support the UN in its efforts to achieve this goal and hope that this deadline will be met.

  Sierra Leone
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the EU member states that are assessing the need to provide extra funds to Sierra Leone; when he requested them to do so; and what form the invitation took. [75482]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The new £ 10 million package of British assistance to Sierra Leone was announced by the Foreign Secretary on 2 March 1999,Official Report, columns 895–96. On the same day, we instructed our Embassies and High Commissions to invite not just our partners in the European Union, but around the world, to play their part. Support from other donors could include direct support for ECOMOG, for the Government of Sierra Leone, or for humanitarian or other assistance

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he took the decision to commit up to an additional £ 10 million from the reserve for Sierra Leone; and over what period of time the sum will be spent. [75481]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The request from the Foreign Secretary for a contribution from the reserve for Sierra Leone was approved by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 18 February. We are inviting others in the international community to follow our lead in providing support to Sierra Leone; the £10 million will be spent as we receive matching new pledges from them.

  Rambouillet Talks
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 1 March 1999, Official Report, column 605, for what reasons President Milosevic was not invited to join the Rambouillet talks. [75485]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The invitation allowed both sides to nominate their representatives at Rambouillet. It is a matter for the Federal Yugoslav and Serbian Governments as to why President Milosevic was not a member of their delegation.
  3

  Africa
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the representatives of the Governments of(a) Angola, (b) Zimbabwe, (c) Namibia, (d) Uganda, (e) the Democratic Republic of Congo and (f) South Africa whom the Minister of State met on his recent visits to the region, indicating the dates of the meetings. [75479]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As the Prime Minister's Special Envoy I visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries directly or indirectly involved in the conflict from 22–26 February to assess progress in African mediation efforts and to explore what more Britain and the international community may be able to do to support these. I met(a) Deputy Foreign Minister Miranda (24 February), (b) President Mugabe (25 February), (c) Prime Minister Geingob (24 February), (d) President Museveni (26 February), (e) President Kabila (23 February) and (f) Deputy Foreign Minister Pahad (22 February). I also met President Bizimungu and Vice President Kagame of Rwanda (25 February) and the Secretary General of the OAU (26 February).

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those(a) British citizens and (b) British citizens with dual nationality who have been kidnapped in Africa from 1 January 1998 to date, together with (i) the date of the kidnap, (ii) the identity, or suspected identity, of the kidnappers and (iii) the outcome of the kidnaps. [75484]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Not all kidnappings of British nationals are reported. However, to our knowledge, the following kidnappings have taken place in Africa since 1 January 1998:On 10 March 1998, Lenard Holland and Barry Glover (both British nationals) were abducted by villagers in Warri, Nigeria, along with a US national. They were released unharmed on 12 March.
  On 14 April 1998, Gordon Hutchinson, Andrew Odell, Mark Edward and Grevill Moteran (British nationals) were held hostage by fellow oil workers in Nigeria. They were released after four days.
  On 11 August 1998, Douglas Kear (joint New Zealand/British national) was abducted, probably by Rwandan Interahamwe rebels, in the eastern Democractic Republic of Congo, along with two Swedes and a Canadian. The Canadian was released on 18 August. The fate of the other three remains unknown.
  On 6 October 1998, Pierre de School-Meester (British national) was abducted by pirates from a ship off the Delta State Coast, Nigeria. He was released unharmed on 12 October 1998.
  On 8 November 1998, following a UNITA attack on a diamond mine in north-east Angola in which two British nationals were killed, Jason Pope (British national) was abducted along with a South African, two Filipinos and several Angolans. Their fate remains unknown.
  On 10 November 1998, Peter John Holgate (British national) was taken hostage with seven other oil rig workers by Ijaw youths in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. All eight were released unharmed on 17 November 1998.
  On 9 February 1999, Jim Simpson (British national) was abducted by local youths in Warri, Nigeria, along with an Italian and a Nigerian. He was released unharmed on 17 February.
  On 15 February 1999, Martin Westbury and his young son Benjamin (both British nationals) were abducted by armed youths in Warri, Nigeria. They were released unharmed on the same day.
  4
  On 1 March 1999, Joanne Cotton, Steve Roberts, Mark Lindgren, Martin Friend, Gary Tappenden (all British nationals and Mark Avis (joint New Zealand/British national) were abducted by Rwandan Interahamwe rebels in Bwindi National Park, western Uganda, along with a number of other Western tourists. Gary Tappenden and Mark Avis found their way to safety; the other four were murdered by their abductors, along with four US and New Zealand tourists.
  On 3 March 1999, Ian Lane (British national) was abducted by armed men in Warri, Nigeria. The case has not yet been resolved.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made to the Minister of State during his recent visit to Africa concerning the targeting by the Interahamwe of(a) British and (b) American citizens. [75480]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  None.

  Uganda
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department received from the Government of Uganda concerning travel advice between 1 January 1998 and 1 March 1999. [75487]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  None.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to assist the Ugandan authorities in their investigation into the murders and kidnappings at Bwindi National Park. [75483]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Ugandan President has promised us a full report on this tragic incident. A British police team arrived in Uganda on 5 March to assist the Ugandan authorities with their investigation.

  Nigeria
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the President-elect of Nigeria following his announcement of the intention to withdraw Nigeria's peace keeping troops from Sierra Leone. [75477]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will visit Nigeria on 8 and 9 March. In his discussions with President-elect Obasanjo, the Foreign Secretary will pay tribute to the efforts which Nigeria is making to help provide security in Sierra Leone; and will stress the support which Britain is giving to ECOMOG to help it consolidate the security situation.

  Rotherham Euro Experiment
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 1999,Official Report, column 192, on the Rotherham Euro Experiment, what role (a) ministers and (b) officials in his Department played in locating sponsors for the Rotherham Euro Experiment. [74491]

  Ms Quin
  (a) None. (b) None.
  5

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Environment Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the issues for discussion before the Environment Council of 11 and 12 March, indicating the position he proposes to take on each issue. [72738]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 February 1999]: The following issues will be debated in Brussels on 11–12 March:
  Community strategy on climate change: Council conclusions.
  Amended proposal for a Council Directive establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy: Common position.
  Proposal for a Council Directive on end-of-life vehicles: Common position.
  Community strategy to reduce C02 emissions from private cars— Commission negotiations with car manufacturers which are not members of ACEA: Council conclusions.
  Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 88/609/EEC, on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants: Policy debate.
  Proposal for a Council Directive on the incineration of waste: Progress report.

  It has not been the practice of successive Administrations to indicate the position Ministers propose to take in advance of Council.

  Completion date

  Highway scheme

  Planned completion

  Actual completion

  Original works budget £ million (1992)

  Spend to date (million)

  Contract A: Fore Street Underpass

  31 December 1997

  4 December 1998 (Tunnel—16 July 1998)

  56.6

  62.0

  Contract B: Angel Road Viaduct

  16 January 1996

  28 November 1996

  31.4

  39.6

  Contract C: Lea Valley Viaduct

  14 November 1995

  22 August 1996

  32.7

  39.4

  Total

  120.7

  141.0

  Notes:

  1.All figures are exclusive of VAT

  Figures include the cost of work,statutory undertakers, variations of price and contingencies They exclude Traffic control systems Unit (TCSU),Preparation and Supervision (P & S) and Land costs.

  Departmental Websites
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the current running cost estimate of the Environmental Protection Agency website is projected to rise to £ 1,000,000 in the year 2000–01. [74007]

  Mr. Meacher
  I am advised by the Environment Protection Agency that the estimated cost of running its website is projected to increase from £ 25,000 in 1998–99 to £ 100,000 in 2000–01. This estimate is based on current growth rates, comparisons with the US Environmental Protection Agency and costs of other internet services.
  6

  North Circular Road
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the(a) budgeted cost and (b) total final cost for the three contracts to extend the North Circular Road (A406) at the junction of Fore Street, N18 (A1010) extending eastwards to the boundary of the London Borough of Enfield; on what date each contract was to be completed and when they were actually completed; and if he will make a statement. [74202]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highway Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Andrew Love, dated 8 March 1999:
  The Minister for Transport in London, has asked Lawrie Haynes, the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, to reply to your recent parliamentary Question about the improvements to the A406 between Fore Street and Hall Lane. I am replying in Lawrie's absence from the office.
  The information you asked for is in the attached table except for the information on the final cost of each of the three contracts. I am afraid it is not possible to provide this until the final accounts have been settled. I have therefore provided figures of the spend to date.
  The delays in completing what were highly complex improvements to the A406, particularly at Fore Street, are regretted, but as you know, they were largely due to the contractors encountering unforeseen ground conditions. There were also difficulties installing the specialist mechanical and electrical equipment necessary for safety in the tunnel.
  However, the improved road between Fore Street and Hall Lane now means that traffic on the A406 is able to run much more freely. It no longer has to compete with local traffic at the Fore Street, Angel Road and Lea Valley junctions, thus reducing congestion and delays to all road users. This coupled with the extensive landscaping we have carried out means that local people who live and work in the area can now enjoy a much safer, healthier and more attractive environment.

  The figure of £1000000+ is a rough and untested estimate of the cost in 2000–01 were the Agency to develop its information systems and business processes to provide a range of electronic services including electronic handling of 25℅ of licence applications and access to public registers. It is being considered alongside competing priorities but has not yet been subject to critical business assessment and does not feature in the Agency's current financial plans

  European Commission on the Regions
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will deposit
  7
  in the Library a copy of the report of the April 1998 Conference organised at Brighton by the European Commission on the Regions. [74443]

  Mr. Caborn
  I regret that the Department was unable to determine from the Question which conference the right hon. Member has in mind. If he would like to write with further details, I would be happy to consider his request further.

  Supermarket Sites
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many supermarkets have been granted planning permission as a result of a planning inquiry or appeal since May 1997 on (i) out of town, (ii) green-field, (iii) town centre and (iv) brown-field sites. [74556]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Since May 1997 planning permission has been granted, as a result of a planning inquiry or appeal, in respect of ten supermarkets. Of these, none were out-of-town or on green-field sites, six were in town or district centres and the remaining four were out-of-centre, but within the urban area on brown-field sites.

  Trunk Road Network
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his decision on the extent of the core trunk road network following consultation on his paper, "Roads Review: Implementation of Detrunking Proposals". [74720]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Responses from regional planning bodies, local authorities and others are being considered. We will announce a final decision on the extent of the core network as soon as possible.

  Rail Links
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to consider(a) the order application for the link from London Underground's East London Line to Railtrack's South London Line and (b) the funding application for the southern link and the northern extension to the North London Line; and if he will assess the benefits of creating an orbital rail network for London. [74624]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Deputy Prime Minister gave permission for London Underground last August to do preparatory work for securing the legal powers necessary to build the southern extension to the East London Line. This work would need to be completed before an order application could be lodged.

  London Transport and the Department are considering a number of ways in which both the Northern and Southern Extensions might be funded. Any appraisal of the extensions will take into account the benefit of establishing orbital railway links.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many 8
  applications for consideration of planning applications by public inquiry have been received by him since May 1997. [74536]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Comprehensive records are not kept centrally of requests to my right hon. Friend to call in planning applications. However, of those called in in the period 1 May 1997 to 31 December 1998, 239 applications have been or are due to be considered at a public inquiry.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications have been called in by him since May 1997. [74535]

  Mr. Raynsford
  For the 20 months from 1 May 1997 to 31 December 1998, my right hon. Friend called in some 246 planning applications.

  Self-financing Trading Operations
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will(a) list and (b) estimate for each of the past three years applications by local authorities in England and Wales for trading credit approvals or other borrowing requirements for the development and maintenance of self-financing trading operations other than airports. [74702]

  Ms Armstrong
  In the last three years my Department has received a large number of applications for extra credit approvals for a wide range of purposes, including for Trading Credit Approvals (TCAs) for self-financing schemes. Owing to the constraints on my Department's resources, such requests could only be approved in the most exceptional circumstances. Local government in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the effect on the Public Sector borrowing requirement for 1999–2000 of approving all applications by local authorities in England and Wales for trading credit approvals or other borrowing requirements for the development and maintenance of self-financing trading operations other than airports for that period. [74703]

  Ms Armstrong
  Local authority applications for Trading Credit Approvals (TCAs) can be made at any time of the year and therefore it would not be possible to estimate the amount of requests for TCAs my Department might receive in 1999–2000 or future years. Were an application to be successful the PSBR for 1999–2000 would be expected to increase by the amount of the credit approval issued. Local government in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Advance Corporation Tax
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will estimate the financial impact of the changes made to advance corporation tax since May 1997 on local authority budgets for 1999–2000; [74948]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost per council tax payer for 1999–2000 by local authority of the changes to advance corporation tax introduced since 1 May 1997. [74947]
  9
  Ms Armstrong
  Actuarial assessments of the impact on local authority pension funds as a result of changes to advance corporation tax are not yet available for all funds. The Local Government Association, following a national survey last year, estimated the impact at £ 130 million. This was taken into account in the Revenue Support Grant Settlement for 1999–2000. It is not possible to say how these changes will impact on council tax. Local authorities will need to take into account all the relevant local circumstances in deciding on budgets and hence council taxes.

  Sorting Office, Feltham
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to report on the planning application for a Royal Mail sorting office on the Feltham Marshalling yards site. [74886]

  Mr. Caborn
  We have decided not to intervene on this planning application and have written to the local planning authority today to tell them that they can determine the application as they see fit.

  Merchant Ships
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many merchant ships joined the United Kingdom register during the last year for which figures are available; and if he will indicate their(a) names and (b) previous flags. [74965]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In 1998, 30 trading vessels of 100 gross tons and over joined the UK register. Their latest recorded names and previous flags are as follows:

  Name

  Previous flag

  Alexander

  not known

  Amandine

  Antigua & Barbuda

  Berge Hugin

  Norway

  Cape Sable

  Liberia

  Carole T.

  Barbados

  Clansman

  newbuilding

  Crear

  newbuilding

  Global Mariner

  Hong Kong

  Humber Fisher

  newbuilding

  Janet C.

  Barbados

  Johanna C.

  Barbados

  Loch Rannoch

  newbuilding

  Maersk Cotonou

  Isle of Man

  Mersey Fisher

  newbuilding

  Milford Fisher

  newbuilding

  Olaf

  Norway

  P & O Nedlloyd Genoa

  Liberia

  P&O Nedlloyd Kobe

  newbuilding

  P&O Nedlloyd Marseille

  Liberia

  P&O Nedlloyd Southampton

  newbuilding

  P&O Stena Elite

  Bahamas

  Red Jet 3

  newbuilding

  Sea Centurion

  Sweden

  Seacat Scotland

  Uruguay

  Solent Fisher

  newbuilding

  Stena Fantasia

  Bahamas

  Stena Lynx

  Bahamas

  Tor Gothia

  Sweden

  Tor Hollandia

  Sweden

  Wightstone

  Honduras

  Source:

  Lloyd's Maritime Information Services Ltd.

  Development Projects
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the development projects involving sites larger than one hectare in the South East which he has called in the past year. [75499]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In the period from 1 March 1998 to 28 February 1999 the Secretary of State has called-in 20 planning applications involving sites larger than one hectare in the South East. These are as follows:

  Extension of a quarry and new cement works at Holborough Quarry, Snodland, Kent;

  Leisure development at Stone Lodge, Dartford, Kent;

  Conversion of a house and outbuildings to residential units, North Frith, Tonbridge, Kent;

  Development of land for bagging and storing topsoil at Honeypot Farm, Edenbridge, Kent;

  Leisure development at site of High School for Girls, Chichester, West Sussex;

  Housing development at Newdigate, Surrey;

  Retail, leisure and restaurant development at land to the west of Park Street, Camberley, Surrey;

  Mixed-use development including retail, leisure, restaurant and cinema at land to the north of Obelisk Way, Camberley, Surrey;

  Extension to Nuffield Priory Hotel, Nuffield, Surrey;

  Multiplex cinema, Port Solent, Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, Hampshire;

  Foodstore, Bordon Motors site, Bordon, Hampshire;

  Foodstore, Southampton Road, Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, Hampshire;

  Storm Water Screen House, Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth, Hampshire;

  Retail warehouse and restaurant, Churchill Way West, Basingstoke, Hampshire;

  Two proposals for the redevelopment of Bracknell town centre, Berkshire;

  Housing development, Grazeley, Wokingham, Berkshire;

  Housing development, Spencers Wood, Wokingham, Berkshire;

  Park and ride, Grain Silo, Cherwell, Oxon;

  Multiplex cinema, Abingdon, Oxon.

  Green Ministers
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the team of Green Ministers last met; what was discussed; and which departments were represented by officials. [75089]

  Mr. Meacher
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8 December 1998,Official Report, column 131, and also to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. Clapham) on 25 November 1998, Official Report, column 5. Those replies related to the last meeting of Green Ministers on 18 November 1998. The next meeting is scheduled for 22 March 1999.

  Cycle Paths
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy in respect of the use of cycle paths by invalid scooters. [75104]
  11
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Cycle tracks and mandatory cycle lanes are not generally available to invalid carriages, although advisory cycle lanes can by used. Local authorities can permit the use of Class 3 invalid carriages (those capable of a maximum speed of 4 mph on the footway and 8 mph on the carriageway) on mandatory cycle lanes.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how crops grown in genetically modified crop trials are disposed of where the subsequent foods or food ingredients do not meet the requirements that would allow them to enter the food chain. [75112]

  Mr. Meacher
  The method of disposal is specified in each consent to release genetically modified crops. Methods for disposal include landfill, incineration, or autoclave. In addition to these methods, non-regenerative material may be disposed of by maceration or chemical treatment at the trial site and subsequent incorporation into the soil at the trial site.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers are available to local authorities to encourage businesses to move to their areas through the waiving or reduction of business rates; and if he will make a statement. [75008]

  Ms Armstrong
  Local authorities do not have the power to waive or reduce business rates to attract businesses to their areas. However, we have proposed in the White Paper "Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People" (July 1998) a measure of local discretion over the business rate, which would allow an authority to grant a rebate to all of its ratepayers, though the cost of that rebate would have to be met by the authority. We shall shortly be issuing a public consultation paper on the details of implementing the White Paper proposals on rates.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make changes to the function and composition of local councils. [75075]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Our plans for the modernisation of local government are set out in the White Paper "Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People" published in July 1998. This is a programme for change stretching for ten years or more. The Local Government Bill (which provides for the replacement of Compulsory Competitive Tendering with the new duty to achieve best value in providing local services, and also abolishes crude and universal capping) completed its Committee stage in the House of Commons on 25 February. Our proposals to transform the political management and ethical framework of councils will be published soon in a draft Bill, and other measures will follow.
  12

  Local Authority Housing
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will announce the results of the consultation exercise on the proposed incentive for local authorities to buy back ex-council flats and houses. [75707]

  Ms Armstrong
  Around 200,000 people in England have bought a council flat, mainly under the Right to Buy. Research shows that the great majority consider it good value for money. But some, especially in system-built flats, cannot afford the costs of maintenance. Some cannot re-sell their home—either because they cannot find a buyer, or because mortgage lenders refuse to give a loan.

  The Government already provide financial help to councils to reduce high repair bills in flats. But some people—including some older people on low incomes— can no longer cope with the cost and strain of home ownership. Local authorities have powers to buy back housing, but their resources are limited, and they have other pressures. Last July we published a consultation paper offering to cover 25 per cent.of councils' costs.

  Many respondents were concerned that the incentive offered was too small. We have therefore increased it to 35 per cent.of all costs incurred by a council above a threshold of £50,000 per council per year. This will target help on those areas with the greatest problems. We have also extended it in other ways—for example, to cover homes already bought back during 1998–99, and to include former New Town housing.

  In addition to this incentive, when a council buys back a property it regains a capital asset which, sooner or later, it can re-let. It also reduces the costs of managing its leasehold property including, for example, trying to recover arrears of service charges. And in some cases, such as buying from an elderly or vulnerable person in arrears, the council will be helping someone whom it might otherwise have to re-house.

  Local authorities are best placed to decide who needs their help. They will be free to decide whom to assist and on what terms. there are just two restrictions: the incentive only applies where they are buying from an individual, and where they are not using compulsory purchase powers. This limits the incentive to cases there occupants wish to sell their home.

  We have today laid an Order before Parliament amending regulation 104 of the Local Authorities (Capital Finance) Regulations 1997. Subject to Parliamentary approval, this will come into force on 1 April and councils will then be able to use the financial incentive. A copy of the consultation paper, and a list of the responses, is in the Library of the House, and copies of the responses are available in the Library of the Department.

PRIME MINISTER

  Minister for Science
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Prime Minister what instructions he has issued relating to the Minister for Science's attendance at, or participation in, meetings where genetically modified foods and crops are discussed. [73026]
  13
  The Prime Minister
  It has not been necessary to issue any such instructions.

  At all times the Minister for Science has acted in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the statement he made at the time he became a Minister.

  Train Operating Companies
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 February 1999,Official Report, column 383, what criteria he uses to evaluate the (a) quality of service and (b) customer satisfaction provided by train operating companies. [74153]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: Quality and customer satisfaction are currently measured against benchmarks in passengers' Charters and franchise agreements. As I made clear at the Rail Summit on 25 February, this Government are committed to improving the quality of rail services, and believes that transport generally is as important as schools and hospitals.

  The Summit demonstrated our determination to improve rail services. Sir Alastair Morton, as the new Chairman of the British Railways Board and prospective Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, will have a key role in raising standards and boosting investment. We also made clear that we need better measurements of quality and customer satisfaction.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on procedures for(a) democratic accountability and (b) official representations on economic management permitted from (i) national Governments and (ii) parliamentarians from countries within the euro zone, concerning management of the single currency; and what analysis he has made of such in determining whether the United Kingdom should join EMU. [74446]

  The Prime Minister
  Article 109b(3) of the Maastricht Treaty contains several provisions designed to balance the necessary independence of the European Central Bank with the need for democratic accountability. The Government believe that accountability and transparency in their policy-making will be key to ensuring that the European Central Bank gains the trust of the European public and financial markets. Ultimately, it will help to provide the credibility needed to deliver a more effective monetary policy.

  Euro
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of total costs to(a) public services and (b) government departments of preparations for transition to the euro; and if he will make a statement. [74499]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 1 March 1999,Official Report, column 529.

  Racism
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements are being proposed to guard against 14
  institutional racism in the public sector as a whole, with particular reference to new tests, guidelines and monitoring arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [75136]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have accepted the definition of institutional racism set out in the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report and have welcomed the Report's recommendations. A detailed response and action plan will be laid before the House in time for the debate on the Report.

  As my right hon. Friend made clear in his statement to the House on 24 February 1999, Official Report, columns 389–403 the Report is a challenge to all public services and the Government are committed to a comprehensive agenda to improve race relations which will set out over the coming months. This will include extending the Race Relations Act 1976 to cover public services.

  Newspaper Articles
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will arrange for copies of articles which he writes for publication in overseas journals and newspapers to be deposited in the Library, together with a translation. [75051]

  The Prime Minister
  No central store is routinely kept of such articles and it would not be practical to make systematic arrangements to do so.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what representations he has received from (i) foreign Governments, (ii) foreign agencies, (iii) foreign media and (iv) British lobbyists concerning potential writing of articles for placement in foreign newspapers and journals; [75050]

  (2) what representations he has received from overseas on articles which he has written in foreign newspapers and journals. [75049]

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware, none.

  Geneva Trade and Environment Symposium
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister who will represent the British Government at the High Level Symposium on Trade and Environment in Geneva on 15 and 16 March 1999; what policy position the Government will be promoting; and if he will make a statement. [74869]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: We will be represented at the World Trade Organisation Symposium on Trade and Environment by senior officials from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department for International Development, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We expect the event to be an opportunity to work with other WTO members and representatives of non-governmental bodies, including business, to identify constructive ways ahead on the trade and environment interface.
  15
  The Symposium is not intended to be a forum for negotiation or decision-making, but we hope that the event will progress the trade and environment debate by helping to:
  Clarify the relationship between trade rules and international Environmental law;
  Identify mutually-beneficial solutions for achieving trade, environment and development objectives;
  Encourage further dialogue between all interested communities, in particular highlighting the importance of transparency at both the national and international level.

  The United Kingdom will engage constructively in the debate at the Symposium.

  Genetic Modification
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 1999,Official Report, column 527, on genetic modification, on what basis he stated that genetic modification has the potential for the production of food that is more nutritious and better tasting. [75061]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: This is the view of eminent scientific opinion. In its report on 'Genetically Modified Plants for Food Use' published in September 1998, the Royal Society say that
  'the use of genetically modified organisms has the potential to offer real benefits in agricultural practice, food quality, nutrition and health'.

  Biotechnology
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Prime Minister when he last met environmental groups with an interest in biotechnology; and who was present at the meeting. [75063]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: As under previous Administrations, it is not the normal practice to provide details of private meetings with specific individuals or organisations.

  UNSCOM
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date he was informed that the American Government were running a signals intelligence operation under the cover of UNSCOM. [75408]

  The Prime Minister
  I am aware of the latest press allegations of the United States spying under cover of UNSCOM operations.

  The US Government have publicly stated that all activities by US nationals assigned to UNSCOM, and all information exchanges between the US and UNSCOM have been strictly in pursuit of UNSCOM's mandate to dismantle Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) capability.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer by the Minister for Home Affairs and Devolution of 23 February 1999,Official Report, column 212, on Lockerbie, if he will define which aspects of the Lockerbie issue will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament, and which for the UK Parliament. [75280]
  16
  The Prime Minister
  Scottish criminal procedure and the Scottish criminal justice system will be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament. International relations will remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom Government.

  Lord Chancellor (Garrick Club)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Prime Minister what action he has taken in respect of the Lord Chancellor's use of his private office to promote a candidate for membership of the Garrick Club. [75153]

  The Prime Minister
  None. The Lord Chancellor did not use his Private Office to promote a candidate for membership of the Garrick Club. His Private Office was involved in preparing and despatching some letters on the Lord Chancellor's behalf. This was an oversight and the costs have been reimbursed.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Paramilitary Violence
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 6 February the number of(a) violent incidents involving paramilitary groups, (b) punishment beatings and (c) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many involved (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [70902]

  Mr. Ingram
  Between 31 January and 6 February 1999, there were 4 shooting incidents and 1 bombing incident. The number of casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks were as follows:

  By Loyalists

  By Republicans

  Assaults

  2

  1

  Shootings

  1

  1

  Total

  3

  2

  Note:

  Figures may be subject to minor amendment in the light of further information becoming available.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 30 January the number of(a) violent incidents involving paramilitary groups, (b) punishment beatings and (c) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many involved (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [70901]

  Mr. Ingram
  Between 24 and 30 January 1999, there were 4 shooting and 2 bombing incidents. The number of casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks were as follows:

  By Loyalists

  By Republicans

  Assaults

  7

  4

  Shootings

  1

  2

  Total

  8

  6

  Note:

  Figures may be subject to minor amendment in the light of further information becoming available
  17
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list those incidents of violence attributed to Loyalist paramilitary groups which have occurred in 1999 to date. [71379]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number of security incidents during 1999 to 24 February attributable to Loyalists are as follows:

  1999 To 24 February

  Deaths

  0

  Shootings

  13

  Bombings

  11

  Note:

  These figures are subject to amendment

  Casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings/assaults

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Shootings

  January

  6

  5

  February (24)

  6

  1

  Total

  12

  6

  Assaults

  January

  17

  12

  February(24)

  12

  4

  Total

  29

  16

  Note:

  Figures are subject to minor amendment

  Good Friday Agreement
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the timetable for normalising security in Northern Ireland under the Good Friday Agreement. [71399]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Government will make progress towards the objective of as early a return as possible to normal security arrangements in Northern Ireland, consistent with the level of threat. The situation is kept under constant review.

  Graffiti
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was to the public purse in each of the past five years to clean up graffiti on public buildings in Northern Ireland. [72912]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  This information is not recorded in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Pilot Projects
  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [72636]
  18
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department is funding five pilot schemes to promote the voluntary recording of archaeological finds in Kent, Norfolk, North Lincolnshire, the North-West and Yorkshire for two and a half years from September 1997 to April 2000.

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what systems he has in place to ensure that policies being developed by his Department are subject to a crime impact(a) assessment and (b) audit and are not likely to lead to enhanced criminal opportunities. [72694]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 24 February 1999]: Departments co-operate on policy development and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State works closely with other Ministers in assessing any likely implications for crime of new developments, in support of the Home Office's aim to reduce crime and the fear of it.

  The procedures for crime assessment and audit vary across the Department's responsibilities. Where a policy is assessed as carrying some risk, for example where grants are made to third parties, specific systems are in place. Relevant sponsored bodies such as the national museums and galleries, Historic Royal Palaces, and English Heritage have security systems to guard against theft and criminal damage and we expect our sponsored bodies to keep these systems under review, to ensure they are appropriately effective in developing circumstances. The Department and its sponsored bodies have fraud policies in place and the Department has developed a checklist of key controls to prevent, detect and investigate fraud and deal with its consequences. The Department is committed to producing an annual fraud return to the Treasury's timetable each year.

  From this year onwards, Departmental and NDPB Accounting Officers will be required to prepare statements on the system of internal financial control which operates in their organisations, including risk management. In preparation for this, my Department is about to pilot Control and Risk Self Assessment (CRSA) techniques in a number of policy areas.

  The National Lottery regulator also has systems to ensure that those associated with the running of the National Lottery are fit and proper for their role and to monitor the effectiveness of the operator's systems to guard against crime including fraud.

  British Airways
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met representatives of British Airways; what was discussed; what help his Department is receiving from British Airways and if British Airways is financially sponsoring initiatives run by his Department or its agencies. [72810]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 February 1999]: I have no formal meetings with representatives of British Airways in that capacity. From time to time, however, both as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and as Chairman of the Millennium Commission, I have

  19
  met Bob Ayling, the Chief Executive of British Airways, in his capacity as Chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company.

  Neither my Department nor The Royal Parks Agency is receiving any help or financial sponsorship from British Airways. However, British Airways has for some years been providing financial sponsorship for the Art for Architecture scheme, for which my Department is the core-funder.

  UK Sports Institute
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what dates he has visited the headquarters site of the UK Sports Institute since December 1997. [73563]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 26 February 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I visited the Sheffield headquarters site of the UKSI on 26 January 1998 and I returned for a second visit on 18 June. We have had several meetings with the UKSC, ESC, Sheffield City Council and the Phoenix consortium throughout this development period to track progress; the most recent one took place on 26 January this year. I will be visiting the site again in April.

  Libraries
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what advice is given by his Department on the provision of locally available, accessible libraries. [73161]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: Local library authorities have a statutory duty to provide comprehensive and efficient services and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently reminded them of his own statutory obligation to ensure that they do so. The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 does not specify the number, location, distribution or opening hours of local libraries. These detailed decisions are for local library authorities to make, based on the precise nature of their areas and their local resources and priorities. However, through their Annual Library Plans, library authorities are required by my right hon. Friend to report on the availability and accessibility of local libraries, which is a key element in ensuring that a comprehensive and efficient service is being provided, and he subsequently provides both individual and general feedback to each authority.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received concerning the future of Kilburn, Chalk Farm and Belsize public libraries in Camden; and if he will make a statement. [75186]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: To date, I have received 23 representations about these public libraries. I am looking at Camden's proposals for its library services in detail to ensure that they meet with statutory requirements and do not result in a reduction in service quality across the authority.

  Sports Cabinet
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the members of the Sports Cabinet; and when it has met. [74558]
  20
  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 4 March 1999]: The Sports Cabinet is chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and brings together the Ministers with responsibility for Sport in the four parts of the United Kingdom and, when appropriate, others who are closely involved in the development of sport.

  The Sports Cabinet last met on 26 November 1998 and is scheduled to meet next on 10 March. Officials of my Department have met their counterparts from the Home Country Departments on a number of occasions during this period and are in regular contact on a range of issues that relate to elite performance and of strategic priority for UK sport.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Biological Resources (Poorer Countries)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in respect of their impact on poorer countries, what assessment her Department has made of the compatibility of Article 27 of TRIPS and Articles 8, 15 and 16 of the UN Convention on Biological Resources. [74844]

  Clare Short
  The World Trade Organisation Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are complementary. They both seek to establish common international frameworks and obligations within which individual countries may develop legislative regimes appropriate to their circumstances.

  There are concerns about the way in which the two instruments can be implemented in a mutually supportive way. Given the interests of developing countries, many of which have indigenous and local communities which depend on local biodiversity for their livelihoods and welfare, we have funded an independent assessment of the implementation issues. This has been published and is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Articles 8, 15 and 16 of the CBD refer to the rights of indigenous people, access to genetic material and transfer of technology respectively. Article 27 of the TRIPS agreement deals with the application of intellectual property rights to plant and animal material. Regarding compatibility with Article 8 of the CBD on the rights of indigenous people, patents can protect only new technical contributions. Rights cannot be obtained which cover existing knowledge. Regarding Article 15 of the CBD on access to genetic material, it is for individual contracting States to the CBD to set the conditions for access and it is not a matter for TRIPS or intellectual property regimes. Regarding Article 16 of the CBD, both the CBD and the TRIPs agreement encourage the transfer of technology.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from developing countries on their attitude towards genetic modification issues; what assessment she has made of them; and if she will make a statement. [75105]
  21
  Clare Short
  I have received no direct representations on these issues. We will publish a paper later this month outlining our work on genetically modified organisms and how we propose to assist developing countries to strengthen their capacity to handle these important issues.

  Iran (Aid)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the provision of aid to Iran. [75350]

  Clare Short
  We do not have a programme of assistance for Iran. We do provide support to Iraqi and Afghan refugees in Iran, both bilaterally and through contributions to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Since April 1996, we have spent nearly £1.2 million bilaterally. We also provide emergency aid in response to natural disasters in the region.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Civil Aerospace Research
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what forms of Government support are available for civil aerospace research in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France and (c) Germany; and what level of funding was provided by each in 1997–98. [74533]

  Mr. Battle
  In the UK, the Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD) Programme supports long-term research in key aeronautics technologies by providing grants for industry and for funding work undertaken at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) or placed by DERA in industry and universities. In 1997–8, funding totalled £24.6 million. Additionally, in the three years ending 1997–98, £12 million was targeted through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's (EPSRC) industrially led Innovative Manufacture Initiative (IMI) Aerospace Programme. For further information about the EPSRC programme, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 7 December 1998,Official Report, columns 67–68.

  For France, our best estimate of expenditure in 1997 (calendar year) on CARAD—equivalent support is about £50 million. For Germany, our best estimate for 1998 (calendar year) is about £ 90 million.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies and academic establishments have received funds through the CARAD programme in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; what areas of research have been sponsored by the programme; and what assessment he has made of the benefits of the programme. [74532]

  Mr. Battle
  In 1997–98, 47 companies and 22 universities received CARAD funds; similar numbers are expected to receive funds for the financial year 1998–99. Areas of research sponsored include aerodynamics, propulsion systems, materials and structures, aircraft systems and rotorcraft (which was subject to a moratorium 22
  on new support from February 1998). Copies of the CARAD Annual Report for 1997–98 have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The research programmes supported by CARAD over the years have made a significant contribution to the technological competitiveness of our industry, including wider benefits outside aeronautics.

  Fire-retardant Chemicals
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which fire retardant chemicals are authorised for use in consumer goods in the United Kingdom. [74956]

  Dr. Howells
  There is not an authorised list of flame-retardant chemicals used in consumer goods. The use of chemicals is governed by "The Chemical (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994", as amended, and "The Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Safety) (Consolidation) Regulations 1994", as amended.

  A recent report by the University of Surrey for the Department of Trade and Industry on "Risks and Benefits in the Use of Flame Retardants in Consumer Products" gives an indication of the types and quantity of flame-retardant chemicals used in consumer products. A copy of this report is available in the Library.

  Researchers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 21 January 1999,Official Report, column 547, on researchers, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the new RCI steering group. [72896]

  Mr. Battle
  The new group has its first meeting on Thursday 18 March. I understand that the Minister for Science would be pleased to consider making a response to the meeting's outcome.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 1999,Official Report, column 89, when he expects to place the final firework safety figure for 1998 in the Library. [75183]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: A summary report of the 1998 injuries is being sent to the printers and copies will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are available. I will inform the House when this has been done. The full report, complete with analytical tables, should be available in mid-April and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Internal Market Council held in Brussels on 25 February; and if he will make a statement. [74198]

  Mr. Wilson
  My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 25 February.
  23
  The Commission introduced an open debate on the follow-up to the Single Market Action Plan since this expired at the end of 1998. There was general support for a follow-up which maintains political commitment by setting targets and deadlines for improving the operation of the Single Market, taking into account the needs of business and consumers. In an open debate on simplification, there was agreement that SLIM (Simpler Legislation in the Internal Market) was an important initiative, but more effort was required to deliver concrete results. The Council welcomed the Business Test Panel initiative, which is intended to improve consultation with business on the likely impact of selected legislative proposals.

  The Council agreed Conclusions on the economic reform process agreed at the Cardiff Council under the UK Presidency. These identify priority areas for further development of the Single Market and are also designed to assist ECOFIN in their consideration of Broad Economic Policy Guidelines. The Commission presented a study carried out by the National Economic Research Associates on parallel imports; a debate on this will take place at the June IMC.

  The Commission presented reports on: Community patents; a Green Paper on counterfeiting and piracy; and two directives on Third Country Nationals; and gave a progress report on Community design.

  Over lunch, Ministers discussed the environment and the Single Market, and the Artists' Resale Right Directive. The Presidency concluded that in view of the remaining difficulties some member states had with the proposed Directive on Artists' Resale Rights, COREPER should examine this further with the aim of reaching early agreement.

  Ente Poste Italiane
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made, pursuant to European Communities State Aid Examination 1999/C 28/05, on Ente Poste Italiane; and if he will make a statement. [75083]

  Mr. Wilson
  My right hon. Friend has made no representations on this case. The Government intervene in cases only where substantive legal or policy issues are raised. The Commission has exclusive competence to take decisions on state aid.

  University Lecturers
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the ability of British university lecturers to find employment at French universities; and if he will make a statement. [74403]

  Mr. Wilson
  My Department has received no representations on this subject.

  Teachers
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the ability of British teachers to find teaching positions in German schools; and if he will make a statement. [74398]
  24
  Mr. Wilson
  Since 1 May 1997, my Department has received written representations from 10 teachers concerning difficulties involved in obtaining recognition in Germany of their UK Qualified Teacher Status.

  My officials have, where appropriate, taken up individual complaints with the German authorities and the European Commission, with a view to ensuring that Germany complies fully with its Single Market obligations in this respect. My officials also provide more general continuing advice, assistance and support to British-trained teachers in their dealings with the German authorities.

  Secondhand Goods (Sales)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) United Kingdom and (b) European legislation regulates the sale of secondhand goods; and if he will make a statement. [75010]

  Dr. Howells
  Consumers have the same rights in UK law when they buy secondhand goods as when they buy new ones. The Sale of Goods Act 1979 requires goods sold by traders to be of satisfactory quality. The test of quality is what a reasonable person would find satisfactory, taking into account the price, how the goods are described and other relevant factors such as age. If, taking account of these considerations, a buyer finds the goods are not of satisfactory quality when he initially examines or tries them out, he can reject them and seek a refund. If a fault, of which the buyer could not reasonably be unaware when he bought the goods, manifests itself after he has accepted the goods he is entitled to claim compensation (such as the cost of repair or money back). The buyer can claim compensation for up to six years after purchase in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and up to five years after the goods have caused loss in Scotland.

  Traders selling new or second hand goods must also comply with general consumer protection legislation, such as the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.

  The proposed EC Directive on the Sale of Consumer Goods, expected to be adopted later this year for implementation by 1 January 2002, applies to both second hand and new goods. If goods sold are not in conformity with the contract, the Directive will give consumers the remedies of repair or replacement whichever is more economical, in relation to defects, present when the goods were bought, for up to two years afterwards. The Directive gives additional remedies of price reduction or rescission of the contract when repair or replacement of faulty goods is not possible.

  In addition to Sale of Goods legislation, there is a considerable body of Community and domestic legislation setting out safety requirements for specific kinds of goods, including second hand goods.

  Unsolicited Faxes
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to introduce legislation to prohibit the sending of unsolicited faxes. [75074]
  25
  Mr. Wills
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Russell) of 27 January 1999,Official Report, column 284.

  Plutonium Shipments (Japan)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 1999,Official Report, column 97, on plutonium shipments to Japan, when he expects the contracts for MOX shipments by BNFL to be signed; and what role his Department will play in the negotiations. [74972]

  Mr. Battle
  The timing and terms of contracts for the shipment of nuclear materials are linked to the operational and commercial requirements of customers and are matters for the companies concerned to agree. These are not matters in which the Government is directly involved.

  Ethical Trading Initiative
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the actions his Department is taking to promote the Ethical Trading Initiative among UK companies; [75236]

  (2) what action his Department is taking to promote the establishment of internal systems in UK companies for the implementation and external verification of ethical practices. [75235]

  Mr. Wilson
  My Department has made it clear that, along with other interested departments, we fully support the aims of the Ethical Trading Initiative—as one of the important initiatives being taken currently by the voluntary sector—to promote a culture of social responsibility among British companies. We have enjoyed regular contacts, at both official and ministerial level, with the ETI and applaud their efforts to develop and promote corporate codes of conduct relating to companies' dealings with their overseas suppliers, and have given them all the support they have called for.

  Oil Exploration (St. Kilda)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Office regarding the impact of oil exploration near St Kilda. [73929]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 2 March 1999,Official Report, columns 693–95.

  Genetic Resources Patenting
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he had with MAFF, the Department of Health and the Department for International Development on the formulation of Government policy on patenting genetic resources for food and agriculture. [74473]

  Mr. Battle
  The patenting of genetic resources for food and agriculture, as with all areas of technology, is governed by the Patents Act 1977. In July 1998, an EC Directive on the Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions was adopted with the aim of clarifying and harmonising the patent legislation of all Member States for such inventions. During the negotiations on this Directive my Department consulted closely with other 26
  Departments including MAFF, the Department of Health and the Department for International Development. These links have been maintained since the adoption of the Directive.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what official visits he, his ministers or officials have paid to Zimbabwe since May 1997; whom they met; and what was discussed. [73556]

  Mr. Straw
  No Ministerial visits have been paid to Zimbabwe over this period.

  One official visited Zimbabwe in August 1998 to assess a penal report project which the Department for International Development (DFID) had funded. He met senior Government legal officers and staff from non-governmental organisations.

  One official visited Harare in September 1997 and September and November 1998 to undertake carriers' liability training and made liaison visits to British Airways and Air Zimbabwe. Two Immigration Service officials paid similar visits to Air Zimbabwe in February 1999.

  One official provided consultancy services to the Zimbabwe police in October 1998 in relation to record keeping.

  One official is currently on a DFID-funded secondment to the Zimbabwe Police Department to review and advise on the collection of crime statistics in Zimbabwe.

  In addition, two police officers, from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, were attached to the Zimbabwe fraud and anti-corruption unit from 18 April 1997 for 18 days.

  Asylum and Immigration White Paper
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a summary and analysis of the responses to the 1997 White Paper on asylum and immigration. [73890]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The White Paper published in July 1998 set out the Government's policy proposals and did not seek views on specific issues. In those circumstances, we took the view that the best approach was to publish a list of respondents and their full comments rather than attempt an extensive summary and analysis of the responses. A list of respondents, together with copies of their comments, was placed in the Libraries on 17 December.

  Elections (Sundays)
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce measures to allow(a) elections to be held on Sundays and (b) the European election to be held on Sunday 13 June. [74685]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We have no plans at present to introduce polling at the weekend for Parliamentary or European Parliamentary elections. We are, however, considering the possibility of pilot studies of this and other alternative electoral procedures at local elections.
  27

  Fire Engines (Accidents)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been(a) injured or (b) killed in each year since 1990 as a result of an accident involving a fire engine answering a 999 call. [74631]

  Mr. George Howarth
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Au Pairs
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many au pairs were registered with the police under the terms of the au pair scheme in(a) May 1997, (b) July 1998 and (c) the latest month for which figures are available. [74488]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: Statistical information about the number of "au pairs" who registered with the police because of the imposition of such a requirement by an immigration officer on entry is not available. However, the table showing the number of "au pairs" given leave to enter the United Kingdom in the specified months gives a strong indication of the number who might have been expected to have a registration requirement imposed.

  As a result of the changes to the scope of the Police Registration Scheme which came into effect on 11 May 1998, only those foreign nationals from the countries or territories listed in Appendix 2 of the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules will normally be required to register with the police from that date. This means that it is only "au pairs" from Turkey who will normally have been required to register with the police since then.

  Passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom as au pairs, during given months and by given national, 1997 and 19986

  Nationality

  May 1997

  July 1998

  November 1998

  Cyprus

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Czechoslovak passport holders1

  10

  3—

  3—

  Czech Republic2

  230

  610

  360

  Slovakia

  190

  680

  190

  Hungary

  90

  190

  110

  Malta

  5—

  5—

  5—

  Switzerland

  10

  20

  10

  Turkey

  80

  100

  120

  Bosnia

  3—

  4—

  5—

  Croatia

  10

  20

  40

  Macedonia

  10

  30

  20

  Slovenia

  10

  10

  10

  Faroe Islands

  5—

  4—

  5—

  Total

  650

  1,680

  870

  1 Persons still travelling on passport issued by the former government

  2 1998 data include holders of Czechoslovakian passports

  3 Not available

  4 Negligible (i.e. five or fewer)

  5 Nil

  6 1998 data are provisional

  Note:

  The figures in this table have been rounded to three significant digits, or to the nearest 10 if fewer than 1000; because of this the sum of the constituent items may not agree with the total as shown.
  28
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the costs saved since August 1998, following the relaxation of the rules requiring au pairs to register with the police after being in the United Kingdom for six months. [74489]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: The Police Registration Scheme is administered by the police on a cost recovery basis, with the current fee standing at £34. Until the scope of the Police Registration Scheme was amended on 11 May 1998 "au pairs" given leave to enter the United Kingdom for a period of over six months were required, as a condition of that leave, to register with the police within seven days of arrival. Since that date only foreign nationals from the countries or territories listed in Appendix 2 to the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules should normally be required to register. The changes to the scope of the registration scheme in respect of "au pairs" have not resulted in any cost saving to the police or central Home Office.

  Juvenile Secure Accommodation
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Government plan to take forward their programme of reform of juvenile secure accommodation; and if he will make a statement. [75814]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government set out their programme of reform of the current arrangements for the provision of juvenile secure accommodation on 29 July 1998,Official Report, columns 255–56. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 provided the courts with more appropriate remand and sentencing powers to deal with the most serious and persistent young offenders, as well as giving the police and the courts new powers to deal with other young offenders more effectively in the community. To complement these provisions, the Government are seeking to establish a range of secure accommodation appropriate to the age and maturity of young people and with regimes which address offending behaviour, and to develop intervention programmes which will support the new multi-agency youth offending teams under the 1998 Act in working with young offenders in the community.

  Since July 1998, the Government have set up an 18-month pilot project in ten areas to pave the way for introducing youth offending teams across England and Wales in April 2000 and the final warning scheme and new court orders in 2000–2001. The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales was established in September and is responsible for administering a development fund of £85 million over three years from April 1999, which is being used to develop bail support initiatives and other community-based intervention programmes to support the final warning scheme and new court orders.

  The Government have also taken forward the necessary arrangements for implementing on 1 June 1999 the provisions in the 1998 Act for court-ordered remands to local authority secure accommodation of 12, 13 and 14-year-old boys and girls, 15 and 16-year-old girls and, where a place has been identified in advance, vulnerable 15 and 16-year-old boys. This will ensure that the courts have the powers they need in dealing with those young people the seriousness of whose alleged offending means that they cannot be dealt with safely in the community.
  29
  The Prison Service is finalising its plans for a distinct estate within its accommodation for 15 to 17-year-old boys remanded or sentenced to custody, with improved levels of care and regimes delivered within it. The Prison Service has also reviewed its arrangements for accommodating 15 to 17-year-old girls.

  The Youth Justice Board has provided initial advice on a range of youth custody issues and a copy of this has been placed in the Library. It will help to inform the Government's longer-term thinking about the provision of juvenile secure accommodation. The Board is now preparing more detailed advice on regime standards which, together with work being undertaken by the Prison Service, will help in preparing for the detention and training order under the 1998 Act.

  A key element in improved regimes and in the operation of the detention and training order will be better links between custodial facilities, where the first half of the sentence will be served, and the community, where the second half will be served. The new youth offending teams will have a vital role in managing these links—a member of the team will be expected to be involved in sentence planning and throughcare whilst the young offender is in custody and then supervise them when they return to the community. Given this connection, the Government have decided to accept the recommendation in the Youth Justice Board's advice that the detention and training order should be implemented at the same time as the local structure of youth offending teams, that is April 2000. Ahead of this, the Prison Service will put in place arrangements for the distinct estate for boys in its accommodation and for improved regimes.

  The Government have concluded that establishing distinct units for the very small number of 15 to 17-year-old girls held in Prison Service accommodation is not the best way forward, or in their best interests. The introduction of the detention and training order will allow for greater flexibility in the placement of sentenced young people. It is our intention to make use of this flexibility by placing sentenced 15 and 16-year-old girls in available non-Prison Service accommodation, when the detention and training order is in force. The first priority will be to place the youngest and most vulnerable young women outside the Prison Service. In the short term, arrangements within the Prison Service for holding 17-year-old women, and other young women for whom other accommodation is not available, will be improved by establishing discrete units for young women under the age of 21, with enhanced regimes within these.

  The Government are also taking forward detailed work on the proposed extension of the role of the Youth Justice Board to act as the commissioning and purchasing body for all forms of secure accommodation for children and young people on remand and under sentence. This should help to achieve the appropriate volume, type and spread of accommodation in the longer term, so that individual needs can be met more effectively.

  Life Prisoners
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders sentenced to life imprisonment have been granted an oral hearing before the parole board in the last five years. [75351]
  30
  Mr. George Howarth
  The readily available information, which relates to the number of oral hearings held by the Parole Board, is published in the Board's annual reports. The most recent report, for 1997–98, records the number of such hearings as:

  Year

  Number

  1993

  265

  1994

  121

  1995–96

  216

  1996–97

  126

  1997–98

  278

  These figures include some second and subsequent hearings for life sentenced prisoners who were not released following their first hearing

  HMP Lewes
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) phone calls and (b) letters have been received at Her Majesty's Prison Lewes since 1 May 1997 from local residents complaining of noise nuisance. [75097]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Since 1 May 1997, Lewes prison has received 16 letters from local residents about noise disturbance. A telephone log only began on 23 October 1997. Since then, Lewes has received 18 calls from local residents about noise disturbance.

  Various measures have been taken to eliminate this problem, including the fitting of corrective brackets to cell windows. This work was undertaken on the advice of the Environmental Health Department and was completed in October 1998. Since this time no further written complaints have been received. Only one telephone complaint was received by the prison in the last month.

  Immigration
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the status of the Immigration Services Commissioner, indicating the regulatory powers which apply to him. [74752]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The status and regulatory powers of the Immigration Services Commissioner are set out in Part V of, and Schedules 5 and 6 to, the Immigration and Asylum Bill.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the fast-track immigration appeals system for weddings and funerals; and what plans he has to prevent abuse. [74754]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Immigration and Asylum Bill contains provisions which will allow applicants who are refused entry clearance to visit a family member in the United Kingdom to appeal against the decision.

  Applicants will have to pay a fee to appeal. The fee will depend on whether an applicant opts for a hearing on the papers or a full oral hearing. Applicants whose appeals are allowed will have their fee refunded.
  31
  In order to prevent abuse, the Bill also contains provisions to enable the Secretary of State to accept a security with a view to securing that an applicant will, if given permission to enter the United Kingdom for a limited period, leave at the end of the period.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what level the bond for those on family visits will be set. [74756]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have not yet decided at what level bonds will be set. This will be one of the issues addressed in a consultation on a pilot bond scheme, which we shall issue later this year.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the provision of legal representation for those appealing against immigration detention. [74758]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Detainees who are challenging the legality of their detention by way of a writ of habeas corpus (judicial review in Scotland) are entitled to legal aid.

  Detainees may apply to the independent Immigration Appellate Authority for bail and can receive free representation from either the Immigration Advisory Service or Refugee Legal Centre under the grant in aid payments allowed for under section 23 of the Immigration Act 1971.

  A detainee who prefers to be represented at a bail or appeal hearing by a solicitor or other representative must fund the application themselves.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rights of appeal defendants will have against decisions by immigration office officials. [74753]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government's proposals for a new system of appeals in immigration and asylum cases are set out in Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for judicial scrutiny of the Immigration Services Commissioner. [74757]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Any person aggrieved by a relevant decision of the Commissioner may appeal to the Immigration Services Tribunal against the decision. A determination of the Immigration Services Tribunal will be subject to judicial review.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to pilot the payments in kind benefit system for asylum seekers; and what minimum standards will apply. [74755]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No decisions have yet been taken on which aspects of the new support arrangements for asylum seekers it might be possible to pilot. However, we will be monitoring closely the non-statutory interim arrangements for dispersing asylum seekers which are being set up by the local government associations. There will be a statutory requirement that accommodation 32
  provided must be adequate for the needs of the asylum seeker and his dependants, if any, and that essential living needs should be met.

  Visas (Supply Teachers)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 1 March 1999,Official Report, columns 598–99, on visas for supply teachers, what are the terms and conditions of the concession; when it was introduced; and for what reasons. [75292]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Young Commonwealth citizens, between the ages of 17 and 27 inclusive, may be admitted to the United Kingdom for an extended holiday of up to two years. Although working holidaymakers would normally be precluded from continuing their careers in the United Kingdom those in the teaching profession may do so provided such work is incidental to their holiday and the remainder of the Immigration Rules are met. This means that they cannot take full-time work for more than half of their stay here. For the purposes of the working holidaymaker scheme full-time work is more than 25 hours a week.

  I am making further inquiries about the other information requested and I will write to the hon. Member.

  Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks his Department made prior to the publication of the now withdrawn appendices of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report to ensure that no member of the public was put in danger by the information provided; and if he will make a statement. [75283]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. Butterfill) on 3 March 1999,Official Report, column 760.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report into unauthorised publication of extracts from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report ordered by his Permanent Secretary; and if he will make a statement. [75284]

  Mr. Straw
  No. It is not the practice to publish leak inquiry reports. I have undertaken to inform the House of the outcome of the investigation when they are known.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 1999,Official Report, column 567, on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, for what reasons it would not be in the interests of the investigation into the leak of parts of the Macpherson report to provide the information requested by the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire. [75409]

  Mr. Straw
  The details sought by the right hon. Member need to be established, along with other matters, by the independent investigator. It would not be appropriate for me to pre-empt that work.

  Remand Prisoners
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently on remand; and what has been the(a) average, (b) median and (c) maximum period for which prisoners have been held on remand in each of the last three years. [75412]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Provisional information for 26 February shows that there were 12,627 persons held on remand in prisons in England and Wales. Information on the estimated average number of days in custody for untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners over the last three years is given in table 1. This information is also published in "Prison statistics England and Wales" (table 2.2 of the 1997 edition, Cm 4017), a copy of which is in the Library. Information on the estimated median time in custody is given in table 2. No information is collected centrally regarding the maximum time held on remand.

  Table 1: Estimated average time spent in custody for untried and convicted unsentenced persons in prisons in England and Wales,1996–1998

  Estimated average number of days in custody1

  Year

  Males

  Females

  Untried2

  1996

  53

  41

  1997

  51

  36

  19984

  47

  34

  Convicted unsentenced3

  1996

  34

  31

  1997

  37

  30

  19981

  38

  30

  1 Estimated from number of receptions and average population

  2 Time spent in Prison Service establishments before conviction

  3 Time spent in Prison Service establishments after conviction

  4 Provisional figures

  Table 2: Estimated median for time spent on remand on 30 June 1996–1998

  Type of custody/year

  Estimated median time

  All untried

  30 June 1996

  1 month 28 days

  30 June 1997

  1 month 26 days

  30 June 19981

  1 month 29 days

  All convicted unsentenced

  30 June 1996

  2 months 12 days

  30 June 1997

  2 months 7 days

  30 June 19981

  2 months 3 days

  1Provisional figures

  European Elections
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making to scrutinise the counting of votes at the forthcoming European elections; how he intends to ensure that the votes across the country are verified and correlated; who will be in national charge of the election; and if he will make a statement. [75012]
  34
  Mr. George Howarth
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary hopes to be able to lay regulations to govern the conduct of European Parliamentary elections before the House very shortly.

  Our intention is that votes should be verified on a Parliamentary constituency basis as soon as practicable after the polls close on Thursday 10 June.

  Counting of the votes, however, may not begin until the polls have closed in the last European Union member state on the evening of Sunday 13 June.

  Counting will be conducted at Parliamentary constituency level though where the same person is the acting returning officer for two or more Parliamentary constituencies he or she will be able to combine them for polling and counting purposes. Local results will be communicated to the regional returning officers who will perform the seat allocation calculations for each of the 11 electoral regions.

  It is a long established tradition that local returning officers have responsibility for the conduct of the election in their areas and we do not propose to change that.

DEFENCE

  HMS Cromer
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies were carried out which led to the decision to dispose of HMS 'Cromer'. [71663]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 22 February 1999]: As we announced in the Strategic Defence Review, the modernisation of the mine countermeasures force will continue but the increase in the number of vessels should be limited to 22 rather than 25 as previously planned. This will be achieved by paying off three of the older or least capable ships. No decisions have yet been taken as to which vessels will be paid off, although HMS Cromer is a candidate.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the cost of construction of HMS 'Cromer', (b) the cost of the cancelled refit of HMS 'Cromer' and (c) the cost of the short refit planned for HMS 'Cromer' for February to July. [71676]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 22 February 1999]: The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The total cost of construction of HMS Cromer was £23.8 million plus an estimated £12 to £13 million for Government Furnished Equipment.

  (b) I cannot say what the cost of HMS Cromer's cancelled refit might have been, as this would have been dependent on the outcome of contract negotiations, the cost of materials and any additional work which might have emerged during the refit. However, the broad order costs for refits of vessels of the same class have been around £5 million.

  (c) The planned cost of HMS Cromer's reduced refit is about £2.5 million, but this does not include the costs of any unforeseen work.

  Aircraft (In-service Dates)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's definition of in-service date for(a) Eurofighter, (b) Merlin helicopters and (c) C130 aircraft. [72646]
  35
  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested is as follows:

  Eurofighter—delivery of first aircraft.

  Merlin HM Mk 1—delivery of twelfth aircraft.

  Merlin HC Mk 3—delivery of sixth aircraft.

  Hercules C130J—delivery of twelfth aircraft.

  Belize (Jungle Training)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of the jungle training exercises in Belize carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72783]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  This exercise, involving a Commando Group of Royal Marines, was intended to maintain and develop their capability to conduct operations in a jungle environment, and is assessed to have succeeded in its aim.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the jungle training exercises in Belize carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72784]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  These exercises are assessed as having succeeded in their aim of developing the jungle warfare capability of the infantry units which participated in them.

  Exercises (Canada)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the benefits of the six armoured battlegroup exercises in Canada carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72779]

  (2) how many personnel were deployed on the six armoured battlegroup exercises in Canada carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72780]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Due to the deployment to Bosnia of a unit scheduled to take part in the armoured battlegroup exercises in Canada, only five armoured battlegroup exercises, involving 6,005 personnel, were carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. These exercises were designed to train the participating units to a level where they can be deployed operationally through participating in high intensity operations using live firing and our assessment is that this objective was achieved.

  Infantry Exercise (Botswana)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which countries had armed forces involved in the infantry exercise in Botswana carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72787]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the infantry exercise in Botswana carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72785]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the benefits of the infantry exercise in Botswana carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72786]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Exercise DIAMOND CUTTER, which took place in Botswana from 4 February to 20 March 1998, involved B Company 2 PARA and a Company of the Botswana Defence Force. This exercise was designed to enable these personnel to gain extensive 36
  and realistic training experience by practising their skills and conducting advanced arms training in a demanding environment, over extended lines of communication, and our assessment is that these objectives were achieved.

  Airborne Exercise (Ukraine)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel were deployed on the airborne exercise in Ukraine carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72924]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The airborne exercise COSSACK STEPPE, involving troops from the UK, Poland and Ukraine, took place in Ukraine in September 1997. The UK contribution was a company (approximately 130 personnel) from the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment.

  Exercises (USA)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he had made of the principle benefits of the two infantry exercises in the USA carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72926]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  These exercises were designed to enable the units involved to gain extensive and realistic training experience by practising their skills and conducting advanced arms training in a demanding environment, and our assessment is that these objectives were achieved.

  Defence Analytical Services Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Defence Analytical Services Agency; and what was the figure at its inception. [72819]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 8 March 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State on the number of people employed by the Defence Analytical Services Agency. As Chief Executive this falls within my area of responsibility.
  Defence Analytical Services Agency employed 148 permanent staff, (142 full time equivalents), plus 4 students on 1 April 1992. The Agency was launched on 1 July 1992. Precise figures are not available for that date but were not materially different from the 1 April position. On 1 January 1999 the Agency employed 112 permanent staff, (109 full time equivalents), plus 13 students.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Female Pilots
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many female pilots are currently serving in the(a) RAF and (b) Royal Navy; and how many are in training. [73789]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  As at 1 January 1999, there were 25 trained female pilots serving in the RAF, with 21 under training. In the Naval Service, at the same date, there was one trained female pilot, with two under training.

  Mr. Tony Geraghty
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the charges against Mr. Tony Geraghty. [74313]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There are at present no charges outstanding against Mr. Tony Geraghty.

  Missiles
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on missiles procured from the USA in the last 10 years, expressed in dollars. [74013]

  Mr. Spellar
  Expenditure at outturn prices on the procurement of missiles from the USA for the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1998 is as follows:

  $ million

  Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile

  98.0

  Harpoon

  70.7

  Sidewinder

  30.3

  Tomahawk

  24.8

  Trident

  866.1

  TCHD MK2—Unscheduled stops since 9 March 1998

  25 March 1998

  27 March 1998

  Location

  A428 west of Cambridge

  M25 Jn 15 adjacent to M4/M25 interchange

  Length of delay

  5 minutes

  5 minutes

  Circumstances

  ABS shows fault—System reset

  ABS shows fault—System reset

  No alterations or modifications have been made to these vehicles during this period. There have been 2 occasions on which the vehicles were obliged to make unscheduled stops to deal with technical problems. The circumstances are as follows:

  TCHD MK2 mechanical problems since 9 March 1998

  Mechanical Problems

  Spurious ABS electrical faults requiring system resets.

  Drivers door catch broken. New door catch fitted.

  Radiator coolant leak. Hose clip tightened.

  Punctures to road wheels. Road wheel changed.

  Headlamp inoperative. Wiring connection re-made.

  Air conditioning inoperative. Drive belts replaced.

  Water leak into cab. Seal to roof hatch replaced.

  Fuel leak. Fuel pipe union tightened.

  NATO Exercise (South Africa)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of the NATO joint exercise in South Africa carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72850]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: There were no NATO joint exercises in South Africa between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998.

  CR GAS
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines his Department has drawn up for the use of CR gas. [74255]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The use of CR gas by the Armed Forces is governed by prescribed rules of engagement, and the service personnel concerned are fully trained in how to use it. Both the rules of engagement and the training are operationally sensitive and I am withholding details in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mark II Vehicles
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the(a) mechanical problems with and (b) alterations made to truck cargo heavy duty mark II vehicles since 9 March 1998; [74254]

  (2) how many unscheduled stops there have been involving truck cargo heavy duty mark II vehicles since 9 March 1998; and if he will list the (a) dates, (b) location, (c) length of delay and (d) circumstances of each Stop. [74253]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since 9 March 1998, there have been 8 minor mechanical defects with Truck Cargo Heavy Duty, TCHD, Mk 2 vehicles, details of these are as follows:

  Jungle Training (Singapore)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the benefits of the jungle training exercise in Singapore carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72843]

  (2) what his assessment is of the value of the jungle training exercise in Singapore carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72981]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [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, and is assessed to have succeeded in its aim.

  Land Command
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the order of battle for Land Command(a) prior to and (b) following the Strategic Defence Review. [74057]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: The Order of Battle for Land Command before implementation of decisions taken in the Strategic

  39
  Defence Review, is two deployable divisions and six regional divisions. The deployable divisions are:
  1st (United Kingdom) Armoured division based in Germany, consisting of three armoured brigades (4, 7 and 20)
  3rd (United Kingdom) Division based in the UK, consisting of two mechanised brigades (1 and 19) and an airborne brigade (5).

  The regional divisions are:

  2 Division, consisting of 15 (North East) and 49 (East) brigades

  4 Division, consisting of 2 (South East) and 145 (Home Counties) brigades and the deployable 24 Mobile Brigade

  5 Division consisting of 42 (North West), 143 (West Midlands) and 160 (Wales) Brigades

  Scottish district consisting of 51 (Highland) and 52 (Lowland) Brigades

  London District

  United Kingdom Support Command (Germany).

  In addition to its deployable role, 3rd (United Kingdom) Division also commands 43 (Wessex) Brigade, a regional brigade. 107 (Ulster) Brigade is a stand alone regional brigade in Northern Ireland. There is also 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade and nine deployable brigade sized formations:

  1 Reconnaissance Brigade

  Combat Service Support Group (United Kingdom)

  Combat Service Support Group (Germany)

  1 Artillery Brigade

  7 Air Defence Brigade

  12 (Air Support) Engineer Brigade

  29 (Corps Support) Engineer Brigade

  1 Signal Brigade

  11 Signal Brigade.

  In addition, there will be six overseas detachments:

  British Army Training Unit Suffield and British Army Training Support Unit Wainwright in Canada

  British Army Training Support Unit Belize

  British Army Training and Liaison Staff Kenya in Nairobi

  British Gurkhas Nepal

  Brunei Garrison.

  Following the Strategic Defence Review, the Order of Battle for Land Command will be two deployable divisions and four regional divisions, including three larger regional divisions in the UK. The deployable divisions will be:
  1st(United Kingdom) Armoured division based in Germany, consisting of three armoured brigades (4, 7 and 20)
  3rd (United Kingdom) Mechanised Division based in the UK, to consist of three mechanised brigades (1, 12 and 19).

  The regional divisions will be:

  2 Division, consisting of 15 (North East), 42 (North West), 51 (Highland) and 52 (Lowland) Brigades

  4 Division, consisting of London District and 2 (South East), 49 (East) and 145 (Home Counties) Brigades

  5 Division consisting of 43 (Wessex), 145 (West Midlands) and 107 (Ulster) and 160 (Wales) Brigades

  United Kingdom Support Command (Germany).

  There will also be two (National Communications) Signal Brigade and nine deployable Brigade-sized formations. One Reconnaissance Brigade unit will be
  40
  embedded with the brigades of 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. The nine deployable Brigade-size formations will therefore be:

  16 Air Assault Brigade

  Combat Service Support Group (United Kingdom)

  Combat Service Support Group (Germany)

  1 Artillery Brigade

  7 Air Defence Brigade

  12 (Air Support) Engineer Brigade

  29 (Corps Support) Engineer Brigade

  1 Signal Brigade

  11 Signal Brigade.

  In addition, there will be six overseas detachments:

  British Army Training Unit Suffield and British Army Training Support Unit Wainwright in Canada

  British Army Training Support Unit Belize

  British Army Training and Liaison Staff Kenya in Nairobi

  British Gurkhas Nepal

  Brunei Garrison.

  Submarines (Health)

  Submarines(Health)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the health effects of service on a submarine. [74950]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Royal Navy has a comprehensive strategy to monitor for the health effects of submarine service. It is based on a programme of selective and rigorous medical screening and regular occupational health surveillance of individual submariners including monitoring for radiation exposure. This is backed up by epidemiological studies performed by independent authorities and a comprehensive system of scientific evaluation conducted in collaboration with other nations operating submarines.

  As my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces announced in his written answer on 24 February 1999, Official Report, columns 300–01, medical studies have shown that some contaminants, which are present in the atmosphere of a submarine, exceed the levels which are considered safe for the foetus of a pregnant women. These contaminants pose no risk to adults.

  The results of an independent mortality study undertaken for the Royal Navy by the Medical Research Council and published in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal in 1997 concluded that submariners are an occupational health group with an overall lower rate of mortality among workers than in the general population.

  Departmental Land
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current acreage of his Department's land holding; and what plans he has to reduce it. [74817]

  Mr. Spellar
  The total acreage of land that is held by the Ministry of Defence (both freehold and leasehold) stands at almost 593,000 acres (240,000 hectares). My Department recognises its responsibility to use and manage its estate effectively and our policy is to ensure that no more land is used than is needed to meet operational requirements.
  41
  There are currently some 32,000 acres (13,000 hectares) of surplus property scheduled for disposal, while the Strategic Defence Review set an ambitious target of £700 million in disposal receipts over four years. The Review also concluded that there should be more effective central strategic management of the estate. The Defence Estate Organisation and others are striving to ensure that the necessary processes are put in place to achieve this and we fully anticipate that further estate rationalisation will occur as a result.

  Veterans' Advice Unit
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current budget of, and how many civil servants and military personnel are employed in, the Veterans' Advice Unit. [74659]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 4 March 1999]: The Ministry of Defence Veterans' Advice Unit is currently staffed by three serving Warrant Officers (1 Royal Navy, 1 Army and 1 Royal Air Force).

  The budget for the Veterans' Advice Unit covers the employment costs of the Warrant Officers, telecommunications and publicity material. The cost of the unit in the current financial year is estimated to be £89,000.

  Chief of Defence Procurement
  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 Procurement after 1 April 2000. [74653]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 4 March 1999]: Detailed budgetary allocations to individual budget holders in the Ministry of Defence are made only one year in advance. In broad terms, however, our plans for the Chief of Defence Procurement's area of responsibility for the financial year 2000–01 envisage expenditure in the order of £5.5 billion on equipment and some £600 million in operating costs at 1998–99 constant prices. Staff numbers for that year are expected to be around 5,000.

  Unified Defence Logistics Organisation
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key milestones and timetable for the implementation of the unified Defence Logistics Organisation. [74649]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 4 March 1999]: The Chief of Defence Logistics will assume full budgetary and management responsibility for the Defence Logistics Organisation from 1 April 1999 and will create a unified organisation from 1 April 2000.

  DERA
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the extent and nature of the public/private partnership for DERA. [74640]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 4 March 1999]: Initial advice from a team studying the options on the future of DERA is expected at the end of this month. Following a
  42
  period of discussion and consultation, we would hope to make a decision and an announcement about the future of DERA later this year.

  Defence Company Mergers
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's tendering policy of proposed United Kingdom defence company mergers. [74644]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 4 March 1999]: The implications for MOD procurement policies and practice of any merger activity within the United Kingdom defence sector is assessed by the MOD on a case by case basis and in accordance with the regulatory process.

  Nuclear Weapons Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the basis of the methodologies used by(a) his Department and (b) consultants contracted by his Department to assess the effects of radiation exposure from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests upon servicemen and medical auxiliaries; what assessment he has made of their sensitivity to the available data; and what representation he has received in respect of them. [74960]

  Mr. Spellar
  Radiation exposure of servicemen who participated in the UK's atmospheric nuclear tests was subject to pre-set standards which were directly based upon the contemporary guidance issued by the International Commission for Radiation Protection. There were two basic regimes. First, those who were known to be at risk were issued with personal dosimeters (film badges) and, if necessary, protective clothing. Secondly, and for the majority, the protective arrangement was to ensure that all personnel were accounted for and located at safe distances from the detonations. Additionally, there were programmes of general environmental monitoring covering the range and domestic areas including the muster locations. Of the 22,000 veterans included in the studies, some 5,000 were issued with film badges. Only 1,716 of these had non-zero recorded radiation doses; of these only 483 received total doses of more than 5 mSv and only 80 received more than 50 mSv. These figures and the results of the environmental monitoring are strong evidence that the majority of test veterans had no radiation exposure as a result of their participation.

  The health of the test veteran population has been the subject of two epidemiological studies carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). The reports were published in 1988 and 1993. These studies made statistically based comparisons of the mortality and cancer experiences of the test veterans, regardless of the cause of the illness, with levels seen in both a matched control group and in the general population. The studies concluded that participation in the tests programme had not had a detectable effect on the participants' expectation of life or on their total risk of developing cancer.

  Further and more detailed information about the methodologies used is given in the study reports copies of which are in the Library of the House. As regards representation, the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNTVA) and their supporters have made clear their views on many occasions in recent years. However, the reports of these studies were peer reviewed,

  43
  published in the scientific press and have not attracted any serious scientific criticism. The statistical sensitivity of the results is fully addressed in the reports.

  Army Act 1955
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases involving soldiers sentenced by non-military courts to terms of imprisonment have been disposed of under the provisions of section 70 of the Army Act 1955 for each year between 1988 and 1998 indicating(a) the court which dealt with the offence, (b) the nature of the offence, (c) the sentence and (d) whether the convicted person was discharged from the Army. [74428]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: No Army personnel have been convicted by civil courts under Section 70 of the Army Act 1955, as this provides for soldiers to be dealt with by military court-martial or summary dealing only. A number of soldiers have, however, been convicted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment by the civil courts but detailed information relating to such cases is not held centrally and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Section 134(1) of the Army Act prohibits a soldier from being tried by a court-martial or dealt summarily by his Commanding Officer for an offence, or substantially the same offence, of which he has been convicted in a civil court.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of(a) recruits enlisted into and (b) military personnel leaving the Territorial Army in each year since 1995–96. [74858]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: The information is not held in the form requested; however the number of personnel, soldiers and officers, entering and leaving the Territorial Army, including to and from Regular Army, in each year since 1995–96 is as follows:

  Inflow and outflow of TA Officers

  Intake

  Outflow

  1995–96

  554

  682

  1996–97

  613

  719

  1997–98

  779

  739

  Inflow and outflow of TA soldiers

  Inflow

  Outflow

  1995–96

  12,520

  14,973

  1996–97

  13,380

  14,291

  1997–98

  11,015

  11,709

  Notes:

  1.Figures exclude Non Regular Permanent Staff.

  2.Soldier Officer Inflows and Soldier Outflows include soldiers who have been promoted to TA officers.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made to ensure that voluntary groups that use Territorial Army centres will not be adversely affected as a consequence of his TA review. [74862]
  44
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: At present, it is generally the case that voluntary groups rent space in TA centres on a commercial basis. We will ensure that voluntary groups, who make use of TA centres that are affected by the reforms, are given adequate notice to enable them to make alternative arrangements where necessary.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for TA personnel who are studying for qualifications at TA centres which are closing to continue their studies. [74859]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: Where a unit or TA Centre is to close, we are making arrangements to transfer those TA personnel who are willing and able to an alternative unit where they may be able to continue their studies if required by the role of their new unit.

  US Visiting Forces
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the UK bases which have needed clean-up operations after US visiting forces have vacated them, indicating the nature of the pollution, the costs, and who paid for these costs in each case. [75117]

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

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the existing arrangements, agreements and memoranda of understanding between UK and US Governments in respect of the US visiting forces at Menwith Hill. [75114]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The presence of the US Visiting Forces at RAF Menwith Hill is governed by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951 and other arrangements appropriate to the relationship which exists between the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States for the purposes of our common defence.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Cost Sharing Agreement 1973 between the UK and US Governments in respect of the US visiting forces. [75115]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  No. The 1973 Cost Sharing Arrangement is a confidential arrangement between the UK and US Governments and is being withheld under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the cost-sharing arrangements agreed between the US and UK Governments in respect of the US visiting forces. [75113]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The 1973 Cost Sharing Arrangement is the principal covering general costs sharing matters in relation to the presence of the United
  45
  States Visiting Forces in the UK. A number of other arrangements exist which may contain cost sharing provisions but a record of these is not held centrally.

  Challenger 2
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place an order for Challenger Tank 2 training rounds; what is the anticipated value of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [74759]

  Mr. Spellar
  An Invitation to Tender was issued in August 1998 for a new training round to replace the Discarding Sabot/Tracer round. As the order is currently the subject of a competition, its value is commercially confidential between the bidders and the Ministry of Defence. It is hoped to award a contract later in the year and I will make a statement at that time.

  Army Trucks
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Land Rover TUL/TUM (HS), the Wolf, was brought into service with the Army; and how many are now in use. [75294]

  Mr. Spellar
  The current Trucks Utility Light, TUL, and Trucks Utility Medium (High Specification), TUM(HS), the Land Rover Wolf, were brought into service with the Army in April 1997. A total of 6,352 vehicles have been issued to units to date, including 152 ambulance variants. There are 1,323 vehicles awaiting issue, including 623 ambulance variants, making a total of 7,675 vehicles.

  Ministry of Defence Guard Service
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if members of the Ministry of Defence Guard Service carry arms. [74796]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  No.

  Military Road Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many road traffic accidents were reported involving the Land Rover TUL/TUM (HS), the WOLF, between April 1997 and March 1998; what were the (i) fatalities, (ii) serious injuries and (iii) slight injuries; and what were the estimated repair costs. [75007]

  Mr. Spellar
  311 road traffic accidents were reported involving the Land Rover TUL/TUM/(HS) the WOLF, between April 1997 and March 1998. These accidents resulted in one fatality and 52 injuries of all types. The estimated repair cost is £294k.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military road traffic accidents resulted in(a) fatalities, (b) serious injuries and (c) slight injuries between April 1997 and March 1998. [75005]

  Mr. Spellar
  Between April 1997 and March 1998 there were a total of 9,075 road traffic accidents involving military personnel and MOD civilians. These resulted in 64 fatalities (17 on duty and 47 off duty), 63 serious injuries and 862 slight injuries.
  46

WALES

  Autism
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many autism specific places are provided in Wales within(a) residential provision, (b) mainstream services, (c) specialist autism spectrum disorder services, (d) pre school services and (e) higher education. [73749]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The information on services for the disabled, which is collected centrally, does not include information on the number of autism-specific places provided by local and health authorities for residential provision, mainstream services and specialist autism spectrum disorder services.

  For pre-school services and higher education, information on autism-specific places is not collected centrally. However, the latest information available (at January 1998) shows that 475 pupils attending schools in Wales had statements of special educational needs specifying autism spectrum disorders. A breakdown by category of school is given.

  Type of school

  No. of pupils in Wales with statements specifying autism spectrum disorders

  Maintained Nursery Schools

  2

  Maintained Primary Schools

  168

  Maintained Secondary Schools

  41

  Maintained Special Schools

  252

  Independent Schools (including independent special schools)

  12

  Total

  475

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

  Schools (Repair and Maintenance)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the amount of repair and maintenance work waiting to be done in Welsh schools; and if he will make a statement. [74902]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: The information requested is not held centrally.

  I am fully aware of concerns expressed about the poor condition of many school buildings in Wales caused by under funding in previous years. We have moved quickly to assist local authorities by providing an additional £65 million over the lifetime of this Parliament for capital investment in schools; and we are maintaining, in cash terms, the normal capital allocations to local authorities for education for 1999–2000 at £43.939 million. Our plans provide nearly £200 million for capital expenditure in schools in Wales over the next three years.

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

  Social Services
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish a White Paper on Social Services in Wales similar to Modernising Social Services (Cm 4169), published in England in November 1998. [74792]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  We hope to do so shortly.
  47

  Food Strategy for Wales
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of the three industry-led food working groups which he has established under the Food Strategy for Wales. [75712]

  Mr. Michael
  The three industry-led Working Groups, set up by my Department and supported by the Welsh Development Agency, have completed their Action Plans for the Lamb and Beef, Dairy and Organic Food Sectors, which we are publishing today, 8 March. I welcome this important contribution by the industry to helping farmers secure the future of their industry and to developing the Food Strategy for Wales. I am grateful to the Chairmen and members of the Groups for their work in preparing the Plans. I have placed copies of the three Action Plans and the Executive Summary in the Libraries of the House.

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

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Minimum Pension Guarantee
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in the Warrington, North constituency who will benefit from the minimum pension guarantee. [73052]

  Mr. Timms
  We estimate around 5,000 pensioners will benefit from the minimum income guarantee in the Warrington local authority district, when it is introduced in April.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to minimise fraud in the administration of housing benefit. [73053]

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the progress being made to combat housing benefit fraud. [73070]

  Mr. Timms
  We are committed to making all benefits secure against fraud and error. We will do this by getting payments right from the outset and by keeping them right for as long as the benefit is payable. For those cases which do go wrong, we will put them right promptly.

  We have made substantial progress in applying this approach to Housing Benefit. For example, we have made an extra £100 million available over the next three years for the Verification Framework. This will enable all councils to check Housing Benefit claims more thoroughly.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his future plans for housing benefit. [73068]

  Angela Eagle
  We are taking forward a wide-ranging review of housing benefit in consultation with local authorities and other interested parties. The aim of the review is to simplify and improve both the benefit itself and the way in which it is delivered. In the meantime, we have in place several measures to drive forward better delivery of housing benefit including the Benefit Fraud 48
  Inspectorate's programme of visits to local authorities, improved communications between the Benefits Agency and local authorities through the use of IT, and extra funding and support for local authorities to operate the verification framework.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what conclusions he has reached from his consideration of the case of Stephen Gilhooly of Bathgate in relation to the withdrawal of housing benefit under new regulations relating to attendance on courses for over 25 year olds at technical institutions. [73150]

  Angela Eagle
  There are no new regulations withdrawing Housing Benefit from over 25 year olds at technical institutions. Most full-time students are excluded from entitlement to Housing Benefit, although certain students in vulnerable groups, such as lone parents, can continue to claim this benefit.

  We are fully committed to helping unemployed people obtain the skills they need to improve their employability and, last June, introduced the New Deal for people aged over 25 to help the long-term unemployed undertake full-time education and training.

  Widow's Pension
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, following the implementation of his reform proposals, widows aged between 45 and 60 years who were widowed before 45 years of age and who are not currently receiving a widow's pension, can continue to choose to claim(a) retirement pension or (b) widow's pension on reaching 60 years of age. [73055]

  Mr. Timms
  Current widows who are entitled to Widow's Pension can choose to continue receiving it up to age 65. A woman who was widowed before age 45 may qualify for a Widow's Pension when her Widowed Mother's Allowance ceased or because she was widowed before April 1988.

  These widows will continue to be able to receive Widow's Pension up to age 65 if they satisfy the qualifying conditions following implementation of our reforms.

  Pension Reform
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on progress with pension reform. [73056]

  Mr. Timms
  We are currently consulting on our plans for radical reform of the pensions system that we set out in the Green Paper "Partnership in Pensions". The framework for stakeholder pension schemes laid out in the Green Paper is being taken forward in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill.

  Welfare Reform
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about his recent proposals for welfare reform. [73057]

  Mr. Darling
  We have received numerous representations on our recent proposals for reform, towards our central aim of work for those who can security for those who cannot.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce(a) incentives and (b) negative disincentives to the self-employed to take out stakeholder pension contracts. [73058]

  Mr. Timms
  There are no such plans. Our proposals for stakeholder pension schemes were laid out in the Green Paper.

  The self-employed will be able to join stakeholder pension schemes. We expect that many of them will benefit from the improved security, flexibility and value for money offered by such schemes.

  Pensions Green Paper
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the responses so far to the Pensions Green Paper. [73059]

  Mr. Timms
  Our Pensions Green Paper is continuing to attract a great deal of interest. We have already received more than 100 written responses, and expect to receive many more by the closing date on 31 March.

  Pensions
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much he expects the real spending powers of those dependent on the basic state old age pension to vary from that of those in employment in 1999–2000. [73060]

  Mr. Darling
  No one is expected to rely on the basic pension as their sole source of income. Short-term projections of the growth in pensioners' incomes are not available.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of administration of(a) the current state pension and (b) the secondary pension proposed in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill. [73063]

  Mr. Timms
  The administration costs charged to the National Insurance Fund for awarding and paying state retirement pension and collecting and maintaining records of National Insurance contributions were some £622 million in 1996–971. This represents about 1.5 per cent. of the Fund's income in that year1.

  The Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill contains provisions to enable the setting up of flexible, secure, value for money stakeholder pension schemes. Administration costs should be low; both because of the ways schemes will be set up and run, and because we propose to set a minimum standard for the charges that can be made.
  1 Source: Departmental Report 1998–99, CM3913, National Insurance Fund Account 1996–97, HC 465

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the difficulties faced by those on low and modest incomes in making adequate provision for retirement. [73064]

  Mr. Timms
  The government recognise the difficulties faced by those on low and modest incomes. That is why we are guaranteeing a decent income in retirement for all pensioners through the Minimum Income Guarantee. We 50
  plan to replace SERPS with a new State Second Pension to ensure that everyone with a lifetime of work behind them will build up rights to a pension which will take them above a Minimum Income Guarantee; and the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill contains provisions to enable the setting up of flexible, secure value for money stakeholder pension schemes which will be particularly suitable for people on modest incomes.

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to improve the pensions of long-term disabled people. [73065]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 8 February 1999,Official Report, column 65.

  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how he proposes to ensure better security in retirement for the poorest households. [73076]

  Angela Eagle
  The measures proposed in the Green Paper, A new contract for welfare: Partnership in Pensions are intended to ensure that people who have worked throughout their working life on a low income will still be able to retire on an income above the level of the Minimum Income Guarantee. For the poorest households, the Minimum Income Guarantee will provide a secure income, which we intend over time and as resources allow, to increase in line with average earnings so that all pensioners, including the poorest, can share in the rising prosperity of the nation.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the upper limit permitted to benefit claimants for time spent writing material for publication before their benefit is reduced; and if he will make a statement. [73061]

  Angela Eagle
  The impact of time spent writing material for publication on entitlement to benefit depends on the claimant's circumstances and the benefit being claimed. For example, provided other conditions are satisfied Jobseeker's Allowance can be paid where work done for payment or in expectation is undertaken for less than 16 hours per week. Special rules apply to people on New Deal programmes.

  Social Security Budget
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the proportion of Government expenditure the social security budget will comprise in 1999–2000; and what it was in 1996–97. [73062]

  Mr. Darling
  Social Security expenditure accounted for 29.3 per cent. of public expenditure in 1996–97 and it is estimated to be around 28.2 per cent. in 1999–2000.

  Fraud
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received on levels of fraud within the benefit system; and if he will make a statement. [73066]
  51
  Mr. Timms
  Consultation on the Green Paper, "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: securing the future", ended on 30 September 1998, and 165 responses were received. The great majority of responses supported the strategy and its governing principles.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social
  Security what action the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate is taking to deal with organised fraud in housing benefit; what action is proposed following the closure of the London organised fraud investigation team; and if he will make a statement. [74281]

  Mr. Timms
  The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) was launched in November 1997 to examine and report to the Secretary of State on the administration of Social Security benefits by central Government agencies and local authorities with a particular emphasis on standards of counter-fraud and security performance. It examines and reports on local authority performance in administering Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit and countering fraud.

  Local authorities in London now refer cases of suspected organised Housing Benefit fraud to Benefits Agency organised fraud investigation teams.

  We are carrying out a review of how organised fraud within Social Security benefits, including fraud in those benefits that are administered by local authorities, can be countered.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made in the reform of the Child Support Agency. [73067]

  Angela Eagle
  We are currently considering responses to the Green Paper "Children First: a new approach to child support" and will bring forward our final proposals for reform in due course.

  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to tackle the difficulties experienced by the Child Support Agency in assessing child maintenance due from self-employed parents. [75820]

  Angela Eagle
  Draft child support regulations have today been placed in both Houses. These will, from October 1999, allow self-employed parents to provide the figures, which they use for self assessment of their earnings for tax purposes, for use in calculating child maintenance. These provisions together with measures in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill currently before the House which will enable Inland Revenue to provide earnings information for the self-employed where the parent fails to supply the information to the Child Support Agency, and other operational improvements being introduced by the Agency, will lead to a simpler and more effective basis for getting maintenance flowing. The draft regulations also contain provisions to extend the suspension of fees for the Agency's assessment and collection services until April 2001.

  British Pensioners Overseas
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what step he is taking to ensure that British pensioners living overseas receive up-rated pensions to which they are entitled. [73069]
  52
  Mr. Timms
  Over 380,000 British pensioners living overseas in around 30 countries are paid the up-rated UK State Pensions to which they are entitled. These are paid under European Community regulations, and certain long standing social security agreements which allow for the payment of upratings.

  Unclaimed Benefits
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the total amount of benefits administered by his Department unclaimed by those entitled to them; and what measures he proposes to encourage take-up. [73071]

  Angela Eagle
  Information relating to the total amount of unclaimed Social Security benefit is not available, because for most benefits, these data are not routinely collected. Estimates of take-up of income-related benefits published for the year 1993–94 (covering Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Family Credit) indicate that the total amount unclaimed was in the region of £2.5 billion. More recent data are currently being reviewed following an error discovered in the data relating to take-up among pensioners, which suggests that the level of take-up is likely to be somewhat higher than previously thought.

  Recent initiatives to encourage take-up include a major publicity campaign to promote in-work benefits which was launched on 1 June last year. This campaign comprised TV and radio advertisements and a direct mailshot to lone parents. A special help line was established to handle telephone enquiries arising from the campaign.

  We are also planning measures to encourage take-up of the Minimum Income Guarantee by pensioners. These measures will build on the findings from research into the reasons why pensioners do not take up their Income Support entitlement, and the nine pilot projects which the Department undertook last year to test different methods of encouraging pensioners to claim. We expect to publish the results of the research and the pilots later this year.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to tackle the problem of child poverty. [73072]

  Angela Eagle
  Since November last year an extra £2.50 a week has been made available to less well off families with children under age 11, through the income-related benefits. From April this year we will implement the largest ever increase in Child Benefit, an extra £2.95 a week for the first or eldest child. A similar increase in the family premium will ensure that those on income-related benefits also gain.

  We consider that helping parents to work is the best form of assistance. The New Deal for Lone Parents and National Childcare Strategy will together make it possible for more parents to start work or increase their hours. Around two million children will be better off as a result of the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit and Childcare Tax Credit and, along with the National Minimum Wage, will help to ensure that work pays for more families with children.
  53

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State
  for Social Security if he will make a statement on progress with the millennium compliance of computer systems involved in the provision of benefits. [73073]

  Angela Eagle
  All the computer systems used to assess and pay benefits were made compliant during 1998 (the majority before the end of August 1998). In addition, by the end of last year, we had successfully tested all these systems using dates before and after the Year 2000.

  Disabled People
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action his Department is taking to help disabled people into employment. [73074]

  Mr. Bayley
  Together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment we have introduced the New Deal for Disabled People to help disabled people and those with long term illness move into, or remain in, work: piloting a voluntary personal adviser service in 12 areas throughout Great Britain, for claimants of incapacity benefits; and funding a number of innovative schemes to test different approaches. From June we will also be piloting the Single Work Focused Gateway in twelve areas. In these areas, where appropriate, people of working age who claim benefits will be given a Personal Adviser who will be able to access information and the opportunities for employment, training and rehabilitation, and will help them plan a route back to independence.

  In October 1998 we introduced a new 52 week linking rule for incapacity benefits and abolished the 16 hour limit for voluntary work. We have increased the therapeutic earnings limit from April 1999 and plan to pilot further changes to benefits from April. In addition the disabled persons tax credit, will be more generous than the Disability Working Allowance it will replace. We will also reform the All Work Test so that, as well as establishing the level of incapacity for benefit purposes, it will also provide information which will be potentially helpful to disabled people and their personal advisers when planning a return to work. The Department for Education and Employment has an extensive range of measures aimed at helping disabled people into employment.

  Second-tier Pensions
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to encourage the spread of second-tier pensions. [73075]

  Mr. Timms
  The proposals in the pensions Green Paper for introducing stakeholder pension schemes, strengthening occupational pension schemes and providing a new State Second Pension will all encourage second-tier pension provision.
  54
  Legislation to provide for stakeholder pension schemes forms part of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill introduced last month.

  Single Gateway
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to pilot the Single Gateway to Benefits for people of working age. [73077]

  Angela Eagle
  The pilots for the Single Work-Focused Gateway will commence from June 1999.

SCOTLAND

  Departmental Publicity
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Scotland if he will estimate his Department's expenditure on (i) publicity, (ii) advertising and (iii) press operations in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [69251]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 4 February 1999]: Details of expenditure on publicity, advertising and press operations are:

  £

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Publicity

  1,376,000

  1,031,000

  Advertising

  2,164,000

  2,231,000

  Press operations

  1,824,000

  1,545,000

  Figures for 1998–99 are for expenditure to date. Figures for subsequent years are not available.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the expenditure of his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies on publicity and advertising for each year since 1985–86. [69242]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 4 February 1999]:The details are:

  £

  The Scottish Office

  Agencies

  NDPBs

  1985–86

  677,000

  —

  —

  1986–87

  857,000

  —

  2,769,000

  1987–88

  1,094,000

  —

  2,318,000

  1988–89

  1,131,000

  —

  2,844,000

  1989–90

  2,251,000

  —

  4,318,000

  1990–91

  1,468,068

  —

  5,162,000

  1991–92

  2,323,653

  —

  6,474,000

  1992–93

  2,607,635

  —

  9,417,000

  1993–94

  2,361,085

  508,000

  9,173,000

  1994–95

  2,248,883

  869,000

  12,085,000

  1995–96

  2,241,189

  1,008,000

  13,910,000

  1996–97

  3,573,042

  1,026,000

  15,058,000

  1997–98

  2,740,072

  799,056

  15,000,000

  1998–99

  12,528,251

  1734,385

  —

  1 To date

  Expenditure by agencies prior to 1993–94 is not held centrally. Expenditure for NDPBs for the current financial year is not presently available. The figure for 1997–98 is the forecast outturn.
  55

  National Assets
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which assets, listed in the National Assets register, have been sold off since 1 July 1997; how much money has been realised as a result; and if he will make a statement. [69197]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: Those assets owned by The Scottish Office and its Associated Departments and Agencies which are listed under Scotland in the National Assets Register which have been sold since 1 July 1997 are as listed, together with the money realised.

  Information about property sold by other public bodies is not held centrally.

  £

  Department

  Scottish Office Core

  56 High Street, Lossiemouth

  25,000

  Land, Rosyth

  72,000

  Lowland Estate

  180,438

  Cars

  169,324

  Office Equipment

  13,395

  IT

  14,672

  Agencies & Associated Departments

  Scottish Prison Service

  29 Staff Quarters

  531,077

  88 Garages

  27,969

  2.85 ha of land

  631,000

  Vehicles

  90,985

  Plant and Equipment

  1,874

  Historic Scotland

  Cars

  11,432

  Office Equipment

  500

  IT

  4,500

  Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory

  Research Vessel

  600,000

  Registers of Scotland

  Plant and Machinery

  500

  Computer Hardware

  3,100

  Scottish Courts Administration

  Lanarkshire House

  1,340,000

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

  Estimated date for occupation/disposal

  Annual cost

  Department

  The Scottish Office

  Cloffinburn Cottage

  All of these properties are situated on land acquired for the M6 DBFO scheme. They are uninhabitable due to access problems during construction work. The scheme is due for completion in Spring 1999 with disposal expected during the financial year 1999–2000.

  £6,500pa

  Fairfield

  Glenevan

  Jocksthorn

  Longbedholm Cottage

  Middlegill Cottage

  Nether Howecleuch

  Nether Howecleuch Bungalow

  Raecleuch Farmhouse

  Upper Howecleuch

  56

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total refurbishment bill for properties used by his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) related public bodies, for (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99 and (iv) 999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [69201]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The information set out relates to properties used by The Scottish Office and its Associated Departments and Agencies with the exception of the Scottish Prison Service for which figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The total refurbishment cost for the years requested are:

  Refurbishment

  £

  Department

  Agencies

  1996–97

  55,896

  13,652,426

  1997–98

  56,323

  7,219,740

  1998–99

  5,130,000

  3,712,777

  1999–2000

  9,600,000

  9,526,520

  The refurbishment work has been carried out on a range of buildings, offices and specialist facilities and has been necessary either to preserve the fabric of the buildings or to bring systems up to a modern standard. Increased expenditure by The Scottish Office mainly relates to refurbishment of St. Andrew's House, and the buildings associated with the interim Parliament accommodation. The greater part of the expenditure under Agencies relates to the refurbishment of court buildings.

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

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the properties of his Department, agencies and public bodies which are currently vacant; how long he expects each to be vacant for; and what is the estimated annual cost of maintaining the properties in a vacant state. [69200]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The information set out relates to vacant properties which are owned by The Scottish Office and its Associated Departments and Agencies.

  Information about vacant properties owned by other public bodies is not held centrally.

  The information is as follows:
  57

  Estimated date for occupation/disposal

  Annual cost

  Corsankell Farmhouse (A78)

  This scheme is subject to the Strategic Trunk Road Review, therefore it is not known at this stage when disposal will occur.

  Shore Street, Macduff

  October 2001

  £2,870pa

  Agencies

  SASA

  3 cottages

  Turnover of staff often results in short term vacancies

  £350 each

  Scottish Court Service

  Portcullis House, Glasgow (part)

  March 2001

  £83k in 1998–99 £79k in 1999–2000

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

  Schizophrenia
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were discharged from mental illness hospitals in Scotland in the last year; and how many were admitted for a hospital stay more than once during the year. [74388]

  Mr. Galbraith
  3,761 patients with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were discharged from mental illness hospitals in Scotland during the year ending 31 March 1996, of which 675 were admitted more than once.

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

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people discharged from mental illness hospitals in Scotland in the last year after a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses, having been proved vulnerable homeless subsequently became voluntary homeless. [74274]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information requested is not collected or held centrally.

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

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many current occupants of National Health Service hospital and unit beds in Scotland have a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses; and what these occupied beds represent as a percentage of(a) mental and (b) all beds in Scotland. [74270]

  Mr. Galbraith
  There were 1,751 patients with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychoses in mental illness hospitals and psychiatric units in Scotland at 31 March 1996, the latest year for which complete information is available. This represented 17.2 per cent. of the average available staffed mental illness beds, and 4.2 per cent. of all average available beds in Scotland for the quarter ending 31 March 1996.

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

  CS Sprays
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which police forces in Scotland(a) have and (b) have not equipped their officers with CS sprays since
  58
  August 1996; for what reasons they were issued; and how many police officers in Scotland currently carry CS sprays. [74199]

  Mr. McLeish
  CS incapacitant spray is not in general use by the police service in Scotland. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) conducted a trial into the effectiveness of CS incapacitant spray as an item of police defence equipment during the period 1 October 1997 to 30 September 1998. The trial areas encompassed the City of Dundee in the Tayside Police area and a Division in the Strathclyde Police area. In total, 803 officers were trained to use the equipment in these pilot areas. An evaluation of the trial has been completed but ACPOS have deferred a decision on extending the use of the spray pending an independent assessment on the safety of the spray commissioned by the Department of Health. The spray continues to be used by officers in the 2 trial areas.

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

  Road Maintenance
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve road maintenance in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [74404]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Maintenance of local roads is the responsibility of local authorities and details of their plans are not held centrally. Funding for road maintenance on the motorway and trunk road network in Scotland was increased following the recent Comprehensive Spending Review. This will enable us to tackle the backlog of maintenance and repair and ensure that our road network is maintained in a stable condition.

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

  M74
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce a decision on the proposed completion of the M74 from Tollcross to Kingston Bridge; and if he will make a statement. [74408]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The City of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Councils agreed that the proposal to extend the M74 should be considered within the review assessing priorities for future trunk road investment in Scotland. The outcome of the review will be announced as soon as is practicable.

  From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  59
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of changing the name of the M74 motorway to the M6; and if he will make a statement. [74410]

  Mr. Macdonald
  No estimate of the cost of changing the name of the Glasgow to Carlisle motorway to the M6 has yet been prepared. Such an estimate would require a detailed survey of signs on the existing road and connecting roads. This would be undertaken only as a precursor to initiating the proposal.

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

  Homelessness
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the estimated numbers of homeless people in each council area in Scotland. [74406]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The table gives information on the number of households in each council area in Scotland in 1996–97 who applied to the local authority for accommodation or assistance in obtaining accommodation and the local authority in question assessed the household as being homeless or threatened with homelessness. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and are based on those contained in The Scottish Office Statistical Bulletin HSG/1998/4 published in August 1998.

  Estimated number of households assessed as potentially homeless 1996–97

  Number

  Scotland

  30,690

  Aberdeen City

  1,470

  Aberdeenshire

  980

  Angus

  550

  Argyll and Bute

  390

  Clackmannanshire

  290

  Dumfries and Galloway

  650

  Dundee City

  640

  East Ayrshire

  360

  East Dunbartonshire

  370

  East Lothian

  530

  East Renfrewshire

  120

  Edinburgh, City of

  3,360

  Eilean Siar

  150

  Falkirk

  550

  Fife

  1,480

  Glasgow City

  10,540

  Highland

  670

  Inverclyde

  250

  Midlothian

  400

  Moray

  130

  North Ayrshire

  460

  North Lanarkshire

  1,010

  Orkney

  70

  Perth and Kinross

  430

  Renfrewshire

  440

  Scottish Borders, The

  570

  Shetland

  130

  South Ayrshire

  670

  South Lanarkshire

  1,200

  Stirling

  620

  West Dunbartonshire

  430

  West Lothian

  930

  From May 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  60

  Demographic Statistics
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of(a) young people under the age of 16 years and (b) retired people living in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland. [74407]

  Mr. McLeish
  The information requested is given in the table. The population figures have been prepared by a method which involves a certain degree of approximation and therefore should be treated with some caution.

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

  Parliamentary Constituency

  Estimate of population aged under 16 (as at 30 June 1997)

  Estimate of population of pensionable age1 (as at 30 June 1997)

  Aberdeen Central

  12,423

  11,717

  Aberdeen North

  12,723

  11,999

  Aberdeen South

  14,101

  13,299

  Airdrie and Shotts

  16,207

  12,807

  Angus

  15,406

  15,217

  Argyll and Bute

  11,666

  14,299

  Ayr

  13,612

  15,019

  Banff and Buchan

  16,058

  13,040

  Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

  10,835

  10,438

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  17,320

  16,766

  Central Fife

  15,327

  13,964

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  14,014

  13,113

  Clydesdale

  16,716

  13,967

  Coatbridge and Chryston

  14,347

  11,223

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  14,116

  8,316

  Cunninghame North

  15,437

  13,050

  Cunninghame South

  13,890

  11,742

  Dumbarton

  16,008

  12,762

  Dumfries

  15,561

  16,475

  Dundee East

  14,237

  14,914

  Dundee West

  13,826

  14,483

  Dunfermline East

  14,015

  11,269

  Dunfermline West

  14,387

  11,389

  East Kilbride

  18,305

  13,656

  East Lothian

  14,814

  14,322

  Eastwood

  17,656

  15,302

  Edinburgh Central

  13,823

  14,144

  Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

  13,468

  13,611

  Edinburgh North and Leith

  13,334

  13,644

  Edinburgh Pentlands

  13,106

  13,410

  Edinburgh South

  13,764

  14,083

  Edinburgh West

  13,378

  13,688

  Falkirk East

  14,704

  12,984

  Falkirk West

  13,631

  12,037

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  13,245

  15,075

  Glasgow Anniesland

  13,615

  12,427

  Glasgow Baillieston

  12,510

  11,418

  Glasgow Cathcart

  12,858

  11,736

  Glasgow Govan

  12,971

  11,839

  Glasgow Kelvin

  14,549

  13,279

  Glasgow Maryhill

  13,643

  12,453

  Glasgow Pollok

  12,316

  11,242

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  13,019

  11,883

  Glasgow Shettleston

  12,292

  11,220

  Glasgow Springburn

  13,623

  12,434

  Gordon

  17,180

  11,704

  Greenock and Inverclyde

  13,042

  11,793

  Hamilton North and Bellshill

  14,795

  11,985

  Hamilton South

  12,586

  9,765

  Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber

  17,290

  15,099

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  16,058

  14,863

  Kirkcaldy

  13,501

  12,301

  Linlithgow

  15,536

  9,440

  Livingston

  17,544

  10,659

  Midlothian

  12,792

  10,416

  Moray

  16,518

  14,136

  Motherwell and Wilshaw

  14,523

  11,963

  61

  Parliamentary Constituency

  Estimate of population aged under 16 (as at 30 June 1997)

  Estimate of population of pensionable age1 (as at 30 June 1997)

  North East Fife

  13,471

  15,202

  North Tayside

  15,701

  16,106

  Ochil

  15,399

  13,289

  Orkney and Shetland

  9,486

  7,122

  Paisley North

  13,198

  10,918

  Paisley South

  14,394

  11,907

  Perth

  15,170

  16,321

  Ross, Skye and Inverness West

  15,111

  12,744

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  11,032

  13,162

  Stirling

  13,051

  12,092

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  16,448

  13,875

  Tweedale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  12,762

  12,858

  West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

  17,445

  11,896

  West Renfewshire

  14,065

  12,005

  Western Isles

  5,714

  5,930

  1 Comprises males aged 65 and over, and females aged 60 and over

  Criminal Offences (Young People)
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of people aged 15 to 25 years committed a criminal offence in each year since 1992. [74522]

  Mr. McLeish
  The available information is given in the table. It relates to the number of individuals who were convicted in Scottish courts at least once in a given year for conduct classified as a crime or for breach of the peace or simple assault, which are classified as offences. It therefore excludes convictions for motor vehicle and some minor common law and statutory offences. In addition to cases dealt with in court, children in Scotland who are suspected of committing offences are generally referred to the Reporter to a children's hearing. Each year an average of around 4,500 children aged 15 and over are referred to Reporters on offence grounds, equivalent to 7 per cent. of the 15-year-old population.

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

  Percentage of people aged 15–25 years with a charge proved in a Scottish court for a crime breach of the peace or simple assault1 on at least one occasion in the given year, 1992–97

  Year

  Percentage2

  1992

  3.8

  1993

  3.7

  1994

  3.6

  1995

  3.6

  1996

  3.7

  1997

  3.6

  1 Excludes convictions for most motor vehicle and some minor statutory offences

  2 Percentage of the relevant mid-year GRO(S) estimate of the 15–25 year old population

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of people aged 15 to 25 years have been convicted of(a) two, (b) three and (c) four offences.
  62
  Mr. McLeish
  The available information is given in the table. It relates to the number of occasions between 1989 and 1997 on which people who were aged 15–25 years at June 1997 were convicted in Scottish courts for conduct classified as a crime, or for breach of the peace and simple assault, which are classified as offences. It therefore excludes convictions for motor vehicle and some minor common law and statutory offences.

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

  Number and percentage of people aged 15–25 years in 1997 with a charge proved in a Scottish court for a crime, breach of the peace or simple assault1 on 2–4 occasions in the period 1989–97

  Number of convictions in 1989–97

  Number

  Percentage2

  2

  13,712

  1.9

  3

  7,121

  1.0

  4

  4,577

  0.6

  1Excludes convictions for most motor vehicle and some minor statutory offences

  2Percentage of the mid-year GRO(S) estimate of the 15–25 year old population in 1997

  Criminal Offences
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of criminal offences were committed by(a) 15 to 25, (b) 26 to 35, (c) 36 to 45 and (d) 46 to 60 year olds in each year since 1992. [74520]

  Mr. McLeish
  The available information, which relates to numbers of convictions in Scottish courts, is given in the table. In addition to cases dealt with in court, children in Scotland who are suspected of committing offences are generally referred to the Reporter to a children's hearing. Each year an average of around 4,500 children aged 15 and over are referred to Reporters on offence grounds.

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

  Persons with a charge proved in Scottish courts, by age 1992–97

  Age

  15–25

  26–35

  36–45

  46–60

  All1

  Number

  1992

  81,874

  49,944

  23,569

  14,449

  177,483

  1993

  74,971

  47,045

  21,911

  12,871

  162,806

  1994

  71,477

  47,855

  21,860

  12,847

  159,178

  1995

  69,497

  47,323

  21,857

  12,894

  156,707

  1996

  69,446

  45,845

  21,222

  11,879

  153,087

  1997

  67,463

  45,557

  21,247

  11,788

  150,450

  Per cent.

  1992

  46

  28

  13

  8

  100

  1993

  46

  29

  13

  8

  100

  1994

  45

  30

  14

  8

  100

  1995

  44

  30

  14

  8

  100

  1996

  45

  30

  14

  8

  100

  1997

  45

  30

  14

  8

  100

  1 Includes persons of all ages and companies

  NHS Funding
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the distribution of new funding for the NHS in Scotland. [74518]
  63
  Mr. Galbraith
  Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, an additional investment of £1.8 billion is being made in the NHS in Scotland over the next three years. This will give cash growth over the original planned expenditure in 1998–99 of £300 million in 1999–2000, £590 million in 2000–01 and £910 million in 2001–02 or annual cash growth of £300/290/320 million respectively. The additional funding has been distributed as follows:

  £million

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Hospital and Community Health Services

  176

  200

  221

  Family Health Services

  119

  86

  99

  Other Health Services

  5

  4

  0

  Total

  300

  290

  320

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

  Victim Support
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much public money has been allocated to Victim Support Scotland in each year since 1992 in(a) cash terms and (b) 1998–99 prices. [74517]

  Mr. McLeish
  The amount of public money allocated to Victim Support Scotland in each year since 1992 is as follows:

  £

  (a) Cash terms

  (b) 1998–99 prices

  1992–93

  659,140

  767,519

  1993–94

  784,781

  890,182

  1994–95

  915,550

  1,023,888

  1995–96

  1,018,229

  1,106,490

  1996–97

  1,297,669

  1,368,035

  1997–98

  1,536,559

  1,578,814

  1998–99

  1,551,500

  1,551,500

  1999–2000

  1,705,000

  1,663,411

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

  Local Government Boundary Commission
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland with reference to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's conduct of the Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements, in which local authority areas amendments to the draft proposals of the Commission were incorporated in the commission's final recommendations to him. [74526]

  Mr. McLeish
  In the case of every authority, amendments to the Commission's provisional proposals were incorporated in the Commission's final recommendations to the Secretary of State.

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

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) with reference to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's conduct of the Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements, in which local 64
  authority areas the Commission agreed to hold a local hearing into its draft proposals and any counter-proposals; [74528]

  (2) with reference to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's conduct of the Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements, in which local authority areas the draft proposals of the Commission were amended subject to local hearings. [74527]

  Mr. McLeish
  No local inquiries were held.

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

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland with reference to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's conduct of the Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements, in which local authority areas detailed counter-proposals were lodged against the Commission's draft proposals, in part or in whole, by political parties, individuals or community groups. [74524]

  Mr. McLeish
  The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland received counter-proposals from political parties, individuals or community groups in respect of all 32 Scottish local authority areas.

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

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) with reference to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's conduct of the Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements, in which local authority areas detailed counter-proposals were examined and validated by consultants; and at what cost; [74525]

  (2) with reference to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's conduct of the Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements, in which local authority areas consultants were engaged to complete, validate or otherwise examine the local authorities' initial proposals to the Commission; and what was the cost of such work to the Commission. [74523]

  Mr. McLeish
  No consultants were engaged by the commission for the purposes mentioned for any local authority area.

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

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many intensive care beds there were in each health board area in each year since 1992. [74519]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on the number of intensive care beds in each Health Board area in each year since 1992 is shown in the table.

  From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  65

  NHS in Scotland—intensive care beds1 by health board

  Years ending 31 March

  Health Board

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1996

  19972

  19982

  1 April to 31 December 19982.3

  Argyll and Clyde

  4

  7

  12

  13

  13

  16

  26

  25

  Ayrshire and Arran

  7

  8

  8

  8

  9

  9

  11

  14

  Borders

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  4

  4

  4

  Dumfries and Galloway

  8

  8

  16

  14

  14

  13

  13

  14

  Fife

  —

  —

  5

  6

  6

  22

  22

  22

  Forth Valley

  9

  9

  9

  9

  7

  11

  16

  16

  Grampian

  10

  11

  10

  11

  10

  25

  25

  26

  Greater Glasgow

  77

  77

  75

  75

  85

  82

  112

  119

  Highland

  6

  6

  6

  6

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Lanarkshire

  37

  37

  37

  37

  37

  37

  38

  38

  Lothian

  38

  41

  41

  40

  47

  46

  47

  46

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  20

  24

  28

  25

  25

  27

  29

  29

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland

  219

  230

  250

  247

  266

  303

  353

  364

  1 Average available staffed beds

  2 Due to changes in recording practice, certain figures shown for year ending 31 March 1997 onwards are not fully comparable with those for earlier

  3 Provisional

  Source:
  ISD, Scotland

  Nurses
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many whole-time equivalent(a) bank, (b) agency and (c) contract nurses were employed, and at what cost, by health board area in each of the last 10 years. [74990]

  Agency nursing staff: average Whole Time Equivalent1 by health board: year ending 30 September

  Health board

  21988

  21989

  21990

  21991

  21992

  21993

  21994

  21995

  21996

  21997

  21998

  Scotland2

  238.6

  187.3

  317.4

  255.6

  249.4

  301.1

  195.3

  382.6

  459.3

  455.7

  50

  Argyll & Clyde

  —

  1.3

  0.2

  1.1

  0.1

  4.6

  11.6

  39.0

  39.8

  57.0

  6

  Ayrshire & Arran

  2.1

  7.2

  1.7

  3.0

  0.2

  0.5

  0.4

  0.4

  0.0

  3.0

  —

  Borders

  19.8

  4.4

  —

  —

  0.0

  0.1

  0.3

  0.0

  3.0

  —

  —

  Dumfries & Galloway

  —

  —

  —

  0.4

  0.4

  1.3

  0.1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fife

  —

  —

  2.3

  1.3

  0.6

  —

  3.7

  0.2

  1.8

  6.5

  —

  Forth Valley

  —

  1.1

  10.3

  0.1

  0.0

  0.4

  0.0

  17.3

  63.1

  54.1

  2

  Grampian

  13.0

  6.1

  8.0

  11.9

  35.3

  33.6

  26.5

  46.2

  29.4

  21.8

  3

  Greater Glasgow

  80.2

  66.0

  179.8

  155.2

  148.7

  127.3

  76.8

  92.8

  67.7

  110.9

  13

  Highland

  —

  —

  0.8

  0.5

  —

  0.5

  0.1

  2.4

  4.1

  12.3

  1

  Lanarkshire

  —

  —

  0.2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  1

  Lothian

  123.5

  100.4

  111.2

  81.0

  64.0

  132.8

  75.8

  184.0

  249.0

  187.8

  20

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.2

  —

  Shetland

  —

  0.8

  2.8

  0.9

  —

  —

  —

  0.0

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  —

  —

  —

  0.1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1.0

  1.8

  —

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 To calculate the average, 1 W. T. E. is taken as a contribution of 37.5 hours per week x 52 = 1,950 hours per year.

  2 Data for 1997 and 1998 are based on one six month period ending 30 September. Data for 1991 to 1996 are based on two six month periods ending 31 March and 30 September. Data for 1988 to 1990 are based on two three month periods ending 31 March and 30 September.

  Notes:

  1.Rounding of individual figures may produce slight differences between the sum of constituent items and totals.

  2.Provisional data.

  Source:
  ISD(M)

  Capercaillie (Protection)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what instruction he has given the Deer Commission concerning the use of deer fences within areas known to support the capercaillie; and what actions are proposed to remove existing fences where they are dangerous to black grouse and capercaillie; [72893]
  66
  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: The information available for agency nursing staff is shown in the table. No cost data to match the staff numbers are available. Information for bank and contract nursing staff is not available centrally.

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

  (2) if he will add the capercaillie to Schedule 1 part II of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in order to protect its lekking sites from deliberate disturbance. [72894]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Deer Commission for Scotland has no powers either to erect or remove fences itself. However, the prevention of strikes on deer fencing by birds such as black grouse and capercaillie is always
  67
  considered by the Deer Commission for Scotland when advice is given to woodland managers, including the Forestry Commission, on forest protection and deer control. Where new planing is considered under the Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme, wide consultation takes place to ensure that any fences which are considered necessary are sited to minimise negative effects. In some cases, fences are marked in areas known to be used by birds and removed as soon as the trees are established. The Forestry Commission is removing about 200 km of existing fencing on its own land, and is contributing towards the cost of removing over 100 km of deer fencing on private land.

  My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to add the capercaillie to Schedule 1 part II of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Additional protection for the capercaillie, under the 1981 Act, is one of a number of issues currently under consideration by the Scottish Biodiversity Group's Capercaillie Species Action Plan Steering Group.

  As from 1 July these will be matters for the Scottish Parliament.

  Gaelic-medium Units
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 23 February 1999,Official Report, column 225, if he will name the schools which have Gaelic-medium units and state the number of pupils for each unit. [74566]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information is set out in the table. In the current session there are 56 Gaelic-medium units in Scottish primary schools with a total of 1,816 pupils.

  School

  Total

  Gilcomstoun, Aberdeen

  57

  Acharacle

  33

  Aird, Lewis

  21

  Airidhantuim, Lewis

  21

  Back, Lewis

  44

  Balivanich, Benbecula

  28

  Barvas, Lewis

  26

  Bernera, Lewis

  6

  Bishopbriggs, Meadowburn

  48

  Bowmore, Islay

  16

  Breasclete, Lewis

  41

  Broadford, Skye

  39

  Carinish, North Uist

  22

  Carloway, Lewis

  35

  Castlebay, Barra

  30

  Condorrat

  21

  Cornaigmore, Tiree

  32

  Daliburgh, South Uist

  66

  Dingwall

  51

  Dunskellar, North Uist

  9

  Dunvegan, Skye

  21

  East Kilbride: Mount Cameron

  67

  Edinburgh: Tollcross

  61

  Forfar: Kirkriggs

  5

  Fort William: St. Mary's RC

  35

  Gairloch

  7

  Glasgow: Sir John Maxwell

  101

  Inverness: Central

  122

  Iochdar, South Uist

  45

  Kilmarnock: Onthank

  16

  Kilmuir

  12

  Knockianduie, Lewis

  12

  68

  School

  Total

  Laxdale, Lewis

  42

  Leverburgh, Harris

  20

  Lionel, Ness

  28

  Lochcarron

  17

  Morar: Lady Lovat

  18

  Newtonmore

  20

  Oban: St. Columba's

  11

  Paible, North Uist

  31

  Perth: Northern District

  21

  Plockton

  34

  Portree, Skye

  144

  Salen

  11

  Sandwick

  9

  Shawbost, Lewis

  6

  Sleat, Skye

  21

  Staffin, Skye

  22

  Stirling: Riverside

  3

  Stoneybridge, South Uist

  18

  Stornoway, Lewis

  47

  Tain: Craighill

  37

  Tarbert, Harris

  19

  Tongue, Sutherland

  17

  Uig, Lewis

  17

  Ullapool

  53

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

  A985
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland
  what measures he will take to improve the safety of the junction on the A985 with the Limekilns road near Rosyth. [74797]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The National Roads Directorate are currently reviewing the effectiveness of the measures implemented at Limekilns junction in 1996 as part of the Route Accident Reduction Plan. Any further safety measures considered appropriate will be implemented as soon as possible this year.

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

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 1999,Official Report, column 145, if he will list the expenditure incurred by (a) the Employment Service (b) his other agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (c) the Central Office of Information for relevant work carried out for his Department which is not included in the table. [67944]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 28 January 1999]: The figures for total expenditure are as follows:

  Employment Service (excluding New Deal)

  Public Opinion Research

  May 1997 until December 1998—£110,435

  Television, Radio and Newspaper Advertising

  May 1997 until December 1998—£698,503.

  69
  Therefore the total spend on research and advertising for the period May 1997 until December 1998 was £808,938 or an average of £40,941 per month. There were no direct marketing costs.

  This compares with a total spend of £2,843,282; (advertising £2,824,471; research £8,811), or an average of £236,940 per month, for the previous financial year 1996–97.

  New Deal

  Public Opinion Research

  May 1997 until December 1998—£117,177

  Television, Radio and Newspaper Advertising

  May 1997 until December 1998—£7,862,867.

  Therefore the total spend on research and advertising for the period May 1997 to December 1998 was £7,980,044 or an average of £399,002 per month. There were no direct marketing costs.

  Since New Deal was not in existence before May 1997, comparisons cannot be made with 1996–97 expenditure.

  Agencies and NDPBs

  The expenditure on behalf of agencies and non-departmental public bodies was included in the reply given on 12 January 1999, Official Report, column 145.

  COI

  The expenditure incurred by the Central Office of Information is included as appropriate in the reply given on 12 January and in the above figures for the ES and New Deal.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [69962]

  Mr. Mudie
  None of the advisory bodies sponsored by the DfEE admits members of the public to all meetings. The National Disability Council holds occasional consultation meetings. These are not statutory requirements.

  There is no statutory requirement to have lay or consumer representatives on the boards of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department. The boards of these bodies reflect a wide range of knowledge, experience and expertise and include, amongst others, people with disabilities, people from ethnic minorities, education practitioners and employers.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [69985]

  Mr. Mudie
  (a) None of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by this Department admits the public to all of its meetings. This is not a statutory requirement.
  70
  (b) For the Funding Agency for Schools; Further Education Funding Council; Higher Education Funding Council for England; the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; Remploy Ltd.; and, the Teacher Training Agency, holding public meetings is not a statutory requirement.

  (c) The British Educational Communications and Technology agency; the Construction Industry Training Board (under a statutory requirement); the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (under a statutory requirement); the Funding Agency for Schools; the Further Education Funding Council; the Higher Education Funding Council for England; Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Remploy Ltd.; and, the Teacher Training Agency.

  (d) The British Education Communications and Technology agency; the Construction Industry Training Board (under a statutory requirement); the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (under a statutory requirement); the Equal Opportunities Commission; the Education Transfer Council; the Funding Agency for Schools; the Further Education Funding Council; the Higher Education Funding Council for England; the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; Remploy Ltd.; the Student Loans Company; and, the Teacher Training Agency.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [69905]

  Mr. Mudie
  The following executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the DfEE have a statutory base:the British Educational Communications and Technology agency; the Construction Industry Training Board; the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board; the Equal Opportunities Commission; the Education Transfer Council; the Funding Agency for Schools; the Further Education Funding Council; the Higher Education Funding Council for England; Investors in People UK; the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; Remploy Ltd.; the Student Loans Company; and, the Teacher Training Agency.

  Those currently within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are:
  the Construction Industry Training Board; the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board; and, the Equal Opportunities Commission.

  In addition, the following will be brought within his jurisdiction shortly by means of an Order in Council:
  the British Educational Communications and Technology agency; the Further Education Funding Council; the Higher Education Funding Council for England; Investors in People UK; the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; Remploy Ltd.; and, the Teacher Training Agency.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [69836]
  71
  Mr. Mudie
  The Advisory Committee for Disabled People in Employment and Training publishes minutes of meetings. This is not a statutory requirement.

  None of the advisory bodies sponsored by DfEE publishes the agendas and documents of meetings. This is not a statutory requirement.

  None of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department publishes a register of members' interests. This is not a statutory requirement.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [69950]

  Mr. Mudie
  (a) The Education Transfer Council; the Funding Agency for Schools; the Further Education Funding Council; the Higher Eduction Funding Council for England; the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; and, the Teacher Training Agency. The publication of minutes is not a statutory requirement.

  Education action zone

  Barnsley

  Barnsley Central; Barnsley East and Mexborough; Barnsley West and Penistone;

  Birmingham (Aston & Nechells)

  Birmingham, Ladywood;

  Birmingham (Kitts Green & Shard End)

  Birmingham Hodge Hill; Birmingham Yardley;

  Blackburn with Darwen

  Blackburn; Rossendale and Darwen

  East Brighton

  Brighton Kemptown; Brighton Pavilion;

  East Basildon

  Basildon; Billericay; Saffron Walden;

  North East Lincolnshire

  Great Grimsby; Cleethorpes

  Halifax

  Halifax;

  Herefordshire

  Hereford;

  Kingston upon Hull (Bransholme Area)

  Hull East; North Hull;

  Lambeth

  Dulwich and West Norwood; Streatham; Vauxhall;

  Leicester (South and West)

  Leicester South; Leicester West;

  Leigh

  Leigh; Worsley; Wigan; Makerfield;

  East Middlesbrough

  Middlesbrough; Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland;

  New Addington

  Croydon Central;

  Newcastle

  Newcastle upon Tyne Central; Newcastle upon Tyne North;

  Newham

  Poplar and Canning Town; East Ham; West Ham

  Nottingham (Bulwell)

  Nottingham North;

  Plymouth

  Plymouth Devonport; Plymouth Sutton;

  Salford & Trafford

  Manchester Central; Salford; Stretford and Urmiston;

  North East Sheffield

  Sheffield Attercliffe; Sheffield Central; Sheffield Brightside;

  South Tyneside

  Jarrow; South Shields;

  North Southwark

  North Southwark and Bermondsey

  Thetford

  South West Norfolk;

  North Somerset

  Weston-super-Mare

  An invitation to take part in a second round of EAZ applications was announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 15 January.

  Pre-school Learning
  Mr. Maclean.
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the number of children who received pre-school learning in(a) 1997 and (b)1998. [73347]

  Ms Hodge
  The full-time equivalent number of pupils under compulsory school age receiving pre-school education was 773,693 in Spring 1997 and 811,958 in Spring 1998.
  72
  (b) The Teacher Training Agency. The publication of agendas and documents is not a statutory requirement.

  (c) The British Educational Communications and Technology agency; the Construction Industry Training Board; the Engineering Construction Training Board; the Funding Agency for Schools; the Further Education Funding Council; the Higher Education Funding Council for England; Investors in People UK; the Student Loans Company; and, the Teacher Training Agency. Publishing the members' register of interests is not a statutory requirement.

  Education Action Zones
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the parliamentary constituencies which he has allocated as education action zones broken down into(a) urban and (b) rural areas. [72057]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Education Action Zones are not allocated according to political constituencies, but reflect the groups of schools involved. The current 25 Education Action Zones occur mainly in urban areas; in two zones— Norfolk and North Somerset, the zone covers both urban and rural; and one—Hereford—covers a rural area. The associated political constituencies are as follows:

  The Government have ensured that a place is available from September 1998 for every four year old whose parents want one. In addition, the Government have set a target to double the national participation rate of three year olds in free early education places to 66 per cent. by 2002.

  Mathematics
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what minimum qualifications in mathematics are required to teach mathematics in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; and what were the required qualifications 10 years ago. [74021]
  73
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The minimum requirement now, and also 10 years ago, for employment as a teacher in a maintained school is the holding of Qualified Teacher Status awarded by the Secretary of State after successful completion of an approved course of initial teacher training (ITT). Decisions about the suitability of a candidate to be employed to teach a particular subject or age range are a matter for the employer.

  All entrants to ITT courses since 1979 have been required to have attained at least a grade C in GCSE mathematics or a recognised equivalent. All current trainees on primary ITT courses must follow the national curriculum for primary mathematics. From this September, secondary trainees specialising in mathematics must follow the national curriculum for secondary mathematics.

  Our Green Paper on the modernisation of the teaching profession, published in December, made clear our determination to ensure that all new teachers have a thorough grounding in numeracy, literacy and information and communication technology. As a first step, we propose to pilot this summer a numeracy test which we intend all trainees would have to pass, from summer 2000, before they could be qualified as teachers.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money has been spent since 1 May 1997 on improvements to school buildings; and what proportion of this expenditure has been generated through public private partnerships. [74790]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The following tables show the annual capital expenditure on school building repair and improvement in England of 1997–98 and the estimated outturn for 1998–99.

  The figures shown for Central Government allocations include capital grants to voluntary aided and special agreement schools, capital grants to non-maintained special schools and specialist schools and grants to grant maintained schools paid by The Funding Agency for Schools. In addition, these figures also include £84 million and £250 million in 1997–98 and 1998–99 respectively for New Deal for Schools and £90 million in 1998–99 for new capital support for schools—£35 million to remove outside toilets, £15 million to improve heating and £40 million to reduce Key Stage 1 class sizes.

  The figures shown for the Local Authority expenditure include credit approvals, receipts and other Local Authority funds.

  Capital expenditure on school buildings in England

  £million

  Central Government

  Local Authority

  Total

  1997–98

  191.5

  1,107.2

  1,298.7

  1998–991

  451.9

  1,128.9

  1,580.8

  1 The figures for 1998–99 show the estimated outturn for the period.

  74

  Public private partnership expenditure on school buildings in England

  £million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Total

  Public Private Partnership (signed projects and in procurement)

  21.7

  160.9

  182.6

  National Grid for Learning
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in the development of a national grid for learning. [74775]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Plans for the National Grid for Learning and developing in accordance with achieving the targets announced in the National Grid for Learning Challenge 'Open for Learning, Open for Business', launched in November 1998 by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister.

  To date, £216 million has been allocated for schools' purchase of ICT networking and infrastructure. A further £450 million remains to be allocated over the years 2000–2002. This funding will enable all schools to be connected to the Grid by 2002, and will provide them with online access to a wide range of educational and managerial resources.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received about the changes to the student maintenance grant scheme. [74778]

  Mr. Mudie
  We have received a number of recent representations on the new arrangements for student support in higher education. We invited representations from key interested bodies, including the National Union of Students, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, and the Local Government Association, in consulting them on the detail of the proposed changes to the arrangements in 1999–2000. We have also, outside those consultations, received representations from other interested bodies and individuals. We carefully considered all of these when finalising the Education (Student Support) Regulations which came into force on 3 March this year.

  University for Industry
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress of the new University for Industry. [74777]

  Mr. Mudie
  Considerable progress has been made towards the establishment of the University for Industry (UfI). A three year Corporate Plan for the UFI's development and implementation was recently agreed by Ministers as the basis for future planning. The UFI organisation intends to publish a summary of its plans shortly. Dr. Anne Wright, UFI's Chief Executive, and Lord Dearing, the newly appointed Chairman, will drive forward the UfI's development and implementation. The UfI is on target to launch nationally in the year 2000.
  75
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much had been spent from public funds on market research about the University for Industry by 28 February. [75290]

  Mr. Mudie
  The total amount that has been spent from public funds on market research about the University for Industry by 28 February is £317,900.

  A-levels and Vocational Courses
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Government's pilot schemes to(a) broaden A-levels and (b) upgrade vocational courses; and what plans he has to extend the pilot schemes nationwide. [74807]

  Mr. Mudie
  We expect to make an announcement shortly on the outcome of the consultation on taking forward the Government's commitment to support broader A levels and upgraded vocational qualifications, underpinned by rigorous standards and key skills. We have already made clear that the revised AS, A level and Advanced GNVQ—which are being developed in the light of a number of pilot schemes—will be introduced nationally for teaching from September 2000.

  GCSE Examinations (Entry Fee)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to allow individual schools to charge parents entry fees for GCSE examinations where students fail to attend for the examination. [74701]

  Mr. Mudie:
  Under Section 453 of the Education Act 1996, maintained schools are already able to recover GCSE examination entry fees from parents where a student fails without good reason to attend an examination.

  Further Education Lecturers
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to resolve the dispute between further education lecturers who continued to retain silver book conditions of service in further education colleges after incorporation in 1993 and their employers. [74698]

  Mr. Mudie
  It is for individual colleges to decide the conditions of service and what pay increases they will offer their staff, within the resources available to each college and within the framework of the Government's policy on public sector pay. Ministers, however, have consistently emphasised the importance of partnership between employers and staff in delivering the vital contribution of Further Education to our lifelong learning vision. We have been encouraging the national representative bodies to collaborate in the interests of that agenda, and we warmly welcome the announcement by National Association for Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) and the Association of Colleges (AoC) of the end of their dispute.

  European Funding
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which countries have sent 76
  him copies of their EU Objective 3 Social Fund application forms; and if he will place translations of them in the Library. [74704]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I have so far received copies of the current Objective 3 application forms from Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Germany. These have already been placed in the Library and I will ensure translations in English are available there.

  NVQ Standards
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of all those aged from 18 to 64 years, who are in employment or actively seeking employment, are qualified to NVQ(a) level 3 and (b) level 4 in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) England; and what the figures were in each year from 1993. [75069]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: The information requested is contained in the following table.

  Proportion of economically active adults1 qualified to at least

  NVQ level 3 or equivalent

  NVQ level 4 or equivalent

  Year

  UK

  England

  UK

  England

  1993

  238.8

  38.2

  221.8

  21.7

  1994

  240.2

  39.6

  222.7

  22.6

  1995

  40.8

  40.4

  23.6

  23.5

  1996

  41.9

  41.6

  23.8

  23.9

  1997

  43.3

  43.0

  24.5

  24.4

  1998

  45.4

  45.0

  26.2

  26.0

  1 Adults consist of males aged 18–64 and females aged 18–59.

  2 Figures are for Great Britain only.

  Source:
  Labour Force Survey, Autumn quarters

  All-age Special Schools
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the(a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of all-age special schools; and if he will make a statement. [75490]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  When deciding statutory proposals to alter or establish special schools, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, takes account of professional advice from Ofsted, which will address issues such as the number and age range of the proposed pupil population and the suitability of provision to meet their special educational needs.

  Teachers (Pension Scheme)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to receive the Working Group's report on the long-term examination of the teachers' pension scheme. [75073]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I have received the Working Group's report and am currently considering its findings and recommendations.

  Foreign Language Teaching
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans he has to end the statutory requirement for 14 to 16-year-old pupils to be taught a foreign language; [75410]
  77
  (2) if he will make a statement on the requirement for compulsory foreign language study as part of the national curriculum. [75411]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We have no plans to end the statutory requirement for 14 to 16-year-olds to be taught a modern foreign language. We recognise the importance of foreign language learning and are considering ways of strengthening its teaching in schools.

  Education Spending (Cumbria)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) for what reasons his press notice LPN 41/99 is not available on the departmental internet; [75285]

  (2) for what reason departmental press officers telephoned media outlets in Cumbria asking them not to use the press release of 24 February which they had just issued; [75286]

  (3) what representations he has received from Cumbria county council since the issue of his press release on 24 February; [75287]

  (4) what powers he has to compel Cumbria county council to spend on education the moneys he has allocated to it; [75288]

  (5) what steps he will take (a) to monitor and (b) to enforce compliance with his request to Cumbria county council to spend their full standard spending assessment on education. [75289]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The central Government grant that supports Standard Spending provision is unhypothecated. Nevertheless, we have examined local authority budget proposals in the public domain, for evidence that they have reflected the increased funding in their education budgets. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the Leader of Cumbria county council in February to urge them to consider their plans and use all of the increase to support education, and a press notice was drafted to that effect. I am pleased to say that, since then, we have been informed by the county council that they do intend to reflect their full education SSA increase of £9.4 million (5.0 per cent.) in their 1999–2000 education budget.

CABINET OFFICE

  Polling Organisations
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will establish an appropriate body, with a remit equivalent to the Advisory Committee on Advertising, to check the competence and propriety of polling organisations bidding for Government work. [75209]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  No. Decisions on awarding Government contracts to polling organisations are subject to the same strict requirements of value for money as any other category of Government procurement. In particular, the process of evaluating tenders includes an assessment of the competence of the tenderers to deliver the work required.
  78

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Mediation
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what funding he plans to make available for the Surrey Mediation Forum. [74682]

  Mr. Hoon
  None. It has not been the Government's policy to provide core funding to individual or local mediation organisations, although some support is provided in family mediation to national representative organisations for the development of the family mediation function.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to assist the development of a national mediation council. [74683]

  Mr. Hoon
  None, although some support has been provided in family mediation to national representative organisations for the development of the family mediation function.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to ensure common standards of practice between the private and legally aided mediation sectors. [74681]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government are not aware that there are distinct private and legally aided mediation sectors. Individual family mediators, however, undertake both private and publicly funded work. The standards of practice required for publicly funded family mediation work are set out in the contracts individual family mediators have with the Legal Aid Board.

  Woolf Reforms
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Woolf reforms on the conduct of litigation. [74684]

  Mr. Hoon
  The first phase of civil justice reforms will be introduced on 26 April. Those reforms represent a modernisation of the civil justice system, which is aimed at making it quicker, simpler and less costly to its users. Judicial case management will control the conduct of litigation, directing the work to be done in preparing a case for trial. This will ensure the time is in proportion to the complexity of that case and the issues at stake.

  Civil Procedure Rules
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor will designate one particular publication of the new civil procedure rules as the official version to be used by judges and practitioners in court. [R] [74765]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Department has no intention of designating one publication as the preferred version.

  Conditional Fee Arrangements:
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has
  79
  made of the current availability of (a) contingent and (b) after-the-event insurance to cover conditional fee arrangements. [R] [74764]

  Mr. Hoon
  The discussions I and my officials have had with the insurance industry have clearly shown us that the provision of legal expenses insurance, both before the event and after the event, is diverse and considerable. Insurance aimed specifically at conditional fee agreements is almost exclusively after-the-event insurance, and the principal providers of insurance to underpin conditional fee agreements are well known. There is an increasing interest for insurance to underpin conditional fee agreements for proceedings other than personal injury cases. There are several well-known products in relation to personal injury cases, including the product developed jointly with the Law Society. All the indications are that good cases have no difficulty in obtaining insurance and that the market is maturing with the experience of nearly three and half years of operation. My officials keep in regular contact with the industry.

  Lord Chancellor
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost to the public purse of printing and sending out the letters from the Lord Chancellor to promote the application by Mr. Andrew Patrick to re-join the Garrick Club; and if the Lord Chancellor intends to repay the cost. [75155]

  Mr. Hoon
  The approximate costs were:

  Additional resources for winter pressure 1998–99

  June 1998 allocation (Thousand)

  October/November allocation (Thousand)

  Total

  North Thames Has

  Barking and Havering

  540

  1,322

  1,862

  Barnet

  441

  1,080

  1,521

  Brent and Harrow

  679

  1,661

  2,340

  Camden and Islington

  715

  1,749

  2.464

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  1,021

  2,498

  3,519

  East and North Herts

  583

  1,427

  2,010

  East London and City

  1,042

  2,548

  3,590

  Enfield and Haringey

  706

  1,727

  2,433

  Hillingdon

  336

  821

  1,157

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  602

  1,474

  2,076

  North Essex

  1,051

  2,572

  3,623

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  657

  1,607

  2,264

  South Essex

  860

  2,105

  2,965

  West Hertfordshire

  667

  1,632

  2,299

  Total

  9,900

  24,223

  34,123

  South Thames HAs

  Bexley and Greenwich

  550

  1,547

  2,097

  Bromley

  385

  936

  1,321

  Croydon

  440

  1,061

  1,501

  Kingston and Richmond

  425

  1,087

  1,512

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  1,150

  3,010

  4,160

  Mertson, Sutton and Wandsworth

  1,070

  2,252

  3,322

  East Kent

  925

  2,009

  2,934

  Eastern Surrey

  409

  1,271

  1,680

  East Sussex

  855

  2,587

  3,442

  West Kent

  1,275

  2,824

  4,099

  Western Surrey

  900

  1,906

  2,806

  West Sussex

  995

  2,376

  3,371

  Total

  9,379

  22,865

  32,244

  80

  £

  Postage

  9.80

  Stationery

  7.84

  Typing

  6.98

  Total

  24.62

  The Lord Chancellor has repaid these costs.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate the man-hours used by the Lord Chancellor's Diary Secretary in pursuing replies to the invitation sent out by the Lord Chancellor in connection with the re-election of Mr. Andrew Patrick to the Garrick Club; and what was the cost incurred. [75154]

  Mr. Hoon
  None. Most of those written to have already replied. The Diary Secretary will not be pursuing the outstanding invitations.

HEALTH

  Hospitals (Winter Pressures)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals in the North and South Thames Regions which have received winter pressures money this winter, indicating the amounts received. [65491]

  Mr. Denham
  Information on winter pressures allocations by health authority is shown in the table. The information on individual hospitals is not available centrally in the form requested.

  NHS Staff (Pay)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of the proposed salary rises for NHS staff in England(a) in total and (b) broken down by category. [69992]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: Until the negotiations with non-Review Body staff groups have been completed it will not be possible to estimate the total cost of this year's pay awards. Estimates for the costs of the Review Body awards are set out as follows:

  £million

  Nurses

  370

  Professions Allied to Medicine

  60

  Hospital and Community Health Service

  Doctors and Dentists

  120

  Family Health Service

  Doctors and Dentists

  130

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community psychiatric nurses there were in each health region in England in each of the last three years. [73227]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  National Health Service hospital and community health services: Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in the community psychiatry area of work by regional office areas In England as at 30 September of each year

  Whole-time equivalents

  1995

  1996

  1997

  England

  9,540

  10,530

  10,720

  Anglia and Oxford

  900

  1,020

  880

  North Thames

  1,900

  2,040

  1,790

  North West

  1,110

  1,170

  1,280

  Northern and Yorkshire

  1,280

  1,260

  1,540

  South and West

  940

  1,050

  1,120

  South Thames

  1,510

  1,900

  1,960

  Trent

  1,180

  1,270

  1,270

  West Midlands

  730

  810

  890

  Other

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1 Less than five but more than zero

  Notes:

  1. Figures exclude any learners and agency staff

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

  Others include staff in Special Health Authorities, other Statutory Authorities, Directly Managed Units and some other organizations who employ NHS staff

  Source:
  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Schizophrenia Patients
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were admitted for a hospital stay more than once during the last year in each health region in England. [73232]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of times patients have been admitted more than once during the year are not held centrally.
  82
  The following table shows the estimated number of finished consultant episodes by health region of treatment where the primary diagnosis was schizophrenia psychoses, 1997–98.

  Estimated finished consultant episodes with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, by health authority of treatment, 1997–98

  Health Authority

  Number

  England

  33,910

  Northern and Yorkshire

  3,780

  Trent

  1,800

  Anglia and Oxford

  2,810

  North Thames

  7,730

  South Thames

  4,060

  South and West

  4,590

  West Midlands

  3,130

  North West

  6,010

  Notes:

  1. Data have been rounded

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

  Source:
  Hospital Episode Statistics

  Diabetes (Prescriptions)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average cost per week of prescriptions for sufferers from diabetes; [73317]

  (2) for what reasons diabetes sufferers are eligible for free prescriptions. [73315]

  Mr. Denham
  In 1997 the net ingredient cost of drugs used in the treatment of diabetes and dispensed in the community in England was £142.6 million, an average of £2.7 million a week. The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or any prescription charge income.

  Diabetes sufferers are eligible for free prescriptions, except where treatment is by diet alone, as diabetes was identified in 1968 as one of a number of readily identifiable, permanent, life long conditions requiring regular or extensive medication.

  Speech Therapists (Cumbria)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of speech therapists required in Cumbria; and how many were in post at the latest available date. [73480]

  Mr. Denham
  North Cumbria Health Authority has agreed with local National Health Service trusts and Cumbria Education Authority that the number of speech and language therapists should be increased by four. Recruitment to these posts is currently underway.

  22 whole-time equivalent staff classed as therapists working in the speech and language therapy area of work were in post in North Cumbria on 30 September 1997.
  Source:
  Department of Health Annual Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Health Services Accreditation
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to maintain the work and methodology of Health Services Accreditation for use by the NHS. [73894]
  83
  Mr. Denham
  The health authorities which sponsor the work of Health Services Accreditation will be discussing with a range of interested parties including the National Health Service Executive how the work and methodologies of that body might be of use to the NHS in the future.

  Dental Services
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of dental contract holders in each health authority area have had(a) an increase in the number of registrations and (b) a decrease in the number of registrations in the most recent year for which figures are available. [74262]

  Mr. Denham
  Information on the percentage of dental contract holders having a National Health Service list which increased or decreased between January 1998 and January 1999 (the latest date for which information is available) has been placed in the Library. The percentage increases and decreases may not add to 100 because some dentists will have an unchanged list size. The comparisons are for dentists with contracts open at both January 1998 and January 1999 and exclude dentists with no registrations on both dates. Dentists with contracts in several health authorities are counted in each health authority in which they have a contract but only once in the England total. The comparisons between January 1998 and January 1999 are affected by the reduction in the registration period to 15 months.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average length of time taken to process grant applications under the Investing in Dentistry Scheme; [74260]

  (2) Health what percentage of the Investing in Dentistry Scheme funding has been spent on (a) set up costs and (b) gross fees. [74261]

  Mr. Denham
  Each investing in dentistry funding request is dealt with as quickly as possible. The time taken to process a grant application depends on many factors, including the number of proposals received, the complexity of the request, and whether further information is required before a decision can be made.

  To date, just over £7.5 million of investing in dentistry grants have been approved to enable over 600,000 patients to register with an National Health Service dentist, giving rise to treatment costs estimated to be around £2.5 million in 1998–99.

  Tavistock Institute Research
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the NFM Tavistock Institute research project on mediation in public law and social services departments. [74680]

  Mr. Hutton
  In 1995 the Department funded a pilot project on child protection mediation. The report highlighted the advantages of effective dispute resolution as well as the difficulties of ensuring full inter-agency co-operation. The small number of cases involved suggest that further developmental work will be needed if advance dispute resolution is to make a major contribution in the handling of public law cases.
  84

  Fireworks
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many injuries resulting from accidents involving fireworks were reported in Great Britain for each year from 1990 to 1997, broken down by hospital casualty unit. [74635]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  The DTI's annual census of fireworks injuries is conducted over a four week period taking in the run-up to 5 November and a few days afterwards. Details of injuries recorded at each NHS Trust are available only for the years 1996 and 1997. Information for the years 1992 to 1995 is recorded by regional and district health authorities but no information on a regional basis is recorded for 1991. Copies of the annual reports of firework injuries for each of these years were placed in the Library as soon as they were published. A breakdown of the injuries recorded by each A&E unit for the years 1992 to 1995 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  No reliable estimates of fireworks injuries outside the census period can be made because the numbers are too small to be extrapolated from data in the Home Accident Surveillance System.

  Appointments
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by region the appointments he has made since his appointment; and if he will list the known political affiliations of appointees. [75027]

  Mr. Denham
  Information on the political activity of those appointed to National Health Service boards is contained in the Department of Health's Public Appointments Annual Report. This Report is currently being prepared for all those in post at 1 March 1999 and will be published in June. Copies of last year's report, giving details of all those appointed at 1 March 1998, are available in the Library.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS trust and health authority appointments which were not made by the due date; and which remained outstanding on 1 March. [74833]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: The information requested is shown in the table.

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

  Region/body

  Number of Chairs

  Number of non-Executives

  Eastern

  Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Horizon NHS Trust

  0

  1

  North West

  Chester and Halton Community NHS Trust

  1

  2

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  1

  2

  Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Trust

  1

  2

  Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Manchester Health Authority

  0

  1

  Mancunian Community Health NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Tameside and Glossop Community and Priority Services NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Warrington Community NHS Trust

  0

  2

  Wirral Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  85

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

  Region/body

  Number of Chairs

  Number of non-Executives

  Northern and Yorkshire

  Calderdale and Kirklees Health Authority

  0

  1

  London

  BHB Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  0

  1

  City and Hackney Community Services NHS Trust

  0

  2

  Croydon Community Health NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Enfield Community Care NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  2

  Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Pathfinder Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Trent

  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Grantham and District Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  South East

  East Surrey Health Authority

  0

  2

  South West

  Bath Mental Healthcare NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Gloucestershire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust

  1

  0

  Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust

  0

  1

  West Midlands

  Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull (Teaching) Hospitals NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Walsall Community Health NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Total

  4

  35

  Human Vaccines (Bovine Material)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how those human vaccines which contained bovine material prohibited for use in the human food chain were disposed of when a ban was introduced on the use of those vaccines; [75095]

  (2) on what date it was decided to discontinue use of human vaccines which contained bovine materials prohibited for use in the human food chain; [75094]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the use prior to 1996 in human vaccines of bovine material prohibited for use in the food chain. [75096]

  Ms Jowell
  Vaccines licensed for use in the United Kingdom do not contain, in the finished product, bovine materials prohibited for use in the human food chain. However, bovine material is used in the early stage of manufacture of some vaccines which are subject to rigorously controlled purification processes.

  In March 1989, the Committee of the Safety of Medicines issued guidelines regarding the controls on the sourcing of bovine material used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. These were superseded by 'Guidelines for Minimising the Risk of Transmitting Agents causing Spongiform Encephalopathies via Medicinal Products' from the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products in 1992. The guidelines have been updated to reflect developments in scientific knowledge and require animal-derived materials to be sourced from countries with no reported cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
  86

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to amend section 4 of Children Act 1989 to provide for a duty to assist. [74726]

  Mr. Hutton
  As announced in the Response to the Children's Safeguards Review on 5 November 1998, the Government intend legislating to replace the current power to assist under Section 24 of the Children Act 1989 with a duty to assess and meet the needs of care leavers up to the age of 18 and will study the costs, limitations and affordability of extending this duty until the young person reaches the age of 21.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the impact of Quality Protects plans on inter-departmental co-ordination between housing and social services departments; and if he will make a statement on the enforcement of existing rules under the Children Act 1989. [74723]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Quality Protects programme is directed at the local authority as a whole, including housing and social services departments, and is intended to promote corporate commitment to delivering improved services for children. Management Action Plans submitted to the Department by local authorities are currently being evaluated, and progress in implementation will be monitored by the Government. The Government have also stated in the White Paper "Modernising Social Services" their intention to place a duty on the local authority as a whole in planning children's services and for all parties to participate in and take responsibility for their delivery.

  Post-care Provision
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure local authorities provide written guidance to persons leaving care. [74724]

  Mr. Hutton
  Every local authority should provide an easy to read guide to its services for young people when they leave care. The Government will address this subject in the guidance on leaving care they intend issuing later this year.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) advice and (b) amenities are available to persons leaving care at 18 years; and if he will make a statement. [74725]

  Mr. Hutton
  Local authorities have duties and powers under the Children Act 1989 to advise, befriend and assist care leavers up to the age of 21. Extensive guidance on the exercise of these responsibilities was issued to accompany the Children Act but further guidance will be issued later this year, as announced in the Government's Response to the Children's Safeguards Review.

  Quality Protects Action Plans
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Quality Protects action plans submitted by local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [75299]
  87
  Mr. Hutton
  All local authorities submitted their Quality Protects Management Action Plans by the closing date of 31 January 1999. These are currently being evaluated by the Department's Social Services Inspectorate. The Department will publish a national overview report of the Management Action Plans when these evaluations have been completed.

  Foster Care
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, following the review of safeguards for children living away from home, he will ensure that children in all forms of foster care are protected from corporal punishment. [75156]

  Mr. Hutton
  Corporal punishment is not permitted by law, with the exception that a parent or someone acting in loco parentis is entitled to administer corporal punishment that is reasonable in all the circumstances. Legislation prohibits corporal punishment in children's homes, foster care and registered care homes.

  Current legislation does not prevent the use of corporal punishment by private foster carers. Children Act guidance on assessing the suitability of private foster carers states that social workers should explore the (private) foster carers' views on discipline, including their preparedness to accept that corporal punishment is inappropriate for children who are privately fostered. A consultation document will be issued shortly on how the law can be improved in order to better protect children.

  Medicines (Children)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment the Government have made under the licensing process of the side-effects of medicines used on children; [75473]

  (2) if he will assess the applicability for the United Kingdom of the system for licensing medicines for children in the United States, which will compel pharmaceutical companies to provide information about the effects of their drugs on children; [75474]

  (3) what is the incidence of adverse reaction of children to (a) unlicensed and (b) off-label treatments. [75472]

  Ms Jowell
  There is no centrally held record of suspected adverse reactions to medicines and the incidence is not therefore known. However, the Yellow Card Scheme exists for health professionals to report suspected adverse reactions to the Medicines Control Agency and Committee on Safety of Medicines on a voluntary basis. This scheme has been successful in identifying new hazards to medicines so that prescribers may be informed about the safe use of medicines. In addition, a pilot scheme has been set up in the Trent Region, with funding from the Medicines Control Agency, to monitor the safety of medicines in children. This includes suspected adverse reaction reports associated with unlicensed and off-label usage of medicines in children.

  When an application is made for a licence for a medicine for use in children, the evidence submitted in
  88
  support of the quality, safety and efficacy of the medicine is evaluated. The side-effects occurring during the paediatric clinical trials are assessed as part of this evaluation. A final decision regarding the grant of a licence for use in children is made after weighing the potential benefits of the proposed treatment against the potential risks.

  Currently in the United Kingdom the decision to undertake appropriate trials to support an application for a licence for use of a medicine in the treatment of children rests with pharmaceutical companies. A recently adopted European guideline encourages the pharmaceutical industry to undertake appropriate clinical trials on products with anticipated therapeutic benefits in children. However, if the guidance does not have the effect of increasing the availability of appropriate medicinal products for children, there is scope for the UK and other Member States to raise with the European Commission the question of whether legislation similar to that in operation in the United States should be introduced to strengthen the European regulatory framework.

  Nurses (Training)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what perecentage of nurses' training takes place in hospital wards; and if he will make a statement. [75009]

  Mr. Denham
  Pre-registration nurse education programmes consist of a minimum of 4,600 hours theoretical and practical instruction of which no less than 50 per cent., or 2,300 hours, are spent in clinical placements dealing directly with patients. The large majority of placements will take place in hospital wards although community, primary care and other clinical settings are also used.

  Residential and Nursing Care
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to(a) nursing and (b) residential home owners of the implementation of the new national required standards for residential and nursing homes over the next five year period. [74565]

  Mr. Hutton
  We intend to publish the proposed standards for older people in residential care, produced by the Centre for Policy on Ageing, for consultation shortly. We will also consider the detailed cost implications for nursing home and residential care home owners of introducing the standards prior to taking any decision about their implementation.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision will be made in National Health Service funding 1999–2000 to independent providers of residential and nursing care to meet the cost of pay increases awarded to nurses and auxiliary nurses; and if he will make a statement. [73981]

  Mr. Hutton
  None. Independent providers of residential and nursing care homes are free to decide on the pay rates for their staff according to their particular requirements and circumstances.

TREASURY

  Agenda 2000
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect on the British rebate under the Fontainebleau Agreement of the implementation of the Agenda 2000 proposals for co-financing the Common Agricultural Policy in the event of(a) an increase in overall support to British agriculture and (b) an increase in agricultural support provided from UK domestic funds. [71648]

  Ms Hewitt
  Cofinancing of the CAP would not affect overall support to agriculture, in the UK or other member states. It would increase support provided directly by member states, but reduce the support provided by the EC.

  Any increase in agricultural support from UK domestic funds would, of itself, have no effect on the UK rebate. Any such increase which resulted from cofinancing would be more than matched—even after the abatement—by a reduction in UK contributions to the EU. The Commission has estimated (in its report on Own Resources) that cofinancing of 25 per cent. of CAP direct aids would reduce the UK net contribution by £146 million in 2006.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what significant inaccuracies there have been in HM Customs and Excise data relating to the value of arms exports to individual countries; [71659]

  (2) what factors underlie the significant inaccuracies found in HM Customs and Excise data relating to the value of arms exports to individual countries. [71660]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answers 16 February 1999]: HM Customs and Excise collect data on exports from the UK as an input to the Balance Of Payments estimation, and to meet the needs of the UK government and business users for trade information. An extensive validation programme is undertaken on the information received by Customs to ensure suitability of the data for those purposes, but it would not be feasible thoroughly to check all export declarations under £3 million. Information specifically relating to arms exports has never had its accuracies questioned in the past.

  But when the detailed arms exports data were examined, errors of country or commodity code were found which would have made the information unreliable. This information therefore had to be re-checked.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many workers he expects to benefit from the introduction of the national minimum wage in the constituency of Glasgow, Govan. [74882]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
  90
  Letter from Dr. M. P. G. Pepper to Mr. Mohammad Sarwar, dated 8 March 1999:
  In the absence of the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of people who will benefit from the introduction of the proposed national minimum wage (NMW).
  The New Earnings Survey (NES) can provide earnings data for small geographical areas. However, the release of NES data is restricted to figures which are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees, and have an acceptable level of accuracy.
  Estimates of the proportion of people who are currently earning below the proposed minimum wage for a range of geographical areas have been placed in the House of Commons Library under the title of 'New Earnings Survey 1998—National Minimum Wage Distribution Tables'. These include available information for the Glasgow Govan constituency. The tables provide an historical position against the 1998 values of the proposed NMW, and make no judgement on whether its introduction will have any effect on the number of jobs.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentages of suspect BSE cases were subsequently confirmed in each year from 1988 to 1997. [75062]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  For the years 1988–97 inclusive, the percentage of animals restricted in Great Britain as BSE suspects and subsequently confirmed as having BSE are given in the following table:

  Year

  Restricted

  Confirmed

  Percentage confirmed

  1988

  2,516

  2,184

  86.80

  1989

  8,447

  7,137

  84.49

  1990

  17,323

  14,181

  81.86

  1991

  30,009

  25,032

  83.41

  1992

  44,846

  36,682

  81.80

  1993

  42,931

  34,370

  80.06

  1994

  30,261

  23,945

  79.13

  1995

  17,946

  14,302

  79.69

  1996

  10,701

  8,016

  74.91

  1997

  5,607

  4,312

  76.90

  Foie Gras Production
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of foie gras production within the EU. [74832]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: We are opposed to the force feeding of ducks and geese to produce foie gras—a practice which is not followed in the United Kingdom. We have therefore been glad to have the opportunity, in the Standing Committee of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes, to join in the negotiation of a Recommendation on the welfare of ducks and geese. We

  91
  are pressing there for the highest standards that can be negotiated, as Recommendations adopted by the Council of Europe in this way subsequently serve as the basis for EU Directives.

  Genetically Modified Foods
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers the Government have to ban the import of genetically modified food. [74828]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: Under Article 12 of the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97), a Member State may act to either temporarily restrict or suspend the trade in, and the use of, an approved novel food or food ingredient in its territory if as a result of new information, or a reassessment of existing information, it has detailed grounds for believing that its use endangers human health or the environment. In such cases it is required to immediately inform the European Commission of its decision. The European Commission then has three months from the date of referral to resolve the matter or adopt the Member State's proposed measure. Under the World Trade Organisation Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, WTO members have the right to take measures necessary for the protection of human, animal or plant life or health, provided that these are based on scientific principles and are not maintained without sufficient scientific evidence.

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress made on the abolition of milk quotas in the EU. [75047]

  Mr. Rooker
  In the negotiations which are continuing in the Agriculture Council my right hon. Friend is continuing to press for a substantial reform of the dairy regime including a clear end date for milk quotas.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in his Department. [74353]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: Any contact with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department is conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what projects Spain spent the funding it received under the EU scheme to reduce fishing levels. [74505]

  Mr. Morley
  We do not have details of actual spending by Spain under Council Regulation 3699/93 during the current structural programme (1994–99). However their planned spending on measures to reduce fishing effort 92
  during this period, as set out in their fisheries aid programme approved by the European Commission, was as follows:

  Measure

  Projects

  EU aid1

  National aid1

  Decommissioning

  Objective 1

  700

  275.0

  118.0

  Non Objective 1

  200

  35.9

  35.9

  Joint Enterprises

  Objective 1

  55

  70.0

  30.0

  Non Objective

  4

  3.5

  3.5

  Temporary Joint Ventures

  Objective 1

  30

  11.0

  5.0

  Non Objective 1

  6

  1.5

  1.5

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many vessels have been scrapped under the EU scheme to reduce fishing levels by(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Spain, (c) Italy, (d) Portugal, (e) Greece, (f) France, (g) Germany, (h) the Netherlands and (i) Denmark; [74502]

  (2) what the funding received by the UK under the EU scheme to reduce fishing levels was spent on. [74534]

  Mr. Morley
  Under the current EU scheme provided for in Council Regulation 3699/93, 547 vessels have been decommissioned in the UK at public expense. In recognition of their historical significance, a small number of these were placed in the care of registered museums rather than scrapped. My Department does not have this information for other member states, although information on changes in the tonnage and power of all member states' fleets up to the end of 1996 was published in the European Commission's report on the outcome of the third Multi-Annual Guidance Programme. This was the subject of MAFF Explanatory Memorandum Number 9893/97 submitted on 28 July 1997.

  This accounts for all of the £14,375,370 received by the UK in reimbursement from the EU towards the cost of permanent reductions in fishing capacity.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if decommissioning money received by the United Kingdom under the EU scheme to reduce fishing levels was made available in the United Kingdom to vessels fishing outside the EU waters; [74503]

  (2) what proportion of vessels scrapped under the EU scheme to reduce fishing levels were fishing outside the EU waters. [74504]

  Mr. Morley
  UK decommissioning schemes under Council Regulation 3699/93 have been limited to vessels holding licences authorising them to fish in Community waters. Although this has included certain vessels also authorised to fish outside EU waters, no vessels with material records of fishing outside EU waters have been decommissioned at public expense.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what determined the levels of funding received by(a) Spain and (b) the United Kingdom under the EU scheme to reduce fishing levels. [74506]
  93
  Mr. Morley
  Funds for measures covered by Council Regulation 3699/93 were allocated by the European Union to Member States on the basis of programmes for structural aid for 1994–99. Account was taken of a number of factors including respective fleet sizes and the relative development of the regions concerned. Funding actually paid by the EU to Member States is determined by the amount of eligible expenditure that has been incurred.

  Local Authority Inspections (Restaurants)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what national statistics are compiled by his Department in respect of local restaurant inspections carried out by local authorities. [74538]

  Mr. Rooker
  Statistics on inspections of restaurants and other caterers (as a single category) are compiled by the Ministry from returns submitted by local authorities in the United Kingdom as part of the information for the annual return we are required to make to the Commission under article 14 of the Council Directive on the official control of foodstuffs (89/397/EEC).

  A copy of the latest return and summary statistics for the United Kingdom and for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland separately were recently placed in the Library of the House.

  Imported Meats (Antibiotics)
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the use of antibiotics in imported meats. [74695]

  Mr. Rooker
  The use of antibiotic feed additives outside the EU and the consequences for imported meats was considered by the Council of Agriculture Ministers and the EU Commission following the recent decision to ban the use of certain antibiotic growth promoters. The Council and Commission issued a joint declaration which emphasises the importance of protecting consumers' health and the need not to prejudice the competitive position of European producers, whilst complying with the Union's international commitments. The Council called for a report from the Commission before 30 June 199 which will examine how to ensure that third countries comply with rules for feed additives, in particular antibiotics, which are at least equivalent to those laid down at Community level.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to persuade EU partners, when undertaking the review of Council Directive 91/628/EEC required by Article 13 of that Directive, to abandon the long distance transport of live farm animals throughout the European Union and replace such transport with a trade in meat and carcases; and if he will make a statement. [74324]

  Mr. Morley
  We attach great importance to this review, which is required to take place this year. We will be pressing the European Commission to bring it forward to time. In contacts with other Member States in the run-up to the review, we shall continue to press the case for reduced journey times to slaughter, for the highest 94
  welfare standards to be set and our view that a carcase trade is preferable to long distance live transports for slaughter.

  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in respect of what proportion of consignments of live sheep exported from the UK he has requested in the last year the competent authorities in other Member States to confirm that the arrangements set out in the route plan for giving animals rest, liquid and food are adhered to; and if he will make a statement. [74322]

  Mr. Morley
  Monitoring compliance with route plans once sheep have left Great Britain is the responsibility of the Member States concerned. Officials of this Department maintain contacts with their opposite numbers in the other Member States to try and ensure that there is effective enforcement and that information concerning contraventions is sent back to us. We cannot expect the competent authorities concerned to check on large numbers of consignments nominated by us, but they have helped us on a case by case basis on a small proportion of consignments in the last year. We also look to the European Commission to fulfil its responsibility to ensure that Member States implement and enforce the requirements.

  Animals (Religious Slaughter)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the major outlets for religiously slaughtered meat not consumed by adherents, indicating how many tonnes entered the food chain for the last year for which figures are available; [73324]

  (2) what tonnage of animals religiously slaughtered in Britain in the last year for which figures are available was exported overseas; and to which countries. [73321]

  Mr. Morley
  Figures on these matters do not separately distinguish meat produced by the religious slaughter of animals.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many slaughterhouses there are in the UK; how many undertake religious slaughter; and what is the average number of times that(a) slaughterhouses undertaking religious slaughter and (b) other slaughterhouses have been inspected in each of the last two years. [73686]

  Mr. Morley
  Details of licensed slaughterhouses in England and Wales are published in the Meat Hygiene Enforcement Report, which is placed in the Library of the House each month. Information is not held on those adopting religious methods of slaughter or the average number of times these methods are used. A member of the Meat Hygiene Service inspection team is present every day during operating periods.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to label religiously slaughtered meat. [73346]

  Mr. Morley
  We have no such plans at present.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each species the total
  95
  number of animals religiously slaughtered in the UK for the last year for which figures are available. [73484]

  Mr. Morley
  Information is not kept separately for the numbers of animals slaughtered by the religious or by other approved methods. The next biennial review of welfare at slaughter standards by the Meat Hygiene Service, which will take place later this year, has been designed to provide information on slaughter practices.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) the breaches of the approved killing methods his inspectors have discovered over the last two years in slaughterhouses undertaking religious slaughter and (b) the penalties imposed on the operators in each case. [73498]

  Mr. Morley
  Official Veterinary Surgeons of the Meat Hygiene Service monitor compliance with welfare at slaughter legislation in licensed slaughterhouses daily during operation and take on-the-spot action to put right any problems found. Figures that are available relate to prosecutions, and none of the prosecutions taken under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 relates to breaches of approved killing methods for religious slaughter.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the approved killing method for each species undergoing religious slaughter. [73320]

  Mr. Morley
  When slaughter is by the Jewish or Muslim method the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 provide an exemption from the general requirement for animals to be stunned. Slaughter must be carried out without inflicting unnecessary suffering: in the case of cattle, sheep and goats by the severance of both carotid arteries and both jugular veins by rapid, uninterrupted movements of a knife and, in the case of turkeys, domestic fowl, guinea-fowl, ducks, geese or quail by the severance of both carotid arteries by rapid and uninterrupted movements of a knife.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the proportion of an animal carcase religiously slaughtered which is consumed by adherents of the religion concerned; and what use is made of remaining edible parts of the carcase. [73483]

  Mr. Morley
  The acceptability for consumption of carcases and parts of carcases is a matter for the religious authorities.

  Genetic Material
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who(a) commissioned and (b) carried out the tests conducted on Ciba-Geigy maize gluten feed to establish the effects of processing on modified and non-modified genetic material. [74429]

  Mr. Rooker
  In 1996, the Ministry commissioned tests at the Laboratory of the Government Chemist on samples of maize gluten feed, specifically to determine the effect of processing on DNA.

  Japanese Whaling
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the letter from the Parliamentary Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), ref 123733, on Japanese whaling, if he will make a statement on the bilateral meeting with Japanese officials held on 8 February. [72895]

  Mr. Morley
  Whaling was only one of the issues discussed at the meeting in question; a large number of other environmental issues were discussed. The UK delegation made clear the UK's opposition to Japan's whaling activities, stressing in particular, our disappointment that Japan continues to whale under special permit and to ignore all IWC calls to halt scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. We emphasised that the UK view does not consider that there is any scientific justification for Japanese scientific whaling and called upon Japan to restructure its research programmes so that its objectives could be achieved by non-lethal means. We also drew attention to the fact that the UK was not alone in expressing these views; a large majority of IWC members have also made clear their opposition to Japanese scientific whaling. Japan reiterated its formal position on this issue. I can assure my hon. Friend that we shall continue to raise this issue with Japan at every appropriate opportunity.

  Hops
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the advice given by the EU Commission with regard to payment to hop producers under Regulation 1098/98 for hops planted during the winter 1997–98; and what discussion he has had with the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce concerning the interpretation of that advice. [75282]

  Mr. Rooker
  MAFF has undertaken extensive discussion with the Intervention Board about payments to hop growers under the new EU special temporary measures for hops. Advice from the Commission has been sought and further clarification is awaited before any final decisions arsssse taken.

  Security Cameras
  Security Cameras
  Genetically Modified Animals
  Genetically Modified Animals
  Channel Islands and Isle of Man: UK Powers
  Channel Islands and Isle of Man: UK Powers
  Scottish Prisons: Disinfecting Tablets
  Scottish Prisons: Disinfecting Tablets
  Salah Idris
  Salah Idris
  Prison Inmates: HIV, ADDS and Hepatitis
  Prison Inmates: HIV, ADDS and Hepatitis
  Juvenile Secure Accommodation
  Juvenile Secure Accommodation
  Cyprus
  Cyprus
  Iraq: Oil for Food Programme
  Iraq: Oil for Food Programme
  Abdullah Ocalan
  Abdullah Ocalan
  Chittagong Hill Tracts: Visit of European Heads of Mission
  Chittagong Hill Tracts: Visit of European Heads of Mission
  European Convention on Human Rights: Article 14
  European Convention on Human Rights: Article 14
  Separatist Conflicts within Sovereign States
  Separatist Conflicts within Sovereign States
  Nuclear Weapons in Russia
  Nuclear Weapons in Russia
  Sudan
  Sudan
  International Development Aid: GNP Targets
  International Development Aid: GNP Targets
  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  Kosovo: Accommodation Units
  Kosovo: Accommodation Units
  NHS Trusts: Financial Arrangements on Dissolution
  NHS Trusts: Financial Arrangements on Dissolution
  Human Cloning
  Human Cloning
  Joint Consultative Committee with Liberal Democrat Party
  Joint Consultative Committee with Liberal Democrat Party