Written Answers of 12 March 1999

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department in each of the past four years, how many(a) QCs, (b) barristers and (c) solicitors were informally approached to see if they would accept, if offered, judicial appointment, in each case to (i) the High Court bench and (ii) the circuit bench; in each case, how many indicated they would, if offered an appointment at that time, decline it; and if he will make a statement. [75788]

  Mr. Hoon
  The table indicates the number, according to available Departmental records, of QCs in the last four years who(a) have been informally asked whether, if an offer were ever made, they would accept appointment to the High Court Bench; and (b) indicated that they would decline an offer of immediate appointment:

  Year

  Number asked

  Number who would decline offer of immediate appointment

  Number who accepted subsequently

  1995

  12

  8

  3

  1996

  14

  9

  5

  1997

  3

  3

  0

  1998

  2

  0

  0

  Of these, only 2 in 1995, 1 in 1996 and 2 in 1997 indicated that they would never accept appointment, and one of these has subsequently changed his mind. In 1996, one barrister was informally approached who indicated that he would accept appointment, if offered, and subsequently did so.

  During the past four years, no solicitor has been approached, nor has any QC, barrister or solicitor been informally approached about appointment to the Circuit Bench.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Computer Purchases
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what plans he has to reduce the costs to hon. Members of purchasing new computers through a bulk purchasing arrangement. [75902]

  Mr. Allan
  The Information Committee proposed, in its recently published report(The Supply of Members' Information Technology Equipment, Software and Associated Services (HC 1998–99, 76—Incorporating
  378
  HC 1997–98, 856-i)) that there should be a central procurement option made available to Members at an early opportunity.

  House Officials are currently negotiating prices for a range of suitable computer hardware and software, with a view to making equipment available to Members and Departments of the House at advantageous prices. The new arrangements are expected to be available in the first quarter of the new financial year.

  The Stationery Office
  Mr. Love
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what monitoring of compliance by the Stationery Office with the contract to provide printing services has taken place since privatisation; when the contract is due for renewal; on what criteria the tendering process will be based; and if he will make a statement. [75815]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The performance standards laid down in the current contract between the House and the Stationery Office (TSO) for the provision of printing services are monitored daily by the Vote Office, and senior House Officers meet regularly with the senior management of TSO to review performance and resolve problems. The contract will expire on 31 December 1999 unless the House exercises its option to extend the term for a limited period. With the approval of the Commission, the printing services covered by the contract have been put out to open tender in accordance with EU procedures, and expressions of interest are currently being evaluated. The relevant notice, which describes the award criteria, was published in the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities on 31 July 1998.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to(a) encourage greater openness in the public sector and (b) prepare for legislation on freedom of information. [77107]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government's programme of constitutional reform seeks to involve people more closely in the decisions which affect their lives. Freedom of Information is a fundamental part of that process and should significantly transform the relationship between citizens and the state.

  The Government hope to publish a draft bill on Freedom of Information in May. It will allow for a period of public consultation, as well as appropriate pre-legislative scrutiny by the Public Administration Committee of the House of Commons.

  Legislation while necessary is, in itself, not sufficient. There is a substantial programme of work needed to create a culture of openness in all public services and lay the foundations for the implementation of a future Freedom of Information Act.

  I have, therefore, established the Advisory Group on Openness in the Public Sector to advise me on the steps needed to be taken ahead of legislation. The group, which

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  has already had an informal meeting to discuss its programme of work, is being chaired by Lord Williams and the membership is drawn from a variety of backgrounds. Some bring a specialist knowledge of an area of public service to the Group's work, while others have a particular interest in Freedom of Information. Details of the membership of the Group are being placed in the Library.

  The Group's terms of reference are:
  "To advise the Home Secretary on proposals for promoting cultural change in the public sector to foster a culture of greater openness.
  To assist in the development of training and education programme for public servants to promote cultural change and facilitate the introduction of Freedom of Information.
  To undertake other tasks related to the implementation of Freedom of Information as directed by the Home Secretary".

  Copies of papers considered by the Group and the minutes of its meetings will be available through my Department's web site on the Internet. I expect the Group to submit a report to me before the end of the year making recommendations on how I might facilitate an increase in openness in the public sector as a whole.

  In the meantime, the Government are taking action now to extend openness and accountability. On 10 February, Her Majesty in Council approved an Order extending the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to an additional 111 executive non departmental public bodies and 47 advisory non departmental public bodies, with effect from 15 March. By bringing these bodies within the Ombudsman's jurisdiction, this Order has the effect of bringing them within scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  The Code of Practice commits public bodies to:
  give facts and analysis with major policy decisions;
  open up internal guidelines about dealings with the public; and give reasons with administrative decisions; and provide information about their service to the public (their costs targets and performance and information about complaints and redress).

  The Code also sets out how public bodies should respond to specific requests for information from members of the public. The approach to the release of information is based on the assumption that information should be released except where disclosure would not be in the public interest. In the period before a Freedom of Information Act comes into force, the Government are committed to using the flexibility and discretion available under the Code to release as much information as possible.

  Criminal Offences (EU)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of Council Document 5202/98; and to which provisions his Department objects. [76299]

  Kate Hoey
  The United Kingdom Presidency consulted the European Parliament in January 1998 on the text in Council Document 5202/98 of the draft Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters between the member states of the European Union. Two of the Parliament's proposed amendments have been incorporated into the draft. The Convention has been further developed and negotiations are continuing. The most recent consolidated 380
  text is in Council Document 13144/98, which was submitted to the Select Committee on European Scrutiny last January with an Explanatory Memorandum giving details of the Government's negotiating position. Copies are in the Library. The Government attach importance to the Convention, but have concerns about the scope and detail of the provisions on interception of telecommunications.

  Open Prisons (Former Inmates)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number and type of offences committed by those who have absconded from open prisons in the past five years. [76297]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Prior to 1 April 1997, no central information is available that provides details of any further offences committed while unlawfully at large. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  From 1 April 1997, prison establishments have been responsible for reporting details of absconds and returns to lawful custody, along with any known further offences to Prison Service headquarters. The accuracy of the information available cannot be guaranteed as prisons are not always aware of offences committed while a prisoner is unlawfully at large, and such offences may not come to light until some time after the prisoner's return to custody.

  The available information from 1 April 1997 is given in the tables.

  Absconders from open prisons

  April 1997 to 31 March 1998

  1 April 1998 to 10 March 1999

  Prisoners who absconded from open prisons

  984

  783

  Recapture/Surrenders

  909

  632

  Of which on return to lawful custody, were charged with further offence(s) committed whilst unlawfully at large

  182

  109

  Type of offence committed whilst unlawfully at large since 1 April 1997

  Offence

  Total

  Assault

  12

  Drugs offences

  14

  Firearm offences

  2

  Public Order offences

  2

  Rape/Attempted rape

  2

  Robbery

  5

  Theft/Burglary

  134

  Vehicle crime/RTA

  68

  Other offences

  52

  291

  Schengen Agreement
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government plans to sign up to elements of the Schengen
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  Agreement at the forthcoming Justice and Home Affairs Council; which elements are concerned; and what representations he has received on this matter. [75722]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today made the following statement to the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels.

  Other member states will be interested to know of the intentions of the United Kingdom about our participation in JHA matters after the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, in accordance with Article 4 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union and by the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

  The United Kingdom is committed to active and effective co-operation in the JHA field. We demonstrated that during our Presidency last year. Our citizens have a common interest in ensuring that effective action is taken to combat international organised crime; we shall continue to play a full role in such European union level co-operation. We have been playing an active part in preparation for the incorporation of Schengen and for the establishment of the new Free Movement Chapter under Amsterdam. We are also keen to assist in the development of a useful agenda for the special European Council in Tampere later this year.

  We have been giving serious thought to the areas of the Schengen acquis and the measures to be adopted under the Title IV in which we would wish to participate once Amsterdam comes into force. The different effects of our various Protocols influences our approach in this respect.

  Our starting point is the Protocol on frontier controls to which all member states agreed at Amsterdam. The United Kingdom Government will maintain their former controls, in line with that political agreement.

  Subject to the Amsterdam Protocol, the United Kingdom wishes to approach participation in Schengen and the Free Movement Chapter positively. Indeed we are keen to engage in co-operation in all areas of present and future JHA co-operation which do not conflict with our frontiers control.

  We are therefore ready to participate in law enforcement and criminal judicial co-operation derived from the Schengen provisions, including the Schengen Information System. We have been in the forefront of European Union co-ordination in the fight against crime and drugs and we shall maintain that position. We are also interested in developing co-operation with European Union partners on asylum—a European Union-wide phenomenon—and in the civil judicial co-operation measures of the Free Movement Chapter.

  Our intention to maintain our frontier controls has implications for our participation in the direct operation of external frontier controls. For similar reasons, enhanced visa co-operation raises difficulty for us. But, within this constraint, we shall seek discussions with European Union colleagues to maximise the scope for mutual operational co-operation in combating illegal immigration, without prejudice to the maintenance of our national immigration controls. We shall also look to participation in immigration policy where it does not conflict with our frontiers-based system of control.
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  We realise that much detailed discussion with our European Union partners will be necessary in order to pave the way for co-operation in these areas. We shall shortly put forward a formal request for participation.

  Lighter Fuel Refills
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department has collated on the number of deaths, broken down by age group, arising from misuse of lighter fuel refills in each of the last three years. [75471]

  Ms Jowell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information for 1997 and 1998 is not yet available. Data for 1994 to 1996 are given in the table.

  Number of deaths arising from the abuse of lighter fuel refill canisters, by age group—Great Britain 1994–96

  Number of deaths

  Age

  1994

  1995

  1996

  All age groups

  31

  38

  39

  0–9

  0

  0

  0

  10–14

  4

  5

  5

  15–19

  16

  23

  23

  20–24

  5

  7

  5

  25–29

  6

  1

  3

  30 and over

  0

  2

  3

  Note:

  Figures for 1994 have been revised since publication in June 1996

  Source:

  Register of Volatile Substance Abuse Mortality, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London

WALES

  Countryside Stewardship Scheme
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many applications were received in Wales during 1998 to join the Countryside Stewardship Scheme; what area of land they represented; how many were approved; and what area of land they represented; [76096]

  (2) what is the total area of land in Wales covered by the Countryside Stewardship Scheme; and what is the area covered by the scheme within the less favoured areas and its proportion of the total LFA area; [76092]

  (3) what the total budget allocated to the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in Wales is in each of the next three years. [76094]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is not available in Wales.

PRIME MINISTER

  Foreign Affairs Committee
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Prime Minister when(a) he, (b) his officials, (c) his advisers and (d) his parliamentary private secretary were first made aware of the leaked

  383
  Foreign Affairs Committee documents on (i) its Human Rights inquiry and (ii) its European Union enlargement inquiry. [75862]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: My office was made aware on Wednesday 3 March. I was told the same day.

  A1 Shifa Factory
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussion he has had with the Sudanese Government as to their version of the purpose of the factory bombed by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom. [76446]

  The Prime Minister
  FCO officials have been in regular contact with the Government of Sudan following our withdrawal from Khartoum last August.

  We continue to encourage Sudan to become a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention which prohibits the acquisition, development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and is supported by a verifications regime consisting of data declarations and on-site inspections.

  The Sunday Telegraph
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) for what reasons he approved the decision of the Home Secretary on 20 February to seek an injunction against The Sunday Telegraph; and if he will make a statement; [76394]

  (2) at what time on 20 February he was consulted by the Home Secretary on the injunction he proposed to apply for against The Sunday Telegraph; and if he will make a statement. [76393]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 10 March 1999,Official Report, column 277. My right hon. Friend has explained fully the circumstances and events which led him to seek an injunction in his oral statement to the House on 22 February 1999, Official Report, columns 21–23.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the additional cost of introducing the ICCS system to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency while retaining the four coastguard stations due for closure. [75825]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The estimated additional cost to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of introducing the ICCS system while retaining the four coastguard stations due for closure is in the order of £2 million. This includes additional capital and running costs associated with the system. However, there could also be additional estimate costs upwards to £1 million for new building works to accommodate the new equipment at least of the stations due for closure.
  384
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the former Maritime and Coastguard Agency office at Gosforth, Tyne and Wear. [75826]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Newcastle Marine Office currently occupies accommodation at Government's Buildings, Broadway West, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne under the terms of an inter Departmental Agreement with the Department of Social Security. MCA are currently exploring an option of vacating Broadway West site by the end of the year.

  Maritime Rescue Subcentres
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents were dealt with during 1998 by the Maritime Rescue subcentres at (i) Tyne Tees and (ii) Forth in which assistance was(a) rendered and (b) not rendered; and how many of the incidents were hoaxes. [75827]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In 1998, Tyne Tees MRSC dealt with(a) 274 incidents in which assistance was rendered and (b) 169 incidents in which assistance was not rendered. Seventeen incidents were hoaxes. For the same period, Forth MRSC dealt with (a) 167 incidents in which assistance was rendered and (b) 107 incidents in which assistance was not rendered. Four incidents were hoaxes.

  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents dealt with by the Tyne Tees Maritime Rescue subcentre in 1998 were(a) inshore and (b) offshore. [75824]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Applying a 3-mile limit to inshore incidents: Tyne Tees MRSC dealt with(a) 442 incidents inshore and (b) 18 incidents offshore in 1998.

  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of(a) the number of people assisted, (b) the number of people rescued and (c) the number of lives lost during incidents dealt with in 1998 by the Maritime Rescue subcentres at (i) Tyne Tees and (ii) Forth. [75828]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In 1988 Tyne Tees MRSC(a) assisted 769 people, (b) rescued 136 people and (c) recorded 15 lives lost during incidents. For the same period, Forth MRSC (a) assisted 244 people, (b) rescued 177 people and (c) recorded 5 lives lost during incidents.

  Warcop to Appleby Line
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the arrangements agreed between Sustrans and the Eden Valley Railway Company as a condition of the sale of the Warcop to Appleby line. [76184]

  Dr. Reid
  The transfer to Sustrans of the Warcop to Appleby line was subject, as part of the Agreement with the British Railways Board, to an undertaking by Sustrans that it would reach an agreement with Eden Council and the Eden Valley Railway Trust for retention of the track and site sharing.
  385
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list all the bids made to purchase the Warcop to Appleby railway line. [76185]

  Dr. Reid
  No. Bids received by the British Railways Board for its land are commercially confidential.

  British Waterways
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the external financing limit for the British Waterways Board. [77106]

  Mr. Meale
  The 1998–99 External Financing Limit for the British Waterways Board will be increased by £350,000 from £53,272,000 to £53,622,000. This will enable them to carry out additional major repairs to the canal network and other urgent maintenance. It will be funded by an increase in grant-in-aid to the Board arising from savings elsewhere on Class VI, Vote 3 and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  New Deal (South Down)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many people have registered for the New Deal at each social security office in South Down since its introduction; and of these how many were unemployed and in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or income support; [75227]

  (2) how many people who registered for the New Deal at each social security office in South Down have obtained full-time employment. [75228]

  Mr. Ingram
  Responsibility for the matter has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 10 March 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency (T&EA) to reply to your questions about New Deal in South Down as most New Deal registrations are taken at T&EA JobCentres. Social Security Offices take registrations for the New Deal for Lone Parents only.
  The information you asked for is set out in the following table.

  Jobcentre

  Number of New Deal registrations

  Number obtaining employment at 7 March 1999

  Ballynahinch

  138

  30

  Downpatrick

  304

  61

  Kilkeel

  111

  25

  Newcastle

  195

  39

  Total

  748

  155

  Information is not currently available on how many of these 155 jobs are full-time.
  386
  The majority of those who have registered remain within the Gateway stage of New Deal. The number of people moving into employment will of course rise as New Deal participants leave Gateway.
  All clients who registered for the New Deals for Young People aged 18–24 and for those aged over 25 were unemployed and in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance at the time of registration. Those registering for the New Deal for Lone Parents were unemployed and in receipt of Income Support.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Entry Charges
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to assist those galleries which do not currently charge for admission. [74501]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The grant-in-aid allocations announced by my right hon. Friend on 14 December 1998,Official Report, columns 589–90, were designed to enable the non-charging national museums and galleries to continue to offer free admission.

  The Government do not in general provide revenue funding for other non-charging museums, but other current initiatives should help—notably the Designated Museums Challenge Fund, which will make £15 million available over the next 3 years to the 50 non-national museums in England with collections of pre-eminent importance, and the challenge fund of £0.5 million in each of the next two years which is intended to promote education and IT initiatives in registered museums.

  In addition, registered museums are encouraged to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund's £7 million Museums and Galleries Access Fund, which is intended to assist with access initiatives throughout the sector.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of the funds allocated by his Department to remove charges for entry to museums and galleries is planned to be made available to those institutions which do not currently charge. [74500]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The extra funding for the non-charging museums represents 44 per cent. in 1999–2000, and 30 per cent. in 2000–01, of the total amount made available to promote access at the national museums and galleries. Decisions about the funding of free access in 2001–02 have not yet been taken.

  Millennium Dome (Insurance)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 1999,Official Report, column 535, what is the size of the annual premium paid to insure the Millennium Dome. [74731]

  Janet Anderson
  The New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) insurance arrangements reflect the Company's best commercial judgment about the scope and nature of the project's risks and exposures, as well as meeting all relevant legal obligations. The arrangements do not involve payment of annual premiums but do involve a spread of premium payments across the life of the project taking into account the changing nature of type
  387
  of cover needed as the project progresses. The detailed terms of the Company's insurance policy are commercially confidential; release of the details could adversely affect the Company's business relationship with its insurers, and future negotiations about the terms of the insurance.

  Millennium Dome (Temperature)
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the ambient temperature in the Millennium Dome between the zones in January 2000. [75678]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has undertaken detailed computational fluid dynamic studies of likely temperatures throughout the Dome, throughout the year of operation. There is an on-going review of these studies to identify any potential impact on the forecast comfortable temperatures of any detailed design changes within the Dome environment.

  Millennium Dome (Construction Costs)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of business sponsorship for the New Millennium Experience Company represents cash payments towards the construction costs. [75761]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 9 March 1999]: The sponsorship income component of the cash budget (£758 million) for the Millennium Experience project, agreed by the Government and the Millennium Commission in June 1997, is not linked specifically to individual expenditure components such as construction costs. No two sponsorship deals are exactly the same; some focus on individual zones within the Dome; others focus on particular strands of the Millennium Experience's National Programme; others combine the two. It is for the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), in consultation with the Millennium Commission, to decide how, in its best commercial judgment to apply sponsorship support to meet the costs.

  Millennium Dome (Ferry Services)
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what proposals he has evaluated for ferry services from(a) Instones Wharf, (b) Woolwich Arsenal and (c) Gallions Reach to the Millennium Dome; what discussions he has had with ferry operators; and if he will make a statement; [73532]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the potential numbers of people who could be transported by water to the Millennium Dome from points to the east of the Greenwich Peninsula; [73534]

  (3) what proposals he has evaluated for the provision of piers at (a) Albert Lock and (b) Barking to serve ferry operators taking passengers to the Dome. [73533]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is constructing a new pier at the Dome site which is due for completion in July this year. The NMEC issued a tender document inviting bids for river services which identified routes from central London, from historic Greenwich and
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  from points to the east of the Greenwich Peninsula. However, no bids were received for services from points to the east of Greenwich; only bids for the central London and historic Greenwich routes were received. Licences for those routes have now been awarded.

  As part of its initial park and ride strategy NMEC did consider a pier option at Barking. However, no bids were received for river services from this area and the NMEC concluded that a new, temporary car park facility at Barking was not required to meet its park and ride objectives. NMEC is planning a park and ride, temporary car park at Woolwich which will be linked to the Dome by shuttle bus as the most efficient, flexible and economic means of accessing the Dome.

  The response to the NMEC's tender processes so far indicate that the market does not consider a river boat service from the east of the peninsula to be viable on the basis of the likely number of users. The NMEC cannot fund or underwrite the costs of such a service but the Company would be happy to consider any fresh, financially viable proposal to accommodate at its pier a commercial river service bringing Dome visitors from points east of the Greenwich peninsula.

  The number of visitors such a service could bring to the Dome would depend on the frequency of the service and the size of the craft but a boat service from a car park with 1,000 spaces would provide a potential demand of up to 3,000 people on a full capacity day at the Dome.

  Thames Barrier
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are to raise the Thames barrier as part of the millennium celebrations. [73257]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: No formal proposals have been put forward by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) to use the Thames Barrier to control the river's tide this New Year's eve.

  The Thames Barrier and Flood Prevention Act 1972 defines the limited circumstances in which the Thames Barrier may be closed. Any proposals to raise the barrier would need to be studied closely by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) against this legislation.

  Alfred Hitchcock
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received concerning his Department's role in marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alfred Hitchcock. [75940]

  Janet Anderson
  We have received a number of representations from the London Borough of Waltham Forest seeking the Department's support for the Borough's plans to mark the centenary of Alfred Hitchcock's birth. Although the Department will not be directly involved, I understand that the British Film Institute will shortly be announcing wide ranging plans to celebrate the life and work of Sir Alfred Hitchcock.

TREASURY

  Public Works Loan Board
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the quotas for lending to local authorities by the Public Works Loan Board. [77074]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Public Works Loan Commissioners have issued a circular today notifying local authorities that there will be no change in the formula for calculating quotas for 1999–2000.

  A copy of the circular has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Live Births
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the percentage was of all live births with birth weight(a) under 2,500 grammes and (b) under 3,000 grammes in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) the United Kingdom in each of the past five years. [75866]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Fox to Mr. Frank Field, dated 12 March 1999:
  In the absence of the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on live birth weights.
  The information requested is shown in the attached tables.

  Number of live births by birthweight and percentages of live births with a stated birthweight, for the United Kingdom, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for 1993–19971

  Total stated

  Under 2,500 grams

  under 3,000 grams

  United Kingdom

  1993

  738,482

  50,038

  170,393

  1994

  731,842

  50,548

  170,209

  1995

  728,773

  52,761

  175,129

  1996

  729,299

  52,408

  173,838

  1997

  723,298

  53,165

  174,012

  England

  1993

  615,413

  42,332

  143,972

  1994

  611,988

  42,846

  144,218

  1995

  610,938

  44,851

  148,656

  1996

  612,712

  44,697

  148,092

  1997

  606,154

  45,269

  148,043

  Wales

  1993

  35,368

  2,231

  7,783

  1994

  34,547

  2,233

  7,845

  1995

  34,301

  2,400

  7,949

  1996

  34,830

  2,418

  8,014

  1997

  34,468

  2,422

  8,004

  Scotland

  1993

  62,883

  4,040

  13,961

  1994

  61,106

  4,160

  13,684

  1995

  59,683

  4,123

  13,813

  1996

  57,401

  3,917

  13,061

  1997

  58,614

  4,053

  13,336

  390

  Number of live births by birthweight and percentages of live births with a stated birthweight, for the United Kingdom, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for 1993–19971

  Total stated

  Under 2,500 grams

  Under 3,000 grams

  Northern Ireland

  1993

  24,818

  1,435

  4,677

  1994

  24,201

  1,309

  4,462

  1995

  23,851

  1,387

  4,711

  1996

  24,356

  1,376

  4,671

  1997

  24,062

  1,421

  4,629

  1 1998 data could not be provided to timescale from Scotland and Northern Ireland offices

  Percentage of live births with a stated birthweight

  Under 2,500 grams

  Under 3,000 grams

  United Kingdom

  1993

  6.8

  23.1

  1994

  6.9

  23.3

  1995

  7.2

  24.0

  1996

  7.2

  23.8

  1997

  7.4

  24.1

  England

  1993

  6.9

  23.4

  1994

  7.0

  23.6

  1995

  7.3

  24.3

  1996

  7.3

  24.2

  1997

  7.5

  24.4

  Wales

  1993

  6.3

  22.0

  1994

  6.5

  22.7

  1995

  7.0

  23.2

  1996

  6.9

  23.0

  1997

  7.0

  23.2

  Scotland

  1993

  6.4

  22.2

  1994

  6.8

  22.4

  1995

  6.9

  23.1

  1996

  6.8

  22.8

  1997

  6.9

  22.8

  Northern Ireland

  1993

  5.8

  18.8

  1994

  5.4

  18.4

  1995

  5.8

  19.8

  1996

  5.6

  19.2

  1997

  5.9

  19.2

  Source:

  ONS

  Cancer Patients
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the five year survival rate for each main group of cancer patients in(a) England, (b) each region of England and (c) each health authority area for the most recent available period, distinguishing between men and women. [76111]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
  391
  Letter from John Fox to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 12 March 1999:
  In the absence of the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the five year survival rate for each main group of cancer patients.
  The five-year relative survival rates for each main group of cancer patients diagnosed in England were published in the volume, Survival of cancer patients in Europe—the EUROCARE study (IARC Scientific Publications no.132). Survival rates in England and Wales were most recently published in ONS Monitor MBI 98/1. Copies of both publications are available in the House of Commons Library.
  Survival rates for England and the regions of England form part of the analysis presented within the report, Cancer survival trends, 1971–1995: NHS Region and Deprivation, to be published shortly by The Stationery Office. Survival rates by health authority are not the responsibility of the ONS, but have been published by a number of regional cancer registries within their annual reports.

  Productivity Levels
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has conducted on ways of calculating productivity levels in terms of resource use as well as in terms of labour; what conclusions he has reached; and if he will make a statement. [75249]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Andrew Stunell, dated 12 March 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the research that has been conducted into how to calculate productivity levels.
  International productivity comparisons using output per worker convey useful information, but there is scope to improve the measure of productivity. Therefore the ONS Departmental Spending Review has recently allocated funding to create a new unit, which will take forward research into developing the current range of statistics available. As well as improvements to the existing estimates of output per filled job, the ONS is planning to produce a productivity series based on hours worked. The development of indices of service sector output, now being studied, would also facilitate the generation of productivity measures for the service sector. This extensive work programme reflects users' demand.
  Productivity measures in terms of resource used raise considerable difficulties. These relate, amongst other things, to measurement of capital and the problems of weighting capital and labour. There are at present no plans to produce such a measure.
  The ONS will keep users informed of any developments through the publication of articles in, for example, Economic Trends.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money was spent on housing benefit in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990, (d) 1996, (e) 1997 and (f) 1998, in (i) Bolton, (ii) the North West and (iii) England. [75620]
  392
  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Housing Benefit expenditure

  £ million

  Bolton

  North West

  England

  1980–81

  —

  —

  879

  1985–86

  —

  —

  2,686

  1990–91

  —

  —

  4,254

  1996–97

  48

  1,043

  9,906

  1997–98 estimated outturn

  —

  —

  9,932

  1998–99 forecast

  —

  —

  9,765

  Notes:

  1. Data are not available for Bolton and the North West for 1980–81, 1985–86 and 1990–91. Existing Housing Benefit scheme only began in 1988. Prior to 1988 a Supplementary Benefit Scheme was in place.

  2. 1997–98 and 1998–99 figures are the estimates and forecasts underlying the Pre-Budget Report.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest million.

  Sources:

  1980–81—Public Expenditure White Paper and Supplementary Benefit Statistics.

  1985–86 and 1990–91—figures underlying the Departmental Reports and 1996–97—Housing Benefit final subsidy claims.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons there is a presumption in benefit regulations that child benefit will normally be paid to a mother. [76296]

  Angela Eagle
  Child Benefit can be paid to anyone responsible for a child, either because the child lives with them or because they contribute towards the child's maintenance at not less than the weekly rate of Child Benefit. Where two people claim for the same child, priority rules apply as set out in Schedule 10 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992.

  Briefly, a person with whom a child actually lives has priority over a person who contributes to the child's maintenance; where couples live at the same address a wife has priority over a husband, a mother has priority over a father, and a parent has priority over a non-parent. In other circumstances the two persons can jointly elect which of them shall claim, and in default of such election the Secretary of State may decide.

  Tribunal Hearings
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the categories of appeals heard by the Independent Tribunal Service at its Glasgow office in the last year for which figures are available with in each case a breakdown of length of waiting time and numbers awaiting a tribunal hearing; and if he will make a statement. [75129]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table. The Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) has embarked on a major programme to reduce the number
  393
  of cases awaiting appeal hearings and the length of time appellants have to wait. Additional resources have been dedicated to the programme. The number of appeals sessions will have progressively been increased by some 40 per cent. (from 800 to 1,300 a month) by the end of this year and additional venues will have been secured. All cases are being systematically addressed to ensure that all necessary action is being expedited. The organisations who support and represent appellants are actively engaged in discussions about how individual cases can be resolved timeously with fewer postponements or adjournments. This programme is already beginning to have effect.

  Glasgow ITS performance figures for 1 April 1998 to 28 February 1999

  Jurisdiction

  Total appeals in hand 31 March 1998

  Appeals received

  Appeals cleared

  Average clearance time

  Total appeals in hand 28 February 1999

  Total

  33,107

  36,850

  44,739

  —

  25,451

  SSAT

  23,146

  24,865

  32,294

  40.61

  16,230

  MAT

  2,583

  3,027

  2,338

  46.19

  2,758

  DAT

  6,958

  8,328

  9,372

  36.92

  6,063

  CSAT

  420

  630

  735

  32.24

  400

  Appeals received

  Cleared/withdrawn at hearing

  Non hearing clearances

  Total cleared

  To be decided

  Clearance time

  Social Security Appeal Tribunals (SSAT)

  April

  2,684

  1,787

  612

  2,399

  22,814

  35.56

  May

  1,997

  1,842

  606

  2,448

  22,729

  37.82

  June

  2,465

  2,027

  629

  2,656

  22,899

  38.24

  July

  2,415

  2,216

  630

  2,846

  22,435

  40.32

  August

  2,175

  2,383

  562

  2,945

  21,710

  39.50

  September

  1,925

  2,496

  491

  2,987

  20,703

  38.75

  October

  2,331

  2,637

  642

  3,279

  19,823

  37.67

  November

  2,201

  2,583

  680

  3,263

  18,744

  41.15

  December

  2,389

  2,415

  725

  3,140

  18,040

  46.11

  January

  1,875

  2,442

  780

  3,222

  16,487

  49.26

  February

  2,408

  2,439

  670

  3,109

  16,230

  38.82

  Total

  24,865

  25,267

  7,027

  32,294

  —

  40.61

  Medical Appeal Tribunals (MAT)

  April

  296

  219

  20

  239

  2,313

  29.36

  May

  246

  187

  19

  206

  2,311

  37.99

  June

  284

  151

  20

  171

  2,453

  36.82

  July

  267

  192

  13

  205

  2,307

  38.97

  August

  248

  171

  19

  190

  2,355

  43.70

  September

  224

  194

  99

  293

  2,291

  51.08

  October

  306

  203

  80

  283

  2,347

  52.18

  November

  292

  201

  14

  215

  2,397

  50.59

  December

  293

  145

  13

  158

  2,524

  50.67

  January

  287

  169

  28

  197

  2,662

  63.96

  February

  284

  174

  7

  181

  2,758

  53.08

  Total

  3,027

  2,006

  332

  2,338

  —

  46.19

  Disability Appeal Tribunals (DAT)

  April

  876

  632

  66

  698

  7,732

  35.94

  May

  837

  671

  89

  760

  7,820

  35.11

  June

  885

  856

  76

  932

  8,077

  33.80

  July

  808

  886

  96

  982

  7,010

  33.29

  August

  739

  787

  67

  854

  6,910

  33.71

  September

  663

  857

  46

  903

  6,691

  37.58

  October

  1,055

  845

  89

  934

  6,801

  43.28

  November

  623

  813

  73

  886

  6,556

  36.38

  December

  664

  672

  78

  750

  6,461

  40.89

  January

  522

  745

  77

  822

  6,205

  39.65

  February

  656

  787

  64

  851

  6,063

  36.94

  Total

  8,328

  8,551

  821

  9,372

  —

  36.92

  394
  We are currently overhauling the whole decision making and appeals system. We are firmly committed to tackling the unacceptable delays in the appeals service—currently averaging 7 months across the country, with some appellants waiting over a year for the decision on their case. Regulations that will simplify and speed the appeals process will be debated shortly under affirmative procedures. Under the provisions of the Social Security Act 1998, which paves the way for modernising the delivery of Social Security, one of the major areas of change will be to reduce substantially the current waiting times for appeals.
  395

  Appeals received

  Cleared/withdrawn at hearing

  Non hearing clearances

  Total cleared

  To be decided

  Clearance time

  Child Support Appeal Tribunals (CSAT)

  April

  99

  56

  10

  66

  559

  21.70

  May

  59

  49

  11

  60

  525

  25.91

  June

  100

  41

  30

  71

  612

  34.75

  July

  39

  61

  16

  77

  486

  28.19

  August

  54

  67

  11

  78

  464

  29.85

  September

  46

  83

  9

  92

  424

  30.22

  October

  53

  43

  13

  56

  425

  30.23

  November

  31

  59

  9

  68

  394

  32.93

  December

  66

  47

  7

  54

  413

  38.39

  January

  47

  45

  24

  69

  414

  43.23

  February

  36

  39

  5

  44

  400

  45.24

  Total

  630

  590

  145

  735

  —

  32.24

  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are in receipt of housing benefit; and of these, how many are(a) of working age, (b) in receipt of incapacity benefit, (c) in receipt of unemployment benefit and (d) in receipt of income support, in (i) Bolton, (ii) the North West and (iii) England. [75631]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is set out in the table.

  Housing Benefit recipients as at May 1998

  Thousand

  Bolton

  North West

  England

  Total Housing Benefit recipients

  23

  440

  3,726

  of working age

  na

  275

  2,273

  in receipt of incapacity benefit

  na

  33

  214

  in receipt of unemployment benefit (Jobseeker's Allowance (contribution based))

  na

  5

  49

  in receipt of income support or Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based)

  15

  286

  2,384

  Notes:

  1. Figures for Bolton are estimated.

  2. Figures for the North West and England include estimates where individual local authority data are not available.

  3. All figures include overlaps where cases fall into more than one of the above categories.

  4. 'Working age' is defined as where either the claimant or any partner is aged under 60 years.

  5. `na' denotes information not available.

  6. Recipients may be a single person or a couple.

  7. All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Sources:

  Quarterly returns and Annual 1 per cent. sample in May 1998 (provisional)—the sample is too small to give detailed local authority information.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the NIRS2 facilities for issuing national insurance numbers for(a) adults and (b) juveniles will be implemented nationally. [76410]

  Mr. Timms
  Both facilities have been implemented. NIRS2 adult registrations was implemented in January 1999 and the Juvenile registrations were implemented on 10 March 1999.
  396
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current waiting time between the application for a new national insurance number and that number being issued. [76406]

  Mr. Timms
  The current waiting time between application and issue of the National Insurance number for new adult registrations is 17 days.

  Where Juveniles contact the National Insurance number Helpline and request confirmation of their NI number, a letter is issued within two days.

  National Insurance (Non-Domestic Residents)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people living abroad continue to pay voluntary national insurance contributions; and how many people not resident in the UK have built up sufficient national insurance contributions to entitle them to(a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) the state pension, (d) widows' benefits and (e) maternity allowance. [75848]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out here.

  There are 30,000 requests to pay voluntary National Insurance Contributions (NICs) on an annual basis; 15,000 requests to pay voluntary NICs by Direct Debit (per annum); 7,000 requests to pay voluntary NICs by Employers (on their employees' behalf) and 13,000 customers who contact us (per annum) and request to pay NIC arrears.

  Note:

  The figures are approximate and rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Cold Weather Payments (Enfield)
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount of money paid in cold weather payments in 1998 to people resident in(a) the London Borough of Enfield and (b) the constituency of Enfield, North. [75835]

  Angela Eagle
  During 1998, there were no cold weather payments issued for the London Borough of Enfield or the constituency of Enfield, North.

  Private Pensions (National Insurance Rebate)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total annual national insurance rebate to private pensions paid from the national insurance fund has been for the last 10 years. [75847]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.

  The cost of the national insurance contribution rebates

  £ billion

  Tax year

  Rebate

  1988–89

  5.07

  1989–90

  7.72

  1990–91

  7.78

  1991–92

  8.54

  1992–93

  8.82

  1993–94

  7.90

  1994–95

  6.99

  1995–96

  7.10

  1996–97

  7.37

  1997–98

  7.58

  Note:

  The figures show the total rebates in respect of both occupational and personal pension schemes in GB and include:

  (i) a 2 per cent. incentive paid to certain schemes on earnings accrued in tax years 1988–89 to 1992–93; and

  (ii) a 1 per cent. age addition paid to all personal pension scheme holders aged 30 and over on earnings accrued in tax years 1993–94 to 1996–97.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department and the Contributions Agency.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Communities Budget
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library documentation supplied by successful applicants to budget line A-3021 in their application, in as far as it relates to how the organisation demonstrates that it works towards European integration. [75085]

  Ms Quin
  The Report on Beneficiaries of Community Grants 1997 was placed in the Library last year. The 1998 Report will be placed in the Library when it is published.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role his Department has in the selection of awards under Article A-3021 of the General Budget of the European Union, Grants to Organisations Which Actively Promote European Integration; what is his Department's policy as regards future funding of organisations under that Article; and what reports his Department receives of the activities of organisations so funded. [75084]

  Ms Quin
  The selection of awards under Article A-3021 of the General Budget of the European Union is a matter for the European Union Commission in Brussels; and all activities funded under this budget line are monitored in the first instance by the Commission. Reports on activities funded under this article are available through the Commission.

  India (Nuclear Energy)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has 398
  received from the Indian Government regarding collaboration on civilian nuclear energy; and if he will make a statement. [75937]

  Mr. Fatchett
  No representations on this subject have been received from the Indian Government.

  Mr. Öcalan
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Turkey regarding(a) the treatment in detention. of and (b) a fair trial for the Kurdish leader Mr. Öcalan; and if he will make a statement. [76128]

  Ms Quin
  We have made clear to the Turkish authorities the importance we attach to the trial of Mr. Öcalan being conducted in strict accordance with the rule of law and due process. We have asked that members of the British Embassy be allowed to attend the trial. We remain opposed to the use of the death penalty under any circumstances.

  We welcome the public assurances by the Turkish authorities that Mr. Öcalan will receive a fair trial, and that he will be well treated in detention.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what data he has collated on other countries' computer millennium compliance readiness; and if he will make a statement. [76061]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have long recognised the potential problems that could be caused internationally by the millennium bug. The UK is working hard to raise global awareness. Reliable information is difficult to obtain. However, we are working closely with other countries and international organisations to build up a picture of the state of readiness around the world in order to minimise potential disruption caused by millennium bug failures and to address potential consequences for British interests.

  Consular Fees
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to change any of the consular fees. [76948]

  Mr. Fatchett
  It costs more to issue a passport overseas than it does in the UK because the volume at each issuing post is small. Until now the additional cost of issuing passports overseas has been met out of fees charged for passports issued in the UK. In future, the costs of issuing passports overseas will be met in full from the fee charged to the applicant. The fee for issuing a passport in the United Kingdom remains unchanged.

  The new charges, which will take effect from 12 April 1999, are:

  £

  Standard (32 page) passport

  43

  Frequent Traveller (48 page)

  50

  Child passport (5 years validity)

  25

  Emergency passport

  20

  Amendments to an existing passport

  30

  Exports
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the Government's arrangements for the support and promotion of exports. [77075]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I am delighted to do so, also on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  This Government attach great importance to the promotion of exports. That is why in June last year the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I asked the Secretary of the Cabinet, Sir Richard Wilson, to review the current arrangements for the support and promotion of exports. I am pleased to be able to announce today the outcome of that Review. Copies of Sir Richard's report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and will be widely distributed. It is also available on request to members of the public, and the executive summary can be found on the FCO and DTI websites.

  The report records the excellent service given by personnel working on export promotion activity throughout the United Kingdom and in FCO posts around the world, while at the same time identifying a number of areas in the current arrangements which leave scope for improvement.

  My right hon. Friend and I welcome the recommendations, the core of which is that all trade promotion and development activities of the DTI and FCO should be unified in a new joint operation led by a single Chief Executive. The Government will expedite the establishment of such a unified operation, equipped with resources, both personnel and finance, broadly along the lines recommended in the Review. It will be known as "British Trade International". This will be a radical change. The new operation, which will have lead responsibility within Government for trade promotion and development, will provide a coherent framework for the Government's work in this area. We are confident that it will deliver an even better service to business.

  The operation's first Chief Executive, who will have Permanent Secretary rank, will be Sir David Wright, currently Ambassador in Tokyo. We are confident that, with his experience of export promotion at home and abroad, he is ideally equipped for the task. He will be responsible, in consultation with DTI and FCO and others concerned, for the design of the new operation's precise configuration and the implementation of Sir Richard's other recommendations. Sir David will of course have flexibility over the details of the implementation, and he will have effective control over the operation's resources and personnel. And he will be responsible to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and myself, through a ministerially chaired board, for the performance of the entire operation from local to international level. This will be measured against a national export development strategy and objectives which the board will set.

  The new board will be chaired by DTI and FCO Ministers and will subsume the present British Overseas Trade Board. It will be drawn predominantly from the private sector. In addition to senior officials from the FCO, DTI and the Exports Credits Guarantee Department, it will also contain representatives of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland administrations to guarantee their direct involvement in shaping the national strategy.
  400
  The current arrangements for the delivery of export promotion services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will continue within the context of national policy. The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations would continue to have discretion to provide supplementary programmes to meet the particular needs of businesses in those parts of the United Kingdom.

  Overseas delivery of the services of the new operation will continue through our diplomatic posts overseas. Heads of Mission will be responsible to the Chief Executive for the performance of their posts in support of British business abroad against the strategy and objectives of the new operation.

  In England, the new operation will place greater emphasis on effective delivery of export services in the regions. The regional and local network, at present in Government Regional Offices and Business Links, will be integral to the new unified operation, under the effective control of the Chief Executive. In implementing the recommendations, the Chief Executive will need to work closely with the new Small Business Service which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced earlier this week on 10 March 1999, Official Report, columns 367–79, and the Regional Development Agencies in each region.

  British Trade International will seek to provide a fast, consistent and high quality response to its customers in the business community. It will be staffed by personnel from both the FCO and DTI, and may also recruit directly, including through secondments. It will be supported by modern IT and other facilities designed to provide integrated information and communication systems.

  The Chief Executive and the board will review the balance between the present range of export services and the provision of help to firms to develop their export capability, and also the scope for devolution of responsibility to the regional and international networks.

  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I are confident that the new unified operation will represent a significant advance over present arrangements, both in terms of strategic direction and of improved customer focus, producing a real improvement in service delivery to business. It will be a major change and will take time to achieve. That will be primarily the task for the new Chief Executive. Meanwhile, I can assure the House that there will be no hiatus: the present services to exporters will remain fully operational and available throughout the transition period.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will deposit in the Library the answers to Parliamentary Questions 59798, 19 November 1998,Official Report, column 808, on Our Europe Association; 59795, 19 November 1998, Official Report, column 808, on the London Conference (European Association); 59805, 19 November 1998, Official Report, column 808, on the European Adventure Project; and 59796, 19 November 1998, Official Report, column 808, on the Business Euro Label. [71146]
  401
  Ms Quin
  The answers to Parliamentary Questions 59795 and 59798 have been deposited in the Library of the House. A letter has been sent to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) requesting clarification on the Business Euro Label and the European Adventure Project. When this information has been received and a reply issued, copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Genetic Modification
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) on how many occasions(a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Mr. Stan Greenberg of Greenberg Research; [72245]

  (2) on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Dave Hill of Bell Pottinger; [72065]

  (3) on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Cathy McGlynn of Bell Pottinger. [72062]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 23 February 1999]: I and my officials are in regular contact with representatives of all those with an interest in biotechnology—including environmental groups, consumer groups and biotechnology companies. It is not the normal practice of governments to give details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

  Task Forces
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which(a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74464]

  Mr. Byers
  None of the external members of task forces and review bodies established by my Department since 1 May 1997 were recruited by way of public advertisement. Most task forces and reviews are short-term bodies established to give thorough consideration to particular issues. External members are invited to sit on some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would be inappropriate and disproportionate. Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory non-departmental public bodies have come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
  402
  Details of public consultation carried out by task forces and reviews established since 1 May 1997 are set out in the table.

  Review/task force

  Public consultation

  Review of Utilities Regulation

  Published the Green Paper A Fair Deal for Consumers: Modernising the Framework of Utility Regulation (March 1998) and two further consultation documents: A Fair Deal for Consumers: Modernising the Framework of Utility Regulation—Public Consultation Paper on Consumer Councils (September 1998) and A Fair Deal for Consumers: Modernising the Framework of Utility Regulation—Public Consultation Paper on the future of gas and electricity regulation (October 1998)

  Review of energy sources for power regeneration

  The terms of reference for the Review were announced on 22 December 1997, and a general invitation was made for interested parties to submit representations. Proposals for reform were issued for consultation on 25 June 1998. The consultation document was sent to all those who had replied to the first invitation to make representations, those with outstanding power station consent applications, and to any other organisation or person that requested a copy. It was also published on the Internet.

  Review of the Post Office

  Following announcement of the review in May 1997 discussions were held with Post Office senior management, the Post Office unions, the Post Office Users' National Council and other interested parties. A summary of the main points arising from these consultations were included in the Government's response to the Trade and Industry Select Committee's Report on the Post Office (response published in April 1998), since which time there has been further consultations with these parties as part of the next stage of the review.

  Review of the Technical Help for Exporters Scheme

  Views were sought from interested parties by means of a questionnaire issued in November and December 1997.

  Review of Company Law

  Published two consultation documents; Modern Company Law for a Competitive Economy (March 1998) and Modern Company Law: The Strategic Framework (February 1999).

  Review of Assisted Areas

  Published consultation document: Review of Assisted Areas Map (July 1998).

  Oil and Gas Industry Task Force

  Letters were sent to industry stakeholders and a dedicated website set up specifically inviting contributions.

  Review of the framework for overseeing developments in biotechnology (joint Office of Science and Technology/Cabinet Office review)

  Consultation paper issued following framework for overseeing 17 December 1998.

  Review of new and renewable energy

  A consultation document is expected to be published shortly.

  403

  Review/task force

  Public consultation

  Review of electricity trading arrangements

  OFFER issued an initial consultation paper in November 1997 inviting views, which were taken into account when drawing up the proposed terms of reference. These terms of reference were in turn published for consultation in January 1998. Working papers were published and discussed at a two-day seminar in April 1998. OFFER published the interim conclusions in June 1998 which were discussed at a further seminar and on which written comments were also invited. The final conclusions were published in July 1998.

  Industrial and Provident Societies
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if industrial and provident societies will be included in the current review of insolvency being carried out by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [74175]

  Dr. Howells
  The terms of reference of the joint DTI/Treasury review are to review aspects of company and insolvency law and practice in the UK and elsewhere relating to opportunities for, and means by which, businesses can resolve short to medium term financial difficulties, so as to preserve maximum economic value; and to make recommendations. The terms of reference would enable consideration to be given to the position of industrial and provident societies.

  Car Prices
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent European Commission report on the cost of British cars for sale in the UK compared with their cost in other EU countries. [74033]

  Dr. Howells
  The European Commission's latest report on car prices in the European Union showed that price differences had significantly decreased since its previous report but that the UK continued to be the most expensive market for many models.

  We shall be encouraging the Commission, as part of its evaluation of the cars block exemption, to identify the reasons for these price differences.

  Biotechnological Companies
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many unminuted pre-arranged meetings occurred between(a) himself, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials and representatives of the biotechnological industry sector since 1 May 1998. [74838]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: I and my officials are in regular contact with representatives of all those with an interest in biotechnology—including environmental groups, consumer groups and biotechnology companies. It is not normal practice of governments to give details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.
  404
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the biotechnological companies which have placed staff(a) on secondment and (b) on placement within his Department since 1 May 1997. [74839]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs to the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson) on 11 February 1999, Official Report, columns 405–10. This refers to the list of companies which currently have staff on secondment in my department and the DTI directorate in which they have been placed. In addition, I attach a further list of those companies which have had staff on secondment to the department on or after 1 May 1997, which are no longer on the current list.

  Management unit

  Company

  BL 1

  NatWest

  BNSC

  National Remote Sensing Centre Ltd.

  BNSC

  Matra Marconi Space UK Ltd.

  CACP

  Herbert Smith

  CB

  Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

  Communications and Information

  NEL

  Communications and Information

  ICL

  Communications and Information

  NEL

  Communications and Information

  Reuters Ltd.

  Communications and Information

  Slaughter & May

  Company Law and Investigations

  Robson Rhodes

  Company Law and Investigations

  Littlejon Frazer

  Company Law and Investigations

  The Bank of England

  EED

  Amec Process & Energy Ltd.

  EID

  Lockstair Ltd.

  EID

  GEC Marconi Avionics

  Engineering Industries

  Toyota

  Engineering Industries

  Honda

  Engineering Industries

  Mechadyne Ltd.

  Engineering Industries

  BAA

  Engineering Industries

  British Steel plc

  Engineering Industries

  MITI

  Export Promotion

  IMI plc

  Export Promotion

  Ocean Group plc

  Export Promotion

  Continental Tyre Group Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Reuters Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Elliott Pearce Limited

  Export Promotion

  British Marine Equipment Council

  Export Promotion

  Food Process Engineering (Scotland) Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Allied Domecq plc

  Export Promotion

  HSBC Holdings plc

  Export Promotion

  Midland Bank plc

  Export Promotion

  The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Mayell & Co.

  Export Promotion

  British Aerospace Defence Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Weybourne Financial Services Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  International Knitwear

  Export Promotion

  Smith Kline Beecham

  Export Promotion

  Morlands (Glastonbury) Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Balfour Beatty Limited

  405

  Management unit

  Company

  Export Promotion

  Business Link

  Export Promotion

  British American Tobacco Co. Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  AMEC Process and Energy Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Geoteam Wimpol Limited

  Export Promotion

  York Synthetics Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Unilever International

  Export Promotion

  AMW Associates

  Export Promotion

  British Aerospace plc

  Export Promotion

  BT plc

  Export Promotion

  GEC Marconi Communications Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Sims Portex Limited

  Export Promotion

  Glengarnock Garments Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  GEC Marconi Avionics Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  International Distributor Centre

  Export Promotion

  Lanimer Knitwear Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Marks and Spencer plc

  Export Promotion

  Meggitt plc

  Export Promotion

  Drinks Marketing Consortium

  Export Promotion

  The West India Committee

  Export Promotion

  Delamore Associates Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  ICI plc

  Export Promotion

  River Don Castings Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Glaxo Wellcome Plc

  Export Promotion

  Nat West Markets

  Export Promotion

  Alan Paine Knitwear Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Reyrolle Projects Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Barclays Bank plc

  Export Promotion

  CRL

  Export Promotion

  Texaco Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Genesis Communications

  Export Promotion

  John Swire & Sons Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Institute of Export

  Export Promotion

  Hydro Technologies Ltd.

  Export Promotion

  Turner & Newell plc

  Export Promotion

  World Trade Development Limited

  Export Promotion

  AEA Technology plc

  Export Promotion

  Knight Piesold Limited

  GO-SW

  Normalair-Garrett Limited

  GO-SW (Plym)

  Westcountry Development Corporation Ltd.

  I

  Arthur Andersen

  IBB

  British Telecom plc

  IBB

  British Embassy Tokyo

  IEP

  Airsys ATM

  Insurance

  Price Waterhouse

  Insurance

  Coopers & Lybrand

  Insurance

  PricewaterhouseCoopers

  Insurance

  Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance plc

  NI

  UKAEA

  Nuclear Industries

  Rolls-Royce & Associates

  Nuclear Industries

  Hunting Engineering Ltd.

  Nuclear Industries

  BNFL

  Nuclear Industries 2

  BNFL

  Nuclear Industries TU

  Nuclear Electric Ltd.

  Oil & Gas 2

  Mobil North Sea Limited

  OSO

  Trafalgar John Brown Oil & Gas

  OST

  ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd.

  OST

  British Computer Society

  PORT

  Burton Group (Local Enterprise Ltd.)

  RD

  Robson Rhodes

  REG A

  Hambros Bank Limited

  REG A

  Royal Bank Leasing Limited

  SMD

  Chesterton International plc

  SMEP 3

  Grant Thornton

  SMEP 3

  Lloyds TSB Group plc

  Biological Materials (Patents)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's policy in respect of the forthcoming review of TRIPS clauses on the protection of biological resources. [74848]
  406
  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: The current exclusions from patentability for biological materials as set out in Article 27.3(b) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement allow all WTO members sufficient flexibility to implement patent regimes appropriate to their individual circumstances, within internationally agreed boundaries. This provision allows national intellectual property regimes to focus clearly on technical contributions whether they be by genetic modification or traditional plant breeding techniques.

  Departmental Meeting
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his letter of 26 January to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting between the Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries to refine and prioritise an agreed action list. [73411]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 9 March 1999]: The meeting has not yet taken place and is currently being arranged. I will let my hon. Friend know the outcome in due course.

  Genetically Modified Products
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the safety of cosmetics containing genetically modified products into which antibiotic resistance gene markers have been inserted when used by people undergoing antibiotic treatment for skin conditions. [76056]

  Dr. Howells
  Under the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996, cosmetic products must be assessed by their manufacturers for safety to ensure that they are not harmful to human health.

  My Department has made no assessment of the safety of cosmetics containing ingredients which may be derived from a genetically modified source, but we will be supporting the moves proposed by the European Commission Scientific Steering Committee to develop harmonised guidelines for Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) risk assessments for cosmetic products.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answers of 1 February 1999,Official Report, columns 505–06, what assessment he made of the compliance of the licences for the export of military vehicles and electronic equipment specially designed and modified for military use to Rwanda with the terms of UN Resolution 1011 (1995). [75811]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: Of the five licences detailed in my answer of 1 February 1999, Official Report, columns 505–06, four covered exports to the Rwandan Government, and details of the other licence were set out in the answer given to the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 849–50.
  407
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answers of 1 February 1999,Official Report, columns 505–06, what steps he took to ensure that the equipment licensed for export to Angola was supplied in accordance with the embargo imposed by UN Resolution 864 (1993). [75810]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answers of 1 February 1999,Official Report, columns 505–06, what steps he took to ensure that the licences for the export of goods to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia did not breach the embargo on the export of arms to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [75812]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 21 May 1998, Official Report, column 532.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 1 February 1999,Official Report, columns 505–06, what steps he took to ensure that the licences for the export of goods to Afghanistan did not conflict with the EU Council Common Position 96/746/CFSP imposing an embargo on the export of arms, munitions and military equipment to Afghanistan. [75813]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 26 November 1998,Official Report, column 11.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on British Nuclear Fuel's plans to dispose of nuclear waste in Australia. [75941]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell) on 30 November 1998,Official Report, column 48.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the stockpile of nuclear waste at Sellafield contains material of high enough quality to make a nuclear weapon; and if he will make a statement. [76015]

  Mr. Battle
  The material contained within nuclear waste currently stored at Sellafield is not of suitable quality to make a nuclear weapon.

  London Fashion Week
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the risk to the future of London Fashion Week from fashion houses displaying in New York instead. [76158]
  408
  Mr. Battle
  The success of London Fashion Week in February illustrated that the show is now firmly established as a leading fashion event alongside Milan, Paris and New York. Over 44 designers showed collections, over 140 companies participated in the exhibition and many others remain keen to take part.

  There are many and varied reasons why designers decide to show in other cities either instead of, or in addition to London. These are often linked to business expansion and a wish to attach specific overseas opportunities. I expect the new design talent to participate in London Fashion Week, maintaining the Show's position as the leading international showcase for innovative, cutting edge fashion design talent.

  Science Policy Initiatives
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contributions he expects to be made to the Government's science policy initiatives by(a) the Wellcome Trust and (b) the Gatsby Foundation. [76072]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, South (Ms Moran) on 10 March 1999, Official Report, columns 261–62. The Wellcome Trust is contributing some £18 million and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation £2 million towards the University Challenge Fund. Both organisations have contributed to the arrangements for the Challenge and to the assessment of the entries.

  In addition, the Wellcome Trust is contributing £300 million towards the Joint Infrastructure Fund and some £110 million towards the cost of a new synchrotron.

  Technology-related Developments
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list successful clusters of technology-related developments of the kind described in the Competitiveness White Paper. [76075]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: The Competitiveness White Paper said that clusters were a strong source of business development for all types of business, not just technology-related ones. It would not be possible to list all the clusters in the UK, but examples include TV and film post-production in Central London, broadcast technology in Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, chemicals in Teesside, electronics in and around Cambridge, biotechnology clusters also in and around Cambridge and in Oxfordshire, Guildford and Central Scotland.

  Non-fossil Fuel Energy (North-West)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage non-fossil fuel energy production in the North-West of England. [76357]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government have a Manifesto commitment to"a new and strong drive to develop renewable sources of energy".

  As part of that commitment, the Government will be issuing a consultation document shortly on the status and

  409
  prospects for renewable energy in the UK as a whole and inviting views to help the Government frame future policy.

  Under the fifth Non-Fossil Fuel Order (NFFO)—the largest round so far—which I announced last autumn, we have awarded 31 contracts for projects to be sited in the North-West of England. These contracts for landfill gas and small and large scale wind projects would provide additional generating capacity of 70MW DNC if they were all implemented.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the textile trade(a) owners and (b) trade unions concerning problems facing the industry; and if he will make a statement. [76263]

  Mr. Battle
  My Department has received a number of representations from owners and trade unions involved in the textiles industry. The most significant of these was the presentation of a joint Action Plan to improve the competitiveness of the textiles and clothing sector submitted by the British Apparel and Textile Confederation and the industry's principal trade unions. The industry has now established the Textiles and Clothing Strategy Group, made up of representatives from trade associations, trade unions, academia, manufacturing and Government, to develop a strategy for the long term sustainable development of the industry, building on the work in the Action Plan. My Department provides the secretariat for the group.

HEALTH

  Genzyme Corporation
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the licence applications received since 1 May 1997 from the Genzyme Corporation, indicating which(a) involve the injection of cells from pigs into human brains and (b) have been submitted for consideration to UKXIRA. [72571]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 22 February 1999]: Applications to the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA) must be submitted in accordance with the requirements set out in "Guidance on making proposals to conduct xenotransplantation on human subjects". Copies of the guidance is available through the Department of Health, PO Box 410, Wetherby, LS23 7LL. The UKXIRA Website (address www.doh.gov.uk/ukxira.htm) also gives details of both of the guidance and the work of the authority.

  Information contained in applications is submitted in confidence. The number of applications received has not changed since the answer given on 4 February 1999, Official Report, column 776.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 1999,Official Report, columns 138–39, on waiting times, how many
  410
  patients in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area had been waiting (a) 13 to 25 weeks and (b) more than 26 weeks to see a consultant at the end of December 1998. [73154]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: The number of people waiting 13 to 25 weeks to see a consultant was 1,848 at the end of December 1998; the number of people waiting over 26 weeks was 440 at the end of December 1998.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the North Essex Health Authority publishes figures on waiting lists on the same basis as his Department. [73120]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: We are content that the waiting list figures North Essex Health Authority publishes are consistent with those collected by the Department and published by the Government Statistical Service.

  However, we have asked the North Essex Health Authority to ensure that, when publishing waiting list figures for local trusts, it is made clear that the figures relate only to the health authority's own residents.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate discrepancies between the figures published by the North Essex Health Authority on the total number of people waiting for hospital treatment in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust Area and the figures published by his Department. [73119]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: We have compared figures published recently by the North Essex Health Authority with those collected by the Department and published by the Government Statistical Service and identified no discrepancies. However, whereas the Government Statistical Service publishes the health authority total, North Essex Health Authority also publishes the number of its residents waiting at each local National Health Service trust.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that health authorities publish hospital waiting list figures that are compatible with the figures published by his Department. [73118]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: National Health Service waiting list figures are collected from health authorities and NHS trusts by the Department and published by the Government Statistical Service. The data are subject to validation and any anomalies are investigated with the health authority or NHS trust concerned. We are not aware of health authorities publishing hospital waiting list figures differing from these figures.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a cost/benefit analysis of a preventive approach to dentistry. [74299]

  Mr. Denham
  The most effective oral health promotion measure is the fluoridation of water. A review of the economic benefits of fluoridation by the Health Economics Consortium of the University of York was published last year. Copies are available in the Library.
  411
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that(a) primary health care groups and (b) future primary care trusts make appropriate provision for dentistry and oral health. [75677]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: Health Improvement Programmes will ensure that all stakeholders are actively engaged in developing plans that will address all of the health and health care needs of local communities. All health improvement programmes must include oral health. In addition, we are already taking steps to improve the quality of dental services and ensure easier access, through the Personal Dental Services Pilots which began in October 1998 and through the Investing In Dentistry scheme, which is improving access to the General Dental Services.

  Nursing and Care Homes
  Mr. Dorrell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for the latest available year and the two preceding years the(a) number of residents of registered nursing homes, (b) number of residents of registered care homes, (c) average weekly cost of a place in a registered nursing home, (d) average weekly cost of a place in a registered care home, (e) proportion of residents of nursing homes who receive assistance with the cost of their care from public funds, and the total cost of that assistance and (f) proportion of residents of care homes who receive assistance with the cost of their care from public funds and the total cost of that assistance. [74949]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table contains figures on the number of residents in nursing and residential care homes for the last year available (1997) and the two preceding years together with information on the average weekly cost of a placement. We do not have data on the proportion of residents supported from public funds but the table contains data on numbers of supported residents and total expenditure on residential and nursing home care by social services and the number of people receiving help with the cost of their care through Income Support.

  1995

  1996

  1997

  (a) Numbers of residents— Nursing—all (local authority support)

  147,584

  145,864

  147,381

  (a) Numbers of residents— Nursing—Elderly (local authority support)

  135,469

  133,387

  137,755

  (b) Numbers of residents— Residential—all (LA support)

  288,640

  292,719

  278,000

  (b) Numbers of residents— Residential—Elderly (LA support)

  225,624

  226,329

  194,000

  (c) Estimated average weekly fee level per resident per week for Residential Home Care for older people

  £239

  £247

  £252

  (d) Estimated average weekly fee level per resident per week for Nursing Home Care for older people

  £333

  £338

  £352

  (e) Social Services Gross expenditure on Residential Care older people (£000)

  £1,330,734

  £1,489,084

  £1,699,722

  (f) Social Services Gross expenditure on Nursing Care for older people (£000)

  £370,450

  £566,013

  £754,600

  (g) Numbers in receipt of Income Support for Residential and Nursing Home care and resident before 1993

  205,000

  168,000

  not available

  412

  1995

  1996

  1997

  (h) Income Support expenditure on Residential and Nursing Home care for people resident before April 1993 (£000)

  £1,955,000

  £1,624,000

  not available

  Notes:

  All expenditure figures are as at 31 March for each year.

  Due to poor response from care homes, the residential figures for 1997 have been estimated and are not as reliable as previous years data.

  The significant reduction in elderly residents between 1996 and 1997 can be attributed to better assignment of these residents to other client groups such as EMI, Learning Disabilities and Others. Average weekly cost figures for residential/nursing homes are from Lang and Buisson Income Support expenditure is based on a 5 per cent. sample of all cases and as such is subject to a degree of sampling error.

  Non-state-registered Doctors
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to regulate the activities of non-state-registered doctors. [75223]

  Mr. Denham
  The General Medical Council is responsible for registering and regulating all doctors practising medicine within the United Kingdom, whether the doctors are working in the National Health Service or privately.

  NHS Patients (Private Sector Hospitals)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients were admitted to private sector hospitals during the winter months. [75456]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement a programme to vaccinate all high-risk groups of the population against meningitis; and how many cases of meningitis there have been in each year since 1990. [75457]

  Ms Jowell
  Present advice from the Public Health Laboratory Service Meningococcus Working Group, endorsed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, recommends using the existing meningococcal vaccine under specific conditions for groups at high risk. There are no plans at present to widen these recommendations. Research is being actively promoted into meningococcal vaccines that may overcome some of the shortcomings of the existing vaccine and may, therefore, be suitable for more widespread use. Notifications of meningococcal disease are given in the table.

  Notifications of meningococcal infection (septicaemia and meningitis) by epidemiological year (1 July-30 June) in England and Wales

  Epidemiological year

  Notifications

  1998–99

  1,21,840

  1997–98

  12,622

  1996–97

  2,519

  1995–96

  2,183

  1994–95

  1,559

  1993–94

  1,442

  413

  Notifications of meningococcal infection (septicaemia and meningitis) by epidemiological year (1 July-30 June) in England and Wales

  Epidemiological year

  Notifications

  1992–93

  1,328

  1991–92

  1,294

  1990–91

  1,365

  1 Provisional

  2 From 1 July 1998 to 26 February 1999

  Source:

  Public Health Laboratory Service, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

  Meningococcal infection occurs throughout the year, but infections reach a peak in the winter months and the number of cases so far this year is in line with recent winters. There are irregular upsurges in meningococcal infection and recent years have seen an increase in the incidence of disease.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will introduce a right of appeal against decisions of the Medicines Control Agency; [75730]

  (2) what changes or amendments he proposes to the Medicines Marketing Authorisation Regulations 1994; and when. [75729]

  Ms Jowell
  We have recently consulted on proposals to amend the regulations to improve procedures for classifying "borderline products" as medicines or otherwise. We are considering the results of the consultation and will make an announcement shortly. As part of our consideration, we are examining whether we can introduce a system whereby licensing authority decisions can be made subject to appropriate review mechanisms.

  Contaminated Blood Products (Compensation)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the basis of the compensation entitlement for those suffering from(a) the AIDS virus and (b) hepatitis C through contaminated blood products. [75559]

  Mr. Hutton
  As a general rule, compensation or other financial assistance is paid only when the NHS, or individuals working in it, has been at fault. This is not the case with infection by HIV or hepatitis C through blood products before viral screening tests and inactivation processes were available. An exception to this general rule was the special payment scheme for people infected with HIV through NHS treatment with blood or blood products. This reflected the widespread public fear of the disease at the time, when the infection was rapidly fatal and associated with sexual transmission.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the United Kingdom are currently suffering from hepatitis C; and how many of these have contracted their condition as a consequence of receiving contaminated blood products in the course of NHS treatment. [75560]
  414
  Mr. Hutton
  The exact number of people with hepatitis C in the United Kingdom is not known. Estimates suggest that around 250,000 to 300,000 may carry the virus. We estimate that 4,000 were infected with hepatitis C through their National Health Service treatment with blood products, mainly for haemophilia, before the introduction of viral inactivation processes in 1985.

  Pregnancy Quitline
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls the Pregnancy Quitline has received since it was established. [75836]

  Ms Jowell
  In its first 14 months the Pregnancy Quitline service, which is based in Doncaster, has recorded a total of 6,791 calls.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in his Department's discussions with mobile phone companies on possible research into possible health risks. [76361]

  Ms Jowell
  A meeting has been arranged for Departmental officials to meet mobile phone companies to discuss areas of common interest.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what results have been published from research supported by his Department into the health dangers of mobile phones. [76378]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department has funded research projects on possible health effects of radiofrequency fields which have not yet been published. The Department is also supporting the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Electromagnetic Fields Project which is reviewing electromagnetic field health effects in general. The WHO has placed its interim findings on its Web site.

  Buckinghamshire Health Authority
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the post of Chairman of the Buckinghamshire Health Authority became vacant; when the post was advertised; and when he expects to appoint someone to the position. [75947]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: The previous chairman of Buckinghamshire Health Authority submitted his resignation on 1 July 1998, giving three months notice. The post was subsequently advertised in the local press on 10 and 11 September. A decision will be announced shortly.

  Mixed-sexed Wards
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards eliminating mixed-sexed wards. [76037]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: The National Health Service Executive is continuing to monitor progress towards achieving this policy objective. A monitoring exercise to establish the latest position throughout the NHS was carried out recently, and we shall publish the results of this exercise shortly.
  415
  Last week we unveiled details of a £1.1 billion capital investment to be made in the next financial year in new NHS buildings and equipment. This investment will further work towards the elimination of mixed-sex accommodation.

  Cancer Surgery (Waiting Lists)
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards the Government's target to end waiting for cancer surgery. [76036]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have a programme of measures in place targeted at cutting waiting times for cancer treatment. Additional resources have already been invested in breast and colorectal cancer services and we have recently announced a further £10 million to improve lung cancer services. This targeted investment has demonstrated tangible improvements in services and has enabled the National Health Service to finance additional work force, training and equipment to speed access to diagnosis, reduce waiting times for treatment and improve quality of care as part of the ongoing implementation of the Calman/Hine recommendations.

  The National Health Service has put the necessary systems in place to meet The New NHS guarantee that by April 1999 everyone with suspected breast cancer will be able to see a specialist within two weeks of their general practitioner deciding they need to be seen urgently and requesting an appointment. We are also developing a programme of action which will deliver rapid and sustainable improvements in the speed and quality of care for all patients with a suspected or a diagnosed cancer. We will continue to build on this progress over the course of this Parliament.

  General Practitioner Commissioning
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards introducing general practitioner commissioning. [76031]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: From April, primary care groups covering the whole of England will share with Health Authorities the task of commissioning health services. Primary care groups will enable local doctors and nurses, who best understand patients' to work together in partnership to help shape local services.

  Earning Profiles
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is undertaking, or has undertaken, on the lifetime earnings profiles of women. [76097]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: The Women's Unit is undertaking, for the first time, a detailed analysis of the distribution of women's incomes over their lifetime. This will examine issues such as the pay gap, occupational segregation and the effects of key events (such as having children) on women's incomes. The project will build on the forthcoming report "Women's Individual Incomes 1966–67" which will be published jointly by the Women's Unit and the Government Statistical Service in the near future.
  416

  Suicide
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve training and support for GPs and family doctors to help them recognise the symptoms of potential suicide in young men. [76742]

  Mr. Denham
  In 1999–2000, £146 million extra funding will be invested in mental health services, of which £12 million will provide support for education and training of doctors and nurses. This will include general practitioners and family doctors. It is not however practicable or desirable for the Government to prescribe the exact training that any individual doctor will receive. The medical education curriculum is a matter for the General Medical Council, medical schools, the relevant Medical Royal Colleges and the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practitioners.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of those organisations that have been awarded grant assistance under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 for the coming year. [76087]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Listening to Women Roadshows
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the women's organisations which have been invited to send representatives to the Listening to Women roadshows at(a) Norwich on 10 March, (b) Birmingham on 26 March, (c) Bristol on 16 April, (d) Newcastle on 19 April, (e) Reading on 21 May, (f) Leeds on 26 May and (g) Nottingham on 11 June. [76226]

  Ms Jowell
  The following organisations have been sent invitations to the Listening to Women meeting in Norwich on 10 March 1999.

  1. Leeway

  2. Family First

  3. Breast Cancer Care

  4. The Townswomen's Guild

  5. Lady Wise Club

  6. Equality in Employment

  7. Gingerbread

  8. Cinewomen

  9. UK Federation of Business and Professional Women

  10. Umbrella Housing

  11. Eating Disorders Association

  12. Magdalene Group

  13. The Townswomen's Guild

  14. Beldervale Community Association

  15. Greenfields Management Committee

  16. North Earlam Community Association

  17. Catton Grove Management Committee

  18. Heathgate Community Association

  19. Chapel Break Community Association

  20. Clover Hill Community Association

  21. Meadow View Neighbourhood Association

  22. Jubilee Community Association

  23. Normandie Tower Community Association

  417

  24. Frere Road Community Centre

  25. Russel Street Community Centre

  26. Acle and District Voluntary Aid Scheme

  27. Bereavement Support Service

  28. Carers National Association

  29. Families Matter

  30. Lesbian Line

  31. Harford Community Centre Ladies Group

  32. Young Women's Christian Association

  33. Women Working for the Environment

  34. Well Woman Clinic

  35. Norfolk Environment and Development Centre

  36. Maier Partnership

  37. Women's Outdoor Pursuits Group

  38. Great Yarmouth Young Women's Project

  39. Norwich and Norfolk Voluntary Services

  40. Unemployed Workers Resource Centre

  41. The Learning Shop

  42. Philippine Community

  43. Norfolk and Norwich Asian Society

  44. Norwich Black Women's Group

  45. Dereham and District Disabled Peoples Club

  46. Macmillan Nurses Norwich Community Health Partnership

  47. Norfolk and Norwich Pensioners Association

  48. Thetford Disabled Activities Group

  49. Disabled Persons Swimming Club

  50. City Centre Residents Community Power Forum

  51. Central West Community Power Forum

  52. Norwich and Norfolk Racial Equality Council

  53. Norfolk Disability Service

  54. Women's Officer Norwich City Council

  55. Leader of the Council

  56. Bernard Matthews Plc.

  57. Norfolk County Council

  58. Norwich District Community Health Council

  59. Norwich Union Plc.

  60. Virgin Direct Personal Financial Services

  61. Norwich City College

  62. Women's Employment, Enterprise and Training Unit

  63. Women's Health, Information and Support Service

  64. Adult Basic Education Unit

  65. Norwich City Council

  66. Mothers Union

  67. Womens Institute

  To date the following organisations have been sent invitations to the Listening to Women meeting in Birmingham on 26 March 1999.

  1. Careers and Education Business Partnership

  2. Family Service Unit (South Birmingham)

  3. Handsworth College, Golden Hillock Women's Centre

  4. The Ladypool Project

  5. Sparkhill Asian Women's Association

  6. Women's Federation for World Peace

  7. Chinese Community Centre

  8. The Friendship Group—Friendship Care Choices

  9. Central Gingerbread

  10. National Childbirth Trust—Birmingham North and District Branch

  418

  11. St. Andrew's Family Centre

  12. Disability West Midlands

  13. Disability Resource Centre

  14. City Technology College

  In addition to organisations we are publicising the event to individual women not involved in public life. To this end we have invited women who had previously contacted the Women's Unit; published articles in the local press, with an open invitation to attend; publicised the event on local radio; and asked local job centres to issue invitations to female jobseekers in the area.

  The invitations to the Bristol, Newcastle, Reading, Leeds, and Nottingham meetings will be issued shortly.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those women's organisations which sent representations to the Listening to Women roadshow in London on 8 March. [76225]

  Ms Jowell
  The following organisations sent representatives to the Listening to Women event in London on 8 March 1999.

  1. Women's Therapy Centre

  2. Black Women's Rape Action Project

  3. Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union

  4. National Union of Students

  5. Royal College of Nurses

  6. Crossroads Women's Centre

  7. Professional Afro-Asian Women's Association

  8. Scottish Office

  9. Eating Disorders Association

  10. British Pregnancy Advice Service

  11. National Board of Catholic Women

  12. Solicitors Family Law Association

  13. Working for Childcare

  14. Housing for Women

  15. Standing Conference of Women's Organisations

  16. Pennell Initiative/Relate

  17. New Ways to Work

  18. Feminist Library and Information Resource Centre

  19. Girls Friendly Society Platform

  20. Greater London Association of Disabled People

  21. Barnardos Young Women's Project

  22. National Council of Women of Great Britain

  23. Women's Engineering Society

  24. Secondary Heads Association

  25. Women Against Rape

  26. Women's Aid Federation of England

  27. National Childminding Association

  28. Women Liberal Democrats

  29. Miscarriage Association

  30. International Planned Parenthood Federation

  31. Townswomen's Guilds

  32. Unison

  33. Southall Black Sisters

  34. Camden Council—Equality Unit

  35. Women Against Sexual Harrassment

  36. Full Time Mothers

  37. British Federation of Women Graduates

  38. National Childbirth Trust

  419

  39. Jewish Women's Aid

  40. Family and Youth Concern

  41. League of Jewish Women

  42. Menerva Educational Trust

  43. Society of Women Writers and Journalists

  44. Child Support Agency

  45. The Labour Party

  46. Women and Medical Practice

  47. National Union Teachers

  48. Association for Post Natal Illness

  49. National Association of Women's

  50. London Irish Women's Centre

  51. The Spiro Institute

  52. United Kingdom Asian Women's Conference

  53. Wise Campaign

  54. Change International Consultants

  55. Public and Commercial Services Union

  56. British Housewives League

  57. Pro-Choice Alliance

  58. Birkbeck College—University of London

  59. Change

  60. Women's Health

  61. British Association for Early Childhood Education

  62. Women Connect

  63. Muslim Women's Helpline

  64. Soroptimist International, Beckenham and District

  65. Women's Resourse Centre

  66. Single Mothers Self Defence

  67. Fawcett Society

  68. Grandparent Federation

  69. Medical Women's Federation

  70. Feminist Library and Information Resource Centre

  71. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

  72. The Guide Association

  The following organisations were invited but did not attend:

  1. National Free Church Women's Council

  2. National Association of Ladies Circle

  3. Corona World-wide

  4. Stonham Housing Association Royal College of Midwives

  5. Practical Resourcing

  6. Standing Conference of Women's Organisations

  7. Alliance For Africa

  8. East London Black Women's Organisations

  9. International Planned Parenthood Federation

  10. Gingerbread

  11. White Ribbon Association Inc.

  12. Campaign Against Domestic Violence

  13. Business and Professional Women United Kingdom Ltd.

  14. Carers National Association

  15. Daycare Trust

  16. London Women and Marital Trades

  17. Breakthrough Breast Cancer

  18. Women's Opportunities Unit

  19. Forward

  420

  Dietary Supplement (Definition)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's definition of a dietary supplement. [75728]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have been asked to reply.

  The term "dietary supplement" is not defined in UK legislation, nor has a definition been adopted for administrative purposes. Depending upon their nature and presentation, products described as dietary supplements may be regarded in law as either foods or medicines and would be subject to the same controls as apply to other foods or medicines.

SCOTLAND

  Dr. Arpad Pusztai
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the circumstances surrounding Dr. Arpad Pusztai's departure from his post at the Rowett Research Institute; and if he will make a statement. [69825]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The departure of Dr. Pusztai was entirely a matter for the Rowett Research Institute as his employers.

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

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what involvement his Office had in discussions leading to the retirement of Dr. Arpad Pusztai from the Rowett Institute. [70048]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The Scottish Office had no involvement in the decision on Dr. Pusztai's retirement. This was entirely a matter for the Rowett Research Institute. The Director of the Rowett Research Institute kept The Scottish Office in touch with the situation.

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

  Winter Deaths
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will break down the excess winter deaths for each of the last three years by socio-economic class, indicating(a) all ages, (b) those aged 60 to 70 years and (c) those aged 70 years and over. [75450]

  Mr. McLeish
  There is no universally accepted definition of "excess winter deaths". The information presented in the table is based on a formula that has been used in recent years by the Office for National Statistics when presenting data for England and Wales. This defines excess winter deaths as the difference between the number of deaths during the four months December to March and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). As this is a crude measure of the increase in mortality associated with winter conditions the numbers of excess deaths have been rounded to the nearest ten.
  421
  The socio-economic breakdown used, social class based on occupation, is derived from information about the deceased's occupation and employment status (or, when appropriate, that of their parents and spouse) as stated at death registration. It is known that such information is

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Social class based on occupation

  All ages

  60–69

  70 and over

  All ages

  60–69

  70 and over

  All ages

  60–69

  70 and over

  I Professional

  60

  30

  30

  60

  -10

  60

  40

  30

  20

  II Managerial and technical

  260

  -30

  260

  570

  50

  470

  470

  50

  380

  IIInm Skilled—manual

  170

  10

  150

  490

  40

  410

  310

  10

  280

  IIIm Skilled—non-manual

  540

  140

  370

  680

  80

  630

  640

  130

  470

  IV Partly skilled

  280

  10

  230

  550

  70

  500

  460

  70

  370

  V Unskilled

  220

  30

  200

  330

  30

  300

  350

  80

  250

  830

  20

  790

  1,410

  170

  1,100

  1,710

  160

  1,470

  Not Known Total

  2,360

  210

  2,020

  4,090

  420

  3,460

  3,980

  520

  3,250

  Medical Students
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the capacity for expansion of existing medical schools to accommodate additional medical places required by the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [75454]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the capacity for clinical positions for students at medical schools. [75452]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Current work force planning for the NHS in Scotland does not require a change in the level of intake for medical schools. There is therefore currently no need to expend the capacity of medical schools in Scotland.

  There is sufficient provision for clinical positions for the current level of students at medical schools in Scotland. The NHS in Scotland will be able to meet changes in the demand for clinical positions arising from changes in the curriculum or future changes in the number of students.

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

  Police Funding
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the year-on-year change in central Government funding for police between 1979–80 and 1999–2000 in(a) cash and (b) real terms; and if he will make a statement. [75225]

  Mr. McLeish
  The Secretary of State pays police specific grant at 51 per cent. of net eligible expenditure by police authorities. Annual changes in police specific grant are determined by changes in the level of Grant Aided Expenditure as set by the Secretary of State and by forces' budgets set by police authorities.

  The figures requested are shown in the table. The figure for 1997–98 includes £3.5 million for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
  422
  incomplete for certain groups, particularly elderly women. As these form a large proportion of "excess" deaths the data need to be interpreted with care.

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

  Year

  Cash (£000)

  Year-on-year (Percentage change)

  Real terms

  Year-on-year (Percentage change)

  1979–80

  72,189

  —

  198,390

  —

  1980–81

  86,833

  20.29

  201,812

  1.72

  1981–82

  99,511

  14.60

  211,212

  4.66

  1982–83

  112,529

  13.08

  223,367

  5.75

  1983–84

  120,562

  7.14

  228,712

  2.39

  1984–85

  130,591

  8.32

  235,366

  2.91

  1985–86

  137,147

  5.02

  234,798

  -0.24

  1986–87

  147,125

  7.28

  244,269

  4.03

  1987–88

  161,155

  9.54

  254,014

  3.99

  1988–89

  176,597

  9.58

  260,094

  2.63

  1989–90

  200,764

  13.68

  276,577

  6.09

  1990–91

  215,062

  7.12

  274,754

  -0.66

  1991–92

  234,103

  8.85

  281,618

  2.50

  1992–93

  253,514

  8.29

  295,198

  4.82

  1993–94

  270,974

  6.89

  307,368

  4.12

  1994–95

  274,262

  1.21

  306,716

  -0.21

  1995–96

  287,141

  4.70

  312,031

  1.73

  1996–97

  295,600

  2.95

  311,629

  -0.13

  1997–98

  328,887

  11.26

  337,931

  8.44

  1998–99

  337,500

  2.62

  337,500

  -0.13

  1999–2000

  351,900

  4.27

  343,316

  1.72

  Note:

  The cash figures shown have been recalculated using GDP deflators to show the equivalent real term figures at 1998–99 prices.

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

DEFENCE

  Married Quarters
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if RAF Bentwaters formed part of the sale of his Department's married quarters to Nomura negotiated in 1996–97. [76293]

  Mr. Spellar
  No.

  RAF Brize Norton
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what complaints he has received regarding the
  423
  Defence Housing Executive's policy of evicting irregular occupants from his Department's houses at RAF Brize Norton; and if he will make a statement. [76298]

  Mr. Spellar
  None other than that from the hon. Member.

  Select Committee Reports
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if(a) he, (b) civil servants in his Department or (c) special advisers in his Department have (i) had sight of drafts of select committee reports, in whole or in part, or (ii) been informed of conclusions of select committee reports prior to their publication by the select committees. [75875]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 1 March 1999, Official Report, column 531. There have been no instances of members of Select Committees giving me or my Ministerial colleagues drafts of Select Committee reports, or parts of reports including their conclusions, before publication. Nor to the best of my knowledge have there been any occasions on which members of the Select Committee have given such material to civil servants or special advisers in my Department. This excludes embargoed copies of reports issued under House of Commons Standing Orders.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Mackerel (South Devon)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what inspections have been carried out in each of the last 20 days within the mackerel conservation box off the coast of South Devon of factory and industrial fishing ships from European countries; when the inspections were made; and what was found there; [75201]

  (2) which factory ships have been fishing in the mackerel conservation box off the coast of South Devon in the last 28 days; in which countries such ships are registered; and what steps have been taken to ensure their departure from the conservation box. [75202]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: The Ministry has no record of any sightings of factory ships or industrial vessels fishing in the Mackerel Box in the last 28 days and there have been no inspections undertaken on such vessels during the last 20 days.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what records are kept, and by whom, of satellite surveillance of the mackerel conservation box off the coast of South Devon. [75203]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: The Ministry has no records of satellite surveillance of fishing vessels in the Mackerel Box.

  GM Animal Feed
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the safety of products derived from animals which eat genetically modified animal feed. [75420]
  424
  Mr. Rooker
  The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) considers the implications for human health of the use of genetically modified (GM) materials in animal feed in its role as the UK body which carries out safety assessments under the EC Novel Foods Regulation. The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, which is currently being set up, will be liaising closely with the ACNFP and the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment on this matter.

  GM Crops and Foods
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to make biotechnology companies legally and financially liable for any damage to human health cause by genetically modified crops and foods made from plants manufactured by them. [75199]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: There are rigorous procedures in place to assess the risks from foods derived from genetically modified plants before they are allowed into the food chain. This is to ensure that such foods are as safe as their non GM counterparts. On the basis of Common Law principles, a firm holding the marketing consent for a GMO crop can be held liable in law for any damages arising from ill effects attributed to that crop.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the regional spread of bovine tuberculosis. [74687]

  Mr. Rooker
  Incidence of TB in cattle continues to be concentrated in the traditional TB "hot spot" counties of Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hereford and Worcester and parts of Wales, with a number of incidents also recorded in several other counties, particularly Staffordshire and Wiltshire. Summarised in the table are details of the number of incidents of TB in cattle in Great Britain in each county in 1997 and the first six months of 1998. Figures for the whole of 1998 are not yet available.

  Number of new confirmed TB incidents

  County

  1997

  January-June 19981

  Avon

  10

  15

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  Berkshire

  0

  0

  Buckinghamshire

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  1

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  Cornwall

  74

  61

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  Derbyshire

  1

  0

  Devon

  82

  41

  Dorset

  12

  5

  Durham

  0

  0

  East Sussex

  4

  0

  Essex

  1

  0

  Gloucestershire

  85

  63

  Greater London

  0

  0

  Greater Manchester

  0

  0

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  Hereford and Worcester

  86

  43

  Hertfordshire

  0

  1

  Humberside

  0

  0

  425

  Number of new confirmed TB incidents

  County

  1997

  January-June 19981

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  0

  2

  Leicestershire

  0

  0

  Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  Northamptonshire

  0

  0

  Northumberland

  0

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  1

  Oxfordshire

  0

  2

  Shropshire

  7

  2

  Somerset

  27

  14

  South Yorkshire

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  24

  16

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  Surrey

  0

  0

  Tyne and Wear

  0

  0

  Warwickshire

  0

  1

  West Midlands

  0

  0

  West Sussex

  0

  0

  West Yorkshire

  0

  0

  Wiltshire

  30

  18

  England total

  443

  287

  Clwyd

  0

  0

  Dyfed

  24

  28

  Gwent

  33

  12

  Gwynedd

  0

  0

  Mid Glamorgan

  2

  1

  Powys

  1

  5

  South Glamorgan

  0

  0

  West Glamorgan

  2

  0

  Wales total

  62

  46

  Aberdeenshire

  2

  0

  Angus

  0

  0

  Argyll

  0

  0

  Aryshire

  0

  0

  Banffshire

  0

  0

  Berwickshire

  0

  0

  Bute

  0

  0

  Caithness

  2

  0

  Clackmannan

  0

  0

  Dumbartonshire

  1

  0

  Dumfreisshire

  0

  0

  East Lothian

  0

  0

  Fife

  0

  0

  Iverness-shire

  0

  0

  Kincardine

  1

  0

  Kinross

  0

  0

  Kirkcudbright

  1

  0

  Lanarkshire

  1

  0

  Midlothian

  0

  0

  Moray

  0

  0

  Nairn

  0

  0

  Orkney

  0

  0

  Peebles

  0

  0

  Perthshire

  1

  0

  Renfrew

  0

  0

  Ross and Cromarty

  0

  0

  Roxburgh

  0

  0

  Selkirk

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  Stirling

  0

  0

  426

  Number of new confirmed TB incidents

  County

  1997

  January-June 19981

  Sutherland

  0

  0

  West Lothian

  0

  0

  Wigtown

  1

  1

  Scotland total

  10

  1

  Great Britain total

  515

  334

  1 Provisional

  Notes:

  1. Each new confirmed TB incident relates to a herd which has been TB free, but which during 1997 or January to June 1998 was found to have TB.

  2. Although it is acknowledged that many of the counties no longer exist as administrative authorities, data are presented in this form in order to retain continuity for historical comparison.

  Source:

  Compiled from information provided by Divisional Veterinary Managers

  Agrochemicals
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the(a) herbicides,(b) fungicides and (c) pesticides which are banned in other EU member states but are approved for use in the United Kingdom, indicating the conditions attached to their use; [75495]

  (2) he will list the (a) herbicides, (b) pesticides and (c) fungicides which have restrictions on their use in other (i) European Union and (ii) G7 countries and which are used in the United Kingdom without similar restrictions. [75498]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: All 18 countries of the EU and G7 have regulatory systems that only permit pesticides (including herbicides and fungicides) to be used once they have been authorised by government. This means that a common reason why a pesticide is not authorised in one of these countries is that no application for authorisation has been made for commercial reasons. When the use of a pesticide is allowed, specific restrictions on use may be imposed by the government concerned, but these could reflect differences in climate, ecology and application methods available as well as the crop to be protected and the pest to be targeted.

  While the EU produces lists of active substances of agricultural pesticides authorised for use in each Member State, there are no systematic arrangements for Member States to pool information about the decisions they make or the reasons for them. Similarly, the G7 countries do not exchange information about restrictions on the use of authorised agricultural pesticides. The information requested therefore cannot be provided.

  In the UK, all herbicides, fungicides and other pesticides are strictly controlled. The government keep pesticides under review and do not hesitate to ban or restrict products if this is warranted. We also require companies to submit any potentially adverse information which comes to their attention, including studies generated at the request of another country's authorities.
  427
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) herbicides, (b) pesticides and (c) fungicides on the Red List which have been approved for use in agriculture and horticulture, indicating the conditions attached to their use. [75415]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: Eight of the twenty three substances on the Red List are contained in pesticides approved for use in agriculture and horticulture. Atrazine, simazine and trifluralin are approved as herbicides, and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane), dichlorvos, fenitrothion, malathion and endosulfan are approved as insecticides. In considering the approval or review of a pesticide, an assessment is made of the risk to the aquatic environment. Only if this assessment shows that there is no unacceptable risk will approval be granted or allowed to continue.

  All pesticides are subject to strict statutory control. General conditions relating to use are imposed by Schedules 3 and 4 to the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended by the Control of Pesticides (Amendment) Regulations 1997). There are 166 products approved containing these eight pesticides and I shall write to my hon. Friend to set out the specific conditions attached to the use of these particular products.

  Genetically Modified Material
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1999,Official Report, column 302, what recent legal advice he has (a) sought and (b) received in respect of whether World Trade Organisation rules permit genetically modified material used in food production to be segregated as a condition of import. [75188]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 8 March 1999]: It is made clear under the World Trade Organisation Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, that World Trade Organisation members have the right to take measures necessary for the protection of human, animal or plant life or health, but these must be based on scientific principles and not maintained without sufficient scientific evidence. A requirement to segregate GM products at import other than on this basis would therefore be a trade-restrictive measure.

  Milk Imports
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much milk was imported each year from 1990 to the latest year for which figures are available. [75842]

  Mr. Rooker
  Total UK imports of milk since 1990 are as shown.

  Tonnes

  1990

  35,147

  1991

  61,033

  1992

  125,577

  1993

  96,371

  1994

  169,221

  1995

  177,966

  1996

  122,994

  1997

  156,189

  1998

  1174,303

  1 January-November

  428

  Novel Foods
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of the requests submitted to him and to other Member States in connection with the placing on the market of genetically modified novel foods or novel food ingredients, pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97,(a) the competent food assessment body which prepared each initial assessment under that Article, (b) the dates of each such assessment and (c) details of deliberate release consents and of decisions authorising the placing on the market under Part C of Directive 90/220/EEC accompanying the submission or to which the submission relates. [69876]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The following competent authorities have provided initial assessments for applications under the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97) on the dates given:
  Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes (UK): tomatoes (8 June 1998).
  The Provisional Committee for the Safety Evaluation of Novel Foods (Netherlands):
  radicchio rosso (27 October 1998), chicory (27 October 1998), maize and high oleic soya (still under consideration).

  Copies of documents relating to these assessments have been placed in the Library of the House. Details of deliberate release consents under Directive 90/220 can be found on the following EC website addresses:

  http://biotech.jrc it;

  http://biotech.jrc.it/gmo.htm;

  http://biotech.jrc.it/gb.httm

  Shellfish
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, following his Department's consultation exercise on shellfish conservation, he will make a statement on improved protection of UK shellfish stocks. [76947]

  Mr. Morley
  The responses to our consultation last Summer on improved conservation measures for shellfish proposed by the Fisheries Conservation Group were generally very positive.

  In the light of this clear endorsement, the Government have decided that legislation should be laid, to increase from 1 January 2000, the minimum landing sizes of lobster, edible crab, and male spider crab landed into the UK from British registered fishing vessels.

  From the same day, the landing of any lobster or crawfish which has been V-notched would also be prohibited. In Northern Ireland, the current Great Britain landing size of 65mm carapace width for velvet crab will be introduced there at the same time.

  The landing size for whelks will be 45mm. This recognises concerns expressed in the consultation exercise that, in some parts of the country, 45mm was the largest size of whelk found and larger size was impracticable.

  These moves are aimed at conserving shellfish stocks and clearly illustrate our commitment to work with the industry.
  429
  Full details are in the table:

  mm

  Minimum landing sizes from 1 January 2000

  Minimum EU requirement

  UK size

  Lobsters:

  185

  87

  Edible crabs:

  North Sea south of 56°N (except the 'Cromer' fishery) to the Essex/Kent border

  115

  130

  The 'Cromer' fishery (the coasts of Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk)

  115

  115

  Scottish West coast and North Sea north of 56°N (including the whole of the Firth of Forth)

  140

  140

  North of 55°N on the west coast of Scotland (but including Loch Ryan)

  130

  140

  South of 56°N on the west coast except ICES areas VIId, e and f

  130

  130

  Off Devon, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles within ICES Vile and f

  140

  males-160

  females-140

  The Bristol Channel and the remainder of the English Channel

  140

  140

  Velvet crabs:

  none set

  65

  Spider crabs:

  120

  males-130

  females-120

  Whelks:

  45

  45

  1 87mm from 1 January 2002

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Service
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what amount of money has been set aside within the Employment Service budget in the current year to provide for child care for Employment Service staff; [75897]

  (2) if he will make a statement about the effects of the family-friendly policies within the Employment Service listed by his Department in a booklet published in February (a) nationally, (b) regionally and (c) in east London; [75899]

  (3) how many members of Employment Service staff are currently on term-time working initiatives; [75898]

  (4) how many play schemes have been set up for Employment Service staff in the last 12 months. [75896]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  430
  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Jim Fitzpatrick, dated 12 March 1999:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the Employment Service's position on Family Friendly and Childcare Policies. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  I wrote to all staff in the Employment Service in January of this year restating the Employment Service Board's commitment to equality of opportunity. This week, we have also issued a document entitled "Childcare Provision and Family Friendly Policy, A Statement to Staff in DfEE and ES from the Secretary of State, the DfEE Board and the ES Chief Executive", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
  The Employment Service has a wide range of policies available, all of which apply nationally, to support staff with family commitments and our intention is that these should be used to the full. The majority of Employment Service staff already work flexible hours, and 21% work part time. Of these, we estimate that around 40 work formal term time hours. Significantly more take advantage of our special leave arrangements to cover school holiday periods.
  With regard to playschemes, in 1998 the Employment Service had 650 playscheme places in 22 locations. No new playschemes were opened in the last twelve months, but our intention is to encourage such schemes wherever they are viable and cost effective. We are also working closely with the Benefits Agency to establish where we can make joint provision available.
  The Employment Service does not have a separate national budget for childcare. Overall budgets are allocated to our Regional Directors, and to the ES Directors for Scotland and Wales, who have authority individually to assess and where appropriate fund childcare facilities in individual locations.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Childcare Provision and Family Friendly Policy
  Statement to Staff in DfEE and ES
  From the Secretary of State, the DfEE Board and the ES Chief Executive

  We are writing to let you know what is happening on childcare and family friendly policies in DfEE and ES and to emphasise our commitment to continue to make progress in this area.

  DfEE is responsible for developing the National Childcare Strategy and for promoting good practice in family friendly employment. DfEE and ES must lead the way to help our own staff balance their work and home lives and to encourage other employers to do the same. We want to keep our skilled and talented people, supporting them to remain in, or return to, work.

  DfEE and ES already have an extensive range of childcare and family friendly provision which includes:

  Subsidised nurseries and holiday playschemes in some locations.

  Maternity leave on 16 weeks full pay for permanent staff with 1 years service.

  Paid paternity leave for 5 days.

  Adoptive leave for 52 weeks including 20 days at full pay.

  Payment for additional childcare costs where people have to work longer than their normal hours, for example to attend a training course.

  Discretion for managers to agree special paid and unpaid leave.

  Career breaks for women and men.

  Provision for part-time working—10% of DfEE and 21% of ES staff currently work part-time.

  A wide variety of flexible working patterns including job share, homeworking, part year or term time working and compressed hours working.

  But we want to do more. In recent months, DfEE and ES have taken a number of steps to move the childcare and family friendly strategy forward.
  431
  DfEE has:

  carried out a benchmarking exercise to determine what leading major employers are doing and measured ourselves against them. We will be publishing a summary of the results within the next few months:

  undertaken a Carers' Survey to get views about a range of childcare and family friendly issues. We are now taking this a step further and will very shortly be carrying out a needs analysis on each site;

  carried our research into eligibility criteria of childcare voucher schemes and prepared illustrative costings to help us decide whether vouchers are a feasible option;

  called together a cross-Whitehall Departmental Working Group to determine how an affordable and targeted childcare voucher scheme might work;

  agreed to extend payment for additional childcare costs to wider caring responsibilities;

  issued guidance for all staff on family friendly policies and flexible working patterns.

  ES has:

  set out its intentions to be a leader in the field of equal opportunities in a letter to all staff from the Chief Executive;

  issued booklets on setting up a nursery and a playscheme;

  developed options on childcare for consideration by the ES Board;

  set up an Action Group to consider issues on part-time and family friendly policies, sponsored by a member of the ES Board;

  prepared a leaflet for all staff outlining current family friendly policy provision to be issued in the next few weeks;

  surveyed, in one region, the specific childcare needs of staff.

  We will continue this work. DfEE is currently investigating local nursery and playscheme partnerships which we could join. ES is exploring the use of local partnerships with the Benefits Agency to provide additional childcare places. Both DfEE and ES are looking to see how we can use our family friendly policies to the full. We also need to publicise them more effectively.
  Management and trade unions are working together on these issues. DfEE and ES will continue to share knowledge and good practice. Our managers have a critical role in developing the Department as a family friendly employer. We look to them to play their part too.
  If you are interested in further information on any of the above issues, you can contact:
  Sheila Wigley, DfEE, Equal Opportunities Unit, 01928 4322, GTN 4197 (4)4322. Sue Locke, ES Equal Opportunities Team, 0114 259 7620, GTN 5301 (2)7620.
  or
  Your ES Regional Personnel Section.

  Outdoor Education
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review outdoor education in the context of the National Curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [75857]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The review of the National Curriculum for the year 2000 is looking at all areas of the school curriculum. This includes outdoor and adventurous activities, which is one of six areas of activity in the National Curriculum for Physical Education. We will be consulting widely on proposals for the revised National Curriculum in the summer.

  Mature Students
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total number of applications from mature students to universities in England and Wales in each of the last three years. [75076]
  432
  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 9 March 1999]: This information is given in the following table.

  Applications from mature1 students to higher education courses2 in England and Wales

  Year of entry

  Number of applications3

  1996

  333,111

  19974

  334,767

  19984

  281,499

  1 Aged 21 or over

  2 Full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses

  3 Each applicant can make up to six applications

  4 Including applications to Art and Design courses which were included in the UCAS scheme for the first time in 1997.

  The figures cover applications for full-time and sandwich students only, and exclude applications to part-time courses, which account for more than half of all mature undergraduate students. Early figures show that home and EU part-time numbers in England in 1998–99 are up by around 1 per cent.

  The number of applications is not a reliable guide to the number of students who actually accept places; figures for the UK show that the number of mature students accepted for entry to full-time courses in 1998 exceeded the number accepted in 1996.

  The fall in mature applications between 1997 and 1998 is attributable, at least in part, to demographic factors, the declining pool of potential mature applicants and the relative strength of the labour market. In addition, the surge in students admissions in 1997 meant that fewer prospective students were expected to apply in 1998.

  Complete figures for applications for 1999 entry are not yet available.

  Examinations (Availability in Foreign Languages)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the availability of GCSE and A level examinations in Somali; [75740]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the availability of GCSE and A level examinations in Hindi. [75781]

  Mr. Mudie
  Somali has never been offered at either GCSE or A level. Hindi is currently offered at A level but not GCSE. Last year, at the Government's instigation, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority secured an agreement with the awarding bodies to ensure that small entry A level language examinations which are currently available should continue to be offered without interruption.

  The Institute of Linguists offers Contemporary Language Certificates in Hindi and Somali which have been approved for use in schools.

  Education Business Partnerships
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the benefits to pupils' education of participation in the activities of education business partnerships. [75618]
  433
  Ms Estelle Morris
  Successive studies have demonstrated that education business partnerships make an important contribution to raising standards and to preparing young people for the world of work.

  Salary Levels
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received regarding disparities in salary levels between lecturers in the further education sector and teachers in the school sector. [75643]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department has received a number of letters about salaries of lecturers in sixth form colleges as compared with those of teachers in state schools. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently had a constructive meeting on a wide range of issues with the National Joint Council for Staff in Sixth Form Colleges.

  Pupil Turnover
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of high levels of turnover in pupil enrolments on school performance. [75752]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 9 March 1999]: We are seeking further information about the nature and extent of pupil mobility, and its effect on school and pupil performance. That is why we are supporting a research project into pupil mobility, conducted by the Migration Research Unit at University College London. We expect preliminary results from the project to be available in July, and hope the outcomes will provide a focus for proper debate and discussion of the issue of mobility and school and pupil performance. We will keep the House informed of progress in this important area.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the education action zones have identified high levels of(a) turnover in pupil enrolments and (b) absenteeism as contributing to underperformance in their participating schools; and what initiatives they have put in place to address these problems. [75715]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  It is likely that all 25 existing zones have problems with pupil attendance; and most of them contain at least some schools with high pupil mobility.

  The zone action plans are due to be delivered to the Department at the end of this month. They will set out the initiatives that are to be put in place to address this problem.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many LEA education development plans have identified high levels of(a) absenteeism and (b) turnover in pupil enrolments, as factors affecting the performance of schools. [75716]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Local education authorities' final education development plans were submitted to the Department on 28 February 1999. These are currently being considered. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the information becomes available and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Discretionary Grants
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list (i) the names of the beneficiaries of all the discretionary grants awarded by his Department to organisations within Worcestershire during 1998, (ii) their monetary value, (iii) their total value and (iv) the proportion that that total sum comprises of the total sums awarded by his Department in discretionary grants in 1998. [75254]

  Mr. Mudie
  The information is shown in the following table.

  Beneficiaries of discretionary grant from DfEE in 1998–99

  £

  Pershore and Hindlip College

  26,996

  Evesham College

  15,972

  Kidderminster College

  14,664

  North East Worcestershire College

  48,171

  Worcester College of Technology

  28,437

  Worcester Sixth Form College

  942

  Worcestershire Local Education Authority

  5,764,000

  Royal National Institute for the Blind New College

  Worcester

  25,000

  Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings

  12,400

  Malvern Girls College and Malvern Parish CE

  Primary School

  9,000

  Worcestershire County Council

  312,805

  Mencap Pathway

  21,102

  Redditch Borough Council

  9,990

  Areley Kings Playgroup

  1,000

  Broadwas Bumblebee Playgroup

  1,000

  Busy Bears Pre-School Playgroup

  1,000

  Busy Bees Pre-School Playgroup

  1,000

  Catshill Village Pre-School Playgroup

  1,000

  Cornmeadow Lane Playgroup

  960

  Droitwich Spa Pre-School Playgroup

  700

  Lower Broadheath Pre-School

  500

  Redditch YMCA Pre-School

  600

  Rowney Green Pre-School

  300

  Stoneyhill Pre-School Playgroup

  1,000

  Tan Lane Pre-School Nursery

  1,000

  Teddy Bears Club

  1,000

  Brockhampton Estate

  16,975

  SME Clean Technology grant

  40,000

  Ledbury Lower Link

  45,000

  Edwin Ralph multi-purpose village church

  29,250

  Witley Baroque Church

  141,000

  Total paid in discretionary grants

  6,572,764

  Notes:

  1. Grants paid under the terms of the European Social Fund to organisations in Worcester are not separately identifiable. Organisations in Hereford and Worcester received £535,692.

  2. Grants for Travellers and displaced persons in Worcestershire under section 488 of the Education Act 1996 are not separately identifiable. Grants paid to a consortium of West Midlands Local Education Authorities, including Worcestershire, received £826,167.

  New Deal
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 3 February 1999,Official Report, columns 661–62, for what reasons his answer did not indicate how many persons aged 18 to 24 years (a) have been invited to join the New Deal and failed to keep any appointments and (b) started the New Deal but subsequently dropped out. [71643]
  435
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. James Clappison, dated 17 February 1999:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question about the reasons why questions 66965 and 66966 were not answered in his reply on 3 February. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  I am sorry if my earlier reply was unclear.
  As to those persons aged 18 to 24 years who have been invited to join the New Deal but who have failed to keep any appointments, I said in my earlier reply that of the 203, 100 young people who had started New Deal by the end of November, 14,170 signed off Jobseeker's Allowance before attending their initial appointment. All of the 14,170 therefore left before attending any appointment. We do not monitor centrally the number of young people who fail to attend their initial appointment but who do attend a second or subsequent appointment. Where a young person fails to attend interviews with an Adviser but continues to claim Jobseeker's Allowance a referral of their claim to an Adjudication Officer will normally be made. Up to the end of November 1998, 2,577 such referrals had been made.
  As to those who started the New Deal but subsequently dropped out, my earlier reply said that, up to the end of November 1998, 22,760 young people had left New Deal and Jobseeker's Allowance to unknown destinations which I had taken to be the information which was being sought.
  I would be very grateful if you would write to me if I am still not providing the specific information you are seeking in order that I may try to do so.
  I hope this is helpful.

  University for Industry
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in relation to the University for Industry. [75354]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 8 March 1999, Official Report, column 74.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the operation of individual learning accounts. [75355]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: A national framework for individual learning accounts will be established in the year 2000, within which all learning accounts will operate. Proposals for the national framework will be published in due course. These will include details of the incentives for learning accounts, announced by the Chancellor in his statement yesterday. There will be significant developments in 1999–2000 in advance of the national framework, involving a range of local, sectoral and national organisations.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much has been spent to date on 436
  achieving the Government's target that no Key Stage 1 pupil will be in a class of more than 30 pupils; and what is his estimate of the total expenditure that will be incurred to meet the target. [74741]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We have allocated £221 million to local education authorities and schools to enable them to make a start in implementing our pledge that by September 2001 at the latest, there will be no infant classes of more than 30 pupils. We have made available a total of £620 million for the additional teachers and classrooms required to implement our pledge.

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by region the amounts spent to date on(a) employing extra teachers and (b) building new classrooms in order for schools to ensure that no five to seven-year-olds are in classes with more than 30 pupils; and what is his estimate of the total expenditure that will be incurred. [74735]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We have made available a total of £620 million in order to ensure that we meet in full our pledge that, by September 2001 at latest, no infant class will contain more than 30 pupils. The following table sets out the allocations we have made for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 by region.

  £000

  Region

  1998–99 Capital (classrooms)

  1998–99 Revenue (teachers)

  1999–2000 Capital (classrooms)

  1999–2000 Revenue (teachers)

  Eastern

  3,434

  951

  6,860

  6,282

  East Midlands

  4,671

  3,283

  8,196

  7,703

  London

  5,598

  1,970

  12,403

  4,646

  Northern

  2,335

  1,520

  2,801

  3,752

  North West

  10,036

  2,959

  16,585

  12,302

  South East

  5,975

  1,157

  11,162

  9,531

  South West

  4,757

  2,615

  8,238

  9,108

  West Midlands

  5,051

  3,203

  8,014

  8,114

  Yorks and Humberside

  3,560

  3,662

  7,662

  10,444

  Failing Schools
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria are used to determine whether a school is failing; how many failing schools have been given a fresh start; what proportion of all failing schools this represents; and how many of those schools given a fresh start no longer meet the criteria for a failing school. [74774]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Schools are inspected by Ofsted in accordance with the published "Framework for Inspection". Those which are judged to be failing or likely to fail to provide an acceptable standard of education are deemed to require special measures. Local Authorities adopt a wide range of strategies to improve the education of children attending schools in special measures. In two cases, schools have formally closed and a new Fresh Start school has been opened on the same site. Three schools have had Fresh Starts approved to start from this September and a further four have been submitted for approval. Taken together, these
  437
  represent just under 2 per cent. of the number of schools currently judged to be failing. New schools are not subject to special measures.

  Education Action Zones
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in introducing education action zones. [74768]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  There are 25 Education Action Zones; 12 started in September 1998 and 13 in January 1999. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a new application round in January which will enable more Education Action Zones to be established.

  Press Notices
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if his departmental press office staff telephoned media outlets in Cumbria asking them not to use press notice LPN 41/99; [76186]

  (2) on how many occasions since 1 May 1997 his Department's press notices have been withdrawn for reasons other than that they contained inaccuracies; [76187]

  (3) on how many occasions his Department has withdrawn a press notice because of representations from a county council since 1 May 1997; [76188]

  (4) if press notice LPN 41/99 was (a) issued and (b) officially withdrawn. [76192]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  LPN 41/99 was issued on 24 February 1999. No local or national press notices have been withdrawn since 1 May 1997.

  Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement 438
  on the outcome of the Social Affairs Council on 9 March indicating the position taken by the UK Government on each issue discussed. [76195]

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 9 March; and if he will make a statement. [76749]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was unable to attend this meeting of the Council due to the timing of the Budget. I attended in his place.

  The morning session consisted of a meeting with Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs from the candidate countries of central and eastern Europe and Cyprus to discuss their pre-accession priorities for action in the social and employment fields.

  In the afternoon, the Presidency gave an oral report on the informal meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry and I attended in Bonn on 4–6 February. The Presidency also reported on its ideas for a European Employment Pact.

  The Council noted the 1999 Work Programme for the Employment and Labour Market Committee and adopted a Decision to reform the Standing Committee on Employment by streamlining its operations and aligning its remit with the European employment strategy.

  The Council reached political agreement on a draft Resolution on a Code of Conduct between authorities concerning the combating of social security fraud and undeclared work, and on the transnational hiring-out of workers.

  The Presidency reported on the negotiations on the European Commission's proposals for organising the working time of the sectors excluded from the scope of the Working Time Directive. I raised UK concerns that any proposals should not undermine the delivery of health care in the NHS.

  The Presidency outlined its plans to secure agreement on employee involvement within the European Company Statute.