Written Answers of 17 March 1999

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Genetic Modification
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (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; [72244]

  (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; [72067]

  (3) on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Cathy McGlynn of Bell Pottinger. [72072]

  Mr. Rooker
  [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.

  Milk Marque
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the MMC report into the Milk Marque will be published. [76030]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry intends to publish the report as soon as is practicable.

  Ministerial Flights
  Mr. Terry Lewis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) of 30 November 1998 concerning Ministerial flights, if he will list the flights on which his departmental(a) Accounting Officer and (b) Head of Information were passengers. [67363]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 25 January 1999]: My departmental Accounting Officer and Head of Information were passengers on the following flights:

  Date

  Destination

  Accounting officer

  Head of information

  June 1997

  Luxembourg

  Yes

  Yes

  July 1997

  Strasbourg and Bonn

  No

  Outward to Strasbourg only

  October 1997

  Luxembourg

  Yes

  No

  April 1998

  Luxembourg

  Yes

  Yes

  June 1998

  Luxembourg

  Yes

  Yes

  654

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Jury Service
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has(a) to reform the selection process for jurors and (b) to avoid the repeated call of particular persons for jury service; and what representations he has received on this. [76745]

  Mr. Hoon
  Jury service is based on the principle of random selection and therefore it is possible for a person to be called more than once after a period of time. There are no plans to reform the legislation that governs the selection process. Occasionally representations are made by an individual to the Court Service about repeated calls for jury service, and these are referred to the local Crown Court for consideration.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the total number of occasions when(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. [76826]

  Mr. Hoon
  Since 2 May 1997 there have been no occasions when either the Lord Chancellor or I have travelled abroad with a special adviser.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many civil servants in his Department have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week on 17 consecutive weeks; how many civil servants in his Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost of compliance with the Directive. [76804]

  Mr. Hoon
  Five civil servants in the Lord Chancellor's Department Headquarters have signed waivers; we expect a few more to do so but none have refused. To date, there has been no cost incurred in complying with the Directive.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has to organise nationwide test days for the millennium compliance of date-reliant computer systems, involved in(a) public utilities, (b) energy services and (c) local government (i) separately and (ii) together; and if she will make a statement. [76059]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 23 February 1999,Official Report, columns 231–32. The same concerns apply to the idea of national test days.

  Mr. Mates
  To ask the President of the Council what simulations of millennium computer compliance failure in the areas of(a) health, (b) roads, (c) travel, (d) energy and (e) emergency services the Government have conducted. [75936]
  655
  Mrs. Beckett
  Year 2000 preparations in each of these sectors are being independently assessed. These assessments will examine the quality of the testing and business continuity planning that has been carried out. The results of these assessments will be made available at the next meeting of the National Infrastructure Forum in April, and at subsequent meetings through the year.

  Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Council if she will list those people she has appointed to public bodies since 1 November 1998, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and if they receive remuneration. [76466]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The information requested is given below. None of the individuals listed is remunerated.

  Appointed

  Engineering Council: Senate

  Dr. R. Hawley

  General Medical Council

  Mrs. R. Evans

  General Optical Council

  Ms M. Black

  Ms G. Huka

  Dr. E. Page

  Ms D. Rookledge

  Ms M. Wang

  Mrs. R. Varley

  Independent Schools Tribunal: Educational Panel

  Mr. K. D. Anderson

  Mr. D. Battye

  Mr. J. T. Billington

  Mr. R. de Courcy Chapman

  Mr. R. L. James

  Mr. S. Jenkin

  Professor Margaret Maden

  Mr. J. M. Moore

  Ms J. M. Lawley

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Mates
  To ask the President of the Council what simulations of millennium computer compliance failure in the areas of(a) health, (b) roads, (c) travel, (d) energy and (e) emergency services the Government have conducted. [75936]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Year 2000 preparations in each of these sectors are being independently assessed. These assessments will examine the quality of the testing and business continuity planning that has been carried out. The results of these assessments will be made available at the next meeting of the National Infrastructure Forum in April, and at subsequent meetings through the year.

TREASURY

  Single Currency
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those benefits of membership of economic and monetary union which cannot be obtained by a656
  member state remaining outside the single currency; and what assessment he has made of the potential financial gain arising to the UK from those benefits. [73598]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury's assessment of the five economic tests published in October 1997 set out some of the benefits of monetary union. These include reduced transaction costs, the elimination of exchange rate uncertainty on trade and investment in the euro area and increased price transparency. The Treasury's assessment of the five economic tests concluded that membership of a successful single currency could enhance competition and improve prospects for trade and investment.

  Debt Relief
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has made for the reform of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. [74264]

  Ms Hewitt
  At the Annual Meeting of the IMF/World Bank in the autumn, the UK secured agreement to a comprehensive review of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, to take place in 1999.

  Last month the Chancellor and Secretary of State for International Development wrote to the IMF and the World Bank, pressing for the HIPC initiative to provide faster, deeper and wider debt relief. They asked in particular that the review include an assessment of whether HIPC debt relief ought to be linked more closely to poverty reduction, and whether the current debt sustainability ratios are too strict.

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms have registered to become providers of (i) maxi ISAs, (ii) mini ISAs and (iii) the life insurance element of the proposed ISA. [R] [74044]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 2 March 1999]: Up to 26 February, a total of 356 firms have received approval. 107 had registered to offer only the cash or life insurance components. These firms can offer only mini ISAs. The remaining 249 firms had registered to offer at least the stocks and shares component. These firms can offer both maxi and mini ISAs. 66 firms have registered to offer the insurance component of the ISA.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which other EU States charge vehicle excise duty; and at what level. [74507]

  Ms Hewitt
  All EU States levy a form of vehicle excise duty. The level charged can vary according to one or more factors, including engine capacity, weight, fuel type and the district in which the vehicle is registered.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which other EU states charge different rates of vehicle excise duty on cars of different engine capacities. [74508]

  Ms Hewitt
  As of 1997, engine capacity was a factor in determining the level of vehicle excise duty payable for passengers cars in the following EU countries:

  Belgium

  Germany

  657

  Spain

  Greece

  Ireland

  Luxembourg, and

  Portugal.

  Environmental Objectives
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the work his Department has carried out to examine the scope for using the tax system to deliver environmental objectives; and if he will make a statement. [75339]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government's commitment to exploring the scope for using economic instruments to secure environmental objectives was set out in the Statement of Intent on Environmental Taxation, published in July 1997.

  The progress made in using the tax system to deliver environmental objectives was set out in the 1999 Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report and Financial Statement and Budget Report, and in previous Pre-Budget Reports and Financial Statement and Budget Reports.

  Ethical and Social Investment
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to encourage ethical and social investment schemes; and if he will make a statement. [75343]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government's strategy is to increase the public's awareness of financial services while at the same time encouraging the financial service providers to offer products that are clearly understood. This will help consumers to choose products that are consistent with their social and ethical beliefs.

  Motor Fuels (Taxation)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue received by his Department from taxation on motor fuels in 1998. [75720]

  Ms Hewitt
  The revenue received from excise duty on all motor fuels in 1998 was £20.8 billion. The estimate amount of VAT received from the sale of motor fuels was £2.1 billion.

  Gambling Machines
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the tax revenue raised by his Department during 1998 from gambling on machines in the United Kingdom. [76052]

  Mrs. Roche
  The receipts from excise duty on amusement machine licences in 1998 were £142 1 million. This figure was published by HM Customs and Excise in their "Receipts for Betting, Gaming and Lottery Duties Bulletin: January 1999", published on 16 February 1999.

  Social Landlords
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many responses he has received to his consultation paper, "Restriction of VAT Grouping to Fully Taxable Corporate Bodies", from registered social landlords; and 658
  what estimate he has made of additional costs for (a) registered social landlords and (b) Government-funded housing programmes and housing benefit expenditure if the proposals are implemented in their present form. [76126]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Chancellor made clear in his Budget statement on 9 March that the proposal to restrict the VAT grouping facility to fully taxable companies would not be implemented.

  Developing Countries (Debt)
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the relief of the debt of developing countries. [73839]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: Last month the Chancellor and Secretary of State for International Development wrote to the IMF/World Bank pressing for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative to provide faster, deeper and wider debt relief. The Chancellor also announced a target which would involve committing $50 billion of debt relief to the world's poorest countries by the end of 2000.

  European Central Bank
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the salary of the President of the European Central Bank. [76285]

  Ms Hewitt
  In accordance with Article 11.3 of Protocol No. 3 to the EC Treaty (Statute of the ESCB and ECB), the terms and conditions of employment of the members of the Executive Board, in particular their salaries, pensions and other social security benefits are the subject of contracts with the ECB and are fixed by the Governing Council on a proposal from a Committee comprising three members appointed by the Governing Council and three members appointed by the Council of Ministers.

  Jobs (Lancashire)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of(a) new jobs created and (b) jobs lost in Lancashire during the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [76356]

  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. Nigel Evans, dated 17 March 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on jobs in Lancashire.
  The type of statistics you request are derived from the ONS Annual Employment Survey (AES). The latest results are for September 1997, which can be compared with those at September 1996.
  The number of Employee Jobs in Lancashire at September 1997 was 521,500, a net fall of 3,100 since September 1996. It is not possible to differentiate between the number of jobs created and lost over this time.

  European Investment Loans
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the projects in the United Kingdom which
  659
  have received loans from the (i) European Investment Bank and (ii) European Investment Fund, stating (a) the name of the project, (b) the sum loaned in pounds sterling, (c) the terms of re-payment and (d) significant other loans from (1) private and (2) public resources made for such projects. [76772]

  Ms Hewitt
  The European Investment Bank signed the following loans for projects in the UK in 1998:

  Project

  Amount (£)

  Individual loans

  Development of Elgin and Franklin gas and condensate fields in North Sea Texaco North Sea UK Co.

  59.9

  Power transmission and distribution grids Scottish Power plc

  150

  London Underground electricity systems Seeboard Powerlink

  123

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link Railtrack Group plc

  200

  Railway rolling stock Porterbrook Leasing Company Ltd.

  110

  Road construction and upgrading Birmingham City Council

  81.5

  Construction of A5/A55 trunk road UK Highways A55 Ltd.

  56

  Passenger facilities at Edinburgh, Heathrow and Gatwick airports

  85

  BAA plc

  Freight handling centre at Heathrow airport British Airways plc

  20

  Extension of mobile telephone network Mercury Personal Communications—One 2 One

  200

  Water supply and wastewater infrastructure Thames Water Utilities Ltd.

  125

  Water supply and wastewater infrastructure Northumbrian Water Ltd.

  75

  Construction and refurbishment of social housing and vocational training premises in urban regeneration areas

  44

  The Housing Finance Corporation Ltd.

  Establishment of five industrial gas production facilities

  88.3

  Air Products and Chemicals Inc.

  Production and distribution of industrial gases in Margam, Wales

  19

  BOC Ltd.

  Development of new vehicle and improvements to paint shops and engineering centre

  50

  Rover Group Ltd.

  Aircraft design and production

  30

  Short Brothers Ltd.

  Schools construction

  37

  Falkirk Council

  Global loans for financing small and medium-sized enterprises

  Barclays Bank

  300

  Midland Bank

  100

  Tokyo-Mitsubishi Bank

  50

  Lloyds Bank

  50

  ABN AMRO Causeway Mezzanine Partnership LP

  15.7

  Midland Bank Enterprise Funds

  7.1

  Total

  2,076.5

  660
  I am unable to provide details of the terms of repayment on EIB loans or information on other contributory sources of finance as this is commercially sensitive.

  The European Investment Fund does not provide loans. It provides loan guarantees and equity investments.

  In 1997 (latest available information) the EIF signed guarantees to intermediaries supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK as follows:

  £ million

  Operation

  Party guaranteed

  Amount

  Mezzanine Loan Fund

  Syndicate, arranger NatWest

  10

  Barclays Bank

  Barclays Bank

  34.8

  In 1997 (latest available information) the EIF signed equity investments in funds supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK as follows:

  £ million

  Fund

  Amount

  Prelude Trust plc

  2

  MTI Three B. Ltd. Partnership

  2

  Alta Berkeley VCV

  2.1

  Kennet Ltd. Partnership

  3

  I am unable to provide details of the terms of EIF operations or information on other contributory sources of finance as this is commercially sensitive.

  G8 Meeting, Cologne
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to propose common standards for export credit agreements at the Cologne G8 meeting in June. [77080]

  Mrs. Roche
  Considerable work continues to be undertaken within the OECD to ensure that export credit agencies operate on the basis of a level playing field. The imminent introduction on 1 April this year of the OECD premia regime is the latest example of this work. The G8 recognises that the OECD is often the appropriate forum for export credit issues and for this reason has in the past encourage the OECD to seek a common standard on several export credit matters, including the environment and productive expenditure for highly indebted poor countries. We will continue within the G8 to support the work of the OECD Export Credits Group towards developing common standards for export credit agencies.

  Export Guarantees Committee
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 1999,Official Report, column 420, on the Export Guarantees Committee, if he will place in the Library a list of the items discussed at the four meetings of the Committee since 1 January 1998. [77154]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have placed in the Library a note listing the items discussed by the Export Guarantees Committee in the meetings held since 1 January 1998.

  Childrens Tax Credit
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what rate the children's tax credit will be reduced for families where one or more earners is a higher rate taxpayer. [76662]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The children's tax credit will gradually be withdrawn where the person claiming it is liable to tax at the higher rate. These people will lose £1 of tax credit for every £15 of income above the point at which they start to pay higher rate tax until their entitlement to the credit is exhausted.

  Average Weekly Earnings
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the average weekly earnings (i) including and (ii) excluding overtime for (x) part-time and (y) full-time workers in(a) Scotland, (b) each of the Scottish local authorities and (c) Great Britain, broken down for (1) men and (2) women in (A) manual employment, (B) non-manual employment and (C) for all workers at (X) cash and (Y) constant terms for each year since 1991–92; and if he will estimate the same information for 1998–99, 1999–2000,2000–01 and 2001–02. [76116]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 15 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 Tim Holt to Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 17 March 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on earnings.
  The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost. There is a considerable amount of data, from the New Earnings Survey (NES) 1991 to 1998, available in the House of Commons library. This includes estimates of average gross weekly earnings for full-time and some part-time workers for the areas in question. Prior to 1996, data for the former Scottish regions are available. Average earnings excluding overtime can be derived from the relevant tables. Projected earnings are not calculated.
  For the growth of earnings in real terms please see the Retail Prices Index (RPI) in the ONS Business Monitor MM23, a copy of which is also available in the House Library.

  Financial Services and Markets Bill
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the financial promotion regime under the Financial Services and Markets Bill. [77538]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Financial Services and Markets Bill provides for a prohibition on unauthorised persons making financial promotions without the approval of an authorised person. The Bill also provides for exemptions from that prohibition to be set out in secondary legislation.

  The Treasury has today issued a consultation document on the financial promotion regime under the Bill. Copies have been placed in the Vote Office and the Libraries of
  662
  the House. The deadline for comments is 30 April. Following consideration of responses, the Treasury will publish further consultation draft secondary legislation setting out proposed exemptions from the prohibition on unauthorised persons making financial promotions.

  Finance Bill
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Finance Bill will be published; and if he will make Explanatory Notes on the Bill's clauses available to hon. Members. [77737]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Finance Bill will be published on Wednesday, 31 March. Explanatory Notes on the Bill's clauses will be placed in the Vote Office and the Libraries of both Houses that day. Members of the public will be able to obtain copies of the Explanatory Notes from the Treasury; these will also be available on the Treasury's Internet site (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the presentation of Government policy in respect of EMU. [75362]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government's policy on membership of the single currency was set out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a statement to the House of Commons on 27 October 1997. This policy was restated by the Prime Minister in a statement to the House of Commons on 23 February 1999,Official Report, columns 179–84.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if the achievements of the British Armed Forces over the past two centuries will be recognised in the Millennium Dome; [72672]

  (2) what recognition will be given in the Millennium Dome to the achievements of Sir Winston Churchill; [72671]

  (3) what recognition will be given in the Millennium Dome to the part played by the British Empire in shaping the United Kingdom's history over the past two centuries. [72666]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 24 February 1999]: The Millennium Experience does not plan to incorporate exhibitions of an historical nature. The main focus on the Millennium Experience project is the future. However, the Dome's National Identity zone and the Our Town Story initiative will provide vehicles through which issues of history can be addressed and reflected. The content and the narrative of the National Identity zone will be influenced by the outcome of qualitative and quantitative market research testing the opinions of the general public, and the historical content of Our Town Story will depend on what each of the groups taking part consider best reflects their community's history.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on European Commission proposal COM (1998) 733; what assessment his Department has made of its impact on the(a) number of asylum applicants, (b) number of rejected asylum applicants, (c) repatriation of asylum applicants and (d) costs of repatriating asylum applicants. [75557]

  Kate Hoey
  Her Majesty's Government's current view on Commission proposal COM (1998) 733 is contained within the Home Office Explanatory Memorandum dated 8 February 1999, a copy of which was deposited in the Library. The proposal remains under consideration.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on probation service budgets of the Government's changes to ACT; and if he will make a statement. [75913]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Comprehensive Spending Review settlement for Local Government includes £130 million in each of the next three years to cover the impact on changes in Advanced Corporation Tax on local authority pension funds. This should be sufficient to ensure that any impact on probation service budgets will be minimal.

  Contract

  Type of work

  Date let

  Contract sum (£)

  Borehamwood Police Station

  Alteration and refurbishment

  9 August 1990

  454,000

  Canadian Avenue, Catford

  Conversion of premises to a probation hostel

  6 March 1991

  469,000

  Archway

  Fitting out sector base

  8 January 1998

  282,000

  Lambeth

  Alterations for territorial support group

  12 November 1998

  330,000

  Car Crime
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Metropolitan Police are taking to reduce car crime at leisure facilities. [76633]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that his objective is to reduce all vehicle crime within the Metropolitan Police District by 10,000 offences in 1999–2000. This is the equivalent of a four per cent. reduction over 1998–1999. The Metropolitan Police tackle vehicle crime through an intelligence-led approach. They use the result of crime audits, conducted with Crime and Disorder Act partners, and analysis of reported crimes, to identify 'hot spots' on which to focus policing activity.

  The Commission informs me that information about vehicle crime is not collated according to the types of car park where offences are committed. The Metropolitan Police are, however, contributing to the Association of Chief Police Officers secured car parks scheme by
  664

  Kurdish Demonstration (Police Costs)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were involved in policing the recent demonstration by Kurds in Holland Park; and what was the additional cost of this demonstration to the Metropolitan Police. [76604]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that 481 uniformed officers were involved in policing the march and demonstration in Holland Park on 20 February. He is unable to calculate the additional policing cost to the Metropolitan Police as overtime claims for all the officers involved have not yet been submitted.

  Police Stations
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts the Metropolitan Police have entered into with Higgins Developments Ltd., for the building or refurbishment of police stations; and for what value. [76632]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that neither the Metropolitan Police Service nor the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District has entered into a contract with Higgins Development Ltd. After competition, undertaken by external consultants, the Receiver has entered into a contract with Higgins Homes Ltd., a subsidiary company of Higgins Group plc, for the purchase of the site at 28–30 High Street Wanstead, subject to planning permission and a time constraint.

  Since 1985, another subsidiary company of Higgins Group plc, D. Higgins & Sons Ltd. has been invited by the Receiver to tender, in competition, 36 times, and won four contracts as a result. Those were:

  working with local authorities to increase the number of secured car parks in the Metropolitan Police District from 41 to 450 by the year 2000.

  Immigration and Asylum Appeals
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications there were for (i) extension or variation of leave to remain and (ii) duplicate endorsements for the last full year for which figures are available. [76616]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Mr. Norman) on 1 March 1999,Official Report, column 563.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of occasions
  665
  when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. [76835]

  Mr. Straw
  Between 2 May 1997 and 28 February 1999, my Special Advisers have made visits overseas on three occasions in an official capacity. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Codes and the Civil Service Management Code.

  Company Licences
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for(a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger companies (i) all licences and permits issued by his Department and its agencies to companies permitting them to carry out their business, (ii) the cost of each such licence or permit in (A) 1997–98 and (B) 1999–2000 and (iii) the current number of companies which are in receipt of each such licence or permit. [76851]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The information requested is not collected centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Human Rights
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's response to the findings announced by the European Commission on Human Rights regarding the applications by T and V about their trial and subsequent sentence of detention at Her Majesty's Pleasure for murder. [77571]

  Mr. Straw
  In summary, the findings of the European Commission on Human Rights were as follows:

  On Article 3 (`Production of torture') the Commission found no violation in relation to the trial.

  On Article 6(1) (Right to a fair trial') the Commission found violation by 14 votes to 5 in relation to the trial.

  On Article 14 (Prohibition of discrimination') the Commission found no separate issue because of the violation on Article 6 above.

  On Article 3 the Commission found no violation in relation to the sentence.

  On Article 5(1) ('Right to liberty and security') the Commission found no violation in relation to the sentence.

  On Article 6(1) the Commission found violation by 18 votes to 1 in relation to the tariff.

  On Article 5(4) the Commission found violation by 18 votes to 1 in relation to the tariff and review of detention.

  The Government welcome the fact that the Commission found that neither the trial nor the sentencing process were in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention which deals with inhuman and degrading treatment.

  The areas where the Commission did find against the United Kingdom Government do raise a range of serious and quite complex issues. The Government have decided to refer the Commission's finding themselves to the European Court of Human Rights. The European Commission has also referred these matters to the European Court.

  The European Court of Human Rights will now rehear all the issues covered by the Commission. This will give the Government an opportunity to state their position on all these issues. The Government will continue to contest these applications very strongly.
  666
  I have placed a copy of the Commission's findings in the Library.

  Firearms (Compensation)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to pay compensation to Mr. R. L. Wickerson of 35 Hillside Road, Paignton, Devon TQ3 3JF (ref DVC/FAC51086E187421) for the surrender of his firearms on 26 February 1998. [76793]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Option A and B elements of the claim were paid on 18 November 1998, and an offer of payment following examination of the remaining Option C elements of the claim was issued on 8 March 1999. This final payment will be made as soon as the necessary disclaimer has been returned.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Nuclear Materials (Transportation)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the emission levels from rail-borne flasks carrying nuclear fuel in the United Kingdom; and if he will list the international safety levels set for the transport by rail of nuclear fuels. [76014]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The National Radiological Protection Board, working under contract to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions carried out surveys into the radiological impact of the transport of radioactive materials by all modes. In the last survey covering rail transport (Radiation Exposure from the Normal Transport of Radioactive Materials within the United Kingdom, 1991 Review, by R. Gelder, National Radiological Protection Board Report NRPB-R255, ISBN 0 85951 351 3) the scenario of a householder living 100 metres from a marshalling yard where fuel flasks may be held for several hours, was assessed to give rise to a maximum dose of 6 microSievert. The maximum dose to persons living closer (50 metres) to a railway line with passing traffic (where exposure times would be very much shorter) was assessed to be very much lower. For comparison, the average annual dose in the UK owing to natural background radiation is about 2000 microSievert.

  The international safety levels for the transport of radioactive materials by rail are in the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) (ISBN 0–11–552032–5). They require that the radiation level from trains carrying radioactive material during normal operations is limited to a maximum of 2 milliSievert/h at any point on the wagon outer surfaces, or the vertical planes projected from the outer edges of open wagons and to 0.1 milliSievert/h at a distance of 2 metres from those surfaces. The maximum levels for non-fixed contamination on the surface of fuel flasks or rail wagons is 4 Bequerels/cm2 for beta, gamma and low toxicity alpha emitters and 0.4 Bequerels/cm2 for alpha emitters.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport announced a programme of random independent inspections of contamination levels on spent fuel flasks and other packages transporting radioactive materials. These checks were additional to those already made by

  667
  the operators. The contamination survey report is due to be published shortly. Copies will be available in the House of Commons Library.

  Affordable Accommodation (London)
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many units of accommodation available at affordable rents were developed by regional housing associations in (i) the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, (ii) the London Borough of Wandsworth and (iii) the City of Westminster in(a) 1997 and (b) 1998. [76282]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The numbers of units of affordable accommodation completed by registered social landlords in the financial year of 1997–98 and in the first 11 months of 1998–99 are as follows:

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  291

  163

  Wandsworth

  74

  60

  Westminster

  176

  158

  Note:

  The information is not available by calendar year.

  Road Traffic (North West)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to control the levels of road traffic resulting from summer tourism in the North West of England. [76358]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The road traffic problem caused by summer tourism in the North West is highly localised in nature and is primarily a matter for the local highway authorities concerned. Officials from my Department have been working with key partners in Cumbria to enhance and accelerate the existing Lake District Transport Package which has received TPP funding since 1998. The resultant Transport Strategy will act as a pilot for other National Parks.

  The strategy, among other things, aims to reduce traffic and offer alternative modes of transport to the car while maintaining a sustainable tourist industry. We anticipate this strategy will be developed further and subsumed into Cumbria County Council's Local Transport Plan to be submitted later this year.

  Electronic Red Boxes
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will name the Ministers in his Department who are regular users of electronic Red Boxes. [76179]

  Dr. Reid
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 651–52.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the(a) revenue support grant and (b) standard spending
  668
  assessment for each (i) metropolitan and (ii) unitary authority as a sum per head of their population ranked and numbered in descending order. [76165]

  Ms Armstrong
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Infrastructure Projects
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he has put into place to speed up the planning process for major infrastructure projects. [76396]

  Mr. Caborn
  Some proposals for improving the processing of major infrastructure projects through the planning system were included in the "Modernising Planning" Policy Statement which I published last year. I intend to publish shortly a consultation paper with detailed proposals to streamline the procedures.

  Student Travel Discounts
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that all students are granted the same concessions in terms of travel discounts; and what representations he has received relating to this. [76747]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This is a matter for local authorities, under the statutory powers available to them. Bus operators and London Transport may also offer reduced fares for students if they think it appropriate. I receive correspondence on this topic from time to time, but have no plans to change the present arrangements.

  British Waterways
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources he plans to make available to British Waterways to repair the existing canal system. [76644]

  Mr. Meale
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 18 February an increase in grant to British Waterways, by £8 million to nearly £59 million a year. Over the next three years this will enable British Waterways to increase the amount of investment and reduce the backlog of urgent maintenance from £90 million to £40 million.

  Rural Bypasses
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to provide funding for further rural bypass schemes; and if he will make a statement. [76774]

  Dr. Reid
  Nineteen trunk road bypasses were among the 37 schemes included in the Targeted Programme of Improvements announced last July following the Roads Review. Further cases will be considered in the studies proposed in the Review.

  Local Authorities may propose bypasses as part of their Local Transport Plans where they are satisfied that they represent the most appropriate solution to the problem and deserve priority within their Plan.
  669
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he or one of his Ministers will visit Wyre Piddle to examine the case for the construction of a bypass. [76775]

  Dr. Reid
  We will examine the case for the construction of Wyre Piddle Bypass in the context of Worcestershire County Council's Draft Local Transport Plan, to be submitted in July this year. Any visit in advance of that consideration would be premature.

  London Underground
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the planned fare increases for London Underground for the years 2000–05. [76972]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  London Underground fares are currently the responsibility of London Transport. Subject to the passage of the Greater London Authority Bill, when London Underground transfers to the Greater London Authority, the Mayor will be under a duty to arrange for the setting of the general level and structure of fares to be charged on services provided or secured by Transport for London, including London Underground fares. We are currently working on the detail of arrangements for setting Underground fares in the transition period after the establishment of the GLA and before London Underground is transferred to it.

  Planning Guidance (Electromagnetic Fields)
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to issue planning guidance on land use planning and electromagnetic fields. [77083]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department issued in December 1998 for consultation the draft of a circular prepared jointly with the Department of Health on land use planning and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The circular provides advice to local planning authorities in drawing up development plan policies or deciding planning applications for development giving rise to EMFs or for development proposed in the vicinity of existing sources of EMFs. A copy of the consultation package has been placed in the Library. Responses were invited by 19 February 1999. We are currently considering the responses received.

  Countryside Access
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the compatibility between his proposals to extend the right of access on foot to open countryside without compensation and the Government's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. [76969]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government's view is that their plans for creating a new statutory right on foot to open countryside are compatible with their obligations under the European Convention on human rights. In deciding that there will be no general right to compensation, the Government have taken into account the limited nature of the new right of access; its application only to land which is undeveloped and not used for intensive agricultural purposes; the continued ability of landowners to develop and use their land after the introduction of the right; and the 670
  extensive provision made for closure of land for land management and other reasons. A cost benefit study for the Government, undertaken by independent consultants, supports the view that landowners will not suffer significant losses or costs as a result of a new right of access such as would warrant the provision of compensation.

  Housing Revenue Account (Subsidy System)
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding the amount of housing benefit subsidy clawed back through negative entitlement under the housing revenue account subsidy formula. [76978]

  Mr. Raynsford
  A number of right hon. and hon. Members, local authorities, and tenants groups have made representations about the present Housing Revenue Account Subsidy system. In December 1998 we issued a consultation paper "A New Financial Framework for Local Authority Housing: Resource Accounting in the Housing Revenue Account" seeking views on proposals for fundamental changes in the system. These changes would include ending the practice of offsetting assumed surpluses on an Authority's Housing Revenue Account against rent rebate subsidy. Consultations are not yet complete and there will be an announcement about our plans in due course. A copy of the consultation paper is in the Library.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants in her Department have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week on 17 consecutive weeks; how many civil servants in her Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost of compliance with the Directive. [76805]

  Clare Short
  No civil servants in my Department have been asked to waive their rights. Employers of the Department are highly dedicated to the work and inclined to work long hours. We have decided to tackle instances of work overload through measures such as job re-structuring and work re-prioritisation rather than by the continuing acceptance of a long hours culture. Managers at all levels have been asked to ensure that staff are not put under pressure to work hours in excess of those permitted by the Directive or to waive their rights. The costs of compliance with the Directive cannot be collected as they are not clearly evident.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she has to ease the debt burden for Nigeria. [76965]

  Clare Short
  The full extent of Nigeria's debt is unclear. My Department is providing technical assistance to the Government to update its external debt recording and management system. We have also offered to assist the Government to develop a debt management strategy.

  Ministerial Meetings (US)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times Ministers in her Department have met their counterparts in the US Government since 1 June 1998; and if she will list the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved on each occasion, and the name of the US counterpart at each meeting. [77120]

  Clare Short
  I have no counterpart in the US Government. I have met Brian Atwood—head of USAID on a large number of occasions.

  Number of patients seen for first outpatient appointment, by time band, following written referral by a GP quarter ended 31 December 1998

  Number seen who had waited:

  Health Authority

  0 to less than 4 weeks

  4 to less than 26 weeks

  26 weeks and over

  Bradford

  6,765

  9,350

  792

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  8,998

  11,709

  1,227

  Durham

  8,936

  14,465

  1,071

  East Riding

  8,506

  11,170

  569

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  6,226

  8,822

  366

  Leeds

  8,265

  15,751

  1,417

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  8,834

  11,009

  787

  North Cumbria

  4,745

  7,861

  436

  North Yorkshire

  9,719

  15,552

  1,134

  Northumberland

  4,818

  7,635

  478

  Sunderland

  3,068

  7,916

  260

  Tees

  8,484

  13,881

  1,547

  Wakefield

  5,152

  6,732

  283

  Northern and Yorkshire Region total

  92,516

  141,853

  10,367

  Barnsley

  3,292

  5,352

  620

  Doncaster

  3,984

  5,591

  752

  Leicestershire

  11,244

  19,599

  1,824

  Lincolnshire

  10,241

  13,588

  1,467

  North Derbyshire

  5,385

  7,558

  216

  North Nottinghamshire

  6,028

  7,399

  751

  Nottingham

  6,547

  8,928

  1,962

  Rotherham

  3,458

  6,035

  346

  Sheffield

  8,292

  10,630

  1,385

  South Derbyshire

  8,108

  12,048

  922

  South Humber

  5,186

  5,553

  327

  Trent Region total

  71,765

  102,281

  10,572

  Bedfordshire

  6,743

  12,527

  1,354

  Berkshire

  14,647

  21,710

  1,022

  Buckinghamshire

  7,652

  14,605

  1,296

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  5,433

  10,622

  1,364

  East Norfolk

  9,349

  15,569

  1,007

  North West Anglia

  5,628

  9,139

  1,181

  Northamptonshire

  6,171

  13,681

  1,689

  Oxfordshire

  11,728

  13,162

  862

  Suffolk

  7,659

  15,798

  1,362

  Anglia and Oxford Region total

  75,010

  126,813

  11,137

  Barking and Havering

  4,407

  8,590

  716

  Barnet

  3,717

  6,156

  422

  Brent and Harrow

  4,937

  9,986

  555

  Camden and Islington

  6,941

  9,277

  703

  East and North Hertfordshire

  5,523

  11,104

  442

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  10,166

  15,822

  639

  East London and City

  7,930

  13,865

  1,918

  Enfield and Haringey

  5,938

  11,180

  1,119

  Hillingdon

  2,154

  4,546

  293

HEALTH

  NHS Waiting Lists
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each of the last 10 years, how many patients have waited(a) three to 25 weeks and (b) more than 26 weeks to see a consultant in each (i) health authority and (ii) English region. [74732]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available.

  Information on outpatient waiting times by health authority is only available from 1998–99. Available information for the quarter ending December 1998 is provided in the table.
  673

  Number of patients seen for first outpatient appointment, by time band, following written referral by a GP, quarter ended 31 December 1998

  Number seen who had waited:

  Health Authority

  0 to less than 4 weeks

  4 to less than 26 weeks

  26 weeks and over

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  4,966

  6,506

  171

  North Essex

  10,577

  19,812

  1,298

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  5,670

  9,529

  1,566

  South Essex

  8,059

  17,962

  808

  West Hertfordshire

  5,631

  10,046

  452

  North Thames Region total

  86,616

  154,381

  11,102

  Bexley and Greenwich

  6,697

  9,547

  1,040

  Bromley

  2,761

  6,963

  577

  Croydon

  4,904

  5,822

  215

  East Kent

  6,975

  12,589

  712

  East Surrey

  5,625

  6,422

  107

  East Sussex Brighton and Hove

  8,523

  19,374

  1,015

  Kingston and Richmond

  4,719

  5,264

  135

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  7,833

  16,693

  1,360

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  9,362

  14,286

  813

  West Kent

  11,817

  19,323

  1,725

  West Surrey

  9,456

  13,772

  559

  West Sussex

  5,960

  12,807

  1,248

  South Thames Region total

  84,632

  142,862

  9,506

  Avon

  13,889

  18,176

  3,115

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  8,040

  11,091

  1,578

  Dorset

  12,574

  17,753

  315

  Gloucestershire

  7,682

  12,048

  765

  Isle of Wight

  2,290

  3,043

  8

  North and East Devon

  6,809

  10,459

  906

  North and Mid Hampshire

  8,591

  12,939

  781

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  5,102

  12,515

  3,239

  Somerset

  7,279

  10,734

  747

  South and West Devon

  8,879

  12,609

  1,395

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  5,701

  11,435

  747

  Wiltshire

  9,372

  14,094

  1,257

  South and West Region total

  96,208

  146,896

  14,853

  Birmingham

  15,532

  22,710

  557

  Coventry

  2,976

  7,446

  518

  Dudley

  4,116

  6,953

  119

  Herefordshire

  6,124

  4,152

  489

  North Staffordshire

  3,853

  8,255

  2,258

  Sandwell

  4,582

  6,813

  560

  Shropshire

  5,239

  10,345

  847

  Solihull

  2,295

  3,993

  56

  South Staffordshire

  7,566

  13,020

  2,131

  Walsall

  3,639

  5,632

  594

  Warwickshire

  3,438

  6,228

  478

  Wolverhampton

  952

  1,852

  120

  Worcestershire

  8,415

  10,932

  134

  West Midlands Region total

  68,727

  108,331

  8,861

  Bury and Rochdale

  5,771

  8,749

  571

  East Lancashire

  6,848

  13,448

  799

  Liverpool

  5,627

  11,127

  1,299

  Manchester

  6,503

  10,065

  1,303

  Morecambe Bay

  5,515

  7,051

  912

  North Cheshire

  8,214

  5,610

  181

  North West Lancashire

  7,221

  11,344

  562

  Salford and Trafford

  7,507

  11,155

  1,200

  Sefton

  2,499

  6,793

  593

  South Cheshire

  9,295

  14,462

  698

  South Lancashire

  4,001

  7,897

  817

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  5,290

  8,086

  866

  Stockport

  5,578

  6,818

  493

  West Pennine

  6,164

  10,401

  1,063

  Wigan and Bolton

  8,266

  14,360

  924

  Wirral

  3,687

  6,766

  1,017

  North West Region total

  97,986

  154,132

  13,298

  England total

  673,460

  1,077,549

  89,696

  Paediatric Services
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department is providing to health authorities on the provision of paediatric occupational therapy services; and if he will make a statement. [74875]

  Mr. Hutton
  Guidance on the provision of paediatric occupational therapy services is contained in "Child Health in the Community—A Guide to Good Practice", published in 1996. We expect that Primary Care Groups will work with their local Health Authorities to ensure that Health Improvement Programmes will include adequate occupational therapy services for children.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much income the Medicines Control Agency derives from licensing fees. [75727]

  Ms Jowell
  The Medicines Control Agency receives almost all its income from licensing and associated fees. The balance of its income derives from charges for associated services for which statutory fees are not levied.

  In 1997–98, the Medicines Control Agency received in excess of 97 per cent. (£27.4 million out of £28.1 million) of its income from licensing-related fees. Further information can be obtained from the agency's annual report and accounts.

  Health Services Accreditation
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if(a) his Department, (b) the NHS Executive and (c) East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority informed customers of the closure of Health Services Accreditation; and if he will make a statement on the (i) nature and (ii) number of responses received. [76355]

  Mr. Denham
  The Director of Health Service Accreditation (HSA) wrote on 3 March 1999 advising customers of its closure. As of 16 March, HSA had received a total of 14 letters from contributors to the service standards reports or from providers of patient services eligible for accreditation. They all expressed regret that the work of the HSA had come to an end and all hoped that ways might be found of maintaining access to the materials.

  Electronic Red Boxes
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will name the Ministers in his Department who are regular users of electronic red boxes. [76170]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has made a laptop computer available to each Minister to enable them to e-mail non-sensitive documents securely to and from their Private Office and access other departmental information sources. I currently use this facility as does the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham).

  Home Help Charges
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the weekly charges to clients who are in receipt of a home help service in the(a) City of Westminster, (b) London Borough of Wandsworth and (c) London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. [76267]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on charges made to individuals for home help provision is not available centrally. However, the total amounts reported by local authorities as having been received from clients in the form of fees and charges, in 1996–97, for different services are collected centrally, and are available on the Department of Health Web page [http:\\www.open.gov.uk/doh/public/pss_stat.htm] for all local authorities in England.

  Viagra
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the extended period of public consultation on the provision of Viagra by the NHS will come to a conclusion. [76746]

  Mr. Denham
  The public consultation on our policy proposals about the treatment of impotence on the National Health Service will end on 25 March 1999.

  Pen Needles
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to issue free pen needles for use by insulin-dependent diabetics. [76881]

  Mr. Denham
  I announced on 25 February that we hope to allow insulin pen needles and reusable insulin injection pens to be prescribed by general practitioners on the National Health Service. This would be contingent upon the addition of pre-filled, disposable pens to Schedule 10 to the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 on which we are consulting interested parties. Copies of this announcement and the consultation letter have been placed in the Library.

  The consultation period ends on 9 April 1999.

  Nurses
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many former nurses (i) in total and (ii) who had been out of the profession for more than five years have(a) applied and (b) been accepted on back to nursing courses since his January announcement. [76387]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 12 March 1999]: The information requested is not available centrally.

  In the first few weeks of the national nursing publicity campaign, which began on 1 February, over 44,500 people have contacted the response line, of which about 4,400 have expressed an interest in returning to nursing in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many former nurses have (i) applied, (ii) been accepted upon and (iii) completed back to nursing courses in each of the last five years; [76385]
  677
  (2) what was the average cost of back to nursing courses for former nurses who have been out of the profession for (a) less than five years and (b) more than five years, for each of the last five years on record; [76388]

  (3) how many former nurses have applied for back to nursing courses for each of the last five years; [76384]

  (4) how many former nurses who had left nursing at least five years previously have (i) applied to, (ii) been accepted on and (iii) completed back to nursing courses in each of the last five years. [76386]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 12 March 1999]: The information requested is not available centrally.

  It is planned to include information about return to practice courses in the statistical bulletin which is due to be published by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting during week commencing 19 April 1999.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the development of community dental services. [75436]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The Community Dental Service plays a valuable part in the provision of NHS dentistry, which we plan to continue. The type and level of CDS services commissioned and funded is for individual health authorities to determine in the light of local needs and priorities.

  Official Journal (EC)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each management consultancy contract advertised by NHS organisations in the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Community in each of the last five years. [76489]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on contract notices placed in the supplement is available on the internet website http://www.ted.eur-op.eu.int.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into the possible link between heavy use of mobile phones and memory loss. [76951]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has funded two research projects on possible effects of radio frequency fields similar to those emitted by mobile phones. One is a behavioural study of rodents and the other is a human study involving psychological tests under simulated mobile phone use. Memory loss is a component of both these studies. Neither study has yet been published.

  Women's Unit
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work of the Women's Unit. [75375]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Ms Hughes) on 2 March 1999,Official Report, column 669.

  Aspirin
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to end the present regulation limiting the sale of 75mg. aspirin to 32 tablets at one time. [77437]

  Mr. Denham
  Following statutory public consultation, the Medicines Commission has advised that low dose aspirin (75mg) may safely be sold or supplied in packs of up to 100 tablets or capsules under the supervision of a pharmacist. The Prescription Only Medicines Order will be amended to implement this. The Statutory Instrument is due to be laid in Parliament by 1 April and, with Parliamentary agreement, would be effective from 22 April 1999.

WALES

  Roads
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of expenditure by his Department and agencies on roads for each of the years from 1994–95 to 1998–99; what are the planned figures for each of the years from 1999–2000 to 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [74899]

  Mr. Hain
  My Department's expenditure on trunk roads was as follows:

  £million

  Outturn

  1994–95

  202.1

  1995–96

  192.3

  1996–97

  162.0

  1997–98

  112.9

  Plans

  1998–99

  100.6

  Trunk road provision for future years is:

  £million

  Plans

  1999–2000

  101.6

  2000–2001

  104.6

  2001–2002

  104.6

  This Government have stuck by the spending plans of the previous Government up to and including those for the current financial year (1998–99). However, we were

  679
  able, exceptionally, to inject an extra £10 million into the trunk road programme in 1998–99, and this will be reflected in final outturn figures.

  The Department also supports local authority expenditure on major road construction schemes through Transport Grant arrangements. Transport Grant allocations for road schemes in the period in question were as follows:

  £ million

  Outturn

  1994–95

  65.6

  1995–96

  83.0

  1996–97

  79.4

  1997–98

  48.5

  Plans

  1998–99

  38.0

  1999–2000

  25.3

  From 1998–99 the Department has used Transport Grant to support integrated transport packages and Safe Route to School initiatives. Allocations of £12 million have been made for these purposes for 1999–2000, which are additional to the provision above. Future Transport allocations for local roads will depend on bids received this Summer and subsequently.

  There are other elements of Welsh Office programme expenditure which relate to roads but these are not easily identifiable.

  Following the transfer of functions the allocation of expenditure for roads will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  European Standard Fund
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the annual amount received in Wales from European structural funds between 1992 and 1999; and what percentage these amounts were of the total receipts received under European structural funds within the United Kingdom. [75856]

  Mr. Hain
  The information is not available in the format requested since Structural Fund programmes run over a period of years. For the period covered by the present regulations (1994–99), Wales has been allocated £640 million from the Structural Funds, which represents 7 per cent. of the total United Kingdom allocation.

  Electronic Red Boxes
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will name the Ministers in his Department who are regular users of electronic Red Boxes. [76169]

  Mr. Michael
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 651–52. Preparations are being made to ensure that Assembly Secretaries and Members are at the cutting edge of new technologies.

  Schools Census
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the results of the January 1999 schools' census will be published. [76212]
  680
  Mr. Hain
  Schools Census results will be available later this year and will be published in "Statistics of Education and Training in Wales: Schools in 2000". Provisional results about class sizes will be published in a Statistical Release in the summer. The precise date of publication will be announced in the Office for National Statistics' monthly "National Statistics Update" in due course.

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

SCOTLAND

  Nurses (Pay)
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what finance has been provided in the Comprehensive Spending Review for increases in nurses' pay in Scotland in 2000–01 and 2001–02. [69716]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: While no specific funds have been provided for nurses' pay in the Comprehensive Spending Review, the outcome provided sufficient funds to meet the reasonable cost of future nurses' pay awards.

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

  Secondhand Tyres
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase the resources available to council trading standards departments to enable them(a) to enforce rules relating to the sale of unsafe secondhand tyres and (b) to publicise the dangers of low-quality secondhand tyres. [75614]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  We took into account pressures on local authorities, and their ability to make efficiency savings, when setting the level of provision in the Comprehensive Spending Review and in reaching conclusions on the Local Government Finance Settlement 1999–2000. We also took into account the views of the local government associations and others who we consulted during consultation on our proposals. The level of resources devoted to the enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994, which seek to control the quality of part worn tyres, is a matter for each local authority responsible for trading standards.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Turkey
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to Turkey about the principles of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on the legal rights of a person charged with an offence. [74621]

  Ms Quin
  We regularly raise with Turkey the importance we attach to Turkey meeting its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, including the right of a person charged with an offence to a fair trial and to legal counsel of his choice.
  681
  With EU partners we most recently raised this issue with Turkey on 22 February.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he intends to respond to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of the rights of citizens of Gibraltar to vote in elections of the European Parliament. [76637]

  Ms Quin
  We will be taking all available steps to secure extension of the EP franchise to Gibraltar, in the light of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights. However, this can be done only by amending the 1976 EC Act on Direct Elections. This will require the agreement of all Member States. HMG will seek such an amendment in the current negotiations in Brussels on establishing Common Principles for EP elections.

  Iraq (Oil)
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what röle United Nations forces have in the prevention of export of oil from Iraq; [76933]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of barrels of oil, and the value in US dollars, exported illegally each year from Iraq to each first destination; [76934]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the illegal export of oil by road from Iraq. [76932]

  Mr. Fatchett
  No UN forces are specifically assigned to preventing the export of oil from Iraq. It is for individual member states to implement UN sanctions. A Multinational Interdiction Force, to which the UK regularly contributes maritime assets, patrols the Gulf to reduce the volume of illegal trade with Iraq, particularly oil, the most lucrative source of income for the Iraqi regime. We regularly make representations to Iraq's neighbours on the importance of preventing such a trade.

  HMG estimates that illegal exports of refined oil products via the Gulf since 1995 are as follows:
  1995: 20,000 metric tonnes, valued at $2 million (one metric tonne is equivalent to 7.33 barrels).
  1996: 264,585 tonnes valued at $30 million.
  1997: 1,550,692 tonnes valued at $100–130 million.
  1998: 1,929,260 tonnes valued at least at $100 million.
  1999: approx 37,000 tonnes for January and February. Illegal exports of refined products via Turkey are:
  1995: valued at $20 million.
  1996: approx 710,000 tonnes valued at $22–50 million.
  1997: valued at $70–150 million.
  1998: possibly between 1.7–10.4 million tonnes over the year, estimated at a value of approximately $300 million.

  Illegal oil exports via Syria, probably both crude oil and diesel, started in the second half of 1998. HMG cannot assess the quantity or value.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's response to Russian objections to Chapters 2 and 7 of the Rambouillet text. [77156]
  682
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The draft interim political agreement on Kosovo remains the subject of negotiation at the current peace talks in Paris. It would not therefore be helpful to comment on specific aspects of the agreement, or on the views of individual Contact Group members, at this critical stage.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent elections in Nigeria. [76979]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We welcome the progress of Nigeria's transition programme back to civilian democratic rule. While international observers noted some irregularities and logistical difficulties in the recent elections, they have commented that these did not affect the overall result, which we judge was a genuine reflection of the will of the Nigerian people. During his recent visit to Nigeria, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs congratulated President-elect Obasanjo on his victory. We hope that he will be able to visit the United Kingdom soon.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his meeting with President-elect Obasanjo. [76980]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary met President-elect Obasanjo in Nigeria on 10 March. The Foreign Secretary congratulated the President-elect on his election victory and highlighted the efforts Britain was making to help the transition process. The Foreign Secretary announced Britain's new pledge of £750,000 to help prepare the military for their role under a democratic government. My right hon. Friend reaffirmed that the United Kingdom would continue to support Nigeria's efforts to consolidate lasting democracy and prosperity. We would urge our partners in the Commonwealth to lift Nigeria's suspension immediately.

  Other topics discussed included Nigeria's economy and future support for the democratically elected government in Sierra Leone.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that Nigeria returns to full membership of the Commonwealth. [76981]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The United Kingdom supports Nigeria's early return to the Commonwealth. The decision lies with Commonwealth Heads of Government. This matter will be discussed by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, at their next meeting on 29–30 April.

  Dubai
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 1999,Official Report, column 229, what

  683
  representations he plans to make to the Government of Dubai regarding its failure to answer his Note Verbale of 10 November 1998. [76946]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: Our Embassy in Dubai has today asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai when we might expect a reply to the Note Verbale of 10 November 1998.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many export licences have been granted for arms exports to Sri Lanka since 2 May 1997; when the last licence was granted; and what it was for. [75510]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 2 May 1997 and 25 February 1999, 106 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 12 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Sri Lanka of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries).

  Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

  Individual licences issued between 2 May 1997 and 25 February 1999 covering the export to Sri Lanka of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML1

  23

  0

  ML2

  8

  0

  ML3

  11

  0

  ML4

  14

  1

  ML5

  2

  0

  ML6

  2

  0

  ML7

  2

  0

  ML10

  3

  4

  ML11

  33

  5

  ML13

  1

  1

  ML14

  1

  0

  ML15

  3

  1

  ML21

  2

  0

  ML22

  3

  0

  PL5001

  1

  0

  PL5006

  1

  0

  PL5017

  3

  0

  This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs
  684
  authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.

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

  In addition, goods on the Military List may have been exported to Sri Lanka under certain Open General Export Licences; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

  The date on which the last of the above licences was issued during the period was 18 February 1999, and this licence, a SIEL, covered the export of goods with the rating ML3.

  As noted in the answer given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones), on 14 July 1998, Official Report, column 149, details of the military equipment for which licences have been granted will be published in the Government's annual reports on strategic export controls and their application.

DEFENCE

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with Hunting-Brae since the Environment Agency served an enforcement notice on AWE Aldermaston, concerning the presence of tritium from the establishment in the Aldermaston stream; and if he will make a statement; [76021]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the enforcement notice served on AWE Aldermaston by the Environment Agency following the alleged illegal discharge of tritium into the River Kennet. [76022]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of Hunting-BRAE Ltd. made the MOD aware of the Environment Agency's intention to serve an enforcement notice on AWE Aldermaston in early February.

  An enforcement notice was duly served by the Environment Agency on 9 February 1999, requiring Hunting-BRAE to provide information to the Agency on discharges of tritium into the Aldermaston stream, and to make proposals to bring the discharges under regulatory control.
  685
  The Environment Agency has declared that, because the levels of radioactivity are not a danger to human health or the environment, it has decided not to stop the discharges. It also stated that the radiation dose from tritium in this groundwater at the point of entry into the Aldermaston stream is about 100 times less than the annual European radiation dose limit and 200 times less than natural background radiation. The stream flows into the River Kennet. I understand that samples taken downstream at Padworth bridge indicate that by that point, the levels are close to the limits of detection.

  Projects

  Nations involved

  Naval equipment

  HORIZON/Common New Generation Frigate

  UK, France, Italy

  NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS)

  UK, France, Italy, Norway1, United States1

  Land equipment

  MRAV (Multi Role Armoured Vehicle)

  UK, France, Germany

  Aimed Controlled Effect Anti-Tank Mine

  UK, France, Germany

  Future Tank Main Armament

  UK, France, Germany, United States1

  Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System

  UK, France, Germany, Italy, United States1

  Future Fire Control System for Multiple Launch Rocket System

  UK, France, Germany, Italy

  Very Short Range and Short Range Air Defence System Programme

  UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway1, Turkey1, United States1

  Missiles

  Long Range TRIGAT (Third Generation Anti-Tank Guided Weapon)

  UK, France, Germany2

  Medium Range TRIGAT (Third Generation Anti-Tank Guided Weapon)

  UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands

  Principal Anti-Air Missile System

  UK, France, Italy

  Air Systems

  Eurofighter3

  UK, Germany, Italy, Spain

  Allied Standards Avionics Architecture Initiative

  UK, France, Germany, United States1

  Active Electronically Scanned Radar for Airborne Multi-mode Solid State Active Array Radar

  UK, France, Germany

  Advanced Aero-engine Technology

  UK, France Germany

  Other Equipment

  NATO Improved Link Eleven

  UK, Canada1, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, United States1

  METOP (Next Generation Meteorological Satellites)

  UK, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway1, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland1, Turkey1

  Technology Demonstration Programme: Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

  UK, France

  Technology Demonstration Programme: Towed Decoys

  UK, France

  1 Non-EU Members

  2 The UK has declared that they are to withdraw from Long Range TRIGAT at the end of the Development Phase

  3 Eurofighter has recently moved into the Production Phase but there are a number of years of Development activity proceeding in parallel

  Nimrod MRA4 Programme
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current(a) estimated cost and (b) in-service date of the Nimrod MRA4 programme; and what each was when the contract was placed. [76645]

  Mr. Spellar
  The current estimated cost of procurement of Nimrod MRA4 is £2.4 billion (at September 1998 economic conditions), an increase of 0.5 per cent. since the contract was placed in December 1996. When the contract was placed, BAe undertook to meet an ISD of April 2003. Resource and technical difficulties with the early phases of the programme at BAe mean that the company does not now expect the aircraft to enter service with the RAF before early 2005. The precise slippage is still the subject of negotiations between MOD and BAe.

  Defence Projects
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the joint defence projects under development which involve members of the European Union. [76264]

  Mr. Spellar
  The joint defence projects under development involving the UK and other members of the European Union is as shown in the table. It does not include equipment that is either in-service or in production unless there is development activity proceeding in parallel.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of work for the Nimrod MRA4 programme is being placed with UK registered companies; and what was the forecast workshare when the contract was placed. [76627]

  Mr. Spellar
  When the Nimrod MRA4 contract was placed in December 1996, the direct workshare for UK companies was estimated at 76 per cent. I will write further once we have been able to calculate the current position and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Specialist Procurement Services
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Specialist Procurement Services; what was the figure at
  687
  its inception; on what date the Specialist Procurement Services published its report for 1997–98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76875]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Specialist Procurement Services. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from N. J. Bennett to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 17 March 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about Specialist Procurement Services' staffing levels and Annual Report as these matters fall within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Specialist Procurement Services.
  As at 16 March 1999 there were 802 employees funded by Specialist Procurement Services. At its inception the Agency employed 832 persons. The minor reduction in numbers since Agency inception reflects the beginning of a longer-term plan to maintain numbers in line with reduced operating cost targets. These changes are leading to initiatives to adopt new working practices in all of the Agency's operating divisions to minimise the impact on business delivery.
  In accordance with NAO Agency Audit requirements the Specialist Procurement Services Annual Report and Accounts for 1997–98 was placed in the Library on 20th July 1998. The production cost for the report was £12,800.

  Disposal Sales Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Disposal Sales Agency published its report for 1997–98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76891]

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

  Letter from Malcolm Westgate to Mr. Michael Hancock, dated 17 March 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Disposal Sales Agency's (DSA) 1997–98 Annual Report as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.
  The Report was laid before Parliament on 29 July 1998 and published on 25 August 1998. The cost of production and printing totalled £9,744.60.
  I hope this answers your question.

  Service Children's Education Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Service Children's Education Agency; what was the figure at its inception; on what date the Service Children's Education Agency published its report for 1997–98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76877]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Service Children's Education Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from David G. Wadsworth to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 17 March 1999:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Service Children's Education Agency as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Service Children's Education was created as a Defence Agency in April 1996. At that time there were 2,620 employees, broke down as 690 United Kingdom Based Teachers (UKBT), 180 locally engaged teachers (LET), 1,600 locally engaged civilians (LEC) and
  688
  150 Headquarters and support unit staff (HQ). There are currently 2,459 SCE personnel; 644 UKBTs, 177 UK Paid Teachers (UKPT), 1,517 LECs and 121 Headquarters and support unit staff, which includes Specialist Educational grades, MOD Defence Administration grades, LECs and 1 Military Warrant Officer—a total reduction of some 161 personnel. It should be noted that, since September 1998, SCE has taken on responsibility for the provision of four-year-old nursery education, with around 150 staff in 35 pre-schools worldwide; we also 'lost' catering and cleaning staff as a result of market testing with the result that the figure of 161 represents a 'net' reduction in numbers.
  The Annual Report and Accounts for 1997–98 were laid before the House on 30 July 1998. The publication costs of the Report were £3,810. This figure does not include the costs of staff involved in producing the Report, despatch and associated costs, which would be in the region of £15,000. In addition there is a notional charge by the National Audit Office for the auditing of the Accounts of £39,000.

  Defence Communication Services Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Defence Communication Services Agency; what was the figure at its inception; on what date the Defence Communication Services Agency published its report for 1997–98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76899]

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

  Letter from Major General A. J. Raper to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 17 March 1999:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Defence Communication Services Agency, as this matter falls within my remit as its Chief Executive. You asked about the number of people currently employed, the number at its inception, the date the Agency published its report for Financial Year 1997–98 and the cost of producing it.
  The number of people currently employed in the Defence Communication Services Agency is 1,379 against 1,517 at its inception on 1 April 1998. On the matter of 1997–98 report you will appreciate that, as the Agency only formed on 1 April 1998, no such report was due. There was, consequently, no cost.

  Duke of York's Royal Military School
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Duke of York's Royal Military School; and what was the figure at its inception. [76890]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from G. H. Wilson to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 17 March 1999:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of people currently employed by the Duke of York's Royal Military School and the figure at its inception, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of this Agency.
  There are currently 108 people employed by the Duke of York's Royal Military School, 90 of whom are full time and 18 of whom are part-time. The school was founded in Chelsea in 1803 and regrettably we do not have records of staff numbers at that time.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week on 17 consecutive weeks; how many civil servants in his Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost of compliance with the Directive. [76811]

  Mr. Spellar
  Details of staff who have voluntarily agreed that the maximum 48 hour working week need not apply in their case are not held centrally and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department has issued guidance that such opt-outs should be agreed by line managers only in exceptional circumstances. The vast majority of staff will therefore be unaffected by this aspect of the regulations. As normal working hours for MOD civil servants are well within the 48 hour ceiling, the costs of compliance with the Directive are negligible.

  Sexual Harassment
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have claimed sexual harassment against his Department at industrial tribunals; at what cost, in each year since 1994; and how many of those actions were successful. [76957]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested relating to the number of Industrial (now Employment) Tribunal applications made by serving members, or former members, of the Armed Forces, together with details of compensation paid in each financial year since 1994–95 is set out.

  Number of Industrial Tribunal applications received in period

  Number of Industrial Tribunal cases paid in period

  Compensation paid in period (£)

  1994–95

  0

  0

  0

  1995–96

  0

  0

  0

  1996–97

  16

  4

  76,500

  1997–98

  11

  5

  173,614

  1998–991

  62

  5

  144,000

  1 To 12 March 1999

  Procurement Board
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates the Procurement Board has met since 1 January 1998; and if he will place in the Library a list of items discussed at each of these meetings. [77150]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since 1 January 1998, the Procurement Policy Board (PPB) met on 28 January, 20 April, 15 July, 23 November and 25 January 1999. The major items discussed during these meetings are as follows:

  Acquisition Organisation Review

  SDR Final Report

  Project Managers Development Scheme

  Defence Sales

  Functioning of Integrated Project Teams

  Electronic Commerce

  Smart Procurement Implementation Planning

  690

  Chief of Defence Logistics Implementation Planning

  Defence Procurement Agency—Formation

  Smart Procurement Implementation—Commercial Issues

  Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en Matiere d'Armement (OCCAR)

  Industrial and Value for Money Implications of LTC 99.

  RAF Special Storage Areas
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF special storage areas have been closed since 1 April 1997; for what reason these special storage areas were closed; where these special storage areas were located; and on what date each was closed. [77149]

  Mr. Spellar
  Two RAF special storage areas were closed in 1998 because they were no longer needed following the withdrawal of the WE177 nuclear weapon. The location of these areas are covered by Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information because of the long-standing policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence of nuclear weapons at a particular time or place. This policy is, however, under review, and I will write to the hon. Member when the review is concluded.

  Manston Airfield
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will fully transfer responsibility for Manston Airfield to a civilian owner and relinquish responsibility for the operation and control of the airfield. [77222]

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

  Training Aircraft (Kent)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision he has made, at which locations, for the future of(a) non-powered glider, (b) powered glider and (c) fixed wing aircraft training for air cadets based in Kent; and if he will make a statement. [77223]

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

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Incompetent Teachers
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he has introduced to facilitate the removal from post of incompetent teachers. [74782]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This is a manifesto pledge which we took immediate action on following the 1997 general election. New procedures for dealing speedily and fairly with teachers who cannot do the job were agreed at a national level among representative parties. The National Employers Organisation for School Teachers (NEOST) have reported to the Department that most schools have now adopted the new procedures. My right hon. Friend
  691
  the Secretary of State has asked NEOST to pursue follow-up action to pick up on the small number of LEAs that have not made good progress and will also conduct a survey to collect information on LEA experience in triggering capability procedures with a view to identifying good practice. In September, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will receive powers under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to provide statutory guidance and where necessary impose appropriate staff capability procedures on schools. He will continue to monitor the situation to see whether any use of these powers will be necessary.

  Disabled Students Allowance
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to extend the disabled students allowance to postgraduate study. [76738]

  Mr. Mudie
  We are currently considering the scope of the Disabled Students Allowances and will be making an announcement later in the year.

  Student Tuition Fees
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the extent of non-payment of student tuition fees at universities in England and Wales during the current year; and if he will make a statement. [75960]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The collection of fees is a matter for universities. In this, the first year of the new funding regime for higher education, only first year students will be subject to the new arrangements. Of these, we estimate around a third of students, from lower income families, will not be expected to contribute anything towards the costs of their tuition, and from those students who will be asked to contribute, universities and colleges in England and Wales are expected to receive income of £130 million and £8 million respectively.

  Childcare Strategy
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of the national strategy on childcare; and if he will make a statement. [77013]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The National Childcare Strategy is already having a positive impact locally. Through the commitment of a wide range of partners, we are on target to create 60,000 new places in England in the year to April 1999.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69950]

  Mr. Mudie
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 March 1999, c. 71]: The original answer failed to differentiate between those bodies that publish information and those that make it available to the public on request. It also failed to
  692
  differentiate between those bodies that publish or make available minutes of meetings and those that publish or make available summary reports of meetings.

  The Education Transfer Council makes minutes available to the public on request; the Funding Agency for Schools publishes a bulletin which includes summary updates of key points of meetings; the Further Education Funding Council publishes summary reports of meetings; the Higher Education Funding Council for England makes summary reports of meetings available to the public on request; the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority publishes summary reports of meetings; and the Teacher Training Agency makes minutes available to the public on request. The publication of minutes is not a statutory requirement.

  The Teacher Training Agency makes agendas available to the public on request. The publication of agendas and documents is not a statutory requirement.

  The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency; the Education Transfer Council; the Funding Agency for Schools; the Higher Education Funding Council for England; the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; and the Teacher Training Agency, make registers available to the public on request. The Construction Industry Training Board; the Engineering Construction Training Board; the Further Education Funding Council; Investors in People UK; and the Student Loans Company publish registers. Publishing the members' register of interests is not a statutory requirement.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate from the PENSIM model the proportion of pensioners likely to have incomes of less than (1) 20 per cent. of average earnings and (2) 30 per cent. of average earnings,(a) including the impact of the minimum income guarantee and other means-tested assistance and (b) excluding all forms of means-tested assistance for (i) 2000, (ii) 2005, (iii) 2010, (iv) 2015, (v) 2020 and (vi) 2025; and if he will list the assumptions made, with particular reference to those relating to (x) growth in earnings, (y) returns on investment and (z) prices. [75232]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.

  Percentage of pensioners with incomes below 20 per cent, and 30 per cent, of average earning

  Percentage

  Proportion below 20 per cent. of average earnings

  Proportion below 30 per cent. of average earnings

  Single pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Single pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  2000

  30

  1—

  70

  5

  2005

  20

  1—

  70

  5

  2010

  30

  1—

  70

  10

  2015

  20

  1—

  75

  10

  2020

  30

  1—

  75

  10

  2025

  20

  1—

  70

  5

  693

  Total pensioner unit net income less income support and housing benefit

  Percentage

  Single pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Single pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  2000

  50

  1—

  75

  10

  2005

  45

  1—

  70

  10

  2010

  40

  1—

  75

  15

  2015

  40

  1—

  75

  15

  2020

  45

  1—

  75

  15

  2025

  40

  1—

  70

  15

  1 = less than 2.5 per cent.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates requested have been made using the PENSIM model. Due to the number of assumptions used in PENSIM, and the uncertainty surrounding estimates so far into the future, these estimates should be considered as broad brush. In particular, PENSIM uses data from a number of different sources. As a result, changes over an interval as short as five years may be due to a change in the composition of the data set used to make projections. Therefore the results presented in the table should be treated with some caution and used to identify long-term trends rather than changes over short periods.

  2. All figures are rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.

  3. Average earnings are assumed to grow 1.5 per cent. faster than prices.

  4. 20 per cent. of average earnings, in 1998 prices, for 2000 is £79.22 and 30 per cent. is £118.84.

  5. The return on investments is assumed to be 2 per cent. greater than the rise in average earnings.

  6. The answer is based on the current system of retirement pensions—it does not include the effects of the proposed State Second Pension which the Government are currently consulting on.

  7. It is assumed that the Minimum Income Guarantee will be uprated broadly in line with earnings.

  8. Part (b) is answered by deducting Income Support and Housing Benefit from pensioners' income. This is because the PENSIM model does not calculate other means-tested benefits.

  9. A pensioner unit is defined as a single (non-cohabiting) person over State pension age or a couple (married or cohabiting) where the man, defined as the head, is over State pension age.

  Housing Benefit (Rent Restrictions)
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households with children were subject to housing benefit restrictions in 1997–98. [75929]

  Angela Eagle
  As at 31 May 1997, some 300,000 Housing Benefit recipients with children were subject to Housing Benefit restrictions, principally because of income or non-dependant deductions.

  Notes:

  1. Information refers to benefits units, which may be a single person or a couple.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. Figures do not include restriction because of Rent Officers determinations or restrictions to the eligible rent due to the Local Reference rent scheme.

  Source:
  Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries with and without Income Support/JSA(IB), taken at the end of May 1997.

  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many households on income support were subject to rent restrictions affecting their housing benefit entitlement in 1997–98; and what was the average value of the restriction; [75933]
  694
  (2) how many people have been affected by single room rent restrictions since October 1996; and what have been the estimated savings; [75931]

  (3) what was the total estimated saving arising from rent restrictions on housing benefit in 1997–98; and what was the total for each London borough; [75930]

  (4) how many households have been subject to rent restrictions (a) in total and (b) in each London borough since 1997. [75932]

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

  The measures which limit the rent for Housing Benefit purposes are; certain service charges included in the contractual rent which are not generally eligible for Housing Benefit, for example, charges for cleaning, laundry, fuel, meals and personal care and nursing; the range of determinations, including determinations of single room rents, made by rent officers in respect of most claims from tenants living in the private rented sector; and where local authorities consider that the rent is unreasonably high or the accommodation overlarge or the eligible rent is none the less too high in respect of a particular case.

  Departmental Computer System
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received from individuals on his Department's computer system in Newcastle during the last nine months; and if he will make a statement. [76444]

  Mr. Timms
  During the last nine months we have received 76 parliamentary questions and 82 representations by letter relating to the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS).

  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Thomas) on 15 March 1999, Official Report, columns 486–88.

  Electronic Red Boxes
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will name the Ministers in his Department who are regular users of electronic red boxes. [76167]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the right hon. Member to the written answer from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 651–52.

  Households Below Average Income
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of households below average income receive their main income from(a) paid employment and (b) benefits, indicating the benefits concerned; and if he will provide the same figures from the inception of the relevant survey. [76198]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 12 March 1999]: The information is in the table.

  695

  Percentage of households with below average income (before housing costs) by main source of income

  Main source of a household's income (percentage of total population of households)

  Year

  Benefits

  Employment

  Other

  Total

  1994–95

  55

  36

  9

  100

  1995–96

  53

  38

  9

  100

  1996–97

  52

  38

  10

  100

  Notes:

  1. 1994–95 is the earliest year for which the FRS based HBAI series is available. 1996–97 is the latest year for which information is available.

  2. For the purposes of this analysis, 'benefits' were taken to be: Family Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Social Fund (all components), State Retirement Pensions, Jobseeker's Allowance/Unemployment Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Disability Working Allowance, Invalid Care Allowance, War Pensions, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Child Benefit, One Parent Benefit, Windows Benefit, Guardians Allowance, Maternity Allowance, Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Benefits, Back to Work Bonuses, Income from Government Training Schemes.

  3. For the purposes of this analysis, 'main source of income' is defined as being the largest of the three sources of income outlined in the table.

  4. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income (that is to say income which is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household).

  5. It is standard HBAI practice to give results for income both before and after housing costs, in order to allow for the effect of variations in housing costs between households. In this case, the results are only quoted before housing costs, as they were invariant to the use of the two different income measures.

  Source:
  All figures are estimates and are taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data set which are based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS does not include Northern Ireland.

  War Pensions Agency
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons union facility time has been reduced to 10 days in the War Pensions Agency. [77186]

  Mr. Bayley
  The administration of the War Pensions Agency is a matter for its Chief Executive, Mr. Gordon Hextall. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. Hilton Dawson, dated 16 March 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the reasons why War Pensions Agency has reduced union facility time to 10 days.
  I can confirm that War Pensions Agency has not reduced facility time to 10 days and has no intentions of doing so. Facility time arrangements are reviewed annually and negotiations are currently taking place with unions. These are not due to be completed until the end of March.
  Any alterations to the current arrangements will be done in consultation with full-time union officials and will fully abide by Departmental guidelines.
  I hope you find my reply helpful.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers and of what 696
  ranks are engaged exclusively in (a) complaints and discipline and (b) drug squad duties in the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and what is the total manpower of the RUC. [75907]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number and ranks of police officers exclusively engaged in(a) Complaints and Discipline and (b) Drug Squad duties as at 11 March 1999 are shown in the table.

  Rank

  Complaints and discipline

  Drugs Squad

  ACC

  1

  0

  Supt. Ranks

  11

  1

  Chief Inspector

  26

  1

  Insp.

  10

  2

  Sergt.

  9

  8

  Con.

  9

  77

  Total

  66

  89

  The total manpower at the same date is 8,488 RUC, 3,202 RUCR full-time and 1,765 RUCR part-time.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of man/days identified as having been spent in the investigation of(a) malicious complaints and (b) false information within the Royal Ulster Constabulary during each year from 1996 to 1998. [75905]

  Mr. Ingram
  (a) There is no offence of making malicious complaints against the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  (b) The information necessary for this question to be answered is not available.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were charged with(a) wasting police time and (b) making malicious complaints against the Royal Ulster Constabulary, during each year from 1996 to 1998. [75906]

  Mr. Ingram
  (a) The number of persons proceeded against for the offence of "wasteful employment of police time" in each of the three years 1996 to 1998 is as follows:

  Year

  Persons proceeded against

  Guilty

  1996

  4

  4

  1997

  2

  2

  1998 (to 31 March)1

  1

  1

  1 Most recent data available

  Note:
  These figures are not in respect of complaints against the police

  (b) There is no offence of "making malicious complaints" against the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Autism
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statutory provisions require an Education and Library Board to provide a relevant education service for an individual child with autistic spectrum disorder; and if she will make a statement. [76402]
  697
  Mr. McFall
  The statutory provisions requiring education and library boards to provide for children with special educational needs, including those with autistic spectrum disorder, are contained in the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

  Parades Commission
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people the Parades Commission employs. [76914]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The Parades Commission does not employ anyone. It comprises a Chairman and six members, and a secretariat of nine staffed entirely by seconded civil servants.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff have been employed by the Parades Commission in the past 12 months; under what terms and by what process they were appointed; what has been their individual remuneration; and what has been the total cost of the Parades Commission since its inception. [77092]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Donaldson) today. Since its inception, the Parades Commission has cost £1.66 million.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the current Chairman of the Parades Commission was appointed; and what is his length of contract. [76917]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The current Chairman of the Parades Commission was appointed in March 1997, and his appointment will expire in February 2000.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who appoints the Parades Commission Chairman; what is the(a) length of his contract and (b) level of remuneration; and who assesses the effectiveness of the Chairman's leadership of the Commission. [76916]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: Under the terms of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, the Chairman of the Parades Commission is appointed by the Secretary of State for a term not exceeding three years. The level of remuneration is currently £30,000 per annum. The Chairman is independent and the Secretary of State has full confidence in the way he is carrying out his responsibilities.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the various levels of remuneration within the Parades Commission. [76915]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The Chairman receives £30,000 per annum; the members £25,000 per annum. The secretariat staff continue to be paid their Civil Service salaries.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Parades Commission has paid in consultancy costs since its inception; and for what purposes. [77094]
  698
  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: To date, the Parades Commission has spent £153,000 on consultancy, for the most part on training of monitors and monitoring of parades, opinion surveys, project planning, recruitment campaigns, media advice and legal costs.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the current Parades Commission Commissioners; and what was their background prior to appointment. [77091]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The current Chairman of the Parades Commission is Alistair Graham, the Chief Executive of Leeds Training and Enterprise Council. The six members are: Aidan Canavan, a solicitor; Frank Guckian, Director of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce; David Hewitt, a solicitor; Barbara Irwin, a senior lecturer; Rose Anne McCormick, a barrister; and Billy Martin, a farmer.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the running cost of the Parades Commission for 1999–2000; and how are these costs allocated. [77093]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The estimated expenditure of the Parades Commission for the 1999–2000 financial year is £1,147,000; this is split between departmental running costs (£329,000) and programme expenditure (£818,000).

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who determines the terms of appointment and reappointment of the Parades Commission Commissioners; and what assessment is made of their contribution to the work of the Commission. [77090]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: Under the terms of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, the Chairman and members of the Parades Commission are appointed by the Secretary of State for terms not exceeding three years. Members whose terms of office expire are eligible for re-appointment. The Chairman and members are independent and the Secretary of State has full confidence in the way they are carrying out their responsibilities.

  Sean Kelly
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has made under the provisions of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 to the Sentences Review Commission in respect of the application for early release by the IRA prisoner Sean Kelly. [76839]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: In accordance with the requirements of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (Sentence Review Commissioners) Rules 1998 the Secretary of State submitted the relevant materials necessary for the Commissioners to satisfy themselves as to whether or not this prisoner met the criteria for release under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. She has made no other representations to the Commissioners in respect of his application.

  Prisoner Early Releases
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons given early release from prison under the Good Friday Agreement have been arrested or had their licences revoked. [71556]

  Mr. Ingram
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 March 1999, c. 765]: Two persons released under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 have been charged with offences.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Energy Imports
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the threat to the supply of imported energy from France and other countries posed by the millennium bug; and if he will make a statement. [76060]

  Mr. Battle
  The UK operation of the Anglo-French electricity interconnector is a commercial matter for the National Grid Company. It is normal operational procedure for the National Grid Company to assess continually the risk to electricity supplies in England and Wales which might arise from any credible instantaneous loss of power generation. As part of this procedure, the National Grid Company constantly monitors all credible losses and schedules sufficient reserve capacity to respond to them. In this context the Anglo-French Interconnector is assessed alongside generators in England and Wales. The capacity of the interconnector is 2 × 1,000 MW circuits, the installed generating capacity in England and Wales is more than 65,000 MW and the typical peak demand over New Years Eve is likely to be in the order of 37,000 MW.

  Northern Ireland Electricity expect to provide a normal service to their customers over the period of the millennium and do not envisage any disruption being caused by a failure of the interconnector with the Republic of Ireland.

  Cerebus Ltd.
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when and for what purpose Ministers attended the opening of the headquarters and laboratories of Cerebus Ltd. [76371]

  Mr. Battle
  The company founder, Dr. Chris Evans, invited the then President of the Board of Trade, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett), to perform the opening ceremony on 24 March 1998.

  Sports Clubs (Media Takeovers)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy on the acquisition of sports clubs by media companies. [76254]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 8 February 1999,Official Report, column 43.

  Competition Act 1998
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department plans to publish its conclusions on the legality of vertical ties under the Competition Act 1998. [76255]

  Mr. Byers
  My Department is currently consulting publicly on a draft proposed order under section 50 of the Competition Act 1998, which would, if implemented, define and exclude vertical agreements from the prohibition of anti-competitive agreements in the Act. Views are being sought by 6 April and I expect to announce a decision about the scope of such an order within a reasonable time thereafter.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to publish the Government's proposals for changes to the regional aid map in the United Kingdom. [76283]

  Mr. Byers
  As soon as possible.

  Renewable Energy
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will commission a study of the potential of the UK manufacturing skill base to capture a proportion of the market for offshore wind energy turbines; [76164]

  (2) what plans he has to develop a medium to long term strategy for the UK's renewable energy technologies; and what assessment he has made of the industry's ability to compete (a) globally and (b) with Denmark in the supply of offshore wind energy technology. [76166]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government are committed to a new and strong drive to develop renewable sources of energy and has undertaken a review of the status and prospects for renewables, including offshore wind energy. As a first step towards that policy the fifth and largest Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO-5) Order of 1,177 MW was announced on 24 September 1998.

  For the future the Government have been reviewing what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of the UK's electricity needs from renewables by 2010, and what contribution new and renewable energy technologies might make to future greenhouse gas commitments.

  To achieve 10 per cent. electricity from renewables would require 3–4 Gigawatts (DNC) of additional renewable capacity over and above that in place or likely to be commissioned from existing NFFO arrangements. It would require the use not only of technologies which have formed the mainstay of NFFO to date, such as waste, including landfill gas and onshore wind but also a significant contribution from offshore wind and energy crops.

  The Government will shortly be publishing a consultation document on the status and prospects for renewables. A co-ordinated strategy would need to be agreed between Government and industry to cover the medium-term future with a view also to the longer term.

  701
  Such a strategy is expected to arise from the renewables consultation document. It would need to take account of the European White Paper on renewables.

  As for offshore wind, I have already consulted interested parties on the most suitable arrangements for incorporating the development of offshore wind energy into the NFFO process and the results of my consultation will be incorporated into the co-ordinated strategy arising from the renewables consultation document.

  In the meantime, my Department' s New and Renewable Energy Programme continues to support preparatory work on offshore wind, including monitoring the development of the first offshore wind NFFO project, at Blyth, and encouraging UK manufacturing industry to seize the commercial opportunities within the offshore wind arena. We have already awarded contracts to two offshore wind projects under NFFO-4. These are located at Gunfleet Sand, near Clacton, Essex, comprising 12.8 MW contracted capacity and the other at Blyth, Northumberland comprising 0.72 MW contracted capacity. Total DTI expenditure on wind energy projects in 1997–98 was £1.5 million.

  Post Office
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the White Paper on the future of the Post Office. [76438]

  Mr. Byers
  It remains my expectation, as my right hon. Friend the Minister of State told the Trade and Industry Select Committee on 9 December, that the White Paper will be published in the first half of the year.

  Trade Delegations
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many trade delegations he has led since becoming Secretary of State; and what trade delegations he has made plans to lead during the remainder of 1999. [76490]

  Mr. Byers
  I became Secretary of State at the beginning of this year. I will be making two major trade promotion visits later this year—the first to China (including Hong Kong), and Japan and the second to India and Saudi Arabia. In addition, I will be visiting Russia in May for the Intergovernmental Steering Committee on Trade and Investment.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses he has visited in the last year. [76974]

  Mr. Byers
  In an official and unofficial capacity I have visited many small businesses in the last year.

  Oil Pollution
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will meet local hon. Members to discuss the latest BHP oil pollution incident; [76582]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the recent oil pollution incident on the beaches of Rhyl and Prestatyn. [76584]
  702
  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: An oil spill was reported from BHP' s Liverpool Bay Development on Saturday 6 March, following which small amounts of oil were deposited on beaches in Rhyll and Prestatyn. BHP has shut down oil and gas production from the development until the cause and circumstances of the incident are identified.

  My officials are working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in regard to this oil spill. The incident is being investigated by a DTI Inspector, and I will also ensure that an independent assessor conducts a review of the incident. I have told all concerned that I am looking for a thorough but prompt investigation.

  I wrote to the local hon. Members for the Vale of Clwyd, for Clwyd, West (Mr. Thomas) and for Delyn (Mr. Hanson) on 9 March informing them of this incident. I stated that I would continue to keep them in touch with developments I would be pleased to meet the hon. Members to discuss this incident.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all oil pollution incidents in the Irish Sea in the past 10 years, giving the size of the incident, the company responsible and the date. [76583]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The information relating to oil pollution incidents from offshore installations in the Irish Sea Basin over the last 10 years is as follows:

  Date

  Operator

  Amount (tonnes)

  1 March 1993

  Hamilton

  0.01

  30 November 1993

  British Gas

  0.30

  6 November 1995

  British Gas

  4.0

  13 November 1995

  BHP Petroleum

  0.022

  21 March 1996

  British Gas

  0.004

  6 July 1996

  British Gas

  0.070

  5 September 1996

  British Gas

  0.004

  15 September 1996

  British Gas

  0.001

  22 September 1996

  British Gas

  0.500

  8 May 1997

  British Gas

  0.013

  2 July 1997

  British Gas

  0.019

  27 January 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  0.001

  24 March 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  0.500

  28 March 1998

  British Gas

  0.001

  24 April 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  1.000

  28 April 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  0.500

  4 May 1998

  British Gas

  0.0151

  12 May 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  0.500

  14 June 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  46.00

  20 June 1998

  British Gas

  0.0005

  7 August 1998

  British Gas

  0.066

  21 October 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  0.0019

  1 November 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  0.042

  29 November 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  0.001

  11 December 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  0.010

  15 December 1998

  BHP Petroleum

  0.010

  6 March 19991

  BHP Petroleum

  10.83

  9 March 1999

  BHP Petroleum

  0.010

  Total

  54.4315

  1 provisional—investigation ongoing

  As an approximation 1 tonne = 1.25 cubic metres of oil.
  703
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review the guidelines relating to oil pollution around the British coast following the new information about the effect of oil pollution of less than one part per billion. [76585]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: This information comes from studies into the Exxon Valdez oil spillage which occurred in 1989. It will be reviewed and taken into account by my officials and their colleagues in other Government Departments when considering the potential threat of oil spills to fisheries and the marine environment.

  Victoria Street Conference Facilities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many outside organisations used the conference facilities at his offices in Victoria Street in the last year for which figures are available. [76975]

  Dr. Howells
  The majority of events making use of the Department's conference facilities at 1 Victoria Street are internal.

  Of 2,495 events held during 1998, less than 1 per cent. were organised by outside bodies. A further 25 per cent. of events were co-ordinated by DTI staff but in conjunction with organisations from outside the Department.

  The Department is currently reviewing the operation of its conference centre with a view to maximising its availability for Departmental events.

  India
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to visit India. [76976]

  Mr. Byers
  I will be visiting India later this year, at a date to be confirmed.

  Trawlermen (Compensation)
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the oral statement by the Parliamentary Secretary (Commons) to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of 8 March 1999,Official Report, columns 151–54, on claims for compensation by deep sea trawlermen, if he will (a) agree a date to meet the trawlermen and their representatives and (b) set out a timetable for the resolution of the claim. [76927]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: As my hon. Friend indicated during this debate, the obligations of the Department of Trade and Industry, and formerly the Employment Department, relate to the former trawlermen's redundancy entitlement under the statutory redundancy payments scheme. These obligations were fully met under ex-gratia arrangements operated by the Redundancy Payments Service between 1993 and 1995. My officials remain ready to consider late claims under those arrangements in appropriate cases. I have received no requests from the former trawlermen or their representatives for a further meeting to discuss their redundancy entitlement.

  The former trawlermen's campaign for a more general scheme of Government compensation for the decline in their industry, going beyond their redundancy entitlement,
  704
  is principally a matter for my hon. Friend to consider, as policy responsibility for the fishing industry lies with the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he will take to ensure that claims for damages for miners' bronchitis and emphysema in respect of exposure to coal dust underground before 1954 from mines in Scotland will not be treated as subject to the provisions of the Limitations Act 1954. [77077]

  Mr. Battle
  The Limitations Act 1954 does not apply in Scotland. However, although the Department accepts liability for claims for damages for miners' emphysema and chronic bronchitis in respect of exposure to mine dust underground in mines in Scotland, the extent of that liability has not been established in the Scottish Courts. The litigation to date covers only England and Wales. The effect of Scottish law on claims from ex-British Coal miners claiming damages for respiratory diseases caused by exposure to dust in Scottish mines will be discussed with solicitors representing Scottish miners once we have agreed the handling arrangements for claims in England and Wales. We expect such agreement to be reached shortly.

  Electricity Trading Prices
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make arrangements in the Review of Electricity Trading Arrangements for transparency of prices in trading contracts. [76580]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: I have asked the Director General of Electricity Supply to ensure that, in developing new trading arrangements, there is adequate price transparency including in the contracts market.

  Photovoltaic Industry
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 2 March 1999,Official Report, column 690, on the photovoltaic industry, what is his Department's budget in respect of photovoltaics; and what photovoltaic projects it plans to sponsor in developing countries in 1999–2000. [77073]

  Mr. Battle
  My Department is already committed to projects worth around £1 million for 1999–2000. Other projects, including the three initiatives I detailed in my previous answer (worth a total of £15 million, with £5 million coming from the DTI), will boost that figure significantly.

  UK aid to developing countries is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Department of International Development (DFID). However, my Department, with DFID, is currently considering work through the International Energy Agency which could increase the rate of deployment of PV in Developing Countries and result in valuable business for UK based companies.

  Incorporation Costs
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the total cost of incorporation, including professional fees, incurred by a business with profits of under £50,000 per annum. [76788]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The prescribed fee charged by the Registrar of Companies for incorporating any company is £20 for the normal five day service. A "premium", same day, service is also available for £100.

  Many people choose to use the services of a formation agent or other professional intermediary to carry out the incorporation for them. In such cases the total cost can vary considerably depending on the intermediary used and the nature of the service provided. Such additional costs are subject to normal market force.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will require all employers to provide their workers with a statement about the national minimum wage on commencement of employment. [76045]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: There is no need to require employers to provide their workers with a national minimum wage statement. The Government have begun major campaigns in the press, and on television and radio, to make sure everyone knows about the minimum wage. We have also produced both a detailed guide to the national minimum wage, and short guides for employers and workers. In addition national minimum wage telephone helplines have been established to answer questions and issue the guidance booklets.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what cross-departmental initiatives have been introduced to track arms sales by United Kingdom companies. [75385]

  Dr. Howells
  Further to the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) to the hon. Member on 25 March 1998,Official Report, column 142, further details on progress improving the arrangements for the sharing of export licensing information were set out in the Department of Trade and Industry's Supplementary Memorandum to the Trade and Industry Committee's inquiry on Strategic Export Controls (HC65, pages 75–76). As noted in the memorandum, in addition to sharing information on licence applications, there is also a need to share information on licences issued and applications refused, and DTI's Export Control Organisation is working with HMC&E to examine the feasibility of making such information available electronically to Customs officials who have responsibility for enforcing export controls at the point of export. While the Export Control Organisation maintains records of licence applications, it does not compile records of licensed exports.

  The new electronic application form described in the Memorandum was launched on 1 March 1999.

PRIME MINISTER

  European Union Fraud
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 23 February 1999,Official Report, column 230, if he will publish the correspondence between his office and Pauline Green MEP prior to the European Parliament's vote on the censure motion on 14 January. [75717]

  The Prime Minister
  The right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) wrote to me on 3 March 1999. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will reply in due course.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 17 March. [76770]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.

CABINET OFFICE

  Public Services (Complaints)
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action he is taking to ensure that public services are more responsive to complaints from members of the public. [75371]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  As part of the launch of the Service First programme last year, we issued guidance on the handling of complaints. We have also been working with the British Standards Institution to develop a national standard on complaints handling, which will be published in May. More recently, we have set up links from the Service First website to all of the main government complaints procedures that are available on the Internet and we are encouraging all those departments and agencies who have not yet done so to put their complaints procedures on the net.

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will seek to extend the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to non-Governmental public bodies; [75372]

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to increase the number of public bodies within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. [75381]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) earlier today,Official Report, column 1114.

  Joined-up Government
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what initiatives he plans to increase the co-ordination of policy across Government departments. [75374]
  707
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The restructured and strengthened Cabinet Office and the establishment of a number of cross-cutting units are helping to tackle policy and service delivery issues which cross conventional departmental boundaries. The White Paper on Modernising Government to be published shortly will set out further initiatives.

  Government Agencies
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures he is taking to build on those improvements in the performance of Government agencies which are set out in 1998 Next Steps Agencies report. [75376]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I very much welcome the improvement in performance of executive agencies as highlighted in the 1998 Next Steps Report. It is essential, however, that this improvement is built upon. With the introduction of Public Service Agreements, agencies will have an important role to play in helping Ministers deliver the Government's new priorities and objectives. I have encouraged colleagues to ensure that agencies' targets for the coming year reflect this contribution to broader goals.

  Drugs Policy
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on progress made in assessing the efficacy of his drugs policy. [75377]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Government's anti-drugs strategy was launched last April. In September, I announced an additional £217 million for anti-drugs work from 1999–2002. There are now local plans to tackle drugs problems through Drug Action Teams across the country. The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator's progress report and a national plan will be available shortly.

  Public Consultation
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with other Government Ministers about the conduct of public consultation exercises. [75378]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Last year, the Cabinet Office published a guide on conducting written consultation exercises, setting out best practice for departments and agencies to follow when issuing consultation documents and taking follow-up action. The guide was widely discussed with other Government Departments before issue. We subsequently published a further, more general guide to consulting users of public services. Ministers have also been involved in various discussions on the People's Panel.

  Better Government for Older People Initiative
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement about progress with the development of the Better Government for Older People initiative. [75379]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Better Government for Older People initiative, a practical example of our commitment to modernising government, has important lessons to teach about working in partnership, and improving services through listening to the views of users and responding to 708
  their needs. Yesterday, we launched a Learning Network to cascade experience from the pilots. Many more local authorities, along with older people's organisations, and the academic world, can now be involved in this learning process through access to a database of good practice, and regular bulletins and workshops on developments across the programme.

  Duchy of Cornwall
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what role the Duchy has in developing employment opportunities in its rural areas. [75380]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Duchy's role in developing employment opportunities in its rural areas falls under three headings: first, supporting its tenants in country areas who in turn create employment; secondly, by encouraging the re-use (for employment or residential purposes) of out dated agricultural buildings, and thirdly, by employing its own staff of contractors for the maintenance of properties and for the management of its woodlands.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what further steps he proposes to take to improve co-ordination across Government of issues relating to genetic modification. [75382]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Ministerial Group on Biotechnology and Genetic Modification is responsible for co-ordination across Government on issues relating to genetic modification.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement about the Government's deregulation strategy. [75383]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  This Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, fair, effective, command public support and balance the benefits and costs.

  My officials in the Better Regulation Unit have published new guidance to help departments to apply the Task Force's principles of good regulation and to assess the impact of regulatory proposals. When we consider regulating we will consult widely, and listen to those affected to ensure a balanced approach. No regulatory proposal which has an impact on businesses, charities or voluntary bodies should be considered by the Government without a thorough assessment of the risks, costs and benefits, a clear analysis of who will be affected and an explanation of why non-regulatory action would be insufficient. This guidance has been welcomed by the Prime Minister and commended to all Ministers and officials.

  The Better Regulation Task Force supports our efforts to ensure that unnecessary regulatory burdens are identified for removal or reform. We welcome, for example, their work on Liquor Licensing and Long-term Care.
  709
  We are currently consulting on proposals to extend the order-making power in Section 1 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 to remove outdated and unnecessary legislation, without removing any of the safeguards.

  Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects his review of the policy areas suitable for discussion using the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee mechanism to be completed. [75384]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 16 February 1999,Official Report, column 686.

  Select Committee Reports
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [75873]
  710
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer 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 drafts of select committee reports, or of parts of reports including their conclusions, before publication. Nor to the best of my knowledge have there been any occasions on which members of Select Committees 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 Order 116.

  Dr. George Poste
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list those Government advisory committees of which Dr. George Poste is(a) a member and (b) an adviser. [76245]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Current information on appointments held by individuals is not held centrally. The Public Appointments Unit maintains an internet directory of public appointments (at http://www.open.gov.uk/pau/ paupoint.htm) which lists members of advisory non-departmental public bodies. This directory is updated twice a year on 1 September and on 1 April.

  World Trade Organisation
  World Trade Organisation
  EC/PLO Trade Agreement: Customs Requirements
  EC/PLO Trade Agreement: Customs Requirements
  NATO: St. Malo Declaration
  NATO: St. Malo Declaration
  Variola Virus Stocks
  Variola Virus Stocks
  The Foreign Policy Centre
  The Foreign Policy Centre
  Land Command Order of Battle
  Land Command Order of Battle
  Devolved Assemblies: Special Advisers
  Devolved Assemblies: Special Advisers
  British-Irish Council
  British-Irish Council
  Divisions on House of Lords Wednesday Motions
  Divisions on House of Lords Wednesday Motions
  Library Services
  Library Services
  Antiquities: Illegal Traffic
  Antiquities: Illegal Traffic
  Retail Prices Index
  Retail Prices Index
  Financial Promotions: Control
  Financial Promotions: Control
  European Investment Bank
  European Investment Bank
  Cloning
  Cloning
  Aspirin: Sales Controls
  Aspirin: Sales Controls
  Cannabis: Therapeutic Use
  Cannabis: Therapeutic Use
  "Combat 18" Group: Search Warrants
  "Combat 18" Group: Search Warrants
  European Human Rights Commission: Application by T and V
  European Human Rights Commission: Application by T and V