Written Answers of 22 March 1999

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up her Department's Green Transport Plan. [77969]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development (DFID) has three official cars which are supplied by the Government Car Service. We have no fleet manager. We are in the initial stages of formulating a Green Transport plan.

  Bilateral Aid (Dependent Territories)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list all bilateral aid to each of the dependent territories in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [78037]

  Clare Short
  UK Bilateral Gross Public Expenditure on Aid (GPEX) to UK Overseas Territories in the specified years was as follows:

  £000

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Anguilla

  1,810

  1,367

  2,520

  Bermuda

  30

  57

  30

  British Virgin Islands

  678

  1,096

  604

  Cayman Islands

  46

  26

  13

  Falkland Islands

  19

  4

  2

  Gibraltar

  118

  163

  192

  Montserrat

  6,568

  14,452

  38,317

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  2,788

  3,198

  2,569

  St. Helena and Dependencies

  9,267

  7,991

  8,765

  Pitcairn Islands

  203

  160

  76

  Total, UK Overseas Territories

  21,527

  28,513

  53,087

  People in residential care homes by age, local authority supported residents and income support claimants with preserved rights in residential care

  People in residential care

  Local Authority supported residents

  Income support claimants1

  Age band

  31 March 1996

  31 March 1996

  31 March 1998

  February 1996

  August 1998

  18–64

  59,983

  37,047

  43,396

  37,000

  32,000

  65–74

  27,420

  13,655

  14,949

  10,000

  8,000

  75–84

  82,503

  42,595

  48,095

  18,000

  10,000

  85 and over

  130,358

  59,867

  73,100

  30,000

  17,000

  1 Numbers do not include claimants in nursing homes or those income support claimants who are paid a residential allowance and have their fees met by the local authority or themselves.

  Source:

  DH annual statistical returns (RAC5, SR1) and DSS Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry

  Restraint Techniques
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 March 1999,Official Report,
  2
  GPEX is expenditure by all official UK sources i.e. Government Departments and public bodies including the Commonwealth Development Corporation, which meets the criteria for developmental official flows agreed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Freemasons (CPS)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General what progress has been made in the establishment of a register to record membership of the freemasons in the Crown Prosecution Service. [78051]

  The Attorney-General
  In accordance with Government policy, in October 1998 the Crown Prosecution Service invited its lawyers to declare their masonic status for the purposes of a public register. The CPS is considering the format of a register in conjunction with other departments affected by the Government's policy. The CPS has also invited those recently selected for the new Chief Crown Prosecutor posts to declare their masonic status for the purposes of a public register.

HEALTH

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged between(a) 16 to 64, (b) 65 to 74, (c) 75 to 84 and (d) over 85 years were in residential care homes in the most recent year for which figures are available; and in each of those age groups how many were funded by (i) local authorities on a means tested basis, (ii) the individuals themselves and (iii) the Department of Social Security. [76491]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: Information on the numbers of people in residential care at 31 March 1996, the latest year for which complete information on residents is available, together with figures for local authority supported residents at 31 March 1996 and 1998 and on people in residential care who are funded by income support at February 1996 and August 1998, is given in the table. Information on the number of individuals who found themselves is not available centrally.

  column 373, on restraint techniques, what responsibility (a) the Mental Health Commissioner has and (b) other official bodies have to collect information on deaths that occur in mental health institutions. [77690]
  3
  Mr. Hutton
  The Mental Health Act 1983 does not place a specific duty on the Mental Health Act Commission to collect information on deaths that occur in mental health institutions. However, since February 1997, with Ministerial agreement, the Commission has gathered data on the deaths of detained patients and reviewed those from non-natural causes. The Commission has now completed the second year of data collection and is in the process of drawing general conclusions from the information available which it intends to present in the form of a report, drawing attention to general issues identified and making recommendations for action. It is intended to publish the report this year and to circulate it widely to mental health services in England and Wales.

  The Office for National Statistics collects information on all deaths that occur in England and Wales through the death registration system. This information included "place of death" which may give details of a communal establishment, such as a mental health institution, if that is where the death occurred.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems his Department require to be in place in mental health institutions to deal with medical emergencies resulting from the use of(a) control and restraint techniques and (b) drugs. [77629]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is for each trust to ensure that appropriate staffing level and policies for responding to emergencies are in place.

  Social Services Grants
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he published the conditions for spending each of the new grants announced in his White Paper for social services. [77954]

  Mr. Hutton
  The White Paper "Modernising Social Services" announced a range of new grants as part of a three year social services modernisation fund. In addition to these, as part of our carers strategy my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced a Carers Grant on 8 February. The conditions for spending each of the new grants were published on the following dates:

  Promoting Independence: Partnership Grant 16 March 1999

  Promoting Independence: Prevention Grant 16 March 1999

  Promoting Independence: Carers Grant 16 March 1999

  Children's Services Grant 11 November 1998

  Mental Health Grant 26 February 1999

  Training Support Grant 4 March 1999.

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up his Department's green transport plan. [77970]
  4
  Mr. Hutton
  The Department is drawing up green transport plans for all headquarters buildings and main buildings by executive agencies by the end of this month and for all other key buildings by March 2000. The Department does not have a fleet.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the local authorities to which Ministers have written urging greater spending on local services within their portfolio area. [77958]

  Mr. Hutton
  Ministers have extensive correspondence with local authorities which includes advice on additional resources for personal social services. However, I am not aware of any letters specifically urging greater spending on local services.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the(a) professional and (b) other relevant background of lay members of primary care groups. [77953]

  Mr. Denham
  None. Health Authorities are responsible for appointing a lay member to each Primary Care Group board. Apart from excluding practising general practitioners, practising nurses, non-executive directors of National Health Service trusts or health authorities and staff working in the NHS, the Department or NHS Estates, the only qualification we have stipulated is that the lay member must live in the geographical area for which the primary care group is responsible.

  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to commission a national epidemiological study into chronic fatigue syndrome/ME. [77854]

  Mr. Hutton
  There are currently no plans to commission a national epidemiological study into chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). A number of definitions, disease descriptions or diagnostic criteria have been proposed to describe CFS/ME and there is no general agreement as to which should be used. This makes the results from studies on the prevalence of CFS/ME difficult to interpret and there is no agreement on the incidence of the illness.

  The heterogeneity of the definitions for CFS/ME was an issue that was raised at the first meeting of the CFS/ME Working Group and is likely to be a topic for further discussion as work progresses. If a definitive diagnostic criteria for CFS/ME can be defined requests for a national epidemiological study would need to be considered in line with other competing priorities.

  Departmental Budget
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was his Department's budget in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for(a) 1992–93 to 1998–99 and (b) his estimate for 1999–2000 to 2001–02. [77333]
  5
  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is contained in the table.

  £ million

  Year

  Cash

  At 1998–99 prices

  1992–93

  27,826

  32,291

  1993–94

  29,762

  33,645

  1994–95

  31,593

  35,212

  1995–96

  32,933

  35,666

  1996–97

  33,769

  35,479

  1997–98

  35,297

  36,180

  1998–99

  37,643

  37,643

  1999–2000

  40,345

  39,361

  2000–01

  43,271

  41,186

  2001–02

  46,172

  42,875

  Mental Health Institutions (Deaths)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) guidelines and (b) regulations his Department has regarding (i) the notification of relatives and (ii) the information, support and guidance offered to relatives after a death in a mental health institution. [77338]

  Mr. Hutton
  Support and guidance offered to relatives after a death are contained in Health Service Guidelines (92)8 issued in January 1992. This guidance covers the procedures National Health Service trusts should have in place for dealing with patients who die in hospital and with a patient's relatives before and after the death.

  Organ Transplants
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those countries from which organs for transplant have been received in the past 12 months. [78001]

  Mr. Hutton
  In the period 1 March 1998 to 28 February 1999 a total of 99 organs were received from France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, Eurotransplant (comprises Germany, Austria, Netherlands and Luxembourg) and Skandiatransplant (comprises Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden).

  Fuel Duty Increases
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the additional costs to ambulances and other medical vehicles in West Sussex resulting from fuel duty increases in the Budget; [77914]

  (2) what provisions he has made to compensate health authorities for the additional costs resulting from fuel duty increases in the Budget; [77915]

  (3) what estimates he has made of the additional costs to ambulances and other medical vehicles resulting from fuel duty increases in the Budget. [77913]

  Mr. Hutton
  In 1996–97, the last year for which information is available, the cost of motor fuels as a proportion of total hospital and community health service spending, which includes ambulance trusts, was 0.12 per cent. The additional cost resulting from the Budget increase would have raised that figure to less than 0.13 per cent. Because of boundary factors it is 6
  not possible separately to identify figures for West Sussex. It is, however, clear that the effect of the increase will be very small relative to the other price inflation factors affecting the National Health Service each year. Any additional costs will be absorbed within the very significant real-terms increases in health authority allocations for 1999–2000 announced in November 1998.

  NHS Vehicles (Road Fuel Gas)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many road vehicles deployed in the NHS are fuelled by road fuel gases; and what plans he has to encourage the use of more such vehicles. [77916]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Road vehicles deployed in the National Health Service satisfy a diverse range of requirements. Vehicle operators include ambulance services, NHS Supplies, fleet vehicles for staff (including medical/nursing and support services etc.), and contractors working on behalf of the NHS.

  NHS transport/fleet officers do consider environmental aspects in the procurement and operation of the vehicles they manage. These decisions will be determined at local level taking into account availability of environmentally friendly road fuels and cost effectiveness in relation to the service to be provided.

  This has been reinforced by the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" and the NHS is well aware of the need to take its requirements on board. NHS Estates (an executive agency of the Department) has also issued a "Healthy Transport Toolkit" to inform and commend green transport plans to the NHS. The Department intends to continue to encourage green transport initiatives within the NHS, including the use of environmentally friendly road fuels.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the President of the Council 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. [76802]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Nine members of the staff of the Privy Council Office have signed an agreement to disapply the 48-hour limit. None has refused to do so. The cost of compliance with the Directive is negligible, in view of the small size of my Department.

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council what guidelines have been agreed concerning the composition of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council when sitting to determine the vires of Acts of the Scottish Parliament. [76950]
  7
  Mrs. Beckett
  It will be for the Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary to determine which members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sit to hear and determine cases under the Scotland Act 1998. However, the Government would expect a convention to develop along the lines of Scottish appeals to the House of Lords, where there would always be at least one Scottish judge, and in practice perhaps more, sitting on the Judicial Committee for Scottish devolution cases.

  Millennium Compliance
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the President of the Council what provision has been made for millennium compliance-related problems for 9 September 1999; and if she will make a statement. [77131]

  Mrs. Beckett
  9999 was sometimes used as a close down, halt or standby code by programmers and some people think that September 1999 may be confused with this code. Action 2000 advise me that they have not found any cases where 9/9/99 will cause equipment to fail, and do not expect that date to have a significant impact.

  On a wider point, there are many dates which may cause computers problems. Such problem dates should be tested for as appropriate. All companies should be aware of the key dates when the year 2000 will first hit their systems: for many it will be 1 April 1999 with the new financial year. Government Departments and Agencies have included testing for other relevant dates in their own programmes. The preferred dates which should be used for testing are included in the relevant British Standards Institution (BSI) advice.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Select Committee Reports
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the President of the Council when she was first informed of the existence of a leaked copy of the draft report of the Foreign Affairs Committee Sierra Leone Inquiry. [73934]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 1 March 1999]: On the morning of 23 February 1999.

  Early Day Motions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the cost of the processing and publication of Early Day Motions in each of the last three years; how many staff were employed to administer them; and at what cost. [77568]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Claim Forms (Production Costs)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Council what was the cost of the production of claim forms for (i) the Members' Car Allowance Scheme, (ii) the Members' constituency mileage continuation sheets, (iii) C1 reimbursement, (iv) C2 direct payment and (v) C3 direct 8
  payment secretarial claim forms; how many staff are employed to administer them; and at what cost in the last year for which figures are available. [77625]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The cost of the production of the forms in the 1998 calendar year were as follows:

  C1 forms £230.23

  C2 forms £342.36

  C3 forms £368.11.

  No copies of the Members Car Allowance Scheme and Mileage booklets were produced in the period as existing stocks were used.

  All staff who are employed on the administration of these forms have other duties and so it is not possible to give completely accurate salary costs. However, total staff costs of paying car allowances and expenses paid in respect of forms C1 and C2 is in the region of £175,000.

PRIME MINISTER

  Overseas Publications
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 February 1999,Official Report, columns 642–43, on overseas publications, if he will place copies of the articles he wrote for the foreign newspapers listed in his answer in the Library. [76459]

  The Prime Minister
  My office does not keep copies of articles written for foreign newspapers.

  However, the House of Commons Library does provide a cuttings service for Members. The right hon. Member may wish to contact the staff in the Library, who will endeavour to assist him in obtaining copies of the articles.

  Social Exclusion Unit
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the relationship between the No. 10 Policy Unit and the Social Exclusion Unit. [76675]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: The Units work together closely.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the working groups which report to the Social Exclusion Unit. [76676]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: There are no specific working groups which formally report to the Social Exclusion Unit. Civil servants and others from outside work with the Social Exclusion Unit as necessary to prepare reports and act on their recommendations. For example, eighteen policy action teams from across Government are carrying forward work identified in the Unit's report "Bringing Britain Together: a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal" (Cm 4045).

  Ministers Code of Conduct
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will amend the Code of Conduct for Ministers to include a prohibition against attempting to procure the(a) appointment, (b) promotion and (c) dismissal of

  9
  individual journalists, and an obligation to make any complaints about journalists in writing, and to place them on public record. [77615]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: Decisions on the employment of journalists are a matter for the media organisations concerned.

  European Union Fraud
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his letter dispatched to the Head of the European Socialist Party concerning the January motions of confidence in the European Parliament on fraud and the Commission; who else received copies; and if he will make a statement. [78396]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr. Trend) on 17 March 1999,Official Report, column 706.

  Lord Advocate
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement regarding the functions and responsibilities of the Lord Advocate in connection with the implementation of the Scotland Act 1998. [78277]

  The Prime Minister
  As a consequence of the new constitutional arrangements under the Scotland Act 1998, I have approved a reallocation of certain functions and responsibilities of the Lord Advocate to the Secretary of State and the Advocate-General for Scotland.

  The overall intention of these transfers of functions and responsibilities is to ensure the appropriate distribution of the Lord Advocate's functions during the transitional period up to 1 July 1999 and after the Scottish Executive takes up its full powers on 1 July 1999. I am placing in the Library of the House a short paper which sets out the background to these transfers.

  Copies of the Transfer of Functions (Lord Advocate and Secretary of State) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/678) and the Transfer of Functions (Lord Advocate and Advocate-General for Scotland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/679), which were made by Her Majesty in Council on 10 March, have been laid before both Houses.

  In addition to the transfer of statutory functions which would be effected by these transfer of functions orders, it is proposed that ministerial responsibility for the general oversight of certain branches of the law of Scotland will pass from the Lord Advocate to the Secretary of State on 19 May 1999, when the statutory functions are also transferred to them. No formal order is required to give effect to this transfer, which will be carried out by administrative arrangement.

  The matters concerned are connected in whole or in part with the administration of justice in Scotland. They include the matters for which responsibility was transferred to the Lord Advocate in 1972, as referred to in a statement made by the then Prime Minister on 21 December 1972, Official Report, column 456, namely:

  (a) the jurisdiction and procedure of Scottish courts in civil proceedings;

  10

  (b) the law relating to the enforcement of the judgments of Scottish courts in civil matters and the recognition and enforcement of judgments of foreign courts, other than orders for the payment of maintenance;

  (c) the law of evidence;

  (d) the law relating to prescription and the limitation of actions;

  (e) the law relating to arbitration;

  (f) the law relating to fatal accident inquiries.

  In addition, there will also be transferred to the Secretary of State the responsibilities of the Lord Advocate for various matters which are related to the matters mentioned above, namely;

  (a) the private international law of Scotland including functions in relation to the Hague Conventions dealing with International Child Abduction, Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Obligations, Taking of Evidence Abroad and Service of Process;

  (b) the jurisdiction and procedure of tribunals; and

  (c) mediation and

  (d) alternative dispute resolution.

DEFENCE

  Learning Forces Initiative
  Mr. Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards establishing the learning forces initiative announced in the strategic defence review. [75969]

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards establishing the learning forces initiative announced in the strategic defence review. [75978]

  Mr. George Robertson
  We are making good progress with our learning forces initiative. At home and abroad, our Service personnel are already benefiting from increased educational opportunities. The learning forces initiative is also a powerful tool which will aid recruiting and retention.

  Racism
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to combat racism in the armed services. [75977]

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans to combat racism within the armed services. [75971]

  Mr. Spellar
  I place the highest priority on tackling racism within the Services. Our equal opportunities policies are ensuring that racism is challenged and that our Services more truly represent—and benefit from—our multi-cultural society.

  We are now working to develop a culture which welcomes racial diversity. I have agreed a new corporate framework for equal opportunities which will encourage this. I commend it to the House. A copy is being placed in the Library.
  11

  Cadets
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air, army and sea cadets there were(a) at 1 May 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [75979]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The number of cadets is calculated at the end of the financial year.

  Therefore, on 31 March 1997 there were:

  12,011 Sea Cadets—excluding junior members of the Corps,

  39,827 Army Cadets,

  33,196 Air Cadets,

  and 39,716 members of the Combined Cadet Force.

  On 31 March 1998, the latest date for which figures are available, there were:

  11,762 Sea Cadets, again excluding junior members,

  40,773 Army Cadets,

  32,807 Air Cadets,

  and 39,460 members of the Combined Cadet Force.

  Dr. Gwyn Prins
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about(a) the recruitment of Dr. Gwyn Prins to the office of the Secretary-General of NATO, (b) the role, responsibilities and degree of security clearance given to Dr. Prins in that office and (c) the vetting procedures applied prior to his appointment. [75980]

  Mr. George Robertson
  These are matters for NATO.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on staffing levels in the Defence Medical Services. [75981]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We have made improving the current serious manpower shortfalls in the Defence Medical Services a top priority. Following the Strategic Defence Review we have provided additional funds to address both personnel and equipment shortfalls in the Medical Services. We have put in place a number of initiatives to rectify the staffing situation, but recognise that restoration of full staffing will take some time.

  Iraq (Bombing Damage)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent of collateral damage inflicted during the recent bombing of Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [75982]

  Mr. George Robertson
  US and British aircraft act only in self-defence, in response to Iraqi aggression. They attack only legitimate military targets which pose a real threat to coalition forces and use only precision guided munitions wherever there is a danger of collateral damage. However, military action is never without risk and I deeply regret any civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure. There would be no such risk if Saddam stopped threatening coalition forces. It is Saddam' s continued aggression which potentially puts innocent civilians in harm's way.
  12

  Rations
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on rations for the armed forces while they are on manoeuvres. [75984]

  Mr. Spellar
  The food supply arrangements for our Armed Forces deployed on operations or exercises will depend on the specific circumstances prevailing. Our aim is always to establish the supply of fresh rations at the earliest opportunity. Where this is not practicable, or in the period before a fresh food supply chain can be established, our personnel will normally be fed on Operational Ration Packs. These Packs have been developed specifically to provide a balanced, varied and nutritional diet suitable for use in a wide range of different field conditions.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel have been deployed in Macedonia. [75985]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Some 4,800 UK military personnel have been deployed to Greece and Macedonia, mainly consisting of the UK contribution to a possible NATO-led peace implementation force in Kosovo, but also including our contribution to the NATO-led Extraction Force, the NATO Verification Mission and the UK contribution to the OSCE Verification Mission, now withdrawn from Kosovo.

  Cleaners' Pensions
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the pension arrangements for cleaners employed by(a) the NAAFI and (b) the Ministry of Defence. [75986]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have a meeting planned with the Chief Executive of the NAAFI this week, at which I expect to raise this issue.

  As for those cleaners employed by the MoD as civil servants, they would be eligible to join the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS).

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the announcement by the Environment Agency that plutonium deposits are being washed from the Pangbourne pipeline at AWE Aldermaston into the River Thames. [76051]

  Mr. Spellar
  All discharges from AWE through the Pangbourne pipeline are authorised by the Environment Agency. Scaling may occur when water passes down any pipeline. The potential for subsequent descaling is taken into account in the management of discharges which remain at 10–15 per cent. of the currently authorised limits. Details of these discharges are made available to the public through AWE' s Environment, Safety and Health reports which are published annually and distributed widely including regulatory and Local Authorities.

  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on safety at AWE Aldermaston. [76019]
  13
  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 18 March 1999,Official Report, columns 801–02.

  Training and Education
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect that improved training and education within the armed forces will have on recruitment. [75988]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We want the Services to be a career of first choice. Our learning forces initiative is designed to improve training and education in the Armed Forces and increase opportunities for Service personnel to acquire academic vocational and professional qualifications. This should have a very positive impact on Armed Forces recruitment and retention.

  Operation Desert Fox
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet his American counterpart to discuss Operation Desert Fox in Iraq. [75989]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I keep in regular and close contact with William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defense, and we frequently discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including coalition activities in respect of Iraq. I next plan to meet him during a visit to the US between 16–18 April and again at the NATO Summit on 23–25 April.

  Trident Warheads
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in implementing strategic defence review commitment that Trident submarines would carry only 48 warheads. [75990]

  Mr. George Robertson
  We implemented the reduction in warhead numbers announced in the Strategic Defence Review by December 1998. All our Trident submarines on deterrent patrol now carry only 48 nuclear warheads.

  Gulf War Illnesses
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Government are spending on research into the illnesses of Gulf war veterans. [75991]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friends the Members for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) and for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) today,Official Report columns 5–6.

  TA Centres (Disposal)
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings his Department plans to achieve by the disposal of TA centres. [75992]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Disposal of TA Centres is expected to generate net receipts of some £40 million, excluding those that may be realised by disposing of the Duke of York's headquarters in Chelsea. We expect also to achieve savings in running costs and costs of refurbishment.
  14

  Women
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were employed in Her Majesty's armed forces(a) in the year before May 1997 and (b) since May 1997. [75993]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Date

  Number of women employed in the armed forces

  Total strength of the armed forces

  1 May 1996

  15,596

  220,988

  1 May 1997

  14,834

  210,269

  1 May 1998

  15,732

  203,739

  1 January 19991

  16,119

  208,763

  1 Latest data available

  Ms Stuart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were employed in Her Majesty's armed forces(a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 March 1999. [75995]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  On 1 May 1997 14,834 women were employed in the armed forces. Figures for 1 March 1999 are not yet available but on 1 January 1999, the latest date for which data are available, there were 16,119 women employed in the armed forces.

  Cadets (Solihull)
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future arrangements for the training of sea, army and air cadets in Solihull. [75994]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  As I have announced, any cadet unit that is currently accommodated in a TA centre that is to close under the restructuring of the TA, will be re-provided with accommodation at least as good as they currently occupy. I have also announced that no TA centre that houses cadets will be closed until alternative accommodation for the cadets is in place. This will be the case for the cadets in Solihull. The future accommodation for the cadets in Solihull is currently under consideration.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on(a) the disposal of stocks of land mines and (b) the destruction of mines which have been laid. [75996]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Government use every appropriate opportunity to press other Governments to ratify the Convention and fulfil all their international obligations under the Ottawa Convention. As I announced to the House on 22 February 1999,Official Report, column 7, we have now destroyed the last of the Army's operational stocks of APM, four years in advance of the requirement laid down under the Ottawa Convention. Destruction of all UK operational stocks of APM will be completed by 1 January 2000. This is another instance of the UK leading international efforts to achieve a world-wide ban on these weapons.
  15
  On the vital issue of the destruction of mines already in the ground, the lead for humanitarian de-mining rests with the Department for International Development. But the MOD has established the Mine Information and Training Centre at Minley in Surrey to provide expert, professional advice. I have also recently approved the attachment of a senior British Army Colonel to the Geneva Centre for Humanitarian De-mining to support the international effort. My Department continues to keep under review all opportunities for further assistance where this would be appropriate and useful.

  European Defence Co-operation
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy in relation to promoting further European defence co-operation. [75997]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Bradley) today,Official Report, column 13.

  Imphal Barracks, York
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the contribution made by Imphal Barracks, York to local employment levels. [73086]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There are 385 civilian staff employed within Imphal Barracks, of whom 143 are on the establishment of the headquarters 2nd Division. Imphal Barracks also makes an indirect contribution to local employment levels through employment by local contractors on property management within the barracks, which this financial year will cost some £1.1 million. For the future, the announced move of the Defence Vetting Agency when implemented will more than compensate for the loss of civilian posts caused by the closure of the divisional headquarters at Imphal Barracks.

  Defence Secondary Care Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Defence Secondary Care Agency published its report for the year 1997–98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76635]

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

  Letter from C. G. Callow to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 22 March 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the date that our Annual Report for 1997/98 was published and its cost of production. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency.
  The Annual Report was published on 17 September 1998 at a cost of £7,398.)

  Departmental Budget
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was his Department's budget in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for(a) 1992–93 to 1998–99 and (b) his estimate for 1999–2000 to 2001–02. [77334]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The information requested is as follows:16

  £ million

  Year

  Cash

  1998–99 prices

  1992–93

  22,910

  26,587

  1993–94

  22,757

  25,726

  1994–95

  22,562

  25,146

  1995–96

  21,517

  23,303

  1996–97

  22,345

  23,476

  1997–98

  21,610

  22,151

  1998–99

  22,549

  22,549

  1999–00

  22,280

  21,737

  2000–01

  22,815

  21,716

  2001–02

  22,972

  21,332

  The figures for 1992–93 through to 1997–98 reflect outturn adjusted to take account of major definitional changes in defence spending and of major transfers of responsibility to and from other Government Departments. The figures for 1996–97 and 1997–98 exclude the element of receipts arising from the sale of the married quarters estate in England and Wales that were appropriated onto Defence Votes. The figures for 1998–99 is the estimated outturn that underlay the Spring Supplementary Estimates. The totals shown for 1999–2000 to 2001–2002 are the Ministry of Defence's Departmental Expenditure Limits. These differ slightly from the figures published in the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm 4011) and the Strategic Defence Review (Cm 3999) White Papers last July, and more recently in the Ministry of Defence's Public Service Agreement (which forms part of "Public Service for the Future: Modernisation, Reform and Accountability" (Cm 4181, December 1998)) because of adjustments arising from Public Expenditure Systems transfers to other Government departments.

  Further details of the Ministry of Defence's expenditure plans will be published in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1999–2000 to 2001–2002" (Cm 4208) on 26 March 1999.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recruitment to the Territorial Army. [75983]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) today,Official Report, column 9.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to maintain the footprint of the Army in those areas of the country where there will be no regular or TA units. [74860]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: The future footprint of the Army is defined by the location of Regular and Territorial Army units and facilities and will remain widespread following the SDR and the reform of the TA.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the reduction in civilian posts from his review of the TA. [74861]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: We expect that the reform of the Territorial Army will result in an overall loss of some 900 civilian posts spread throughout the United Kingdom. These numbers are, however, subject to Trade Union consultation.
  17

  Ministerial Meetings (US)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times Ministers in his Department have met their counterparts in the US Government since 1 June 1998; and if he will list the

  Minister

  Counterpart

  Date

  Location

  Secretary of State

  William Cohen

  3 June 1998

  Washington

  Secretary of State

  William Cohen

  19 November 1998

  Washington

  Secretary of State, Minister (Defence Procurement), and Under-Secretary of State

  John Hamre

  19 January 1999

  London

  Minister (Armed Forces)

  John Hamre

  1 March 1999

  Washington

  In addition, we have regular exchanges and contacts at other meetings and conferences.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by country the number of non-UK citizens who have been recruited to each of the armed services in each of the past three years for which figures are available. [77485]

  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.

  NATO Subventions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on(a) the level of payments from NATO to cover the salaries of UK armed forces personnel on NATO missions, (b) the level of salaries and allowances paid to UK armed forces on NATO missions and (c) the reasons for differences between the amounts at (a) and (b). [77621]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: NATO does not make any payment to cover the salaries of UK (or any other nation's) armed forces personnel on NATO missions. Normal levels of salary, together with allowances appropriate to location and circumstances, are paid from Ministry of Defence funds to UK Armed Forces personnel while on NATO or other missions. It is accepted by NATO nations that the salary costs of troops deployed will lie where they fall, on the defence budgets of the contributing nations.

  Iraq
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times allied aircraft have fired at(a) Iraqi aircraft and (b) Iraqi installations from outside the no-fly zones since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox. [77226]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Allied aircraft have not fired at either Iraqi aircraft or Iraqi installations from outside the no-fly zones since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Biwater Company over targeting sites in the area of the Al Taji factory in outer Baghdad. [78030]

  Mr. George Robertson
  None.
  18
  dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministersinvolved on each occasion, and the name of the US counterpart at each meeting. [77148]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Since 1 June 1998, MOD Ministers have had bilateral meetings with our US counterparts on the following occasions:

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the approximate weight of ordnance fired against targets in Iraq on Monday 15 March. [78054]

  Mr. George Robertson
  UK forces did not launch or drop any ordnance against Iraqi targets on 15 March.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers of 16 February 1999,Official Report, column 739, and 15 March 1999, Official Report, column 511, from whom he received the account of the episode relating to the 16-year-old Iraqi youth. [77353]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: The information came to me from my noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement who was told of the case at a private occasion by a reliable source who had been in Baghdad at the time. I am withholding further details under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, relating to the privacy of an individual. The account is consistent with other accounts of the repressive brutality of Saddam' s regime. For example, the Iraqi National Accord has reported that in 1991 a six-year-old boy was accused, together with his father, of participating in an uprising against Saddam. The boy and his father were both shot. Similarly, in 1996, a 12-year-old boy was arrested and imprisoned for three months because his brother was an opponent of Saddam's.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the targets attacked by British aircraft in the northern and southern no-fly zones of Iraq, together with relevant battle damage assessments since he last wrote to hon. Members with the details of earlier engagements. [77976]

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

  Aircraft Carriers (Contractors)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in selecting contractors for completion of the future aircraft carriers. [75972]

  Mr. Spellar
  Invitations to Tender for the Assessment Phase of the Future Carrier programme were issued to 6 contractors on 25 January 1999. Up to 3 contracts will
  19
  be awarded towards the end of this year. We anticipate further down selection during the course of the Assessment Phase leading to the selection of a prime contractor in 2004.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Electronic Red Boxes
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will name the Ministers in his Department who are regular users of electronic Red Boxes. [76168]

  Sponsored body

  Role

  Tide

  Remuneration

  Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites

  Member

  Mr. Robin Daniels

  No

  British Library Board

  Member

  Viscount Runciman of Duxford CBE

  Yes

  British Tourist Authority

  Chairman

  David Quarmby

  Yes

  Broadcasting Standards Commission

  Member

  Ms Sally O'Sullivan

  Yes

  Broadcasting Standards Commission

  Member

  Mr. Uday Dholakia

  Yes

  Crafts Council

  Member

  Mr. David Field MBE

  No

  Crafts Council

  Member

  Professor Jeremy Myerson

  No

  Crafts Council

  Member

  Dr. Jennifer Harris

  No

  Crafts Council

  Member

  Ms Cynthia Cousens

  No

  English Heritage

  Commissioner

  Councillor Philip Davis

  Yes

  English Sports Council

  Member

  Ms Brigid Simmonds

  No

  English Sports Council

  Member

  Ms Tessa Sanderson

  No

  Independent Television Commission

  Deputy Chairman

  Lord Holme of Cheltenham

  Yes

  Library and Information Commission

  Member

  Professor Mel Collier

  No

  National Film and Television School

  Governor

  Ms Ann Beynon

  No

  National Film and Television School

  Governor

  Rupert Gavin

  No

  National Film and Television School

  Governor

  Mr. Marc Samuelson

  No

  National Film and Television School

  Governor

  Ms Floella Benjamin

  No

  National Film and Television School

  Governor

  Mr. Clive Jones

  No

  National Film and Television School

  Governor

  Ms Andrea Calderwood

  No

  National Film and Television School

  Governor

  Viscount Chandos

  No

  National Film and Television School

  Governor

  Ms Joyce Taylor

  No

  National Lottery Charities Board

  Member Northern Ireland

  Ms Sheila Jane Malley

  No

  National Lottery Charities Board

  Member Wales

  Mr. Jeff Carroll

  No

  National Lottery Commission

  Commissioner

  Mr. Robin Squire

  Yes

  National Lottery Commission

  Commissioner

  Ms Harriet Spicer

  Yes

  National Lottery Commission

  Commissioner

  Dame Helena Shovelton

  Yes

  National Lottery Commission

  Commissioner

  Mr. Brian Pomeroy

  Yes

  National Lottery Commission

  Commissioner

  Ms Hilary Blume

  Yes

  Public Lending Right Advisory Committee

  Member

  Mr. Roger Palmer

  No

  Radio Authority

  Member

  Mr. David Witherow

  Yes

  Radio Authority

  Member

  Mr. Feargal Sharkey

  Yes

  Radio Authority

  Member

  Mrs. Sheila Hewitt

  Yes

  Reviewing Committee on the Exports of Works of Art

  Member

  Mr. Alistair Laing

  No

  Reviewing Committee on the Exports of Works of Art

  Member

  The hon. Georgina Sonor

  No

  Royal Armouries

  Member

  Mrs. Ann Green

  No

  Royal Armouries

  Member

  Professor John Childs

  No

  United Kingdom Sports Council

  Member

  Ms Zahara Hyde-Peters

  No

  United Kingdom Sports Council

  Member

  Miss Tanni Grey MBE

  No

  United Kingdom Sports Council

  Member

  Mrs. Diana King

  No

  United Kingdom Sports Council

  Member

  Mr. Adrian Metcalfe

  No

  United Kingdom Sports Council

  Member

  Prof. Myra Nimmo

  No

  United Kingdom Sports Council

  Member

  Mr. Gavin Stewart

  No

  Ministerial Meetings (US)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times Ministers in his Department have met their counterparts in the US Government since 1 June 1998; and if he 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. [77124]
  20
  Mr. Chris Smith
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 651–52.

  Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those people he has appointed to public bodies since 1 November 1998, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and if they receive remuneration. [76412]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The appointments made are as follows:

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Under the US political system there are no exact counterparts for DCMS Ministers. However, since 1 June 1998 my Ministers and I have met the following key individuals from those organisations most closely linked to my Department's responsibilities and to the US Government:

  On Wednesday 16 September 1998 in Washington DC I met Ellen Lowell, White House Millennium

  21
  Co-ordinator; William Kennard, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission; and, Harriet Fullbright, Chair, President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

  On Thursday 25 February 1999, in New York, Alan Howarth, Minister for the Arts, met Ms Scott Shanklin-Preston, Senior Deputy Chair, National Endowment for the Arts; Ed McBride, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities; and, Malcolm Richardson, White House Millennium Council.

  Commonwealth Games Headquarters
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking to retain the headquarters of the Commonwealth Games Federation in England; and if he will make a statement. [R] [77977]

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure that the Commonwealth Games headquarters remain in London; and if he will make a statement. [77774]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: This Government place great importance on retaining in the UK the headquarters of all international sports federations based here, including the Commonwealth Games Federation. That is why, in addition to on-going financial support from the English Sports Council Trust for the Federation, I have welcomed the UK Sports Council's strategy to assist the retention of international federations in this country. Part of this strategy will include financial support for the CGF's accommodation in London and a secondment to the Federation in the lead up to the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

  I have reassured the Chairman of the CGF of our commitment.

  Sports Meetings
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the chief executives of the international sporting bodies resident in the United Kingdom whom he has met since 1 May 1998. [77773]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: Since May 1998, I have had formal meetings with senior representatives from two international sports federations based in this country, namely, the Commonwealth Games Federation and the International Tennis Federation. I should stress that, through the Sports Councils as well as regular meetings and correspondence, both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have close links with the national governing bodies of sport and are well informed of developments and issues surrounding international sport federations based in this country.

  This Government are fully committed to encouraging international sports federations to locate in the UK and to retaining those bodies which are already based here.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Disestablishment
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will assess the financial consequences of disestablishment of the Church of England. [76004]
  22
  Mr. Stuart Bell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25 January 1999,Official Report, column 17.

  Disestablishment would not lie with the Commissioners to initiate and, without formal instructions and definitions, any estimates of costs are impractical.

  Clergy Pensions
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many clergy and clergy widows' pensions are currently contributed to by the Church Commissioners; what is the annual funding involved; and what these figures were(a) five and (b) 10 years ago. [76005]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  I have arranged for this information to be placed in the House of Commons Library. In order to assist the hon. Member, however, he should note that at 31 December 1998 the Commissioners were contributing to the pensions of 7,341 clergy and 4,298 widows. The total cost for the year was £82.3m. In addition, funding of 1.3m was used to subsidise the cost of retirement housing.

  Redundant Churches
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the policy of the Church Commissioners towards redundant churches. [76006]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  When a Church of England church is closed for public worship under the Pastoral Measure it is the policy of the Church Commissioners to assist and encourage the diocese to seek a suitable alternative use for the building. If no such use can be found, the Commissioners usually have to decide in the light of the advice of their statutory advisers, the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches, between preservation by the Churches Conservation Trust and demolition.

  Church Risk Management Group
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the work of the Church Risk Management Group. [76007]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The Church Risk Management Group has recently been established in the diocese of Leicester and is available to give practical advice to all Church of England churches in the diocese on all matters relating to security and risk management. The Group includes representatives from the diocesan office, the City and County Councils, fire brigade, police and the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group and will visit churches to assess and advise on risks that might not be immediately recognisable to the untrained eye. It works closely with the diocesan advisory committee and appropriate outside agencies to improve fire safety, crime reduction levels and risk management in all church property. The scheme has received an enthusiastic response from the local church and central church authorities and may be offered to other dioceses.
  23

HOME DEPARTMENT

  European Asylum System
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the establishment of a single European asylum system. [76289]

  Kate Hoey
  A single European asylum system is a theoretical possibility. It could conceivably take a number of different forms. We have formed no particular view at present, but will consider the matter further in the light of the study to establish the merits of such a system which is a feature of the Council and Commission's Action Plan on the implementation of the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam on an area of freedom, security and justice, which was deposited on 17 November 1998.

  Sergeant Gurpal Virdi
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions and for what reasons the Metropolitan Police have applied for delay in determining Sergeant Gurpal Virdi's Employment Tribunal application. [77237]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the Metropolitan Police have twice applied for a delay in determining Sergeant Gurpal Virdi's Employment Tribunal application. On both occasions, the reason was to await the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service on whether charges should be brought against Sergeant Virdi.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Sergeant Gurpal Virdi was suspended from the Metropolitan Police; and when the Metropolitan Police advised his Department of the Employment Tribunal case relating to Sergeant Gurpal Virdi. [77235]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that Sergeant Gurpal Virdi was suspended from duty on 15 April 1998.

  The Metropolitan Police had not previously had reason to advise me of the Employment Tribunal relating to Sergeant Virdi. The Commissioner tells me that a directions hearing of the tribunal has been arranged for 5 May 1999.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary charges the Metropolitan Police plans to lay against Sergeant Gurpal Virdi. [77236]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that on 23 February 1999 the Metropolitan Police Complaints Investigation Branch was asked to consider whether any disciplinary action should be taken against Sergeant Gurpal Virdi and if so what the disciplinary charges should be. No decision has yet been taken on these matters.

  EU Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 12 March; and if he will make a statement. [77249]
  24
  Mr. Straw
  My hon. Friends the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey), and I represented the United Kingdom at the Council. The main matters dealt with were as follows:

  'A' points

  The Council agreed as 'A' points, among other things: draft rules on the Europol pension fund; an extension of the mandate of the Europol Drugs Unit (EDU) management team; draft rules governing the transmission of personal data by Europol to third states and bodies; a report on the activities of EDU/Europol in 1998; and a Regulation determining those nationals of third countries who require a visa when crossing the external borders of the European Union.

  Europol: Preparation for taking up activities

  The Presidency sought information from individual member states on the progress they had made on agreeing the mandates for the appointment of Europol Directors, and on completing the exchange of bilateral notes with the Dutch Government which will govern the position of Europol Liaison Officers.

  The Presidency also reported the latest state of play concerning the draft rules of procedure to be adopted by Europol's Joint Supervisory Body. This matter will be considered again at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in May.

  On the issue of the extension of Europol's mandate to cover forgery of money and means of payment, the Presidency confirmed that Coreper would re-examine an outstanding issue relating to the legal definition of the term
  "forgery of money and means of payment".

  Eurodac

  The Council reached political agreement to freeze the text of the draft Protocol to the Eurodac Convention (adding illegal immigrants to the fingerprinting database for asylum seekers), pending the introduction of a First Pillar instrument after the coming into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam. It was noted that the opinion of the European Parliament on the draft Protocol was still outstanding and that a number of member states still had national Parliamentary scrutiny reservations.

  Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters

  The Presidency noted continuing reserves on issues relating to territorial application and data protection. One member state was urged to join agreement with the others on the "remote approach" to satellite network interceptions of telecommunications within the member states. In the absence of agreement, the Presidency concluded that this issue would go back to Coreper and the relevant working group.

  Effect of the transition from the Maastricht to the Amsterdam Treaty on civil law conventions

  The Council discussed opinions by the Commission and the Council Legal Services arguing that, after entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, ratification of the Brussels H and Service of Documents Conventions should be suspended as soon as Community instruments to replace them had been tabled. The Commission confirmed its intention to table replacement proposals reflecting exactly the content of the current conventions. The United

  25
  Kingdom with support from another Member State took the position that suspending ratification as soon as the Commission tabled a proposal, rather than when the instrument was adopted by the Council, risked leaving a legal vacuum.

  The Presidency sought, and achieved, political agreement that member states should be free to continue the ratification process until any superseding Community instruments were adopted by the Council.

  Revision of the Brussels and Lugano Conventions

  The Presidency reported on the current state of play. They hoped to make swift progress on the negotiation and to ensure proper arrangements were made for the Lugano countries in the context of any Community instrument. The United Kingdom took the position that there were strong political and legal arguments for continuing to discuss revision of the Brussels Convention as a convention, and that freezing discussion would send the wrong signal to the non-European States concerned.

  Internal Market and Consumer Protection

  The Presidency reported on the current position in respect of draft Directives on late payments, electronic signatures, consumer guarantees and distance selling of financial services.

  Definition and integration of the Schengen Acquis

  Under this agenda heading, I announced the United Kingdom's intentions regarding future participation in the incorporated Schengen provisions, the Free Movement Chapter of the Treaty of Amsterdam, and Justice and Home Affairs matters generally. I made it clear that, while we would maintain our frontier controls in line with the Amsterdam Treaty Protocol, we wished to co-operate in all other Justice and Home Affairs areas which did not conflict with this objective, and notably police, customs and judicial co-operation in criminal matters.

  Other Business

  Asylum procedures

  The Commission introduced a paper on harmonised procedures and called for discussion in the coming months. The paper stresses the importance of balancing the efficiency of the asylum process with fairness to the applicant. The Commission will submit formal proposals after further consultations.

  The Ocalan case

  One member state welcomed the General Affairs Council Declaration of 22 February and said further work was needed to ensure respect for human rights and a fair trial for Ocalan, including the presence of international observers and avoidance of the death penalty. There was no discussion.

  Readmission clauses in association agreements

  There was a call for the Council to adopt a common position on the inclusion of a standard clause on readmission in all third country agreements. It was agreed that comments on this item would be passed to the General Affairs Council.

  Mutual recognition/access to justice

  I gave notice of the United Kingdom's intention to table two papers for the Council's attention, one dealing with mutual recognition of court decisions and judgments, the other with access to justice in civil matters.
  26
  Second Protocol to the Customs Information System Convention

  This protocol was signed by members of the Council.

  Meeting with the Central and Eastern European countries (CEEs) and Cyprus

  In the afternoon, Justice and Home Affairs Ministers met their counterparts from the CEEs and Cyprus. There was an exchange of views between the CEEs and Cyprus, and European Union member states, on the adverse effects of corruption, and on the steps necessary to combat corruption in both the public and private sectors.

  EU General Affairs Council
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, consequential on the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of the European Union meeting on 7 December, he will list(a) the adaptations necessary to the working structures in justice and home affairs, and for what purposes, (b) when the changes were discussed at the Meeting of the K4 Committee and who represented Her Majesty's Government and (c) what instructions he has given to United Kingdom Permanent Representatives on COREPER in respect of its remit to prepare for the necessary changes. [77217]

  Mr. Straw
  I take it that my hon. Friend is referring to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council (GAC) on 7 December 1998 relating to preparation of the implementation of the Amsterdam Treaty.

  It has been recognised for some time that the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam have legal and practical implications for Council working structures in the field of justice and home affairs (JHA). While the JHA Council will maintain political oversight over all JHA areas, including those transferring to the First Pillar, adjustments will need to be made to working structures below the level of the Council. The main change arises from the fact that the co-ordinating committee under Article 36 of the revised Treaty on European Union which will replace the present K4 Committee will, unlike that Committee, have no responsibility for the matters transferring to the First Pillar. In the interests of ensuring effective co-ordination of future work on immigration, asylum and border controls, and on civil judicial co-operation, it has been decided to create new groups to assure such coordination. The opportunity has also been taken to review lower level working structures, with a view to achieving greater coherence and efficiency and to incorporating Schengen working structures into the Council structures. A number of changes to working groups have now been agreed, for implementation when the Amsterdam Treaty enters into force.

  These matters have been discussed in the K4 Committee on a number of occasions, most recently at the meeting on 23–24 February, where the United Kingdom was represented by Mr. John Warne, Director of the Organised and International Crime Directorate at the Home Office.

  The Presidency's proposals were approved by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on 17 March. It was also agreed that Coreper would review the new working structures at the end of the year 2000.
  27

  Emergency Calls (Accidents)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department collects comparative data on accidents involving police, ambulance and fire service vehicles responding to emergency calls. [77343]

  Mr. George Howarth
  No comparative data are collected but the Home Office monitors accident rates arising from both police responses to emergency calls and pursuits. We are supporting the Association of Chief Police Officers in all its work to reduce the casualties which regrettably arise from time to time in these situations.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of computer systems in (i) his Department, (ii) public services for which his Department is responsible and (iii) departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible, which will be millennium compliant by December; and if he will make a statement. [77294]

  Mr. Straw
  All business critical Information Technology systems in the Home Department are expected to be Millennium compliant well before December 1999.

  All Police Forces and Fire Brigades in England and Wales report that their business critical IT systems will be Millennium compliant by December 1999. Programmes of independent assessment of these reports are currently under way.

  All the Non-Departmental Public Bodies for which the Home Department is responsible report that their business critical IT systems will be Millennium compliant by December 1999.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total expenditure by his Department and by each of the public services for which he is responsible on ensuring that computer systems are millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [77295]

  Mr. Straw
  The projected total expenditure on Year 2000 work up to the end of March 1999 in the Home Department is £22.584 million. In addition, total expenditure on Year 2000 work up to the end of December 1998 in Police Forces was £17.2 million and in Fire Services was £1.756 million.

  A projection, undertaken in January 1999, of cumulative expenditure on Millennium compliance work up to March 2000 in the Home Department was £25.326 million; in the Police Forces, £56.233 million; and in the Fire Services, £8.605 million.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in England and Wales currently have drug free wings; how many have specialised drug addiction treatment programmes and staff; and if he will make a statement. [77281]

  Mr. George Howarth
  It is estimated that there are now approximately 4,000 voluntary testing places covering one third of prisons. There are currently 73 centrally funded 28
  drug treatment/rehabilitation programmes being delivered by prison and specialist staff. The Prison Service is committed to the expansion of treatment programmes and to providing access to voluntary testing for all prisoners considered suitable by 2001.

  Prisons (Seconded Probation Staff)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seconded probation staff were working in HM prisons in England and Wales on 31 December in each of the last four years; what plans he has to change numbers of seconded staff over the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [77291]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The numbers of seconded probation staff in prison establishments for the last four years ending 31 December, are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1995

  1639

  1996

  1568

  1997

  590

  1998

  657

  1 Figures for 1995 and 1996 include probation seconded officers but not probation service officers which have been recorded only since 1997

  The Prison and Probation Services have a joint commitment to the effective delivery of throughcare. The number of seconded probation staff in establishments is dependent on an annual contract between the Governor of the establishment and the Chief Probation Officer for the area. Staffing levels need to be flexible, to meet changing requirements.

  Governors must adhere to the principles of the National Throughcare Framework Document—signed by the Prison and Probation Services—in determining the number of seconded probation staff needed to prepare ex-offenders adequately for post-release supervision.

  Home Detention Curfew
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders are currently on a home detention curfew; and if he will make a statement. [77282]

  Mr. George Howarth
  On 17 March 1999, there were 2,031 offenders on home detention curfew in England and Wales. Since the commencement of the scheme on 28 January 1999, 2,403 offenders have been placed on Home Detention Curfew. Of this number, 298 have successfully completed their curfew and 71 have been recalled.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the use of electronic tagging of young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [77283]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Curfew orders backed by electronic monitoring for young offenders aged 10 to 15 are currently being piloted in Norfolk and Greater Manchester. These are due to run until 31 March 2000. Information on the pilots is being collected and analysed
  29
  by the Research Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office. A final report is due early in 2000 and a decision will then be made on whether to extend the use of this provision.

  Communications Interception
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if individuals who have mistakenly had their communications intercepted by statutory agencies, owing to an error by a public telecommunications operator or for any other reason, are informed of the mistake and given details of the communications which have been intercepted; how many individuals mistakenly had their communications intercepted in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [77275]

  Mr. Straw
  Whenever a person's communications are intercepted in error a report explaining the reason for the error and the action taken in response is submitted to the Secretary of State and to the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. All product obtained from the interception is destroyed. The Commissioner reports on errors, in such detail as he considers appropriate, in his annual reports. The numbers of errors in the last five published reports are as follows:

  Report for (year)

  Number of errors

  1993

  9

  1994

  14

  1995

  7

  1996

  8

  1997

  18

  I would refer the right hon. Member to the annual reports themselves—copies of which are in the Library—for a description of the errors. In accordance with long established policy and consistently with the statutory provisions, people are not notified when their telephones are intercepted under warrant. This policy also applies in relation to cases where a person's communications are intercepted in error.

  Fire Engines (London)
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision on the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority's proposal to reduce the number of fire engines in London. [77315]

  Mr. George Howarth
  On 1 March my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary received the application by the Authority, under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, for his approval to the removal of five fire appliances and associated firefighting posts.

  Where an application is straightforward and uncontentious my right hon. Friend aims to reach a decision within six weeks. However, it is important that hon. Members, organisations and members of the public who wish to make representations about a section 19 application have the opportunity to do so. In a case such as this, where it is already clear that there will be a significant number of representations to consider, my right hon. Friend will normally take much longer than six weeks to reach his decision. I can assure the hon. Member that the application will not be approved unless we are
  30
  entirely satisfied, in the light of advice from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire Services, that the national standards of fire cover will be maintained.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure by which convicted prisoners may apply for permission to visit close relatives in other penal institutions in England. [77639]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Inter-prison visits may, on application, be allowed between prisoners who are close relatives when both parties are inmates at separate establishments, subject to the requirements of security and the availability of transport and accommodation. The procedures for convicted prisoners to apply for permission to have such visits are set out in Prison Rules 33 and 34, Standing Order 5A and Circular Instruction 11/1991, copies of which are held in the Library.

  Fire Research
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent in each of the last three years on funding research into fire-related issues. [77610]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Home Office fire research expenditure for the period 1995–96 to 1997–981.

  Year

  £

  1995–96

  845,745

  1996–97

  590,490

  1997–98

  541,437

  1 Figures supplied by the Fire Research and Development Group, FEPD.

  Asylum Applications
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish forecasts of asylum applications and details of how the cost of supporting asylum seekers is calculated. [78426]

  Mr. Straw
  A note entitled 'Estimates of public expenditure on asylum seeker support' has been placed in the Library and circulated to interested parties. I am also today publishing an Information Document which sets out further details of the proposed asylum support arrangements. I am arranging for copies to be sent to every Member and placed in the Library.

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up his Department's Green Transport Plan. [77971]

  Mr. Straw
  My Department is drawing up green transport plans for its headquarters buildings including those occupied by its Executive Agencies by the end of this month and for all other key buildings by March 2000. My Department's fleet managers have been fully involved in developing the policy.
  31

  Local Authority Spending
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the local authorities to which Ministers have written urging greater spending on local services within their portfolio area. [77959]

  Mr. Straw
  Home Office Ministers have not written to any local authorities in those terms.

  Fire Service (Staffing)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on staffing levels in each Fire Service area. [77693]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information on staffing levels in each fire authority area is included in the annual Reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales. The report for 1997–98 was presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in October 1998.

  Prisoner Deaths (Notification)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) guidelines and (b) regulations his Department has regarding (i) the notification of relatives and (ii) the information, support and guidance offered to relatives after a death in (1) prison and (2) police custody. [77337]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Prison Service issued revised instructions to staff last autumn under Prison Service Order 2710—'Follow Up To Deaths In Custody'. These instructions give guidance on the notification of the next of kin and how the bereaved can be helped and supported in a sensitive manner during this difficult period.

  The decision on how to inform the next of kin should take into account individual circumstances. Wherever possible, notification is made by a governor grade and chaplain from the appropriate denomination. However, in some instances notification via the police is necessary. Supporting relatives and keeping them informed of developments following a death are of paramount importance. A senior member of staff is appointed as the named point of contact (a second person will be available in the first person's absence) for the family, who are invited to visit the prison.

  The Prison Service has reviewed its practice in relation to disclosing information about investigations into deaths in prison custody. As a result, it proposes to investigate any death occurring on or after 1 April on the basis of disclosure before the inquest to persons whom the Coroner believes to have a proper interest in preparing for it. This disclosure must not compromise the inquest or any criminal proceedings or infringe the legal rights of witnesses. Each case will be reviewed in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  The position in the police service is that all police officers early on in their service are given training on dealing with all sudden deaths, which includes notifying relatives of a sudden death. Where the death occurs in police custody, it would be for the senior officer in charge
  32
  to decide on the appropriate way of informing the relatives of the death. It is normal practice for the next of kin to be informed by a police officer in person. Practice on the provision of written information varies among forces but in the Metropolitan Police Service they normally provide the family with a leaflet on the role of the coroner and a leaflet by the independent Police Complaints Authority on investigating serious incidents. They may also appoint a family liaison officer of above inspector rank at local level.

  Home Office guidance is shortly to be issued to chief officers of police about the disclosure of documentary evidence to interested parties in advance of inquest hearings which concern deaths in police custody. The guidance advises that disclosure should be the normal practice in all cases of death in police custody, as well as deaths arising from fatal road accidents involving the police.

  Strip Searches
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update his answer of 9 July 1998,Official Report, column 590, on strip searches; if he will list the conclusions and recommendations of the review of strip searching procedures; and if he will place a copy of the final report in the Library. [78175]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 9 February 1999,Official Report, column 137. I will write to him when the report is complete.

  Data Protection Act 1998
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he is making towards bringing the Data Protection Act 1998 into force. [78411]

  Mr. Straw
  We are making good progress in preparing the large amount of subordinate legislation needed to complete the regime created by the 1998 Act. We intend to make the drafts of the instruments available on the Internet in due course. We hope to bring the new regime into force by the end of June or as soon thereafter as we can.

  Metropolitan Police (Objectives)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the Metropolitan Police Committee's advice on proposed objectives for the Metropolitan Police, and on an Efficiency Plan, in 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [78412]

  Mr. Straw
  Yes. Following consultation with the Metropolitan Police Committee and the Commissioner, I have approved the following objectives for the Metropolitan Police in 1999–2000:

  Dealing with Young Offenders
  To deal speedily and effectively with young offenders and to work with other agencies to reduce offending and re-offending.

  Reducing Crime and Disorder
  To provide corporate support for local partnerships to reduce local crime and disorder
  To reduce the incidence of repeat victimisation, specifically in respect of burglary, racial incidents, homophobic attacks and Domestic Violence.
  33
  Reducing Drug Related Crime
  To target and reduce drug related crime in partnership with other local agencies.

  Diversity
  To increase the MPS's commitment to become an anti-racist organisation and the awareness and confidence of minority ethnic communities and groups in the MPS's ability to deal convincingly with Racially Motivated Crime.
  These objectives are set out in the Metropolitan Police Policing Plan 1999–2000 which the Commissioner is issuing with my approval.

  Again with my approval, following consultation with the Metropolitan Police Committee, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is publishing at the same time an Efficiency Plan for 1999–2000 which aims for efficiency gains of 3.5 per cent.

  Minister

  Number of civil servants accompanying minister

  Destination

  Date

  Purpose of visit

  Return cost per passenger £

  Civil Service grade of passenger

  Adam Ingram

  None

  Japan/Taiwan

  February 1998

  IDB Trade Mission

  6,379.00

  Not applicable

  Secretary of State

  3

  Boston/Washington/New York

  March 1998

  Brief opinion formers on NI political development

  5,278.00

  1 senior civil servant, 1 special adviser, 1 grade 7

  Secretary of State

  2

  Washington/New York

  July 1998

  Post Agreement briefing

  5,048.25

  2 senior civil servants

  Secretary of State

  1

  New York

  October 1998

  Eleven city tour

  5,435.90

  1 senior civil servant

  Secretary of State

  1

  Chicago/Seattle

  October 1998

  Eleven city tour

  6,570.70

  1 senior civil servant

  Adam Ingram

  None

  New York/Washington

  November 1998

  Speaking engagements/receptions

  4,324.50

  Not applicable

  Paul Murphy

  2

  Washington

  December 1998

  Attend dinner hosted by President Clinton attended by all NI political party leaders

  5,576.55

  1 senior civil servant, 1 HEO

  The cost of these flights is part of this Administration's expenditure on ministerial overseas travel.

  Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [76460]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have placed in the Library of the House a list of those individuals who have been appointed to public bodies in Northern Ireland in the period 1 November 1998 to 10 March 1999 with details of their position and whether they receive remuneration.

  Note:

  The list includes appointments which have been extended to cover the interim period prior to devolution.

  Foyle Fisheries Commission
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish for each fish counter on each river in the Foyle Fisheries Commission area the number of (1) salmon and grilse and (2) sea trout which passed through those counters in each month in(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997 and (d) 1998. [76838]
  34
  I am sending copies of both these plans to all right hon. and hon. Members whose constituencies fall wholly or partly within the Metropolitan Police District and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) ministers and (b) officials travelled first class on commercial aircraft for official purposes in 1998, broken down by (i) date, (ii) cost and (iii) Civil Service grade of passenger. [73961]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The rules on Ministerial travel are the same as those applied under the previous Administration. The information is as follows:

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The fish counters do not distinguish between salmon and large sea trout. Neither do they record fish of a size less than 45 centimetres. Accordingly, not all sea trout will be included in the counts.

  Such information as is available is contained in Tables 2 and 3 of the Annual Reports for the Foyle Fisheries Commission, copies of which are in the Library of the House. The Reports of the Foyle Fisheries Commission for 1997 and 1998 are not yet in the Library and the information available is as follows:

  River Faughan: Fish counts at Campsie Barrage

  1997

  1998

  January

  223

  8

  February

  91

  0

  March

  12

  0

  April

  10

  0

  May

  23

  341

  June

  784

  1,158

  July

  1,291

  39

  August

  320

  286

  September

  748

  74

  October

  23

  303

  November

  0

  131

  December

  0

  737

  35
  River Mourne: Adjusted Count of Salmon at Sion Mills Weir

  Although a fish counter was in operation at Sion Mills Weir during 1998 the counter was not operational for the period February to May due to the construction of a new fish pass and fish counting facilities. The validation of the counts of the 3 channels of the new facilities, when in operation in 1998, has not yet been completed and therefore it is not possible to provide any accurate figures for that year. The 1997 count was as follows:

  1997

  January

  879

  February

  108

  March

  36

  April

  0

  May

  75

  June

  1,849

  July

  1,480

  August

  140

  September

  226

  October

  480

  November

  1,200

  December

  574

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in each of the years 1990 to 1998, how many(a) salmon and grilse and (b) sea trout, were taken by (i) nets and (ii) anglers in the Foyle Commission area. [76883]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Although it is a statutory requirement that anglers in the Foyle Area make an annual catch return, in practice only a very small percentage of anglers provide this. On this basis, the catch information provided (and the percentage of anglers making a return) is as follows:

  Salmon and Grilse

  Sea trout

  Year

  Nets

  Rod catch

  Nets

  Rod catch

  Percentage returns from anglers

  1990

  44,420

  927

  1—

  1,399

  5.00

  1991

  25,816

  482

  1—

  1,222

  9.17

  1992

  42,257

  523

  1—

  1,415

  5.78

  1993

  38,028

  1,214

  1—

  738

  9.11

  1994

  38,854

  1,759

  1—

  592

  12.12

  1995

  35,912

  708

  1—

  759

  6.77

  1996

  30,544

  1,444

  1—

  771

  3.44

  1997

  43,963

  1,020

  1—

  802

  3.30

  1998

  39,950

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1 Not available

  Pre-school Education
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the availability of places for(a) part-time and (b) full-time pre-school education for children other than those from socially disadvantaged circumstances for the school year ending 31 July, 2000. [76931]

  Mr. McFall
  I expect approximately 8,500 full-time and 8,000 part-time pre-school education places to be available in Northern Ireland in the school year 1999–2000. These places should be sufficient for around 70 per cent. of all children in their immediate pre-school year, compared to 45 per cent. in 1997–98. It is not possible to predict the 36
  numbers of children from socially disadvantaged circumstances who will take up pre-school education places, but, if all in this group are allocated places, sufficient places should be available for almost 60 per cent. of the remainder of children.

  Airports
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has(a) to approve and (b) to initiate developments relating to airports before the completion of the economic impact studies covering airports and air services announced in "A New Deal for Transport"; and if she will make a statement. [76992]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  A number of developments have recently been initiated some by local airport authorities. Each application for planning permission will be considered on its merits and it is not possible to indicate in advance whether approval will be given. The Government have no role in initiating airport developments.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the study of the economic impact of regional airports and regional air services announced in "A New Deal for Transport"; when these studies will be completed in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [76991]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Northern Ireland Regional Air Services Study is already underway and is due to be completed by the end of the summer. The study findings should be published in September-October 1999.

  Human Rights Commission
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on political balance in the future make up of the Human Rights Commission. [77084]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires that the Secretary of State, in making appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission,"shall as far as practicable secure that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland."
  The Secretary of State on 1 March appointed a Chief Commissioner and nine part-time Commissioners for a three-year term. The Government believe that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. There are no plans to make any additional appointments.

  Company Licences
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for(a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger companies (i) all licences and permits issued by her 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. [76856]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: This information has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
  37

  Paramilitary Violence
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if she will list for the week ended Saturday 6 March the number of(a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland indicating how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups; [77109]

  (2) if she will list for the week ended Saturday 6 March the number of violent incidents involving paramilitary groups which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many involved (a) Loyalist and (b) Republican groups. [77108]

  Mr. Ingram
  During the period 28 February to 6 March 1999, there were no shooting incidents reported. There were 3 bombing incidents.

  The number of casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks during the same period were as illustrated:

  By Loyalist Groups

  By Republican Groups

  Assaults

  2

  2

  Shootings

  0

  0

  Total

  2

  2

  Notes:

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

  2. The bombings cannot as yet be attributed to any grouping.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if she will list for the week ended Saturday 13 March the number of violent incidents involving paramilitary groups which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many involved (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups; [77318]

  (2) if she will list for the week ended Saturday 13 March the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [77319]

  Mr. Ingram
  The numbers of security incidents during the period 7 March-13 March 1999 are shown:

  Shooting incidents: 5

  Bombing incidents: 1.

  The numbers of casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks during the period are as follows:

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Assaults

  nil

  1

  Shootings

  nil

  3

  Total

  nil

  4

  Note:

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

  2. The bombing cannot as yet be attributed to a grouping.

  Police Complaints
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what are the main stages in an investigation conducted by the Complaints and Discipline 38
  Department of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; what is the average time taken to complete each stage; and how many complaints have been processed and completed over each of the last three years; [78164]

  (2) what are the main stages in an investigation conducted by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints; what is the average time taken to complete each stage; and how many complaints have been processed and completed over each of the last three years; [78170]

  (3) what is the projected estimate and breakdown of the annual budget of the Office of the Police Complaints Ombudsman; how many staff will be employed for the first three years of operation; and at what salary grades; [78171]

  (4) what is her estimate of how many investigations will be conducted by the Office of the Police Complaints Ombudsman over its first three years. [78172]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave him on 15 February 1999,Official Report, columns 475–76.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are, in each of the last four years for which figures are available, the principal items of expenditure contributing to the total annual budget of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints; and how many staff were employed and at what salary grades. [78169]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the last four years' reports of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints which provide Statements of Accounts giving the information requested.

  1998 Annual Report—HMSO, ISBN 0–10–288899—X, pages 66 and 67

  Details of staffing levels and costs are given on page 68 and 69 of the 1998 Report

  1997 Annual Report, HMSO, ISBN 0–10–250698–1, pages 68 and 69

  1996 Annual Report, HMSO, ISBN 0–10–255498–6, pages 52 and 53

  1995 Annual Report, HMSO, ISBN 0–10–255896–5. pages 60 and 61

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were, in each of the last four years for which figures are available, the principal items of expenditure contributing to the total annual budget of the Complaints and Discipline Department of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and how many officers and staff were employed in that Department, and at what salary grades. [78163]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25 February 1999,Official Report, column 360.

  Independent Police Ombudsman
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she had with the Chief Constable of the RUC before deciding not to appoint either of the two short-listed candidates as the new Independent Police Ombudsman. [77630]
  39
  Mr. Ingram
  None. The Secretary of State and I interviewed two candidates and, while we found them to be of a high standard, we felt that they did not sufficiently meet the requirements we had set for this extremely sensitive and important post.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Chief Constable of the RUC has a veto on the appointment of the Independent Police Ombudsman. [77631]

  Mr. Ingram
  No.

  Northern Ireland Police Authority
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press releases were issued by the Northern Ireland Police Authority between 10 February 1998 and 31 December 1998; and how many of these notices were posted on the Police Authority Internet web site. [78160]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 477.

  Terrorist Organisations
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will update the answer of 2 November 1998,Official Report, columns 363–64, on terrorist organisations, (a) to indicate the profile of the politically motivated prison population in Northern Ireland by location, status and perceived affiliation and (b) to indicate the estimate of prisoner releases for each perceived affiliation projected for each quarter up to 30 September 2000. [78159]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information is as follows:

  Table A shows the perceived paramilitary affiliations of prisoners at HMP Maze.

  Table B

  1999

  2000

  Perceived affiliation

  Quarter 1

  Quarter 2

  Quarter 3

  Quarter 4

  Quarter 1

  Quarter 2

  Quarter 3

  Total

  INLA

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Loyalist

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  LVF

  0

  1

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  4

  NT

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  PIRA

  0

  8

  2

  9

  8

  0

  6

  33

  Rep Sym

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Republican

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  RHC

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  UDA

  1

  4

  7

  2

  1

  3

  1

  19

  UFF

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  UVF

  0

  4

  1

  3

  0

  3

  0

  11

  Total

  2

  19

  14

  15

  13

  6

  8

  77

  Maze Prison
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response the Northern Ireland Prison Service has made to Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons' report on HMP Maze; and if she will place a copy of the response in the Library. [78162]
  40

  Table A

  Number

  Loyalists

  UVF

  42

  LVF

  17

  UDA

  53

  Total

  112

  Republican

  PIRA

  85

  INLA

  23

  Total

  108

  Information is held in relation to the perceived paramilitary association of prisoners, where applicable, for management purposes. With the exception of HMP Maze where links are more clearly defined, this information is based on a combination of factors including the offence, sympathies and associates. No information is held on the political affiliations of any prisoners. For clarification, I would confirm that these figures include prisoners currently on temporary release from prison.

  Table B shows a total of 77 prisoners whose cases have been deemed to meet the requirements of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 by the Sentence Review Commission and who have been given Substantive Determinations with release dates up to end September 2000. It includes only those prisoners whose perceived affiliation is to organisations which have not been specified under Section 3 of the 1998 Act. This is drawn from information received by the Secretary of State as at 5 February 1999 from the Sentence Review Commissioners to whom prisoners apply for early release. The 1998 Act also provides that, if circumstances permit, prisoners with release dates falling after the second anniversary of the coming into force of that Act (on 28 July 1998) who have served two years or more in prison will be released on that anniversary. Those prisoners are not shown in Table B.

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 477.

  Northern Ireland Prison Service
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press releases were issued
  41
  by the Northern Ireland Prison Service between 31 May 1997 and 31 December 1998; and how many of these notices were posted on the Prison Service Internet web site. [78161]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 477.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) under which Sections of the (i) Environmental Protection Act 1990 and (ii) any other Act he has issued regulations concerning conditions to be met by applicants for cultivation of genetically modified crops for (1) research and (2) sale, (b) the (A) dates, (B) numbers, (C) titles of any such Regulations and (D) those which require approval by resolution of either House of Parliament and (c) what general exemptions from any part of any such regulations he has given to (x) which persons and (y) bodies and (z) for what reason. [72561]

  Mr. Meacher
  The release and marketing of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is governed by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992, SI 1992–3280, as amended by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1995, SI 1995–304, and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release and Risk Assessment) Regulations 1997, SI 1997–1900 which give effect to Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Together, these implement Council Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. There is no requirement for approval by resolution of either House of Parliament and no general exemptions have been given to particular persons or bodies.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will state the level of representation of the United Kingdom on each regulatory Committee of the European(a) Commission and (b) Council concerned with the approval for (i) experiment and (ii) sale of genetic crops, listing the producers used at each stage, the mode of decision by vote and the legal basis for such decision. [73720]

  Mr. Meacher
  All consents for the deliberate release into the environment of GMOs are issued on the basis of the procedures laid down in Directive 90/220/EEC.

  Although there is exchange of information at EC level regarding the release of GMOs for research purposes, consents are issued on a national level without the need for EC-level approval. Applications to market GMO products must, however, be cleared by the European Community before consent is granted. The Commission's regulatory committee is therefore involved with the approval of marketing applications.

  If objections are raised by other Member States' competent authorities to a marketing notification forwarded by the lead competent authority to the Commission, a decision is taken by the Commission
  42
  regulatory committee using the type IIIa procedure. At these meetings the UK is normally represented by an official of at least Grade 7 level.

  If the vote is in favour by a qualified majority, release is then approved by the original competent authority. If there is not a qualified majority in favour, the Commission submits a proposal to Ministers at the Environment Council.

  If the Council agrees by a qualified majority the release goes ahead, while if it rejects the proposal by qualified majority, the proposed release is rejected. If the Council does not decide within 3 months, the Commission may approve the release.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the present acreage of trial genetically modified crops under cultivation; [74852]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of crops under cultivation which are trials of genetically modified crops. [74853]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: All the genetically modified crops currently grown are small-scale experimental trials. This year, we expect the area under cultivation to be approximately 300 hectares. This is about 0.006% of the total area under cultivation for all crops of almost 5 million hectares.

  Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the names of the members of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, indicating their involvement with(a) the biotech industry and (b) companies with an interest in growing gene crops on a trial basis. [72305]

  Mr. Meacher
  Members of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) are required openly to declare their interests. These are published in ACRE's annual report, which is available in the House of Commons Library. The current entries are reproduced as follows:

  Professor John Beringer

  Professor of Molecular Genetics and Dean of Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol

  Member of ACGM

  Member of the Council of the Natural Environment Research Council

  Dr. Philip Dale

  Senior Research Scientist

  John Innes Centre, Norwich

  Consultant to EC DGXI and UNIDO

  Dr. Ian Garner

  Assistant Director of Research, PPL Therapeutics, Roslin

  Member of BBSRC's Genes in Developmental Biology Network

  Professor Alan Gray

  Head of Furzebrook Research Station, NERC Institute of Terrestrial Ecology

  Honorary Professor, University of Southampton

  43

  Ms Julie Hill

  Programme advisor to Green Alliance

  Member of the Advisory Committee for the Pesticides Trust, Environmental Law Foundation, and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and environmental advisory bodies for Shanks and McEwan plc and Southern Electricity.

  Dr. Julian Kinderlerer

  Senior Lecturer—Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield

  Assistant Director—Institute of Biotechnology Law and Ethics, University of Sheffield

  Member of ACGM

  Consultant to UNIDO

  Mr. John MacLeod

  Director, National Institute of Agricultural Botany

  Member, UK Plant Varieties and Seeds Committee

  Member, Groupe Consultatif International de Recherche sur le Colza

  Professor Bev Moseley

  Retired, former Head of Institute Food Research Reading Laboratory

  Professor David Onions

  Head of Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow

  Honorary Director of The Leukaemia Research Fund's Human Virus Centre

  Consultant to Q-One Biotec

  Advisor to Intervet International BV

  Professor Nigel Poole

  External and Regulatory Affairs Manager, Zeneca Plant Science, Bracknell

  Honorary Professor, University of Aberdeen

  Honorary Professor, John Moores University

  Dr. David Robinson

  Principal Research Scientist, Scottish Crop Research Institute

  Honorary Lecturer, University of Dundee

  Member of Genetic Manipulation Safety Committee at Nickerson Seeds' Castleton of Eassie site

  Dr. Ingrid Williams

  Principal Scientist

  Leader of the Insect-Plant Interactions Group, Institute of Arable Crops Research Rothamsted

  Honorary Research Associate IGER

  Visiting Professor Estonian University of Agriculture

  Chairman of International Commission for Plant-Bee Relationships

  Council Member and Company director of International Bee Research Association

  Dr. Katherine Venables

  Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology at Imperial College School of Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute.

  Honorary Consultant Physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital, and Honorary Consultant in Public Health to the Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority.

  Rural Bus Services
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of rural bus services in the North-West of England. [76359]
  44
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government are committed to increasing transport services in rural areas. The 1998 Budget provided an additional £50 million a year for three years for rural public transport. This was increased to £60 million a year for the next two years in the Budget on 9 March.

  As part of this new funding, we have provided £2.635 million to local authorities for the support of new bus services in the North-West in the current year. We have also committed £1.15 million from the Rural Bus challenge competition to support schemes in the North-West aimed at a range of measures to improve the quality and availability of services. We have also approved £322,000 for schemes in the North-West from the Rural Transport Partnership, aimed at building on the success of existing local initiatives and facilitating better coordination of voluntary, local authority and commercial services.

  We will be publishing shortly more details of our proposals, which were outlined in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport" last summer, for measures to ensure that buses can play their full part in an integrated transport policy, in town and country alike.

  M25
  Mr. Darvill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to resurface the M25 between Junctions 29 and 30 with a low noise surface. [77654]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are currently no plans to resurface the M25 between junctions 29 and 30. This section of the motorway is structurally sound and will not require major maintenance for some while yet. It is not our policy to resurface in advance of normal maintenance requirements. When resurfacing of this section becomes necessary, the Highways Agency will certainly consider whether a quieter surfacing material should be used in line with the Government's policy announced last year.

  Mr. Darvill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received about noise from the M25 between Junctions 29 and 30. [77655]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The only recorded representation about noise from the M25 between junction 29 and 30, received in the past three years, is from the Head of Transportation and Engineering in the London Borough of Havering, who wrote to the Highways Agency on behalf of residents and Ward Members in the Cranham area.

  Motor Insurance
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the Motor Insurers Bureau agreements in relation to(a) untraced and (b) uninsured motorists. [77577]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have no immediate plans to review the Untraced Drivers Agreement. A revised Untraced Drivers Agreement was introduced in June 1996 after a comprehensive review.
  45
  The 1988 Uninsured Drivers Agreement is currently under review and a final draft of a revised agreement is being considered in the light of proposed changes to civil law procedures in cases involving third party liability, arising from Lord Woolfe's recommendations.

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up his Department's green transport plan. [77961]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department is drawing up green transport plans for all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies and Government Offices for the Regions by the end of this month and for all other key buildings by March 2000.

  My Department does not have fleet managers, but has drawn on best practice in developing its green transport plans.

  Local Authority Spending
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local authorities to which Ministers have written urging greater spending on local services within their portfolio area. [77956]

  Ms Armstrong
  I am not aware of any specific letters from Ministers at the Department urging greater spending on local services in 1999–2000.

  Stock of dwellings: estimated gains and losses 1997: by Government Office region

  Dwellings (Thousand)

  GO region

  December 1996 Dwelling stock

  New house building

  Other gains

  Changes 1997 Demolitions

  December 1997 Dwelling stock

  North East

  1,108.1

  7.2

  0.4

  1.1

  1,114.6

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  2,103.0

  15.9

  0.3

  1.0

  2,118.2

  East Midlands

  1,725.4

  14.2

  0.6

  0.4

  1,739.9

  East of England

  2,218.4

  21.2

  0.8

  1.0

  2,239.4

  South East

  3,251.2

  24.9

  1.6

  0.8

  3,276.9

  Greater London

  3,010.8

  12.0

  2.0

  0.2

  3,024.7

  South West

  2,067.7

  18.1

  1.0

  0.4

  2,086.4

  West Midlands

  2,165.4

  13.5

  0.8

  0.1

  2,179.6

  North West

  2,899.4

  20.3

  1.1

  1.4

  2,919.4

  England

  20,549.4

  147.3

  8.6

  6.2

  20,699.1

  GLA Building
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much the Government plans to pay for the acquisition of the London Bridge city site proposed by CIT Markborough Ltd for the new Greater London authority building. [77817]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Nothing, the building will be leased.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each site for which outline proposals for a Greater London authority building were proposed and the grounds on which they were deemed inappropriate for final selection. [77822]
  46

  National Air Traffic Control Centre
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress with the new national air traffic control centre. [77689]

  Dr. Reid
  I understand that there has been good progress on the New En Route Air Traffic Control Centre project in the past year, and the centre is still expected to become operational by the spring of 2002.

  Housing Stock
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the current rate of replacement is of Britain's housing stock(a) overall and (b) by region; and what estimate the Government have made of the rate at which Britain's housing stock needs to be replaced. [77627]

  Ms Armstrong
  The table shows the Department's estimates of the dwelling stock at end-1996 and end-1997, together with figures for housebuilding, gains from conversions and changes of use, and losses through demolitions. New housebuilding is developed both to replace existing stock and to provide homes for new households. Conversions represent the adaptation and upgrading of the existing stock. Demolitions are part of the process of replacing the current stock.

  Local authorities take the need to replace existing stock into account when calculating housing requirement for planning purposes.

  The Department does not make any estimates of the rate at which the housing stock needs to be replaced.

  Mr. Raynsford
  I can confirm that there were seven shortlisted sites from which outline proposals for a Greater London authority building were considered.

  A formal announcement of the shortlist was made on 22 September, the shortlisted buildings and sites were:

  Camelford House

  Canary Wharf

  London Bridge City

  Regents Place

  Vauxhall Cross

  Victoria House

  Town Square, Victoria.

  47
  The information provided by the seven shortlisted developers on which the evaluation was based was supplied on a commercially confidential basis and therefore cannot be disclosed.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who is the current owner of the London Bridge city site proposed by CIT Markborough Ltd for the new Greater London authority building. [77816]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The London Bridge city site currently being developed by CIT Markborough Ltd. is owned by London Bridge Holdings Ltd. The shareholders of that company are a member of the CIT Group of investors and DePfa Vastgoed, a wholly owned subsidiary of the DePfa Bank.

  The CIT Group comprises various high net worth individuals and the group assets include £500 of central London commercial property in addition to the land at London Bridge.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of(a) staff who will be located in and (b) visitors to the new Greater London authority building in the London Bridge city site. [77818]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We estimate that approximately 400 staff will be accommodated in the Greater London authority building. These is no way of telling how many members of the public will visit the new building, but we expect it to be an open and accessible structure, which will encourage Londoners and visitors to the capital to come along and view what will be a landmark design and see the Mayor and Assembly at work.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the cubic capacity of the proposed Greater London authority building on the London Bridge city site will be. [77821]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I can confirm that the cubic capacity of the Greater London authority building is 82,467 cubic metres (or 2,911,085 cubic feet).

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide a breakdown of the cost of the (i) development of and (ii) equipping of the London Bridge city site as proposed by CIT Markborough Ltd. for the new Greater London authority building. [77819]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The London Bridge city building will be leased and negotiations with the developers on the final design, contributions to fitting out the building and rent are still in progress. Details will be made available once these negotiations are complete.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what security measures have been taken to protect the London Bridge city site for the proposed Greater London authority building since its designation was announced. [77820]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The London Bridge city building will be leased for an initial period of 25 years and negotiations are ongoing with site developer, CIT Markborough, regarding these contractual matters.
  48

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change the minimum age at which provisional or full driving licences may be issued for private cars. [77562]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are at present no plans to change the minimum age of 17 to hold provisional or full car driving licences.

  New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations from local authorities complaining about the provisions of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 he has received since 1 May 1997. [78057]

  Dr. Reid
  While correspondence is received from time to time on specific aspects of the Act and the secondary legislation, including responses to specific proposals to revise regulations and codes of practice, no central record is held of the number and character of the letters received. In co-operation with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee, the Department keeps the workings of the Act under constant review, and a number of initiatives are currently under way to improve the operation of the Act's provisions.

  Utility Contractors
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the research by the Transport Research Laboratory into utility contractors compliance with national specifications will be made available. [78058]

  Dr. Reid
  It is the Department's normal practice to publish the results of research. In this case, we expect the results to be published in the near future. Arrangements will be made for copies of the publications to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  Regional Airports
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy regarding ownership of regional airports by local councils. [77910]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Many regional airports, of different sizes, are owned by local authorities. The largest of these airports are structured as public airport companies, with the local authorities as the shareholders. Airports can benefit from local authority ownership and it is for local authorities to decide for themselves whether they wish to own airports, either wholly or through joint ventures with the private sector. The Government will remove central controls over borrowing from public airport companies which are able to demonstrate that they are financially sound. This will enable them to compete for business on a level playing field with private sector airports. Earlier this month we laid an order which will remove borrowing controls from four public airport companies with effect from 1 April. It is open to other public airport companies to apply in the future.
  49

  Air Traffic Management
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for how long NATS has been negotiating with the preferred bidder, Sky Solutions, to agree the new Scottish air traffic control centre PFI; and if he will make a statement. [77919]

  Dr. Reid
  NATS have been negotiating with Sky Solutions as preferred bidder since February 1997. Negotiations are continuing and I have now taken action to ensure that officials from my Department and from the Treasury are fully involved.

  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will estimate the lead time required for construction and commissioning of a new Scottish air traffic control centre; [77921]

  (2) what options for the procurement of a new Scottish air traffic control centre will be considered in response to decisions on the future structure of NATS; and if he will make a statement; [77918]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the implications of a delay in commissioning a new Scottish air traffic control centre for (i) the airlines, (ii) air users and (iii) NATS in terms of (a) provision of services, (b) costs to service providers, (c) costs of continued use of existing air traffic control equipment at Atlantic House and (d) consequent costs of the control centre project; and if he will make a statement. [77922]

  Dr. Reid
  NATS estimate the lead time for the New Scottish Centre to be about 5–6 years. The consultation period on the Government's preferred option for the future of NATS—establishing a public-private partnership—has now closed and we are actively considering the responses received. At the same time, the Government and NATS are reviewing the procurement options for the New Scottish Centre to ensure that they provide the best fit with the PPP and provides best value for the taxpayer, NATS customers and for Scotland. The Government are keen to ensure that the NSC is completed in time to meet NATS operational needs.

  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the scheduled operational date for the new Scottish air traffic control centre at Prestwick(a) was when the original tender documents were issued and (b) is currently. [77920]

  Dr. Reid
  At the time the original tender documents were issued in 1995, NATS estimated that the centre would be needed in around 2000. This date has been subject to revision in the light of ongoing planning work by NATS. Their current estimate is that it will be needed in 2005–06.

  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to implement the two centre strategy for air traffic management independently of any decision on the future structure and ownership of NATS; if implementation of this strategy will be mandatory for any future owner of NATS; and if he will make a statement. [77923]

  Dr. Reid
  The Government remain firmly committed to implementing a two-centre strategy for NATS and to having one of those centres at Prestwick. My Department 50
  is working closely with National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS) to develop the arrangements for financing the project.

  No final decisions have been taken on the future of NATS and my Department is currently developing detailed proposals, taking account of the views put to us in the recent public consultation. We will be making a statement in due course, but our commitment to the two-centre strategy will be reflected in any future arrangements for NATS.

  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the responses to the consultation on the proposed public-private partnership for NATS. [77924]

  Dr. Reid
  We concluded the public consultation on our proposals for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS) on 31 January 1999. Some 230 responses were received. We will, in due course, make the responses publicly available, except in those cases where confidentiality was requested.

  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those recommendations contained in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency report on the technical audit of NATS new en route centre and future of air traffic management which NATS have implemented. [77917]

  Dr. Reid
  We have received the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency report on NATS new en route centre. Working with NATS, we are actively considering the suggestions and the best ways of implementing them. I will make a statement on this subject in due course.

  Town and Parish Councils
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average time taken for the determination by district auditors of challenges to town and parish councils with annual expenditure levels of under £100,000 in the last year for which figures are available. [77190]

  Ms Armstrong
  This information is not held by either the Department or the Audit Commission.

  Road Noise Mitigation
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made on the proposals for noise mitigation on existing trunk roads announced in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England". [78304]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State announced today that we have established criteria and a budget to deal with some of the most serious and pressing cases of traffic noise on existing trunk roads as promised in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England".

  The Government recognise that excessive traffic noise is an important issue for many people. Noise mitigation was not required on roads built before 1969, and in many cases the mitigation provided on roads built between 1969 and 1988 (when the approach to assessing traffic noise was changed) was based on unrealistically low predicted noise levels. This means there has been inequity in the

  51
  treatment of residents living close to certain trunk roads built before 1988. To help us identify the most serious and pressing cases we are today establishing criteria which will be used in an initial sift. Cases satisfying these sift criteria will be studied in greater depth to determine whether practicable and cost-effective mitigation can be provided. An annual ring-fenced budget of £5 million has been set aside to deal with the most serious of these trunk road cases in England.

  Our new sift criteria for noise mitigation will be:

  (a) trunk roads must have been opened before June 1988, but priority for attention is to be given to locations affected by roads which have remained unaltered since October 1969 (the qualifying date for the first noise mitigation measures);

  (b) current (ie 1998) noise levels immediately adjacent to the road to be at least 80 dB (A); and

  (c) in the case of roads opened or altered after October 1969, the current (ie 1998) noise levels must be at least 3 dB(A) greater than' predicted for the design year.

  As far as Wales and Scotland are concerned, this will be a matter for the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament who, after devolution, will be responsible for trunk roads in Wales and Scotland.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about his recent visit to India and the Maldives. [78413]

  Mr. Prescott
  I visited India from 4 to 12 March, at the invitation of the Indian Environment Minister, and the Maldives from 12–15 March, as a guest of the Maldives Government.

  In India, I had meetings with the Prime Minister, the Ministers for External Affairs, Urban Affairs and Employment, Power, Civil Aviation, Surface Transport and the Environment and Forests, the Chief Minister and Minister of Public Works of Maharashtra, the Mayor and Municipal Corporation in Bombay and the Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation. In most of these meetings I was accompanied by a group of senior business men with interests in India, and a trades unionist. I also addressed the Millennium Tiger Conference, where I announced that the UK would join the Global Tiger Forum and provide further financial support for India's efforts to protect tigers; visited the Ranthambore nature reserve to see at first hand the efforts which the authorities are making to conserve tigers and the rich biodiversity of the Indian sub-continent; visited the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI); attended a seminar on environment and transport issues organised by TERI; spoke at events organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Delhi, and the British Business Group and the CII in Bombay; and visited a compressed natural gas station in Bombay, with the Minister for Transport of the Government of Maharashrta. I also witnessed the signature of Memoranda of Understanding between the CII and the Joint Environmental Markets Unit of my Department and the Department of Trade & Industry, and between the CII and Asia House.

  En route to the Maldives, I met the Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a number of other Ministers and business leaders, in Colombo. In the Maldives I had meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Home
  52
  Affairs, Housing and the Environment, Tourism, and Construction and Public Works, and with the Director General of Fisheries Research and Development; visited the VSO office in Male, the Islamic Centre and the Maldivian Telecommunications Company; and also visited a sewage works and a desalination plant and various environmental projects. I was also able to see at first hand the coral reef damage resulting from climate change, pollution and other human activities, and to announce an extension of DfID funding for the South Asia region of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.

  Water's Edge, Barton upon Humber
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each offer of financial assistance made by English Partnerships to Glandford Council in respect of the Water's Edge site in Barton upon Humber and the dates upon which they were made. [77089]

  Mr. Meale
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: Funding for this project was first approved by the former Department of the Environment in 1991 under the Derelict Land Grant (DLG) scheme. When English Partnerships was established in April 1994, it took on responsibility for the DLG scheme including this project. In addition to administering previously approved aspects of this project, the agency approved grant totalling £162,370 on 28 September 1995, of which £154,252 was paid in the financial year 1997–98.

  Driving Licence Holders
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many UK citizens of 65 years or over hold current driving licences. [77458]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The total number of driving licence holder records for people aged 65 or over in Great Britain is 4.40 million. In Northern Ireland (where driver licensing is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) the figure is 64,400.

  The number of actual licence holders may be smaller than the number of records because of failure to notify death or emigration.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Servants (Flights)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the flight number, date, time and place of departure and destination, class travelled, cost and purpose of each flight by senior civil servants in his Department in the course of their duties, including attendance at foreign conferences, symposiums and other meetings, between 1 May 1998 and the present; and what were the total costs of flights of each of the three senior civil servants whose flights cost the most between 1 May 1998 and the present. [75509]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The information is not held in the form requested. Most travel arrangements for Cabinet Office staff are made through a contractor. Between May and October 1998, senior civil servants in the Cabinet Office
  53
  made 106 flights booked through the contractor at an average cost of £824.62. During this period, the three most expensive flights were £4,900.70, £4,413.60 and £3,345.90. All travel complied with the requirements of the civil service management code.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [76813]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  491 staff in the Cabinet Office and its agencies have signed an agreement to dis-apply the 48 hour limit.

  The standard terms and conditions of service for staff employed by the Cabinet Office and its agencies are well within the limits set by the Working Time Regulations. The Regulations do not require employers to keep records of the number of workers who refuse to sign an opt-out agreement and no central records are kept by this Department. Compliance costs are not kept centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Select Committee Documents
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if(a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants saw the European Scrutiny Committee questions brief in advance of the appearance of the Parliamentary Secretary before the committee on 2 December. [77850]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  [holding answer on 19 March 1999]: It has been a common but not universal practice over a long period for Committees to indicate the broad areas they intend to cover at a hearing, to ensure that the evidence session is as effective and productive as possible. I was informed of likely questions in advance of the Committee hearing on 2 December 1998.

  GM Crops
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he has discussed with representatives of the biotechnology industry the introduction of a voluntary three-year halt in the planting of herbicide-tolerant genetically modified crops. [77682]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  [holding answer on 19 March 1999]: No.

WALES

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [76797]
  54
  Mr. Hain
  No staff have yet been invited to waive the Working Time Directive. It is anticipated that a small proportion, less than 2 per cent., may be invited to waive the requirements of the Directive in due course.

  The standard terms and conditions of service for staff employed in my Department are well within the limits set by the Working Time Regulations. These Regulations do not require employers to keep records of the number of workers who refuse to sign an opt-out agreement and, therefore, no central record will be kept by my Department. The same applies to compliance costs which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients in each health authority area had been waiting for NHS treatment in December 1996 for(a) six months and under, (b) six to 12 months, (c) 12 to 18 months and (d) over 18 months. [77461]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information on waiting times is not collected in the form requested.

  In December 1996, the number of patients waiting for treatment in each health authority area is shown in the following table.

  Waiting times for December 1996

  Health authority

  Outpatients waiting over 6 months

  In/Daycase waiting over 12 months

  In/Daycase waiting over 18 months

  In/Daycase waiting over 2 years

  North Wales

  512

  390

  54

  1

  Bro Taf

  2,906

  1,669

  331

  0

  Dyfed Powys

  1,167

  1,225

  146

  0

  Morgannwg

  3,773

  671

  190

  0

  Gwent

  1,747

  1,703

  493

  3

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

  Tir Cymen
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications were received in(a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998 from farmers to join Tir Cymen; what area of land they represented; how many were approved; and what area of land they represented. [77858]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The number of formal applications and the area of land they represented is not readily available. However, over the first five years, 70 per cent. of formal applications concluded in Tir Cymen agreements.

  Year

  Number of agreements

  Area of agreements (Ha)

  1996

  174

  11,955

  1997

  180

  8,597

  1998

  130

  6,157

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

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the differences between the Tir Cymen scheme and the Countryside Stewardship scheme operated in England. [77859]
  55
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The differences between the Tir Cymen Scheme and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme operated in England are as follows:

  1. Countryside Stewardship applies not to the whole farm but to specified eligible landscapes, habitats and features.

  In Tir Cymen there is a whole farm code which applies to the entire holding. In addition to this, specific habitats and features on the holding must be managed according to the scheme prescriptions.

  2. Countryside Stewardship is a MAFF grant scheme whilst Tir Cymen is an experimental whole farm scheme administered by the Countryside Council for Wales.

  3. Countryside Stewardship applies to all of England whilst Tir Cymen applies only to three districts in Wales.

  4. Any land manager can apply for a Countryside Stewardship agreement (including local authorities and voluntary bodies). Anyone responsible for a registered farm holding could apply for Tir Cymen.

  5. Farms applying for Tir Cymen must meet the qualifying criterion which is that revenue for habitats and permissive paths must amount to a minimum of 10 per cent. of the total revenue payment that the farmer would receive through the scheme. Thus, if the farm area is such that the payment in relation to the whole farm code is £2,000 per annum, then the specific habitat management requirements would have to amount to at least £220 (ie, 10 per cent. of the total of (£2,200).

  6. Public Access is not a requirement of Countryside Stewardships. Under Tir Cymen there is an obligation to permit access for the purpose of walking and quiet enjoyment of the countryside, at no charge, on all land which is moorland, heathland, and unenclosed, unimproved upland grassland. Tir Cymen expects agreement holders to fulfil their legal duty to keep existing public rights of way free from obstruction.

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

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total area of land covered by the Tir Cymen scheme; and what is the area covered by the scheme within the less favoured areas and its proportion of the total less favoured area. [77857]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  By the end of March 1998 the total area of land under Tir Cymen agreement was 89,304 ha. As at 31 March 1998 there were 898 Tir Cymen agreements within less favoured areas in Wales which amounts to some 88 per cent. of the total number of Tir Cymen agreements (1,023 agreements).

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

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total budget allocated to Tir Cymen for each of the last three years [77860]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The budget allocation was as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Total Expenditure

  1996–97

  5.3

  1997–98

  5.7

  1998–99

  6.2

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
  56

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up his Department's Green Transport Plan. [77966]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The DfEE and Employment Service fleet managers have been fully involved in the development of Green Transport Plans.

  Departmental Budget
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was his Department's budget in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for(a) 1992–93 to 1998–99 and (b) his estimate for 1999–2000 to 2001–02. [77332]

  Mr. Mudie
  The figures are set out in the following table.

  £ million

  Year

  Cash

  Real terms at 1998–99 prices

  1992–93

  10,677

  12,390

  1993–94

  13,378

  15,123

  1994–95

  13,988

  15,590

  1995–96

  13,981

  15,141

  1996–97

  14,009

  14,718

  1997–98

  14,533

  14,896

  1998–90

  14,562

  14,562

  1999–00

  15,702

  15,319

  2000–01

  17,531

  16,692

  2001–02

  18,916

  17,565

  Notes:

  1. Figures are DfEE's Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) and include both OFSTED and the Employment Service. Figures do not include expenditure on the welfare to work programme financed through the windfall tax, which is classified under a separate DEL. Figures also do not include spending by local authorities. Figures for 1992–93 to 1997–98 are outturn. Figure for 1998–99 is estimated outturn. Figures for 1999–00 to 2001–02 are plans.

  2. According to Government accounting conventions, the figures include the recource accounting costs of student loans rather than the cash outlay costs.

  3. Figure for 1997–98 includes £527m (cash) transferred from local authorities for the nursery voucher scheme. Figure for 1992–93 does not include funding for further education, which was transferred from local to central government from 1993–94 onwards.

  British Lecturers (Italy)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he has taken to ensure the right of establishment of British lecturers at Italian universities; and if he will make a statement. [77128]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Mother-tongue foreign language teachers in Italian universities ("lettori"), most of whom are non-Italian nationals, are campaigning for recognition of their right under the Treaty of Rome to equality of employment conditions with their Italian colleagues in other disciplines.
  57
  The UK Government have been pursuing this issue with the European Commission and the Italian Government. My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe, whose responsibilities include completion of the Single Market, has written to Minister Letta, his Italian counterpart, to press for an early resolution of the problem. He also urged Minister Letta to ensure that individual university Rectors were aware of their obligation to respect the lettori's acquired rights under the Treaty of Rome. Our Embassy in Rome is currently following up this letter with the Italian authorities.

  My noble Friend also wrote to Commissioner Flynn, supporting the infraction proceedings which the European Commission is currently bringing against the Italian authorities in respect of this issue. He received in return Mr. Flynn's assurance that he was fully committed to pursuing the matter.

  The Government are committed to making the Single Market work, as much for individual citizens as for business. We will do all we can to help bring about a satisfactory solution to the problems faced by the lettori.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Common Foreign and Security Policy
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 26 January 1999,Official Report, column 212, on common foreign and security policy working groups, if he will list the proposals currently under discussion under each subject heading. [76360]

  Ms Quin
  The common foreign and security policy working groups meet on average once a month. The agenda for each working group meeting is wide ranging, covering current issues of concern in the group's area of interest. For example, there were 16 items for discussion on the agenda of the Africa working group this month.

  Discussion in working groups looks at current EU policy towards all the major foreign policy issues of the day. Among the items on the agenda for the Africa working group this month were Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Sierra Leone and Rwanda. Major issues in other working groups in recent weeks have been Kosovo, the Russia common strategy, Sudan, East Timor, the Middle East peace process and preparation for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Agendas can change at short notice, given the fast-moving nature of common foreign and security policy issues.

  James Miles and Paul Loseby
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the conditions at Yare prison in Venezuela. [76425]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Consular staff from the British Embassy in Caracas have not yet visited Yare prison. Following the transfer of James Miles and Paul Loseby on 15 March to Yare, the British Vice-Consul is hoping to visit before the end of this week.
  58
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the British Embassy to ensure that James Miles and Paul Loseby will be considered for parole. [76421]

  Mr. Fatchett
  James Miles and Paul Loseby are not yet eligible for parole.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the current whereabouts of James Miles and Paul Loseby in Venezuela; [76424]

  (2) what reports the British Embassy in Caracas has received concerning the possible transfer of James Miles and Paul Loseby. [76422]

  Mr. Fatchett
  James Miles and Paul Loseby were transferred to Yare 1 prison on 15 March.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reach agreement with HM Treasury on Financial Services passporting for Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [76639]

  Ms Quin
  In June 1997, after discussions involving the Department of Trade and Industry, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and HM Treasury, HMG approved the passporting by Gibraltar-based insurance companies of insurance services into the UK and elsewhere in the European Union.

  HMG, acting on advice from the Financial Services Authority, have explained to the Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission what measures need to be in place before HMG will be in a position to approve the passporting by Gibraltar-based credit institutions of banking services into the UK and elsewhere in the European Union. We understand that the Government of Gibraltar and the Financial Services Commission expect to satisfy these requirements in the near future.

  The regulation of investment services in Gibraltar is less advanced than the regulation of banking services and insurance services. HMG hope to provide the Government of Gibraltar and the Financial Services Commission in the near future with guidance on which measures need to be in place before Gibraltar seeks HMG's approval for the passporting of investment services into the UK and elsewhere in the European Union.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [76808]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Records of Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff choosing to sign voluntary agreements to disapply the 48-hour weekly limit for working hours are not maintained centrally. The standard
  59
  terms and conditions of service for staff employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are well within the limits set by the Working Time Regulations. The regulations do not require employers to keep records of the number of workers who choose not to sign an opt-out agreement. It is too early to judge the likely compliance costs.

  Written Answers
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason his Department' s replies to written parliamentary questions for 15 March were in the Press Gallery more than three hours before they were delivered to the Library; and if he will make a statement. [77439]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Library copies were left in the House of Commons Post Office at 1700, the same time as copies were delivered to Hansard and the Press Gallery.

  We have now altered our delivery procedures to ensure that the Library and Table Office copies are hand delivered at the same time as the Hansard and Press Gallery copies.

  Ambassadors (Appointments)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to announce the appointments of British ambassadors to(a) Bahrain and (b) Yemen. [77755]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Mr. Peter Ford will be replacing Mr. Ian Lewty as HM Ambassador to Bahrain in April 1999. This appointment was officially announced on 10 November 1998. Mr. Victor Henderson took up his post as HM Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen in October 1997. There are no current plans for the succession to him.

  Consul-General (New York)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for the post of Consul-General in New York were from ethnic minorities; and how many ethnic minority candidates were interviewed. [77756]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Of the 168 applications for the position of Director-General Trade and Investment, and Consul-General New York, seven declared themselves to be from a minority ethnic background. None of the six candidates interviewed declared themselves to be from a minority ethnic background.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people applied for the post of consul-general in New York and how many applicants came from(a) private sector and (b) public sector backgrounds. [77753]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Of the 168 applicants for the position of Director-General Trade and Investment US, the Consul-General New York, 156 were from the private sector and 12 were from the public sector.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the remit and 60
  powers of (a) the European Community Court of Justice in Luxembourg and (b) the Court in Strasbourg relating to the European Convention of Human Rights. [77612]

  Ms Quin
  The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has a general responsibility under Article 31 of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty, Article 164 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (EC) and Article 136 of the Euratom Treaty, to ensure that in the interpretation and application of these treaties the law is observed.

  The ECJ's jurisdiction is laid in the treaties, in particular Articles 169–188 of the EC Treaty, Articles 33–45 of the ECSC Treaty, 141–160 of the Euratom Treaty and Article L of the Treaty on European Union.

  The European Court of Human Rights is a key instrument in enforcing the rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court is a judicial body and it produces final and binding decisions. Petitions to the Court may be made by any person, group of people, or non-governmental organisation claiming to be a victim of a violation of one of the Convention's rights.

  UNSCOM
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct the United Kingdom Ambassador to the United Nations to ask(a) Secretary General Kofi Annan and (b) the Executive Chairman of Unscom what information has been made available to the office of (i) the Secretary General and (ii) Unscom in respect of allegations of the United States using Unscom as a cover for signals intelligence operations in Iraq. [78155]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 8 March 1999,Official Report, column 15 and the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow on 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 181. We are in regular touch with both the UN Secretary-General and the Executive Chairman of UNSCOM on many aspects of UNSCOM' s work.

  European Scrutiny Committee
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if(a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants saw the European Scrutiny Committee questions brief in advance of the appearance of the Minister of State before the committee on 25 November. [77851]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: It has been common but not universal practice, over a long period, for Committees to agree to give officials an indication of the broad areas they intend to cover at the hearing to ensure that the evidence session is as effective and productive as possible. I was informed of the likely areas of questioning in advance of the Committee hearing on 25 November.

  Eritrea and Ethiopia
  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will
  61
  make a statement on the steps taken by the European Union to adopt an arms embargo against Ethiopia and Eritrea. [78414]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Following a UK proposal, the European Union adopted a mandatory arms embargo against Ethiopia and Eritrea at the EU Finance Ministers Council on 15 March 1999.

  Following adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1227 on 10 February 1999, which urged UN member states to end immediately all sales of arms and munitions to Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Government took immediate steps to ban exports from the UK to Ethiopia and Eritrea of all goods and technology on the Military List, which forms Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended. Details were reported to Parliament on 15 February 1999, Official Report, column 582. The national measures necessary to implement the EU arms embargo were therefore already in place when the EU embargo was adopted.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be issuing a press release on the EU embargo and has issued guidance to Departments in London, Posts overseas and other Whitehall Departments. An updated version of the list of all UK policy commitments on the application of strategic export controls, including arms embargoes, will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the current conflict in Eritrea; and if he will make a statement.[78034]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea resumed on 6 February, with subsequent violation of the air moratorium. We made clear our strong opposition to this resort to war. We supported UN Security Council resolution 1227 of 10 February, which demanded a cessation of hostilities and a resumption of diplomatic negotiations; reaffirmed support for the OAU Framework Agreement; and called for a voluntary arms embargo. I announced on 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 582, that the United Kingdom had implemented the arms embargo.

  Following Ethiopian military gains on the Badume plateau, Eritrea accepted the Framework Agreement on 27 February. The Security Council welcomed this in a Presidential statement the same day. But heavy fighting has continued. We are actively considering with our international partners how to give further support to the OAU in ensuring that both sides now fully accept the OAU proposals, and to secure a formal cessation of hostilities.

  Papua New Guinea
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Papua New Guinea regarding Sandline International; and if he will make a statement.[77228]

  Mr. Fatchett
  In the context of the contractual dispute between Sandline and the Government of Papua New Guinea, the High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea in London spoke to FCO officials on 3 March.
  62

  Mercenary Services
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding private companies based in the UK offering mercenary services.[77252]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We and our EU partners have always made it clear that we unequivocally condemn the recruitment, use and financing of mercenaries. We are concerned about the spread of mercenary activity.

  Private military companies which carry out their business within the law are generally not a cause for concern. Our concerns relate principally to those companies which are involved in the supply of military equipment or other controller goods and services in breach of the UK's national commitments, or which supply, or offer to supply, mercenaries or related military services.

  European Commissioners (Emoluments)
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much each of the outgoing European Commissioners is to receive in(a) salary, (b) pension and (c) other remuneration following their resignation; what the legal basis is upon which the payments are being made; and if he will place details of the remuneration packages in the Library.[77994]

  Ms Quin
  Commissioners' terms and conditions of service are set down in the 1967 Council Regulation 422/67, which governs their employment. This Statute provides for generous end-of-service remunerations.

  From the first day of the month following resignation, and for three years afterwards, Commissioners are entitled to receive a monthly payment (based upon the number of years served) of:

  40 per cent. of salary if they have served for less than 2 years

  45 per cent. of salary if they have served for less than 3 years

  50 per cent. of salary if they have served for less than 5 years

  55 per cent. of salary if they have served for between 5 and 10 years

  60 per cent. of salary if they have served for between 10 and 15 years.

  Commissioners are also entitled to receive a family allowance for three years after resignation of:

  Euro 12,649 per year for the President

  Euro 11,457 per year for the Vice-Presidents

  Euro 10,311 per year for other Commissioners.

  From the age of 65, Commissioners are entitled to receive a pension, which as a full pension for 15 years service would be equivalent to 70 per cent. of final salary based on a 4.5 per cent. annual accrual rate.

  Reappointed Commissioners are not entitled to receive end-of-service pay.

  If a Commissioner takes new employment, their end-of-service pay plus new gross monthly salary cannot exceed the gross monthly salary they would have received as a Commissioner. If it does, the end-of-service pay is reduced accordingly.
  63

  Amsterdam Treaty
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to implement parts of the Amsterdam treaty not included in the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1998.[77692]

  Ms Quin
  The parts of the Amsterdam treaty not included in the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1998 relate to the common foreign and security policy and police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters. They constitute frameworks for action. As such, they themselves can be implemented without the need for UK legislation. That said, measures adopted under these provisions may in due course give rise to the need for legislation. If this is the case, such legislation will be presented to Parliament.

  Armenian Foreign Minister
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of his discussions with the Armenian Foreign Minister. [78035]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the Armenian Foreign Minister, Mr. Vartan Oskanian, on 17 March. Their discussions helped to cement the already warm relations which exist between the two countries. They agreed on the need further to promote our growing bilateral commercial ties. The meeting also covered the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and other regional issues. My right hon. Friend looked forward to free and fair parliamentary elections in May. He encouraged Armenia to sign the Ottawa convention on anti-personnel landmines and stressed the importance of keeping to the timetable for closing the Medzamor nuclear power station.

  Ambassador's Residence
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 January 1999,Official Report, column 254, for what reasons it is his policy not to reveal the prices received from the sale of departmental property.[78033]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The reason for not revealing the prices received for individual departmental properties is that this information is often commercially sensitive at the time of disposal.

  UN Finances
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what timetable the fifth committee of the United Nations is following in preparing its proposals to improve the arrangements for the future financing of the organisation; and when its proposals will next be discussed by the General Assembly.[77628]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The fifth committee of the United Nations is currently considering the future financing of the United Nations and should make recommendations to the General Assembly for its consideration before the end of 1999. On 16 March, the European Union Presidency 64
  delegate to the fifth committee again pressed European Union proposals, originally developed by the United Kingdom and France, to put United Nations finances on a more secure and equitable long-term footing.

  Nuclear Missiles
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps he is taking to assist in the implementation of the START 2 Nuclear Missile Reduction Treaty; [77975]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the number of Russian long-range nuclear warheads; and what steps he has recently taken to encourage a reduction in that number.[77974]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Under the START I treaty, Russia and the United States are limited to 6,000 accountable strategic warheads each. Under START II, which has not yet been approved by the Russian Duman, each side would be limited to between 3,000 and 3,500 deployed strategic warheads. Presidents Yeltsin and Clinton agreed in Helsinki in March 1997 that a START III treaty would further reduce these levels to between 2,000–2,500 per side.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has repeatedly urged the Russian to ratify START II, and to proceed promptly to negotiate with the United States a START III treaty, most recently during his visit to Russia from 2–5 March.

  Dubai
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 March 1999,Official Report, columns 682–83, if, when the response to the note verbale is received from the Government of Dubai, he will (a) inform the hon. Member for New Forest, West and (b) place the response in the Library.[78136]

  Mr. Fatchett
  If and when a response is received, I will inform the hon. Member.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 March 1999,Official Report, columns 682–83, how long he plans to wait for a response from the Government of Dubai before making representations. [78114]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have no plans to impose a time frame.

  Illicit Traffic by Sea
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons Her Majesty's Government have not ratified the Convention of the Council of Europe on illicit traffic by sea; and if he will make a statement.[77605]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I have been asked to reply.

  We shall introduce the legislation which will allow us to ratify the Convention as soon as the Parliamentary timetable permits.
  65

SCOTLAND

  Football
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what Government funding has been given or is planned to be given to Scottish football over(a) the past 20 years and (b) the next three years.[72272]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 22 February 1999]: The information in answer to part 1 is available only at disproportionate cost and I cannot, therefore, answer. In relation to part 2 The Scottish Office is currently providing support totalling £2 million for the redevelopment of Hampden Park, through the Scottish Sports Council. The final payment will be made in 1999–2000.

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

  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been given to Scottish football teams by the Foundation for Sports and the Arts in the last five years.[72265]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 22 February 1999]: Senior levels of association football are expressly excluded from Foundation for Sports and the Arts funding. However, sport at grass roots level has received 857 grants totalling £495,212.60.

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

  Ministerial Costs
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of funding his private offices and those of his ministers in each year since 1992. [74979]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: The table shows costs since 1992. The amounts include staff costs of private offices and non-pay expenditure covering travel and subsistence, office services and general administration costs for both Ministers and the staff of their offices.

  Year

  £

  1992–93

  1,200,160

  1993–94

  1,454,569

  1994–95

  11,374,555

  1995–96

  1,628,424

  1996–97

  1,733,885

  1997–98

  1,953,219

  1998–99 (estimate)

  2,027,610

  1 Estimated figure

  Hospital Service Reconfiguration
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the hospitals, by region, which have consulted the local community health council on service reconfiguration in the last 10 years; how many beds have been (i) gained and (ii) lost under these reconfigurations; and if he will list by region those hospitals that are currently (i) under review and (ii) undergoing service reconfiguration. [74991]
  66
  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: Information on the hospitals which have consulted the local health council on service reconfiguration in the last 10 years is not available centrally.

  Data on the number of available staffed hospital beds in each Health Board in Scotland for 1987–88 and 1997–98 are shown in the table. The reduction in the number of staffed beds between 1987–88 and 1997–98 reflects changes in the pattern of care, including a shift toward the use of day case surgery, continuing reductions in lengths of stay for inpatients and the move to care in the community.

  Health Service strategies are kept under review as part of the Health Improvement Programme process introduced in 1998. Every Health Board must set out its intentions annually for service developments in its area for the following five years. Where the planned development represents a significant change of use of a hospital or contains proposals for hospital closure, there must be full public consultation in accordance with The Scottish Office Department of Health guidance.

  NHS in Scotland—Average available staffed beds 1987–88 and 1997–98

  Health board

  1987–88

  1997–98

  Argyll and Clyde

  4,307

  3,527

  Ayrshire and Arran

  2,952

  2,233

  Borders

  939

  743

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,505

  1,076

  Fife

  3,254

  2,070

  Forth Valley

  3,151

  2,106

  Grampian

  5,457

  3,864

  Greater Glasgow

  12,242

  7,325

  Highland

  2,142

  1,479

  Lanarkshire

  4,961

  3,459

  Lothian

  8,008

  4,993

  Orkney

  131

  147

  Shetland

  159

  116

  Tayside

  5,057

  3,374

  Western Isles

  221

  274

  Source:

  ISD Scotland

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

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of people in each health region who are currently waiting for an appointment with a consultant following referral by a general practitioner; if he will provide a breakdown of the length of time for which those people(a) have already waited and (b) are expected to wait; and if he will list for each region the waiting time being issued to new entrants for (i) ear, nose and throat, (ii) trauma and orthopaedic, (iii) general surgery, (iv) ophthalmology and (v) gynaecology consultants. [75066]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]: Waiting lists information is collected centrally only for hospital inpatients and day cases. Data are available on first outpatient referrals and the length of time that patients waited for their first outpatient appointment. The

  67
  percentage of patients who received a first outpatient appointment within 9 and 18 weeks following a General Medical Practitioner referral at 31 December 1998 for the specialties requested is provided in the table.

  NHS in Scotland: Percentage of patients who received a first outpatient appointment within 9 and 18 weeks for referral at 31 December 1998p

  ENT

  Orthopaedics

  General Surgery

  Ophthalmology

  Gynaecology

  Health board

  9 weeks

  18 weeks

  9 weeks

  18 weeks

  9 weeks

  18 weeks

  9 weeks

  18 weeks

  9 weeks

  18 weeks

  Argyll and Clyde

  45.5

  87.3

  31.3

  62.3

  91.3

  99.3

  59.0

  93.5

  84.9

  98.9

  Ayrshire and Arran

  69.1

  98.3

  54.8

  93.3

  89.1

  98.2

  39.5

  74.9

  68.3

  93.4

  Borders

  72.2

  97.6

  51.0

  97.9

  79.3

  98.9

  80.7

  97.6

  78.2

  96.2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  20.0

  80.0

  42.9

  60.6

  69.3

  99.5

  64.5

  99.6

  67.9

  93.4

  Fife

  38.1

  86.4

  43.6

  68.1

  63.3

  91.9

  44.1

  77.0

  75.9

  90.4

  Forth Valley

  87.5

  99.0

  32.7

  74.8

  79.7

  92.4

  73.4

  94.4

  75.6

  96.8

  Grampian

  39.1

  83.5

  45.3

  79.5

  57.5

  96.1

  70.6

  95.9

  84.8

  98.5

  Greater Glasgow

  46.6

  77.6

  26.6

  54.8

  77.1

  95.8

  30.6

  69.9

  69.9

  95.8

  Highland

  76.8

  98.5

  36.0

  53.6

  86.2

  99.5

  76.5

  89.4

  66.3

  91.2

  Lanarkshire

  42.7

  83.4

  33.1

  55.3

  68.3

  95.1

  39.0

  75.7

  77.9

  98.3

  Lothian

  50.5

  87.2

  39.8

  68.6

  71.8

  93.0

  57.8

  81.2

  72.1

  94.4

  Orkney

  87.5

  97.9

  76.4

  94.5

  99.5

  100.0

  88.3

  100.0

  80.0

  97.5

  Shetland

  98.6

  100.0

  61.2

  98.5

  99.6

  99.6

  84.8

  100.0

  73.1

  100.0

  Tayside

  55.6

  85.1

  66.8

  95.3

  65.5

  91.9

  52.7

  88.2

  71.4

  94.9

  Western Isles

  100.0

  100.0

  50.0

  62.5

  98.2

  100.0

  70.3

  86.5

  77.8

  100.0

  Source:

  ISD, Scotland

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

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) surgical waiting list figures and (b) specialist outpatient consultation figures in numerical and percentage terms for Scotland for March and September (i) 1992, (ii) 1993, (ii) 1994, (iv) 1995 and (v) 1996. [76148]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: Information on the number of patients on the inpatient/day case waiting list for surgical specialties, on the dates requested, is given in Table 1.

  Information on waiting lists is collected centrally only for hospital inpatients and day cases. Data are available on first outpatient referrals and the length of time that patients waited for their first outpatient appointment. The number and percentage of patients who received a first outpatient appointment within 9 and 18 weeks following a General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner referral for the quarters ending 31 March and 30 September in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996, is provided in Table 2. Information is not available for the respective quarters in 1992, as the data were not collected prior to 1 October 1992.

  Table 1: NHS in Scotland: Inpatient and day case waiting lists

  Date

  Number on waiting list for surgical specialties1

  31 March 1992

  68,912

  30 September 1992

  69,916

  31 March 1993

  69,515

  30 September 1993

  68,030

  31 March 1994

  67,162

  30 September 1994

  65,691

  31 March 1995

  64,952

  68
  Information on waiting times for individual consultants within specialties is not collected centrally. Health Boards provide this information to all General Practitioner practices in their respective areas on a regular basis.

  Table 1:NHS in Scotland: Inpatient and day case waiting lists

  Date

  Number on waiting list for surgical specialties1

  30 September 1995

  65,877

  31 March 1996

  67,488

  30 September 1996

  65,225

  1 Surgical Specialties comprises general surgery (excluding vascular), vascular surgery, accident and emergency, anaesthetics, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, ear, nose and throat (ENT), neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, plastic surgery, surgical paediatrics and urology.

  Source:

  ISD, Scotland

  Table 2: NHS in Scotland: Percentage and numbers of patients who received a first outpatient appointment within 9 and 18 weeks of referral

  Number within

  Percentage within

  Quarter ending

  9 weeks

  18 weeks

  9 weeks

  18 weeks

  31 March 1993

  167,733

  214,837

  72.3

  92.6

  30 September 1993

  167,798

  224,719

  70.1

  93.8

  31 March 1994

  175,852

  223,438

  73.3

  93.1

  30 September 1994

  154,729

  205,307

  70.4

  93.5

  31 March 1995

  168,657

  214,468

  72.8

  92.6

  30 September 1995

  147,651

  199,492

  69.6

  94.0

  31 March 1996

  157,179

  204,823

  71.6

  93.3

  30 September 1996

  151,404

  204,333

  68.7

  92.8

  Source:

  ISD, Scotland

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

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is for each year since 1981(a) the number of inward investment projects, (b) the total value of investment in real terms and (c) the total number of jobs

  69
  in Scotland which were dependent on investment from (i) other United Kingdom countries, (ii) the European Union, (iii) the United States of America and (iv) the rest of the world. [76082]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: (a) The numbers of inward investment projects since 1981 are given in the table:

  Year

  Number of projects

  1981–82

  32

  1982–83

  46

  1983–84

  54

  1984–85

  68

  1985–86

  58

  1986–87

  50

  1987–88

  88

  1988–89

  55

  1989–90

  64

  1990–91

  63

  1991–92

  59

  1992–93

  65

  1993–94

  95

  1994–95

  97

  1995–96

  84

  1996–97

  86

  1997–98

  87

  Source:

  1981–82 to 1986–87 published in NAO report

  1987–88 to date published in LIS Review for that year

  (b) This information is not available.

  (c) The number of jobs which the inward investment projects attracted to Scotland since April 1981 were expected to create or safeguard is as follows:

  Planned jobs (new and safeguarded)

  Year

  US

  Europe1

  Asia2

  UK

  Total

  1981–82

  6,058

  752

  192

  0

  7,002

  1982–83

  4,177

  830

  320

  0

  5,327

  1983–84

  5,094

  1,309

  431

  72

  6,906

  1984–85

  7,495

  561

  830

  557

  9,443

  1985–86

  5,316

  1,527

  97

  1,277

  8,217

  1986–87

  2,694

  1,012

  128

  1,250

  5,084

  1987–88

  3,581

  2,192

  2,113

  3,333

  11,219

  1988–89

  2,358

  972

  940

  2,819

  7,089

  1989–90

  6,255

  462

  632

  4,940

  12,289

  1990–91

  1,760

  1,135

  2,154

  5,195

  10,244

  1991–92

  3,026

  1,138

  431

  1,407

  6,002

  1992–93

  3,919

  1,387

  668

  2,085

  8,059

  1993–94

  5,464

  1,399

  1,074

  3,135

  11,072

  1994–95

  5,738

  1,233

  2,259

  3,099

  12,329

  1995–96

  4,065

  1,627

  4,466

  2,402

  12,560

  1996–97

  4,933

  1,231

  3,636

  4,495

  14,295

  1997–98

  6,578

  2,586

  531

  8,252

  17,947

  Total

  78,511

  21,353

  20,902

  44,318

  Grand total

  165,084

  1 Includes non EC countries

  1 Far East and Rest of World

  Source:

  1981–82 to 1986–87 published in NAO report

  1987–88 to date published in LIS Review for that year

  The above figures are based on information provided by the companies involved themselves when the investment decision was taken and take no account of subsequent developments. As a general rule of thumb, two thirds of announced jobs are actually created.
  70
  From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Environmental Payments
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to remove the financial limit on payments under the environmentally sensitive area and countryside premium schemes. [76363]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: We have no plans to remove the financial limits which are necessary to ensure an equitable spread of available resources.

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

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which elements of the recommendations contained in Chapter 6 of the report by the Royal Commission on Long Term Care would require(a) secondary legislation and (b) guidance to be issued for full implementation in Scotland. [75946]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: Requiring property value to be disregarded for up to 3 months and raising the upper capital limit in the means test would both require secondary legislation. On the basis of the current charging arrangements, providing nursing care or all personal care free would require primary legislation. Guidance would be issued to local authorities on all such primary and secondary legislation.

  From 1 July 1999, these matters will be for the Scottish Parliament.

  Statute and Case Law (Internet)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards making statute and case law available on the Internet; and what plans he has to charge for this service. [76151]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The text of all new Acts of Parliament and printed Statutory Instruments are freely available on Her Majesty's Stationery Office website at http://www./open/gov.uk. The Lord Chancellor's Department has set up a Statute Law Database to ensure publication of up-to-date amended text of United Kingdom Public General Acts of Parliament. The partially updated database is presently available to a number of users within central government who have access to the Statutory Publications Office Intranet. The Lord Chancellor's Department are considering options for the future marketing of the Statute Law Database. These options include free Internet access, the granting of non-exclusive licences to legal information publishers and the provision of a subscription on-line service.

  A newly dedicated Scottish Courts Internet site went on-line on 24 February 1999. The site provides a free searchable database of the full text of all judgments from the Court of Session with effect from September 1998,

  71
  including judgments in commercial cases from January 1998. Selected judgments from the High Court of Justiciary, including opinions in some sentence appeals, are also available. Selected judgments from the sheriff courts will be added as the database is developed.

  Psychiatric Care (Children)
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children have been admitted to NHS psychiatric care in each year since 1992. [77137]

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

  Under 13 years

  13 to 17 years

  Year

  First admissions

  Total admissions, re-admissions, transfers

  First admissions

  Total admissions, re-admissions, transfers

  31 March 1992

  99

  261

  230

  473

  31 March 1993

  102

  132

  221

  495

  31 March 1994

  92

  137

  219

  381

  31 March 1995

  75

  103

  237

  425

  Signed PFI projects in Scotland

  Procuring Agency

  Project Description

  Private Sector Partner

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  Provision and operation of a hospital information system

  HBO & Co. (UK) Ltd.

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  Provision of 60 bed nursing home (Ferryfield House)

  James Walker (Leith) Ltd.

  Ayrshire & Arran Health Board (Irvine)

  Provision of 90 elderly care beds

  Craigmoore Health Care Co. Ltd.

  Ayrshire & Arran Health Board (Saltcoats)

  Provision of 60 learning disability beds and 30 elderly care beds

  Care First Health Care Ltd.

  Lanarkshire Health Board (Bellshill)

  Provision of 90 elderly care beds

  BUPA Healthcare Homes (originally Taycare

  Dundee Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

  Re-equipping of X-ray department

  Siemens Healthcare Services Ltd. and IGE Medical Systems

  Dundee Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

  SMAC Analysis System

  Bayer

  Grampian Health Board

  Provision of 25 beds for mentally ill at Spynie Hospital

  Skene Enterprises (Aberdeen) Ltd.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board (Darnley)

  Provision of 120 elderly care beds

  Associated Nursing Services plc

  Greater Glasgow Health Board (Ruchill)

  Provision of 120 elderly care beds

  Westminster Health Care

  Greater Glasgow Health Board (Rutherglen)

  Provision of 180 elderly care beds

  Care First Health Care Ltd.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board (Shettleston)

  Provision of 120 elderly care beds

  Highfield Group

  Lanarkshire Health Board (Cumbernauld)

  Provision of 40 elderly care beds

  Scotcare Group

  Lanarkshire Health Board (Cumbernauld)

  Provision of 60 elderly with dementia care beds

  Grampian Homes Ltd.

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  CT and MRI scanning systems

  IGE Medical Systems

  Lothian and Forth Valley Health Boards

  Clinical Waste Disposal

  White Rose Environmental

  Northern NHS Trusts and Health Boards

  Clinical Waste Disposal

  Eurocare Environmental Services Ltd.

  Grampian Health Board

  Provision and operation of a community hospital in Kincardineshire (Stonehaven)

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust, BLB, Mille and Community Health Services Ltd.

  Yorkhill NHS Trust

  Provision and operation of a hospital information support system

  Data General & Meditech

  Yorkhill NHS Trust

  Energy Management

  AHS Emstar

  Perth & Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  Provision and operation of an integrated healthcare information system

  Shared Medical Systems (UK) Ltd.

  Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  Provision of elderly care beds, Mearnskirk Hospital

  James Walker (Leith) Ltd.

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  Provision of energy management system

  Scottish Hydro Electric

  Monklands and Bellshill NHS Trust

  Implementation of a financial management system

  Cedardata plc

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  Multistorey car park/car parking facilities

  Impregilo (UK) Ltd.

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  Energy Management System

  Scottish Hydro Electric

  Ayrshire & Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Cumnock Community Hospital

  GA Construction Ltd.

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  New Law District General Hospital

  Summit Healthcare Ltd. (Sir Robert McAlpine, British Linen Bank, Edison Capital Europe Ltd.)

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  Hairmyres District Hospital

  Kier Build Ltd. and ISS Mediclean Ltd.

  72

  Under 13 years

  13 to 17 years

  Year

  First admissions

  Total admissions, readmissions, transfers

  First admissions

  Total admissions, readmissions, transfers

  31 March 19961

  57

  99

  217

  477

  31 March 19971

  31

  47

  186

  384

  31 March 19981

  41

  50

  227

  404

  1 Provisional

  Source

  Information & Statistics Division

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

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those firms which have bid for Private Finance Initiative deals; and which of those bids were successful and where they are located. [77141]

  Mr. Dewar
  My Department does not maintain a central register of firms which have bid for PFI deals. Information on successful bidders is set out in the table.
  73

  Signed PFI projects in Scotland

  Procuring Agency

  Project Description

  Private Sector Partner

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

  Consort Healthcare (Royal Bank of Scotland plc, BICC Ltd. and Morrison Construction Group plc)

  Falkirk College

  Stirling Further Education Centre

  Stirling Centre Ltd. (MJ Gleeson Group plc, Canmore Partnership Ltd., Bank of Scotland, Reiach & Hall and Noble & Company Ltd.)

  North of Scotland Water Authority

  Inverness main drainage and Fort William sewage treatment

  Catchment Ltd. (Betchel Ltd., Morrison Construction Ltd., North West Water (United Utilities) and Societie Generale)

  M6 DBFO

  Upgrading and maintenance of A74(M)(M6) between Millbank and Border

  Autolink Concessionaires Ltd. (Amey plc, Sir Robert McAlpine (Holdings) Ltd., Taylor Woodrow Construction Holdings Ltd. and Barr Holdings Ltd.)

  Scottish Prison Service

  HM Prison Kilmarnock

  Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd. (Premier Prison Services Ltd. and Kvaerner Construction Ltd.)

  Skye Bridge

  Toll bridge between Kyle and Kyleakin

  Skye Toll Bridge Ltd. (Miller Civil Engineering Ltd., Dykerhoff & Widmann and Bank of America)

  Dundee City Council

  Baldovie Waste to Energy Plant

  Dundee Energy Recycling Ltd. (BICC plc, Kvaerner and Dundee City Council) Construction—Balfour Beatty Projects and Engineering Ltd. and Kvaerner Enviropower

  The Highland Council

  IS/IT Services

  ICL Outsourcing

  Moray Council

  Integrated Education Management System

  ICL Education Systems

  Falkirk Council

  Schools Project

  Class 98 Ltd. (Ballast Wiltshier, Charterhouse and Quayle Munro)

  Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

  Inverness Airport Terminal

  Inverness Airport Terminal Ltd. (Canmore Partnerships Ltd., MJ Gleeson Group plc, MPM Adams Ltd. and Noble & Company Ltd.)

  Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

  Integrated Information System and Managed Service

  Logica UK Ltd.

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

  Excluded Pupils
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evaluation his Department has undertaken of individual social services department's(a) policy and (b) psychiatric services in relation to children excluded from school.[77146]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Although social services departments may have an interest in school exclusions, education authorities are responsible for exclusion of pupils from schools in their area and have continuing responsibilities towards pupils who are excluded. There has therefore been no evaluation specifically of individual social services departments' policies in this area but research was commissioned on exclusions from school by the Scottish Office from Moray House Institute of Education. The research reported in 1997 and found that there were differing practices and policies in authorities. National guidelines were therefore issued in April 1998 which stressed the need for a consistent approach and highlighted best practice.

  There has been no central evaluation of psychiatric services specifically in relation to children excluded from school.
  74
  As from 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  NHS Advertising Costs
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the NHS spent on advertising costs in each region in each year since 1993–94. [77147]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

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

  Health Boards (Debts)
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each region and health board the level of total debt(a) in financial terms and (b) as a percentage of income in the last year for which figures are available. [77144]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The following table contains the information requested for 1997/98. Interest Bearing Debt (IBD) is held in NHS Trusts only and therefore no data are presented for the Island health boards. The information has been grouped by Trust within Health Board area. IBD is a technical term used to describe funds made available from the Government on the establishment of NHS Trusts. This debt is held wholly within the public service and no liabilities are owed to any external bodies.
  75

  IBD as at 31 March 1998 (£000)

  IBD as a percentage of total Income

  Ayrshire and Arran

  94,759

  47.8

  Argyll and Clyde

  101,664

  42.9

  Borders

  29,800

  47.8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  25,671

  28.6

  Fife

  71,697

  44.1

  Forth Valley

  78,216

  50.8

  Grampian

  164,352

  51.9

  Greater Glasgow

  272,412

  36.9

  Highland

  58,967

  45.3

  Lothian

  216,131

  42.2

  Lanarkshire

  85,563

  32.6

  Scottish Ambulance Service

  25,312

  30.4

  Tayside

  142,199

  45.4

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

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the termination payments made by NHS trusts and health boards to(a) chief executives and (b) general and senior managers including the numbers and amounts. [77135]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on termination payments made by NHS Trusts is not routinely collected. Trusts have the legal ability to make such payments taking due account of financial probity and guidance from the Management Executive. Chief executives are being appointed to the reconfigured Trusts on a standard indefinite contract which includes a maximum 6 month notice period, which, allied to the powers it is intended to take under the Health Bill to enable the Secretary of State to direct Trusts, should effectively eliminate termination settlements to these staff. A limited number of chief executives and executive directors who did not obtain a

  (a) M1 as a percentage of income

  M1 1995–96

  Income 1995–96

  (£000)

  (£000)

  Percentage

  Aberdeen Royal NHS Trust

  3,319

  130,607

  2.5

  Angus NHS Trust

  1,436

  41,162

  3.5

  Argyll and Bute NHS Trust

  1,123

  30,642

  3.8

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,999

  61,465

  3.3

  Borders Community Health NHS Trust

  1,133

  25,998

  4.4

  Borders General Hospital NHS Trust

  1,212

  30,833

  3.9

  Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust

  674

  16,223

  4.2

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,630

  73,327

  3.6

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,323

  42,224

  3.1

  Dumfries and Galloway Community Health Services NHS Trust

  1,336

  42,096

  3.3

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,713

  59,002

  2.9

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,071

  119,624

  2.6

  East and Midlothian NHS Trust

  2,060

  53,699

  3.8

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,888

  86,256

  3.6

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  1,147

  28,519

  4.0

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,359

  37,528

  3.6

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,665

  81,331

  3.3

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust

  556

  10,341

  5.4

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  3,698

  126,883

  2.9

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  7,002

  132,267

  5.3

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health NHS Trust

  4,454

  149,681

  3.0

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,638

  51,404

  3.2

  Highland Communities NHS Trust

  1,827

  51,625

  3.6

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  1,328

  39,603

  3.4

  76
  post in the reconfigured Trusts are taking early retirement under standard Whitley terms and conditions. These staff are not receiving a termination settlement to "buy out" the remainder of their contracts.

  Since 1986 there have been 19 recorded termination payments made to a general or senior manager in a Health Board. The total cost of these cases amounts to some £441,000. The majority of these payments are for a payment in lieu of between 3 to 6 months.

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

  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each management consultancy contract that has been advertised by NHS organisations in the supplements to the Official Journal of the European Community in each of the last five years. [77139]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information required to answer this question is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

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

  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) M1 management costs, (b) M2 management costs and (c) management consultancy costs (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of income for each NHS trust for the last five years. [77140]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The tables provide the information requested for MI and M2 management costs. Figures are not available for years prior to 1995–96 and no information has yet been collected for 1998–99. Trusts were not asked to calculate the MI measure for 1997–98.

  The information requested on management consultancy costs is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  77

  (a) M1 as a percentage of income

  M1 1995–96

  Income 1995–96

  (£000)

  (£000)

  Percentage

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,993

  47,755

  4.2

  Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,986

  88,509

  3.7

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  1,653

  46,805

  3.5

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,384

  33,000

  4.2

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,856

  56,582

  3.3

  Moray Health Services

  1,275

  29,709

  4.3

  North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

  2,286

  77,296

  3.0

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,920

  58,017

  3.3

  Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

  1,213

  39,187

  3.1

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  1,844

  54,356

  3.4

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,120

  68,875

  3.1

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  1,583

  49,166

  3.1

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  3,166

  157,147

  2.0

  Scottish Ambulance Service

  2,667

  74,283

  3.6

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,693

  48,269

  3.5

  Southern General Hospital NHS Trust

  2,257

  88,385

  2.6

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,402

  42,238

  3.3

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  1,787

  67,858

  2.9

  Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,881

  64,610

  3.0

  West Glasgow Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,506

  130,800

  2.7

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  2,780

  76,766

  3.7

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,471

  79,031

  3.1

  Yorkhill NHS Trust

  2,040

  58,466

  3.5

  Total

  99,354

  3,059,450

  3.2

  (a) M1 as a percentage of income

  M1 1996–97

  Income 1996–97

  (£000)

  (£000)

  Percentage

  Aberdeen Royal NHS Trust

  3,101

  136,198

  2.3

  Angus NHS Trust

  1,557

  42,618

  3.6

  Argyll and Bute NHS Trust

  1,031

  31,595

  3.3

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,754

  62,179

  2.8

  Borders Community Health NHS Trust

  1,003

  26,942

  3.7

  Borders General Hospital NHS Trust

  1,238

  33,035

  3.8

  Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust

  575

  17,292

  3.3

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,516

  70,799

  3.6

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,493

  44,566

  3.4

  Dumfries and Galloway Community Health Services NHS Trust

  1,341

  42,260

  3.2

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,768

  61,039

  2.9

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,029

  128,675

  2.4

  East and Midlothian NHS Trust

  2,110

  54,672

  3.9

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,510

  90,228

  3.1

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  1,062

  29,529

  3.6

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,321

  38,878

  3.4

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,572

  74,161

  3.5

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust

  545

  10,438

  5.2

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  3,308

  135,564

  2.4

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  6,364

  136,730

  4.7

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health NHS Trust

  4,238

  152,006

  2.8

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,610

  51,470

  3.1

  Highland Communities NHS Trust

  1,698

  48,364

  3.5

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  1,329

  41,066

  3.2

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,717

  50,403

  3.4

  Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,036

  95,047

  3.2

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  1,609

  48,902

  3.3

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,344

  34,317

  3.9

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,779

  58,732

  3.0

  Moray Health Services

  952

  34,229

  2.8

  North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

  2,209

  80,127

  2.8

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,763

  60,717

  2.9

  Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

  1,151

  42,585

  2.7

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  1,764

  56,654

  3.1

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,020

  71,238

  2.8

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  1,274

  51,653

  2.5

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  3,450

  157,783

  2.2

  78 79

  (a) M1 as a percentage of income

  M1 1996–97

  Income 1996–97

  (£000)

  (£000)

  Percentage

  Scottish Ambulance Service

  2,484

  78,902

  3.2

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,602

  50,278

  3.2

  Southern General Hospital NHS Trust

  2,212

  92,339

  2.4

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,279

  44,881

  2.9

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  2,026

  62,018

  3.3

  Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,775

  62,270

  2.8

  West Glasgow Hospitals NHS Trust

  4,008

  144,961

  2.8

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  2,550

  78,175

  3.3

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,572

  82,871

  3.1

  Yorkhill NHS Trust

  1,860

  63,005

  3.0

  Total

  95,509

  3,162,391

  3.0

  (b) M2 as a percentage of income

  M2 1995–96

  Income 1995–96

  (£000)

  (£000)

  Percentage

  Aberdeen Royal NHS Trust

  5,040

  130,607

  3.9

  Angus NHS Trust

  1,961

  41,162

  4.8

  Argyll and Bute NHS Trust

  1,580

  30,642

  5.2

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,969

  61,465

  4.8

  Borders Community Health NHS Trust

  1,482

  25,998

  5.7

  Borders General Hospital NHS Trust

  1,772

  30,833

  5.7

  Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust

  928

  16,223

  5.7

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,416

  73,327

  4.7

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,873

  42,224

  4.4

  Dumfries and Galloway Community Health Services NHS Trust

  1,999

  42,096

  4.7

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,502

  59,002

  4.2

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,944

  119,624

  3.3

  East and Midlothian NHS Trust

  2,510

  53,699

  4.7

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  4,374

  86,256

  5.1

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  1,598

  28,519

  5.6

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,812

  37,528

  4.8

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,334

  81,331

  4.1

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust

  821

  10,341

  7.9

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  4,832

  126,883

  3.8

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  7,002

  132,267

  5.3

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health NHS Trust

  6,829

  149,681

  4.6

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,526

  51,404

  4.9

  Highland Communities NHS Trust

  2,688

  51,625

  5.2

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  2,119

  39,603

  5.4

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,122

  47,755

  6.5

  Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  4,082

  88,509

  4.6

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  2,369

  46,805

  5.1

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,060

  33,000

  6.2

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,523

  56,582

  4.5

  Moray Health Services

  1,777

  29,709

  6.0

  North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

  2,095

  77,296

  3.8

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,538

  58,017

  4.4

  Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

  1,752

  39,187

  4.5

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  2,487

  54,356

  4.6

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,090

  68,875

  4.5

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  2,512

  49,166

  5.1

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  5,007

  157,147

  3.2

  Scottish Ambulance Service

  3,519

  74,283

  4.7

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,389

  48,269

  4.9

  Southern General Hospital NHS Trust

  3,155

  88,385

  3.6

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,973

  42,238

  4.7

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  2,813

  67,858

  4.1

  Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  2,438

  64,610

  3.8

  West Glasgow Hospitals NHS Trust

  5,298

  130,800

  4.1

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  3,580

  76,766

  4.7

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,628

  79,031

  4.6

  Yorkhill NHS Trust

  2,916

  58,466

  5.0

  Total

  137,844

  3,059,450

  4.5

  80 81

  (b) M2 as a percentage of income

  M2 1996–97

  Income 1996–97

  (£000)

  (£000)

  Percentage

  Aberdeen Royal NHS Trust

  4,702

  136,198

  3.5

  Angus NHS Trust

  2,035

  42,618

  4.8

  Argyll and Bute NHS Trust

  1,503

  31,595

  4.8

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,778

  62,179

  4.7

  Borders Community Health NHS Trust

  1,402

  26,942

  5.2

  Borders General Hospital NHS Trust

  1,901

  33,035

  5.8

  Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust

  824

  17,292

  4.7

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,288

  70,799

  4.6

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,042

  44,566

  4.6

  Dumfries and Galloway Community Health Services NHS Trust

  1,899

  42,260

  4.5

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,531

  61,039

  4.2

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,908

  128,675

  3.0

  East and Midlothian NHS Trust

  2,770

  54,672

  5.1

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  4,156

  90,228

  5.1

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  1,430

  29,529

  4.8

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,844

  38,878

  4.7

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,234

  74,161

  4.4

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust

  758

  10,438

  7.3

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  4,591

  135,564

  3.4

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  6,364

  136,730

  4.7

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health NHS Trust

  6,264

  152,006

  4.1

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,484

  51,470

  4.8

  Highland Communities NHS Trust

  2,282

  48,364

  4.7

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  2,110

  41,066

  5.1

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,602

  50,403

  5.2

  Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,883

  95,047

  4.1

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  2,281

  48,902

  4.7

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,983

  34,317

  5.8

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,444

  58,732

  4.2

  Moray Health Services

  1,363

  34,229

  4.0

  North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

  2,725

  80,127

  3.4

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,409

  60,717

  4.0

  Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

  1,723

  42,585

  4.0

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  2,365

  56,654

  4.2

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,945

  71,238

  4.1

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  2,230

  51,653

  4.3

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  4,747

  157,783

  3.0

  Scottish Ambulance Service

  3,333

  78,902

  4.2

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,254

  50,278

  4.5

  Southern General Hospital NHS Trust

  3,136

  92,339

  3.4

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,814

  44,881

  4.0

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  3,056

  62,018

  5.0

  Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  2,355

  62,270

  3.8

  West Glasgow Hospitals NHS Trust

  5,557

  144,961

  3.8

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  3,360

  78,175

  4.3

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,613

  82,871

  4.4

  Yorkhill NHS Trust

  2,821

  63,005

  4.6

  Total

  132,099

  3,162,391

  4.2

  (b) M2 as a percentage of income

  M2 1997–98

  Income 1997–98

  (£000)

  (£000)

  Percentage

  Aberdeen Royal NHS Trust

  4,650

  140,830

  3.3

  Angus NHS Trust

  1,965

  43,170

  4.6

  Argyll and Bute NHS Trust

  1,617

  33,158

  4.9

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,859

  64,459

  4.4

  Borders Community Health NHS Trust

  1,467

  27,417

  5.4

  Borders General Hospital NHS Trust

  1,863

  34,945

  5.3

  Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust

  829

  17,716

  4.7

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,380

  67,868

  5.0

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,010

  46,653

  4.3

  Dumfries and Galloway Community Health Services NHS Trust

  1,850

  43,252

  4.3

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,470

  60,779

  4.1

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  4,000

  138,478

  2.9

  East and Midlothian NHS Trust

  2,770

  56,456

  4.9

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,900

  90,045

  4.3

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  1,361

  31,809

  4.3

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,700

  39,795

  4.3

  82 83

  (b) M2 as a percentage of income

  M2 1997–98

  Income 1997–98

  (£000)

  (£000)

  Percentage

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,840

  66,464

  4.3

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust

  821

  10,877

  7.5

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  4,626

  138,926

  3.3

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  6,144

  139,638

  4.4

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health NHS Trust

  7,067

  152,044

  4.6

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,494

  54,038

  4.6

  Highland Communities NHS Trust

  1,824

  52,122

  3.5

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  2,074

  41,760

  5.0

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,600

  52,191

  5.0

  Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,857

  97,041

  4.0

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  2,346

  49,925

  4.7

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,928

  35,704

  5.4

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,300

  61,747

  3.7

  Moray Health Services

  1,403

  36,065

  3.9

  North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

  2,596

  81,110

  3.2

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,566

  71,070

  3.6

  Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

  1,714

  43,959

  3.9

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  2,454

  60,447

  4.1

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,950

  72,471

  4.1

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  2,100

  53,796

  3.9

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  4,547

  167,174

  2.7

  Scottish Ambulance Service

  3,156

  83,237

  3.8

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,156

  52,624

  4.1

  Southern General Hospital NHS Trust

  3,000

  93,303

  3.2

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,857

  46,434

  4.0

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  3,678

  62,222

  5.9

  Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  2,611

  64,979

  4.0

  West Glasgow Hospitals NHS Trust

  5,420

  150,417

  3.6

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  3,100

  78,800

  3.9

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,772

  87,722

  4.3

  Yorkhill NHS Trust

  2,835

  65,894

  4.3

  Total

  131,527

  3,261,031

  4.0

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

  NHS Clinical Negligence Claims
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost of clinical negligence claims to the NHS in(a) each region and (b) each NHS trust in each year since 1994–95. [77136]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The cost of clinical negligence claims to the NHS for each Health Board area including NHS Trusts since 1994–95 is set out in the table.

  £

  Health Boards

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Argyll and Clyde

  197,498

  280,773

  510,273

  741,762

  Ayrshire and Arran

  57,364

  56,716

  326,326

  130,642

  Dumfries and Galloway

  46,542

  90,737

  133,786

  85,950

  Fife

  29,940

  81,786

  102,380

  159,395

  Forth Valley

  34,997

  160,246

  1,098,758

  226,587

  Grampian

  136,643

  72,993

  299,778

  106,960

  Greater Glasgow

  1,033,819

  1,459,505

  1,136,008

  1,376,359

  Highland

  15,027

  224,809

  48,968

  423,764

  Lanarkshire

  351,484

  123,895

  108,350

  98,373

  Lothian

  1,344,507

  1,418,026

  560,583

  474,911

  Tayside

  132,572

  97,698

  179,013

  256,741

  Other Boards

  13,583

  54,500

  92,480

  62,685

  Total

  3,393,976

  4,121,684

  4,596,703

  4,144,129

  84
  The information has been aggregated at Health Board level to protect patient confidentiality at Trusts where only one, or very few, claims have been settled. Similarly, Health Boards which have only a small number of claims have been aggregated to protect patient confidentiality.

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

  NHS Training and Education
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what data his Department collects on expenditure on NHS training and education and its distribution. [77134]

  Mr. Galbraith
  My Department holds information on expenditure on those education and training activities in the NHS in Scotland which are funded through the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (SCPMDE) and other central funding mechanisms.

  From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  85

  Timber Industry
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres in the United Kingdom were under softwood timber in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [77204]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information is set out in the table.

  Year ended

  thousand hectares

  31 March 1996

  1,585

  31 March 1997

  1,597

  Regular Constables/Special Constables

  1992 December

  1993 December

  1994 December

  1996 March

  1997 March

  1998 March

  Central Scotland Police

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Assistant Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Superintendent

  8

  8

  9

  9

  8

  10

  Chief Inspector

  11

  13

  13

  13

  12

  7

  Inspector

  31

  33

  33

  32

  33

  34

  Sergeant

  95

  101

  102

  104

  101

  103

  Constable

  502

  500

  495

  498

  530

  547

  Total

  649

  657

  654

  658

  686

  703

  Special Constables

  102

  101

  110

  88

  81

  72

  Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Assistant Chief Constable

  1

  1

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Superintendent

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  Chief Inspector

  6

  6

  7

  7

  7

  8

  Inspector

  18

  19

  19

  19

  19

  20

  Sergeant

  59

  59

  61

  60

  65

  68

  Constable

  296

  294

  293

  296

  312

  334

  Total

  387

  386

  389

  390

  411

  438

  Special Constables

  167

  189

  193

  214

  199

  193

  Fife Constabulary

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Assistant Chief Constable

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Superintendent

  12

  11

  10

  10

  9

  9

  Chief Inspector

  14

  14

  13

  11

  11

  14

  Inspector

  36

  36

  39

  40

  41

  36

  Sergeant

  111

  110

  112

  111

  111

  110

  Constable

  610

  612

  611

  614

  657

  683

  Total

  786

  786

  788

  789

  832

  855

  Special Constables

  151

  160

  158

  140

  132

  132

  Grampian Police

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Assistant Chief Constable

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  3

  Superintendent

  19

  18

  19

  19

  16

  16

  Chief Inspector

  21

  22

  20

  21

  19

  20

  Inspector

  62

  63

  69

  69

  69

  68

  Sergeant

  186

  184

  181

  186

  181

  183

  Constable

  903

  903

  899

  874

  885

  911

  Total

  1,194

  1,193

  1,191

  1,172

  1,173

  1,202

  Special Constables

  214

  204

  198

  171

  146

  138

  Lothian and Borders Police

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Assistant Chief Constable

  4

  4

  3

  3

  3

  3

  86

  Year ended

  thousand hectares

  31 March 1998

  1,604

  Special Police Officers
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the number of(a) full-time and (b) special police officers, by rank and force, for March and September (i) 1992, (ii) 1993, (iii) 1994, (iv) 1995, (v) 1996, (vi) 1997 and (vii) 1998. [76858]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The information requested is presented in the following table.
  87

  Regular Constables/Special Constables

  1992 December

  1993 December

  1994 December

  1996 March

  1997 March

  1998 March

  Superintendent

  35

  37

  36

  34

  36

  37

  Chief Inspector

  48

  45

  43

  43

  41

  40

  Inspector

  127

  124

  123

  122

  125

  127

  Sergeant

  357

  361

  360

  358

  361

  368

  Constable

  1,989

  1,986

  1,990

  1,973

  2,124

  2,115

  Total

  2,561

  2,558

  2,556

  2,534

  2,691

  2,691

  Special Constables

  198

  209

  236

  223

  197

  198

  Northern Constabulary

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Assistant Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Superintendent

  10

  11

  8

  8

  8

  7

  Chief Inspector

  14

  14

  8

  13

  12

  13

  Inspector

  26

  25

  25

  27

  27

  26

  Sergeant

  110

  108

  109

  106

  108

  108

  Constable

  474

  498

  484

  489

  492

  501

  Total

  636

  658

  643

  645

  649

  657

  Special Constables

  493

  515

  531

  500

  511

  480

  Strathclyde Police

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Assistant Chief Constable

  7

  8

  7

  7

  7

  7

  Superintendent

  111

  107

  111

  112

  114

  118

  Chief Inspector

  122

  122

  122

  115

  110

  102

  Inspector

  359

  357

  362

  353

  357

  374

  Sergeant

  967

  966

  977

  972

  980

  975

  Constable

  5,230

  5,262

  5,423

  5,656

  5,662

  5,722

  Total

  6,797

  6,823

  7,003

  7,216

  7,231

  7,299

  Special Constables

  382

  367

  351

  328

  314

  319

  Tayside Police

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Assistant Chief Constable

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Superintendent

  17

  17

  17

  13

  14

  14

  Chief Inspector

  20

  20

  16

  14

  14

  13

  Inspector

  58

  58

  59

  50

  51

  53

  Sergeant

  160

  159

  158

  159

  165

  163

  Constable

  826

  821

  834

  874

  869

  897

  Total

  1,084

  1,078

  1,087

  1,113

  1,116

  1,143

  Special Constables

  140

  152

  215

  214

  206

  191

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

  Pupil Funding
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, by local authority area, the level of (i) nursery and (ii) secondary education funding per pupil in(a) cash terms and (b) 1998–99 prices in each year since 1992. [77743]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information is given in the tables. 1996 –97 is the latest financial year for which actual expenditure information is currently available. The figures, which are derived from local authority returns, do not include the cost of home-to-school transport, school meals, education authority administration costs and loan charges.
  88

  Net Current expenditure per full time equivalent pupil in local authority nursery schools

  (£ at out-turn prices)

  Regional/Islands councils

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Borders

  227

  242

  2,090

  1,875

  Central

  1,974

  2,073

  2,206

  2,298

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,988

  2,133

  2,185

  2,018

  Fife

  1,483

  1,636

  1,608

  1,757

  Grampian

  2,265

  2,313

  2,315

  2,401

  Highland

  2,425

  2,928

  2,877

  2,875

  Lothian

  2,151

  2,219

  2,258

  2,355

  Strathclyde

  2,820

  3,089

  3,203

  3,437

  Tayside

  2,111

  2,130

  2,105

  2,204

  Orkney

  1,959

  2,379

  2,409

  4,386

  Shetland

  2,573

  3,030

  3,456

  2,691

  Western Isles

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  89

  Net current expenditure per full time equivalent pupil in local authority nursery schools

  (£at 1998–99 prices)

  Regional/Islands councils

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Borders

  264

  274

  2,335

  2,035

  Central

  2,296

  2,349

  2,464

  2,495

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,313

  2,418

  2,441

  2,190

  Fife

  1,725

  1,854

  1,796

  1,908

  Grampian

  2,635

  2,621

  2,586

  2,606

  Highland

  2,821

  3,318

  3,215

  3,121

  Lothian

  2,502

  2,515

  2,523

  2,557

  Strathclyde

  3,280

  3,500

  3,579

  3,731

  Tayside

  2,456

  2,414

  2,352

  2,393

  Orkney

  2,279

  2,696

  2,692

  4,762

  Shetland

  2,993

  3,433

  3,861

  2,922

  Western Isles

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Net current expenditure per full time equivalent pupil in local authority nursery schools in 1996–97

  Councils

  (£ at out-turn prices)

  (£ at 1998–99 prices)

  Aberdeen, City

  2,442

  2,572

  Aberdeenshire

  2,358

  2,484

  Angus

  1,979

  2,085

  Argyll and Bute

  5,327

  5,610

  Clackmannanshire

  3,280

  3,454

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,896

  1,996

  Dundee

  2,243

  2,362

  East Ayrshire

  3,441

  3,624

  East Dunbartonshire

  8,025

  8,452

  East Lothian

  1,951

  2,055

  East Renfrewshire

  1,893

  1,994

  Edinburgh, City

  2,596

  2,734

  Eilean Siar

  n/a

  n/a

  Falkirk

  2,256

  2,376

  Fife

  2,622

  2,762

  Glasgow City

  3,497

  3,683

  Highland

  2,011

  2,118

  Inverclyde

  4,513

  4,753

  Midlothian

  2,564

  2,701

  Moray

  1,576

  1,660

  North Ayrshire

  1,839

  1,937

  North Lanarkshire

  4,409

  4,643

  Orkney

  2,680

  2,823

  Perth and Kinross

  2,193

  2,310

  Renfrewshire

  5,676

  5,978

  Scottish Borders

  1,812

  1,908

  Shetland

  3,086

  3,250

  South Ayrshire

  3,002

  3,162

  South Lanarkshire

  6,839

  7,202

  Stirling

  3,308

  3,484

  West Dunbartonshire

  4,743

  4,995

  West Lothian

  2,340

  2,464

  Net current expenditure per pupil in local authority secondary schools

  (£ at out-turn prices)

  Regional/Islands councils

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Borders

  2,857

  2,873

  2,941

  2,933

  Central

  2,801

  2,785

  2,761

  2,784

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,957

  2,876

  2,894

  2,941

  Fife

  2,636

  2,569

  2,597

  2,630

  Grampian

  3,031

  2,958

  2,862

  2,970

  Highland

  2,896

  2,914

  2,975

  3,061

  Lothian

  3,047

  2,963

  2,959

  3,024

  90

  Net current expenditure per pupil in local authority secondary schools

  (£ at out-turn prices)

  Regional/Islands councils

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Strathclyde

  2,842

  2,769

  2,831

  2,914

  Tayside

  3,036

  2,878

  2,946

  2,932

  Orkney

  3,827

  3,464

  3,576

  3,592

  Shetland

  4,492

  4,948

  5,104

  5,397

  Western Isles

  4,297

  4,200

  4,405

  4,535

  Net current expenditure per pupil in local authority secondary schools

  (£ at 1998–99 prices)

  Regional/Islands councils

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Borders

  3,324

  3,256

  3,286

  3,184

  Central

  3,258

  3,156

  3,085

  3,022

  Dumfries and Galloway

  3,440

  3,259

  3,233

  3,193

  Fife

  3,066

  2,911

  2,902

  2,855

  Grampian

  3,526

  3,352

  3,198

  3,224

  Highland

  3,369

  3,302

  3,324

  3,323

  Lothian

  3,545

  3,358

  3,306

  3,283

  Strathclyde

  3,306

  3,138

  3,163

  3,164

  Tayside

  3,532

  3,261

  3,291

  3,183

  Orkney

  4,452

  3,925

  3,995

  3,900

  Shetland

  5,226

  5,607

  5,702

  5,859

  Western Isles

  4,999

  4,760

  4,922

  4,923

  Net current expenditure per pupil in local authority nursery schools in 1996–97

  Councils

  (£ at out-turn prices)

  (£ at 1998–99 prices)

  Aberdeen, City

  2,917

  3,129

  Aberdeenshire

  2,759

  2,905

  Angus

  2,835

  2,986

  Argyll and Bute

  3,003

  3,163

  Clackmannanshire

  2,932

  3,088

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,905

  3,060

  Dundee

  3,142

  3,309

  East Ayrshire

  2,747

  2,893

  East Dunbartonshire

  2,599

  2,737

  East Lothian

  2,923

  3,078

  East Renfrewshire

  2,611

  2,750

  Edinburgh, City

  3,011

  3.171

  Eilean Siar

  4,553

  4,795

  Falkirk

  2,751

  2,898

  Fife

  2,674

  2,816

  Glasgow City

  3,322

  3,498

  Highland

  3,135

  3,302

  Inverclyde

  2,844

  2,995

  Midlothian

  2,880

  3,033

  Moray

  2,799

  2,948

  North Ayrshire

  2,776

  2,923

  North Lanarkshire

  2,854

  3,006

  Orkney

  3,778

  3,979

  Perth and Kinross

  2,822

  2,972

  Renfrewshire

  2,909

  3,064

  Scottish Borders

  3,039

  3,200

  Shetland

  5,777

  6,085

  South Ayrshire

  2,780

  2,928

  South Lanarkshire

  2,863

  3,015

  Stirling

  2,987

  3,146

  West Dunbartonshire

  2,833

  2,984

  West Lothian

  2,945

  3,102

  From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  91

  Higher Education
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applicants there were for places at Scottish universities in each year since 1992. [77761]

  Mrs. Liddell
  This information is not held centrally.

  UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service) is a central non-Government agency which acts on behalf of UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to process applications for entry to higher education courses. UCAS publishes annual information on applicants and acceptances for courses at Higher Education Institutions in the UK in a report. This information is also available on the UCAS website (www.ucas.ac.uk).

  The UCAS report summarises the total applicants to UK HEIs, but does not distinguish total applicants to Scottish HEIs. However, institutions are separately identified, and the information required can be collated from these.

  Alternatively, UCAS will collate the required information if requested. The address for UCAS is UCAS, Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Glos., GL52 3LZ, or telephone 01242 222 444.

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

  Boundary Commission
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Boundary Commission concluded its review of the boundaries of each local authority area in Scotland; and if these have been approved. [77747]

  Mr. McLeish
  The Local Government Boundary Commission submitted its final report relating to the Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements in October 1998. The necessary orders implementing the recommendations with modifications have been made for all 32 Scottish councils and will take effect for the local government elections in May 1999. A statutory review of the Administrative boundaries is not scheduled to commence until 2004.

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

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up his Department's Green Transport Plan. [77963]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Scottish Office fleet managers are making a major contribution to our green transport planning. By 31 March, 23 liquid petroleum gas vehicles and 2 electric vehicles will be in the core Scottish Office fleet, representing 16 per cent. of the total. As part of a pilot project, the 2 electric vehicles will be used for staff travelling on official business between our Edinburgh offices. Additional liquid petroleum gas vehicles are to be purchased in the next financial year.

  From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  92

  Hospital Disposals
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what basis the sites of(a) the Princess Margaret Rose Hospital, (b) the City Hospital and (c) the Dental Hospital, Edinburgh were valued prior to disposal; and what assumptions his Department made about their future development. [77855]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The sites at the Princess Margaret Rose Hospital, the City Hospital and the Dental Hospital, Edinburgh were valued both by the District Valuer and the property adviser to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust prior to disposal on the basis that the sites would be used for residential purposes.

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

  Water (Local Authority Control)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with(a) each of Scotland's local authorities and when these consultations took place and (b) COSLA and with whom the discussions took place on the return of water to local authority control. [77336]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Secretary of State issued a consultation paper on the structure of the Scottish water industry in July 1997. Replies were received from CoSLA, and from 10 local authorities. There were detailed discussions at official level between The Scottish Office and CoSLA. The Secretary of State made a statement to the House on 16 December 1997.

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

  Health Board Expenditure
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a detailed breakdown of expenditure by each health board in Scotland in the current financial year. [78027]

  Mr. Galbraith
  A detailed breakdown of expenditure by health board is not yet available for the current financial year. Health Boards are not due to submit their audited annual accounts to the Management Executive until 31 July 1999.

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

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish, for each health board in Scotland, the allocation given to health boards to purchase health care in their areas in the current financial year. [78026]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information requested is as follows:

  Health Board

  £ million

  Argyll and Clyde

  385.8

  Ayrshire and Arran

  326.5

  Borders

  99.8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  140.0

  Fife

  284.8

  Forth Valley

  231.4

  Grampian

  438.6

  93

  Health Board

  £ million

  Greater Glasgow

  880.3

  Highland

  194.4

  Lanarkshire

  460.2

  Lothian

  665.3

  Orkney

  22.1

  Shetland

  23.7

  Tayside

  387.2

  Western Isles

  36.2

  Total

  4,576.3

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

  Health Boards (Senior Management)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total cost of pay was for chairmen, directors and senior managers of health boards in Scotland in the current financial year. [78028]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The total cost of pay for executive directors and senior managers in Scotland's Health Boards will not be available until the end of May. Remuneration to Scotland's 15 Health Board Chairmen in 1998–99 is £228,420; the estimated remuneration to non-executive members of the Health Boards is estimated at £390,000.

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

TREASURY

  Dividend Tax Credits
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions the Government have made in the Comprehensive Spending Review for the effects arising from the abolition of the repayment of dividend tax credits to pensions funds. [68753]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 2 February 1999]: The effects of abolition of the repayment of dividend tax credits on funded public sector pension schemes was taken into account in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  European Scrutiny Committee
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if(a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants saw the European Scrutiny Committee questions brief in advance of the appearance of the Economic Secretary before the Committee on 10 December. [77849]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: Ministers, special advisers and officials did not see a copy of the Commons Scrutiny Committee questions brief in advance of my appearance before the Committee.

  Company Licences
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for(a) small and medium enterprises and (b) larger companies (i) all licences and permits issued by
  94
  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. [76852]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The Treasury and the Executive Agencies responsible to the Chancellor of the Exchequer do not issue licences or permits to enable companies to carry out their business.

  Government Overdrafts
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to repay the Government's overdraft on the Ways and Means account at the Bank of England; and if he will make a statement. [77473]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: The Government's Ways and Means overdraft with the Bank of England is the main short-term financing instrument currently used to balance the change in the Government's daily cash position. Responsibility for cash management is due to be transferred to the UK Debt Management Office during the course of 1999–2000. When the transfer is complete, Ways and Means will no longer be drawn upon for cash management purposes, and methods will be explored to repay the Ways and Means balance. This will rationalise the Government's short-term borrowing.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is an EU treaty requirement that countries applying to join the euro should repay any overdraft that they may have with their domestic central bank. [77472]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: In accordance with Article 104 and Article 109e(3) of the EC Treaty, overdraft facilities or any other type of credit facility with the ECB or the national central banks of Member States in favour of Community institutions or bodies, central Governments, regional, local or other public authorities, other bodies governed by public law, or public undertakings of Member States were prohibited from the beginning of Stage Two of EMU.

  However, in accordance with paragraph 11 of Protocol No. 11 to the EC Treaty, the UK Government may maintain their 'ways and means' facility with the Bank of England if and so long as the UK does not move to Stage Three of EMU.

  Petrol Smuggling
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to combat the smuggling of petrol into the UK. [77481]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: Customs will soon be deploying extra resources to combat the smuggling of road fuel into Northern Ireland. In addition to the anti-smuggling operations a rolling programme of VAT assurance visits to all petroleum retailers in Northern Ireland is in operation. These inspections will check sales against legitimate purchases by reference to pump readings. There is little evidence that smuggling of fuel into any other area of the United Kingdom is a cause for concern.
  95

  Departmental Asset Sales
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the items sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies from those listed in the National Assets Register of November 1997; if he will give in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total cash raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [70418]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 11 February 1999]: Items sold since the publication of the National Assets Register (NAR) by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments and associated public bodies are as follows:

  HM Treasury

  (i) As part of the arrangement for contracting out insurance supervision to the Financial Services Authority (FSA), a computer system (transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry in 1997–98) was sold for £3.2 million in January 1999.

  Treasury has also disposed of small quantities of IT equipment, furniture and fittings, as part of routine replacement programmes.

  (ii) Sale of financial investments has raised £177.5 million. These comprise:

  proceeds of £107.9 million, received on 1 April 1997 from the repurchase of £105.4 million (nominal) of the British Energy bond maturing in 2016; and

  the sale in April 1998 of the Treasury's remaining holding of 12,411,795 shares in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company for £69.6 million.

  Bank of England

  (i) The Bank is in the process of disposing of its regional branches. The total proceeds to date are around £10 million, close to the book value of these properties.

  (ii) The Bank's participating interest in the European Monetary Institute was its contribution (ecu 95 million) to the Institute's capital. Out of this contribution, the Bank paid ecu 37 million (£26 million) in respect of the capital of the European Central Bank. The balance of the contribution was repaid to the Bank of England in January 1999.

  (iii) The equipment and machinery used in the Bank's everyday operations are replaced or added to, when necessary. Disposals are for scrap or for second hand value. There have been no material sales of equipment.

  HM Customs and Excise

  Of the buildings listed in the NAR, a small freehold building at 165 High St., Invergordon, Rosshire has been sold for £25,000. Routine sales of other assets have taken place as part of the normal replacement cycle and in order to maintain the Department's operational capability. The approximate annual income from the sale of Customs assets is £1.25 million.

  Inland Revenue

  (i) The Inland Revenue has sold two surplus properties, Dundonald House, Bexhill-on-Sea for £210,000 and Montrose House, Glasgow for £750,000. In addition, they have disposed of two further properties as part of Private Finance Initiative projects; Stuart House, Edinburgh and Highland House, Manchester, valued at £0.5 million and £1 million respectively.

  (ii) As part of continuing replacement programmes, Inland Revenue has sold some cars, office machinery and information technology equipment. Precise information about the sale proceeds of these items is not readily available.

  Registry of Friendly Societies

  Since the publication of the NAR, it has been agreed that some services provided by the Registry of Friendly Societies (RFS) should be contracted out to the FSA. As a result, RFS has disposed of a substantial part of the building it occupies to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) on behalf of
  96
  the Inland Revenue. It has also sold a large proportion of its furniture to the Inland Revenue and has sold the IT assets used by staff transferring to the FSA. A summary of the assets included in the NAR which have since been disposed of is as follows:

  Asset

  Disposal to

  Amount realised £

  Building fitting out costs

  PACE

  3,611,000

  Furniture

  Inland Revenue

  25,000

  IT equipment

  FSA

  103,000

  Other Chancellor's Departments
  The following Departments have realised only small amounts from the sale of minor items of IT equipment, furniture or other items listed in the NAR, or have made no sales:

  Office for National Statistics

  National Savings

  National Investments and Loans

  Office Government Actuary's Department

  Royal Mint.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the average increase in stamp duty payable on purchases of private dwellings as a result of(a) the 1997 Budget measures and (b) the 1998 Budget measures; [70679]

  (2) what has been the average increase in stamp duty payable on the purchase of business premises as a result of (a) the 1997 Budget measures and (b) the 1998 Budget measures. [70698]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The 1997 Budget measure is estimated to have increased the average stamp duty payable from July 1997 on transactions over the £250,000 threshold on residential property by around £3,000, and by around £15,000 for land and commercial property. The 1998 Budget measure is projected to result in similar average increases in 1998–99.

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the market research into the ISA conducted by the McKinsey consultancy to be published; and what is the cost of the research. [77308]

  Ms Hewitt
  As announced, the primary aim of the research is to inform Government policy making. On completion, the Government will decide how best to use the results in support of their aims to encourage personal savings.

  The terms of the contract are a matter of commercial confidentiality. The contract was let following a competitive tendering exercise conducted in accordance with recognised procurement practice, under the supervision of the Treasury Procurement Unit.

  Charities (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount of tax forgone as a result of tax allowances granted to charities in England and Wales in the last financial year. [76053]
  97
  Ms Hewitt
  The total cost of tax reliefs for charities in the UK is estimated at over £2 billion for 1997–98. This comprises around £1.2 billion of direct taxes (including the reliefs given to donors and estates for gifts to charity), about £200 million in VAT reliefs, and £600 million in business rate relief. Information is not available on the total cost of tax reliefs for charities in England and Wales.

  However, of the approximately £730 million of direct taxes repaid to charities in the UK in 1997–98, around £680 million was repaid to charities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. And of the approximately £250 million exemption from inheritance tax of transfers to charities on death in 1997–98, around £220 million was for estates in England and Wales. Of the approximately £600 million business rate relief in 1997–98, around £520 million was for charities in England and Wales.

  It is not possible to give a reliable breakdown of the remainder of the reliefs from direct taxes, or of the estimated cost of £200 million for reliefs from VAT through a variety of zero rates and exemptions.

  Public Consultations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department follows Cabinet Office guidance on how to conduct public consultations. [73959]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury conducts public consultations on a variety of issues with interested parties in a number of ways. The Treasury seeks to follow the best practice principles set out in the CO guidance on "How to conduct written consultation exercises". Less formal consultations, such as the recent regional series of Productivity Road Shows, are also conducted by the Treasury.

  Financial Services and Markets Bill
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the jurisdictions referred to in paragraph 2–2 of the Financial Services and Markets Bill Progress report, published by Her Majesty's Treasury in March 1999. [76062]

  Ms Hewitt
  Both the Treasury and the FSA frequently have meetings with Government officials and regulatory bodies from other key jurisdictions. Many recent contacts have expressed a positive interest in and sought detailed information on the UK reforms.

  Credit Suisse First Boston
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of James Archer, David Crisanti and Adrian Ezra by Credit Suisse First Boston are being investigated by the Financial Services regulator. [77076]

  Ms Hewitt
  As a matter of policy the UK Financial Regulators do not comment on the existence of any investigation that may be taking place until it is appropriate to make public details of an investigation that has been carried out.

  VAT (Domestic Fuel)
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on emission levels of the reduction of VAT on domestic fuel. [76381]
  98
  Ms Hewitt
  The Government estimate that the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel and power from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent. announced in the July 1997 Budget, will increase annual carbon dioxide emissions in 2010 by 240,000 tonnes of carbon, all other things being equal.

  Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those people he has appointed to public bodies since 1 November 1998, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and if they receive remuneration. [76465]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested is as follows.

  Public body

  Name

  Position

  Whether remunerated

  Financial Services Authority

  Moira Black CBE

  Member

  Yes

  Gillian Nott

  Member

  Yes

  Shamit Saggar

  Member

  Yes

  Policy Holders Protection Board

  Andrew Young

  Member

  Yes

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each Department the level of funds that are, according to paragraph 4.22 of the Comprehensive Spending Review, (i) allocated for the delivery of services and (ii) non-allocated, for each of the years from 1997–98 to 2001–02. [68390]

  Mr. Milburn
  All funds allocated in the Comprehensive Spending Review are for the delivery of modern, efficient and effective public services. Challenging objectives and targets for the delivery of these services were set out in individual departments' service agreements and published in "Public Service for the Future" (Cm 4181), along with their allocations for 1997–98 to 2001–02.

  Environmental Tax Reform
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into public attitudes to environmental tax reform. [74818]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government are committed to exploring the scope for using economic instruments to secure environmental objectives, as set out in the Statement of Intent on Environmental Taxation published in July 1997. This commitment has been taken forward in an open and consultative way with the publication of a number of consultation documents on environmental tax issues.

  The 1999 Budget included the largest ever package of environmental tax reforms. These reforms followed detailed research and full consultation with all interested parties. This package will make a substantial contribution to the Government's aim of protecting the environment, now and for future generations.

  Euro Banknotes
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what action he is taking to ensure that the Bank of England is not disadvantaged in competition for future
  99
  printing of euro banknotes by the United Kingdom's position outside the euro zone; and if he will make a statement; [75460]

  (2) what plans he has to improve the competitive position of the Bank of England in the printing of banknotes; and if he will make a statement. [75461]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Bank's competitive position is already excellent and their involvement in preparatory work will ensure they are not competitively disadvantaged.

  Public Sector Debt
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the level of net public sector debt per capita in each of the last 25 years for which figures are available. [74876]

  Ms Hewitt
  The table shows the figures requested.

  Public sector net debt per capita

  Year

  Net debt(£ billion)1

  Population(thousands)2

  Net debt per capita (£)

  1971

  38.7

  55,928

  692

  1972

  40.3

  56,097

  719

  1973

  41.8

  56,223

  744

  1974

  46.6

  56,236

  828

  1975

  54.5

  56,226

  969

  1976

  67.5

  56,216

  1,200

  1977

  77.2

  56,190

  1,375

  1978

  83.9

  56,178

  1,493

  1979

  91.2

  56,240

  1,622

  1980

  99.8

  56,330

  1,772

  1981

  115.3

  56,352

  2,045

  1982

  126.8

  56,318

  2,251

  1983

  133.9

  56,377

  2,375

  1984

  145.7

  56,506

  2,578

  1985

  159.4

  56,685

  2,811

  1986

  165.2

  56,852

  2,905

  1987

  170.2

  57,009

  2,985

  1988

  169.9

  57,158

  2,972

  1989

  156.0

  57,358

  2,720

  1990

  153.6

  57,561

  2,668

  1991

  153.4

  57,808

  2,653

  1992

  167.5

  58,006

  2,888

  1993

  204.8

  58,191

  3,519

  1994

  251.7

  58,395

  4,310

  1995

  289.9

  58,606

  4,946

  1996

  322.1

  58,801

  5,478

  1997

  349.8

  59,009

  5,928

  1 end-March

  2 end-June

  Source:

  Public Sector Net Debt—Bank of England:Statistical Abstract.

  Population—ONS Annual Abstract of Statistics.

  Money Transfers (Jersey)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the administration of Jersey about the use of companies based in Jersey for the money transfers by the Russian Central Bank; and if he will make a statement. [76631]

  Ms Hewitt
  Treasury officials have been briefed by the Jersey authorities about press allegations concerning a Jersey based company FIMACO used by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation to manage assets. Regulation of 100
  the financial services industry and company registration in Jersey is the responsibility of the Jersey Financial Services Commission.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [76798]

  Ms Hewitt
  58 staff in HM Treasury have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week. To date, 31 staff have signed an agreement to disapply this limit and nine staff have refused. Compliance costs are not kept centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Euro Coins
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 March 1999,Official Report, columns 643–44, on euro coins, what sanctions against those who damage or destroy the image of the euro are provided for by the reproduction regime; and if he will make a statement. [75637]

  Ms Hewitt
  Enforcement of the copyright in the common face design of euro coins will be ensured by participating member states or, in the case of non-participating member states, by the Commission, according to national legislation and in compliance with an agreed reproduction regime.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the economic advantages of remaining outside the single currency; and what account he has taken of these in formulating policy on economic and monetary union. [73599]

  Ms Hewitt
  In his statement to the House of Commons on 27 October 1997,Official Report, columns 583–85, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out the Government's policy on Economic and Monetary Union. He said that the potential benefits for Britain of a successful single currency are obvious in terms of trade, transparency of costs and currency stability. The determining factor as to whether Britain joins a single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for doing so is clear and unambiguous.

  Electronic Red Boxes
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will name the Ministers in his Department who are regular users of electronic Red Boxes. [76178]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 651–52.
  101

  Select Committee Reports
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) and the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) of 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 641–42, from whom the PPS to the Chancellor received the draft Social Security Committee report. [78157]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 641–42.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many pensioners will benefit from the uprating of the minimum income for pensioners in line with earnings at the next benefit uprating; and what this number is as a proportion of the total number of pensioners receiving the basic state pension; [78039]

  (2) how many pensioners will become eligible for income support directly as a result of the uprating of the minimum income for pensioners. [78040]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not currently available. The information will be available as soon as the forecasts on which the requested figures are based have been published in the Departmental Report on 30 March. I will write to the hon. Member after publication of this Report.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the uprating of the minimum income for pensioners will be in line with earnings at each annual uprating. [78038]

  Mr. Timms
  We have made it clear that our aim is to uprate the Minimum Income Guarantee in line with average earnings over time as resources allow. The increase next April will provide a further boost to the incomes of the least well-off among today's pensioners on top of this year's increase of three times the rate of inflation. We will review the economic situation and make decisions for future years at the appropriate time.

  Industrial injuries disablement benefit—newly diagnosed awards of asbestos-related diseases in the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998

  All

  Men

  Women

  All occupations

  1,016

  995

  21

  Corporate managers

  2

  2

  0

  General managers

  1

  1

  0

  Physical, mathematical and engineering science professionals

  3

  3

  0

  Other professionals

  1

  1

  0

  Physical and engineering science associate professionals

  17

  17

  0

  Life science and health associate professionals

  1

  0

  1

  Teaching associate professionals

  1

  0

  1

  Office clerks

  4

  2

  2

  Personal and protective services workers

  6

  4

  2

  Extraction and building trade workers

  276

  275

  1

  Metal, machinery and related trades workers

  298

  296

  2

  Precision, handicraft, printing and related trades workers

  51

  50

  1

  Other craft and related trades workers

  37

  34

  3

  102
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households have
  weekly incomes of(a) £65 to £70, (b) £71 to £75, (c) £76 to £80, (d) £81 to £85, (e) £86 to £90 and (f) over £90 in the case of single pensioner households, and of (i) £110 to £120, (ii) £121 to £130, (iii) £131 to £140, (d) £141 to £150 and (e) over £150 in the case of pensioner couples. [78041]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the tables.

  Number of single pensioners in selected income bands

  Range of income

  Number of single pensioners (Thousands)

  £65 to £70

  180

  £71 to £75

  200

  £76 to £80

  220

  £81 to £85

  130

  £86 to £90

  130

  Over £90

  3,080

  Number of pensioner couples in selected income bands

  Range of income

  Number of pensioner couples (Thousands)

  £110 to £120

  80

  £121 to £130

  80

  £131 to £140

  110

  £141 to £150

  160

  Over £150

  2,100

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000, although they are not necessarily accurate to that degree.

  2. 'Income' refers to the net weekly income of the single or couple.

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

  4. Estimates are based on incomes reported in the 1996/97 Family Resources Survey, uprated to April 1998 prices.

  Disablement Pension (Asbestosis)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women, broken down by occupation, (i) are in receipt of a disablement pension for asbestosis and (ii) were made an award in the last year for which figures are available. [69932]

  Mr. Bayley
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1999, c. 535–36]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
  103

  Industrial injuries disablement benefit—newly diagnosed awards of asbestos-related diseases in the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998

  All

  Men

  Women

  Stationary plant and related trades workers

  95

  94

  1

  Machine operators and assemblers

  41

  36

  5

  Drivers and mobile plant operators

  69

  69

  0

  Sales and services elementary occupations

  14

  12

  2

  Agricultural, fishery and related labourers

  2

  2

  0

  Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport

  96

  96

  0

  Armed forces

  1

  1

  0

  Notes:

  1. Figures are not available by occupation or attributable agent for the total numbers of people receiving benefit related to asbestos.

  2. Asbestos related diseases that are prescribed for the purposes of industrial injuries Disablement Benefit are Pneumoconiosis (prescribed disease D1), where the attributable agent is asbestos; Diffuse mesothelioma (prescribed disease D3); Carcinoma of the lung (prescribed disease D8); and Bilateral diffuse pleural thickening (prescribed disease D9). The table shows new diagnoses for benefit purposes of these asbestos-related diseases, which have attracted an award of benefit in the 1997–98 year, by gender and occupation.

  Source:

  DSS (Analytical Services Division). Figures based on 100 per cent. data.

  Widows' Benefits
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of(a) delaying the halving of the additional pension payments for widows whose spouse dies after 5 April 2000 until 2010, (b) delaying the reduction of the additional pension payments for widows whose spouse dies after 5 April 2000 and instead reducing the payments by 10 per cent. each year until 2004 and (c) delaying the reduction of the additional pension payments for widows whose spouse dies after 5 April 2000 until 2010 and then reducing the payments by 10 per cent. each year up until 2014. [75664]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 9 March 1999]: The information is in the table.

  £ million

  Cumulative cost

  Continuing cost per annum

  2000–09

  2010

  2020

  2030

  2040

  2050

  (a)

  5,620

  1,130

  740

  350

  110

  20

  (b)

  1,710

  180

  110

  50

  10

  0

  (c)

  5,620

  1,190

  950

  470

  150

  30

  Notes:

  1. Costs are supplied by the Government Actuary's Department.

  2. No allowance has been made for income related benefit offsets.

  3. Costs are rounded to nearest £10 million and are presented in 1998–99 benefit rates.

  4. Costs include SERPS pension paid to widows and widowers above the state pension age and to widows below state pension age.

  5. The estimates are based on current legislation.

  6. Real earnings growth of 1.5 per cent. has been assumed.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to amend the housing benefit system. [77738]

  Angela Eagle
  Our aim is to modernise Housing Benefit so that it is fairer, better administered, secure and promotes the incentive to work. A Housing Green paper will be published later this year which will discuss options for reforms to Housing Benefit within the context of housing policy.
  104

  Single Gateway
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what budgets have been allocated for each of the three phases of the Single Gateway pilot schemes. [78115]

  Angela Eagle
  The additional funding for the 12 single Work-Focused Gateway pilots, that is the amount allocated on top of that which would be required to administer benefits in the pilot areas under the current arrangements, has been allocated as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Allocation

  1998–2000

  32.49

  2000–01

  23.97

  2001–02

  23.07

  These amounts do not differentiate between the three phases. They include information technology and capital expenditure over the period of the pilots. The funding allocation for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 has been combined.

  Unclaimed Benefits
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) of 8 March 1999,Official Report, column 52, on unclaimed benefits, what factors caused the error in the data; and when he expects to conclude his review of relevant data. [77995]

  Angela Eagle
  Take up of income related benefits is calculated by comparing an estimate of the number of people entitled to, but not receiving, each benefit with the number of people known to be claiming it.

  The error was caused by a failure to include, in our calculations of entitlement, payments to widows from a deceased spouse's former employer (widows occupational pension). The failure occurred when these payments were first recorded separately from other occupational pensions in the Family Resources Survey, from which these estimates are made.
  105
  This caused the Department's statisticians to under-estimate the incomes of some pensioners, leading to an over-estimation of benefit entitlement. This resulted in an over-estimation of the numbers of pensioners not claiming Income Support to which they are entitled.

  We expect to publish a revised set of figures for 1996–97 in May.

  Bereavement Benefits
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of increasing the disregard in the bereavement benefits to(a) £20, (b) £30, (c) £40 and (d) £50. [78031]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  The estimated total costs of increasing the proposed disregard for Widowed Parent's Allowance

  £ million

  WPA disregard in all benefits

  Year 1

  Year 2

  Year 3

  Long run

  £20

  15

  15

  15

  10

  £30

  25

  25

  25

  15

  £40

  40

  40

  40

  25

  £50

  55

  55

  55

  35

  Notes:

  1. The proposed disregard for Widowed Parents Allowance is £10 for Income Support and £15 for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Working Families Tax Credit. The figures estimate the cost of increasing these rates for these benefits to the requested levels.

  2. The estimates presented are broad orders of magnitude. They are rounded to the nearest £5 million and are our best estimate of the cost of increasing the disregards, but are nonetheless subject to a degree of uncertainty.

  3. Estimates use information from the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey, the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and forecasts from the Government Actuary's Department. The offset ratio is assumed to remain constant across the years in order to provide illustrative estimates.

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up his Department's Green Transport Plan. [77968]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department's Environment Officer is also the Department's fleet manager and had considerable involvement in developing the 27 Departmental Green Transport Plans which will be in place by 31 March 1999.

  Miners (Compensation Payments)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if social security benefits previously paid out will be recoverable from the compensation payments recently announced for miners suffering from(a) emphysema, (b) bronchitis and (c) vibration white finger; and if he will make a statement. [78137]

  Mr. Bayley
  It has been a long standing principle that victims of personal injury or disease should not be compensated twice for the same need. Consequently compensation paid to miners for loss of past earnings, cost of care and loss of mobility may be reduced to take 106
  account of the liability to repay benefits paid in respect of the disease in question. Compensation for pain and suffering will be paid in full.

  Disability Allowance Review
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) for what period disability living allowance recipients whose cases were examined by the Benefit Integrity Project will be excluded from the new checking regime; [77889]

  (2) what estimates he has made of the likely level of savings or increased expenditure arising from the new disability allowance review regime. [77891]

  Mr. Bayley
  We are committed to achieving a coherent, fair and sensitive system for the delivery of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). This will encompass new methods of claiming and periodic inquiry arrangements to be applied ultimately to all cases in payment. The Benefits Agency is working to establish the proper frequency with which individuals should be asked about their current needs so that, in the future, inquiries can be made at the most appropriate time and new claimants can be advised from the outset when inquiries are likely to be made in their case. Developmental work is well underway, in consultation with organisations of, and for, disabled people.

  As a first step in the process, a prototype periodic inquiry system will be introduced in April 1999 for existing DLA cases, followed in the Summer by trials to test new ways of handling claims for DLA and Attendance Allowance (AA). Both strands of work will be closely monitored and evaluated. Developments and data from each strand will be used to design the final overall process.

  People whose cases were examined under the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) will not, at the outset, be subject to the new periodic inquiry arrangements. Once the full new system is introduced, they are likely to be allocated a periodic inquiry frequency on the same basis as new claimants for DLA and AA. It is, however, too early to provide details.

  We have made it clear that the main objective of these changes is to ensure that benefit is being paid properly. They are not savings driven. There will be additional administrative costs as the new inquiry process develops. The effect of the new processes on programme spending will be factored into the expenditure forecasts in the normal way.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Global Services and JMT Charlesworth Ltd.
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings his Department have had with Global Services and JMT Charlesworth Ltd.; what were the terms of the grants made to these companies over the past two years; and if he will make a statement. [71805]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 16 February 1999]: JMT Charlesworth applied in 1997 to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) for a DTI funded Export Marketing

  107
  Research Scheme grant. The grants are open to British companies with fewer than 500 employees wishing to research specific overseas markets and are payable after the work has been successfully completed. The company received a grant of just over £1,000 from BCC following their study of the market for used, refurbished trucks for sale to Eritrea and Ethiopia.

  Mansion House Speech
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received following his speech at the Mansion House on 2 February. [75180]

  Mr. Byers
  Several.

  Trade Promotion
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to(a) Lithuania, (b) Malawi, (c) Malaysia and (d) Mauritius; and what future trade delegations are planned. [76544]

  Mr. Wilson
  (a) Lithuania—I will be leading a trade mission to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from 26 to 30 April 1999. The mission will look at opportunities for British companies in ports and railways development and it is hoped that more than 15 high level British companies will take part in the mission. This is the first occasion that a Government Minister has led a trade delegation to the Baltic States during this administration.

  Date

  Trade missions

  April 1999

  Agricultural sector working group mission to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

  October 1999

  Infrastructure and Energy projects Directorate oil and gas trade mission to Kazakhstan

  October 1999

  British Water Trade mission to Kazakhstan

  March 2000

  British Consultants Trade mission to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

  Additionally, the Chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board will be visiting Central Asia in September with a trade mission. He is expected to include Kyrgyzstan in the visit.

  (c) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), led a mission of British Water companies to Lebanon in December 1998. My Department plans to support five trade missions to Lebanon in the financial year 1999–2000:

  Date

  Trade missions

  11–24 April 1999

  Business Link Gloucester

  18–22 May 1999

  Middle East Association

  3–15 October 1999

  Business Link Milton Keynes

  16–24 November 1999

  Nottingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  January 2000

  Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  (d) There have been no Minister-led trade delegations to Lesotho and there are no plans for one in the future.
  108
  (b) Malawi—There have been no Minister-led trade delegations by a Government Minister in this Administration and none are currently planned.

  (c) Malaysia—The last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to Malaysia was in September 1995 by the then President of the Board of Trade, Ian Lang.

  Thirteen DTI sponsored trade missions are planned during FY 1999–2000.

  (d) Mauritius—There have been no trade delegations led by a Government Minister in this Administration. Future DTI supported outward trade missions to Mauritius are planned for July 1999, November 1999 and March 2000.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to(a) Kazakhstan, (b) Kyrgyzstan, (c) Lebanon and (d) Lesotho; and what future trade delegations are planned. [76541]

  Mr. Wilson
  (a-b) The last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to Kazakhstan and/or Kyrgyzstan was when Viscount Goschen, then Minister for Aviation and Shipping, led a delegation to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan between 9–16 September 1995.

  There are no firm plans for future trade delegations led by a Minister to visit either country. The Department of Trade and Industry plans to support 4 trade missions to Kazakhstan in 1999–2000, two of which will visit Kyrgyzstan. They are as follows:

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to(a) Colombia, (b) Cuba, (c) Cyprus, (d) Dominica and (e) the Dominican Republic; and what future trade delegations are planned. [76526]

  Mr. Wilson
  The then Minister for Trade led a trade delegation to Colombia in 1996. There are no plans for another Minister-led trade delegation in the near future. The following trade missions are planned:

  Date

  Trade missions

  May 1999

  ABHI/LATAG

  September 1999

  British and Colombian Chamber of Commerce

  November 1999

  London Chamber of Commerce

  March 2000

  Northern Development Company

  The then Minister for Science and Technology led a trade delegation to Cuba in 1994. I will be leading a

  109
  trade delegation in April 1999 and the Caribbean Trade Advisory Group (CARITAG) are planning a trade mission in June.

  There have been no recent Minister-led trade delegations to Cyprus, Dominica or the Dominican Republic and none is planned in the near future.

  The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry are planning a trade mission to Cyprus in September 1999 and CARITAG are organising a trade mission to the Dominican Republic in June 1999.

  Date

  BEAMA

  14–18 June 1999

  Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

  27 September-1 October 1999

  British and Chilean Chamber of Commerce

  22–26 November 1999

  London Chamber of Commerce

  20–26 March 2000

  Qatar

  The former Minister for Trade led a trade delegation to Qatar in November 1997.

  Date

  Northern Development Company

  5–7 February 2000

  Middle East Association

  26–28 February 2000

  East Mercia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  1–3 April 2000

  Rotherham Business Link

  9–11 April 2000

  Saudi Arabia

  The last occasion a Government Minister led a trade delegation to Saudi Arabia was in November 1995.

  Date

  Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  18–27 September 1999

  Middle East Association

  15–25 October 1999

  Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  18–28 November 1999

  Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  25 January-3 February 2000

  London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  29 February-9 March 2000

  Business Link Rotherham

  26 March-4 April 2000

  Singapore

  I led a trade delegation to Singapore in October 1998.

  Date

  The Scottish Council for Development and Industry

  19–23 April 1999

  Defence Manufacturers Association

  3–7 May 1999

  East Mercia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  10–14 May 1999

  Business Link Shropshire

  21–25 June 1999

  BESA

  28 June-2 July 1999

  Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce

  20–24 September 1999

  Business Link Kent

  27 September-1 October 1999

  Manchester Chamber of Commerce

  5–29 October 1999

  Southern Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce

  1–5 November 1999

  Northern Development Company

  22–26 November 1999

  Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  January 2000 (tbc)

  Luton and Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce

  7–11 February 2000

  North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce

  28 February-3 March 2000

  Business Link Sheffield

  27–31 March 2000

  110
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to(a) Peru, (b) Qatar, (c) Saudi Arabia and (d) Singapore; and what future trade delegations are planned. [76556]

  Mr. Wilson
  The information is as follows:

  Peru

  The last occasion a Government Minister led a trade delegation to Peru was November 1996.

  My Department plans to support four trade missions to Peru in the financial year 1999–2000

  My Department is planning to support four trade missions to Qatar in the financial year 1999–2000:

  My Department is planning to support six trade missions to Saudi Arabia in 1999–2000.

  My Department is planning to support 14 trade missions to Singapore in 1999–2000:
  111
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to(a) Japan, (b) Jordan, (c) Kenya and (d) Kuwait; and what future trade delegations are planned. [76538]

  Mr. Wilson
  The information is as follows:

  Date

  British Nuclear Industry Forum

  5–15 April 1999

  British Tourist Authority

  11–17 April 1999

  Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  May 1999 (tba)

  Motor Sport Industries Association

  17–21 May 1999

  JTA/Exports to Japan Unit

  24–28 May 1999

  British Knitting and Clothing Export Council

  31 May-4 June 1999 (tbc)

  Aromatherapy Trade Council

  June 1999 (tbc)

  Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

  7–11 June 1999

  London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  14–18 June 1999 (tbc)

  British Airports Group

  21–23 June 1999

  The National Wool Textile Export Corporation

  21–25 June 1999

  The British Council

  Between September 1999 and March 2000 (tba)

  Export Action Centre for Building Materials

  September 1999 (tba)

  JTA/Exports to Japan Unit

  September 1999 (tba)

  Northern Development Company

  6–10 September 1999

  JTA/Department of Trade and Industry

  Autumn 1999 (tba)

  The British Council (Education Counselling Service)

  1–11 October 1999

  British Jewellery and Giftware Federation

  11–15 October 1999

  Energy Industries Council

  2–5 November 1999

  British Knitting and Clothing Export Council

  November 1999 (tba)

  Food From Britain

  November 1999 (tba)

  The Federation of Garden and Leisure Manufacturers Ltd.

  November 1999 (tba)

  The Scottish Council For Development and Industry

  15–19 November 1999

  Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce, Trading and Enterprise

  November 1999 (tba)

  JTA/Exports to Japan Unit

  November 1999 (tba)

  Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

  November 1999 (tba)

  North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  January 2000 (tbc)

  Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  late January 2000

  British Marine Industries Federation

  February 2000 (tba)

  Publishers Association

  14–16 February 2000

  British Furniture Manufacturers

  March 2000 (tba)

  Bedfordshire and Luton Chamber of Commerce

  March 2000 (tba)

  Business Link Kent

  March 2000 (tba)

  Federation of British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufactures' Association

  March 2000 (tba)

  JEBA/JTA/Exports to Japan Unit

  tba

  JTA/Exports to Japan Unit

  tba

  JTA/Exports to Japan Unit

  tba

  JTA/Exports to Japan Unit

  tba

  Jordan

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) led a trade delegation to Jordan from 5–8 December 1998.

  Date

  Middle East Association

  24May-9 June 1999

  South of England Exporters Association

  19–22 September 1999

  Business Link Milton Keynes and North Bucks

  3–15 October 1999

  Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Consultants Bureau

  20–22 November 1999

  Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  January 2000 (tbc)

  Kenya

  There have been no recent Minister-led trade delegations to Kenya.

  My Department is planning to support one trade mission to Kenya in the financial year 1999–2000.

  Business Link Sussex 1–10 February 2000.
  112
  Japan

  The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram) led a trade delegation to Japan from 15–27 March 1998.

  My Department plans to support 38 trade missions to Japan in the financial year 1999/2000:

  My Department is planning to support five trade missions to Jordan in the financial year 1999–2000.

  Kuwait

  There have been no recent Minister-led trade delegations to Kuwait. However, Kuwait has been visited by many UK Ministers and I plan to visit next month.

  My Department plans to support three trade missions to Kuwait in the financial year 1999–2000.
  113

  Date

  Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  11–13 September 1999

  Sheffield International Trade Centre

  2–4 November 1999

  Middle East Association

  18–21 February 2000

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to(a) Ecuador, (b) Egypt, (c) Estonia and (d) Gambia; and what future trade delegations are planned. [76529]

  Date

  North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce

  16–20 May 1999

  Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  June 1999

  Business Link Sussex

  12–16 September 1999

  South of England Exporters Association

  19–29 September 1999

  Northern Ireland Development Company

  28 November-2 December 1999

  London Chamber of Commerce

  30 January-3 February 2000

  The Guage and Toolmakers Association

  February 2000

  Business Link Barnsley and Doncaster

  Date to be confirmed

  Estonia

  I will be leading a trade mission to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from 26 to 30 April 1999. The mission will look at opportunities for British companies in ports and railways development and it is hoped that more than 15 high level British companies will take part in the mission.

  No other trade missions are being passed by my Department.

  Gambia

  There have been no recent Minister-led trade delegations to the Gambia.

  My Department has no plans to support any trade missions to the Gambia.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to(a) Algeria, (b) Argentina, (c) Australia, (d) Bahrain and (e) Bangladesh; and what future trade delegations are planned. [76520]

  Date

  The Northern Offshore Federation

  19–23 April 1999

  The Sports Industries Federation

  21–25 June 1999

  Association of British Healthcare Industries

  5–9 July 1999

  Business Link Sussex

  30 August-3 September 1999

  Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  20–24 September 1999

  Northern Development Company

  4–8 October 1999

  North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  18–22 October 1999

  Australia and New Zealand Trade Advisory Committee (ANZTAC)

  22–26 November 1999

  Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  7–11 February 2000

  Business Link Shropshire

  13–17 March 2000

  Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  20–24 March 2000

  The Scottish Council Development and Industry (SCDI)

  date not yet decided

  114
  Mr. Wilson
  The information is as follows:

  Ecuador

  There have been no recent Minister-led trade delegations to Ecuador.

  My Department has no plans to support any trade missions to Ecuador.

  Egypt

  I led a trade delegation to Egypt in February 1999.

  My Department is planning to support eight trade missions to Egypt in the financial year 1999–2000:

  Mr. Wilson
  There has been no Minister-led trade mission to Algeria during the past 10 years. There are no trade missions planned for Algeria.

  My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London, led a trade delegation to Argentina in July 1998. There are 8 trade missions planned to Argentina during the next financial year:

  Date

  Trade International Northern Ireland

  April 1999

  Latin American Trade Advisory Group/ABHI

  May 1999

  Northern Development Company

  May 1999

  Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  July 1999

  Southern Derbyshire Chamber/BL North Derbyshire

  September 1999

  Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce

  November 1999

  British Argentine Chamber of Commerce

  November 1999

  London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  March 2000

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) led a trade mission to Australia in October last year. The following 12 missions are planned for the coming year:
  115
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs opened a British Week event in November last year in Bangladesh. One trade mission is planned this year:

  Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  6–13 November 1999.

  The last visit by a Minister to Bahrain was undertaken by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Mudie), in November 1997. The following four missions are planned for the coming year:

  Date

  Coventry and Worcester Chamber of Commerce

  28–30 September 1999

  Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce International

  22–24 January 2000

  Middle East Association

  22–25 February 2000

  Rotherham Business Link

  5–8 April 2000

  I commend the hon. Member to the Overseas Trade Services website (http://www.dti.gov.uk/ots) on which a list of future missions, seminars and trade fairs is displayed for all our major markets.

  Sombrero Island
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 9 December 1998,Official Report, column 199, on the island of Sombrero, if he will make a statement about officials' discussions with the Government of Anguilla. [76629]

  Mr. Battle
  Officials from the British National Space Centre are in contact with the Government of Anguilla on the outer space aspects of the request by the US company Beal Aerospace to lease Sombrero Island for the purpose of launching commercial satellites. A meeting was held in London on 10 December between UK Government Departments and representatives of the Governor and Government of Anguilla to discuss the process and timetable for considering the application. Representatives of Beal Aerospace and of the Non-Governmental Organisations were also present.

  I understand that subsequent discussions have also been held by officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with the Government of Anguilla on this and on other aspects of this unique proposal. My officials continue to be in contact when appropriate.

  Discussions are continuing on the full implications of the project.

  Ilisu Dam, Turkey
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are applied by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in reaching decisions on giving support for the Ilisu Dam project in Turkey. [77133]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Export Credits Guarantee Department will employ its normal underwriting criteria to ensure that the provision of support for this project involves an acceptable risk. Part of the underwriting process involves looking, with other Export Credit Agencies, at environmental issues, including social issues, such as the resettlement of the local population and protection of cultural heritage, as well as the economic and political risks involved. Ministers will be consulted.
  116
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a full environmental and social impact assessment before granting export credit insurance for British firms involved in the Ilisu Dam project in Turkey. [77079]

  Mr. Wilson
  I do not propose to publish a full environmental and social assessment on this project. We are working on the basis of documents which have been produced by other parties to the project and which are not our property. However, we shall be reviewing very carefully the environmental and social aspects of this project.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will adopt World Bank policies on(a) environmental assessment, (b) involuntary resettlement and (c) the protection of cultural heritage for the screening of projects receiving support from the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [77132]

  Mr. Wilson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 11 February 1999,Official Report, columns 410–11.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is part of the standard procedure that projects considered for support by the Export Credits Guarantee Department are assessed in respect of their compliance with the OECD's guidelines for the conduct of multinational enterprises. [77081]

  Mr. Wilson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 11 February 1999,Official Report, columns 410–11. ECGD is aware of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, but it is not part of its normal underwriting procedures to assess compliance with these. HMG (through DTI) are currently engaged, together with their OECD partners, in the review of the Guidelines. One of the issues under discussion is the broader question of how Governments can encourage greater awareness and observance.

  One of the main aims of the procedures ECGD is developing is to raise the awareness of UK exporters, investors and overseas buyers of environmental issues.

  Waste Tyres
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what safe forms of disposal for waste tyres the Government are promoting. [75963]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: There are a number of options for handling waste tyres. These options include retreading a used tyre to give it another life, energy recovery in the form of electricity generation or as fuel in cement kilns, recycling and re-use. The Government believe that all these options have an important role to play in meeting the 100 per cent. recovery target for waste tyres that the EU landfill Directive will bring. Together with industry, in the form of the Government/Industry Scrap Tyre Working Group, we are considering what steps may be necessary to improve our scrap tyre recovery performance from its level of 74 per cent. in 1997 to the target of 100 per cent., which it is anticipated we will need to achieve by 2003.
  117

  Soft Timbers
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the tonnage of soft timbers imported from(a) Latvia, (b) Lithuania and (c) Estonia during each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [77200]

  Mr. Wilson
  It is possible to differentiate most, but not all, imported timbers between softwood and other timber. For those categories which can be distinguished, available figures for the imports of softwood from the Baltic States are:

  (thousand metric tons)

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Latvia

  352

  449

  718

  Lithuania

  38

  73

  97

  Estonia

  68

  93

  161

  Source:

  Eurostat Intra & Extra EU Trade

  The figures cover Standard International Trade Classification (Rev3) 247.30, 247.40, 248.20 and 248.30.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the output figures of softwoods for the UK timber industry over each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [77201]

  Mr. Wilson
  Information on the output of UK sawmills is available in "Product Sales and Trade, PRA17", published by the Office for National Statistics. A copy is held in the Library of the House. The latest year for which data is available is 1996.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports he has assessed of illegal dumping of imported softwoods onto the UK market; and if he will make a statement. [77205]

  Mr. Wilson
  I am aware of the difficulties being experienced by the UK soft wood industry and have had discussions with their representatives. However, it is the responsibility of the European Commission to investigate complaints about allegedly dumped imports into the EU. So far as I am aware the industry has not made a complaint to the European Commission about the dumping of soft wood.

  Pains Wessex
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the licensed production agreements that Pains Wessex has established in other countries, indicating the products which the agreements cover. [77238]

  Dr. Howells
  Companies wishing to license overseas production of their products do not require DTI approval, nor are they required to notify DTI of agreements entered into.

  However, I would also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Firms, Trade and Industry on 12 January 1999, Official Report, columns 149–50.
  118

  Wind Turbines
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 1999,Official Report, column 571, on the potential inclusion of offshore wind energy in NFFO, if he will introduce a support scheme for long-term investment in wind turbine manufacture. [77271]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government are already supporting the commercial development of wind energy in the UK under the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO). At 31 December 1998, there were 58 wind projects operational, comprising 138 MW Declared Net Capacity. In addition, a further 69 wind projects, comprising 368 MW of capacity were contracted under NFFO-5 which I announced last September.

  Support for manufacturers for research and development of wind turbine technology is available under my Department's New and Renewable Energy Programme. As referred to in my answer of 17 March 1999, Official Report, columns 700–01, total DTI expenditure on wind energy projects in 1997–98 was £1.5 million.

  Support under the Department's Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme is also available. This is a discretionary scheme aimed at attracting investment and creating/safeguarding jobs in the Assisted Areas. Guidance notes and application forms for this scheme can be obtained from local Business Links or Government Offices.

  Prison Labour
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the Governments his Department made representations to in 1998 on the use of prison labour in the manufacture of goods imported into the United Kingdom. [77600]

  Mr. Wilson
  My Department has neither made nor received representations about the import of prison made goods.

  Argentina
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the visits made to Argentina in 1998 by Ministers in his Department. [77599]

  Mr. Wilson
  There were no visits to Argentina by Ministers in my Department during 1998.

  Northern Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what checks are made on goods imported into the United Kingdom to ensure they were not manufactured in the occupied area of Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [77601]

  Mr. Wilson
  None.

  Export Promotion Directorate
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many visits abroad have been made by officials in the Export Promotion Directorate since 1 January. [77746]
  119
  Mr. Wilson
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff are employed in his Department's Export Promotion Directorate; and of these how many are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities. [77745]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department currently employs 632 staff in the Export Promotion Directorates, of these(a) 255 are female and (b) 118 are known to be from ethnic minorities.

  Exports (Gulf States)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's export promotion activities in(a) Oman, (b) Bahrain, (c) Saudi Arabia and (d) the UAE. [77744]

  Mr. Wilson
  Our export promotion activities for these markets are contained in the Markets and Sectors Matrix, published on 4 March, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. We provide a range of help for exporters to all these markets, including targeted market information, market research services and, where appropriate, support for missions and trade fairs.

  Petrol Retail Prices
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the percentage change in pre-tax petrol retail prices over the last two years. [78007]

  Mr. Battle
  Excluding duty and VAT, unleaded petrol prices have fallen by 32 per cent. between February 1997 and February 1999.

  Oil Prices
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the percentage change in oil prices over the last two years. [78109]

  Mr. Battle
  The average price of crude oil, acquired by UK refineries, fell by 53 per cent. between February 1997 and February 1999.

  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will(a) list the consents he has refused for gas-fired power stations and (b) estimate the proposed investments in each station by those applying for the consents. [78013]

  Mr. Battle
  In accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper entitled "Conclusions of The Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government Response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee" (Cm 4071) the following proposals have not been granted clearance:

  Barking—154 MW (black start and open cycle gas turbine plant)

  AES Partington—380 MW (combined cycle gas turbine plant)

  Keadby II—770 MW (combined cycle gas turbine plant)

  Spalding—800 MW (combined cycle gas turbine plant)

  Fleetwood—1,000 MW (combined cycle gas turbine plant)

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  The level of investment involved is a commercial matter for the companies.

  Energy Regulator
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what preparations are being made by the Energy Regulator in respect of his responsibilities under the Competition Act 1998; what increase in staff is required; and what action is being taken to co-ordinate policy with the Director General of Fair Trading. [77688]

  Mr. Battle
  The Office of Gas Supply (Ofgas) and Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER) are members of the Concurrency Working Party (CWP), chaired by the Office of Fair Trading. The CWP is working to ensure that a consistent approach is being taken by all regulators on areas of training, internal procedures for the investigation of cases, IT requirements and guidance for industry. At present it is unclear if further staff will be required in Ofgas and OFFER to undertake work resulting from the prohibitions in the Competition Act coming into force in March 2000.

  Naturally, the Director General of Electricity and Gas Supply is aware of the need to ensure that the appropriate level of trained staff is in place to deal with these new responsibilities. A guideline, "Concurrent Application to Regulated Industries", which deals with how regulators work with the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) and with each other, has been produced by the CWP and issued by the DGFT. In February, the DTI issued a consultation document "Concurrency: consultation on the possible need and scope for regulations".

  New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations from local authorities complaining about the provisions of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 he has received since 1 May 1997. [78056]

  Mr. Battle
  My Department has received one representation from a local authority.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Civil Court Fees
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to the Legal Aid Fund of civil court fees in the next financial year; [77344]

  (2) what is the estimated cost to the Legal Aid Fund of civil court fees in (a) the current and (b) each of the last three financial years. [77345]

  Mr. Hoon
  As I told my hon. Friend on 8 February 1999,Official Report, column 14, the Legal Aid board does not record separately the amounts paid from the Legal Aid Fund in respect of civil court fees; court

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  fees are recorded under the general heading of 'disbursements'. Therefore no reliable estimate of the cost to legal aid of civil court fees is possible.

  County Courts
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county courts are due for closure in the current financial year. [77350]

  Mr. Hoon
  Seven county courts have closed during the current financial year. No further closures are planned for the remainder of this financial year.

  Access to Justice
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the recommendations made by the Law Commission in its 1994 report "Administrative Law, Judicial Review and Statutory Appeals" and by Lord Woolf in Chapter 18 of his 1996 report "Access to Justice". [77082]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor has decided to establish a full Review of the High Court 'Crown Office List', which includes, for example,habeas corpus and the judicial review of administrative decisions. The Review, under the chairmanship of Sir Jeffery Bowman, will be fundamental. It will consider, not only the recommendations made by the Law Commission and Lord Woolf, but also the Rules, procedures, jurisdiction, organisation and work of the Crown Office List.

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up his Department's Green Transport Plan. [77962]
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  Mr. Hoon
  There are separate Green Transport Plans for the Headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Court Service and the Public Trust Office. All fleet managers have been consulted in drawing up the plans.

  Freemasons
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what the latest figures are for the declaration of membership of the freemasons among the judiciary, together with the numbers from whom replies have not yet been received; and if he will break down the figures between(a) the professional judiciary and magistrates and (b) men and women. [78053]

  Mr. Hoon
  All serving members of the judiciary were invited by the Lord Chancellor to declare on a voluntary basis whether they were freemasons. Responses are still being processed and analysed. The latest figures available are given in the table, but these remain subject to revision in the light of new replies and further analysis. In addition, all new appointees to judicial office are now required as a condition of appointment to state whether or not they are freemasons, and if not, required to notify the Lord Chancellor if they subsequently join. Declarations obtained from new appointees are also in the process of being collated.

  Register of freemasons among judiciary: interim responses

  Professional judiciary

  Lay magistracy 1

  Forms sent out

  5,290

  24,964

  Declared non-mason

  4,744

  20,300

  Declared mason:

  Male

  260

  1,176

  Female

  3

  32

  Status not disclosed:

  Male

  65

  413

  Female

  5

  186

  No reply received

  213

  2,857

  1 Excluding the Duchy of Lancaster

  Peers Not Taking Party Whips
  Peers Not Taking Party Whips
  Turkey: Arrest of HADEP Members
  Turkey: Arrest of HADEP Members
  EU Policy: Wye Agreement
  EU Policy: Wye Agreement
  NATO: Strategic Concept
  NATO: Strategic Concept
  UN Human Rights Commission: 1999 Session
  UN Human Rights Commission: 1999 Session
  Ethiopia and Eritrea: Arms Embargo
  Ethiopia and Eritrea: Arms Embargo
  High Court Crown Office List
  High Court Crown Office List
  Human Rights
  Human Rights
  Data Protection Act 1998: Implementation
  Data Protection Act 1998: Implementation
  Metropolitan Police: Objectives
  Metropolitan Police: Objectives
  Asylum Applications: Estimates
  Asylum Applications: Estimates
  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs
  HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs
  Gibraltar: European Parliament
  Gibraltar: European Parliament
  Gibraltar: Relationship with United Kingdom
  Gibraltar: Relationship with United Kingdom
  Genetically Modified Animals
  Genetically Modified Animals
  EU: General Affairs Council
  EU: General Affairs Council
  Uranium: Testing for Presence in the Human Body
  Uranium: Testing for Presence in the Human Body
  Health: Parliamentary Statements
  Health: Parliamentary Statements
  The Royal Parks
  The Royal Parks
  Good Friday Agreement: Release of Prisoners
  Good Friday Agreement: Release of Prisoners
  Beef on the Bone
  Beef on the Bone
  Bananas
  Bananas
  Badger Cull
  Badger Cull
  Shellfish Conservation
  Shellfish Conservation
  Agriculture in the United Kingdom
  Agriculture in the United Kingdom
  Pesticide Residues in Baby Foods
  Pesticide Residues in Baby Foods