Written Answers of 29 March 1999

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 the (1) sites in the United Kingdom where genetically modified crops have been grown in breach of the licence conditions and (2) the name of(a) the promoter and (b)owner of the (i) trial and (ii) materials in the trial and (c)any other (A) body and (B) person responsible for conducting such trials. [72554]

  Mr. Meacher
  There have been two such cases in the UK where a successful prosecution has been taken. The information is as follows:

  1.Both cases were located at Joseph Nickersons Farms. Rothwell, Lincolnshire.

  2.(a) (b) (i) and (ii) Monsanto plc and Perrytields Holdings Limited.

  (c) Nickerson Seeds Limited on behalf of Monsanto plc and Perryfields Holdings Limited.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on which occasions the team of Green Ministers has discussed issues relating to genetic modification. [75088]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 8 March 1999]The issue of genetic modification has not been discussed by Green Ministers. It is considered within Government by a different, specific, Cabinet Sub-Committee.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to make biotechnology companies legally and financially liable for any damage to the environment caused by genetically modified crops. [75200]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]There is already some protection though Civil law and general product liability. The issue of environmental liability is an important one and the principle that those who damage the environment should pay for remedying the damage caused is one that I would strongly support. The European Commission is currently finalising a White Paper on environmental liability and this may offer a way forward. We expect the White Paper to include the question of damage by genetically modified organisms but need to study the detail of the Commission's proposals before reaching any conclusions.

  Biotechnology Industry
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many unminuted pre-arranged meetings have occurred between 458
  (a) himself, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials and representatives of the biotechnical industry sector since 1 May 1997. [74836]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 5 March 1999]There have been no such meetings involving the Ministers of this Department. Although most meetings involving officials are minuted, my officials have, from time to time, had meetings with the biotechnology companies where minutes are not taken. However, these are always in pursuit of a clear remit from Ministers for specific agreed purposes. Information on the number of such meetings is not available.

  Soya Bean Imports
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what steps he will take to examine bulk imports of United States soya beans following the 1999 United States harvest to test whether they contain AgrEvo's Liberty Link soya bean; and if he will make a statement; [75348]

  (2)if he will make a statement on the licensing status of AgrEvo's Liberty Link soya bean in the (a) United States of America, (b) European Union and (c) United Kingdom; [75347]

  (3)what steps he takes to ensure that unlicensed soya beans do not enter (a) animal feed and (b) the human food chain; and what communication he has had with AgrEvo about the planting and harvesting in the United States of America and subsequent exporting to the United Kingdom of its Liberty Link soya bean. [75349]

  Mr. Meacher
  AgrEvo's Liberty Link soya bean has been authorised for cultivation and food in the USA but not authorised for cultivation or food in either the European Union or United Kingdom. However, I understand that an application for marketing consent under Council Directive 90/220/EEC has been lodged with an EU member state. I have not had any communication with AgrEvo about this particular variety.

  It is illegal to import GM soya unless the variety has approval under Council Directive 90/220/EEC. It is the duty of the importers to ensure that all imported soya has the necessary authorisations. If the product does not get EU consent by the time it is grown commercially in the United States of America and we have reason to believe that the product is being imported illegally the inspection of bulk imports will be arranged. In such circumstances the importer can be prosecuted.

  Inspection Charges
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he calculates the notional costs described in the consultation papers on the proposed Town & Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations; and what is the proportion of these costs in relation to the proposed charges for work undertaken by(a) Environment Agency inspectors in Wales, (b) Environment Agency inspectors in England and (c) Scottish Environment Protection Agency inspectors in Scotland. [77214]

  Mr. Meale
  The notional costs are calculated by the Agencies to reflect the rate of return on capital and a notional insurance premium. The proportion of notional
  459
  costs in relation to the proposed charges for work undertaken by Environment Agency inspectors in England and Wales is:
  (a) and (b) 3 per cent.
  The notional element in SEPA charges in Scotland is
  (c) 2.5 per cent.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the levels of relevant input costs in(a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland in relation to the proposed inspection charges to be levied by the Environment Agency in Wales and England, and by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under the proposed Town & Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations. [77212]

  Mr. Meale
  Estimates of the costs of inspection under the COMAH regulations by the Environment Agency in England and Wales and by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland are a matter for the two Agencies. The chargeable costs that the Environment Agency estimates that it will incur as a COMAH competent authority in England and Wales are:(a) and (b) £900,000 in 1999–2000 rising to £2,200,000 in 2000–01 as the work builds up.

  These costs will be recovered on the same basis in England and Wales. A split of costs between England and Wales is not available. The costs which SEPA estimates that it will incur as a competent authority for COMAH in Scotland are:
  (c) £200,000 in 1999–2000.

  Company Licences
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for(a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger companies (i) all licences and permits issued by his Department and its agencies to companies permitting them to carry out their business, (ii) the cost of each such licence or permit in (A) 1997–98 and (B) 1999–2000 and (iii) the current number of companies which are in receipt of each such licence or permit. [76857]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]The licences for which my Department is directly responsible are listed. The information requested for each of these licences is not held centrally and cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost. In some cases, details of individual licences issued are held on public registers, while a data base of guidance and forms is available on the Direct Access Government website.

  Licences issued by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and its Executive Agencies

  Waste Management Licences

  Water Abstraction Licences

  Consents to Control Discharges to Water and Sewers

  Licence for the Operation of Potentially Polluting Industrial Processes

  460

  Licence Consent for the Release or Marketing of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

  Part B consents for research purposes

  Part C consents to place products on the European market

  Hazardous Substances Consents

  Licences in Respect of Radioactive Materials and Waste

  CITES Import Export Licences

  CITES Sales Certificates

  Bird Licences

  Camping Site Licences

  Navigation Licences

  Manufacture and Handling of Asbestos Products

  Explosives Licences

  Construction and security of explosive factories and magazines

  Construction and security of explosives stores (Issued by Local Authorities)

  Construction and security of premises used for keeping explosives (Registration eg for fireworks sales issued by Local Authorities)

  Licences for importation and manufacture of Acetylene

  Manufacture of explosives from ammonium nitrate

  Storage and handling of dangerous substances in harbour areas Storage of Petroleum Products

  Road Haulage EC Cabotage Permits (earmarked for abolition)

  Various International Road Haulage, Coach Operator and Cabotage Permits

  Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Operator Licences

  Goods Vehicle Operator Licences

  Licences Issued by the Regulator (to operate a network, station, depot, passenger or non-passenger service etc.), under Section 6 of the Railways Act 1993

  Licences Issued under Section 8 of the Railways Act 1993 (international services)

  In Vehicle Driver Information System

  Street Works Licences

  EU Coach Service Authorisations and Cabotage Permits

  Approved Driving Instructors

  Approved Training Bodies (learner motorcycle training)

  Tachograph Testing Centres

  Permit to Operate High Speed Craft (including hovercraft)

  Register of British Hovercraft

  Register of British Shipping

  Boatmasters Licence

  MOT Examiners

  The London Local Service Licence

  Approval of Business to Train for the Carrying of Dangerous Goods

  Street Work Licences

  Air Operator Certificates

  Certificate of Airworthiness

  Aerodrome Licence

  Aerial Application Certificates

  Air Travel Operating Licences

  Air Carrier Operating Licences

  Air Carrier Route Licences

  Air Transport Licences

  Double Arrow Logo

  Airline Operating Permits.

  461

  Designated Area Sets
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make available his Department's designated area sets (GIS) to local authorities. [78724]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Designate areas within my Department's policy responsibilities are designated by the Non Departmental Public Bodies sponsored by the Department, not directly by the Department itself.

  The Inter-departmental Group on Geographic Information (which my Department Chairs) has issued a Charter Standard Statement on Geographic Information that encourages all Government Departments and Agencies to make their geographic information available to all users. Digital forms of the National Statutory designated areas would be part of this initiative.

  End of Life Vehicles Directive
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the presidency text of the End of Life Vehicles Directive which was put before the Environment Council on 11 March. [78460]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 March 1999]The text considered by the Environment Council on 11 March is a Council working document and as such is subject to the confidentiality of Council proceedings.

  Rent Tribunals
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people from ethnic communities sit on rent tribunals covering the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement. [78533]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There are six members from ethnic minorities appointed to sit on rent tribunals in the Greater London area. This represents seven per cent. of the total membership of the London Rent Assessment Panel, from which rent tribunals are drawn. We want to see the proportion of tribunal members from ethnic minorities more closely reflect that in the national population. Three of the members from ethnic minority communities have been appointed since September 1998.

  Illegal Tipping
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what policies he promotes to prevent the practice of fly-tipping; and if he will make a statement. [78585]

  Mr. Meale
  Stringent controls and severe penalties are in place to discourage the fly-tipping of waste and, where it occurs, to enable the perpetrators to be traced and prosecuted. The main controls and the maximum penalties were set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 8 December 1998,Official Report, columns 120–21.

  My Department has prepared a Circular explaining these controls and penalties which was issued to magistrates by the Lord Chancellor's Department on 6 February 1998. We wish to encourage the Courts to make full use of the available penalties.
  462
  We have made it clear that we expect the Environment Agency to be fair but rigorous in its enforcement of environmental controls; and we support the action being taken by the Agency on fly-tipping. This includes the provision of a free 24 hour hotline for members of the public to report incidents (Tel: 0800 807060).

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he had made of the effect which the introduction of Landfill Tax has made on the practice of fly-tipping. [78586]

  Mr. Meale
  The Tidy Britain Group has carried out three studies into fly-tipping. The study comprised three surveys and one of its main aims was to establish the types, quantities and locations of fly-tipped waste. The third survey was carried out in partnership with the Environment Agency and was published last month. It suggests a modest increase in fly-tipping over the period from 1994–95 but less than was originally feared by local authorities following the introduction of the landfill tax.

  Local Authority Aggregate Credit
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority for which information is available(a) the Aggregate Credit Limit and (b) the percentage of Aggregate Credit Limit of debt outstanding, using figures at 31 March 1997. [78588]

  Ms Armstrong
  The information requested is not available. Figures for the Aggregate Credit Limit are not collected centrally.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to collect centrally and publish figures on local authorities' aggregate credit limits; and if he will make a statement on how his Department ensures that local authorities do not exceed their aggregate credit limits. [78587]

  Ms Armstrong
  I do not consider that it would be helpful to collect figures on local authorities' aggregate credit limits. It is for local authorities external auditors to monitor their compliance with all the requirements of the capital finance system.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those local authorities which provide waste disposal facilities for use by individual council tax payers, without having a statutory responsibility to do so. [78584]

  Mr. Meale
  All waste disposal authorities are under a statutory duty under Section 51 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to arrange for places (commonly referred to as 'civic amenity sites') to be provided at which persons resident in their area may deposit their household waste free of charge.

  National Strategy for Carers
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends
  463
  to inform all local government staff of the developing policies towards carers outlined in the National Strategy for Carers. [78547]

  Ms Armstrong
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions wrote to leaders of councils in England enclosing a copy of the report of the National Carers' Strategy, highlighting the role of local authorities in supporting carers, and asking them to draw the report to the attention of everyone within the authority. A copy of the report has also been sent to all Directors of Housing, Social Services and Education in local authorities in England.

  Road Accidents (HGVs)
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of road accidents involving a heavy goods vehicle for each month since January 1994. [78481]

  Dr. Reid
  The number of road accidents involving a Heavy Goods Vehicle which resulted in personal injury is shown in the following table:

  Road accidents per month involving at least one Heavy Goods Vehicle1: 1994–97

  Number of accidents

  Year of accident

  Month

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  January

  1,046

  1,053

  941

  1,132

  February

  1,083

  979

  1,108

  1,048

  March

  1,133

  1,156

  909

  1,026

  April

  964

  798

  941

  952

  May

  934

  948

  928

  960

  June

  1,043

  951

  863

  1,053

  July

  1,058

  1,038

  1,049

  1,128

  August

  1,141

  1,033

  1,000

  1,077

  September

  1,140

  1,205

  996

  1,035

  October

  1,238

  1,180

  1,269

  1,352

  November

  1,198

  1,216

  1,316

  1,266

  December

  1,200

  1,056

  1,106

  1,093

  Total

  13,178

  12,613

  12,426

  13,122

  1 Accidents may involve more than one Heavy Goods Vehicle.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Merseyside for 1999–2000. [78861]

  Ms Armstrong
  The highest Band D council tax for the metropolitan districts in Merseyside in 1999–2000 will be £1,172 in Liverpool while the lowest will be £920 in Sefton. No authority in Merseyside is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Kent for 1999–2000; [78897]
  464
  (2)what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Tyne and Wear for 1999–2000; [78899]

  (3) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Northumberland for 1999–2000; [78901]

  (4) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Lancashire for 1999–2000; [78896]

  (5) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Cumbria for 1999–2000; [78898]

  (6) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in the West Midlands for 1999–2000; [78900]

  (7) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in North Yorkshire for 1999–2000; [78902]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]The highest and lowest Band D council tax for the shire and metropolitan districts within each of the requested areas in 1999–2000 are in the table. No authority in these areas is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

  County

  Highest

  £

  Lowest

  £

  Lancashire

  Preston

  959

  Lancaster

  884

  Kent

  Maidstone

  797

  Gravesham

  731

  Cumbria

  Barrow-in-Furness

  893

  Allerdale

  856

  Tyne and Wear

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  978

  Sunderland

  815

  West Midlands

  Coventry

  968

  Solihull

  742

  Northumberland

  Castle Morpeth

  908

  Blyth Valley

  883

  North Yorkshire

  Ryedale

  779

  Hambleton

  695

  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in a London borough for 1999–2000. [78768]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]The highest Band D council tax for the London Boroughs in 1999–2000 will be £912 in Islington while the lowest will be £350 in Westminster. No authority in London is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Cornwall for 1999–2000. [78765]
  465
  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest band D council tax for the shire districts in Cornwall in 1999–2000 will be £759 in North Cornwall while the lowest will be £738 in Penrith. No authority in Cornwall is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, before transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in each shire county in England (i) for 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) as proposed for 1999–2000. [78907]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: The requested information has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Greater Manchester for1999–2000. [78908]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest Band D council tax for the metropolitan districts in Greater Manchester in 1999–2000 will be £987 in Manchester while the lowest will be £689 in Trafford. No authority in Greater Manchester is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

  County

  Highest

  £

  Lowest

  £

  Bedfordshire

  South Bedfordshire

  912

  Mid Bedfordshire

  859

  Buckinghamshire

  Chiltern

  774

  South Buckinghamshire

  757

  Cambridgeshire

  Cambridge

  737

  East Cambridgeshire

  703

  Huntingdonshire

  —

  South Cambridgeshire

  —

  Cheshire

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  876

  Macclesfield

  858

  Devon

  West Devon

  802

  Exeter

  749

  Dorset

  East Dorset

  844

  North Dorset

  809

  Durham

  Sedgefield

  967

  Chester-le-Street

  830

  East Sussex

  Wealden

  822

  Rother

  775

  Essex

  Harlow

  872

  Brentwood

  762

  Gloucestershire

  Stroud

  818

  Tewkesbury

  726

  Hampshire

  East Hampshire

  800

  Test Valley

  756

  Hertfordshire

  Watford

  832

  Broxbourne

  723

  Nottinghamshire

  Newark and Sherwood

  970

  Rushcliffe

  900

  West Yorkshire

  Calderdale

  876

  Wakefield

  756

  Rail Franchises (Byelaws)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department issues on byelaws drawn up by the privatised rail franchises. [79188]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No formal guidance is issued to rail operators regarding byelaws. However the Department has provided ad hoc advice to the Byelaws Reform Group who are overseeing the adoption of new byelaws by the railways industry. The Group is made up of London Underground, Railtrack, the British Transport
  466
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Northamptonshire for 1999–2000. [78909]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest Band D council tax for the shire districts in Northamptonshire in 1999–2000 will be £797 in South Northamptonshire while the lowest will be £682 in Wellingborough. No authority in Northamptonshire is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in (i) Bedfordshire, (ii) Buckinghamshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Cheshire, (v) Devon, (vi) Dorset, (vii) Durham, (viii) East Sussex, (ix) Essex, (x) Gloucestershire, (xi) Hampshire, (xii) Hertfordshire, (xiii) Nottinghamshire and (xiv) West Yorkshire for 1999–2000. [78910]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest and lowest Band D council tax for the shire and metropolitan districts within each of the requested areas in 1999–2000 are shown in the table. No authority in these areas is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

  Police and representatives of the rail franchise operators. The new byelaws will have to be confirmed by the Secretary of State.

  Transport Policy (Disability Organisations)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the disability organisations from which his Department regularly seeks views on the development of transport policy. [79056]
  467
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In the first instance we are advised by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) which was set up under the Transport Act 1985 to advise the Secretary of State on the transport needs of disabled people. The Act requires that at least half the membership are disabled people; currently over 70 per cent. are disabled.

  Officials also attend meetings of the two main umbrella organisations in the field of disability and transport—the Joint Committee on Mobility of Disabled People and the Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People. Those meetings provide an opportunity to report on recent developments and to receive feedback on transport policies.

  We also consult a very wide range of other disability organisations as part of public consultation exercises.

  New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the initiatives currently under way to improve the operation of the provisions of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. [78966]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]Regulations are being laid under powers in the 1991 Act to facilitate and encourage the electronic transfer of information about street works and other works in the highway between utilities and highway authorities. This will ensure greater consistency and speed in transferring and registering the information, which in turn will help authorities in their co-ordination role.

  In the debate on roads policy in the House on 18 March 1999, Official Report, columns 1364–66, I referred to our commitment to act to reduce the disruption and inconvenience of prolonged street works which had already been announced in last year's Integrated Transport White Paper.

  There are other proposals being taken forward following earlier consultation: these concern safety measures (signing, lighting and guarding of works), reinstatement, the inspection regime and the recording of underground apparatus.

  Capping
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what circumstances he plans to cap councils which over-spend; and if he will make a statement. [78914]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: My colleagues and I are currently considering the budgets and council taxes set by local authorities for 1999–2000. If we decide to designate any authorities they will be informed in April.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people(a) were killed, (b) were seriously injured and (c) suffered minor injuries in road accidents in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [78944]
  468
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: 3,599 people were killed in road accidents in 1997, 42,957 were seriously injured and 280,978 were slightly injured.

  Greenwich Millennium Celebrations
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of potential additional demands upon services provided by the London boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham arising from the millennium celebrations in Greenwich; what additional resources have been made available to those authorities; and if he will make a statement. [79169]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Government take the view that any additional costs will be more than offset by the immense long-term rewards the boroughs will reap as a direct outcome of the Millennium Experience and other Millennium activities planned for the area.

  Public Sector Housing
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to encourage the transfer of public sector housing to new landlords. [79020]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We are keen for local authorities to pursue transfer where it is clearly part of their housing strategy and will improve the living conditions of tenants and the service they receive. However, authorities are under no compulsion to transfer their stock. Our aim is to ensure the delivery of improved efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness to tenants.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many transfers of local government housing stock have taken place since 1 May 1997. [79021]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There have been thirty-one transfers of local authority housing under either the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer programme, or with funding from the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund since 1 May 1997.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his proposals for the protection of sites of special scientific interest. [78702]

  Mr. Meale
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 15 March 1999,Official Report, column 465. Once we have given full consideration to the ideas put forward in responses to the proposals, and completed discussions on some of the more difficult issues, we will announce how we intend to proceed.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1999,Official Report, column 576, if he will place a detailed summary of the cost review in the Library. [79166]
  469
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We announced the results of LT's cost review on 3 March 1999,Official Report, column 730. The details of the review contain information that, if released, could prejudice London Transport's commercial position: therefore, in line with previous practice, we do not release details of the cost review.

  Hardwoods
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his letter of 22 July 1998 (ref. EE/PSO/10679/98), what is the result of the review of current policy on hardwood procurement across Government. [77637]

  Mr. Meale
  I refer my hon. Friend to my letter of 17 March 1999 informing him of the results of the review of Government policy on timber procurement. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Polling Stations (Disabled Access)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funds are available to local authorities to improve access to polling stations for disabled people. [79027]

  Ms Armstrong
  Acting returning officers may apply to the Home Office for grants towards the cost of providing temporary ramps and specially adapted polling screens, to make polling stations accessible for those disabled voters who wish to vote in person, for national and European elections. The remainder of the cost is funded by the local authority. Grants are not allocated specifically for local elections. The need for revenue expenditure by local authorities is taken into account, along with other spending pressures and the scope for efficiencies, in the local government finance settlement.

  "A New Deal for Transport"
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in publishing the daughter documents to the White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport", Cm 3950. [79534]

  Mr. Prescott
  Last July's White Paper on the Future of Transport identified nine associated publications which would set out in more detail the proposals in the White Paper. Seven have already been published:

  A New Deal for the Railways: response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee

  A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England

  Guidance on local transport plans

  Breaking the Logjam: consultation on road user and workplace parking charges

  British Shipping—charting a new course

  Sustainable distribution: a strategy

  From Workhorse to Thoroughbred: a better role for bus travel.

  Of the remaining documents, the report on inland waterways will be published in the next few months. The document on road safety policy, setting out the Government's strategy and targets for beyond 2000, will follow in the autumn and will reflect the findings of the speed policy review. We have since announced that a further daughter document, on ports policy, will be published; a policy paper is currently out for consultation
  470
  and the document should be issued later this year. The Government will also this summer be issuing its action plan to encourage walking.

  Household Projections
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish revised household projections; and if he will make a statement. [79535]

  Mr. Prescott
  In our policy statement "Planning for the Communities of the Future" published early last year, the Government said that they would put in place new policies in respect of planning for housing which would include a new flexible approach to regional planning involving decentralisation to regional stakeholders; a national 60 per cent. target for the re-use of previously developed land; the creation of a National Land Use Database; and that we would be setting up a task force to advise us on how to make the best use of recycled land.

  Our emphasis is on urban renaissance—making our towns and cities places where people want to live—and this theme will be developed in an Urban White Paper which the Government propose to publish later this year.

  The Government have implemented all of these initiatives and more. We issued the consultation draft of planning policy guidance note 11 (PPG11) "Regional Planning" last month, together with new guidance on the preparation of development plans (PPG12). Planning policy guidance note 3 "Housing" (PPG3) was published for consultation last week. It introduces a new sequential approach to the release of housing land which will require local planning authorities to consider the re-use of existing property and of previously developed land before releasing greenfield land for housing development. The National Land Use Database is now being compiled and I expect to publish first results shortly.

  Together, these represent the Government's new policy direction to planning for housing and mark a clear departure from what has become known as the "predict and provide" approach favoured by the previous Government. That policy is dead.

  It has been the practice to publish periodically projections of household growth in England. In keeping with that, the Government Statistical Service (GSS) will be publishing a report later this year setting out the household projections for the period 1996 to 2021 together with a full description of the methodology by which those projections are derived.

  The household projections are one input to the process of regional planning, a new round of which is currently in progress. I have therefore decided to make available the main projections for England and the English regions in advance of publication of the full GSS document.

  The number of households in England is projected to have grown from 20.2 million in 1996 to about 24.0 million in 2021, an increase of 3.8 million or about 150,000 households per year. It is a smaller increase to that previously projected for the period 1991 to 2016 which was 4.4 million or around 175,000 households a year.

  The most important explanation for the reduction in the projected rate of household formation is the changes contained in the most recent marital status projections

  471
  published by the Government Actuary's Department in January. Recent evidence has shown that cohabitation is increasing at a faster rate than expected, leading to a greater increase in the number of couple households by 2016 than assumed in the previous projections. Changes in the marital status assumption have also led to downward revisions in the proportions of older women who are widows or divorcees.

  The projections are not forecasts, estimates or predictions. They are based entirely on what might be expected to occur if previous trends continue and are heavily dependant on the assumptions involved. Such trends can and do change as a result, for example, of demographic or economic factors, as the new cohabiting assumptions show.

  I therefore agreed with the Select Committee to publish information about how sensitive the projected total number of households at 2021 might be to changes in underlying assumptions. This information is as follows

  Household projections: Government Office Regions 1

  1996 millions

  2021 millions

  1996–2021 percentage change

  1991–2016 percentage change 2

  North East

  1.1

  1.2

  8

  16

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  2.1

  2.4

  14

  19

  East Midlands

  1.7

  2.0

  20

  26

  East of England

  2.2

  2.7

  25

  29

  Greater London

  3.0

  3.6

  21

  22

  South East

  3.2

  4.1

  26

  27

  South West

  2.0

  2.5

  25

  29

  West Midlands

  2.1

  2.4

  13

  18

  North West and Merseyside

  2.8

  3.1

  11

  18

  England

  20.2

  24.0

  19

  23

  1 All figures rounded

  2 Source: Projections of Households in England to 2016, ISBN 0–11–753055–7

  There are insufficient data available to undertake a sensitivity analysis on the regional projections. However, a significant factor in determining regional household growth is migration from and to other regions and there are some indications that this may be particularly sensitive to economic factors. In this respect, the Government do not believe that past migration trends are necessarily representative of future patterns of regional growth.

  Regional projections are published as one input to the process of regional planning. As our consultation draft of PPG11 "Regional Planning" indicates, the household projections should be taken into account in assessing a region's housing needs. Other factors should equally be taken into account so that regional planning bodies should, against the background of need and capacity, take a realistic and responsible approach to planning future housing provision.

  Change in household formation 1996–2021 in response to changes in key parameters

  Change in household formation (000)

  Cohabiting

  +20% (never married)

  -180

  +10% (previously married)

  -20% (never married)

  +180

  -10% (previously married)

  Mortality1

  +1 year for men, 0.6 years for women

  +160

  -0.8 years for men, -0.7 years for women

  -180

  Marriage

  +15% (never married), 10% (others)

  -100

  -15% (never married), -10% (others)

  +110

  472
  in tabular form at the end of this statement but, for example, a 1 per cent. change in real interest rates may affect the national projection by over 200,000 households in either direction.

  The conclusion of the analysis is that the projected growth of 3.8 million in the number of households in England between 1996 and 2021 is not a precise figure. It reflects one of the potential outcomes but it could be subject to some variability.

  In keeping with previous published projections, I am today also announcing household projections for each of the Government Office regions. Again, the Government do not regard the projections as forecasts or predictions of the number of households likely to form. If the new regional projections are compared on a like-for-like basis with those published previously, they indicate a reduced rate of household formation in all regions except the South East where the rate of growth is stable. The projections are as follows:

  The household projections I am publishing today relate to England as a whole and English regions. I recognise that similar information at sub regional level could be useful as background for the regional planning process and the preparation of Regional Planning Guidance and my Department will therefore be writing to the regional planning bodies to make relevant information available in a form consistent with that published as part of the last set of household projections in 1995. The statistics are inherently less reliable at this level of detail and I expect the information to be used only to inform debate as an extrapolation of past trends and not to be used to 'predict and provide'. Rather, I look to regional planning bodies to use their new flexibilites to take account of all relevant factors, against the background of need and capacity, in considering the distribution of growth within a region.
  473

  Change in household formation 1996–2021 in response to changes in key parameters

  Change in household formation (000)

  Fertility

  +0.2 in the mean number of children per woman

  +40

  -0.2 in the mean number of children per woman

  -60

  Net Inward Migration

  +40 thousand per annum

  +450

  -40 thousand per annum

  -410

  Divorce

  +10% (first marriage)

  +60

  -10% (first marriage)

  -60

  Interest Rates (real)

  +1%

  -230

  -1%

  +260

  GDP (real per head)

  +0.25%

  +190

  -0.25%

  -150

  Unemployment (%)

  +1%

  -20

  -1%

  +30

  1 Increased expectation of life at birth between 1996 and 2021 over the principal projection.

  Note:

  The variations shown are consistent with those exemplified by the Government Actuary's Department in their respective publications on the underlying national population projections and marital status projections. The changes in household formation are not additive.

  British Rail
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what make of car has been made available to the new chairman of British Rail; and on what terms. [78802]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The car arrangements for executive Board Members of British Railways are determined by the Board. I understand that the Board has a pool car, which will be available to the Chairman when required.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the Scottish Office budget for Scottish Enterprise in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97, (f) 1997–98 and (g) 1998–99; and what is his estimate for (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [76863]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The Scottish Office Budget for Scottish Enterprise in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for the years 1992–93 to 1998–99 and the plan figures for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 are follows:

  £million

  Year

  Budget

  1998–99 prices

  1992–93

  448.8

  520.8

  1993–94

  451.3

  510.1

  1994–95

  466.9

  520.4

  1995–96

  464.4

  502.9

  1996–97

  476.9

  501.1

  1997–98

  449.5

  460.7

  1998–99

  455.2

  455.2

  1999–2000 (plans)1

  427.1

  416.7

  2000–01 (plans)1

  435.4

  414.4

  2001–02 (plans)1

  468.1

  434.68

  1 Plan figures for 1999–2000 are subject to adjustment to reflect CSR changes to baseline provision. Changes to Scottish Enterprise budget reflects a reduction on their property activities; re-phasing of the Hyundai project, and a realignment of existing training programmes to reflect the introduction of the New Enterprise will play a key role.

  474
  About £300m of New Deal resources will also be available in Scotland over the lifetime of this Parliament by way of Employment Service spending.

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

  Fire Service Budget
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the Scottish Office budget for fire services in Scotland in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99; and what is his estimate for (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [76867]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]Fire services in Scotland are a local government responsibility. Total financial provision made available by the Secretary of State for local authority spending on fire services in the form of Grant Aided Expenditure, and capital allocations, together with direct central Government expenditure, has been as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Cash Terms

  1998–99 Prices

  1995–96

  149

  161

  1996–97

  164

  173

  1997–98

  184

  189

  1998–99

  189

  189

  1999–2000

  197

  192

  2000–01

  206

  197

  2001–02

  213

  198

  Sources:

  For the years 1993–94 to 1998–99: Departmental Reports and GAE announcements.

  For the years 1999–2000 to 2001–02: Comprehensive Spending Review.

  As from 1 July 1999, financial provision for the fire service in Scotland will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Fox Control
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the financial support provided by his Department to fox control associations. [78334]
  475
  Mr. Macdonald
  Financial support, amounting to 50 per cent. of approved expenditure, is provided to recognised Fox Destruction Clubs under a scheme to prevent the predation of lambs. Total support has averaged around £70,000 per annum in recent years.

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

  Greater Glasgow Health Board
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reason figures on the cancellation of hospital admissions by health boards for the quarters ending 31 March 1997 to 31 December 1998 are not available for hospitals in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area. [78228]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on the cancellation of hospital admissions in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area is not available for the periods requested because of concerns over the accuracy and completeness of the available data, and the consequent misrepresentation of

  Average daily population of sentenced young offenders by length of sentence, 1993–1997

  Number and Percentage

  Length of sentence

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  % change196–97

  Total2

  819

  720

  719

  770

  787

  2

  Less than 6 months

  246

  209

  249

  194

  144

  -26

  6 months—less than 2 years

  287

  223

  227

  282

  301

  7

  2 year—less than 4 years

  151

  160

  114

  132

  146

  11

  4 years or over (excluding life)

  105

  103

  98

  131

  154

  18

  Life

  17

  15

  14

  17

  19

  12

  Section 205 sentences (indeterminate)

  9

  9

  14

  10

  18

  80

  Section 206 sentences (fixed)

  4

  1

  2

  4

  4

  —

  1Based on rounded figures

  2Components may not add to totals due to rounding

  Average daily population of adult sentenced prisoners by length of sentence, 1993–1997

  Number and Percentage

  Length of sentence

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  % change 1 96–97

  Total2

  3,795

  3,785

  3,823

  4,026

  4,282

  6

  Less than 3 months

  333

  226

  209

  206

  165

  -20

  3 months—less than 6 months

  462

  434

  437

  428

  406

  -5

  6 months—less than 2 years

  815

  775

  740

  853

  889

  4

  2 years—less than 4 years

  533

  627

  614

  616

  654

  6

  4 years or over (excluding life)

  1,240

  1,293

  1,390

  1,480

  1,686

  14

  Life/Section 205

  411

  430

  433

  443

  481

  9

  1 Based on rounded figures

  2 Components may not add to totals due rounding

  Interim figures for the period April 1998 to February 1999 indicate that 25 per cent. of prisoners are testing positive for drugs of abuse, down from 29 per cent. in the financial year 1997–98. Final figures for the financial year 1998–99 will be reported in the 1998–99 Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts.

  There is no direct information available on the current number of inmates with alcohol problems. However, the following information may be of value.

  In a study involving a representative sample of prisoners (Cooke, 1994), the level of alcohol dependence among the population was found to be 18.3 per cent. for females and 38.1 per cent. for males. In a more recent study (Gilchrist and Hooke, 1997) conducted in Greenock
  476
  the true position. This is due to difficulties associated with the computerised Patient Administration Systems. Greater Glasgow Health Board and the NHS Trusts are currently working together to resolve this problem, and they expect to be able to provide accurate information on cancellations of hospital admissions, via the new national data collection process to be introduced shortly.

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

  Prisoners
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the sentence range of the prison population for each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the current number of inmates with(a) drug and (b) alcohol problems. [78800]

  Mr. McLeish
  The available information on the average daily sentenced prison population by length of sentence for each of the last five years is provided in the following tables.

  prison 29 per cent. of prisoners reported that they were drinking over the weekly safe limit for men as set by the Inter-Departmental Working Group. And, in a recent study in Cornton Vale (Loucks, 1997), an estimated 10–15 per cent. of women were found to be addicted to alcohol.

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

  NHS Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each month between 1 April 1998 and 31 January 1999 NHS waiting list figures in Scotland. [79063]
  477
  Mr. Galbraith
  NHS in Scotland waiting list figures are published quarterly. The inpatient and day case waiting list on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December 1998 is provided in the table.

  Date

  NHS in Scotland Inpatient and Day Case Waiting List

  31 March 1998

  89,525

  30 June 1998

  88,703

  30 September 1998

  84,931

  31 December 1998

  78,526

  Source:

  ISD, Scotland

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

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by her Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71467]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 16 February 1999]The cost of Information Services issuing press releases from May 1997 to date is as follows:

  Paper £63.75

  Post £44,032.40

  Total £44,096.15.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press releases have been issued by her Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71452]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 16 February 1999]: The Information Services have issued the following press releases:

  Year

  1990

  (approx) 1,380

  1991

  (approx) 1,400

  1992

  (approx) 1,250

  1993

  1,355

  1994

  1,080

  1995

  1,223

  1996

  1,117

  1997

  1,180

  1998

  1,313

  special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the total number of occasions when(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. [76825]
  478
  Marjorie Mowlam
  There have been 5 occasions when a departmental special adviser has accompanied me aborad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. There are no non-departmental special advisers. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and Civil Service Management Code.

  Bomb Alerts
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the (i) dates, (ii) times, and (iii) location of each bomb alert in Northern Ireland since 1 September 1998, of which the RUC are aware. [77749]

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

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up her Department's Green Transport Plan. [77973]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: Northern Ireland Departments are pursuing the target for having Green Transport Plans for all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Government Departments and Executive Agencies by March 1999 and for all other key buildings by March 2000. There are no fleets associated with these buildings.

  Census Returns
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list all Public Records Act 1958 instruments that have prescribed periods of(a) extended retention or (b) extended closure of decennial census returns for Northern Ireland; and if she will list the class numbers, census years and periods mentioned in the schedules. [78444]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Public Records Act 1958 does not apply to Northern Ireland in respect of access.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the total annual storage and maintenance costs for all 1841 to 1991 decennial census returns in Northern Ireland. [78436]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Public Record Office holds census records for 1937, 1951, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1981 and 1991. The annual storage and maintenance costs are £39,495.

  Parades Commission
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits and of what length the Chairman of the Parades Commission has made to Northern Ireland since the inception of the Parades Commission. [79178]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Chairman of the Parades Commission has paid 100 visits to Northern Ireland, 69 of which have involved one or more overnight stays.
  479
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many authorised officers of the Parades Commission have been remunerated over the past 12 months; how they are appointed; and under what terms. [79177]

  Mr. Ingram
  Since 1 April 1998, a total of 13 persons have been remunerated as Authorised Officers of the Parades Commission. The Authorised Officers are contracted to the Parades Commission by the Mediation Network for Northern Ireland, which is responsible for their appointment and terms of employment.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Parades Commission has budgeted for in the coming year for(a) Chairman and Parades Commissioner remuneration, (b) the costs for civil servants seconded to the Parades Commission,(c) the remuneration of authorised officers of the Parades Commission, (d) travelling expenses and (e) office rent. [79173]

  Mr. Ingram
  The answers are as follows:

  (a) £180,000 (£30,000 pay costs for Chairman + 6 x £25,000 for Members)

  (b) £254,000 (pay costs for civil servants)

  (c) £84,000 (pay costs for Authorised Officers)

  (d) £35,000 (travelling expenses for Chairman, Members and Secretariat)

  (e) £64,000 (office rent).

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Parades Commission has(a) spent to date on and (b) budgeted for consultancy, broken down by spending on (i) training of monitors, (ii) monitoring of parades, (iii) opinion surveys, (iv) project planning, (v) recruitment campaigns, (vi) media advice and (vii) legal costs in the coming 12 months. [79172]

  Mr. Ingram
  (a) I would refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Miss Kirkbride) on 17 March 1999, Official Report, columns 697–98. Unfortunately the figure given in my reply was incorrect. The total amount paid for consultancy and related services since the inception of the Parades Commission is £267,000. A breakdown of the expenditure is given here.

  £

  Training for Stewards/Monitors

  42,000

  Monitoring research

  20,000

  Opinion surveys

  4,000

  Project planning

  2,000

  Recruitment campaign

  10,000

  Media and publicity advice and services

  122,000

  Legal Advice and services

  6,000

  Surveys, research, other training etc.

  31000

  Associated costs (advertising, printing etc.)

  30,000

  (b) The budgeted figure for Consultancy and related services in 1999–2000 is £230,000. This budget is not broken down at this stage into the lower level detail outlined for expenditure to date.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will break down the(a) running costs and (b) programme expenditure of the Parades Commission for the coming year by main spending items. [79171]
  480
  Mr. Ingram
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Running costs—£329,000: £254,000 pay and £75,000 general administrative expenditure (travel and subsistence, office equipment, telecommunications etc.).

  (b) Programme cost—£818,000: £64,000 rent, £20,000 publications/printing; £246,000 Mediation Network for Northern Ireland charges, including Authorised Officer costs and related expenditure; £229,000 Commission Members' and Chairman's total costs; £160,000 professional advisers' costs; £50,000 education and monitoring costs; and £49,000 telecommunications, courier charges etc.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects to publish the Parades Commission's Annual report. [79176]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Parades Commission expects to publish its Annual Report towards the end of April 1999.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will place in the Library a copy of the Parades Commission's consultation document on its proposed changes to its Procedural Rules, the Code of Conduct and Guidelines. [79175]

  Mr. Ingram
  Copies of the consultation document containing proposed changes to the Code of Conduct, Procedural Rules and Guidelines were placed in the Library of the House on 26 March 1999.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the(a) persons and (b) organisations to whom the Parades Commission has issued for consultation its proposed changes to its Procedural Rules, the Code of Conduct and Guidelines; and if she will (i) provide a list of those who have responded formally to the Parades Commission's consultation document and (ii) make a statement on the further consultation the Parades Commission is undertaking. [79174]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Parades Commission has consulted a wide range of individuals and organisations about the proposed changes to its statutory documents. These include loyal orders, residents and community groups, business organisations, churches, academics, voluntary bodies, and political representatives. In addition, the Commission placed public notices in the daily newspapers drawing attention to the consultative process, and posted full details on the Commission's website. Respondents to the consultation have not been advised that their response or identity could be made public. It would therefore be inappropriate to list their names here.

  The Commission is considering carefully the responses it has received in relation to the draft statutory documents.

DEFENCE

  Defence Agencies (Employment)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the(a) Army Technical Support Centre, (b) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency, (c) Defence Estates Organisation and (d) Defence Dental Agency; and what the figure was at each Agency's establishment. [71944]
  481
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executives of the Agencies concerned. I have asked them to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Brigadier A. D. Ball to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the employee numbers for the Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA), as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the ATSA.
  The ATSA had 1,085 employees on 1st February 1999, and had 1,274 employees at its Agency launch date on 25th October 1995.
  I hope that you find this information helpful.

  Letter from Ian C. F. Andrews to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the number of people currently employed by the Defence Estate Organisation, and employed at the time of the Agency's establishment, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Estate Organisation.
  The number of people current employed across the Defence Estate Organisation is 1,423. At the Agency's establishment, on 1 April 1997, there were approximately 1,400.

  Letter from Air Vice-Marshal I. G. McIntyre to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of people currently employed and the figure on formation of the Agency, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Dental Agency.
  The Defence Dental Agency currently has 1185 personnel on the payroll of whom 134 are uniformed dental staff within the command of The Health Alliance (THA) British Forces Germany. Payroll responsibility for these staff was transferred to this Agency with effect from I April 1998.
  Strength on formation of the Agency on 1 March 1996 was 1043. At that time dental staff within THA were not included in the strength.

  Letter from C. J. Boyle to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:
  Further to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA), these matters fall within the Chief Executive's responsibility. However, as he is currently away from office, I am replying on his behalf.
  When the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) formed on 1 April 1997, it employed a total of 1171 staff, comprising both Service and civilian personnel.
  Through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), AFPAA formed a public/private partnership with EDS to deliver most of the Agency's services on its behalf. In order to ensure the continuity of current services and to provide a significant input to the development of new systems, most of the Agency's civilian staff transferred to the private sector, when the partnership became effective on 1 January 1998. The Agency, therefore, currently employs 299 staff.
  I hope this explains the position.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Gulf War veterans, medically tested as part of his Department's research programme, have shown signs of uranium-related illness; and if he will make a statement; [72940]
  482
  (2) how many Gulf War veterans have had a medical test since the research programme commenced; and how many are waiting for a test. [72931]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  A Gulf veteran who is, or has been, concerned about his or her health may be receiving or have received care, including testing, under various auspices. The Ministry of Defence has only centralised data in respect of its Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). This was established in 1993 to provide veterans who believe that their health may have suffered as a result of the Gulf conflict with as full a diagnosis as possible of their medical conditions. During an assessment at the MAP, all referred veterans receive a standard set of screening tests and are asked by the examining MAP physician to provide detailed information about possible factors to which they may have been exposed during the Gulf conflict. As at 18 March 1999, 3,021 Gulf veterans had been referred to the MAP for a medical assessment. Of these, 34 were waiting to be seen for the first time and 201 had failed to appear for one or more appointments; hence, a total of 235 have yet to receive any tests at the MAP.

  With regard to the testing of UK Gulf veterans for the presence of depleted uranium (DU), I refer the hon. Member to a detailed paper setting out my Department's position, which I published on Friday 19 March 1999. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The MAP is not a research programme. The Ministry of Defence is funding a range of studies into different aspects of Gulf veterans' illnesses. One of these studies—a neuromuscular symptoms study being conducted by a team led by Doctors Michael Rose and Mohammed Shareif at King's College, London—involves carrying out clinical tests on Gulf veterans. A further study on UK Gulf veterans under Professors Simon Wessely and Anthony David of King's College, London, which is being funded by the US Department of Defense, is also conducting clinical tests on UK Gulf veterans. Both these research teams are conducting their studies independently of MOD and we do not have access to the data collected, including any clinical findings.

  Naval Manning Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Naval Manning Agency; what was the figure at its inception; on what date the Naval Manning Agency published its report for 1997–98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76895]

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

  Letter from Rear Admiral J. M. de Halpert to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:
  I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State about the number of people employed in the Naval Manning Agency and the costs of publication of the Agency's 1997–98 Report, as these matters fall within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Naval manning Agency.
  The Agency currently employs 278 people including four part-time personnel. On Vesting Day (1 July 1996) the Agency employed 292 personnel.

  483
  The proof copy of the Agency's 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts was produced on 28 January 1999, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The final version of the Report is currently with the printers and should be published in April. The cost is expected to be similar to last year's at around £1,600.
  I hope you find this helpful.

  Weapons Testing (Scotland)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what testing of depleted uranium weapons has taken place in Southern Scotland. [77356]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: Since the test-firing of depleted uranium (DU) based ammunition was approved in 1979 all testing of such ammunition in southern Scotland has been conducted at Kirkcudbright and West Freugh (near Stanraer). The trials at West Freugh, which took place in 1988 and 1990, tested Vulcan Phalanx ammunition and were very limited in nature, with only 200 small calibre rounds (around 20kg) being fired. The testing of 120mm DU-based ammunition for the Challenger main battle tank, which takes place at Kirkcudbright, started in 1982. Since the end of the Challenger tank development programme in 1997 this testing has been significantly reduced and currently only a small number of rounds are fired each year to check manufacturing quality.

  Armed Forces (Uniforms)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's contracts for uniforms for the armed forces were awarded to United Kingdom textile companies in each of the last five years. [77468]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: The number of contracts awarded to UK textile companies in each of the last three Financial Years is as follows:

  1996–97: 155 contracts

  1997–98: 300 contracts

  1998–99: 358 contracts.

  Earlier details are not available as information on clothing and textile contracts placed by my Department has only been recorded centrally for the last three years.

  Cadet Centre, Chorley
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities the new cadet centre in Chorley will provide for cadets; and if these will be the same as at the existing centre on Devonshire Road in Chorley. [77474]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: The new cadet centre will provide offices, classrooms and activity area, toilet and washing facilities, secure storage facilities, and a rifle range. All facilities currently enjoyed by the cadets will therefore be reprovided in this new centre, which will be for their sole use.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts Her Majesty's Government are making to obtain medicinal and scientific data about the effects of depleted uranium-based ammunition in Iraq. [77258]
  484
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: Officials from the Department for International Development (DfID) have been in discussion with the World Health Organisation (WHO) concerning possible projects to improve the overall health situation in Iraq. DfID expects to receive formal proposals—for example, to improve epidemiological surveillance in Iraq, to establish links between medical institutions outside Iraq and to improve Iraq's cancer registration system—from the WHO shortly, which the Government will consider carefully.

  The Government are well aware of suggests that there has been an increase in ill-health—including deformities, cancers and birth defects—in southern Iraq, which some commentators have attributed to the use of depleted uranium (DU) based ammunition by Coalition forces during the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. However, the Government have not seen any peer-reviewed epidemiological research data on this population to support these claims and therefore cannot comment on them further. There is currently no evidence that the illnesses of the types described, including cancers, are uniquely associated with exposure to DU. The Government would, of course, consider carefully any medical or scientific data which was presented on this subject.

  Sexual Offences (Armed Forces)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last year for which figures are available there has been an allegation of (i) rape and (ii) sexual assault within the United Kingdom by a member of the armed forces; and in each case(a) how long a time elapsed before the civil police were informed, (b) if the alleged victim was advised and assisted to ensure there was no inadvertent destruction of evidence, (c) if charges were brought, and (d) where a conviction was secured, what sentences were imposed. [78325]

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

  Ordnance Requalification
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of requalification for(a) 155 mm artillery projectiles, (b) 105 mm artillery projectiles, (c) 120 mm tank projectiles, (d) rocket motors for Sea Wolf and Sea Skua missiles and (e) explosives for ejector seat systems; and what is his estimate of the proportion of the cost that is met from his Department's funds. [78190]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: The typical requalification cost for an artillery or tank round of ammunition is about £2 million, of which about £1.5 million is for the charge. For rocket motors the cost is about £5 million and for ejection seat cartridges up to £1 million. Costs vary significantly according to the circumstances, as does the proportion of cost to be met by the Ministry of Defence. These amounts should be set in the context of the overall value of the procurement contracts, which often amount to many tens of millions of pounds. For example, the Extended Range Ordnance/ Modular Charge System contract is worth around £100 million.
  485
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ammunition products for United Kingdom military use will have to be subject to requalification procedures by his Department. [78189]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: All ammunition products require Ordnance Board qualification before they are made available for United Kingdom military use. Requalification of explosive products is required whenever there is a prolonged break in production or there has been a change in manufacturer, manufacturing process, or source of raw materials. Therefore it is not possible to determine precisely which future ammunition requirements will induce requalification.

  Ammunition (Overseas Suppliers)
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quotations have been obtained from overseas suppliers for the supply of ammunition products previously supplied by Royal Ordnance Bishopton. [78185]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: None. The MOD procures ammunition as a finished product, not as individual components. It is a matter for the prime contractor to choose the source of each of the components, such as casing, explosives, fuses and propellant. British Aerospace has announced that it intends to close Royal Ordnance Bishopton by late 2000. We expect the factory to continue to participate in work on Ministry of Defence contracts awarded to Royal Ordnance and other prime contractors until that date.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the overseas countries from which the United Kingdom currently obtains ammunition products; and if he will list the value of each contract. [78187]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: The Ministry of Defence currently procures ammunition products from the USA, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Belgium, Israel, Canada and South Africa. The costs associated with individual contracts are commercially sensitive and I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the memorandums of understanding that exist between the United Kingdom and overseas ammunition suppliers. [78188]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: Her Majesty's Government normally conclude Memorandums of Understanding only with other national Governments. There are no MOU with overseas ammunition suppliers.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions(a) he and (b) his officials have had with overseas ammunition suppliers in the past year; and if he will list the companies that have been consulted. [78182]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: I have not had any discussions about the supply of ammunition with any overseas companies in the past year. However, Ministry of Defence officials have regular contacts on a wide range of issues with defence companies at all levels. These include obtaining
  486
  information on product ranges and capabilities, the discussion of tenders, and the management and performance of contracts. Details of such contacts in the past year are not held centrally. However, a search of available records indicates that contacts took place with the following ammunition suppliers: Aerojet, Alliant Tech Systems, Armtec, Atlantic Research Corporation, Boeing, Day and Zimmerman, Lockheed Martin, Olin Winchester, Primex, Raytheon, and Team MACS of the USA; Aerospatiale, Celerg, CTA International, and GIAT of France; Alenia, Europea Metalli, Fiat Avio, and Simmel of Italy; Buck Technologies, Diehl, Dynamit Nobel, EBV, GIWS, Junghans, LFK, Mauser, MEN, and Rheinmetall of Germany; MECAR of Belgium; Hirtenberg of Austria; Miltec, Oerlikon, and Swiss Munitions of Switzerland; Eurometaal of The Netherlands, Lapua of Finland, Bofors of Sweden; NAMMO, and Raufoss of Norway; Expal, International Technology of Intallaza of Spain; INDEP of Portugal; Bristol Aerospace, and SNC of Canada; PINDAD of Malaysia; CIS of Singapore; Denel/ Somchem, Denel/Swarklip, Denel/Naschem, Pretoria Metal Pressing and Vector of South Africa; IMI, and Rafael of Israel; ADI of Australia; and Micron of India.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has made of its overseas-based ammunition suppliers with respect to(a) security of supply, (b) exchange rate risk and (c) ability to supply ammunition promptly; [78191]

  (2) what assessments have been made of the security of supply provided by each of the United Kingdom's overseas ammunition suppliers; and if he will make a statement. [78186]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: The Ministry of Defence considers carefully the issue of security of supply before placing equipment contracts with overseas suppliers. Where necessary, we seek suitable safeguards to ensure satisfactory security of supply.

  Contracts contain specific conditions designed to ensure prompt delivery of defence equipment and ammunition products. In order to eliminate exchange rate risks, we aim to place all overseas orders in Sterling. Where this is not possible, we use a variety of measures, including the advance purchase of Deutschmarks and US dollars, to minimise the risk of adverse movements in these currencies.

  Royal Ordnance Bishopton
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Department for Trade and Industry regarding the closure of Royal Ordnance Bishopton; and if he will make a statement. [78183]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: I consulted other Government Ministers, including my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, about the issues surrounding the recent decisions on the Multi Year Buy and Extended Range Ordnance/ Modular Charge System competitions, including the impact on Royal Ordnance Bishopton and other Royal Ordnance sites. In addition to work associated with the Modular Charge System, Royal Ordnance informed the Ministry of Defence that it would require further work

  487
  to be directed to Bishopton, without competition, for the plant to remain open. Even then, the work force would have had to reduce by almost half to around 150 employees. We concluded that £20 million cost premium to keep a much reduced Bishopton open in the short term did not represent good value for the taxpayer.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which foreign Governments have been consulted with regard to the re-sourcing of ammunition supplies to UK forces following the closure of Royal Ordnance Bishopton. [78181]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: We have not formally consulted foreign Governments about the supply of ammunition after the closure of Royal Ordnance Bishopton, nor is there a need to do so. We routinely conduct international competitions for the procurement of ammunition. These show that there are many friendly and reliable alternative sources in Europe and further overseas. In the event of an urgent, unforeseen demand for ammunition, we would secure further supplies from friends and allies, as we have successfully done in the past. To facilitate such procurements the UK is a signatory of the international Joint Ballistic MOU, together with France, Germany, Italy and the US, which allows for the strategic and tactical interchange of 155mm ammunition.

  Somchem Contract
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the value for money of the contract to supply artillery shell propellant from Somchem; and if he will make a statement. [78192]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: Somchem was a clear winner of the competition for the sub-contract for the Modular Charge System for the AS90 howitzer on both cost and technical grounds. The decision to award Somchem the contract, therefore, represents best value for money.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence industrial considerations were taken into account in the award of the artillery shell propellant contract to Somchem. [78184]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: We considered defence industrial issues very carefully before deciding to procure the Modular Charge System contract from Somchem. We concluded that Royal Ordnance would still be capable of continuing as a major supplier of a wide range of ammunition to the Ministry of Defence. The company remains a key player in the European ammunition business with a continuing role in the future rationalisation process for the industry.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department made of the impact of the current value of the South African Rand when awarding the artillery shell propellant contract to Somchem; and what arrangements have been set in place in the contract with regard to exchange rate fluctuation. [78193]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: The contract price for the sub-contract for the supply of the Modular Charge System for the AS90
  488
  howitzer has been specified in Sterling. The value of the South African Rand, therefore, has no effect on the contract.

  Aircraft Carriers
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has carried out on the potential to upgrade the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers to meet future requirements. [78777]

  Mr. Spellar
  Concept studies have examined the feasibility of upgrading and extending the life of the current Invincible-class aircraft carriers. These studies established that the vessels would not be able to meet future requirements. However, there will be further analysis to establish the baseline against which the cost-effectiveness of the future carriers will be assessed.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies have been invited to tender for the future Royal Navy aircraft carrier; and what criteria were used to select the companies. [78781]

  Mr. Spellar
  British Aerospace Defence Systems, Marconi Electronic Systems, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon and Thomson-CSF have been invited to tender for the initial assessment phase of the future aircraft carrier. They were selected from the companies that had expressed interest in the tender, following an assessment of their ability to deliver the programme to cost, time and performance.

  155 Transport Regiment
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the possibility of transferring 155 Transport Regiment to North Wales. [78570]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 25 March 1999]: 155 Transport Regiment does not exist. 157 Transport Regiment, whose headquarters is based in Cardiff, has a number of sub-units that are based in South Wales and no consideration was therefore given to transferring the headquarters to North Wales.

  Mr. Tony Geraghty
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons, on what date, in what circumstances and manner and under what powers Mr. Tony Geraghty was arrested; when his bail will be ended; what charges are in prospect against him; and if his Department plans to take action in relation to his recently published book. [79019]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Mr. Tony Geraghty's home address was searched on 3 December 1998, under warrant, by Ministry of Defence Police officers investigating alleged offences against the Official Secrets Acts, concerning his book "The Irish War".Mr. Geraghty was arrested and placed on unconditional police bail, he is due to answer his bail on 22 April 1999. A file has been prepared by the Ministry of Defence Police and submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service. The Crown Prosecution Service will determine whether or not Mr. Geraghty will face charges. The Ministry of Defence Police were acting under powers conferred by the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987.
  489

  HMS Vengeance
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 571–72, on HMS Vengeance, what components were found to be defective; when they were replaced; what effect their failure had on the state of the submarine's reactor; what steps he is taking to enure the safety of similar components on other nuclear powered submarines; and if he will make a statement. [78916]

  Mr. Spellar
  Two of the Main Coolant Pumps of the rector system were found to be defective. Both pumps continued to provide full output, but showed early signs of longer term degradation in performance. They were replaced between 9 February and 17 March this year. There was no effect on the submarine's reactor. To ensure the safety of such equipment on other nuclear submarines, routine equipment monitoring is undertaken as a matter of course. The original pumps from HMS Vengeance will undergo detailed examination to confirm the cause of the defect.

  Chinook Crash
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the members of the RAF Board of Inquiry investigating the fatal crash of RAF Chinook ZD 576 in 1994 were informed, at the time of the Inquiry, of his Department's case against Textron Lycoming, the manufacturers of the full authority digital engine control system; [78381]

  (2) if Boeing treated the full authority digital engine control system fitted to the Chinook Mk2 as flight safety critical at the time of the RAF Chinook crash in June 1994; [78380]

  (3) if his testing and evaluation organisation at Boscombe Down treated the full authority digital engine control system fitted to the Chinook Mk2 as flight safety critical at the time of the RAF Chinook crash in June 1994. [78379]

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

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Air Accidents Investigation Branch personnel investigating the crash of RAF Chinook ZD576 in 1994, were informed, at the time of the investigation, of the Ministry of Defence case against Textron Lycoming, the manufacturers of the Full Authority Digital Engine Control system. [78792]

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

  Procurement Programmes
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence procurement programmes are running overtime; and in each case by how long. [79101]

  Mr. Spellar
  Information on time overruns against the original approval on the top 25 defence procurement programmes is published by each year in the Comptroller and Auditor General's reports on the Ministry of Defence "Major Projects Report". Copies of these are in the Library of the House.
  490

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Child Soldiers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries with which she has had recent discussions concerning the use of child soldiers; and if she will make a statement. [78544]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Neither I or the Secretary of State have personally had any recent discussions on this issue with countries in which child soldiers are a problem.

  This is, however, an issue of deep concern to our Department. In late 1997 the Secretary of State spoke to President Museveni of Uganda about the abduction of many thousands of children by the Lord's Resistance Army, most of whom are forced to become child soldiers or concubines. In Sierra Leone, the British High Commissioner has just agreed with the President Kabbah that children under the age of 16 will be excluded from enlistment in the Sierra Leone armed forces or the civilian defence forces; and that any children taken into custody by ECOMOG will be handed over to UNICEF at the earliest opportunity. We have also provided assistance for children affected by conflict in countries such as Liberia and Sri Lanka.

  We have had a number of meetings with the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Mr. Olara Otunnu, the most recent being on 16 March in London. Mr. Otunnu briefed us about his recent travels in the Great Lakes Region and Sudan. We have offered our full support to ensure that his lobbying and advocacy work to reduce the use of child soldiers is followed up and given practical effect on the ground. Plans for this are under discussion between Mr. Otunnu, UNICEF and our officials.

  DFID recently issued the "Policy Statement on Conflict Reduction and Humanitarian Assistance" which describes our general approach to defusing tensions and building sustainable peace through targeted conflict reduction strategies. Progress in implementing these will also help eliminate the child soldier problem.

  Departmental Staff (Ethnic Origin)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin, at 1 March, of(a) her private office,(b)Government special advisers, (c) her policy unit and (d)staff in total. [78500]

  Mr. Foulkes
  (a) Information on the ethnic origin of staff in the Private Office cannot be provided as the small numbers involved could lead to the identification of individuals, contrary to the Code of Practice agreed with the Civil Service trade unions.

  (b) In relation to special advisers, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) on 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 39.

  (c) DFID does not maintain a separate Policy Unit in support of Ministers.

  (d) My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office will provide this information centrally.
  491

  EU Aid
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what representations she has made to the European Commission in the past 12 months about improving the effectiveness and transparency of the EU aid budget; [79065]

  (2) what specific steps she has taken in the past 12 months to ensure that the United Kingdom contribution to the EU aid budget has been spent effectively. [79066]

  Mr. Foulkes
  In December we published our 18 point strategy to improve EC development spending. It has been widely disseminated in the Commission and other member states. Our paper describes the specific, practical measures the Department for International Development is to take to maximise the contribution of the EC's development programmes to the international poverty eradication strategy. The Secretary of State and our officials are pursuing vigorously our strategy with the Commission and with other EC member states for redirecting EC resources to the poorest countries, and for improving the effectiveness and transparency of EU aid spending. The Secretary of State discussed these issues frequently with her European opposite numbers, most recently in Berlin on 18 March and both she and I have had a number of discussions with Members of the European Parliament on this.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of her budget will be channelled through the EU aid budget in the financial year 1999–2000. [79099]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We currently forecast expenditure of £750m through the EC in 1999/2000, comprising £248m through the European Development Fund, and £520m through EC budgetised programmes.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times she or her Minister met former European Commissioner Cresson to discuss EU aid in the past 12 months. [79064]

  Mr. Foulkes
  At no time in the last 12 months have I, or the Secretary of State met former EU Commissioner Cresson to discuss EU aid.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Human Genetics
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those members of advisory committees to his Department who have declared outside interests with(a) DiaDexus, (b) Cerebus Ltd., (c) SmithKline Beecham, (d) Stanford University, (e) Human Genome Services Inc, (f) Glaxo Wellcome, (g) the Wellcome Institute, (h) Monsanto, and (i) AgrEvo; and if he will specify in each case the advisory committee to which they belong and the nature of the declared interest. [76242]
  492
  Mr. Battle
  Members of the following executive non-departmental public bodies and advisory committees have declared interests in the organisations listed by the hon. Member.

  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  Prof. J. Goodfellow:
  Chairman of the Wellcome Trust Molecular and Cell Panel, and member of the Base Science Interest Group. Prof. Goodfellow is also married to the senior Vice-President and Head of research for SmithKline Beecham.
  Medical Research Council
  Prof. L K. Borysiewicz:
  Consultant for SmithKline Beecham. Holds a Wellcome grant.
  Prof. E. Johnstone:
  Consultant for SmithKline Beecham. Holds a Wellcome Fellowship or grant.
  Dr. T. W. Robbins:
  Consultant for SmithKline Beecham. Holds a Wellcome Fellowship or grant.
  Prof. J. Bell:
  Holds a Welcome Fellowship or grant.
  Prof. R. Mirsky:
  Holds a Wellcome Fellowship or grant.
  Prof. A. M. McGregor:
  Holds a Wellcome Fellowship or grant.
  Council for Science and Technology
  Sir Richard Sykes:
  Chairman, Glaxo Wellcome PLC
  Human Genetics Advisory Commission
  Dr. G. Poste:
  Non-Executive Chairman of Diadexus and Cerebrus. Board member of SmithKline Beecham. Also lists in "Who's Who" the fact that he is a Governor of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Genetics at Stanford University.
  Industrial Development Advisory Board
  Dr. R. Hawley:
  Shareholder of SmithKline Beecham and Glaxo Wellcome PLC.

  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission register of members' interests relates to details of potential conflicts of interest registered by members relevant to particular inquires on which they are serving. No interests in the organisations listed by the hon. Member have been registered by such serving members over the last year. The register can be examined on the MMC's website.

  Wellcome Trust
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, or to his appointed inspector, in relation to the re-opened inquiry into the Wellcome Trust's application for planning permission at Hinxton Hall in South Cambridgeshire. [76070]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]: I have made no representations either to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, or to his appointed inspector in relation to the re-opened inquiry into the Wellcome Trust's application for planning permission at Hinxton Hall in South Cambridgeshire.
  493

  Manchester United
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he is planning to publish his conclusions on the BSkyB bid for Manchester United. [76354]

  Mr. Byers
  I shall publish the MMC's report as soon as is practicable.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the total number of occasions when(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. [76836]

  Mr. Byers
  Since 2 May 1997, Special Advisers have travelled abroad on 12 occasions. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

  US Import Duties
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans he has to compensate all United Kingdom exporters affected by the increase in import duties in the United States; and if he will make a statement; [76784]

  (2) if he will compensate fine art publishers for the costs of the increase in United States import duties; and if he will make a statement. [76777]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 4 March that the Government had decided to establish a scheme for the cashmere knitwear industry to guarantee the bonds requested by the United States. The mere threat of US action had been having a particularly significant effect on cashmere, in view of the highly seasonal nature of that industry.

  The services of my official are at the disposal of other industries for advice while urgent consultations continue within the European Union and the Word Trade Organisation.

  Company Licences
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list for(a) small and medium enterprises and (b) larger companies (i) all licences and permits issued by his Department and its agencies to companies permitting them to carry out their business, (ii) the cost of each such licence or permit in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1999–2000 and (iii) the current number of companies which are in receipt of each such licence or permit. [76855]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: It is not possible to distinguish between small and medium-sized enterprises and large companies in the manner requested.

  Private Motor Vehicles (Imports)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's assessment of the effect on Exchequer revenues of the retail purchase and 494
  subsequent importation into Britain of private motor vehicles from (a) European Union countries and (d) non-European Union countries. [78133]

  Dr. Howells
  No figures exist on the effect on Exchequer revenues of importation of private motor vehicles.

  Slough Heat and Power
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Slough Heat and Power Ltd.'s application to extend its existing combined heat and power generating station. [79386]

  Mr. Battle
  I have today granted consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to Slough Heat and Power Ltd.'s application for construction of a 11 MW extension to its existing 80 MW Combined Heat and Power station. The extension, fuelled by 80,000 tonnes of mainly processed waste paper annually, has also today been given planning permission. The decisions have been taken 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).

  Planning permission has also been granted after consultation with the Slough Borough Council which did not object to the application subject to 40 conditions being included.

  Decisions on other applications under consideration will be announced in due course.

  Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Droite de Suite
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the proposed imposition of droite de suite on the British art market and its likely impact on the work of his Department. [77372]

  Dr. Howells
  The Directive would cause very real difficulties to the United Kingdom, threatening earnings and jobs in the London art Market. We cannot agree to the Directive as it stands at present. As a result of the Government's previous efforts, significant improvements have been made. However, they do not go far enough and we shall be continuing to work with our EU partners on ways in which the impact of the Directive on the UK can be reduced so as to ensure that we get the best possible deal for Britain. If, and when, the Directive is adopted, the Department of Trade and Industry will be responsible for transposing it into national law, but will do so only after the widest consultation with those most affected.

PRIME MINISTER

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants in his office have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week on 17 consecutive weeks; how many
  495
  civil servants in his Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost of compliance with the Directive. [76814]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 22 March 1999,Official Report, column 53. Information in respect of my office was included in this answer.

  Unscom
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 1999,Official Report, column 15, on Unscom, if he made any contact with the United States Administration when preparing his reply; and if he sought any clarification of the allegations of United States signals intelligence operations under the cover of Unscom in Iraq, from United Kingdom nationals working for Unscom. [78156]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 8 March 1999,Official Report, column 15, where I set out the position with regard to these matters.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Prime Minister 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. [77681]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: Government officials have been discussing with representatives of the biotechnology industry their proposals for the introduction of genetically modified crops for commercial growing by farmers once all relevant approvals have been granted. Officials have been seeking to obtain assurances from the biotechnology industry that the commercial introduction will be restrained until results from the farm scale evaluations indicate that commercial activity may take place in accordance with the concept of managed development as set out by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment in his statement to the House of Lords Select Committee on EC Regulation of Genetic Modification in Agriculture on 21 October 1998.

  The farm scale evaluations are to allow careful studies of the effects of larger scale cultivation of these crops on farmland wildlife, as compared to conventional crops. No specific timescale for commercial introduction has been agreed. We will move to allow cultivation only when we are satisfied that we have enough information about the environmental impacts to be able to make a sound decision.

  Tax Take
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library his analysis showing that the amount of tax, in pounds, to be paid in(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c)2000–01 and(d) 2001–02 will not increase as a result of the proposals put forward by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [77996]
  496
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in his Budget statement, 9 March 1999, Official Report, columns 173–90, as a result of the Budget measures there will be net tax cuts to support work, enterprise and families. Further details can be found in table 1.3 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Prime Minister by which Secretary of State parliamentary questions on the proposed unified Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry trade promotion operation will be answered. [78440]

  The Prime Minister
  Questions may be addressed to either Secretary of State, since, as was made clear in the announcement on 12 March 1999,Official Report, columns 399–400, the unified FCO/DTI trade promotion and development operation will be the joint responsibility of the Secretaries of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and for Trade and Industry.

  President Suharto
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish an investigation into the extent of the United Kingdom assets of former President Suharto, of Indonesia, his family and close associates; and if he will freeze the United Kingdom assets of former President Suharto pending the outcome of the results of such an investigation. [78589]

  The Prime Minister
  Allegations into criminal conduct over which the United Kingdom has jurisdiction are a matter for the police to investigate. United Kingdom confiscation legislation does not permit the restraint of property pending the outcome of any such investigation. Restraint is only obtainable when proceedings have been or are about to be instituted against a person. The powers with respect to international requests for restraint are very similar once a country has been designated by an Order in Council. Indonesia has not, however, been designated for this purpose. It is open to any party which considers that it has a claim to property to avail itself of the normal procedures available in the civil courts.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Prime Minister what measures he uses to define child poverty for the purposes of forming policy. [78482]

  The Prime Minister
  Child poverty is complex. It is characterised by a number of related factors which can include persistent low family incomes caused by parental unemployment, as well as other factors such as low educational attainment, poor housing and poor health. What therefore matters is taking action in all these areas as we are doing to improve the life chances of all the children in Britain today.

  Sudan
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he discussed with the US authorities the evidence presented by them to justify their bombing of the Sudanese factory. [78863]
  497
  The Prime Minister
  It is established practice that under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose or discuss information received in confidence from foreign Governments.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Prime Minister how many people were(a) injured and (b) killed as a result of the US bombing of the Sudanese factory; and if any of these were military personnel. [78862]

  The Prime Minister
  As I told the House on 10 March 1999,Official Report, columns 364–65, the attack on Al-Shifa was retaliation for the death of more than 100 innocent people by acts of terrorism in Africa; no one was killed in it. There are no confirmed reports about injuries.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Nigeria. [79062]

  The Prime Minister
  Although my plans are not yet fixed, I hope to visit Nigeria later this year.

HEALTH

  Black and Ethnic Minorities
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to revise the 1993 good practice guidance on black and ethnic minorities in the NHS. [73882]

  Mr. Denham
  The contribution of black and ethnic minority staff to the National Health Service is invaluable. As part of our commitment to modernise the NHS, we are determined that all NHS workplaces will be free from racial harassment and discrimination. To that end, we recently launched a major programme of action by publishing"Tackling Racial Harassment in the NHS—A Plan for Action". This, together with the Equalities Framework, to be published later this year, will provide tough targets and standards which all NHS employers must meet.

  Capital Investment (Wakefield)
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the time scale for his decision in relation to the Strategic Outline Case for additional capital investment in Wakefield district hospitals. [78719]

  Mr. Denham
  An announcement on the outcome of the 3rd Capital Prioritisation Exercise will be made shortly.

  Pharmacists' Pay
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the percentage increase in pharmacists' pay for 1998–99; and what was the average percentage increase of other NHS salaries. [78756]

  Mr. Denham
  Hospital Pharmacists on national terms and conditions of service received pay increases of 2 per cent. from 1 April 1998 rising to 3.8 per cent. from 1 December 1998. The same increases were awarded to nurses and the professions allied to Medicine and to all other non-review body staff.
  498
  Community pharmacy contractors' remuneration, was increased by 3 per cent. for 1998–99.

  Hospital and community health service doctors received increases of 2 per cent. from 1 April 1998 rising to 4.2 per cent. from 1 December 1998.

  National Health Service managers on the new national and residual national arrangements received no national increase in 1998 but provision was made for increases to be determined locally. Trust chairs were asked to ensure that the cost of individual pay rises for board members and senior managers were contained within an overall cash envelope of 2.7 per cent.

  Anti-impotence Treatment
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the responses received to the consultation on the proposals to restrict the prescribing of anti-impotence treatments on the NHS to specific groups of men; and if he will make a statement. [78788]

  Mr. Denham
  We have received approximately 800 responses to the consultation which ended on 25 March 1999. No assessment of these has yet been made.

  Ship Inspections
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ships were found to be unhygienic as a result of inspection of ships for nuisance; and how many special notices were served under the provisions of the Public Health (Ships) Regulations 1979 in each year since 1990. [78993]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 10 March 1999,Official Report, columns 245–46.

  Greenwich Millennium Celebrations
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the additional demands upon health services in Greenwich and Lewisham arising from the millennium celebrations; and what additional resources have been made available to the relevant health authorities to meet this demand. [79313]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Health Service Executive's London regional office is assessing the mechanisms needed to ensure the NHS and partner organisations are well placed to manage the Millennium.

  Resources will be given to any affected Health Authorities to cover the cost of additional inpatients admitted to local hospitals from other areas.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with(a) Bexley and Greenwich Health Authority and (b) Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust regarding the millennium celebrations; and if he will make a statement. [79312]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Health Service Executive's London regional office is in close and regular contact with local health authorities and NHS trusts, as well as local organisations and stakeholders, on the subject of the millennium celebrations, and will ensure local plans are robust.
  499
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the additional demands upon the London Ambulance Service arising from the millennium celebrations; and what additional resources have been made available to the service for this purpose. [79314]

  Mr. Denham
  The London Ambulance Service is forecasting a 12 per cent. increase in workload in December 1999 and January 2000 over the corresponding months this winter. It is difficult to forecast demand for the night of 31 December/1 January as it is not yet entirely clear what major events will be taking place.

  The London Ambulance Service has drawn up proposals to maintain and improve its response to emergencies over the next 12 months, including the Millennium celebrations and is in discussion with health authorities and London regional office of the National Health Service Executive on the implementation and funding of those measures necessary to achieve this.

  Human Vaccines
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decisions were taken on the basis of information obtained from the investigations into BSE(a) to discontinue use of human vaccines and (b) to destroy stocks of human vaccines. [78801]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his three questions on 25 March 1999,Official Report, column 378.

  Cancer
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he proposes to(a) designate and (b) accredit a cancer centre for the North West of England as recommended by the Calman-Hine report; [79238]

  (2) if he will list his criteria for (a) designating and (b) accrediting regional cancer centres; [79237]

  (3) on what dates the regional cancer centres for each region of England and Wales were accredited; [79235]

  (4) what factors underlie the length of time taken to accredit a regional cancer centre for the North West of England. [79236]

  Mr. Denham
  There are no rigid criteria for the designation and accreditation of cancer centres. Flexibility in the early stages of implementation of Calman/Hine reflected regions' different starting points and allowed for approaches to the designation and accreditation process to fit local circumstances. In the North West, accreditation is carried out by external clinical audit and quality control of clinical services. This process will be developed and implemented for cancer centres in the North West in 2000–01.

  As part of our work to bring Calman/Hine into line with the national service framework model, we are developing a set of common national standards and performance measures against the new performance framework which will apply across the country. These will be supplemented by a new set of milestones against which progress in implementing Calman/Hine and achieving national targets can be measured.
  500

  Food Standards Agency
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many posts will be deleted from establishment in his Department as a result of the establishment of the Food Standards Agency. [79031]

  Ms Jowell
  There are 76 people in the Joint Food Safety and Standards Group in the Department. These posts will transfer to the Food Standards Agency when it is established.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Education Action Forums
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out the legal status of each education action forum; and if that legal status entitles each forum to be exempt from the payment of VAT. [79032]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Action Forum has the legal status of a corporate body. The forum also has exempt charitable status, and all forum members are trustees. The forum is not exempt from the payment of VAT.

  Education Action Zones
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out the procedures by which his Department monitors the receipt of payments in(a) cash and (b) kind from businesses to education action zones. [79034]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department monitors the receipt of business contributions by education action zones through the financial returns which zones make. A summary of these contributions will be available as part of the audited accounts for each zone for the financial year 1998–99.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if Ofsted will be given responsibility for inspecting education action zones. [79033]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Yes.

  Education Services
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the organisations on the short-list of bodies considered suitable to take over the services of local education authorities and the bodies on the short-list for offering consultancy services; [79022]

  (2) if he will list the criteria used to determine the suitability of organisations to be on the short-list of bodies to take over the services of local education authorities or to offer consultancy services; [79023]

  (3) what is the basis for his decision not to include the Local Government Association in the list of bodies suitable to take over the services, or offer consultancy to, local education authorities. [79024]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  As I stated in my reply of 22 February 1999,Official Report, column 18, 98 expressions of interest were received for consultancy work and 107 for the delivery of LEA functions. We are currently conducting negotiations and seeking further

  501
  information from a number of selected organisations. It is normal commercial practice not to divulge the names of such organisations, as to do so could jeopardise the chances of a fair competition. DfEE officials have written to the LGA, setting out the reasons why they were not successful at the first stage. We hope to announce in April the lists of those organisations which we intend to use to provide consultancy services or to act as function providers. The criteria on which our selection is based are as follows:
  Strand 1—improvement action plans.
  Evidence provided by the applicant to demonstrate their track record of working with service providers in order to improve service delivery performance.

  The evidence should demonstrate a track record of work involving

  identifying and prioritising tasks and objectives;

  analysing roles and functions within organisations;

  development and assessment of the suitability of options and alternative methods of delivery;

  detailed implementation and monitoring/management of action plans.

  Strand 2—specification preparation and related work

  Evidence demonstrating work that requires a proven track record of understanding the type and nature of services provided by LEAs.

  Evidence demonstrating that the applicant has prepared service related tender/contract specifications.

  Evidence demonstrating the applicant's understanding of the methodology and processes involved in specification preparation.

  The quality and nature of the reference sites that the applicant has named for what they consider to be relevant work.

  Strand 3—contract and project management

  Evidence demonstrating a track record in handling complex contract and project management arrangements.

  Evidence demonstrating that they have successfully taken over the management of complex or sensitive contracts or projects at short notice.

  Strand 4—financial costings

  Evidence demonstrating that the applicant has a track record of establishing base-line service delivery costs.

  Evidence demonstrating a track record of undertaking effective efficiency reviews.

  Function Providers.

  For each strand, applicants were considered on the basis of the evidence they presented on

  Their track record of providing services related to that strand or comparable services;

  How their experience made them a suitable candidate for an approved list of suppliers for that function strand;

  How they intended to develop the specific capabilities required for that function strand.

  A range of more specific evidence was considered for each function strand, and I will write to the hon. Member setting these out.

  Education Funding Delegations
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many requests have been received by his Department for hon. Members to bring a delegation to meet a Minister to discuss education funding(a) in the past year and (b) in the last three months; and how many of those requests have been refused. [79030]
  502
  Mr. Mudie
  This information is not recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but Local Education Authorities have been provided with an average 5.5 per cent. increase in funding for education for the coming year, compared with a 2.4 per cent. increase in inflation and a teachers' pay increase of 3.5 per cent.

  Special Schools
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of whether any special schools will close following his Department's programme for action on special educational needs; and if he will make a statement. [79026]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Russell) on 11 March 1999,Official Report, column 314.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date he made the decision to lay(a) S.I., 1999 No. 447 and (b) S.I., 1999 No. 606 before the House. [79028]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 447 relating to the Education (Grants for Education Support and Training) (England) Regulations 1998 (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1999 were laid before Parliament on 26 February 1999. S.I. 1999 No. 606 relating to The Education (Education Standards Etc. Grants) (England) Regulations 1999 were laid on 9 March 1999.

  Work Permit Applications
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current average waiting time for an application to the Immigration and Nationality Department for a work permit; and what was the average waiting time in each of the previous three years for which figures are recorded. [78661]

  Ms Hodge
  Applications for work permits are made to the Department for Education and Employment's Overseas Labour Service. Records are kept on the proportion of applications cleared within four and eight weeks:

  1998–99 (estimated)

  1997–98

  1996–97

  Proportion cleared within four weeks

  70

  66

  73

  Proportion cleared within eight weeks

  93

  91

  95

  Numbers cleared

  73,000

  62,258

  53,718

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Select Committee Reports
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on (1) what date(a) he and (b) his Department received the leaked copy of the Foreign Affairs Committee First report of Session 1998–99 on Foreign Policy and Human Rights (HC100); and by what method it was received; [77760]
  503
  (2) what date (a) he and (b) his Department received the leaked copy of the Foreign Affairs Committee Third report of Session in 1998–99 on European Union Enlargement (HC 86); and by what method it was received. [77835]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer to my earlier answer to the hon. Member on 4 March 1999,Official Report, column 876.

  Overseas Commercial Posts
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a list of overseas commercial posts for United Kingdom-based staff, showing in each case the current grading and indicating for each grade the proportion commercial posts represent of all overseas posts at their grade. [78442]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I am placing in the Library a list of UK-based overseas jobs with more than 50 per cent. Commercial content. The proportion commercial work represents of the work of all frontline staff overseas at these grades is as follows:

  Percentage

  SMS

  13.9

  DS5

  18.9

  DS6

  46.5

  DS7

  31.0

  DS9

  7.3

  Frontline work excludes time spent on management or support functions.

  Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has tabled for revising the 1990 conventional armed forces in Europe treaty; and when he next expects to discuss them with(a) the UK's NATO allies, (b) former Soviet bloc countries and (c) other European countries. [78748]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The UK contributed to NATO's comprehensive proposals for adapting the CFE Treaty which were tabled at the negotiations in Vienna during 1998. These proposals, along with ideas from other Treaty parties, are being discussed in Vienna by officials from all 30 States Parties to the Treaty, with a view to signature of an adapted Treaty at the OSCE Summit in November 1999. Other OSCE states are briefed regularly on progress in the talks.

  Diplomatic Notes
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about(a) his policy with respect to issuing diplomatic notes to foreign Governments and (b) his policy in respect of the failure of a foreign Government to respond to such a note. [78749]

  Mr. Fatchett
  British Embassies and High Commissions use diplomatic notes as a customary vehicle for written communication with Ministries of Foreign Affairs in accordance with accepted diplomatic practice.
  504
  There is no set policy if a foreign Government fail to respond to a diplomatic note. They are under no formal obligation to reply. If they choose not to, we would consider what action to take in the light of the circumstances of the case.

  Egypt (Abductions)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) reports he has received and (b) representations he has made concerning the abduction of Suhir Shihata Gouda in Egypt. [79309]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have recently received reports about Suhir Shihata Gouda from international NGOs. Our Embassy in Cairo is making inquiries into the background.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Egyptian authorities about the abduction of Christian women in Egypt. [79310]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We regularly make representations to the Egyptian authorities when we receive reports of human rights abuses against anyone, regardless of gender or religion. This includes reports of abductions.

  Overseas Trade Services
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 March 1999,Official Report, column 765, on overseas trade services, if he will place in the Library the relevant accounts for the overseas trade services income for 1997–98. [79311]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Details of overseas trade service income and expenditure for 1997–98 are contained in the 1999 Foreign Commonwealth Office Departmental Report which will be issued on 31 March 1999; copies will be placed in the Library.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Refreshment Department
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee if he will make a statement on the effect on services for members and staff of the Refreshment Department's modernisation programme. [77415]

  Mr. Dennis Turner
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave on 15 February 1999 to my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody),Official Report, columns 421–22, and to my letter of 4 March which was sent to all hon. Members. In my letter, I set out in detail the catering facilities which will, and those which will not, be available to hon. Members and staff during Phase F of the Refreshment Department modernisation programme.

  Retirements
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the President of the Council if she will discuss with the House of Commons Commission, the Commissioner of Police of the
  505
  Metropolis and officers of the House means by which hon. Members can be informed of prospective retirements and departures of long-serving staff. [77411]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have asked the Serjeant at Arms to write to my hon. Friend about this matter.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Departmental Staff (Ethnic Origin)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Council if she will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin, at 1 March, of(a) her private office, (b) Government special advisers and (c) her Policy Unit. [78509]

  Mrs. Beckett
  On 1 March 1999 there were six staff in my Private Office, none of whom was of ethnic minority origin. As regards Special Advisers, I would refer my hon. Friend to answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 February 1999,Official Report, column 39.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the 9.9.99 computer bug in formulating Government policy on the millennium bug. [77545]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 22 March 1999,Official Report, column 7.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safeguards the Government plans to impose to guard against cross-pollination with non-genetically modified plants when genetically modified foods are planted commercially. [75138]

  Mr. Rooker
  The issue of cross-pollination is considered by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) when examining each application for release of genetically modified (GM) crops. Appropriate conditions (e.g. separation distances) may be included in a consent, but a consent would not be granted if ACRE considered the risks associated with cross-pollination to be unacceptable. In addition the Government have encouraged the development of industry guidelines which will set out best practice for growing GM crops, and these guidelines will include minimum separation distances between GM and non-GM crops.

  Pig Industry
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the financial impact on the British pig industry of the new stall and tether regulations. [75844]
  506
  Mr. Rooker
  The legislation to ban sow stalls and tethers was introduced in 1991 and allowed the industry an eight year phase-out period. The Government estimate made at that time was that the total compliance cost to industry would be in the region of £9 million taking account of the phase-out period and that many systems would in any case need to be replaced for other reasons.

  Farmers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to adopt an early retirement scheme for farmers; and if he will make a statement. [78023]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: Support for early retirement is one of the measures provided for in the Rural Development Regulation, recently agreed by the Agriculture Council as part of the CAP reform negotiations. Detailed implementing rules still need to be agreed. No decision has yet been made on which of the measures in the Regulation will be implemented in the UK. We are currently evaluating the views expressed by farmers and other interested parties as a result of the consultation exercise launched in January. Now that the Regulation has been agreed, we will be putting forward more detailed proposals for consultation, taking account of the funds available.

  Genetically Modified Animal Feed
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his Department's policy that products derived from animals which eat genetically modified animal feed are safe for human consumption. [78722]

  Mr. Rooker
  Yes. The Advisory Committee on Novel Food and Processes considers the human food safety implications of animals fed genetically modified material to ensure this.

  Farming
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage rotation of planting by(a) species of crops and (b) area of UK farms. [78540]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is for farmers to decide how best to manage their crop rotations to achieve profitability and meet customer requirements. The Government's role is to provide an appropriate policy framework, which is why it has pressed for CAP reforms aimed at reducing the distortions caused by production-linked subsidies. The Government also aid conversion to organic farming, which relies on crop rotations to maintain soil fertility.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of food-producing land in England is devoted to monoculture. [78541]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the form requested. Information on agricultural land use can be found in "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1998" which was published on 16 March 1999 and a copy placed in the Library of the House.
  507

  Genetically Modified Food Substances
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a list of food substances available in the UK containing genetically modified contents. [78783]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: All genetically modified foods on sale in the UK have been approved following a rigorous safety assessment. The Government do not keep details of the use of ingredients in individual food products. However, wherever GM ingredients from GM soya or maize are present in foods, this must be declared in accordance with the requirements of EC Regulation 1139/98 and the Food Labelling (Amendments) Regulations 1999. The only other GM product currently on the market, tomato paste, has been clearly labelled by the manufacturer on a voluntary basis since its launch in 1996.

  EU Duties and Subsidies
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what import duties are applied by the European Union to(a) dairy products and (b) meat products from each country of supply; and what subsidies are given on the same goods exported from the EU. [78942]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: Figures for the annual import duties applied by the European Union to meat and dairy products are published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, L 292, Volume 41, 30 October 1998, entitled: "Commission Regulation (EC) number 2261/98 of 26 October 1998" amending Annex 1 to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff.

  Additional import duties may be applied on entry to the European Union when certain poultrymeat products are imported at very low prices that may disrupt the internal market. Commission Regulation No 1484/95 implements the system for applying additional duties in the poultrymeat sector, which is published in the Official Journal of the European Communities L 145, 29 June 1995. In order to implement the WTO Brazil/EU Disputes Panel ruling this was amended by Commission Regulation No 623/1999 introducing a new system for calculation which took effect on 25 March 1999. Some imports of beef and veal are allowed into the Community under certain limited concessionary import schemes, but these concessions are limited to a quantity of beef that amounts to 5 per cent. of total community production.

  Export refunds for certain dairy products are published in Commission Regulation (EC) No 532/1999 of 11 March 1999, fixing the export refunds on milk and milk products which can be found in the Official Journal of the European Communities, L 63, 12 March 1999. Export refunds for certain pigmeat products are published in Commission Regulation (EC) No 332/1999 of 12 February 1999, which can be found in Official Journal of the European Communities, L 40, 13 February 1999. The latest rates of export refunds for beef and veal were published on 16 March 1999 and can be found in Commission Regulation 565/1999, which can be found in Official Journal of the European Communities, L 70 of 17 March 1999. Export refunds for certain poultrymeat products are
  508
  published in Commission Regulation (EC) No 395/1999 of 23 February 1999, which can be found in Official Journal of the European Communities, L 48, 24 February 1999. This reflects the remaining refund availability since quota volumes for other products under WTO rules have been exhausted for the year July 1998–99.

  Copies can be found in the House Library.

WALES

  NHS Staff (Bridgend)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many doctors were employed by Bridgend and District NHS Trust on 30 September 1996. [78006]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  There were 173 doctors (153.7 whole-time equivalent) employed by Bridgend and District NHS Trust as at 30 September 1996.

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

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) nurses and (b) mental care nurses were employed by Bridgend and District NHS Trust on (i) 30 September 1996 and (ii) 30 September 1997. [78005]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information on nurses employed by Bridgend and District NHS Trust is shown in the following table.

  30 September 1996

  30 September 1997

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Nurses1

  1,575

  1,355

  1,591

  1,357

  Mental care nurses2

  663

  630

  657

  621

  1Staff employed in the nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff group.

  2Staff employed in the community psychiatry, other psychiatry, community learning disabilities and other learning disabilities services.

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

  Social Inclusion Programme
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a detailed breakdown of Welsh budget provision for(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 under the Social Inclusion Programme. [78771]

  Mr. Michael
  I announced allocations for a dedicated Social Inclusion Programme in December 1998. The amounts are set out:

  £ million

  1999–2000

  8.0

  2000–01

  10.0

  2001–02

  30.0

  There are many other budgets across the range of Welsh Office programmes that also contribute to the objective of fostering social Inclusion.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
  509

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the total amount of charges on matrimonial properties held by the Legal Aid Board. [78519]

  Mr. Hoon
  The precise impact of the statutory charge can be identified only when all moneys due by way of costs and contributions have been collected into the Fund. The total principal quantified as subject to the statutory charge on property was £196.2 million at the end of March 1998. This amount relates mainly, but not exclusively, to properties which are subject to the charge as a result of matrimonial proceedings. The amount therefore does include statutory charges on property arising out of non-matrimonial proceedings. It is not possible to provide a breakdown between outstanding matrimonial and non-matrimonial charges.

  There was £32.8 million accrued interest for outstanding statutory charges on property as at 31 March 1998.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the net cost of matrimonial legal aid for each of the past five years. [78518]

  Mr. Hoon
  The net cost of matrimonial legal aid, for each of the past five years was as follows:

  Year

  £

  1993–94

  266,725,000

  1994–95

  296,624,000

  1995–96

  324,862,000

  1996–97

  345,668,000

  1997–98

  343,287,000

  Conditional Fee Insurance
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions he has had with insurers about the development of the insurance market for conditional fee insurance; and how he proposes to regulate the market. [78520]

  Mr. Hoon
  My officials and I are in regular contact with the insurance industry on the development of all aspects of legal insurance. Responsibility for the regulation of the insurance market rests with Her Majesty's Treasury. The provision of legal expenses insurance is subject to statutory and self regulation. Insurance companies trading in the United Kingdom have to be authorised in accordance with the Insurance Companies Act 1982. In addition, most companies agree voluntarily to abide by the industry statements and codes of practice of the Association of British Insurers.

  Departmental Staff (Ethnic Origin)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the 510
  ethnic origin, at 1 March, of (a) his private office, (b) Government special advisers, (c) his Policy Unit and (d) staff in total. [78502]

  Mr. Hoon
  Information relating to ethnicity in the Lord Chancellor's Department is not usually given where numbers are small enough to enable identification of individuals. This practice complies with an agreement between the Trade Unions and the Department, and assurances given to staff when they are asked to provide the information. However, as the special adviser to the Lord Chancellor and all staff in my private office (irrespective of ethnic origin) have consented to provision of this information, and the Trade Unions have consented to publication, the information requested at(a) and (b) is set out in the table.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department does not have a "Policy Unit" as referred to at (c).

  The Minister for the Cabinet Office will provide the information requested at (d) for all departments.

  Ethnic Origin

  Number

  Percentage

  Minister of State's Private Office

  White

  3

  50.00

  Black—of Caribbean origin

  1

  16.67

  Asian—of Indian origin

  1

  16.67

  Asian—of Bangladeshi origin

  1

  16.67

  Response rate

  100.00

  (b) Government special advisers

  White

  1

  100.00

  Response rate

  100.00

  Immigration Adjudicators
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals were made to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal against decisions of an immigration adjudicator in cases in which he has made a decision to deport in the last year for which figures are available. [78616]

  Mr. Hoon
  This information is not collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many adjudications are required to deal with appeals against entry clearance refusals; and what estimate he has made of the number needed in each of the next five years. [78690]

  Mr. Hoon
  The information provided is based on the assumption that it is the number of adjudicators, and not adjudications, that is required. There are 50 full-time and 200 part-time adjudicators and approximately 17 per cent. of their time, equivalent to 2,500 sitting days per year, is spent on appeals against decisions by entry clearance officers. Current plans for the next three years assume that 1,750 days will be necessary per year, rising to 2,250 when the provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Bill for appeals against refusals of visas for family visits, if approved by Parliament are implemented. No forecasts have been made beyond the next three years.
  511
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average waiting time for an adjudicator to determine an appeal against refusal to(a) vary and (b) extend leave to remain. [78624]

  Mr. Hoon
  Data of this nature in the categories requested is not retained by the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA). The Immigration Appellate Authority are able to list appeals before adjudicators within approximately 6–8 weeks. Decisions are then typed and sent out. On average this takes 5 weeks.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many of the asylum appeals remitted by the Immigration Appeal Tribunal to the special adjudicator the appeal was allowed by the special adjudicator in each of the last five years. [78675]

  Mr. Hoon
  This information is not collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average time for a special adjudicator to determine an asylum case remitted to him from the immigration tribunal from the time the case is remitted in the last year for which figures are available. [78678]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Immigration Appellate Authority are currently able (as at 24 March 1999) to list appeals heard by the Tribunal (both asylum and non asylum) but remitted back to an adjudicator, for hearing within approximately 6–8 weeks. Decisions are then typed and sent out. On average this takes 5 weeks.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average waiting time for(a) a decision on leave to appeal and (b) the determination of the appeal itself in the case of appeals against refusals to vary or extend leave to remain from an adjudicator to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [78644]

  Mr. Hoon
  Specific data in the form requested are not retained by the Immigration Appellate Authority.

  Immigration Appeal Tribunal
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of(a) the legally qualified members and (b) the lay members of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal are from an ethnic minority. [78647]

  Mr. Hoon
  To enable the Lord Chancellor to monitor the effectiveness of policies designed to attract more members of the ethnic community to apply for judicial appointment, candidates are requested to indicate their ethnic origin on their application. This is a recent introduction to the appointment process and candidates are not compelled to answer. Therefore, full and detailed records are not available. However, from records that are available I can indicate that the ethnic origin of the members of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal is as follows:Of the 25 part-time legal members 11 are White, one is Asian, one is Other and the remaining 12 are unknown;
  Of the 5 full-time members 4 are White and one is Asian; and
  Of the 26 lay members no breakdown of ethnic origin is available.
  512

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to encourage free admissions to local museums and galleries. [77377]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The revenue funding of local museums is outside the remit of my Department and is a matter for the governing bodies of those museums. However, museums which are registered with the Museums and Galleries Commission can apply to the £7 million HLF Access Fund. Also, for the first time, my Department is spreading its financial support to museums beyond those which it directly funds by means of a £15 million challenge fund for Designated Museums, the majority of which are outside London. By these means we are seeking to raise standards for, and access to, pre-eminent non-national collections.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact on museum attendance of introducing free entry for children. [77397]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  It is too early to give a precise indication of the impact of introducing free entry for children which I launched for museums funded by my Department at the Natural History Museum this morning.

  However, the experience of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, which introduced free access for children at the end of January (at the same time as a major temporary exhibition about dinosaurs), is that child admissions have risen by over 80 per cent.

  Millennium Fund (Social Exclusion)
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the contribution which the millennium fund will make to tackling social exclusion. [77378]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Government are committed to ensuring that the Millennium celebrations are truly inclusive, involving people from every part of the country and all sections of society. As well as promoting economic regeneration, many Millennium Commission projects are specifically designed to strengthen and empower individuals and communities, and to foster access to recreational and learning opportunities in areas where this has previously been limited.

  Digital Television
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the role of public service broadcasting in delivering digital services. [77379]

  Janet Anderson
  Digital broadcasting can offer better quality reception and a greater range of services, including interactive services. The Government are determined that these benefits should be available to as many people as possible. Public service broadcasting will have a continuing role to play in ensuring that there are a broad range of high quality services available to listeners and viewers at reasonable cost.
  513

  International Olympic Committee
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of the internal changes within the International Olympic Committee on a future British bid to host the Olympic games. [77380]

  Mr. Banks
  I welcome the recent reforms of the International Olympic Committee so far as they go, and I am sure they will help to restore some confidence in the Olympic Movement. Certainly, this Government will not be supporting a British bid for the Games until we are entirely satisfied that the host city selection process is accountable, open and transparent for all future Olympic bids.

  Broadcasting (Wales)
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the future of broadcasting in Wales following the establishment of the National Assembly. [77381]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government understand that the Welsh Assembly has a legitimate interest in broadcasting in Wales. Broadcasters help to define our national cultures in all parts of the United Kingdom and the Welsh Assembly will have much to contribute to the debate on broadcasting matters. Those based in and serving Wales will continue to benefit from the Government's commitment to regulation with the lightest possible touch. Our aim is to ensure that all viewers are offered a choice of high quality programmes which cater for all interests and all sections of the community.

  Schools (Music)
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage increased musical activity in schools. [77382]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I announced last summer the creation of a new independent youth music trust with £30 million ACE Lottery funding over 3 years to work to enable greater access to music making for young people. Under its new name, the National Foundation for Youth Music will go live on 12 April. This initiative, together with the Standards Fund measures announced in January this year will provide a total investment of £180 million for the improvement of music making opportunities for young people, in schools and outside.

  Works of Art (Exports)
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to review the rules governing the export of works of art. [77383]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I have no plans for a review of the export system generally.

  Sport (Disabled People)
  Ms Jenny Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what ways he is supporting sport for disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [77384]
  514
  Mr. Banks
  We are working closely with the Sports Councils to change the culture and structure of sport to ensure that all sports providers offer a wide range of opportunities to people with disabilities.

  People with disabilities must be able to choose when and how they wish to participate, and opportunities should be provided for people with disabilities to be consulted, represented and employed at all levels of sport. Following a National Disability Sport conference in 1997 it was agreed to move towards the establishment of a single agency in England. The English Federation for Disability Sport will act as a first stop shop providing information and advice at regional and national level.

  Libraries
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to enhance Britain's library service. [77385]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  We are making available £70 million through the New Opportunities Fund to create content for the Public Libraries IT network and train library staff in ICT skills, and we have just announced a further £200 million, again through the New Opportunities Fund, to support the development of the network infrastructure. Libraries also potentially stand to benefit from a range of other educational programmes including the £470 million set aside for the development of learning centres under the Capital Modernisation Fund.

  Tourism (Manchester)
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to encourage tourism in the Greater Manchester area to coincide with the Commonwealth games in 2002. [77386]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  As the Government's new tourism strategy, "Tomorrow's Tourism", states, we are committed to bringing major international sporting events to this country. Euro 96 demonstrated the boost which can be given to tourism by such events. The 2002 Commonwealth Games will put Manchester and the North West on the map and will provide a great shop window for the facilities and attractions that the area has to offer the domestic and overseas visitor. Manchester City Council and other nearby local authorities are already working with the North West Tourist Board and the English Sports Council to maximise the tourism potential of these Games.

  Scarborough and Whitby
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the tourism strategy will help Scarborough and Whitby to develop affordable family holidays. [77387]

  Janet Anderson
  As our new tourism strategy, "Tomorrow's Tourism", says, the future of our seaside resorts depends on all those involved in both private and public sectors working together to develop the sort of products now needed, with the quality and value for money which visitors expect. The strategy suggests an eight stage regeneration plan for resorts and also identifies further action which should help increase access to tourism for those with low incomes, for families, elderly people and people with disabilities.
  515

  NESTA
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what means he will monitor the scientific value of investment through the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. [77389]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts has just finished consulting on how it intends to operate.

  Means of monitoring is one of the issues that has still to be decided. As an independent body I expect NESTA to be responsible for monitoring the value of all of its investments covering science, technology and the arts. I will also expect them to report back to me with their findings.

  Departmental Visual Identity
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about the objectives in developing his Department's visual identity. [77390]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Department's new visual identity was designed to:improve the Department's communications systems;
  achieve better value for money in design and print purchasing; and;
  produce a new logo and new design guidelines for use by suppliers and staff within the Department.

  World Heritage Sites
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his policy on protecting world heritage sites from damage. [77391]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  World Heritage Sites are protected by a range of statutory controls. Prior consent is required for works to listed buildings and scheduled monuments, and for natural sites environmental agencies must be consulted on development proposals. Government planning guidance identifies World Heritage Sites and their settings as a key material consideration in the planning process. Management Plans also ensure a rigorous and co-ordinated approach to the protection of such sites.

  Museums (Merseyside)
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of a single pass for entry to all the national museums on Merseyside on attendance levels. [77392]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In the first year of the introduction of the Eight Pass (July 1997-June 1998), the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside's annual season ticket, we estimate that there was a drop of about 27 per cent. of visits compared to the previous twelve months. However in the eleven months to the end of February 1999 there is evidence that this trend is being reversed. To enable NMGM to provide better access to its collections, we are providing it with additional funding so that the price of the Eight Pass can be pegged at its current 516
  level, and from 27 March admission to NMGM for school age children became free. NMGM also intends that there will be free admission for pensioners in April 2000.

  Quest
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out the first-year programme for the agency Quest. [77394]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Quest will undertake up to six major studies a year. Although the first year's programme will be finalised only once the director and advisory board are appointed, I expect it to include a review of targets and indicators used within Funding Agreements, and a review of administrative structures within national bodies in DCMS areas including the Sports Governing Bodies.

  National Lottery (Yorkshire and Humberside)
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage the full use of national lottery money allocated this year for sporting and cultural activities in Yorkshire and Humberside. [77395]

  Mr. Banks
  Although National Lottery money is not allocated specifically on a regional basis, we want all regions of the country, including Yorkshire and Humberside, to receive their fair share of funds. Measures in the National Lottery Act 1998 and recent changes in Policy Directions to the distributors will help to achieve this. The investigation which the English Sports Council, the Arts Council of England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Lottery Charities Board, the Millennium Commission and the New Opportunities Fund are undertaking into the reasons for the low take-up of funds in coalfield areas will also help to ensure that people in Yorkshire and Humberside benefit as much as possible from the National Lottery.

  Millennium Dome (Contracts)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many zones within the Dome are sponsored with irrevocable contracts. [77401]

  Janet Anderson
  I would like to point out that not all sponsorship is related to the provision of zones and not all zone costs are met by sponsorship. However, irrevocable sponsorship contracts for the Communicate, Mobility, and National Identity zones have been signed. Other zone sponsors announced by the New Millennium Experience Company are fully committed at Board level and contractual negotiations are progressing well. To date the NMEC has announced f142 million of sponsorship towards the project target of £150 million.

  Millennium Dome (Visitors)
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps are being taken to encourage young people and children from the north of England to visit the millennium dome. [77403]

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to make the dome accessible to children from the north-west from low-income families. [77406]
  517
  Janet Anderson
  The Millennium Experience is the focus for the nation's millennium celebrations. The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is therefore keen to ensure that as many people as possible who wish to visit the Dome can do so and that as many people as possible have the opportunity to take part in the associated National Programme of events and activities. The company's ticket pricing structure was announced on 18 March and includes up to one million free Dome admission tickets for schoolchildren under the Education Tours Scheme. There will also be discounted education rates for students/college visits (at £14.50 each) and school visits (£8 each). Details of the full range of prices were placed in the Libraries of the House on 18 March.

  The NMEC is not offering special discounts for low income families although the children of all families have the chance to benefit from free admission under the Education Tours Scheme. The overall ticket pricing structure has been informed by the experience and systems of other major visitor attractions both in the public and the private sectors. In addition to visiting the Dome, thousands of schoolchildren are taking part in the National Programme's Schoolnet 2000 project (sponsored by Tesco); the Voices of Promise project (sponsored by Marks and Spencer); and the Our Town Story project (sponsored by McDonalds).

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates his Department has made of the numbers of people likely to visit the millennium dome in each of the next five years. 77402]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  During the period of the Millennium Experience—i.e. during the year 2000—the New Millennium Experience are expecting 12 million visitors. From 2001 onwards, numbers will depend upon the outcome of the competition launched by the Government on 4 March to find a long-term, sustainable and viable use for the Millennium Dome.

  Millennium Dome (Financial Benefits)
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the financial benefits of the millennium dome to each UK region. [77404]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  No estimate has been made of the financial benefits accruing from the Millennium Dome to each UK region. However, the British Tourist Authority (BTA) has estimated the number of overseas visits to the UK in the year 2000 as 27.5 million and that as a direct result of the Millennium Experience an additional £300–£500 million of overseas tourist revenue will be brought into the UK economy. The "halo" effect could double this figure. The BTA have further estimated that 10,000 to 15,000 new tourist related jobs will be created. This is excellent news for the whole of the UK.

  Millennium Dome (Regeneration)
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact of the millennium dome on the regeneration of south-east London. [77405]
  518
  Janet Anderson
  The building of the Millennium Dome, and its proposed long-term retention, will have major regenerative benefits for the whole of London including the south-east, the full effects of which will become increasingly apparent over time.

  Before the decision was taken to site the Millennium Dome at Greenwich, the Greenwich Peninsula was one of the largest derelict sites in the country, suffering from heavy contamination. The extensive site preparation works and infrastructure improvements required for the Millennium Experience have acted as the catalyst for a major mixed-use development project on the Peninsula, under the direction of English Partnerships. This project, including the new Millennium Village that is being built in the southern part of the site as a model for sustainable regeneration of a brownfield site, will establish the Peninsula as a vibrant new urban quarter for London, with ensuing economic, social and environmental benefits for the south-east and beyond.

  On 4 March the Government launched a competition to find a long-term, sustainable and viable use for the Millennium Dome. We are sure this will bring forward a wide range of imaginative proposals and an outcome that will be of major benefit to the whole of London.

  Millennium Dome (Religion)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what decision has been made about a Christian component to the New Year's eve and New Year's day celebratory events at the millennium dome. [77407]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is currently developing plans for the opening celebrations of the Dome on 31 December this year in discussion with the Government and others including the Lambeth Group. The nature and scope of the celebrations will be announced in due course. 1 January 2000 will be the first day of operation of the Millennium Experience within the Dome. Announcements about the content of the Experience, particularly the individual exhibit zones, are being made by the company as and when it considers such announcements appropriate in the context of its marketing strategy. The company has already confirmed that displays included in the Spirit Zone will reflect the significance of the year 2000 as a major Christian anniversary and include aspects of the birth and life of Christ.

  Tourism
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the works council directive's impact on the tourism industry. [77388]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government will be consulting widely on implementing regulations for the European Works Council Directive, which have to be in place by 15 December 1999. Tourism employers and trade organisations will therefore have the opportunity to make their views known.

  Television Licence Fees
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made
  519
  of the relative value for money of the television licence fee for those viewers who cannot receive the regional broadcasts appropriate to their home. [77396]

  Janet Anderson
  A television licence is required to install or use television receiving apparatus to receive any television programme service, as defined by the Broadcasting Act 1990. The licence fee is therefore a payment for permission to receive television broadcasts and not for a service provided. It is payable in full irrespective of the services that can be received or the use made of those services. Linkage of the level of the fee to the services available to, or used by, individual licence holders would undermine the principle of a universal licence fee to fund the BBC's services and would be wholly impractical to administer.

TREASURY

  Income Tax
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer in the financial year 1999–2000 of replacing the reduced rate of income tax with a 10 per cent. income tax rate that extends from the personal allowance to(a) £9,433 per year and (b) £7,114 per year. [74397]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimated full-year costs at 1999–2000 income levels of introducing a 10 per cent. lower rate extending for(a) £5,098 (£9,433 less the 1999–2000 personal allowance of £4,335) and (b) £2,779 (£7,114 less the personal allowance) would be £12 billion and £6 billion, respectively.

  Maintenance Payments (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people will be affected by the loss of the tax relief for maintenance payments; and what the average amount of the tax relief lost will be. [76843]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 15 March 1999]The latest available Survey of Personal Incomes (1996–97) shows around 300,000 taxpayers in receipt of income tax relief for maintenance payments. Of these, an estimated 20,000 will be eligible after 5 April 2000 for the maintenance relief for the 65s and over.

  We estimate that the average amount of maintenance relief for 1999–2000 will be around £220.

  As a result of the withdrawal of maintenance relief, approximately 10,000 people who receive maintenance under arrangements set up before 15 March 1988 will no longer be taxable on the payments they receive.

  London Underground
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to review the CSR if the best value objectives for the public-private partnership for the London Underground cannot be met. [77169]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]The Government expect that the PPP will represent best value. As the progress report published by London Transport on 520
  15 March made clear, good progress is being made with implementing the public-private partnership (PPP) for London Underground.

  Ways and Means Borrowing
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the size of the Government's overdraft on the Ways and Means account at the Bank of England. [77471]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]The size of the outstanding balance of Ways and Means borrowing fluctuates each day, reflecting the seasonal and daily changes in the Government's cash requirements. At the end of February 1999, it stood at £2.8 billion.

  Census and Certificate Income
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been derived by the Exchequer, since 1990, from the sale of(a) micro-film and other copies of United Kingdom 1841/1851 to 1991 decennial population census enumerators' books and (b) certified copies of 19th and 20th century United Kingdom birth, marriage and death certificates. [78275]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. John M. Taylor, dated 29 March 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on revenue derived from the sale of census books and birth, marriage and death certificates.
  The Census Returns from 1901 and 1911 are closed to the public by virtue of Instrument 12 dated 1966 of the Public Records Act 1958. Censuses from 1921 onwards were taken under the terms of the 1920 Census Act as amended by the Census (Confidentiality) Act 1991 which gives protection to personal census information given by the public. Accordingly, there have been no sales of microfilm, or other copies, of the census enumerators' books from the Censuses for 1901–1991. Records from the 1841–1891 Censuses are open to the public and are in the custody of the Public Record Office. Disaggregated sales information from the Public Record Office Copy Service, in the form requested, is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  The Public Expenditure and Receipts Act 1968 requires that the costs of the service provided must be recovered by the fees levied. Each year the Economic Secretary to the Treasury conducts a review of the fees prescribed by the Registration Acts, including certificate fees, in order to advise the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the need to exercise his powers under the 1968 Act to make an order amending those fees.
  Revenue relating to certificate income is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1991/92

  2.9

  1992/93

  3.2

  1993/94

  3.6

  1994/95

  4.0

  1995/96

  3.9

  1996/97

  4.4

  1997/98

  4.8

  Information relating to earlier years could only be obtained at.
  521

  Fuel Duty Escalator
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 1999,Official Report, column 426, if he will place a copy of his Department's environmental appraisal on the impact of the fuel duty escalator in the Library. [78401]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 23 March 1999]The environmental appraisal of measures in the 1999 Budget is contained in table 5.1 of the 1999 Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report and Fiscal Strategy and Budget Report, which includes an environmental appraisal of the road fuel duty escalator.

  Industrial Disputes
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many working 'days were lost in the United Kingdom in 1998 as a result of industrial disputes. [78534]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 29 March 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on industrial disputes.
  The estimated number of working days lost to labour disputes in the United Kingdom in 1998 is 282,400.

  Jobs (Greater London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the estimated number of new jobs created in the Greater London area in each of the last three years. [78892]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 29 March 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on job creation.
  Information is only available on the net change in the number of jobs and not on the number of new jobs created. The information on net changes in jobs is derived from the Short-term Turnover and Employment Statistics. The following table shows the annual levels and net changes in Civilian Workforce Jobs between December 1996 and December 1998 (the latest available figures).

  Civilian Workforce Jobs1 in Greater London, at December

  Thousand

  Level

  Net change from previous year

  1996

  3,872

  +78

  1997

  4,005

  +133

  1998

  4,088

  +83

  Note:

  1. Civilian Workforce Jobs comprise Employee jobs, Self-employment jobs and Government-supported trainees, (only the Employee Jobs component is seasonally adjusted).
  522

  New Deal (Over-50s)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to implement the budgetary provision for the £60 per week supplement payable as part of the extension of the New Deal to those aged over 50 years. [78927]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Employment Credit for people aged over 50, announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget on 9 March 1999,Official Report, columns 173–90, will be available in pathfinder areas from October 1999, and nationally in 2000, alongside the New Deal for the over 50s. Further details will be announced in due course.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 26 January 1999,Official Report, column 235 and his oral statement on the Budget, of 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 185, if he will make a statement on the difference between the two estimates of the number of pensioner households receiving winter fuel payments. [78525]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 25 March 1999]In his Budget Statement the Chancellor of the Exchequer was describing pensioner households within the United Kingdom whereas the DSS figure relates to Great Britain only.

  Bogus Marriages
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what arrangements exist for the Registrar General to pass on information about suspected bogus marriages to(a) his Department, (b) the police, (c) the Immigration Service and (d) other relevant authorities; [78598]

  (2) what guidance is currently given to registrars as to the circumstances which give rise to suspicion that a marriage will be a sham marriage for the purpose of evading immigration control; and what steps they should take to investigate such circumstances; [78602]

  (3) what requirements are currently made of registrars to report marriages which they suspect are being entered into for immigration purposes to the Registrar General. [78599]

  Ms Hewitt
  Long standing informal arrangements exist for the Registrar General to pass information to the Immigration service. No arrangements exist for passing of information to the Home Office, the Treasury, the police or any other relevant authorities.

  Where a superintendent registrar suspects that the proposed marriage of a person from abroad has been arranged for the sole purpose of evading statutory immigration controls, he is advised to report the rule facts of the case to the Registrar General.

  No specific guidance is issued to registrars defining what might be a sham marriage. They are advised to report the full facts of the case, including their reasons for believing the marriage to be one of convenience, to the Registrar General. The facts and the registrar's supporting

  523
  comments are then taken into account by the Registrar General in deciding whether or not to pass on details of individual cases to the Immigration Service.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will respond to the question from the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton of 9 March for answer on 11 March (ref. 76246). [79100]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Shortly.

  Consumer Goods
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the average retail prices of(a) private motor vehicles, (b) white goods and (c) personal computers in each European Union country in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [78132]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  UK

  B

  DK

  D

  EL

  E

  F

  IRL

  I

  L

  NL

  P

  A

  S

  FIN

  EU

  Personal Transport equipment 1992–96

  1992

  104

  88

  177

  93

  149

  118

  99

  130

  95

  84

  112

  173

  101

  109

  143

  100

  1993

  103

  95

  178

  95

  128

  104

  105

  130

  89

  86

  119

  130

  114

  98

  128

  100

  1994

  103

  98

  177

  93

  121

  102

  103

  129

  90

  96

  116

  129

  113

  99

  137

  100

  1995

  95

  100

  182

  95

  117

  105

  104

  128

  87

  99

  119

  134

  117

  99

  150

  100

  1996

  97

  96

  177

  94

  116

  107

  101

  129

  95

  93

  111

  136

  111

  104

  141

  100

  Household appliances and repairs 1992–96

  1992

  93

  109

  109

  102

  111

  104

  102

  98

  98

  107

  96

  93

  118

  115

  112

  100

  1993

  88

  115

  110

  112

  104

  95

  106

  92

  88

  112

  100

  90

  128

  101

  102

  100

  1994

  93

  109

  108

  114

  91

  88

  103

  100

  87

  103

  98

  76

  124

  109

  111

  100

  1995

  84

  116

  115

  126

  96

  91

  108

  93

  79

  111

  100

  83

  134

  108

  125

  100

  1996

  83

  110

  111

  122

  97

  91

  107

  93

  87

  105

  94

  81

  127

  119

  117

  100

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's estimate of the total value of goods sold in the United Kingdom in the categories of(a) private motor vehicles, (b) white goods and(c) personal computers in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [78008]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  Estimates of the value of goods sold to consumers in the United Kingdom are published by the Office for National Statistics in "Consumer Trends" and electronically on the ONS databank, which can be accessed by the House of Commons Library. Purchases of private motor vehicles are shown as series CCQI and white goods as series CDDS in table 2.1 of "Consumer Trends". Purchases of computers are not separately identified but are included within series CDGH, audio-visual goods, also in table 2.1.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Distribution
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of households receive their main
  524
  No information on retail prices as such is available. The tables show the relative prices of these goods across EU countries expressed as an index. The figures shown relate prices in the EU member states to the average for the EU (shown as 100). For the years 1992 and 1993, the EU average is based on EU 12, though results for Sweden, Austria and Finland are included in the table, while the average for following years is based on EU 15.

  There is no suitable aggregate for personal computers covering the years requested. 'Personal Transport Equipment' includes cars and motor and pedal bicycles, with cars making up by far the largest part of expenditure on these items. 'Household Appliances and Repairs' includes large domestic appliances, such as cookers and refrigerators, but excludes small electrical goods, such as toasters.

  The figures are intended to provide a snapshot rather than a time series. Discontinuities between years arise as a result of changes in the data used (the goods for which prices are collected in one year not being strictly comparable with those used in the following year) and improvements to methodology.

  income from (a) work and (b) benefits for each decile of the income distribution below average income, and for each of the last 10 years. [78024]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

  Percentage of households by main source of income and income decile for households below average income (before housing costs)

  Equivalised income deciles

  Year

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  All households below average income

  Benefits

  1994–95

  69

  79

  74

  56

  32

  16

  55

  1995–96

  70

  78

  72

  56

  32

  18

  53

  1996–97

  70

  77

  71

  55

  31

  17

  52

  Employment

  1994–95

  19

  17

  22

  37

  54

  70

  36

  1995–96

  19

  18

  24

  36

  53

  67

  38

  1996–97

  19

  19

  24

  37

  53

  68

  38

  Other

  1994–95

  10

  4

  4

  7

  14

  15

  9

  1995–96

  9

  4

  4

  8

  15

  15

  9

  1996–97

  10

  4

  5

  9

  16

  15

  10

  525

  Percentage of households by main source of income and income decile for households below average income (before housing costs)

  Equivalised income deciles

  Year

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  All households below average income

  Benefits

  1988–89

  76

  82

  68

  29

  11

  5

  47

  1990–91

  75

  80

  68

  30

  15

  7

  47

  1991–92

  72

  81

  72

  41

  18

  9

  49

  1992–93

  71

  80

  73

  51

  22

  11

  51

  1993–94

  72

  80

  71

  52

  27

  15

  52

  1994–95

  73

  78

  71

  49

  27

  14

  51

  1995–96

  72

  77

  72

  48

  28

  14

  51

  Employment

  1988–89

  14

  15

  27

  58

  75

  80

  43

  1990–91

  16

  17

  28

  54

  69

  76

  43

  1991–92

  16

  16

  25

  48

  66

  72

  41

  1992–93

  16

  16

  24

  41

  62

  72

  39

  1993–94

  16

  15

  24

  40

  57

  70

  38

  1994–95

  16

  17

  24

  40

  58

  71

  38

  1995–96

  17

  18

  24

  41

  57

  71

  39

  Other

  1988–89

  9

  3

  5

  13

  14

  15

  10

  1990–91

  9

  3

  4

  15

  17

  17

  10

  1991–92

  11

  3

  3

  12

  16

  19

  10

  1992–93

  12

  4

  4

  9

  16

  17

  10

  1993–94

  10

  5

  5

  8

  15

  15

  10

  1994–95

  10

  5

  5

  11

  15

  16

  10

  1995–96

  10

  5

  4

  11

  15

  16

  10

  Notes:

  1. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data set which is based on either the Family Resources Survey (FRS-table 1) or the Family Expenditure Survey (FES-table 2). Unlike the FES, the FRS does not cover Northern Ireland.

  2. FRS based HBAI data are not available prior to the financial year 1994–95. For this reason, FES based data (based on combined financial years, where 1995–96 denotes the combined financial years 1995–96 and 1996–97) back to 1988–89 have been provided as a supplementary table.

  3. In previous years, HBAI data were mainly derived from the FES. Following a DSS methodological review in 1995, it was recommended that information from the FRS should be introduced into the HBAI series and that it should replace the FES as the main source of information on low-income households.

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

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

  6. The seventh decile (where decile one is the bottom decile) only partially falls below the average income figure; for this reason, figures relating to it have been excluded from the analysis.

  7. It should be noted that the results are subject to year on year sampling variation and that more emphasis should be placed on looking at longer-term trends as opposed to annual variations.

  Sources:

  Family Resources Survey 1994/95–1996/97

  Family Expenditure Survey 1988/89–1995/96.

  Civil Servants (Appraisal)
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the appraisal performance markings awarded to civil servants in 1998 for(a) each agency in his Department and (b) the Department broken down by (i) grade, (ii) gender, (iii) ethnicity, (iv) parttime/full-time working and (v) disability; and for (1) each agency and (2) the Department whether the Cabinet
  526
  Office's four fifths rule for detecting potential adverse impact was applied to the appraisal markings of civil servants in the 1998 report round. [78146]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available has been placed in the Library.

  The Cabinet Office's "four fifths" rule is not intended to be an absolute measure and in this Department it is used to complement other tests of statistical significance.

  Carers
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that staff who operate(a) the Single Work Focused Gateway and (b) the Housing Benefit Service are trained to identify carers and advise them of the services available; [78546]

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that staff who operate the Single Work Focused Gateway are trained to identify carers and advise them of the services available. [78550]

  Angela Eagle
  All Single Gateway staff, including those who work for local authorities, will undergo a comprehensive training programme which will ensure that they have the necessary balance of skills in order to deal with a wide range of clients, including carers. The Carers' National Association and other groups are involved in the training of Single Gateway staff.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to treat as income money granted from a college access fund where a jobseeker's allowance claimant is studying under the part-time study concession. [78728]

  Angela Eagle
  Arrangements for the treatment of payments from college Access Funds have been in place since the Funds were introduced in the 1990–91 academic year.

  Up to £20 per week of any regular payments from Access Funds may be disregarded in the calculation of Jobseeker's Allowance paid to part-time students. Any remainder is taken into account as income. One-off lump sum payments are treated as capital. Entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance is not affected unless a person's capital or savings exceeds £3,000.

  There are no plans to change these arrangements. Pensions

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the highest earnings level at which entitlement to the proposed state second pension will equal entitlement to SERPS, during the first phase of operation of the state second pension; and if he will set out the basis of his calculation. [78875]

  Mr. Timms
  We are currently consulting on our proposals for the State Second Pension. Final decisions, including those on earnings thresholds at which different pension accrual rates apply, will take account of responses received.
  527

  Miss H. McNulty
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when Miss H. McNulty (DSS ref: PSC(AE)/107) can reapply for a Social Fund payment for a mobility scooter (Benefits Agency ref: PQ681/2/3/4 and 696/7 98/99). [78784]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Social Fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Winnick, dated 26 March 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when Miss H McNulty can re-apply for a Social Fund payment for a mobility scooter.
  Miss McNulty can re-apply for a payment at any time. The effect of the Secretary of State's Social Fund Direction 7 in its current form, however, means that if her circumstances remain unchanged from the earlier application, a Social Fund Officer cannot make an award for an item that has already been refused within 26 weeks of the date of the earlier application.
  Changes to Social Fund Directions from 5 April 1999 mean that there will be no time-limits placed on repeat applications for Budgeting Loans. However the restrictions will continue to apply to Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans.
  The first date Miss McNulty can apply for a Community Care Grant or Crisis Loan payment without being affected by Direction 7 is therefore 29 June 1999.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how he defines the well-being of claimants, as referred to in paragraph 2.11 of Safeguarding Social Security. [79228]

  Mr. Timms
  The word is used in its ordinary sense of health, success, contentment or welfare. In the context of welfare reform, we consider that this is best achieved by promoting work for those who can, whilst providing security for those who cannot.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which benefit rules are being examined to establish whether their design contributes to(a) fraud and (b) error. [79233]

  Mr. Timms
  We are currently examining the rules listed in chapter five of the Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: securing the future" (Cm 4012). In each case, we are assessing the extent to which their design contributes to both fraud and error.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the budget is for the next five years for providing staff with the information technology required to beat fraud. [79229]

  Mr. Timms
  We will be investing in new technology to modernise the administration of Social Security and to make payments more secure against fraud and error. It is not possible to distinguish the costs of security from those of administration.
  528
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals contained in Safeguarding Social Security upon benefit administration costs. [79219]

  Mr. Timms
  Delivering a secure system is an integral part of good benefit administration. It is therefore not always possible to specify costs solely directed at safeguarding Social Security. Modernising our computer systems, for example, will deliver a better, as well as a more secure, service to the public.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what target the National Audit Office proposed for reducing fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance. [79216]

  Mr. Timms
  None.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what monetary incentive will remain for local authorities to detect fraud and error in benefits once the proposals in the Green Paper "Safeguarding Social Security" have been put in place; and if he will make a statement. [79230]

  Mr. Timms
  We have reformed the local authority anti-fraud incentive scheme to ensure that authorities submit valid claims for additional subsidy payments arising from the detection of genuine cases of benefit fraud. It is equally important to prevent fraud from entering the system. An additional £100 million will be made available to local authorities over the next three years to encourage them to adopt the Verification Framework. Through a series of additional checks, carried out throughout the life of a benefit claim, the Verification Framework will help to prevent benefit fraud and error before it has a chance to occur.

  For the longer term we are working with local authorities on the measurement of levels of fraud, the effectiveness of anti-fraud strategies and the whole local authority funding regime.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to adopt a civil law definition of fraud for the purposes of measuring the level of fraud. [79232]

  Mr. Timms
  We have no such plans.

  Single Gateway
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if single mothers using the Single Gateway will be expected to provide the necessary information for pursuing child maintenance payments on their first interview. [79215]

  Angela Eagle
  The Single Gateway will build on the existing close working relationship between the Benefits Agency and the Child Support Agency. Since last year, lone parents have been helped to complete a child support application when they are visited by Benefits Agency staff at the start of their Income Support claim. Likewise, under the new arrangements, we will help parents with care to pursue child support at the earliest possible stage.

  Securing regular child maintenance is one of the keys to helping lone parents move from benefit back into the labour market by providing them with a portable income which will supplement their earnings.
  529

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many different computer systems are operated by his Department's agencies for the purposes of recording data on claimants, payments and contributions. [79224]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Mainframe computer systems used for recording data on claimants, payments and contributions

  Agency

  Computer system

  Benefits Agency

  Audit Trail Analysis System

  Child Benefit Computer System

  Customer Accounting and Payment Strategy

  Departmental Central Index

  Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance

  Earnings Top Up

  Electronic Stop Notice System

  Family Credit/Disability Working Allowance

  Invalid Care Allowance/Attendance Allowance

  Incapacity Benefit

  Income Support Computer System

  Jobseeker's Allowance Payments System

  National Unemployment Benefit System

  Payment Accounting Strategy

  Pensions Strategy Computer System

  Social Fund Computer System

  Child Support Agency

  Child Support Computer System

  Contributions Agency

  National Insurance Records System (2)

  War Pensions Agency

  War Pensions Computer System

  Notes:

  1. The Social Security Agency Northern Ireland makes use of the UK systems for the purpose of recording data on claimants, payments and contributions.

  2. Where two services are shown in the Computer System Column, e.g. Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance, the two sets of data are held on one system.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the benefits covered by the Personal Details Computer System. [79217]

  Mr. Timms
  The Personal Details Computer System (PDCS) will provide the Department with a consistent set of customer personal details for use by all benefit systems. This will improve the accounting and security of benefit expenditure.

  At present, all personal details previously held by the Child Benefit and Income Support computer systems and on Jobseeker's Allowance, plus all details from new claims to these benefits, are being maintained on PDCS.

  New personal details relating to claims for Retirement Pension, short-term and incapacity benefits, Widows Benefit, Maternity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance are also being maintained on PDCS, and we have started the transfer of existing records for these benefits.

  At present there are over 13.7 million records on this system.

  Work-focused Interviews
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security at what intervals claimants will be required to attend repeat work-focused interviews. [79218]
  530
  Angela Eagle
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 556.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long it will take under the proposals in paragraph 3.18 of Safeguarding Social Security to check the integrity of all National Insurance numbers. [79222]

  Mr. Timms
  There are two proposals in paragraph 3.18. The first will involve the checking of 1.8 million individual payroll items against the Departmental Central Index by April 2000.

  The second is about more active management of dormant National Insurance accounts. This would of necessity be a continuing activity because the status of accounts change over time.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proprietorial checks have been carried out on existing staff involved in the issue of national insurance numbers; [79307]

  (2) what reforms have been set in hand to unify the responsibility of staff for the issue of national insurance numbers as described in paragraph 2.10 of Safeguarding Social Security; and if he will make a statement; [79221]

  (3) what checks are in place for the recruitment of new staff involved in the issuing of national insurance numbers. [79223]

  Mr. Timms
  We undertake a range of rigorous recruitment checks which follow Cabinet Office guidelines on all staff prior to employment. All existing Departmental staff are bound by strict rules on propriety which cover, for example, possible conflicts of interest.

  We have recently reviewed all of our recruitment and proprietorial checks and found them to be generally sound. However, we are currently undertaking a risk assessment of posts across the Department (including posts involving the allocation of National Insurance numbers) to determine those that are particularly sensitive and may require further checks. In addition, we are already implementing a number of improvements, including even tougher employment checks for new staff, new mandatory management checks to ensure the correct procedures are fully complied with. To provide a further level of assurance our internal audit will carry out their own checks.

  Measures have been put in place to strengthen the security and control of National Insurance numbers. To improve management control, the number of staff who can issue National Insurance numbers has been reduced by two thirds from 1,500 to 500. We have also introduced an approvals system whereby all new staff have to be approved by a designated manager.

  New Claims
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have been made to clearance time targets to allow for checks on new claims. [79227]
  531
  Mr. Timms
  There has been no change to stated clearance time targets to allow for checks on new claims. However, on Income Support claim clearance times are now measured only from the time that a fully completed claim form and all necessary supporting evidence have been received.

  Minimum Funding Requirement
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how and when the review of the minimum funding requirement was announced. [79397]

  Mr. Timms
  Our intention to review the minimum funding requirement was announced in the Green Paper "A new contract for welfare: Partnership in Pensions", which was published on 15 December 1998.

  The announcement of the terms of reference of the review was by means of a press release on 3 March. On the same day details of the terms were sent to the National Association of Pension Funds, Confederation of British Industry, Trades Union Congress, the Association of British Insurers and the members of the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries.

  Identification
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what instructions will be given to staff on the documents necessary to prove(a) a claimant's identity and (b) a claimant's partner's identity. [79231]

  Mr. Timms
  Departmental guidance for establishing a customer's identity is available in the form of a guide which is held in all DSS offices; it is called the Evidence of Identity guide. It lists examples of documents that may be used by a customer in order to help establish their identity in order to trace or allocate a National Insurance number.

  The same guide is used to guide staff on establishing the identify of a customer's partner or any other adult included in the claim.

  Current procedures require staff to look at documentary evidence provided and ask questions specifically directed at the customer to enable the DSS to get a complete picture of the customer's history.

  Leaflet GL25 (previously BAL4), available to the customer in all DSS offices, assists customers by telling them the sort of documents that would be helpful to bring in to a DSS office when trying to establish identity.

  Married Couples Allowances
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net impact on a two parent single earner family with two children receiving one and half times average household income, taking into account the increase in child benefit, if the married couples allowance was abolished. [74747]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 4 March 1999]I have been asked to reply.

  A two parent single earner family with two children receiving one and a half times median household income will lose £207 from the abolition of married couple's allowance, but will gain £416 from the Children's Tax Credit in 2001–02.
  532

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 March 1999,Official Report, column 499, for what reasons he has not yet reported to the House on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 12 March. [78427]

  Mr. Straw
  I reported to the House on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 22 March 1999,Official Report, columns 23–26.

  Asylum Seekers (Oxfordshire)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to paragraph 3.8 of "Asylum Seekers Support", if the trust has suggested that(a) Cherwell District and (b) other districts in Oxfordshire satisfy the criteria set out in paragraph 3.1. [78583]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is too early to say which areas satisfy the criteria in paragraph 3.1 of the Information Document. That document invited expressions of interest from potential support providers. Responses will inform the choice of location of cluster areas.

  Earlsfield Police Station
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the(a) current and (b) future use of Earlsfield Police Station, Wandsworth. [78538]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that Earlsfield Police Station is currently used as a base by officers of the Area Major Investigation Pool (AMIP), and for local sector officers; for meetings of the local Sector Working Group; and, as necessary, for the storage of lost or stolen motor vehicles.

  Earlsfield is part of Wandsworth Police Division, which is amalgamating with Battersea Division as part of the Metropolitan Police's overall move to Borough based policing. This amalgamation may lead to a review of the use of Earlsfield as a sector base and for meetings of the Sector Working Group. It is envisaged that the AMIP officers will remain at Earlsfield and that it will continue to be used as necessary for the storage of lost or stolen vehicles.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the monitoring arrangements and assessment standards he plans for the support arrangements set out in Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Bill. [78883]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The support arrangements are likely to be provided under contract either to local authorities, housing associations, private sector or voluntary sector organisations. Responsibility for monitoring all aspects of the contractual arrangements will fall to the Asylum Support Directorate which will be set up as new body within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate at the Home Office.
  533
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cash payment he proposes to meet the cost of sanitary protection for female asylum seekers. [78790]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The proposals for non-accommodation support provisions are set out in paragraphs 4.18–4.21 of the Information Document "Asylum Seekers Support" which I published on 22 March. It will be for asylum seekers to use this provision to meet all their essential living needs. In circumstances where support is provided wholly in kind, we would expect contractors to make suitable provision for essential living needs.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which retail and supermarket chains have been consulted over the generic voucher scheme proposed in paragraph 4.17 of the document "Asylum Seekers Support", published by his Department on 23 March. [78947]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Inquiries have been made of a number of potential suppliers and local authorities who use voucher schemes. The Information Document itself continues that consultation process and is intended to identify potential providers with an interest in supplying a voucher scheme.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to paragraph 5.18 of the document "Asylum Seekers Support", published on 23 March by his Department, under what circumstances families with children will not continue to receive support while they lawfully remain in the country. [78949]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Families with children who are recognised as refugees or granted exceptional leave to remain will, if they are eligible, be transferred to the main benefits system. Those whose application for asylum is rejected will normally continue to be supported while they lawfully remain in the country. Support would be withdrawn only in exceptional circumstances, for example, if the families were to leave the accommodation provided or were seriously to abuse it.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for support arrangements for asylum seekers whose cases are not dealt with in the six month time scale set down in the Asylum and Immigration Bill. [78798]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There is no such time scale set out in the Bill. The White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modem Approach to Immigration and Asylum", indicated in paragraph 8.9, that the Government were aiming to ensure that by April 2001 most initial asylum decisions will be made within two months of receipt and that most appeals to adjudicators will be heard within a further four months.

  The support arrangements will be introduced before those targets are met, but are considered to be suitable for cases which take longer than six months overall, provided that such a support arrangement does not continue for several years.
  534
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to make an announcement' concerning the level of cash payment available to asylum seekers under the Asylum and Immigration Bill. [78795]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  This information is set out in paragraph 4.20–4.21 of the Information Document "Asylum Seekers Support" which I published on 22 March. The Government have concluded that adult asylum seekers should receive £7 per week; children aged 3–18 should receive £3.50 per week; and children aged under 3 years should receive £7 per week in cash.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff will be employed in the new Asylum Support Directorate. [78948]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Home Office commissioned KPMG to conduct a study of the structure and size of the Directorate required to manage the proposed new asylum seeker support arrangements. We are currently assessing the recommendations in that report, but initial indications suggest that approximately 300 staff will be required.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to paragraph 4.12 of the document published on 23 March entitled, "Asylum Seekers Support", if he will list the component elements of essential living needs. [78950]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is not my intention to specify the individual elements of essential living needs. These will vary for different asylum seekers according to circumstances. The non-accommodation provision listed in paragraphs 4.18–4.21 of the Information Document are intended to cover essential living needs, but it is for asylum seekers to determine how they use the resources available to them.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce for asylum seekers wishing to make inquiries to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices at Croydon(a) a freephone service, (b) a free post service and (c) methods by which they can be reimbursed for the cost of telephone and postage for such inquiries; and if he will make a statement. [78799]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The provision in paragraphs 4.18–4.21 of the Information Document "Asylum Seekers Support" which I published on 22 March set out the non-accommodation support provision. This provision is intended to cover any telephone and postage costs incurred by the asylum seeker. Where support is provided mainly in kind, providers will need to provide these services at no cost to the asylum seeker.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the number of asylum seekers who claimed asylum in England and subsequently moved to Scotland in each of the last five years; [78645]

  (2) what proportion of asylum seekers applied for asylum in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [78646]
  535
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average cost in staff-hours of effecting the removal of a failed asylum applicant in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [78658]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The amount of staff time spent on removals is extremely difficult to quantify. Cases may, depending on their type and complexity take only a few hours to conclude, or many months. Cases might be completed and removal effected, at the port of entry, but many cases will involve appeals, judicial reviews of periods of detention. All incur costs in staff time. An attempt to quantify the staff cost of effecting an asylum removal could, therefore, be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claimants were removed to a safe third country as a result of him issuing a certificate under section (2)(1)(a) of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 in the last year for which figures are available. [78619]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  In 1998, 750 asylum seekers were removed to a safe third country following the issue of a certificate under section 2 of Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. Numbers have risen over recent months. In the first two months of this year, over 180 asylum seekers were removed to safe third countries.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the current annual cost of supporting an asylum seeker. [78637]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Prosser) on 22 March 1999,Official Report, column 30, which gives the available information on costs of supporting asylum seekers.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many claims for asylum were made by persons who had previously made unsuccessful appeals against a refusal of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available; [78674]

  (2) how many persons in possession of a visa or other form of entry clearance applied for asylum following entry to the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and in how many such cases (a) asylum and (b) exceptional leave to remain was granted. [78643]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refusals of(a) a claim for asylum and (b) an appeal against a refusal of a claim for asylum have been followed by an application for judicial review in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [78673]
  536
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information is given in the table:

  1996

  1997

  Application for leave to move for Judicial Review1,2,3

  1,225

  1,350

  Decisions3

  915

  1,250

  Of which granted leave to move3

  190

  320

  1Figures rounded to the nearest 5

  2Excludes appeals lodged by the Secretary of State

  3Estimates based on Crown Office data

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases penalties paid by(a) airlines and (b) other carriers were refunded as a result of applications for asylum being granted in each of the last five years. [78688]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Charges amounting to £937,000, relating to 566 individual cases have been refunded over the last five years. A breakdown is as follows:

  Year

  £

  1994

  72,000

  1995

  38,000

  1996

  86,000

  1997

  380,000

  1998

  361,000

  All of the refunds related to payments made by airlines. Some of the cases arose prior to the increase in the charge from £1,000 to £2,000 per passenger (i.e. July 1991).

  Voting Arrangements
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to allow all citizens of pensionable age who wish to do so to vote by post in(a) local, (b) national, (c) European elections and (d) referendums; and if he will make a statement; [78931]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to allow all citizens who wish to do so to vote by post in local national and European elections, and in referendums; and if he will make a statement. [78932]

  Mr. George Howarth
  My Working Party on Electoral Procedures is currently looking at possible changes to absent voting arrangements to encourage participation in the electoral process.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Malin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate how many letters at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices in Croydon are unopened. [79300]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The number of unopened letters in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) offices fluctuates from day to day with the volume of the postbag. However, as at 19 March there were approximately 3,900 unopened letters in IND offices. Of these, 3,600 were new applications which are readily identifiable from their envelopes and which are routinely sent unopened to caseworkers designated to deal with them, which allows the caseworker to open and deal with correspondence
  537
  more promptly. An earlier backlog of 18,000 unopened items has now all been opened and sorted. Most letters sent to IND are now opened on the day of receipt.

  Mr. Malin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time that is taken to answer a telephone call to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices in Croydon. [79301]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Calls which connect to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate switchboard are held in a queue until an agent is free to take the call. The average time a caller waits in the queue before their call is dealt with is two and a half minutes.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from(a) foreign Governments, (b) employers and (c) others in the last three months regarding delays by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in dealing with applications made by foreign nationals in the UK. [78662]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have received a number of representations from interest groups and from the business community about the current delays in processing applications to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. To set out all the details of such representations for the hon. Member would divert staff from the more important task of improving levels of service.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate at the most recent date for which figures are available. [78657]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The total for March 1999 was 5,293.

  Immigration Officers (Ports and Airports)
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reinstate immigration offices at airports to check the documentation of outgoing passengers; and if he will make a statement. [79290]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The previous Administration had already removed, in 1994, embarkation controls for passengers travelling from ferry ports and small airports to destinations within the European Union/European Economic Area, with the consequence that some 40 per cent. of all departing passengers were not seen by an immigration officer. There has never been an embarkation control for Channel Tunnel services.

  What was left of the control was, therefore, ineffective in terms of providing a reliable immigration record of a person's departure, and we have since introduced new arrangements following my announcement on 16 March 1998. The new system involves a close partnership between the control authorities and port operators, and is based on intelligence and target led embarkation checks, including the increased use of Closed Circuit Television.

  Resources previously engaged in operating embarkation checks have been re-deployed to improve arrivals control. There are no plans to reinstate routine embarkation controls, although immigration officers will continue to retain their powers to examine departing passengers if circumstances require.
  538
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of non-immigration offences detected as a result of questioning by an immigration officer in the course of dealing with a person seeking leave to enter at a port of entry. [78642]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  When an Immigration Officer discovers evidence of a non immigration offence during the course of an examination, the matter is referred to the appropriate authority (e.g. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise or the Police). This is reflected in the standing instructions to the Immigration Service. No separate assessment of the number of such references, or their outcome, has been made.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions immigration officers exercised their powers to require the captains of ships or aircraft arriving in the United Kingdom to furnish information under the provisions of paragraph 27(2) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. [78672]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is common practice for immigration officers to use these powers in the general administration of the immigration control and to meet the requirements of the Immigration Carriers Liability Act. No separate record of the number of such requests has been made.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were examined by(a) an immigration officer and (b) a medical inspector or other qualified person under the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 of Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971 in the most recent year for which figures are available. [78654]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  All passengers seeking to enter the United Kingdom are subject to examination by an immigration officer, under paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 2, in order to establish their claim to admission. In 1998, this amounted to some 84 million passengers, including British citizens and other European Economic Area nationals.

  No central record is kept of the number of passengers examined by a medical inspector under paragraph 2(2).

  There has been no comprehensive embarkation control for examinations under paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 at cross-Channel ports since 1994 and at all other ports since April 1998.

  Greenwich (Millennium Celebrations)
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the additional demands upon fire services arising from the millennium celebrations in Greenwich; what additional resources have been made available to the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority; and if he will make a statement. [79288]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 19 January 1999,Official Report, column 410. It is for the fire and civil defence authority to set a budget which will enable it to discharge its statutory responsibilities. Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate

  539
  are currently undertaking an independent assessment of the preparedness for the Millennium of all fire brigades in England and Wales. This includes the plans that brigades are making to deal with foreseeable increases in demands, major public events and any problems that may arise affecting essential agencies and utilities.

  Immigration Officers (Arrests)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons were arrested by immigration officers exercising a power of arrest under section 24(2) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the most recent year for which figures are available; [78652]

  (2) how many persons were arrested by immigration officers exercising a power of arrest under section 25(3) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the most recent year for which figures are available. [78653]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Immigration officers have hitherto used their powers of arrest under sections 24(2) and 25(3) of the 1971 Act sparingly, both as a matter of policy and because of the practical difficulties which arise because these powers do not have associated powers of search and entry. Information about the number of occasions on which these powers have been used is not recorded centrally and there is no requirement for it to be recorded locally.

  Immigration (Appeals)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many appeals against deportation orders have been allowed in the case of persons who have been in the United Kingdom for(a) more than seven years and (b) less than seven years in each of the last 10 years; [78681]

  outcome of appeals to the immigration Adjudicators by selected category, 1993–971

  Number of appellants 2

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Appeal category

  Total dealt with

  of which allowed

  Total dealt with

  of which allowed

  Total dealt with

  of which allowed

  Total dealt with

  of which allowed

  Total dealt with

  of which allowed

  All appeals

  29,220

  4,170

  28,620

  3,730

  21,810

  2,440

  26,990

  2,720

  34,950

  4,320

  Refusal of entry clearance:

  for temporary purposes

  12,500

  2,630

  9,250

  1,840

  1,940

  460

  930

  190

  1,100

  240

  for employment, business or independent means

  200

  30

  150

  20

  100

  20

  140

  20

  270

  60

  for wives, children and persons for immediate settlement

  2,420

  400

  2,750

  480

  2,980

  550

  2,920

  710

  3,380

  1,000

  for female fiancàes

  230

  60

  150

  40

  180

  50

  170

  50

  200

  70

  for husbands

  2,330

  480

  2,190

  550

  2,380

  610

  2,740

  740

  3,410

  1,230

  for male fiancèes

  480

  150

  520

  90

  200

  450

  170

  50

  150

  60

  Refusal of certificate of entitlement

  490

  80

  830

  110

  380

  70

  250

  30

  250

  30

  Exclusion

  Appeal at port

  290

  20

  200

  10

  140

  10

  100

  10

  180

  20

  External appeal

  1,020

  60

  800

  60

  200

  10

  170

  20

  120

  10

  Refusal of asylum

  n/a

  n/a

  2,300

  90

  6,830

  230

  13,660

  520

  21,050

  1,180

  Variation of landing conditions

  1,240

  50

  870

  30

  760

  20

  670

  40

  310

  30

  Refusal to vary leave to enter

  6,470

  160

  7,070

  320

  4,100

  290

  3,890

  290

  3,550

  360

  Decision to make a deportation order

  1,460

  40

  1,480

  90

  1,550

  80

  1,100

  60

  890

  50

  Refusal to revoke a deportation order

  30

  3—

  40

  3—

  50

  3—

  40

  3—

  30

  10

  Other enforcement decisions

  40

  3—

  30

  3—

  30

  0

  40

  0

  70

  3—

  1 Figures rounded to 10 with 3 = to 5 or less.

  2 Figures are a count of individual appellants, not cases, except for 'Refusal of asylum'.

  n/a = not available

  Source:

  Immigration Research and Statistics Service RDS, 26 March 1999
  540
  (2) how many persons appealed against a refusal to vary or extend leave to remain by an adjudicator in the last five years for which figures are available; [78668]

  (3) how many appeals were (a) made and (b) allowed against his decision to make a deportation order following a recommendation of a court in the last five years for which figures are available; [78696]

  (4) how many appeals against the refusal of him to revoke a deportation order were (a) made and (b) allowed in cases where the deportation order had been made following a recommendation of the court in the last five years for which figures are available; [78682]

  (5) how many persons who were refused leave to enter the United Kingdom at a time when they held an entry visa or other form of entry clearance appealed against such refusal in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and in how many such cases the appeal was allowed; [78640]

  (6) how many appeals against a refusal by him to revoke a deportation order were (a) made and (b) allowed in the last five years for which figures are available; [78693]

  (7) how many persons in respect of whom a deportation order had been signed appealed against destination; and in how many such cases the appeal was successful in the last five years for which figures are available. [78683]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information is given in the table.

  I regret that it is not possible separately to identify those appeals against deportation recommended by a court, the destination of deportation or where the appellant was in possession of a valid visa or other leave to enter the United Kingdom.

  Nor is it possible to determine the period of residence preceding an appeal against deportation.
  541
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases an application for judicial review was(a) made and (b) granted following a refusal of leave to appeal by Immigration Appeal Tribunal in the last year for which figures are available. [78687]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases(a) leave to appeal was granted and (b) an appeal was allowed following an appeal from an adjudicator to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal over a decision (i) to refuse entry clearance or a visa, (ii) to refuse entry to the United Kingdom, (iii) to refuse to vary or extend leave to remain and (iv) to remove a person as an illegal entrant; and what was the average waiting time in each case in the last year for which figures are available; [78666]

  (2) how many applications for leave to appeal to the immigration tribunal against a decision of an immigration adjudicator in an asylum case were made (a) in 1998 and (b) in each of the preceding 10 years; and in how many of these cases an appeal was (i) allowed and (ii) remitted to the immigration tribunal. [78677]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information, relating to asylum Tribunal appeals, is given in the table.

  I regret that there is no comparable information available regarding non-asylum Tribunal cases.

  Appeals to the Immigration Tribunal in asylum cases, excluding dependants 1994 to 1997 1,2

  Number of principal applicants

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Applications for leave to appeal to the Tribunal

  Total applications

  1,410

  3,070

  5,620

  8,680

  Of which granted leave to appeal

  320

  460

  970

  1,340

  Appeals to the Tribunal

  Total determined

  270

  390

  900

  1,320

  Of which allowed

  10

  20

  55

  90

  Remitted

  190

  240

  550

  730

  1 Estimated figures rounded to 10

  2 Excludes appeals lodged by the secretary of state

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost of processing and determining an appeal against refusal of a visa or other form of entry clearance. [78692]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information is shown in the table:

  Cost of processing and determining entry clearance appeals

  Cost (£)

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)

  1No information available

  Immigration Appellate Authority

  2357.08

  Home Office

  3126.61

  1 FCO costs of processing appeals are only available on an individual post basis.

  2 This is an average unit cost, excluding accommodation costs, for all types of appeal. There is no separate information available for entry clearance appeals.

  3 This is an average unit cost of presenting all appeals. There is no separate information available for entry clearance appeals.

  542
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average waiting time for the determination of appeals against refusal of a visa or other form of entry clearance in each of the last five years; [78691]

  (2) what is the average length of time taken for an appeal against a decision to make a deportation order from the notice of appeal to the determination by an adjudicator. [78679]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information requested is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average waiting time for(a) a decision on leave to appeal from an Immigration Appeal Tribunal and (b) where leave to appeal is granted, an appeal hearing before the Immigration Appeal Tribunal in cases where an appellant seeks leave to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal following a decision of a special adjudicator in each of the last five years. [78676]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that it is not possible to determine the average time between the dismissal of an appeal by an adjudicator and the determination of any appeal to the Tribunal without examining individual files.

  Immigration (EEA)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the bodies in other European Economic Area states which regulate the provision of(a) advice and (b) services corresponding to immigration advice and services. [78615]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We do not hold a list of the bodies in other European Economic Area (EEA) states which regulate the provision of advice and services corresponding to immigration advice and services. Under Part V of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, it will be a matter for the Immigration Service Commissioner to decide what information he or she will need to obtain in order to consider the cases of advisers whose services may be regulated by an EEA body, and the Commissioner will be entitled to expect any such advisers to provide evidence of the nature of any scheme under which their services are regulated.

  Deportation Orders
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportation orders were(a) signed and (b) enforced in each of the last three months for which figures are available. [78635]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is given in the Table. It should be noted that a deportation order enforced in one period may have been signed in an earlier period.

  Deportation action, October to December 1998 1

  Number of persons

  October

  November

  December

  Deportation orders signed

  80

  65

  40

  Deportation orders enforced2

  55

  55

  45

  1 1998 data are provisional

  2A deportation order enforced in one period may have been signed in an earlier period.

  Note:

  All figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
  543
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons who have been detained following a recommendation for deportation after a criminal conviction applied for and were granted bail in the last year for which figures are available; [78680]

  (2) how many cases an application to him to revoke a deportation order whilst the applicant was still in the United Kingdom was (a) made and (b) granted in each of the last five years; [78685]

  (3) how many applications he (a) received and (b) granted for the revocation of a deportation order in the last five years for which figures are available. [78694]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were removed from the United Kingdom in(a) the last three months, (b) the last year and (c) the last three years for which figures are recorded. [78650]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The latest three months for which a provisional removals total is available are December 1998 to February 1999. During that period, some 9,210 persons were removed, or departed voluntarily from the United Kingdom, under port or enforcement procedures.

  The annual totals for the last three years are 26,800 in 1996, 31,110 in 1997 and 34,850 (provisional) in 1998.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum applicants were(a) removed and (b) deported voluntarily from the UK in each of the last five years; and what proportion of the total number of failed asylum applicants they represented. [78663]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information on the numbers of asylum refusals, and removals and voluntary departures of persons who have applied for asylum at some stage, in the last five years is given in the table. It should be noted that: the figures for refusal of asylum and exceptional leave relate to initial decisions by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and do not take account of the outcomes of appeals or other subsequent decisions; and a removal or voluntary departure in one year may relate to a decision to refuse asylum and exceptional leave, or the withdrawal of an asylum application or appeal, in an earlier year. Furthermore, some failed asylum seekers may leave the United Kingdom without the knowledge of IND, or before enforcement action has been initiated, and will not be recorded in the removals and voluntary departures figures. As the available information on refusals and removals of asylum seekers is not therefore directly comparable, it is inappropriate to these figures to calculate removals and voluntary departures as a proportion of refusals.
  544
  A person cannot be removed until all rights of appeal in the United Kingdom have been exhausted and thereafter significant barriers to removal may exist, such as a lack of documentation, judicial review or absconding.

  Refusals 1, removals and voluntary departures of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, 1994 to 19984

  Number of persons

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19984

  Refused asylum and exceptional leave

  16,500

  21,300

  31,670

  28,945

  22,315

  Removed2

  1,640

  2,270

  3,680

  5,340

  35,020

  Departed Voluntarily2

  580

  900

  1,140

  1,790

  31,770

  1 Information relates to initial asylum decisions excluding the outcomes of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  2 A removal or voluntary departure in one year may relate to a decision to refuse asylum and exceptional leave taken in an earlier year.

  3 1998 removed and departed voluntarily figures are estimated.

  41998 data are provisional.

  Note:

  All figures are rounded.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recommendations for deportation he received from the courts; and how many he signed in the last year for which figures are available. [78695]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  In 1998, some 340 recommendations for deportation were received from the courts. During the same year, 270 deportation orders were signed following a court recommendation for deportation. These data are provisional. It should be noted that a deportation order signed in one year may relate to a court recommendation received in an earlier year and some sentences may be for more than one year and so the deportation may be signed before their release some time later.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases applications for asylum following a decision by him to make a deportation order in respect of the person concerned were(a) received and (b) granted in the last five years for which figures are available. [78686]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is given in the table. It should be noted that a grant of asylum in one year may relate to an application lodged in an earlier period.

  Persons applying for asylum after a deportation order had been signed against them 1, number of applications and number of grants of asylum, 1994 to 1998

  Number of persons

  Year

  Asylum applications received2

  Grants of asylum 3

  1994

  195

  4

  1995

  250

  0

  1996

  145

  5—

  1997

  70

  5—

  19984

  25

  0

  1 Asylum application made at least one day after a deportation order had been signed

  2 Applications data are round

  3 It should be noted that a grant of asylum in one year may relate to an application lodged in an earlier period

  4 1998 data are provisional

  5 Represents 1 or 2

  545

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the current total number of persons living in the UK who have no legal right to do so; and, of these, how many(a) have had enforcement action initiated against them but not completed, (b) have not yet had enforcement action initiated against them and (c) have absconded. [78665]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There is no estimate of the total number of persons living in the United Kingdom who have no legal right to do so. There is no figure for the number of persons in the United Kingdom who have no right to be here but against whom enforcement action has not been initiated.

  As at January 1999, the number of persons against whom enforcement action has been initiated but not completed (including absconders) stood at 67,000. But some of these may still have outstanding legal appeals which means they cannot be removed yet.

  As at the end of November 1998 the number of known absconders was 31,500. This covers persons subject to port or enforcement action who had breached conditions of temporary admission, temporary release or restriction order, or were otherwise known to be out of contact with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). Some persons recorded as absconders may have departed from the United Kingdom without the knowledge of IND.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of lorry drivers who report clandestine entrants to(a) the police and (b) other authorities on discovery of such persons in their vehicles in the UK. [78698]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Without having some idea of the number of drivers who actually discover clandestine entrants in their vehicle, any estimate of the proportion who report the matter can only be speculation. Many clandestine illegal entrants already report to the authorities of their own accord. Our aim should be to prevent them arriving in the first place.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were granted leave to enter the United Kingdom in(a) 1997 and (b) 1998 after being removed from the United Kingdom as a result of a breach of immigration law in the preceding three years. [78601]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has(a) commissioned or (b) evaluated into the carrying out of checks by lorry drivers for the presence of clandestine entrants in their vehicles. [78699]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have had a number of meetings with representatives of the road haulage industry, in the course of which we have discussed possible precautionary measures; and I have made it clear that I am happy to have further discussions if this would be helpful. However, the Home Office has not commissioned any independent research into this subject and has not yet participated in the evaluation of research by others, but officials have advised on the work they have done in this area.
  546
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the proportion of road haulage operators and lorry drivers who have experienced incidents involving clandestine entrants. [78701]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Over 9,000 cases of clandestine illegal entry were detected or otherwise came to light during 1998. It is not possible to make an assessment of the proportion of road haulage operators and drivers who were responsible for bringing them into the country. It is not possible either to assess the proportion who were involved in unsuccessful attempts to gain entry to their vehicles.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the proportion of road haulage operators with procedures in place for the prevention of clandestine entrants. [78700]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am aware that the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has issued guidance to its members on this subject. It is not possible to judge how many will have acted on that advice or obtained advice from elsewhere and, of course, not all operators entering the United Kingdom will be members of the RHA.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were arrested under the provisions of Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last year for which figures are available. [78655]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information on the number of people arrested under the provisions of Schedule 2 is not collected centrally.

  Provisional figures for 1998 indicate that 27,600 passengers were refused leave to enter and removed, 16,460 illegal entrants were detected and 3,920 people were served with a notice of intention to deport for overstaying or breaching conditions. However, by no means all of these would have been arrested under Schedule 2. Some would have come to light as the result of an application for leave to enter or remain, others may have come to light after being arrested in connection with other matters.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many clandestine entrants were discovered concealed in a vehicle by (i) immigration officials, (ii) port authorities and (iii) the police(a) at a port of entry and (b) subsequently in the last five years for which figures are available. [78618]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Details of the total number of clandestine illegal entrants who were detected or who brought themselves came to notice during each of the past five years are given in the following table. We do not distinguish between cases detected at port of entry and those who come to light subsequently, neither do we distinguish according to who detected them.

  Year

  Number of clandestine illegal entrants

  1994

  1,810

  1995

  3,360

  1996

  4,110

  1997

  4,040

  19981

  9,320

  1Provisional estimate

  547
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the prevalence of clandestine entrants in vehicles gaining access to the vehicle through its roof. [78617]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am aware that in some cases there is evidence that entry was gained by this route but we have made no comparative assessment of method of access.

  Persons convicted and persons sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for offences1 under sections 24 and 25 of Immigration Act 1971 by type of offence, England and Wales, 1997

  Section

  Offence 1 description

  Total convicted

  Sentenced to immediate custody

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK in breach of a deportation order

  2

  1

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK without leave

  16

  10

  24(1)(aa)2

  By means of deception obtains or seeks leave to enter or remain in UK

  —

  —

  24(l)(b)(i), 24(1)(c)

  Overstaying time limit of leave

  11

  6

  24(l)(b)(ii),24(1)(d)

  Failure to observe conditions of leave

  5

  —

  24(1)(e)

  Failure to observe restrictions under Schedule 2 or 3 as to reporting to police or an Immigration Officer as to residence

  2

  —

  24(1)(f)

  Disembarks in the UK from ship or aircraft after being placed on board with a view to removal from UK

  1

  —

  24(1)(g)

  Embarks in contravention of a restriction imposed by Order in Council

  —

  —

  25(1)(a)3

  Knowingly facilitating the entry of an illegal entrant

  130

  101

  25(1)(b)3

  Knowingly facilitating the entry of an asylum claimant

  —

  —

  25(1)((c)3

  Knowingly facilitating leave to remain of persons by means of deception

  1

  —

  25(2)

  Knowingly harbouring an illegal entrant or person who is in breach of the conditions of his leave

  3

  —

  1 Principal immigration offence

  2 As added by section 4 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

  3 As added by section 5 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

  Immigration Advisers
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those who responded to the consultation document on control of unscrupulous immigration advisers; which consultees were(a) in favour of, (b) in favour subject to specific criticisms of and (c) against, the proposals in the document. [78634]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government's consultation document on the control of unscrupulous immigration advisers did not present a single set of proposals, but invited views on a range of issues and options for change. Of 53 respondents to the paper, all were in favour of regulating those who provide immigration advice for profit and are not already subject to a regulatory system; 22 were in favour of the independent regulation of solicitors; 22 were against regulation of solicitors, but 11 of these expressed some concerns or reservations about the adequacy of the current regulation of solicitors in this field of work.

  Child Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the time limit for further representations following interviews in the case of unaccompanied child asylum applicants. [78597]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Children are an extremely vulnerable group and therefore, unaccompanied children will not normally be interviewed about the substance of their claim if it is possible to obtain sufficient information to decide the claim from written representations or other sources.
  548
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were(a) convicted of an offence under (i) section 24 and (ii) section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 and (b) sentenced to imprisonment as a result of such a conviction in the last year for which figures are available. [78605]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information for 1997 held on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database is given in the table.

  In the event that an interview was necessary in a particular case, normal time limits would apply, but as in all other cases an extension would normally be granted if there was a good reason for the delay, and full account would be taken of the applicant's vulnerability. Obviously, any undue delay in deciding an application once the circumstances are known would not be in the child's interest.

  Bogus Marriages
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many marriages have been reported by the Registrar General to his Department as marriages entered into for the purpose of breaching immigration control since 1994; [78604]

  (2) how many reports of sham marriages from the Registrar General to his Department have resulted in action being taken against one or both of the parties for breach of immigration law or control in each year for the last 10 years. [78603]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The number of marriages reported by the Registrar General in each of the past 5 years is given in the following table:

  Year

  Number of marriages reported

  1994

  404

  1995

  467

  1996

  519

  1997

  354

  1998

  450

  549
  It is not possible to identify those cases where enforcement action has occurred as a result of this notification as these are not distinguished from other enforcement cases. The information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

  Leave to Remain
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications for(a) leave to remain in the United Kingdom, (b) variation of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom and (c) fixing an indefinite leave stamp on an applicant's passport or travel document as the result of the removal or replacement of a previous passport were there in each of the last five years; [78639]

  (2) how many persons in receipt of limited leave (a) applied for a variation or extension of their leave to remain and (b) had such an application granted in 1998. [78622]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information relates to initial decisions on applications for an extension of stay, excluding dependants. The numbers of such decisions, excluding those in respect of an asylum application, were:

  Year

  Number

  1994

  185,000

  1995

  169,000

  1996

  180,000

  1997

  173,000

  1998

  157,000

  151,000 of the decisions in 1998 were grants of an extension of stay, including indefinite leave to remain. I regret that the other information requested is not available.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the current cost of processing applications for(a) leave to remain in the United Kingdom, (b) the variation of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom and (c) the fixing of an indefinite leave stamp on an applicant's passport or travel document as a result of the removal or replacement of a previous passport. [78671]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Our estimate of the average cost of dealing with applications for(a) and (b) is £90. This includes direct costs and overheads, including accommodation. The cost of fixing an indefinite leave stamp on a passport will be significantly less than this.

  Embarkation Control
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were charged with an offence after being stopped at embarkation controls(a) in each of the three years before April 1998 and (b) since April 1998. [78651]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information requested is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many airlines were waiting for an application for approved gate check status at a550
  port of embarkation to be dealt with on (a) 1 May 1997 and (b) according to the latest figures which are available. [78608]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The figure for 1 May 1997 is not available. The current number is 46 (from 19 airlines).

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average waiting time for an application for approved gate check status at a port of embarkation to be dealt with on(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) according to the latest figures which are available. [78606]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  All applications for approved Gate Check (AGC) status are actioned upon receipt. A site visit is invariably required before AGC status can be granted. The estimated average waiting time for a decision on routine applications is:(a) on 1 May 1997–173 days and (b) currently—144 days.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average waiting time for an application for British Citizenship in the last year for which figures are available. [78660]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Applications for British Citizenship fall into two categories: naturalisations or registrations. As at the end of February 1999, naturalisations are taking 20 months on average to complete, whilst registrations are taking 7 months. The overall average time is currently 18 months.

  Unlawful Discrimination
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into alleged unlawful discrimination arising out of Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. [78620]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Commission for Racial Equality, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and the Trades Union Congress have separately recounted to us instances of alleged unlawful discrimination reported to them, but the Home Office has not separately commissioned research.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he carried out with(a) business organisations and (b) others regarding a code of practice for the avoidance of unlawful discrimination by employers who seek to comply with the provisions of section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. [78621]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  A Code of Practice for the avoidance of unlawful discrimination was proposed in the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum", published last July. Comments from business organisations and others were invited at the time of publication.

  No business organisations have been directly consulted since then but consultations on the proposal have taken place with the Commission for Racial Equality, (CRE) the Trades Union Congress and other interested organisations. The current proposals provide for the CRE and

  551
  organisations or associations representative of employers and workers to be consulted on the preparation of the draft code of practice.

  Family Visitors
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many family visitors were refused an entry clearance(a) as a visitor, (b) in order to follow a course of study of not more than six months duration and (c) with the intention of studying but without having been accepted for any course of study in the last year for which figures are available. [78667]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. In 1998, 78,600 persons were refused entry clearance for travel to the United Kingdom other than for settlement, of whom 9,600 were students or prospective students.

  Forfeiture Orders
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many orders for forfeiture were made under section 25(6) of the Immigration Act 1971 in each of the last five years. [78669]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database is given in the table.

  Number of offenders given forfeiture orders under subsection 25(6) of the Immigration Act 1971, England and Wales, 1993–97

  Year

  Offenders

  1993

  1—

  1994

  —

  1995

  1

  1996

  3

  1997

  14

  1 not available

  Work Permits
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long he expects the concession to employees requiring work permits for prospective employers in respect of work permit delays to continue. [78703]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  For as long as it is needed. We will keep its operation under review.

  Asylum Seekers (Slovakia)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum claims from Slovakian nationals were certified in the last year for which figures are available. [78656]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Of 335 initial decisions made in applications for asylum by nationals of the Slovak Republic in 1998, 27 per cent. were certified.

  Asylum Seekers (Eurostar)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to the French Government about the arrival in the UK of asylum seekers on Eurostar. [78704]
  552
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend is in close contact with his French counterpart, M Chevènement, about this matter. At their last meeting in Paris on 11 March, they discussed a range of options to deal with the problem, including imposing charges under the carriers' liability arrangements.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals have claimed asylum at(a) Waterloo Station and (b) elsewhere after arriving in the UK on a Eurostar service since 1 January. [78705]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  535 asylum applications, excluding dependants, were made at Waterloo in January and February 1999. I regret that information on how many asylum applications were made elsewhere after arriving in the United Kingdom on a Eurostar service is not available.

  Lost Passports
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints he received regarding the loss of passports of foreign nationals by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in(a) the last three months and (b) 1998. [78649]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Complaints received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are not recorded centrally on the basis of subject matter. Information kept centrally is in respect of the number of compensation claims dealt with as a result of maladministration.

  In 1998, 62 claims for compensation were dealt with, the majority of which arose because of lost documents. During 1999, 19 claims for compensation have so far been dealt with. A number of claims received in 1998 and this year remain to be determined.

  Forged Documents
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of persons seeking to obtain entry to the UK through the use of forged visas or entry clearance documents; and how many such forgeries were detected, in the last year for which figures are available. [78638]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  During 1998, there were 6,338 recorded forgery detections at ports: these include the attempted use of forged or counterfeit documents, the use of fraudulently obtained documents and instances of attempted impersonation. There were 362 cases involving the use of a forged or counterfeit visa. We have not attempted any assessment of the number of forged visas which are not detected.

  Visas
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce the stamping of visas to indicate when they have been used. [78689]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  None. The stamping of visas would slow down the immigration control process. One of the aims of the planned reforms set out in the Immigration and Asylum Bill is to develop a flexible and streamlined system of immigration control to enable bona fide travellers to pass through more quickly. We have
  553
  made provision in the Bill for measures to be introduced to achieve these aims and, in particular, to provide for the issue of a visa or other entry clearance to have the effect of also granting leave to enter. In taking these flexibility measures forward, we will be looking at greater simplification of visa processes and how these and our operations in general might be improved by technological developments in immigration control.

  Racist Incidents
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the incidence of(a) racial and religiously motivated attacks and (b) other criminal offences committed against asylum seekers. [78600]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information on racist incidents is collected centrally, but asylum seekers are not separately identifiable in the statistics.

  Airlines (Carrier's Liability)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much is owed in penalties arising out of carrier' s liability incurred by airlines more than(a) three months, (b) six months, (c) 12 months and (d) two years after the penalty was incurred. [78609]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  As at 24 March 1999, the amounts owed by airlines were as follows:

  (a) more than three months: £6,620,480

  (b) more than six months: £4,658,480

  (c) more than twelve months: £3,772,480

  (d) more than two years: £3,058,480.

  These amounts include £1.8 million which is the subject of legally binding agreements, and £1.1 million is covered by outstanding writ action.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons with an entry visa or other form of entry clearance were refused leave to enter on arrival in the United Kingdom in the last five years for which figures are available. [78641]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information is available only on entry clearance holders refused leave to enter and removed at the 13 largest ports. The figures for 1995–98 are as follows:

  Year of removal

  Number

  1995

  530

  1996

  640

  1997

  740

  1998

  720

  Immigration Detainees (Bail Applications)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for bail by persons held in detention for immigration reasons under(a) the Immigration Act 1971 and (b) any other provision
  554
  were made to (i) an adjudicator and (ii) the Immigration Appeal Tribunal; and how many such applications were granted in each year for the last five years. [78670]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police Officers
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of police officers employed in(a) the National Crime Squad and (b) the National Criminal Intelligence Service as at 30 September 1998; if he will list the number of police officers employed at 30 September 1997 on a basis which permits a comparison with (a) and (b) above; and if he will make a statement. [79196]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Number of police officers

  National Crime Squad

  National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS)

  30 September 1997

  1,325

  1253

  30September 1998

  1,344

  238

  1 Information on the number of police officers in NCIS for 30 September 1997 has been provided by the Director General

  The funding of the National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service will increase by 13.8 per cent. and 8.8 per cent. respectively in 1999–2000.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the strength of police forces in England and Wales as recorded in March 1999; and if he will make a statement. [79195]

  Mr. Boateng
  This information will be collected in accordance with normal procedures. Once all the returns have been received from police forces and validated, the statistics will be placed in the Library. I expect this information to be available in early June, on the basis of last year's timetable.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letter of 3 February to the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), on behalf of his constituent Mr. Perry. [79168]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  A reply to the right hon. Member's letter of 3 February will be sent this week.

  Special Adjudicators
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many of the appeal cases before a special adjudicator a certificate was issued by him and on what grounds, in the last year for which figures are available. [78684]
  555
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Certified asylum adjudicator appeal outcomes, excluding dependants, by category 1,2 1997

  Certified category

  Para 5(2)

  3,075

  Para 5(3)a

  420

  Para 5(3)b

  810

  Para 5(4)a

  205

  Para 5(4)b

  35

  Para 5(4)c

  225

  Para 5(4)d

  5

  Para 5(4)e

  20

  Total

  4,790

  1 Figures rounded to nearest 5.

  2 Figures are estimates based on cases for which information is records.

  Key to category codes

  Para 5(2) Designated country of destination

  Para 5(3)a Failure to produce without reasonable explanation, a passport on arrival

  Para 5(3)b Applicant gained or attempted entry using a false passport

  Para 5(4)a Claim did not show fear of persecution

  Para 5(4)b Claim was manifestly unfounded or where grounds have fallen away

  Para 5(4)c Claim was made after refusal of leave to enter

  Para 5(4)d Claim was manifestly fraudulent/evidence was manifestly false

  Para 5(4)e Claim was frivolous or vexatious

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average time taken for an adjudicator to determine an appeal against refusal of leave to enter in each of the last three years; [78623]

  (2) what is the average waiting time for an appeal to a special adjudicator in an asylum case between when the claim is refused to the determination of the appeal, according to the most recent figures. [78625]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information is that, on average, the waiting time, over the last six months, for a special adjudicator to determine an asylum appeal is estimated to be 13 months. This relates to the date of the receipt of the appeal at the Independent Appellant Authority not the date of the refusal as requested. Information on non-asylum appeals is not recorded centrally.

  Drugs Prevention Initiative
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a report on the progress of his Department's Drugs Prevention Initiative. [79552]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I am publishing on 30 March, the Home Office Drugs Prevention Initiative's (DPI) eighth and final progress report.

  This report reflects the Initiative's valuable contribution to advancing the case for effective community based drugs prevention over the last 9 years. That contribution was fully recognised in the Government's White Paper on Drugs, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain", published in April last year. The work of the Initiative, in terms of its good practice findings from its rigorously
  556
  evaluated demonstration projects, has helped influence thinking and improve the evidence base for drugs prevention.

  The Initiative reaches its planned conclusion on 31 March 1999. The White Paper recognised the need for successor arrangements to the Initiative, to support the Government's 10 year anti-drugs strategy. I am pleased to announce that the Home Office Drugs Prevention Advisory Service (DPAS) will replace the DPI from 1 April 1999. The new service will cover the whole of England and will work closely with all Drug Action Teams to encourage good drugs prevention practice and to support their work in delivering the national strategy.

  I am placing a copy of the final DPI report in the Library tomorrow at 10.30 am.

  Prisoners (Health Care)
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the joint Prison Service and NHS Executive review on the future organisation of prisoners' health care; and if he will make a statement. [79553]

  Mr. Straw
  A copy of the Report by the Joint Prison Service and NHS Executive Working Group on the future organisation of prisoners' health care has been placed in the Library, along with a Table giving a detailed response to the recommendations and action points.

  The Report identifies a range of weaknesses with the current organisation and provision of healthcare to prisoners. While there is good work being done, looked at as a whole, there is considerable variation in the organisation, funding, delivery and quality of prisoner health care, with variable links to the NHS. The Report makes clear that this situation is largely the product of a historic legacy of ad hoc development and relative isolation from the NHS. This means that, on the whole, prison health care is reactive rather that proactive; and well developed primary care teams, health needs assessments and appropriately planned services, are the exception rather than the rule.

  The Government accept the recommendations and action points set out in the Report and reaffirm the existing aim of prison health care to give prisoners access to the same quality and range of health services as the general public receives from the NHS. The reform of prison healthcare poses problems and issues of a complex nature and will take place against the background of NHS reform. This means that change must be carried out in stages. The Government's response combines immediate action to improve service delivery, with a joint approach to future policy development and further work on identification of prisoner needs, priorities, timescales for improvement and organisation.

  First, the Report has identified a number of areas where priority action is needed, and which can begin to be addressed within the existing comprehensive spending settlement. As a start, the Government intend that, by the end of 1999, work will have been carried out to pilot a new prison reception health screening tool. This will help staff more effectively to identify the health needs and status of each individual prisoner and plan how to meet their individual treatment needs. In parallel with this

  557
  work, a health needs assessment template will be developed to help prisoners and health authorities determine the health needs of their prison population.

  With immediate effect, doctors newly appointed to undertake any kind of primary care in prisons will be required to hold a certificate from the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice (JCPTGP) or have recognised equivalent accreditation to practice primary care medicine. Doctors currently providing primary care services who do not hold the JCPTGP certificate will be encouraged to work towards obtaining it. The Government also accept the case made in the Report that nursing care in prisons should be under the direction of registered nurses. Where this is not the case, Prison Service establishments will work towards achieving it as soon as possible.

  The Report draws particular attention to the needs of the large number of prisoners with mental health problems. Within the framework of radical reform set out in the Government's White Paper "Modernising Mental Health Services—Safe, sound and supportive", published in December 1998, the needs of prisons will be taken into account when planning all inpatient mental health services including high and medium secure services. And, in order to support prisoners for whom a transfer to hospital would not be appropriate, Health Authorities will ensure that service agreements with NHS Trusts include outreach services for prisoners. These services will aim to provide appropriate mental health care for persons in prison custody and to achieve continuity of care when moving between secure prison accommodation and community mental health services.

  Secondly, the Government in particular welcome the proposal for greater joint working between the Prison Service and the NHS. This is in keeping with the Government's broader policy initiative, "Modernising Government", by removing barriers and disincentives to cross-departmental working where that is necessary for the delivery of better and more effective services.

  Ministerial and departmental accountabilities will remain as now: the Prison Service being accountable for the provision of primary care and the NHS for specialist services and for care provided in NHS hospitals. But future planning and delivery of prisoner health care will be underpinned by joint working and planning at national, regional and local levels. Practical benefits on the ground are likely to include the proper integration of health promotion and health care into prison regimes, and arrangements to ensure continuity of health care on receipt into custody, transfer to hospital, or on release back to the community. Health improvement programmes will be expected to reflect these objectives.

  In order to put the joint organisation and planning of prison health care on a firm footing, the Chief Executive of the NHS Executive and the Director General of the Prison Service, will, as recommended in the Report,
  558
  establish in the course of 1999 a Joint Prison Health Policy Unit and a Joint Prison Health Care Task Force. These Units, working with the Prison Service and the NHS will lead and manage the process of change.

  The Joint Prison Health Policy Unit will be expected to set overall standards and policy, provide clear strategic direction for prison healthcare, and to advise both Home Office and Health Ministers. This Unit will replace the current Prison Service Directorate of Healthcare and will be physically located in the NHS Executive in the Department of Health. The Prison Healthcare Task Force will draw on staff of appropriate experience from the Prison Service, the NHS and other organisations. Its principal roles will be to offer expert advice and support the joint work that prisons and health authorities will need to do in identifying and implementing plans to improve health services to prisoners and in making the best use of available resources. The publication of this Report signals the importance that the Government attach to establishing joint working arrangements between each prison and their local health authority. Prisons and health authorities will be asked to start their joint work in the course of this summer.

  Thirdly, this reorganisation will not only greatly strengthen the co-ordination of prison health care, but form the basis for further work, including an assessment of how budget-setting might best reinforce effective care, the identification of prisoner health needs, the formulation of improvement plans and consequent financial implications, and advice on priorities so as to achieve the effective use of resources.

  The Report notes that the scale of the problem with prison health care will not become clear until health authorities and prisons have jointly assessed the local health needs and have formulated improvement plans. It is not, therefore, possible at this stage to say when all the objectives set out in the Working Group's Report can be achieved. However, the Government will be taking steps to identify the scale of the problem and the resources needed to improve performance against standards comparable to those available in the community. The Task Force will aim to provide advice on good practice. Also, through pilots and in other ways, it will help to identify different organisational models of local delivery that meet the primary health needs of prisoners and that are cost effective. In the course of next year a formal review will be carried out to assess structural issues, priorities, timescales and future possible resource requirements.

  While the arrangements set out above will apply to England, there is a need to ensure consistency throughout the Prison Service including the four prisons in Wales. The Secretary of State for Wales fully endorses the principles behind the Report's recommendations. The Welsh Office, and in due course the Welsh Assembly, will be working with the Department of Health and Prison Service to implement proposals to improve prison health care in ways compatible with Welsh circumstances.

  Arms Embargoes
  Arms Embargoes
  EU: Procedures for Choosing President and Commissioners
  EU: Procedures for Choosing President and Commissioners
  British Council: Grants to Artists
  British Council: Grants to Artists
  Sudan
  Sudan
  Sudan: British Council Budget
  Sudan: British Council Budget
  European Commission: Membership
  European Commission: Membership
  Iraq: UN Sanctions
  Iraq: UN Sanctions
  Rwanda: International Criminal Tribunal
  Rwanda: International Criminal Tribunal
  Russia: Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
  Russia: Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
  Prisoners' Healthcare
  Prisoners' Healthcare
  Drugs Prevention Initiative
  Drugs Prevention Initiative
  Handguns: Compensation Claims
  Handguns: Compensation Claims
  Trials of Children who Commit Grave Crimes
  Trials of Children who Commit Grave Crimes
  Enforcement Cameras
  Enforcement Cameras
  Crime (Sentences) Act, Section 4
  Crime (Sentences) Act, Section 4
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Computer System
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Computer System
  Asylum Decisions
  Asylum Decisions
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Asylum Applications
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Asylum Applications
  Salvador Allende
  Salvador Allende
  General Pinochet
  General Pinochet
  Children: Age of Consent
  Children: Age of Consent
  Referendums: Nolan Committee Recommendations
  Referendums: Nolan Committee Recommendations
  Children and the NHS
  Children and the NHS
  Ethnic Minority Pupils
  Ethnic Minority Pupils
  Watercourse Pollution
  Watercourse Pollution
  Photocard Driving Licences
  Photocard Driving Licences
  Severn Rail Tunnel
  Severn Rail Tunnel
  Vacant Council Housing
  Vacant Council Housing
  Shipping
  Shipping
  Receipts from Sale of Council Housing
  Receipts from Sale of Council Housing
  Traffic Control Systems: Millennium Compliance
  Traffic Control Systems: Millennium Compliance
  GM Crop Trials: Risk Assessment
  GM Crop Trials: Risk Assessment
  Nesscliffe Bypass
  Nesscliffe Bypass
  Caravans Occupied by Travellers
  Caravans Occupied by Travellers
  Contaminated Land
  Contaminated Land
  Regional Development Agencies: Membership Nomination
  Regional Development Agencies: Membership Nomination
  Water Fluoridation
  Water Fluoridation
  Leasehold and Commonhold
  Leasehold and Commonhold
  Business Aviation in the South-East
  Business Aviation in the South-East
  Northern Ireland Community Attitudes Survey
  Northern Ireland Community Attitudes Survey
  Assisted Areas Map
  Assisted Areas Map
  Arms Procurement
  Arms Procurement
  Electricity Generation
  Electricity Generation
  Equine Viral Arteritis
  Equine Viral Arteritis
  Lobsters and Crawfish
  Lobsters and Crawfish
  Intervention Board
  Intervention Board
  Badger Culling
  Badger Culling
  Genetically Modified Seeds
  Genetically Modified Seeds