Written Answers of 30 March 1999

DEFENCE

  Strategic Defence Review (Joint Initiatives)
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made on implementation of the Strategic Defence Review joint initiatives. [79609]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Joint Rapid Reaction Forces (JRRF) concept builds on the Joint Rapid Deployment Force to provide a pool of highly capable force elements, maintained at high and very high readiness and trained to undertake short notice force projection operations of all kinds. We plan to have this larger, much improved and more balanced capability in place by October 2001. The forces that are needed to meet the JRRF requirement have already been identified and an initial operational capability will be achieved on 1 April 1999.

  The Joint Force Headquarters, which is co-located at Northwood with the Permanent Joint Headquarters in peacetime, will be expanded to enable it to command two simultaneous operations. It will be provided with a dedicated signals squadron drawn from 30 Signal Regiment based at Bramcote in Warwickshire.

  The authority of the Chief of Joint Operations, based at Northwood, will be increased and he will assume greater responsibility for Joint training, standards and exercises. To assist him in this task, a new 2* post, that of Chief of Joint Force Operational Readiness and Training (CJFORT) will be created from 1 April 1999.

  To meet the need for increased deplorability and flexibility in ground-based air defence, a Joint Rapier Training Unit will be formed at RAF Honington on 1 April 1999.

  Recognising that the proliferation of biological and chemical weapons programmes presents a continuing threat to our deployable forces, a Joint NBC Regiment will be established from 1 April 1999, initially at RAF Honington for at least four years. The Regiment will consist of Army personnel mainly from 1st Royal Tank Regiment and RAF personnel from the RAF Regiment. It will also include elements of the Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

  A Defence NBC HQ will be established at Winterbourne Gunner on 1 April 1999. It will control both the Joint NBC Regiment and the Defence NBC Centre, command responsibilities for which will transfer from the Army Training and Recruiting Agency to RAF Strike Command on 1 April 1999.

  A Joint Doctrine and concepts Centre will be formed, located at Shrivenham. An Implementation Team will form at the beginning of April in London and will establish an Initial Capability at Shrivenham from September this year. It is planned to achieve a full capability from April 2000.
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  Reserve Forces
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to continue to call out reservists to support military operations. [79665]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  A new call-out order will be made under Section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. This will allow members of the reserve forces to continue to be called out to support operations in Yugoslavia and in the region of Iraq. The order will cease to have effect on 31 March 2000.

  Chemical Defence Programme
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's chemical defence programme. [79669]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The UK's defence programme is designed to protect against the use of chemical weapons. Such a programme is permitted by the Chemical Weapons Convention, with which the United Kingdom is fully compliant. Under the terms of the Convention, we are required to provide information annually to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. In accordance with the Government's commitment to openness, a copy of the summary which has been provided to the Organisation outlining the UK's chemical defence programme for 1998 has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Armed Forces (Uniforms)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries whose textile companies have been awarded contracts from his Department for armed forces uniforms for the last five years. [77469]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: Textile companies from the following countries have been awarded contracts by my Department for Armed Forces uniforms over the past three years:

  United Kingdom

  Germany

  Belgium

  Italy

  Spain

  Canada.

  Details are available for the last three years only as before this time information on clothing and textiles procurement was not recorded centrally.

  Training Costs
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average cost of training a new recruit in each of the armed services. [78782]

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

  Military Transmissions (Interference)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of potential interference to military transmissions from the
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  development of technology to deliver high-speed internet connections via powerlines; and if he will make a statement. [78868]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence and the Radiocommunications Agency have investigated the potential for such technology to interfere with military communications. The indications are that it has the potential to interfere with military and other users of the radio spectrum. I understand that the Radiocommunications Agency is consulting affected parties and is preparing to place limits on levels of emitted radio interference to safeguard military and other transmissions.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to date of the bombs dropped on Iraq by British forces in Operation Desert Fox and subsequent military actions over Iraq. [78972]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The costs to date of bombs dropped on Iraq by British forces in Operation Desert Fox and subsequent military actions over Iraq is approximately £4 million.

  Mesothelioma
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have(a) been diagnosed as suffering from and (b) died from mesothelioma in the last five years. [77638]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 29 March 1999]: There have been no recorded incidents of Service personnel suffering or dying from mesothelioma in the last five years.

  Plutonium Processing
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what capital spending is planned on plutonium processing(a) by his Department and (b) by Hunting Brae in Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement; [79512]

  (2) what environmental impact assessment has been made of the effect of new plutonium reprocessing at Aldermaston; what consultation there has been with the Environment Agency; and if he will make a statement. [79511]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place copies of my letters in the House of Commons Library.

  RAF Wittering (Air Crash)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the report on safety procedures in respect of the crash of an RAF harrier at RAF Wittering on 31 October 1997. [79509]

  Mr. Spellar
  The RAF Board of Inquiry process into the accident involving a RAF Harrier GR7 on 31 October 1997 is nearing completion and a summary of its findings will be published in the next few months.
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  Chinook Helicopter
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Air Accident Investigation Branch was able to extract a complete full authority digital engine control fault history from the digital electronic control unit that was destroyed on impact following the crash of RAF Chinook ZD576 in June 1994; [78422]

  (2) if the full authority digital engine control system fitted to the Chinook Mk2 was validated before it was brought into operational service; [78423]

  (3) if the surviving digital electronic control unit retrieved from the wreckage of RAF Chinook ZD576 in June 1994 had the capacity to record the complete full authority digital engine control fault histories of both engines. [78424]

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

  Departmental Food (Sourcing)
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of pigmeat consumed by his Department's personnel is sourced from outside the United Kingdom. [79337]

  Mr. Spellar
  The procurement of food for the Armed Forces is contracted to Booker Foodservice who import some 50 per cent. of the bacon and gammon required by the Armed Forces. The balance of the requirement for bacon and gammon and 100 per cent. of the pork requirement is presently sourced in the UK.

  MOD Police
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with whom he has entered into agreements or contracts or signed memorandums of understanding which extend to Ministry of Defence police officers the powers and privileges of constables(a) on land in respect of which he has agreed to provide the services of the Ministry of Defence police under notices published in the London, Belfast and Edinburgh Gazette and (b) in relation to matters connected with anything done for the purposes of the Ministry of Defence or the Defence Council. [75276]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Secretary of State for Defence has agreed to provide the services of the Ministry of Defence Police to:

  (a) the Royal Mint, Llantrisant, concerning which a notice was placed in the London Gazette on 5 May 1987;

  (b) Devonport Dockyard, concerning which a notice was placed in the London Gazette on 3 March 1997;

  (c) Rosyth Dockyard, concerning which a notice was placed in the Edinburgh Gazette on 28 January 1997.

  The Secretary of State does not have to enter into an agreement for members of the MOD Police to have the powers and privileges of constables in relation to matters connected with anything done under a contract entered into by him for the purposes of his Department or the Defence Council: jurisdiction is conferred by section 2(2) or section 2(3) of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Overseas Territories
  Mr. Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement of 17 March 1999,Official Report, columns 1125–27, if he will list the British overseas territories that meet in full international standards on money laundering, transparency in regulation of their financial sectors, co-operation with law enforcement authorities and independent financial regulation. [78002]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 23 March 1999]: None at present meets all these requirements. The Overseas Territories are at differing stages of developing regulatory regimes which are acceptable to the international community.

  The White Paper on the Overseas Territories expands on the measures we consider necessary to ensure the OTs meet accepted international standards of financial regulation by the end of 1999. HMG will monitor progress in the OTs and continue to provide them with advice and support in drafting and effectively implementing legislation.

  An independent review of financial regulation will be conducted in the OTs to check what progress has been made in implementing these measures. The review will also make recommendations on how to deal with issues outstanding and to what timetable. If any OTs are found to be inactive or behind, HMG will seriously consider whether to use our powers to ensure the standards are met.

  Exports
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) of 12 March 1999,Official Report, columns 399–400, on exports, what the role of British Trade International will be in respect of the promotion of the export of British nuclear technologies. [78975]

  Mr. Fatchett
  British Trade International will support the promotion of the export of British nuclear technologies, as Overseas Trade Services did in the past, in conformity with our export and non-proliferation obligations.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take in response to Recommendation 1382 (1998) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concerning the drawing up of a European code of conduct on arms sales. [78874]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Recommendation 1382 (1998) calls for a number of actions by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Committee of Ministers has instructed the Ad Hoc Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law to prepare an opinion on the Recommendation. It is our understanding that there will be no further consideration of the Recommendation by the Committee until the opinion has been received.
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  Falklands (Human Rights)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many suspected or actual cases of human rights violations connected with vessels operating in the waters surrounding the Falklands took place in each of the last three years. [79039]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  No cases of human rights abuses involving fishing vessels were recorded by the Royal Falkland Islands Police in 1996. In 1997, three incidents were reported in which mistreatment of seamen was suspected. These were pursued to the extent possible, but legal action could not be taken. Of two reported incidents in 1998, one resulted in the successful prosecution of the Captain of a fishing vessel. Both HMG and FIG take human rights violations seriously and continue to monitor the situation.

  Democratic Republic of Congo
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the four British officials who were expelled on 7 March were visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo. [79165]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Three of the officials were in Kinshasa to conduct a routine review of the Embassy's civil contingency plan, the fourth (a State Department employee on an exchange programme with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) was there to provide temporary cover for staff absences in the Embassy.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence the Democratic Republic of Congo presented to his Department in support of the detention and expulsion of British Embassy staff and four British officials on 7 March. [79164]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  None.

  Algeria
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the Algerian Government, bilaterally and through the EU, to co-operate with the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance and to facilitate a visit to the country in order to conduct an independent investigation of disappearance cases. [79014]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We will continue to urge the Algerian Government to co-operate with all UN human rights mechanisms, including the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, both in our bilateral dialogue and through the EU.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Algerian Government calling on them to release all prisoners held in secret and unacknowledged detention unless they are to be charged with recognisably criminal offences. [79068]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We regularly raise with the Algerian Government our concerns about alleged human rights violations, both bilaterally and through the EU. To this end we support the work of the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances and urge the Algerian Government to honour their obligations to co-operate with this and all other UN human rights mechanisms.
  565
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press for a resolution on Algeria at the United Nations Commission for Human Rights at Geneva. [79013]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We are our EU partners are considering our positions for this year's Commission on Human Rights, which runs until the end of April. Much will depend on the position taken by the Algerian Government to acknowledge their obligations under the UN Charter and agree to allow in UN Special Rapporteurs on Extra-judicial Executions and on Torture, and co-operate with all UN human rights mechanisms.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current human rights situation within Algeria. [79012]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The human rights situation in Algeria continues to cause us concern. In its latest report, the Working Group on Enforced Disappearances of the United Nations Economic and Social Council lists 731 cases of disappearances in Algeria since 1991. Only 11 have been addressed by the Algerian government to the Working Group's satisfaction. Over the same period there have also been numerous allegations of extra-judicial executions and torture by the Algerian security forces.

  It is fair to say that the number of new disappearances cited by the UN in the last 12 months is well down on previous years. But this is no substitute for independent investigations into all cases. We continue to urge the Algerian Government to allow independent UN Special Rapporteurs free access to the country to investigate all alleged human rights violations, as they are obliged to do under the UN Charter.

  Ambassadors for British Business
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to appoint additional business ambassadors. [79153]

  Mr. Fatchett
  A small number of Ambassadors for British Business will be retiring from their main business employment in 1999. We may consider replacements for them during the year.

  Diplomatic Posts
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many posts in his Department at(a) ambassadorial and (b) Consul-General level have been advertised in the last year. [79073]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  No Ambassadorships were advertised in the last year. The post of Director General Trade and Investment US and Consul General New York, was advertised in September 1998.

  Yemen
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Britain and Yemen. [79072]
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  Mr. Fatchett
  Our long-standing relations with Yemen have been strained by recent incidents of kidnap involving British tourists, one of which resulted in the death of three British nationals, and by the arrest in Yemen of eight British nationals on terrorist-related charges. We are determined not to allow these set backs to cloud otherwise friendly relations. The Prime Minister wrote to Prime Minister Iriyani again on 24 March to help maintain dialogue at the most senior level, and to press our concerns about serious shortcomings in the legal process in the trial of the British nationals in Aden.

  Task Forces
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list all those task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997 which have set up(a) sub-groups, (b) working parties and (c) other subsidiary committees; [79265]

  (2) if he will list for all task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997 (a) their dates of establishment, (b) those which have issued final reports and their dates of publication, (c) those which have been terminated and their dates of termination and (d) for those bodies still in existence, expected reporting and termination dates. [79285]

  Mr. Fatchett
  None.

  Ascension Island
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the US Government's contribution to the central fund on Ascension. [79401]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The US Government do not contribute to any central fund on Ascension. The Base on Ascension was built by the US Air Force during the Second World War and is provided free from rent and charges under the terms of the Agreement between the UK and US Governments Concerning the Extension of the Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground by the Establishment of Additional Sites in Ascension Island signed in 1956, as amended.

  Sierra Leone
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom will apply the £10 million worth of new assistance for Sierra Leone which he announced on 2 March; what assurances he has received about its use; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to arms sales to Sierra Leone. [79670]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 2 March 1999,Official Report, columns 854–901, a new UK commitment of £10 million to promote stability in Sierra Leone. The objectives are to help the West African Peacekeeping Forces, ECOMOG,

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  push back the rebels; to encourage the rebels to lay down their arms and return to civilian life; and to create a professional and democratically accountable Sierra Leone Army.

  Access to this new £10 million package of assistance is conditional upon matching pledges of support from other international donors. I am pleased to report that we have now received the full amount of £10 million in matching donations as a response to our lead in the promotion of lasting peace in Sierra Leone.

  Our new package of £10 million will be used as follows:
  We have already given substantial logistic support to ECOMOG to enable it to consolidate the security situation. We have decided that £5 million will now be made available to provide further equipment for ECOMOG. Deliveries of equipment for ECOMOG forces will be arriving shortly;
  £4.5 million will be used to fund a UK programme to train and equip a new Sierra Leone Army. A small UK military advisory team has been deployed to oversee basic training of the new Sierra Leone Army and to assess their longer-term training requirements. As part of this train and equip programme, we will be providing boots and uniforms. We will also be providing rifles and ammunition. We will be delivering this equipment shortly.

  As a condition for proceeding with this programme, we have sought and secured assurances from President Kabbah that he will pursue a twin track—diplomatic and military—approach to obtaining a lasting political peace; that recruitment for the new Sierra Leone Army will take place without ethnic discrimination; that children will not be used by the Sierra Leone Armed Forces or the Civil Defence Force; and that equipment supplied by the UK to the Government of Sierra Leone will be used only in accordance with international human rights standards and international humanitarian law.

  President Kabbah is also in the process of consulting ECOWAS to ensure that the supply of arms by the UK does not breach the ECOWAS small arms moratorium of October 1998.

  UN Security Council Resolution 1171 prohibits the sale or supply of arms and related material to Sierra Leone, other than to the Government of Sierra Leone through named points of entry. There is also an exemption to allow the sale of arms for the sole use in Sierra Leone of ECOMOG or the United Nations. The United Nations Arms Embargo (Amendment) (Sierra Leone) Order 1998 implements the United Nations Arms Embargo on Sierra Leone in the UK. Applications for licences under the Order in Council relating to the sale or supply of arms and related material to the Government of Sierra Leone or ECOMOG or the UN are considered on a case-by-case basis.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the closure of the Kosovo-Macedonian border to Kosovan refugees; and if he will make a statement. [79507]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We welcome the reopening of the border between Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 24 March, following representations by the EU Presidency and others. This will facilitate the work of 568
  the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in helping those who are fleeing Kosovo. The UNHCR can count on the support of the international community.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of the Russian Federation on the situation in Kosovo. [79515]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As fellow members of the Contact Group, we have remained in close touch with the Russians throughout the Kosovo crisis. The Prime Minister last discussed Kosovo with Russian Prime Minister Primakov on 25 March. The Foreign Minister discussed Kosovo with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov on 29 March.

  We will gladly take any opportunity to discuss this subject with the Russians. This is a subject on which we want to stay closely in touch.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date requests were made by the UK representative at the UN for a meeting of the Security Council to discuss the situation in Kosovo. [79516]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We took the lead in bringing the situation in Kosovo before the Security Council in the late summer and autumn of 1998. The Security Council has been kept fully informed of developments since then. As Co-Chairs, we briefed the Council on the outcome of the negotiations which took place at Rambouillet and in Paris in February and March.

  The Security Council debates on 24 and 26 March demonstrated the strength of support for NATO action.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what undertakings were given to the Government of Montenegro(a) at the Rambouillet Conference and (b) afterwards, concerning military action by NATO forces. [79514]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  No undertakings have been given to the Government of Montenegro concerning NATO military action. However, we have expressed strong support for the political and economic stability of Montenegro, particularly at this critical time for Yugoslavia and Montenegro.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Task Forces
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list for all task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997(a) their dates of establishment, (b) those which have issued final reports and their dates of publication, (c) those which have been terminated and their dates of termination and (d) for those bodies still in existence, expected reporting and termination dates. [79286]

  Mr. Byers
  The information requested is set out in the table.
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  Review/Task Force

  Date established

  Actual or expected date of final report

  Actual or expected termination date

  Review of Company Law

  4 March 1998

  Spring 2001

  Spring 2001

  DT/HMT review of company rescue mechanisms

  29 January 1999

  July 1999

  July 1999

  President's Advisory Group

  23 July 1997

  No written report—advice given orally at meetings.

  30 June 1998

  Competitiveness Working Parties

  1 December 1997

  6 April 1998

  6 April 1998

  Tech Stars Steering Group

  December 1997

  Not expected to produce written report

  Anticipated to be Summer 1999

  Oil and Gas Industry Task Force

  17 November 1998

  Summer 1999

  September 1999

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all those task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997 which have set up(a) subgroups, (b) working parties and (c) other subsidiary committees. [79264]

  Mr. Byers
  Two task forces and policy reviews with external members established by my Department since May 1997 have set up working groups

  The Review of Company Law's independent Steering Group has set up six working groups, looking at the purpose of company law and the needs of small and closely-held firms; company formation, capital maintenance and regulation and boundaries of the law; international issues and information and communications technology; vehicles and structure; corporate governance (directors); and corporate governance (shareholders).

  The Oil and Gas Industry Task Force has set up seven working groups, looking at long-term vision; competitiveness; fiscal issues; regulation and licensing; skills and training; innovation and technology; and sustainable development.

  Caribbean Countries (Trade)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps were taken by his Department to revise European Union policy to protect the United Kingdom's trading relationship with Caribbean countries within World Trade Organisation rules during the period of the United Kingdom presidency. [79096]

  Mr. Wilson
  The UK's trading relationship with the Caribbean forms part of the wider EU relationship with the ACP countries (sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific) enshrined in the Lomé Convention. This provides a framework for trade, aid and political relations with the ACP. Under Lomé, ACPs have open access to the EU market for industrial goods and for a wide range of agricultural products.

  The current (fourth) Lomé Convention expires in 2000. A negotiating mandate for a new Convention was adopted under the UK Presidency at the General Affairs Council (GAC) on 29 June 1998. The Commission's draft mandate suggested that these new arrangements, after a 5-year roll-over of current arrangements to 2005, should be in the form of Free Trade Areas between the EU and groups (yet to be defined) of ACP countries. In response to the concerns of the UK and some other member states, the mandate as agreed by the Council commits us to examine the position of those ACPs not able to join in FTAs, in order to provide a new framework for trade which will offer them equivalent access to the EU market
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  as at present under Lomé. Whatever the final balance of arrangements, the EU will of course have to ensure that they are compatible with WTO rules.

  Those ACP countries who are unable or unwilling to enter into FTA negotiations will still be eligible for the EU Generalised System of Preferences scheme which offers entry into the EU market with reduced import tariffs. However, these provisions are not as generous as Lomé and the ACP have expressed concern that they will lose their market access. The UK as Presidency worked hard to ensure a mandate which clearly indicated that the ACP would retain equivalent market access under the GSP and that GSP terms would need to be improved during the review of the scheme in 2004.

  We believe that these revisions reflect the interests of the Caribbean and our other Lomé partners.

  Departmental Staff (Ethnic Origin)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin, at 1 March, of(a) his private office, (b) Government special advisers, (c) his Policy Unit and (d) staff in total. [78506]

  Mr. Byers
  (a) On 1 March 1999, the DTI employed 71 staff in Private Offices and Parliamentary and Correspondence Sections, of whom 15 were known to be of ethnic minority origin (i.e. 21 per cent.).

  (b) I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 39.

  (c) The Department does not have a separate Policy Unit.

  (d) My right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will provide information in a written answer shortly.

  Parental Leave
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate he has made of the number of employees of(a) small and medium enterprises and (b) larger companies who will opt to take paternity leave each year; [76670]

  (2) what estimate he has made for (a) small and medium enterprises and (b) larger companies of the number of man hours that will be spent each year administering the new paternity leave directive; [76671]
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  (3) if he will estimate the average annual cost to (a) a small or medium enterprise and (b) a larger company of employing and training additional staff to cover for employees on paternity leave. [76791]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: We shall be consulting on the detailed implementation. Only when this has been completed can a realistic estimate be made of the Parental Leave Directive.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on British companies and information technology users of the legislation introduced in the United States of America limiting the liability and damages that can be awarded in millennium bug-related cases. [78871]

  Mr. Wills
  The so-called 'Good Samaritan' legislation in the United States of America, which provides companies with limited liability protection for certain statements regarding Year 2000 compliance, is designed to stimulate public disclosure of those companies' millennium bug preparations. It has been suggested that this limited protection may lead companies and individuals to seek redress in overseas countries such as the UK. My Department has considered this issue and concluded that there is no substantive evidence to suggest that UK companies will as a result be exposed to a greater risk of litigation. I believe that, in practice, the 'Good Samaritan' legislation has to date provided no protection for US companies in lawsuits about the Bug.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of introducing legislation to limit the liability and damages that can be awarded in millennium bug-related cases. [78870]

  Mr. Wills
  This issue has been addressed within my Department in consideration of preparations for the millennium. It is possible that the introduction of limitations of this type would encourage companies to divulge additional information on their state of readiness, but this could unreasonably limit the availability of existing remedies available to consumers under, for example, the Sale of Goods Act 1979. The issue of disclosure in the UK is being addressed by Action 2000's Pledge 2000, whereby companies can make declarations of intent confirming their commitment to exchange information to allow others in their supply chains to prepare for the Year 2000, and to using dispute resolution outside the courts wherever possible. I believe that, on balance, the case for further legislation of this type has not been made.

  Export Controls
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 15 March 1999,Official Report, column 475, on export controls, what amount of the debt arising from Export Credits Guarantee Department claims were repaid between November 1997 and February 1999 by the Governments of (a) Algeria and (b) Jordan. [78951]

  Mr. Wilson
  In the period from 1 November 1997 to 28 February 1999 Algeria paid £1 million of principal and £19 million of interest under the UK/Algeria 572
  Debt Agreements. Under the current UK/Jordan Debt Agreements principal repayments do not commence until June 1999. Interest paid during the period amounted to some £23 million.

  Competitiveness
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the business leaders who have contributed to the six competitiveness working parties. [77790]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 25 March 1999]: The following people were members of the six competitiveness Working Parties:

  Encouraging Innovation Competitiveness Working Party

  Bevan Braithwaite, Chairman, TWI

  Dr. Peter Doyle, Director, Zeneca Group plc

  John Golding, Chairman, Hewlett-Packard Ltd.

  Anthony Greener, Joint Chairman, Diageo plc

  Jan Hall, Partner, Spencer Stuart and Associates Ltd.

  Dr. Sue Ion, Director, Technology and Operations, BNFL

  Stephen Lusty, Managing Director, Airmaster Engineering Ltd.

  Roy McNulty, Chairman, Short Brothers plc

  Dr. George Poste, Chief Scientific and Technology Officer, SmithKline Beecham plc

  Professor Sir Gareth Roberts, Vice Chancellor, Sheffield University

  Jonathan Sands, Managing Director, Elmwood Design Ltd.

  Dan Sequerra, Chief Executive, Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council

  John Sorrell, Chairman, Interbrand Newell and Sorrell, and Chairman, Design Council

  Promoting Best Practice Competitiveness Working Party

  Alec Daley, Chairman, Anite Group plc and Chairman, CBI National Manufacturing Council

  James Dyson, Managing Director, Dyson Appliances Ltd.

  Sir Tom Farmer, Chairman and Chief Executive, Kwik-Fit Holdings plc

  Jackie Kernaghan, World-Wide Sales Director, Forte UK Ltd.

  Tina Mason, Business Manager, Dutton Engineering (Woodside) Ltd.

  Professor Colin New, Deputy Director, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University

  Mrs. Amber Paul, Director, Caparo Industries

  Rosemary Radcliffe, Head of Economics, Coopers & Lybrand

  John Saunders, Chief Executive, Hereford and Worcester, Business Link

  Fiona Skinner, Business Development Manager, R. F. Brookes Ltd.

  Cob Stenham, former Chairman, Arjo Wiggins Appleton plc

  Lynn Williams, National Officer, Amalgamated Engineering & Electrical Union

  573
  Information Age Competitiveness Working Party

  Sir Jeremy Beecham, Chairman, Local Government Association

  Alan Calder, Chief Executive, Business Link London City Partners

  Julia Collins, Partner, Coopers & Lybrand

  Sue Davidson, Director BT Business Connections, BT plc

  Brian Davis, Chief Executive, Nationwide Building Society

  Ron Dunn, Chairman and Chief Executive, Ascada Ltd.

  Mike Fischer, President, Research Machines plc

  Balram Gidoomal, Chairman, Winning Communications Ltd.

  Nigel Hartnell, Managing Director, ICL Services

  James Hehir, Chief Executive, Ipswich Borough Council

  Terry Leahy, Chief Executive, Tesco plc

  William Sargent, Joint Managing Director, FrameStore

  Peter Swann, Professor of Economics and Management of Innovation, Manchester Business School

  Suzanna Taverne, Group Strategy Director, Pearson plc

  Tony Young, Secretary General, Communication Workers Union

  Workforce Development Competitiveness Working Party

  Brendan Barber, Deputy General Secretary, Trades Union Congress

  Bruce Collings, General Manager, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Ltd.

  David Compston, Managing Director, Allott & Lomax

  Jeremy Crook, Chief Executive, Black Training and Enterprise Group

  Jeannie Drake, Deputy General Secretary, Communication Workers Union

  Anthony Dubbins, General Secretary, GMPU

  John Edmonds, General Secretary, GMB

  Professor Alan Gibb, Chairman, Small Business Centre, Durham University Business School

  Allan Johnston, Personnel Director, British Steel plc

  Mike Kinski, Director, Scottish Power plc

  Anne Minto, Deputy Director General, Engineering Employers Federation

  Tony Morgan, Managing Director, Industrial Society

  Stephen Moss, Chairman, Springboard

  John Oliver, Chief Executive, Leyland Trucks Ltd.

  Bryan Sanderson, Managing Director, The British Petroleum Company plc

  Peter Smith, Chief Executive, Wigan Borough Council

  Ann Toler, Head of Personnel, Boots The Chemists Ltd.

  Perween Warsi, Managing Director, S&A Foods Ltd.

  Cecilia Wells, HR Consultant

  Gwenda Williams, Human Resource Manager, Hyder plc

  Business Investment Competitiveness Working Party

  Sir David Barnes, Chief Executive, Zeneca Group plc

  Professor S. K. Battacharya, Director, Warwick Business School

  Ronald Cohen, Chairman, APAX Partners & Co. Ventures Ltd.

  Dr. Chris Evans, Director, Merlin Scientific Services Ltd.

  Amelia Fawcett, Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Morgan Stanley Group (Europe)

  Robert Fleming, Operations Director, Pace Micro Technology plc

  574

  Alan Hughes, Director, ESRC Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge

  Judy Lever, Director, Blooming Marvellous Ltd.

  Roger Lyons, General Secretary, MSF

  John Melbourn, Deputy Chairman, 3i Group plc

  Magnus Mowat, Non Executive Director, Allen Plc

  Helen Murlis, Director, Hay Management Consultants Ltd.

  Tom O'Neill, Managing Director, Pilkington Optronics

  John Rose, Chief Executive, Rolls Royce plc

  Dominic Shorthouse, Managing Director, E. M. Warburg, Pincus & Co. International Ltd.

  Malcolm Taylor, Managing Director European Operations and Senior Vice President, Bridgeport Machines Ltd.

  David Watson, Group Treasurer, The British Petroleum Company plc

  Competitiveness in Europe Working Party

  Peter Agar, Deputy Director-General, Confederation of British Industry

  Keith Bogg, Divisional Director, Marks & Spencer plc

  Sir John Carter, Chief Executive, Commercial Union plc

  C. K. Chow, Chief Executive, GKN plc

  Iain Evans, Chairman, Hyder plc

  Donald Hepburn, Senior Business Economist, Unilever plc

  John Langston, Chief Executive Officer—Automotive, TI Group plc

  Peter Lehmann, Commercial Director, Centrica plc

  Christopher King, Chairman, Avon Rubber plc

  Henry Manisty, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Reuters Ltd.

  Keith McCullagh, Chief Executive Officer, British Biotech plc

  John Mellon, Director, Reed Elsevier plc.

  Market Reports
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to change the current scale of charges for market reports; and if he will make a statement. [78433]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Export Forum report, placed in the Library of both Houses, concluded that the current level of prices was close to what the market will bear. A review of the chargeable services themselves is planned to start in April and the new Chief Executive of British Trade International, Sir David Wright (current Ambassador to Tokyo), will wish to consider the outcome of the review before decisions are taken.

  Export Promotion
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to increase(a) awareness and (b) take-up of the Export Marketing Research Scheme; and what funding has been made available for the (i) current and (ii) next financial year. [78431]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Scheme's budget for the current financial year is £1,195,000. £1,550,000 has been allocated for 1999–2000. My officials and the Scheme's contractor (British Chambers of Commerce) have drawn
  575
  up and are implementing a comprehensive action plan to increase awareness and take-up of the Scheme. This includes:

  Direct mail to eligible companies of more than 20 employees

  8,000 letters sent out; 400 have contacted BCC asking for additional information and 18 applications have been received to date

  The placing of editorial material in relevant publications

  Ensuring presence at organised events and speaking at export clubs

  EMRS was represented at 28 events (exhibitions, seminars etc) in 1998

  An Internet presence:

  www.britishchambers.org.uk

  Staging regional "Showcase" events for companies

  10 showcases presented to 285 companies; 19 applications have arisen

  The publication of a regular EMRS Newsletter which is distributed to over 3000 past and prospective customers as well as intermediaries.

  Steps are also being taken to refresh intermediaries' knowledge of the scheme through:

  3 half day showcases held in 1998 completing national coverage for intermediaries and export advisers (52 attended)

  4 two-day training courses in export marketing research specifically tailored to the business advisers (50 attended)

  Direct mail to 300 trade associations. BCC are currently discussing projects with 20 different trade associations.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he proposes to continue support from his Department for the Languages for Export Advisory Scheme. [78432]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Languages for Export Advisory Scheme is currently being reviewed as part of the normal evaluation programme for DTI schemes. The Chief Executive and board of British Trade International will consider the future of the Scheme after the review is completed.

  Overseas Postings
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a list of staff of his Department currently posted overseas identifying(a) the capacity in which they are posted, (b) their grade and (c) their terms of service. [78439]

  Mr. Wilson
  At senior levels (Range 10 and above) 26 managers are in post overseas. Below that level, 12 officers are in posts under the Overseas Attachment Training Scheme. A small number of additional staff are likely, at any time, to be in posts overseas. Details of these are not kept centrally in a form which enables the data readily to be aggregated.

  It would not be appropriate to list individuals' appointments and terms of conditions as requested. Most of these staff are on loan to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, usually on FCO terms of service. Others are on secondment or detached duty, for example to the European Commission, on the terms of the receiving organisation.
  576

  Sterling Rates
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of each one per cent. increase in sterling against the euro on(a) industrial profits and (b) jobs in manufacturing. [77591]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 February 1999,Official Report, column 403.

  Fixed Rate Export Finance Scheme
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of ECGD's Fixed Rate Export Finance Scheme. [79666]

  Mr. Wilson
  Over the past year, the Government have been undertaking a fundamental review of ECGD's financing support for UK exports, including the FREF arrangements which have been scheduled to expire on 31 March 1999. The review has included a formal consultation process and follow-up work involving ECGD, Treasury and Bank of England officials as well as representatives from the UK exporting community. A number of options are being evaluated. More time is needed to complete the review and for ECGD to negotiate with the banks an appropriate successor to the current scheme. The current arrangements are, therefore, being rolled forward for a further 6 months.

  Objective 2 Areas
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the eligibility of areas under Objective 2. [79667]

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make an announcement on the distribution of EU structural funds for the regeneration of deprived areas. [78990]

  Mr. Wills
  The discussions between Member States and the Commission on the reform of the Structural and Cohesion Funds were concluded at the Berlin Council on 25 March.

  I am pleased to say that the UK has negotiated an outcome that is fair and affordable to all future and existing Member States, including the UK. One notable success for the UK was the securing of the safety net which maintains two thirds of the existing Objective 2 and 5b population coverage.

  The Government will consult widely with all those with an interest, principally local and regional bodies, on the determination of proposed areas and the criteria to be used to ensure that we target the areas of greatest need. Careful consideration will be given to the relative needs of different areas across the UK. I am issuing today a public consultation document which will set out the basis on which interested parties will be invited to make their submissions. I am also placing copies of the document in the Library of the House and the Vote Office.

  Those wishing to make representations should do so to the appropriate Government Office in England, the Scottish Office, the Welsh Office and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland. Other Departments with an interest include the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries

  577
  and Foods for fisheries and rural areas and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for tourist-dependent areas, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Department for Education and Employment.

  In order to meet the likely deadline of mid-June for submission of the proposed Objective 2 areas to the European Commission by each Member State, the public consultation will end on 25 May 1999.

  renewable Energy Generation
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when he expects to publish his consultation paper on renewable energy generation; and if he will make a statement; [79085]

  (2) what targets he has established for the generation of electricity from renewable sources. [79086]

  Mr. Battle
  I have today published a consultation paper "New and Renewable Energy—Prospects for the 21st Century" which reports on the outcome of the Government's review of new and renewable energy policy.

  The Renewables Review paper demonstrates that there is tremendous potential for renewables to become a fully competitive part of UK energy supply. Renewables make an important contribution to secure, sustainable and diverse energy supplies in the UK. They are an essential element of a cost-effective climate change programme and will help the Government meet their environmental objectives at the least cost to the customer. Renewables play a vital role in enabling the UK to meet its environmental targets of reducing greenhouse gases by 12.5% by 2012, and the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010.

  The document shows that producing 10% of UK electricity from renewables appears to be feasible. The Government intend working towards a target of renewable energy providing 10% of UK electricity supplies, cost effectively, as soon as possible. I want to achieve this by 2010. However, this should not be seen as an end in itself, but a step forward on the road to making renewables a strong, world-beating industry.

  There are already considerable benefits of the renewables industry. The UK industry employs 3,500 people. Through creating. an export drive, and by further developing the industry and the UK market, up to 45,000 jobs could be created.

  The Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) has already provided over £600 million of support for renewables. Support for renewables under NFFO will accelerate in the first decade of the next century and could rise to around £150 million a year. NFFO has played a major part in stimulating the industry and bringing down the costs of renewables. As a result of NFFO, an industry of some 700 organisations has been developed. This is why the Government want to see how NFFO can evolve, and to see how it can help the industry to thrive even more.

  The review document therefore presents options for possible ways to support renewables while they are reaching market prices. It looks at both the costs and benefits of moving towards a greater use of renewables. In particular, it looks at options for a revised NFFO in the competitive energy markets of the future.
  578
  In addition, the Government have provided an increased budget for DTI's New and Renewable Energy Support Programme. They have allocated £43.5 million over the next three years for R&D to help achieve its aim.

  The Government are pressing ahead with reform—electricity liberalisation, for instance, is giving consumers the ability to choose their electricity supplier—including green electricity. Suppliers are now offering green tariffs and the Government hope consumers will take up this opportunity to stimulate growth in renewables.

  Solar energy also has real potential in the longer term. This is why the Government have recently asked for industry's involvement in taking forward three major new photovoltaic initiatives. In addition, last year I switched on the first solar panel system for a British school, as part of the Government's Foresight Scolar programme. I believe that such schemes can play a valuable part in the development of the UK renewables industry.

  This report identifies key issues and challenges which the Government and industry would need to pursue. Issues examined in the paper include: planning arrangements; opportunities for developing energy crops; and arrangements to ensure that embedded generators—those directly connected to local distribution systems, often the case with renewables producers—receive a fair price for their electricity. It seeks views on the issues raised to enable the Government to frame their future policy.

  I look forward to receiving those views, and plan to make a further announcement about the way forward in due course. The Government are committed to encouraging sustainable development, to ensure a better quality of life for all.

PRIME MINISTER

  Royal Household
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future of the grant-in-aid to the Royal Household for communications and information work. [79671]

  The Prime Minister
  Subject to the approval of Parliament, from 1 April 1999 the Government intend to merge the small grant-in-aid that was established last year on the COI vote with the property services grant-in-aid on the vote of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This will avoid the circularity of the COI providing the Royal Household with the funds to purchase specialist services partly from itself. Communications and information expenditure will be separately identifiable in the Report of the merged grant-in-aid prepared by the Royal Household, copies of which the Secretary of State will place annually in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. As now, the Memorandum of Understanding will make clear that the Department does not have any responsibility for the functions and engagements undertaken by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family or for the Royal Household's decisions on the content of the communications and information provided from the grant-in-aid.
  579

  OSCE
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Prime Minister if there are any changes in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe. [79672]

  The Prime Minister
  The right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) becomes a full representative of the delegation in place of the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge), who now becomes a substitute member.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Diarmuid O'Neil
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Crown Prosecution Service will take a decision about whether criminal charges should be brought as a consequence of the police investigation into the death of Diarmuid O'Neil. [78964]

  The Attorney-General
  The investigation report of the Metropolitan Police is being carefully considered by the Crown Prosecution Service in accordance with the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. A decision on whether any criminal charges should be brought will be made as soon as possible after the case has been reviewed.

  Hamilton v. Al Fayed Judgment
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will place a copy of the authorised transcript of the judgment in the Hamilton v. Al Fayed appeal in the Library. [79838]

  The Solicitor-General
  A copy of the Times Law Report is held in the Library. A copy of the authorised transcript will be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Planning Costs
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the proposed Town & Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations will be devolved matters for(a) the National Assembly of Wales and (b) the Scottish Parliament. [77213]

  Mr. Meale
  Not for the part of the Control of Major Accidents Hazards Regulations (COMAH) which relates to health and safety. COMAH also contains environmental requirements. Environment matters are to be devolved in Scotland. Ministerial functions in connection with the provision of information by the competent authority, insofar as the exercise of these functions concerns the environment in Scotland, are transferred to Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998.

  Commission for Integrated Transport
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when 580
  he will announce the appointments to the Commission for Integrated Transport; and if he will make a statement. [79571]

  Mr. Prescott
  I have today appointed David Begg as Chair and Sir Trevor Chinn as Vice-Chair of the new Commission for Integrated Transport. The selection process for the other members of the Commission is still under way, but I hope to be able to announce the complete composition of the Commission by May. It will then begin its work of building on the consensus established around last year's Transport White Paper.

  David Begg, who was prominent in advising the Government during the preparation of the White Paper, has established a reputation for action in tackling Edinburgh's transport problems, and has the dynamism and commitment to make the Commission an influential voice in realising the objectives of the White Paper. Sir Trevor, who is Chairman of the motor services group Lex, will support Professor Begg by bringing an understanding of people's attitudes to transport, including the views of motorists.

  I am delighted that Professor Begg and Sir Trevor have agreed to work together to lead the Commission. The Commission's success in helping put integrated transport into practice will depend on it having the authority and energy to press transport policy forward. It will need to bring with it all those involved in providing transport services and all of us affected by its impacts. Professor Begg and Sir Trevor, coming from different backgrounds but sharing the same goal of a better, more sustainable transport system, are the right combination to ensure the Commission makes a real difference. Together they constitute a balanced team who look forward to establishing an effective Commission and adding real value to the transport debate.

  Departmental Cash Limits
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits for 1998–99. [79771]

  Mr. Prescott
  The cash limit for Class VI, Vote 4 (local government and regional policy, England) will be reduced by £2,300,000 from £32,294,969,000 to £32,292,669,000. This decrease reflects savings on special grant in support of Private Finance Initiative projects, resulting from delays in starting some projects. It will allow increases of £1,000,000 in the DETR/LGR (local government reorganisation) non-voted cash limit and £1,300,000 in the DETR/LACAP(E) (local authority capital—environment) non-voted cash limit.

  The DETR/LGR (local government reorganisation) non-voted cash limit will be increased by £1,000,000 from £127,300,000 to £128,300,000, to meet increased demand for supplementary credit approvals in connection with the commutation of annual loan charges and grants to local authorities on 1 October 1992.

  The DETR/LACAP(E) (local authority capital—environment) non-voted cash limit will be increased by £1,300,000 from £928,232,000 to £929,532,000, to provide other capital support for the London Borough of Haringey.
  581
  The Housing Action Trusts' external finance limit will be increased by £2,000,000 from £89,000,000 to £91,000,000. Changed spending priorities within the Single Regeneration Budget mean that a proposed transfer from the Housing Action Trusts to the Challenge Fund is no longer necessary.

  The DETR/ERDF (European regional development fund) non-voted cash limit will be increased by £26,450,000 from £208,550,000 to £235,000,000, to allow for increased spending resulting from changes in policy to allow payments in advance of receipts.

  The DETR/OES (other environmental services) non-voted cash limit will be increased by £12,624,000 from £19,841,000 to £32,465,000 to provide for supplementary credit approvals to local authorities to cover their capital contributions to the Commission for the New Towns under road cost sharing arrangements. The DETR/NT (New Towns) non-voted cash limit will consequently be reduced by £12,624,000 from minus £115,600,000 to minus £128,224,000.

  Balloon Safety
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the safety of passengers in balloons. [78319]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The operation of commercial passenger balloons is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority Safety Regulation Group (CAA SRG). While the safety standards and requirements for these flights are well-established they remain under constant scrutiny by the CAA. Consequently, ballooning operates to a very high safety standard and there has been only one fatal accident in the last 10 years.

  One additional safety measure to be implemented soon will require Balloon Air Operator Certificate Holders to produce and operate to a Company Safety Management System. The CAA will provide advice and assistance in establishing this system which is part of an introductory programme for all aircraft undertaking public transport operations.

  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many accidents there have been involving power lines and passenger balloons in each of the last 10 years. [78320]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Civil Aviation Authority have provided accident figures for commercial balloons involving power lines as follows:

  Injuries

  Year

  Collision with cables

  Fatal

  Serious

  Minor

  1989

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1990

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1991

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1992

  4

  0

  3

  3

  1993

  5

  0

  1

  3

  1994

  2

  0

  1

  0

  1995

  2

  0

  2

  0

  1996

  3

  0

  2

  1

  1997

  2

  1

  8

  4

  1998

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Total

  21

  1

  17

  13

  582
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) fatalities and (b) injuries have resulted from accidents involving passenger balloons in each of the last 10 years. [78318]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Civil Aviation Authority have provided accident figures for commercial balloons as follows:

  Injuries

  Year

  Total accidents

  Fatal

  Serious

  Minor

  1989

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1990

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1991

  8

  0

  4

  5

  1992

  11

  0

  9

  13

  1993

  11

  0

  7

  5

  1994

  11

  0

  7

  18

  1995

  7

  0

  5

  0

  1996

  6

  0

  4

  2

  1997

  6

  1

  12

  20

  1998

  6

  0

  3

  3

  Total

  66

  1

  51

  66

  Cyclists
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make it an offence for motorists to advance to a cyclists' advance stop line at traffic lights. [78732]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  It is an offence, under section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and by virtue of the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994, to proceed beyond any stop line as shown in diagram 1001 in those Regulations and placed in conjunction with light signals when the red signal is showing. At junctions where an advance stop line for cyclists is provided Rule 154 of the current Highway Code instructs motorists that they must wait behind the first white line reached.

  Insurance Cover (Local Authorities)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what(a) representations and (b) requests for assistance he has received from local authorities on the withdrawal of insurance cover due to the threat of the millennium bug; and if he will make a statement. [79211]

  Mr. Meale
  We have received one representation—from Bournemouth Borough Council—seeking assistance on the withdrawal of insurance cover due to the threat of the Millennium Bug. It is a matter for each individual council to put in place such arrangements as it considers appropriate and practicable to meet the risks posed by the Millennium Bug.

  Fluoridated Drinking Water
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of the UK population receives fluoridated drinking water; what measures are being taken to ensure
  583
  that the systems for the control of dosage will not be affected by the millennium bug; and if he will make a statement. [79016]

  Mr. Meale
  About 10 per cent. of the population receives fluoridated drinking water supplies. The Drinking Water Inspectorate, during its inspections of water companies in England and Wales in 1998, examined the companies' general arrangements for maintaining the wholesomeness and quality of their supplies both during and after the millennium. The Inspectorate was satisfied with the progress being made by companies and will continue to keep the matter under surveillance during 1999.

  Yaverland Sewerage Works
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the timing of the introduction of secondary sewage treatment at the sewerage works under construction at Yaverland, Sandown, Isle of Wight. [78571]

  Mr. Meale
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: The Government have said that we wish to see secondary treatment installed on the Isle of Wight as soon as practicable. Southern Water need various consents from Government to proceed with the works. They are currently in the process of providing the necessary supporting information and we are putting pressure on them to do so as soon as possible.

  Council Houses
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authority owned dwellings are empty in each English shire county; and if he will make a statement. [78905]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]: I have placed in the Library a table presenting the latest information on the number of vacant dwellings owned by local authorities in each English shire county (as in existence before the creation of unitary authorities), and reported by them at 1 April 1998.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications since May 1997 he has called in following a resolution by the relevant local planning authority to refuse planning permission. [79160]

  Mr. Raynsford
  None.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of(a) the quantity and (b) the trend rate of growth of annual United Kingdom CO2 emissions generated by (i) the household sector, (ii) industry excluding power generators, (iii) power generators, (iv) the service sector and (v) other sectors. [79190]

  Mr. Meale
  The following table gives estimates of CO2 emissions in 1997 and 1998 from the UK's greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The 1998 data are provisional. The table also gives estimated growth rates based on the trends observed since 1990.
  584

  Emissions in 1997 (million tonnes carbon)

  Emissions in 1998 (million tonnes carbon, provisional)

  Trend (% per year)

  Household Sector

  23

  23

  0.3

  Industry excluding power generators

  41

  41

  0.3

  Power generators

  40

  41

  -3

  Service sector

  9

  8

  0.2

  Other sectors

  43

  43

  0.1

  Other sectors include transport, land use change and waste. The land use change emissions estimates are currently under review.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current estimate of(a) the quantity and (b) the trend rate of growth of annual CO2 emissions in respect of (i) power generation as a whole, (ii) gas-powered generators, (iii) coal-powered generators and (iv) other power producers. [79191]

  Mr. Meale
  The following table gives estimates of CO2 emissions in 1997 and 1998 from the UK's greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The 1998 data are provisional. The Table also gives estimated growth rates based on the trends observed since 1990, rounded to the nearest per cent.

  Emissions in 1997 (million tonnes carbon)

  Emissions in 1998 (million tonnes carbon, provisional)

  Trend (% per year)

  Power generation as a whole

  40

  41

  -3

  Gas powered generators

  12

  12

  +50

  Coal powered generators

  27

  27

  -6

  Other power producers

  1

  1

  -10

  Other power producers include oil powered generators and the incineration of municipal solid waste.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of carbon dioxide emissions of(a) the moratorium on gas-powered electricity generation, and (b) the use of a fuel mix chosen solely on cost grounds. [79234]

  Mr. Male
  [holding answer 29 March 1999]: The environmental impact of the Government's programme of reform of the electricity market is discussed in Annex H of the White Paper 'Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports from the Trade and Industry Committee' (Cm 4071). This makes clear that the new policy does not aim to achieve any particular outcome on fuel mix. The Government have therefore not sought to provide a quantification of the effect of the policy on CO2 emissions or fuel mix relative to what would have occurred in its absence. The Department of Trade and Industry is currently developing a set of scenarios on future CO2 emissions from energy use in the United Kingdom. These scenarios will take the new policy on fuels for electricity generation into account and will be

  585
  used to inform decisions on the scope and nature of additional policies to meet our commitments on reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

  School Buses (Fuel Duty)
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will extend fuel duty rebate to coach operators who operate contracted school bus services. [79402]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have at present no plans to change the eligibility arrangements for fuel duty rebate. Bus services which only take pupils to or from school are not eligible for rebate. However, bus services provided or secured by a local education authority are eligible for rebate if they are registered with the Traffic Commissioner as a local bus service, and if they are normally available to, and are used by, members of the general public.

  Departmental Web Site
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on which dates in 1999 the Department's web site relating to releases into the environment was updated; how frequently he plans to update the site; and if he will make a statement. [79093]

  Mr. Meale
  The DETR's Web site updated information from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment on the following dates: 26 January, 3 February, 9 February, 10 February, 18 February, 22 February, 24 February and 16 March. These pages are amongst the top ten most popular of this site's environmental information pages. The Web site will continue to be updated as and when required.

  British Rail
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many staff are currently employed by British Rail; and what are their functions. [78981]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand from the British Railways Board that the latest (March 1999) staff in post figure is 2,363. Of these, 2,194 work for the British Transport Police. The remaining 169 staff are largely employed on the administration, and sale where appropriate, of the BR property estate, on other residual BR functions and central services such as finance and legal.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total wages bill for British Rail for the last 12 months for which figures are available. [78982]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The total staff costs of the BR Board for the year to 31 March 1998 are shown on page 21 of the BR Annual Accounts 1997–98. Total salaries and wages in that year were £83.7 million. This related to an end year employment figure of 2,386, down from 4,328 at end 1996–97.
  586

  Water Prices
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress is being made in respect of the future regulation of water prices; and if he will make a statement. [79102]

  Mr. Meale
  On 1 March 1999 Ministers announced their guidance to the Director General of Water Services on the programmes of investment in environmental and water quality improvements by water and sewerage companies that he should assume in setting their price limits for the period 2000–01 to 2004–05. While the setting of price limits is the responsibility of the Director, the required investment programme of some £8 billion of quality improvements over five years should allow room for significant price reductions in 2000–01. The Director will announce his provisional determinations of price limits in July.

  Under proposals in the Water Industry Bill, currently before Parliament, household water customers would gain increased choice in the method of calculation of their individual bills. The Bill also proposes new powers for the Director and Ministers to regulate the provisions of companies' charges schemes.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce regulations to limit Heavy Goods Vehicles to the inside lane on busy commuter motorways. [78960]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes are already banned from the outside lane of motorways with three or more lanes. We do not believe that a further restriction to the inner lane is justified for road safety reasons. It would cause a queue to form in the inner lane, moving at the speed of the slowest. Journey times are often a significant factor for hauliers, and drivers might be tempted to divert from motorways to less suitable roads through towns where accident rates are higher and there are more vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

  Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to mark the 25 anniversary of the laying of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. [79664]

  Mr. Prescott
  I intend to take forward a strategic appraisal of health and safety to mark the 25th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. This legislation has delivered significant improvement in standards of health and safety at work. But we cannot be complacent: people continue to lose their lives and suffer serious injury at work. Not only does this have a terrible human cost, but it also jeopardises the competitiveness of our economy.

  It is not my intention to revisit the basic structures of the Act, but I want to inject new impetus and relaunch the health and safety agenda. We also need to make sure that our approach to regulation continues to be appropriate

  587
  for the changing world of work as we enter the next millennium, but without simply adding new and unnecessary regulatory burdens to business, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. Our aim must be to reduce the rate of workplace accidents and ill-health still further, crucially by working with all stakeholders to demonstrate that a healthy, well protected workforce is not only right, but is good for business and good for society.

  I will launch a public consultation document, jointly with the Health and Safety Commission, in the summer to open up a debate on this important issue.

  Opencast Coal Mining
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to publish revised planning guidance for opencast coal mining. [79770]

  Mr. Caborn
  We have published revised Mineral Planning Guidance on Coal Mining and Colliery Spoil Disposal today. This meets the major concerns expressed in the 10 Point Plan for Opencast Coal issued before the General Election and firmly puts the interests of protecting the environment and local communities first.

  The revised guidance takes account of our pre-election commitments, the final conclusions of the Energy review published in October 1998 and the responses to the draft guidance issued for public consultation in October 1998.

  The guidance will ensure that planning permission for opencast coal mining is only given where the development is environmentally acceptable or provides over-riding local or community benefits. If neither of these requirements is met, there should be a presumption against opencast coal.

  Landfill Tax Credit Scheme
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme which organisations have been registered under the Group Environmental Body Scheme; and how much has been awarded to environmental bodies under this scheme. [78556]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  This is a matter for the Regulator for the environmental bodies credit scheme. I have passed on my hon. Friend's question to them and asked them to reply direct. The Regulator is:

  Entrust Ltd.,

  Suite 2, 5th Floor,

  Acre House,

  2 Town Square,

  Sale,

  M33 7WZ.

  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme how much has been awarded under the Group Environmental Body Scheme to(a) Albany Architecture Heritage Trust, (b) Enventure, (c) Global Balance Trust, (d) Global Wildlife Trust, (e) Triedar Ltd., Salisbury, (f) Cory Environmental Trust, Thurrock, and
  588
  (g) Cory Environmental Ltd.; and if he will list the environmental projects which have been supported by these organisations. [78582]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is best provided by the Regulator for the environmental bodies credit scheme. I have passed my hon. Friend's question to them and asked them to reply direct. The Regulator is:

  Entrust Ltd.,

  Suite 2, 5th Floor,

  Acre House,

  2 Town Square,

  Sale,

  M33 7WZ.

  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the Landfill Tax Credit scheme how much has been awarded to environmental bodies since January; and what percentage of this total is a voluntary donation from landfill operators. [78555]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  Entrust, who is the Regulator for the environmental bodies scheme, has been notified by the environmental bodies of awards of £6.56 million since 1 January 1999. All donations by landfill site operators through the scheme are voluntary, although they can receive landfill tax credits of 90 per cent. against their donations.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Guest Houses and Hotels
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the six bed-space rule relating to the business rate for small guest houses and hotels; and if he will make a statement. [78429]

  Janet Anderson
  I received representations on this subject during a recent meeting with the Chairman of the National Council of Hotels Associations. The matter has also been raised with me by tourism business people during visits to various parts of England. The Government have no current plans to amend the "six-person test" for non-domestic rates, although matters such as these are kept under review.

  Millennium Festival Bids
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the successful bids for millennium festival awards in the north-west. [78785]

  Janet Anderson
  A list of successful bids is shown in the following table. This information is also available on the Millennium Commission's website (www.millennium.gov.uk). In addition, the North West has benefited from Watson Steel of Bolton winning the contract to provide the steel for the structure of the Dome.
  589

  North west Millennium Festival grants by county

  Organisation

  Project

  Award £

  Cheshire

  The Millennium Commission

  Cheshire County Council

  The Cheshire Pilgrimage: Journeys of Commitment for the 3rd Millennium

  70,000

  Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council

  Crewe and Nantwich Celebrates

  60,000

  Macclesfield Museums Trust

  Macclesfield Silk Museum

  25,000

  Macclesfield Borough Council

  Making the Most of the Millennium in Macclesfield

  25,000

  Winsford 2000/Winsford Now

  'Representing Winsford'—A Year in Photographs

  8,500

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  Cheshire Wildlife Trusts

  Celebrating Nature

  37,000

  Chester Civic Trust

  2000 Years of Building

  30,000

  Halton Borough Council

  Park Life—2000

  19,800

  National Library for the Blind

  Unseen History

  12,300

  Arts Council of England

  Chester Gateway Theatre

  The Polychronicon

  23,200

  Congleton Borough Council

  Light Year 2000

  20,000

  Chester and District Festival of Trees

  Chester and District Tree Festival 2000

  19,900

  Rodewald Concert Society/Ensemble 10:10

  AMAHL 2000

  15,900

  Chester Literature Society

  Literative For All Seasons

  12,800

  English Sports Council

  Cheshire Sports Trust

  Cheshire Millennium Youth Games

  TBA

  Cumbria

  The Millennium Commission

  The Spirit of Cumbria Consortium

  The Spirit of Cumbria Millennium Festival

  300,000

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  Environ (Trust) Ltd.

  Sacred Cumbria

  28,900

  Barrow and District Council for Voluntary Service

  Voyager—Taking History into the Future

  21,900

  Arts Council of England

  Cumbria Theatre Trust Ltd.

  Equinox

  28,500

  Dancetales

  The Linking of the Chain

  22,000

  Welfare State International

  The Sky's the Limit

  20,000

  North Pennine Highlights

  North Pennine Dance Highlights—Marking Time

  17,000

  Prism Arts

  'Breaking the Mould'

  11,700

  Changeling Productions

  Tempus Fugit

  10,000

  Eden Arts

  Eden Arts Trust

  9,500

  English Sports Council

  Cumbria County Council

  Cumbria CC

  TBA

  The Millennium Commission

  Millennium Waterfronts Steering Group

  Millennium Waterfronts (Salford, Manchester, Tameside and Oldham)

  300,000

  Manchester City Council

  Manchester Coming Home

  200,000

  Moss Side and Hulme Business Federation

  The Millennium Carnival Programme

  45,000

  Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

  'Mapping the Millennium' Festival

  40,000

  Oldham Education and Leisure Services

  'One World One Oldham' Festival

  30,000

  All Saints Church, Micklehurst

  Threads

  30,000

  Disabled Living

  Looking Good, Feeling Good, 2000 (Manchester)

  27,500

  Salford Open Theatre

  Walkden Millennium Community Play

  20,000

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  National Museum of Labour History

  People's History for the Third Millennium

  82,200

  National Lottery Charities Board

  BETA—Basic Education and Training for Adults

  —

  30,000

  Groundwork Rochdale Oldham and Tameside

  —

  30,000

  The Pankhurst Trust

  —

  29,970

  Dr. Kershaw's Hospice

  —

  12,000

  Arts Council of England

  Halle Concerts Society

  Inner Spark

  27,000

  Full Circle Arts

  @ 2000

  23,600

  The Whitworfh Art Gallery

  The Times Of Our Lives

  23,200

  Class Street Outreach

  New Generation, New Millennium, A Visual Arts Experience

  20,700

  Independence Festival (to become IF Ltd.)

  Independence Festival 2000

  20,700

  Community Arts North West

  'Inquotation'

  16,000

  The Bridgewater Hall Community Education Trust

  Saxophony 2000

  12,000

  English Sports Council

  Greater Manchester Youth Games

  Greater Manchester Millennium Youth Games

  TBA

  590 591

  North west Millennium Festival grants by county

  Organisation

  Project

  Award £

  Lancashire

  The Millennium Commission

  Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

  Celebrating the Millennium in East Lancashire

  80,000

  Lancashire County Council

  Millennium Celebrations for Lancashire

  50,000

  Hyndburn Borough Council

  Hyndburn Millennium Timeline

  30,000

  Disability Services (Blackpool, Wyre and Flyde)

  I'm Not Asking To Be Einstein

  30,000

  The Chorley Partnership

  Chorley Millennium Celebrations

  29,300

  Mela Festival Committee

  Mela Millennium Festival (Preston)

  25,000

  Pendle Borough Council/Pendle Partnership

  Remembering Pendle—A History of the Last 2000 Years Through the Eyes

  25,000

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  Lancashire County Millennium Exhibition Committee

  Story of Christianity in Lancashire

  90,000

  North West Museums Service

  Discover for Yourself!

  40,000

  Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

  Telling Tales, Rochdale

  29,700

  National Lottery Charities Board

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Council for Voluntary Service

  —

  50,000

  Lancashire Development Education Group

  —

  50,000

  Lancashire Development Education Group

  —

  37,560

  Arts Council of England

  Ludus Dance Agency

  Our Future, On Reflection

  25,000

  M6 Theatre Company

  'Visioning the Future'

  24,000

  Folly Gallery

  Lancaster Digital Arts Festival

  23,100

  Turnpike Community Theatre

  Epic Millennium Community Play

  21,400

  Indian Association Oldham

  Indian Association Oldham Millennium Festival Celebrations

  21,400

  Lancaster and Morecambe Arts Promotion Network

  Time and Tide

  21,000

  Mid Pennine Arts

  L2L2K

  20,000

  Mossley Community Arts Ltd.

  Festival of Fire

  16,000

  Little World Ltd. (Horse and Bamboo)

  Feeding The Dragon

  15,000

  Burnley Youth Theatre

  Spirit

  13,200

  Rais Academy

  3 Generations

  5,600

  Longridge Millennium Committee

  Longridge Millennium Stone Cross

  5,000

  English Sports Council

  Lancashire County Council

  Lancashire Millennium Youth Games

  TBA

  Merseyside

  The Millennium Commission

  Liverpool Architecture and Design Trust (LADT)

  The River of Light Millennium Celebrations

  200,000

  The Greenhouse Multi-Cultural Play and Arts Project

  Lighting Up Bidston Hill

  30,000

  The Blackie/Great Georges Community Cultural Project

  Ganes for the New Years

  25,000

  HOPES: The Hope Street Association (Liverpool)

  The Hope Street Millennium Public Arts Route

  25,000

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  Groundwork St. Helens, Knowsley and Sefton

  Sankey Canal Festival

  30,000

  Mersey Film and Video

  Mersey Films: Present from the Past to the Future

  30,000

  Mersey Heritage Trust

  Millennium Liverpool May Horse Parade

  30,000

  Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse

  Leasowe Lighthouse—Local Educational Network Link

  6,200

  National Lottery Charities Board

  Blackburne House

  —

  30,000

  The Groundwork Trust

  —

  30,000

  The Groundwork Trust

  —

  22,000

  Arts Council of England

  Merseyside Dance Initiative

  Quantum Leap

  25,000

  Foundation for Arts and Creative Technology

  Access All Areas

  24,000

  Liverpool John Moores University

  Wow 2000! Writing On The Wall—2000: A National and International Writing Festival

  21,200

  Mockbegger Theatre Company

  Time For Together

  20,400

  The Windows Project

  Stonepoems

  20,000

  Circle of Literary Friends

  Asian Diaspora 2000

  14,800

  English Sports Council

  Merseyside Sport

  Merseyside Sport Millennium Youth Games

  TBA

  West Lancashire

  Arts Council of England

  West Lancashire District Council

  District Visions

  23,900

  592 593

  National Lottery
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been allocated to good causes each year since the inception of the National Lottery. [79239]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 29 March 1999]: The table shows total income for the good causes (including interest) by calender year since the inception of the National Lottery:

  Year

  £

  19941

  82,605,591

  1995

  1,342,426,919

  1996

  1,591,480,120

  1997

  1,865,661,561

  1998

  1,955,875,555

  1 The first National Lottery draw took place on November 1994.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Aghalane Bridge
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the previous Aghalane Bridge was destroyed; and what was the purpose of destroying it. [78271]

  Mr. Ingram
  Aghalane Bridge was destroyed in an explosion on 21 November 1972 by a person or persons unknown, but believed to have been a Loyalist paramilitary group.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the projected cost for the reconstruction of the Aghalane Bridge; what proportion of the bridge is in Northern Ireland; and what are the respective shares of the total cost of reinstatement to be borne by British and Irish Republic public funds. [78274]

  Mr. Ingram
  The projected cost of the contract for the reconstruction of Aghalane Bridge is expected to be £862,000. The British Government are bearing the full cost of the reconstructed bridge and have received £500,000 grant aid from the European Regional Development Fund, Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.

  In addition to the projected cost of £862,000, the scheme to reconstruct the bridge has attracted additional costs arising out from the geotechnical investigation, consultant's fees and laboratory charges, which are estimated to amount to £45,000. These costs have been included as part of the road-works for the northern approach to the bridge.

  The reconstructed bridge is 30 metres long, 15 metres of which is on the Northern Ireland side of the border.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost of approach roadworks relating to the Aghalane Bridge reconstruction for each year since preparations commenced; and to what 594
  extent approach works in the Irish Republic have been (a) managed, (b) paid for and (c) subsidised by the Department of the Environment (NI). [78273]

  Mr. Ingram
  DEO(NI) Roads Service has been involved only in the construction of the Northern approach to the bridge, including such work on the Southern side of the Woodford River as was necessary to construct the bridge. To date, the cost of these roadworks is estimated to be £1,930,720, including a projected expenditure of £292,152 in the coming financial year. In addition to the construction costs, this estimate includes the cost of geotechnical investigations, consultant's fees and laboratory charges, as well as an allowance for land acquisition and landscaping.

  Roads Service expect to receive a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, to the value of £1,061,250.

  The costs each year are as follows:

  Year

  Expenditure (£)

  1995–96

  2,777

  1996–97

  20,025

  1997–98

  543,955

  1998–99

  1,071,811

  1999–2000

  1292,152

  Total

  11,930,720

  1 Projected

  Apart from the works necessary to construct the bridge, indicated above, Roads Service have not managed, paid for or subsidised any of the approach works in the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many terrorist attacks took place on civilians on the road between Aghalane Bridge and Teemore Cross(a) prior to and (b) after the destruction of the previous bridge; if she will give details of the deaths and injuries inflicted; and what was the total compensation paid by the Northern Ireland Office as a result. [78272]

  Mr. Ingram
  RUC records indicate that one terrorist incident took place in that immediate area, the murder of Thomas (part-time UDR) and Emily Bullock at their home at Killynick on 21 September 1972. The Northern Ireland Office did receive claims, which I understand were later withdrawn.

  National Sports Stadium
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will provide details of the membership of the Working Group established to investigate the possibility of a national sports stadium for Northern Ireland; what are its terms of reference; and when the Working Group intends to hold its first meeting. [79343]
  595
  Mr. McFall
  The membership of the Working Group to be established to investigate the possibility of a national sports stadium for Northern Ireland will represent the following interests:

  Chairman:

  To be appointed by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  Members:

  Representative from the Department of the Environment

  Representative from the Belfast City Council

  Two representatives from the Private Sector

  One representative from each of Rugby, Soccer, Gaelic Sports and Athletics.

  The Working Group's terms of reference are:

  To explore the need for, and feasibility of providing a national stadium, in particular:

  to consult with relevant sporting interests to determine their willingness to participate in the promotion and operation of a national stadium

  to identify a potential promoter/owner/operator

  to assess the potential regenerative impact of a national stadium

  596

  to examine the capital and recurrent funding implications and associated locational issues

  to examine the potential relationships and linkages with relevant public and private sector organisations

  to construct an outline business case

  to determine what further steps should be taken.

  The Working Group intends to hold its first meeting in early April.

WALES

  Company Licences
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [76853]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The information is given in the table.

  Licences and permits for business for small and medium sized enterprises

  Title

  Current number of companies in receipt of licence/permit

  Agriculture

  Post Chernobyl Sheep Movement Consents

  360

  Heather and Grass Burning Licence

  None

  Licences to kill or take piscivorous birds

  None

  Licences to kill or take non-piscivorous birds

  3

  Licences under the protection of Badgers Act 1992

  3

  Licence to introduce and or keep in inland waters in England and Wales non-native species of fish

  6

  Permit to purchase strychnine

  60

  Authorisation of premises to remove spinal cord of older sheep and goats

  27

  Fresh meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995

  Red meat slaughterhouses

  34

  Cutting plants

  13

  Cold stores

  24

  The Poultry meat, farmed game bird meat, and rabbit meat (hygiene and inspection) regulations 1995

  Slaughterhouses

  13

  Cutting plants

  13

  Cold stores

  8

  The wild game meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995

  Slaughterhouses

  1

  Premises licences, carrying agents licence and imports licences issued under the rabies (Importation of dogs, cats and other mammals) Order 1974

  3

  Import licences under the importation and exportation of birds, poultry and hatching eggs Order 1979

  2

  Licences issued under the importation of animal products and poultry products Order 1980 (as amended)

  4

  Artificial insemination of cattle (animal health) (England and Wales) Regulations 1985 (as amended)1.

  902

  Independent Schools

  Registered independent schools

  51

  Provisionally Registered Independent Schools

  6

  CADW

  Minstrels permit2

  2

  Grazing licences3

  4

  Tea room Castell Coch4

  1

  For the above, no charges are levied except

  1 Information available for 1997–98 costs are only available at disproportionate costs

  2 Cost of £100 (inc. VAT) for both years

  3 Cost of £500 (inc. VAT) for both years

  4 Cost of £3,000 (inc. VAT) for both years

  Note:

  Only one larger company is in receipt of a permit issued by the Department: the North Wales tourism (TIC at Conwy Visitor Centre) has a licence to operate from CADW premises. The cost is variable—between £3,000 and £5,000 for both years.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
  597

  Euro Task Force
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names of the members of the Euro Task Force for Wales. [78348]

  Members of Euro Task Force for Wales

  Member

  Mr. K. Truman (Chairman)

  Area Director, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking

  Ms S. Camper

  Agent for Wales, Bank of England

  Mr. J. Casterton

  Euro Taskforce Manager on secondment from Barclays Bank

  Mr. K. Cox

  Welsh Office Euro Co-ordinator

  Mr. B. Dennis

  Export Sales Director, Conren International

  Ms C. Eva

  European Commission for Wales

  Mr. R. Forster

  Managing Director, Biomet Merck Ltd.

  Dr. M. Goble

  Managing Director, Gyrus Medical Plc

  Mr. P. Graham-Woolard

  Director, Manufacturing Operations UK, Rizla UK Ltd.

  Ms K. Hartigan

  Finance Director, INA Bearings Ltd.

  Dr. E. Haywood

  Director, Wales, Confederation of British Industry

  Mr. G. Jackson

  Strategic Policy Director, Welsh Development Agency

  Mr. B. Meredith

  Wales Euro Information Centre

  Mr. R. Palmer

  Chairman, Swansea North and Port Talbot, Business Connect

  Mr. F. Royle

  Director, Finance, British Steel Plc

  Mr. P. Saunders

  Managing Director. Halo Foods Ltd.

  Mr. S. Sivapalan

  President, South Wales Association of Certified Accountants

  Mr. S. Welch

  Chief Executive, North Wales Chamber of Commerce

  Mr. A. Winstanley

  Pilkington Special Glass Ltd.

  Ms V. Winkler

  Economic Adviser, Welsh Local Government

  Mr. G. Wright

  Regional Secretary, Wales TUC

  Retail Parks
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the expenditure by(a) local authorities and (b) the WDA on the development of out of town retail parks in the last year for which figures are available. [78229]

  Mr. Hain
  Information on local authority expenditure on the development of out of town retail parks is not held by my Department.

  No WDA expenditure has been put into such developments in the last year.

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

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current levels of inward investment in(a) Wales and (b) Flintshire. [78956]

  Mr. Hain
  I am delighted with the 17,402 new jobs and associated capital investment of £1.3 billion promised by the inward investment projects recorded for Wales by the Welsh Development Agency since May 1997. Flintshire's contribution of almost 2,400 new jobs and capital investment of £582 million is a tribute to the people of the area.

  But, I want to see even greater success in the future in terms of a higher level of inward investment and in terms of the growth of indigenous companies. And I want to see this success distributed throughout Wales.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
  598
  Mr. Hain
  The information is given in the table.

  Badgers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning badgers and bovine tuberculosis in Wales. [78961]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  We are greatly concerned about the increased incidence of bovine TB in Wales. The Government's five point strategy based on the recommendations in the Krebs report is the right strategy for dealing with the problem. No one should underestimate the seriousness of bovine TB and we will take the necessary steps to contain it.

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

  A550
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to reduce traffic congestion on the A550 Woodbank English Border Junction. [78962]

  Mr. Hain
  The Woodbank Junction scheme is almost entirely situated in Cheshire, and is the responsibility of the Highways Agency. It will be for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in conjunction with the Highways Agency to carry out the route study proposed in the English Roads Review. Progress on this will continue to be closely monitored by the Welsh Office.

  Following the transfer of functions, monitoring progress will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Beef
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he has taken to promote Welsh beef. [78959]
  599
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Beef is a vital part of the livestock industry in Wales and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has taken a number of measures to promote quality beef produced by our farmers. A Welsh Agri-Food Action Plan for the Lamb and Beef sector, drawn up by the industry, was launched on 8 March with the support of the Welsh Office and the WDA.

  The Plan sets out to
  strengthen the image of Welsh beef as an extensively-reared grass-fed product;
  develop export markets and niche markets;
  develop stronger marketing arrangements through the marketing support that is available through the Welsh Development Agency and Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions;
  build a bigger stake for farmers in the supply chain; develop added value processing;
  encourage livestock markets to re-appraise their position and plan for the future;
  develop farm and supply chain certification as the market demands that assurance schemes are necessary throughout the supply chain.

  In addition, the Welsh Office is supporting projects to promote quality beef from Wales:
  ADAS—Welsh Beef Industry Viability Project—this project aims to assist beef production systems and promote quality through concentrating on farm assurance, efficient production, traceability, marketing and the establishment of producer groups. The total project cost is some £1.2 million over a period of four years;
  Welsh Development Agency—Promotion and Marketing of Welsh Beef—the objective of this project is to stimulate consumer demand for Welsh beef through a strategic marketing and promotional campaign. The total project cost is some £0.821 million; and
  Welsh Black Cattle Society—Improving quality and marketing of Welsh Black Cattle. The total project cost is £0.490 million.

  In future, following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the Assembly.

  Hospitals (Flintshire)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of(a) the longstay hospital at Meadowsleigh, Penyffordd, Flintshire and (b) the Dobshill Hospital, Flintshire; and if he will make a statement. [78953]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The future of these hospitals is a matter for North Wales Health Authority. I understand that this Authority is in the process of completing a review, the purpose of which is to establish what community hospital services are currently provided and what are required to support local communities over the next 5 years. The Authority intends to publish and consult upon a 5 year strategic plan shortly.

  School Libraries
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the amount of money to be made available for school libraries in(a) high schools, (b) primary schools, (c) infant and (d) nursery schools in Flintshire in 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [78954]

  Mr. Hain
  This is a matter for the local education authority and for schools to decide in the light of local needs and priorities.
  600
  However, school libraries have an important role to play in the drive to raise standards of literacy. As part of the additional £4 million for books announced following the Budget, schools in Flintshire will receive £204,000. In addition Flintshire's share of the money which we are making available through the Grants for Education Support and Training programme in 1999–2000 specifically to support literacy is nearly £110,000.

  We have also recognised the contribution which school librarians can make to teaching and learning and they are eligible to receive the training in the use of information and communications technologies funded from the Lottery through the New Opportunities Fund.

  Mixed-sex Wards
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if it is Government policy to reduce the number of mixed-sex wards in NHS hospitals in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [79392]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Rather than concentrate on the narrow issue of single sex accommodation, NHS Wales should address the wider and arguably more important area of privacy and dignity.

  Some trust hospitals' existing washing and toilet facilities still fall short of the acceptable standards for meeting privacy and dignity, and all trusts are working towards this goal. In addition, trusts bring to the attention of all staff the importance of meeting patients' needs and wishes for privacy and dignity through their induction programmes.

  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 if he will estimate the number of mixed-sex wards in NHS hospitals in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement. [79388]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  An estimate of the number of mixed-sex wards in NHS hospitals in each local authority area could be made only at a disproportionate cost.

  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 (1) how many patients are in mixed-sex wards in the Royal Gwent Hospital; [79393]

  (2) how many mixed-sex wards there are currently in the Royal Gwent Hospital. [79394]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Of the 33 wards at Royal Gwent hospital 29 wards, with 675 beds, are mixed sex. However each ward is made up of bays and each bay is single sex.

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

  Blood Donors
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was spent by his Department in 1998 to encourage people to give blood. [79391]
  601
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  In addition to the Department of Health's expenditure which benefits both England and Wales, in the 1998–99 financial year the Welsh Office spent just under £6,000 to encourage more blood donors.

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

  Nurse Recruitment
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money his Department will spend in the current financial year on advertisements intended to encourage people to return to the nursing profession. [79389]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The Welsh Office has spent £12,000 in the current financial year on its nurse recruitment campaign. As a result of a survey of individual Trusts' needs, advertisements will be placed in local newspapers in the new financial year to attract registered nurses back to the NHS in Wales. These additional costs are as yet unknown.

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

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Spree Offenders
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of youth crime is committed by spree offenders; and if he will estimate the proportion of such offenders who do not fall under the Government's definition of persistent young offenders. [78776]

  Mr. Boateng
  It is not possible to provide the information requested, as there is no generally recognised definition of a spree offender. While information is not collected separately on spree offenders, many of the fast-track schemes across the country include spree offenders as well as the Government's definition of persistent young offenders. Some of those regarded as spree offenders will fall within the category of persistent young offenders in any event.

  Rape Crisis Networks
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources the Government intends to devote to refuge and rape crisis networks for(a) 1999 to 2000 and (b) future years. [78872]

  Mr. Boateng
  The main national umbrella organisations for local refuge projects are the Women's Aid Federation of England and its sister organisations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  In 1999 to 2000, Women's Aid (England) is to receive a total of £229,795. The Department of Health will contribute £107,500 core funding, £29,205 for an awareness-raising project and £49,000 for a national telephone helpline service. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will contribute £44,000 under the Special Grants Programme to develop training opportunities, resources and facilities.

  Core funding to Welsh Women's Aid is provided by the Welsh Office. Figures for 1999 to 2000 have not yet been finalised.
  602
  The Scottish Office has committed £226,000 to Scottish Women's Aid for 1999 to 2000. From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  In Northern Ireland in 1999 to 2000, the Department of Health and Social Services will fund Northern Ireland Women's Aid for core administration work and project funding, to a value of £170,000. The Northern Ireland Office has set aside £30,000 to fund the Women's Aid helpline.

  The majority of Government funding for refuges themselves is indirect and, therefore, cannot be quantified. It includes the funding of registered social landlords through the Housing Corporation, some funding through local authorities and the Single Regeneration Budget, and some funding of revenue costs through the payment of housing benefit to residents.

  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department of Health and the Women's Unit have commissioned a package of research into the accommodation and support services available in England to those experiencing domestic violence. This information will be used to assist local authorities in making decisions about what further provision they need to make in their localities.

  In Northern Ireland, the Department of the Environment intends to commit £1.8 million capital funding and £1.4 million revenue funding in 1999 to 2000 to women's refuges. In 2000 to 2001, these figures will be £0.6 million capital and £1.4 million revenue, and in 2001 to 2002 they will be £1.7 million capital and £1.4 million revenue.

  Rape crisis centres currently receive public funds through, for example, local authorities, rather than central Government funding. The Government's consultation paper "Supporting people", published in December 1998, contains proposals for an improved funding framework for support services of this kind. The consultation period ended on 5 February and the responses are now being analysed. We cannot yet give precise commitments, but we have guaranteed that the total budget in 1999 to 2000 for the new "Supporting people" scheme will be at least the same as what was spent in 1998 to 1999 in the various budgets that the scheme will replace.

  In Northern Ireland in 1999 to 2000, the Department of Health and Social Services will provide £31,000 core funding for the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre and £54,000 core funding to Nexus, a voluntary organisation providing a counselling service for adult victims of rape and sexual abuse.

  Policing (Party Conferences)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department contributed to the cost of policing the Conservative Party Conference in Bournemouth in 1998; how much it plans to contribute for the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [79015]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Dorset Police Authority received a special grant of £750,000 as a contribution to the additional costs the force incurred in policing the Conservative Party Conference at Bournemouth in October 1998. The total additional costs incurred were £829,000.
  603
  The Dorset Police Authority will receive special grant of up to £1.6 million for the additional costs of policing this year's Labour Party Conference at Bournemouth. This is against total costs estimated by the force to be £1.7 million.

  Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been(a) assessed for a drug treatment and testing order and (b) made subject to such an order in the pilot areas for drug treatment and testing order; and how many of those made subject to an order have subsequently breached the order. [79204]

  Mr. George Howarth
  As at 26 March 1999:

  (a) 130 offenders had been referred for assessment for a drug treatment and testing order in the three pilot areas; and

  (b) 38 offenders had been sentenced to a drug treatment and testing order by courts in the pilot areas. Of those orders, seven had been the subject of breach proceedings which, in six cases had resulted in the order being revoked.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 10 to 17-year-olds were convicted of offences involving(a) supply and (b) possession of illegal drugs; and how many of such offences involved Class A drugs in the last five years for which figures are available. [79209]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information taken from the Home Office Court Appearance Databases is given in the table.

  Persons aged 10–17 years convicted at all courts of certain drug offences 1, England and Wales, 1993–97

  Offence

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug

  Total2

  73

  108

  119

  125

  148

  of which, class A:

  Number

  44

  47

  38

  37

  49

  Per cent.

  60

  44

  32

  30

  33

  Having possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply

  Total2

  89

  109

  150

  194

  197

  of which, class A:

  Number

  30

  30

  43

  62

  58

  Per cent.

  34

  28

  29

  32

  29

  Having possession of a controlled drug

  Total2

  553

  828

  992

  1,191

  1,454

  of which, class A:

  Number

  64

  105

  126

  134

  164

  Per cent.

  12

  13

  13

  11

  11

  1Based on principal offence

  2 Total [= 100 per. cent]

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of offences were committed by persistent young offenders in the last five years for which figures are available; [79206]

  (2) how many offences were committed by persistent young offenders in the last five years for which figures are available. [79207]
  604
  Mr. Boateng
  It is not possible to determine the proportion and number of offences committed by persistent young offenders. It is, however, possible to estimate the proportion of convictions for standard list offences that are accounted for by those aged 10 to 17 with three or more previous court appearances for such offences.

  The table contains the relevant available information based on samples of offenders sentenced in the years 1993 to 1997.

  Percentage of convictions 1 for standard list offences 2 accounted for by offenders aged 10–17 with three or more previous court appearances for such offences

  Percentage of those convicted aged 10–17

  Percentage of all convictions

  1997

  22

  3

  1997 old basis3

  22

  3

  1996

  20

  2

  1996 old basis3

  20

  3

  1995

  21

  3

  1994

  21

  3

  1993

  25

  3

  1 Counting one conviction per court appearance

  2 Standard list offences consist of all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences

  3 Excluding standard list offences added to the list on 1 January 1996

  The Government's definition of a persistent young offender is: a young person aged 10–17 who has been sentenced by any criminal court in the United Kingdom on three or more separate occasions for one or more recordable offence, and within three years of the last sentencing occasion is subsequently arrested or has information against him for a further recordable offence. In this context, "recordable" means the class of offences that must be recorded on the Police National Computer. This class of offences is generally broader than the "standard list". This means that the percentages quoted above relate to a category of persistent young offenders that is more restrictive than the Government definition. It should also be noted that it is not possible to determine the percentage of convictions and cautions accounted for by this group.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were committed by 10 to 17-years-old offenders(a) in total and (b) as a proportion of all offences in the last five years for which figures are available. [79208]

  Mr. Boateng
  It is not possible to present a full picture of the offences committed by young people aged 10 to 17 because much crime is not reported and not all reported crime is cleared up. The best indicator we have of youth crime is the number of young people known to have been involved in offending, that is, who have been cautioned by the police for, or convicted by the courts of, a crime.

  The available information, as given in the table, is taken from the Home Office Cautions and Court Proceedings Databases.

  605

  Number of offenders aged 10–17 years cautioned or convicted of all offences as a proportion of all offenders, England and Wales, 1993–1997

  Thousand

  Offenders aged 10–17

  All offenders1 (=100%)

  Number

  Percentage

  1993

  1,736.6

  176.9

  10

  1994

  21,733.1

  186.7

  11

  1995

  21,721.0

  188.4

  11

  1996

  21,727.0

  187.8

  11

  1997

  1,667.9

  183.6

  11

  1 Includes 'others' ie public bodies, companies etc.

  2 Figures adjusted to take account of shortfalls in the provision of data on magistrates' courts proceedings.

  Life Sentence (Murder)
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 March 1999,Official Report, column 237, what is the minimum possible tariff to be served by a person serving a life sentence following a conviction for murder. [79084]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The tariff is set by the Secretary of State following consideration of advice from the judiciary on the punitive period necessary to satisfy the requirements of retribution and general deferrence. Tariff length varies according to the circumstances of the particular offence and there is no minimum period. However, tariffs of less than eight years for murder would be set only in exceptional circumstances.

  Lancet Inquiry
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers have been charged with offences discovered during the Lancet inquiry; [79094]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Police Complaints Authority regarding the progress of the Lancet inquiry into alleged police corruption in Cleveland; and if he will make a statement; [79098]

  (3) what steps he is taking to monitor the progress of the Lancet inquiry into the alleged police corruption in Cleveland; and if he will make a statement; [79212]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Operation Lancet inquiry into allegations of police corruption in Cleveland is being supervised by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), and it is for the PCA to monitor the progress of the inquiry. The length of the investigation is a matter for the investigating officer and the PCA. I have not discussed the inquiry with the PCA. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on criminal or disciplinary investigations, including Operation Lancet, not least because my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has a role in the disciplinary process as the appellate authority, and my right hon. Friend may in the future be called upon in that capacity to consider any disciplinary appeals from offenders arising from this inquiry.

  No police officers have been charged with offences as a result of Operation Lancet inquiry to date, but the inquiry is continuing and I understand that a number of possible criminal and disciplinary matters are still under investigation. There has been close consultation with the
  606
  Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) throughout the inquiry. A file on drugs-related issues was delivered to the CPS on 4 December 1998 and is now with Treasury Counsel.

  Crime (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies have been(a) made and (b) commissioned by his Department on the breakdown of crimes committed by the different ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement. [79291]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth) on 2 February 1999,Official Report, column 554.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time he took to respond substantively to letters from hon. Members in each of the last 12 months. [79299]

  Mr. Straw
  On the basis of available information, the average time taken to respond substantively to letters from hon. Members to which I personally replied is listed in working days.

  1998–99

  Working days

  March

  30

  April

  26

  May

  23

  June

  23

  July

  24

  August

  22

  September

  21

  October

  17

  November

  23

  December

  15

  January

  26

  February

  23

  Police and Prison Services (Ethnic Origin)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of (i) the Police Service and (ii) the Prison Service in England and Wales by ethnic origin and grade. [79048]

  Mr. Boateng
  Detailed information about the number of police officers by rank and ethnic origin is collected annually by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. The information in the table is for 31 March 1998.

  Police Service—Police Officers by rank and ethnic group as at 31 March 1998

  Asian

  Black

  Other

  Total

  Asst. Chief Constable

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Superintendent

  1

  2

  1

  4

  Chief Inspector

  3

  9

  7

  19

  Inspector

  19

  9

  10

  38

  Sergeant

  87

  83

  59

  229

  Constable

  687

  936

  437

  2,060

  Total

  798

  1,039

  514

  2,351

  607
  In addition, there were 132 ethnic minority police officers seconded to central services.

  There were 719 Asian, 1,405 black and 609 other civilian support staff from the ethnic minorities employed in the Police Service at the end of March 1998, a total of 2,733. It is not possible to provide information by grade.

  Numbers of Prison Service staff by grade and ethnic origin as at March 1999 are set out in tables that have been placed in the Library.

  Audit Commission Report
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Audit Commission report, "Action Stations: Improving the Management of the Police Estate". [79379]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government welcome the report. Its recommendations will play a significant part in ensuring that the management of the police estate is given proper emphasis in releasing savings for redeployment into front-line policing and delivering best value.

  London Crime Study
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place the study into crime in London carried out by Dr. Marion Fitzgerald, in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [79194]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 29 March 1999]: Dr. Fitzgerald has not undertaken a study into crime in London.

  Dr. Fitzgerald did prepare a briefing paper for Ministers on ethnicity and criminality, which consolidated some data from small-scale local studies, previously published material and some material that has yet to be published.

  It has been the practice of successive Governments that such internal briefing papers are not themselves published.

  Dr. Fitzgerald's published research while with the Home Office has included:

  Ethnic Minorities and the criminal justice system: Research Study No. 20.
  The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice (1993).

  Ethnic Minorities Victimisation and Racial Harassment: Findings from the 1988 and 1992 British Crime Surveys with Hale C.
  Home Office, Research Development and Statistics Directorate (HORS 154) (1996).

  Ethnic monitoring in police forces: A beginning with Sibbett R.
  Home Office, Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (HORS 173) (1997).

  Evaluation of the Racially Aggravated Offences in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
  Home Office, Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (Spring 2001).

  I am happy to make available to the right hon. Member a full list of relevant published research in this field.

  Asylum Interviews
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to introduce tape recording of asylum interviews. [79769]
  608
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have decided to pilot tape recording of asylum interviews. Some interviews, at ports and in Croydon should be tape recorded from May. A report on the pilot, including its impact on the Immigration Appellate Authority, is planned for the New Year.

  Football-related Legislation
  Mr. Alan Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the outcome of the public consultation exercise on the Review of Football-related Legislation which was published on 27 November 1998. [79772]

  Kate Hoey
  The document entitled "Review of Football-related Legislation" set out 29 proposals for discussion on measures to help to prevent and minimise football hooliganism at designated football matches in England and Wales and overseas.

  The consultation period ended on 27 January and some 50 responses were received from organisations and individuals. The overwhelming response to the measures was supportive. Respondents to the document as a whole recognised the need for measures to be introduced to deal with the loopholes in the present legislation. They also indicated strong support for those proposals aimed at dealing with measures to help to prevent those convicted of football-related offences from attending designated football matches. I am placing a summary of the responses in the Library.

  The response to the public consultation exercise has been made known to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) whose Bill, the Football (Offences and Disorder) Bill, is due for its Second Reading on 16 April.

  Criminal Justice System
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the criminal justice system plans. [79821]

  Mr. Straw
  The Attorney-General, the Lord Chancellor and I will be publishing jointly a strategic and business plan for the criminal justice system in England and Wales at 12 noon on 31 March 1999. The plans describe the aims, objectives and performance targets which the Government expect the criminal justice system as a whole to deliver. Copies of the plans will be placed in the Library.

  Scout Association
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Scout Association regarding the cost to them of checking adults with the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement. [79320]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have received representations from a number of voluntary organisations, including the Scout Association, about charging for checks from the Criminal Records Bureau. We considered very carefully whether there was any way in which free checks could be provided for volunteers. While we acknowledge the valuable contribution volunteers make, we have concluded that it
  609
  would not be practicable to provide any free checks from the Criminal Records Bureau for volunteers or for any other groups.

  We realise that this is unwelcome news, but providing free checks would prove an unsustainable burden on the public purse and may increase demand for certificates from the bureau to an uncontrollable extent. In addition, we do not consider it would be fair to allow volunteers to have free certificates when there are other equally deserving groups, such as the unemployed or the disabled. The cost of the fees for certificates from the bureau will be kept to the minimum necessary to recoup costs.

  Senator Pinochet
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost so far to the Exchequer of the arrest, confinement and protection of and legal proceedings relating to Senator Pinochet. [79345]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 9 February 1999,Official Report, column 143.

  For security reasons, it has been the policy of successive Governments not to provide information about police operations relating to protection. The Home Office allocated £200,000 to the Surrey police force to assist with the unexpected costs to the force of Senator Pinochet's residence in Wentworth.

  On the cost so far of legal proceedings I understand that my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General will be answering a written question laid by my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East (Dr. Kumar).

  Police (London)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the role of police/community consultative groups once the Greater London Authority and the Police Authority for London are established; if existing police/community consultative groups will be retained with the same composition and functions; and if he will make a statement. [79508]

  Kate Hoey
  The Government place considerable importance on there being effective community consultation on policing matters. Police and Community Consultative Groups (PCGGs) play a major role in this process, as I emphasised in the debate on section 17 of the Greater London Authority Bill in Standing Committee A on 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 1276–82. PCCGs are not statutory bodies—but they are the primary means by which many police authorities choose to discharge their duty to obtain the views of local people.

  When the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) is created, it will take on the duty, currently held by the Metropolitan police Commissioner, of obtaining the views of people in the Metropolitan police district. It will be for the MPA to decide how best to discharge this duty, just as police authorities elsewhere in England and Wales must decide how best to obtain the views of people in their area. If the MPA considers that PCCGs are working well, we have every reason to believe that it will want to retain them.
  610

  Police Forces
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means other than HM Inspectorate of Constabularies he is able to assess the(a) independence, (b) training, (c) skills and (d) resources of non-Home Office police forces; and if he will make a statement. [79319]

  Mr. Boateng
  The responsibility for managing and supervising the operation of non-Home Office police forces rests with the employing bodies of those organisations.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the last occasion HM Inspector of Constabularies made an inspection of the Port of Liverpool Police; and if he will make a statement. [79318]

  Mr. Boateng
  The last inspection of the Port of Liverpool police by HM Inspector of Constabularies was in 1978.

  Bereavement Damages
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 regarding bereavement damages to take into account the death of an only son; and if he will make a statement. [78764]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have been asked to reply.

  Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act 1996 provides for bereavement damages to be claimed by the parents of unmarried children who are under the age of 18. This applies to both parents where the child was legitimate, and to the mother only in the case of an illegitimate child. This is an area which we keep regularly under review. The Law Commission considered bereavement damages in its consultation paper "Claims for Wrongful Death" (Consultation Paper No. 148) and hopes to produce its report later this year. The Government will consider the Law Commission's recommendations carefully when they are received.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Conditional Fee Arrangements
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will publish details of legal fees and insurance products available to litigants with conditional fee agreements. [79340]

  Mr. Hoon
  As the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows, the details of legal fees are a matter of privilege between the lawyer and his client and cannot, therefore, be collected centrally. Insurance products to support the use of conditional fees are coming into the market regularly. I doubt that a comprehensive list of products exists or can be put together, given the vibrant and expanding nature of this market.

  Judges (Guidance)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will issue guidance to the judges setting out the way in which the principle of the separation of powers should operate. [79432]
  611
  Mr. Hoon
  Judicial education is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB), which is an independent non-departmental public body and is chaired by Lord Justice Henry.

  The JSB does not issue policy guidance, but its training seminars enable judges to learn from experienced judges, academics and other experts, and to discuss constitutional issues. The planned JSB training on the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights will provide a further opportunity for judges to address the separation of powers. In any event the doctrine of the separation of powers is well understood by the judiciary as a whole.

  Judges (Appointments)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will review the arrangements for appointing judges, with particular reference to the introduction of an independent element. [79431]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor keeps the arrangements for appointing judges under review. Lay people are already involved in the shortlisting and interviewing of applicants for judicial office below High Court level, and they will continue to play a valuable part in the judicial appointments process. The Lord Chancellor is still considering the possibility of proceeding with consultation on the issues relating to the possible creation of a Judicial Appointments Commission.

SCOTLAND

  Conferences (Costs)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the expenditure of his Department, its agencies and related public bodies on all conferences in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; what was the date, cost and purpose of each conference held externally since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [69199]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: As the information is lengthy, I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those people he has appointed to public bodies since 1 November 1998, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed; and whether they receive remuneration. [76463]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: As the list is lengthy, I shall write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Library of the House.

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

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless people there were in Scotland in each year since 1992. [77766]
  612
  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 25 March 1999]: The table gives, for each year since 1992–93, the number of households that applied to local authorities under the homeless persons legislation, the number of households that local authorities assessed as homeless or potentially homeless, and the number which the local authorities determined to have a priority need. Information on the number of applications for 1997–98 and the first two quarters of 1998–99 will be published in the Housing Quarterly Trends Statistical Bulletin on 31 March 1999.

  Number of applications and assessments made under the homeless persons legislation

  Year

  Number of applications

  Number assessed homeless or potentially homeless

  Number homeless or potentially homeless and in priority need

  1992–93

  42,822

  30,100

  19,800

  1993–94

  43,038

  30,900

  18,300

  1994–95

  41,495

  31,600

  17,500

  1995–96

  40,936

  30,300

  16,900

  1996–97

  41,010

  30,600

  16,800

  European Scrutiny Committee
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if(a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants saw the European Scrutiny Committee questions brief in advance of the appearance of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State before the Committee on 16 February. [77848]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: It has been a common, but not universal, practice over a long period for Committees to agree to give officials an indication of the broad areas they intend to cover at the hearing to ensure that the evidence session is as effective and productive as possible. I was informed of the broad areas of questioning in advance of the Committee hearing on 16 February.

  Census Returns
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the total annual storage and maintenance costs for all 1841 to 1991 decennial census returns in Scotland. [78435]

  Mr. McLeish
  Annual costs of storage and maintenance of all the 1841 to 1991 decennial census returns for Scotland are estimated at £75,000.

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

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he 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 Scotland; and if he will list the class numbers, census years and periods mentioned in the schedules. [78443]
  613
  Mr. McLeish
  The legislation referred to does not apply to Scotland. Scottish census records remain in the custody of the originating department, the General Register Office for Scotland, and under the control of the Registrar General for Scotland.

  The present position in Scotland is that the census returns up to and including those of 1891 are open to public inspection. The Registrar General's policy on census returns for 1901 or later years was agreed in 1974 by the then Secretary of State for Scotland and announced in Parliament on 23 May 1974, Official Report, columns 272–73. This confirmed that Scottish census returns would not be made available until 100 years after the census to which they relate, and that only in exceptional circumstances could closed census returns be accessed. These public access provisions were affirmed by the present Government in the 2001 Census White Paper published on 4 March. The circumstances are:
  where application is made to the Registrar General for specific information to be supplied from records of a closed census, taken on or before 1931; and
  where this application is made for the specific purpose of assisting an individual to resolve a question of his or her legal inheritance.

  The closure period is intended to safeguard the confidentiality of the personal information collected in the census, and successive Governments have honoured an undertaking that the information would remain confidential. Protection of the credibility of the undertaking is crucial to maintaining the quality of the information collected.

  From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  614

  Trunk Roads Review
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce the results of the strategic review of the Scottish trunk road programme; and if he will list in his announcement the starting date of the agreed projects. [79240]

  Mr. Macdonald
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Morgan) on 23 March 1999,Official Report, column 149.

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

  Outpatient Appointments
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of each hospital in Scotland, how many outpatient appointments were made during 1998; and, in each case, what was the number of patients who waited(a) three to six months and (b) more than six months from referral to appointment. [78735]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on waiting times for outpatient appointments is available for the length of time patients waited for their first outpatient appointment following referral by a general medical practitioner (GMP)/general dental practitioner(GDP).

  Data on the total number of outpatient attendances, the number of patients who received a first outpatient appointment following GMP/GDP referral, and the number of patients who waited three to six months and more than six months for a first outpatient appointment following GMP/GDP referral, by NHS Trust, during 1998, is provided in the table.

  NHS in Scotland: total number of outpatients attendances, number of general medical practitioner (GMP)/general dental practitioner (GDP) referrals, and waiting time for first outpatient appointment from GMP/GDP referral in 1998 1

  First outpatient referrals from GMP/GDP

  NHS trust/directly managed unit

  Total number of outpatient attendances2

  Total number of appointments

  Number of patients who waited 3–6 months

  Number of patients who waited over 6 months

  South Ayrshire Hospital

  124,787

  21,516

  3,110

  218

  North Ayrshire Hospital

  185,994

  36,186

  1,282

  170

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Health Care

  11,826

  2,011

  23

  5

  Borders General Hospital

  58,952

  18,492

  1,331

  184

  Borders Community Health Services

  6,020

  1,342

  67

  39

  Royal Alexandra Hospital

  131,324

  29,323

  3,817

  1,973

  Inverclyde Royal

  91,092

  19,110

  2,155

  302

  Renfrewshire Healthcare

  26,388

  2,595

  115

  49

  Lomond Healthcare

  50,136

  13,518

  1,815

  107

  Argyll and Bute

  38,766

  9,329

  1,253

  254

  Queen Margaret Hospital

  94,116

  21,142

  5,023

  1,397

  Fife Healthcare

  14,769

  1,224

  148

  14

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals

  139,462

  34,053

  7,774

  1,388

  Southern General Hospitals

  139,507

  35,005

  7,706

  3,039

  Yorkhill

  104,122

  13,234

  3,517

  549

  Victoria Infirmary

  144,366

  42,275

  7,523

  720

  West Glasgow Hospitals University

  269,509

  58,776

  9,661

  3,179

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary University

  287,944

  51,099

  12,051

  3,285

  Stobhill

  128,289

  28,646

  2,360

  157

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Service

  54,022

  8,966

  462

  60

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School

  111,321

  17,637

  5,423

  912

  Raigmore Hospital

  121,369

  34,242

  3,636

  2,074

  Caithness and Sutherland

  20,726

  6,175

  701

  166

  Highland Communities

  19,307

  3,339

  50

  7

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals

  137,680

  25,732

  4,951

  2,074

  Law Hospitals

  144,839

  37,371

  6,456

  1,184

  615

  NHS in Scotland: total number of outpatients attendances, number of general medical practitioner (GMP)/general dental practitioner (GDP) referrals, and waiting time for first outpatient appointment from GMP/GDP referral in 1998 1

  First outpatient referrals from GMP/GDP

  NHS trust/directly managed unit

  Total number of outpatient attendances2

  Total number of appointments

  Number of patients who waited 3–6 months

  Number of patients who waited over 6 months

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals

  126,602

  28,684

  5,164

  1,315

  Lanarkshire Healthcare

  28,106

  2,373

  262

  65

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals

  310,295

  66,341

  9,163

  2,136

  Grampian Healthcare

  47,215

  11,782

  2,005

  231

  Moray Health Services

  41,439

  10,417

  1,337

  117

  Orkney Health Board Unit

  8,169

  2,475

  54

  9

  West Lothian

  103,830

  34,108

  5,188

  1,795

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

  352,370

  77,945

  12,029

  6,012

  Edinburgh Sick Children's

  43,835

  8,129

  184

  2

  Western General Hospitals

  123,180

  28,868

  2,571

  1,275

  East and Midlothian

  44,396

  13,856

  756

  156

  Edinburgh Healthcare

  51,962

  1,574

  96

  38

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals

  307,589

  53,379

  8,355

  1,097

  Perth and Kinross Hospitals

  114,624

  29,873

  4,310

  626

  Dundee Healthcare

  20,664

  4,987

  420

  134

  Angus

  43,012

  13,014

  1,415

  461

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  109,748

  24,400

  2,661

  530

  Falkirk and District Infirmary

  113,761

  12,855

  2,935

  769

  Central Hospital Healthcare

  15,828

  2,086

  41

  48

  Western Isles Health Unit

  18,795

  3,090

  123

  37

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals

  78,889

  14,770

  1,815

  291

  Dumfries and Galloway Community Health

  8,375

  411

  1

  0

  Shetland Hospitals and Community Services Unit

  12,720

  3,656

  78

  10

  1 Provisional

  2 Excludes patients who did not attend their appointment

  Source:

  ISD, Scotland

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

  Library Books
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been allocated to each local education authority in Scotland since 9 March 1999 for the purchase of library books in pursuance of the Budget announcement of additional funding for library books by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [78733]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  £

  Council

  Allocation

  Aberdeen City

  188,409

  Aberdeenshire

  278,455

  Angus

  121,279

  Argyll and Bute

  116,686

  Clackmannan

  52,155

  Dumfries and Galloway

  176,975

  Dundee

  142,037

  East Ayrshire

  132,121

  East Dumbarton

  131,927

  East Lothian

  91,081

  East Renfrewshire

  105,039

  Edinburgh

  346,458

  Eilean Siar

  46,055

  Falkirk

  148,303

  Fife

  377,766

  Glasgow

  545,640

  Highland

  275,354

  Inverclyde

  91,016

  Midlothian

  91,218

  616

  £

  Council

  Allocation

  Moray

  99,151

  North Ayrshire

  149,364

  North Lanark

  361,131

  Orkney

  30,358

  Perth and Kinross

  138,500

  Renfrewshire

  184,664

  Scottish Borders

  116,653

  Shetland

  37,976

  South Ayrshire

  120,513

  South Lanark

  328,004

  Stirling

  93,404

  West Dumbarton

  107,915

  West Lothian

  174,348

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

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Performance Targets
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance targets he has set his Department's agencies for 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [79807]

  Mr. Darling
  The targets I have set the Executive Agencies for 1999–2000 are as given.

  They reflect our determination to reform the Welfare State and to modernise the Social Security system to encourage work for those who can and provide security for those who cannot.
  617
  They underpin the Departmental Aim and Objectives set out in our Public Service Agreement.

  Further information on the Agencies' plans for 1999–2000 is contained in their individual business plans which have been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The targets for 1999–2000 are:
  Benefits Agency Targets—1999–2000.
  Active Customer Focused Services
  1. To support the programme of welfare reform and modernisation in particular by:

  implementing DMA

  closer working with Child Support Agency, Employment Service, Local Authorities and others and jointly working on welfare to work including:

  the New Deals

  the Single Work Focused Gateway Pilots, and Employment Zones

  commencing implementation of an active modern service for pensioners

  ensuring that all staff are informed of, and kept up to date with, welfare reform and modern service delivery changes.

  2. To publish by June 1999 a revised BA Charter in accordance with central guidance and to then baseline performance and achieve agreed targets.

  Secure and Accurate Services

  3. To implement programme protection plans in order to reduce, by at least 10 per cent., benefit losses from fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, by 31 March 2002.

  Investing in our People

  4. To work with the Department in developing a staffing index and contribute to the reduction in public sector sick absences by reducing absences by 6 per cent. by March 2000.

  Effective Management of Money

  5. To agree with the Department the principles and baseline, for the operation of efficiency indices and to commence pilot operation of these during 1999–2000.

  6. To cover the costs of pay and price inflation and other pressures through efficiency savings, equivalent to an average of 4 per cent. per year of running cost provision.

  7. To recover £150 million in cases where benefit has been overpaid and to pilot an incentive scheme agreed with the Department and HM Treasury to enable targets to be set for 2000–01 based on increasing the amount of debt recovered.

  Quality, Efficient Organisational Processes

  8. To support the programme of welfare reform and modernisation in particular by:
  supporting Modern Service one activity.
  CSA Targets 1999–2000
  Case compliance1
  To collect child maintenance and arrears from 70 per cent. of non resident parents with maintenance liability due to be paid through the Agency's collection service.
  Cash Compliance 1
  To collect 67 per cent. of child maintenance and arrears due for payment through the Agency's collection service.
  Minimum Service Standards 2
  To reach a specified level of performance in a series of customer service standards. The minimum service standards are:

  65 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 20 weeks;

  97 per cent. of payments made to the parent with care (or their bank or building society) to be made within 10 working days of receipt from the non resident parent;

  618

  Where a client is dissatisfied with a Child Support Officer's decision and requests a review; or where a change of circumstances requires a review; 88 per cent. to be cleared within 12 weeks;

  The National Enquiry Line (NEL) to respond to 80 per cent. of telephone calls within 20 seconds;

  60 per cent. of letters to be answered within 10 working days of receipt;

  97 per cent. of clients to be seen within 10 minutes of the time of a pre-booked appointment;

  90 per cent. of complaints to be acknowledged within 2 working days of receipt;

  To respond with a full reply to 75 per cent. of complaints, within 10 working days of receipt;

  80 per cent. of telephone calls to client helplines to be answered first time;

  90 per cent. of customers surveyed on quality call backs (following contact with NEL/Client Helplines and face to face) to be at least satisfied with the service they have received;

  to reduce the number of complaints received compared to current caseload to less than 0.28 per cent.

  Accuracy
  The cash value of all assessments checked in the year to be correct in at least 78 per cent. of cases.
  Efficiency
  To deliver existing services within the running costs total, implying an annual efficiency gain of at least 4 per cent.
  Milestone targets
  (a) Debt Reduction
  To develop and agree with the Department and Treasury a robust debt reduction measure by 30 June 1999 to be run as an internal measure for the remainder of the year.
  (b) DMA
  To deliver DMA in accordance with the agreed timetable. To work with DSS HQ and the Appeals Service to enable accurate reporting of performance and agree baseline data to enable targets to be set for 2000–2001.
  (c) Efficiency/cost
  To agree with the Department the principles and baseline for the operation of an Efficiency/cost measure and to begin pilot operation of the index during 1999–2000.
  (d) Staffing Index
  To work with the Department in developing a staffing index and contribute to the reduction in public sector sick absences by reducing absences by 6 per cent. in 1999–2000.
  (e) Service First Charter

  (i) To review the existing CSA Customer Charter and produce proposals for the customer service measures to be included in a revised charter by 30 June 1999.

  (ii) To put in place the arrangements to collect information on performance against the revised measures and where appropriate to propose additional or alternative standards in the minimum service target by 30 September 1999.

  (iii) To reach agreement on a revised CSA Customer Charter, drawn up in accordance with central guidance, by 31 December 1999.

  Notes:
  1 Compliance targets will cover maintenance arising from full maintenance assessments paid though the Agency's collection service. Taken together, and including maintenance arranged for direct payment this should produce a total of £850 million in maintenance collected and arranged.
  2 Including timeliness of assessments and money transmission.
  ITSA Targets: 1999–2000
  Non-financial business results

  1. Work for the Department, and with its IS/IT suppliers, to support Welfare Reform and the Modern Service Programme by active involvement in Modern Service 1, including taking forward the

  619
  IS/IT supply lead within the Department and enabling the Modern Service Programme and others to make use of appropriate IS/IT supply routes.

  2. Develop Modern Service Programme IS/IT deliverables to specified time and quality standards including the identification and provision of IS/IT to support the Single Work Focused Gateway pilots.

  3. Deliver an agreed IS/IT work programme for the support and enhancement of existing systems to budget, time and quality to the satisfaction of customers.

  4. Manage the Year 2000 Programme within the Department ensuring date change risks are identified and managed, and that compliance and assurance work is completed according to agreed timescales and standards.

  People satisfaction

  5. Promote the most effective use of people by:
  Achieving re-recognition of Investor in People accreditation by 1 January 2000.
  Working with the Department to define and develop a Staffing Index in line with the Department's Output and Performance Analysis.
  Develop and implement a health care strategy in order to contribute towards the reduction in public sector sickness levels by reducing absences by 2 per cent. in 1999–2000.

  Customer Satisfaction

  6. Achieve agreed targeted improvement of our customer satisfaction rating using the Business Excellence Model (BEM), an industry wide business improvement framework.

  Financial business results

  7. Manage the Agency's income and expenditure (derived from normal trading activities), as presented on audited accruals accounts, so that the Agency recovers its full economic costs from customers within a tolerance of +/-2 per cent.

  8. Reduce unit costs and prices to deliver an overall efficiency improvement of 2 per cent. to the Department and work with the Department to define and develop the principles and baseline for the operation of efficiency indices and commence pilot operations of these during 1999–2000.

  WPA Targets: 1999–2000

  Putting Service First

  1. To deliver a first-class service to war pensioners and war widows by achieving the standards set in the Agency's Service First Charter.
  2. For 90 per cent. of all claims to meet the quality criteria.

  Working in partnerships
  3. To agree improvements in the end to end Decision Making and Appeals process with the Agency and the Pensions Appeals Tribunal to reduce the overall time taken for clearance of decisions and appeals, to improve notifications and the subsequent implementation of decisions together with improved monitoring and meaningful targets.

  Managing Change
  4. To implement the proposals approved by the Secretary of State from the Prior Options Review to the agreed standards and timetable.

  Valuing our People
  5. To work with the Department in developing a Staffing Index and to reduce our sickness absence levels by 7 per cent. during 1999–2000.

  Efficiency
  6. To agree with the Department the principles and baseline for the operation of Efficiency Indices and to commence pilot operations of these in 1999–2000.
  7. To generate efficiencies during 1999–00 that will enable the War Pensions Agency to absorb the impact of financial pressures equivalent to 4 per cent. of running costs.
  620

  Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the 30 per cent. penalty for minor fraud is collected; what is the cash value of penalties imposed to date; and how much has been collected. [79225]

  Mr. Timms
  Questions relating to Benefits Agency operational matters are the responsibility of its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will reply to my right hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 29 March 1999:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how the 30 per cent. penalty for minor fraud is collected, what the cash value of the penalties imposed to date is, and how much has been collected.
  An administrative penalty is recovered by exactly the same methods as those used to recover the related overpaid benefits. Recovery of an administrative penalty does not commence until the related overpayment has been recovered. The total value of administrative penalties that have been imposed to date is £246,187.
  Information about the amount collected is not currently available. Enhancements to the system for recording this information have been requested and it is hoped they will be in place by July 1999.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of war pensions live in(a) the Harborough district, (b) Oadby and Wigston Borough and (c) the Harborough constituency; and how many will be resident within the Harborough primary care group area. [78415]

  Mr. Bayley
  One of the key aims is that delivery of service should be simpler and more efficient. Questions on operational matters concerning the War Pensions Agency are for its Chief Executive, Mr. Gordon Hextall. I have asked him to write to the hon. and learned Member.

  Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. Edward Garnier, dated 29 March 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of War Pensioners living in the Harborough district, Oadby and Wigston Borough and Harborough constituency and how many will be resident within the Harborough primary care group area.
  Unfortunately this information is not available in the form for which you ask and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, our records do show that, in March 1998 (the latest date for which figures are available) there were 6,876 War Disablement Pensions and 1,641 War Widows Pensions in payment within the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire War Pensions Committee area, which covers the counties shown in its title. I hope this is helpful and I am sorry that I cannot be more precise.

  Performance Management Regime
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what flexibility the new performance management regime allows managers in spending their budgets with particular reference to the(a) administration and (b) benefit budget. [79226]

  Mr. Timms
  The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to my right hon. Friend.
  621
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 29 March 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what flexibility the new performance management regime allows managers in spending their budgets with particular reference to the (a) administration and (b) benefit budget.
  The flexibility offered to the Area Director is limited to his administration budget. There is no mechanism under Government Accounting rules which allows for flexibility between administration and benefit budgets.
  The new performance management regime refers to the new Public Service Agreement (PSA) target to reduce, by at least 30 per cent., benefit losses from fraud and errors in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by 31 March 2007. This replaces the present annual Secretary of State target for weekly benefit savings from counter-fraud activities.
  The new regime is to be funded by the Departmental Programme Protection Fund, a single source of funding designed to deliver the PSA target. This replaces Security and Control Programme funding for the Benefits Agency from 1 April 1999.
  The current regime ties Area Directors to activity volume targets for new claims activity and targeted reviews. Emphasis has been placed on detection by setting targets for fraud savings from cases examined by fraud officers.
  The new regime offers Area Directors much more flexibility in how funding can be used. They are no longer restricted by activity targets but can be more responsive to local conditions and knowledge. The emphasis is on each Area Director producing, and being accountable for, a Programme Protection Plan which shows how they can optimise their available resources to contribute towards achieving the PSA target. They will all provide evidence, supported by further tiers of programme indicators and management information, of how they are contributing towards the overall PSA target. Whilst they will have more flexibility on how their money is spent, the Area Director will account for how the funds are being targeted to best effects.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Income Support
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reduction in the pieces of advice on Income Support claims has been made in the new code of practice. [79220]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of Income Support is the responsibility of Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 29 March 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what reduction in the pieces of advice on Income Support claims has been made in the new code of practice.
  Since the mid-nineties procedural guidance for staff dealing with Income Support claims and changes has been contained in the Income Support Guide (ISG). This occupied 12 binders. The Evidence Project was set up to take forward improvements in accuracy, security, and efficiency in Income Support processing. As part of this process the Guide Improvement Project was set up to re-write the existing Income Support guidance.
  There were also around 25 handbooks and additionally, 450 separate amendments, bulletins, and circulars issued to staff in a variety of formats and from a number of different sources. Many of these updates were themselves superseded by new developments. This was inevitably the cause of some inconsistency and confusion.
  In October 1998 all of the information contained in the documents described in the previous two paragraphs was replaced by IS Guidance and Procedures (GAP). The GAP was produced as a single
  622
  source of guidance incorporating all previously held instructions contained in the handbooks, guides, and bulletins. The GAP currently consists of eleven volumes with examples, flowcharts, and desk aids; in effect drawing together all of the current guidance in a new and consistent format. The Adjudication Officer's Guide will remain in its present format and the guidance that relates to Back to Work Bonus and Child Maintenance Bonus will be incorporated into the GAP at a future date.
  This overhaul was necessary to avoid compromising the efficiency of staff in collecting, assessing, and checking the evidence required to properly process Income Support claims. Early indications are that the GAP has been well received by staff in the field.
  Thank you for the opportunity to explain.

  National Insurance Scheme
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the(a) number and (b) percentage of former contributors to the National Insurance Scheme who are not entitled to a state retirement pension. [78285]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  It is estimated that there are about 400,000 people over State pension age and resident in Great Britain who do not receive a State Retirement Pension. This represents about 4 per cent. of pensioners resident in Great Britain. It includes those who have contributed to the National Insurance scheme but who have paid insufficient contributions to satisfy the conditions for receiving a State pension.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are for Great Britain, and are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.

  2. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.

  Sources:

  Pensions Strategy Computer System (PSCS) which contains a 5 per cent. sample of all persons in receipt of a State Retirement Pension at September 1998.

  Government Actuary's Department mid 1998 population forecast.

  Tribunal Pilot Scheme
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of appeals in social security appeal tribunals have been upheld under the new flexible tribunal pilot scheme; and what is the average percentage under the traditional tribunal of three persons. [79341]

  Angela Eagle
  The most recent figures available, for the period 1 December 1998 to 31 January 1999, indicate that in Social Security appeal tribunal hearings, constituted under the new flexible tribunal arrangements, the proportion of appeals upheld (that is, decided in favour of the appellant) was 30.07 per cent. During the same period the proportion of appeals upheld by three-person Social Security appeal tribunals was 27.36 per cent., a figure close to the half-yearly average of 28.36 per cent.

  Select Committee Report
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1999,Official Report, columns 839–40, on Select Committee reports, if he or his ministerial colleagues have discussed

  623
  with other hon. Members the contents of Social Security Committee (a) draft reports, (b) reports prior to their issue and (c) embargoed copies of reports. [79017]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 29 March 1999]Ministers have discussions with hon. Members on a variety of topics, some of which may become subjects of Social Security Committee reports.

  Carers
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how he intends to inform all DSS and Benefits Agency staff of the developing policies towards carers outlined in the national strategy for carers. [78551]

  Mr. Bayley
  The report of the National Carers' Strategy is an important document for all Government Departments. As an employer we recognise the importance of personnel policies which meet the needs of our staff, a number of whom have caring responsibilities for elderly, sick or disabled relatives. Without such policies, it would be difficult to recruit and retain the best people and significant numbers of our staff would be unable to achieve their full potential. It is clearly in our business interests to ensure that our workforce is committed and contented and this means that we must take account of caring commitments. Our policies have developed and are still developing in line with the changing requirements of staff whilst taking account of the National Carers Strategy.

  All of the Department's business units have recently been involved in reviews of their childcare and family friendly policies. One of the outcomes of this assessment is that there is a need to communicate our strategy for staff with caring responsibilities more effectively. Consequently the Benefits Agency issued a booklet, "Work and Family" to all its staff in November and DSS HQ are intending to do the same.

  Where staff are involved in designing and implementing policy initiatives and commitments, such as the Single Work Focused Gateway and the State Second Pension, we are already taking steps to ensure that they will receive the appropriate information and training to support the Strategy's main objectives.

  NIRS2
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to deal with delays in pension payments due to computer breakdown at the Contributions Agency in Newcastle. [78050]

  Mr. Timms
  A statement on the steps taken to minimise disruption in pension payments and other benefits due to delays in implementing facilities on the Contributions Agency computer, the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS2) was set out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security in his written answer on 15 March 1999,Official Report, columns 486–88.

  Pensioners (Income Support)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated costs to the Exchequer in 624
  the current financial year of (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax relief to those pensioners who qualify as a result of being on income support. [78937]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  £ million

  1998–99 estimated outturn, cash

  Housing benefit

  2,256

  Council tax benefit

  659

  Source:

  The figures underlie the 1999 Departmental Report

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated total cost of Income Support paid to those pensioners who qualify in the current financial year. [78936]

  Mr. Timms
  The total programme cost of Income Support paid to pensioners in 1998–99 is estimated to be £3,641 million.

  Note:

  "Pensioners" for Income Support purposes, means a single person aged 60 or over, or a couple (counted as one benefit unit) where one or both members is aged 60 or over.

  Source:

  Social Security Departmental Report 1999–2000.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners(a) receive and (b) do not receive Income Support. [78938]

  Mr. Timms
  As at August 1998, there were estimated to be 1,637,000 pensioners who were either in receipt of Income Support, or the partner of a person in receipt of Income Support. The estimated number of pensioners not dependent on Income Support in 1998 is 8,816,000.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. Pensioners are defined as men aged 65 or over, and women aged 60 or over.

  3. In the case of a couple, for Income Support purposes the claim by one partner includes both members.

  4. The estimates of Income Support recipients are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of error.

  5. The total pension age population of Great Britain for 1998 is estimated to be 10,453,000 based on a population projection for 1998 provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

  Sources:

  1. Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry August 1998.

  2. Official Population Projections of Government Actuaries Department. 1998.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the proportion of pensioners aged 65 to 69 years who are receiving income support in 1998–99; and if he will estimate the corresponding percentage for this cohort in(a) 2000, (b) 2010 and (c) 2020, assuming that the minimum income guarantee is linked to earnings. [78864]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  The proportion of pensioners aged 65 to 69 who are in private households and receiving Income Support is estimated to be 8 per cent. for 1998–99 and 9 per cent. for 2000–01.
  625
  The information is not available for the years 2010 and 2020. Previous estimates of the number of pensioners receiving Income Support in these years have been made using the Department's PENSIM model. These estimates can only give a broad indication of the likely order of magnitude of figures so far into the future, and are heavily rounded. Reliable estimates of sub-groups of this caseload and therefore of the proportion of pensioners aged 65 to 69 who are receiving Income Support are not available.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are consistent with the forecasts for Income Support included in the Departmental Report.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest percentage point.

  3. Estimates exclude pensioners in residential care and nursing homes.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 1999,Official Report, column 252–53, on pensioner incomes, if he will provide the same information excluding couples where neither partner is over state pension age. [78884]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the tables.

  Pensioners receiving a means-tested benefit and not paying income tax

  Thousand

  Single male pensioners

  Single female pensioners

  Pensioners couples

  All pensioner benefit units

  60–64

  90

  100

  70

  270

  65–69

  70

  220

  200

  490

  70–74

  70

  300

  150

  520

  75–79

  80

  330

  140

  550

  80+

  100

  550

  130

  770

  Total

  400

  1,500

  690

  2,600

  Pensioners not receiving a means—tested benefit and not paying income tax

  Thousand

  Single male pensioners

  Single female pensioners

  Pensioners couples

  All Pensioners benefit units

  60–64

  20

  20

  50

  90

  65–69

  40

  70

  190

  290

  70–74

  30

  130

  250

  400

  75–79

  40

  130

  190

  360

  80+

  50

  190

  150

  390

  Total

  170

  540

  820

  1,540

  Pensioners not a means-tested benefit and paying incometax

  Single male pensioners

  Single female pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  All pensioner benefit units

  60–64

  110

  160

  450

  720

  65–69

  120

  220

  590

  930

  70–74

  100

  240

  420

  760

  75–79

  80

  190

  190

  450

  80+

  90

  190

  130

  400

  Total

  490

  990

  1,780

  3,260

  626

  Pensioners receiving a means-tested benefit and paying incometax

  Thousand

  Single male pensioners

  Single female pensioners

  Pensioners couples

  All pensioner benefit units

  60–64

  20

  40

  30

  80

  65–69

  20

  30

  20

  80

  70–74

  20

  50

  10

  80

  75–79

  20

  30

  *

  50

  80+

  20

  50

  10

  70

  Total

  90

  200

  70

  360

  Notes:

  1. Figures are given to the nearest 10,000 pensioner benefit units, although they are not necessarily accurate to that degree. Figures of less than 5,000 pensioners are denoted by '*'.

  2. Figures may not sum to row or column totals due to rounding.

  3. Figures should be treated with caution since taxpaying status is not directly measured by the Family Resources Survey, but has been imputed using a model based on policies announced up to and including the 1998 Budget statement.

  4. Pensioner benefit units are defined as single people aged 60 and over and couples (married or cohabiting) where at least one partner is aged over State pension age (65 and over, for men, 60 and over for women). Couples are allocated to age bands according to the age of the older partner.

  5. Tax paying pensioner benefit units are defined as those where at least one individual in the benefit unit is modelled as liable to income tax.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey 1996–97

  Second Tier Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will calculate the second tier pension entitlement under(a) SERPS, (b) the first phase of the State Second Pension and (c) the second phase of the State Second Pension for those earning (i) £15,000, (ii) £17,000 and (iii) £19,000. [78867]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.

  £

  Second tier pension entitlement in 2051

  State Second Pension

  Phase 1

  Phase 2

  Annual Earnings

  SERPS

  Carries on to

  Contracted in

  Contracted out1

  15,000

  46

  61

  50

  61

  17,000

  51

  63

  50

  63

  19,000

  54

  65

  50

  65

  1 Assumes that an individual contracts out of the State Second Pension and contributes only their rebate to an appropriate personal pension.

  Notes:

  1. The information is based on the thresholds set out in the Green Paper.

  2. It is likely that the upper threshold of £18,500 contained in the Green Paper will be revised upwards following consultation to reflect the policy intention that higher earners should get broadly the same entitlement from phase 1 of State Second Pension as from SERPS.

  3. The hypothetical individual in this example is assumed to; begin work at 16 years old in 2002, work for 49 years until retirement, earn the specified amounts in 1998 earnings terms throughout their working life.

  4. Only National Insurance rebates are paid into the appropriate personal pension.

  5. Real earnings growth is assumed to be 1.5 per cent.

  6. Amounts are rounded to the nearest pound.
  627

  Non-pension Savings
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the level of non-pension saving among those in the £9,000-£18,500 earnings range who are not currently members of an occupational or personal pension scheme. [78866]

  Mr. Timms
  Data drawn from the 1997–98 Family Resources Survey (GB) suggest that, of those earning between £9,000 and £18,500 in 1997–98 and who, at that time, were not a member of an occupational or personal pension scheme, 40 per cent. had no non-pension saving.

  Notes:

  1. The results are based on survey data, and are therefore subject to sampling error. In particular, information collected on pensions and other savings are subject to higher non-response and mis-reporting than other parts of the Family Resources Survey, and so these results should be treated as indicative of the likely order of magnitude only.

  2. Figures rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Social Fund claimants have reached the limit of £1,000 for a loan. [78807]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, in the financial year 1997–98, a total of 9,053 Social Fund loan applications were refused purely because the applicant had reached the loan limit of £1,000. This represents around 1 per cent. of all loan refusals.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the definition of earnings used to calculate the level of rebates for stakeholder pensions will include payments of working families tax credit. [78865]

  Mr. Timms
  No. It is expected that the earnings used for calculating rebates for stakeholder pension schemes will be the same as for other contracted-out pension schemes. Such earnings do not currently include any payment of Family Credit and will not include payments of Working Families Tax Credit when it is introduced.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many meetings he has had with hon. Members to discuss the Child Support Agency; how many complaints he has received about the Agency since 1 February; and when he plans next to visit the Agency. [79047]

  Angela Eagle
  My noble Friend Baroness Hollis of Heigham, the Minister with day to day responsibility for child support, has had a number of meetings with hon. Members to discuss the child support Green Paper proposals. In February 1999 the Child Support Agency received 3,682 complaints from individuals and hon. Members. My Ministerial colleagues and I have received 130 letters from hon. Members over the same period, though not all of these relate to operational issues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security is planning to visit the Child Support Agency again in the near future.
  628

  Family Incomes
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the dates of (i) supplementary benefit and (ii) income support for(a) a couple with two children under 11 and (b) a lone parent with one child under 11 (1) in real terms and (2) as a proportion of average earnings at each uprating since 1979. [79054]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Rates of supplementary benefit for a couple both over 18 with 2 children under 11 in real terms and as a proportion of average earnings at each uprating since 1979

  Uprating date

  Supplementary benefit for a couple both over 18 with 2 children under 11(£)

  Real value(£)

  Supplementary benefit as a percentage of earnings

  November 1979

  42.20

  113.89

  42.0

  November 1980

  49.20

  115.14

  40.9

  November 1981

  53.55

  111.93

  40.4

  November 1982

  59.20

  116.45

  41.6

  November 1983

  61.80

  115.94

  39.4

  November 1984

  64.75

  115.76

  38.8

  November 1985

  68.05

  115.36

  38.1

  July 1986

  68.80

  114.71

  36.4

  April 1987

  70.15

  112.05

  35.3

  Note:

  Ordinary scale rates used for married couple with two children aged 5–10. No account has been taken of any additional requirements

  Rates of income support for a couple both over 18 with 2 children under 11 in real terms and as a proportion of average earnings at each uprating since 1979

  Uprating date

  Income support for a couple both over 18 with 2 children under II (£)

  Real value (£)

  Income support as a percentage of earnings

  April 1988

  79.10

  121.57

  36.2

  April 1989

  84.80

  120.63

  35.4

  April 1990

  89.65

  116.52

  34.1

  April 1991

  96.90

  118.38

  34.0

  October 1991

  97.40

  117.23

  32.9

  April 1992

  105.00

  123.00

  34.5

  April 1993

  108.75

  125.77

  34.3

  April 1994

  113.05

  127.48

  34.7

  April 1995

  115.15

  125.66

  34.2

  April 1996

  118.65

  126.43

  33.8

  April 1997

  121.75

  126.66

  33.1

  April 1998

  124.65

  124.65

  32.4

  Rates of supplementary benefit for a lone parent with 1 child under 11 in real terms and as a proportion of average earnings at each uprating since 1979

  Uprating date

  Supplementary benefit for a lone parent with 1 child under 11(£)

  Real value(£)

  Supplementary benefit as a percentage of earnings

  November 1979

  24.55

  66.25

  24.4

  November 1980

  28.60

  66.93

  23.8

  November 1981

  31.15

  65.11

  23.5

  November 1982

  34.45

  67.77

  24.2

  November 1983

  35.95

  67.45

  22.9

  November 1984

  37.65

  67.31

  22.5

  November 1985

  39.60

  67.13

  22.1

  July 1986

  40.00

  66.69

  21.2

  April 1987

  40.80

  65.17

  20.5

  Note:

  Ordinary scale rates for single person with 1 child aged 5–10. No account has been taken of any additional requirements
  629

  Rates of income support for a lone parent with 1 child under 11 in real terms and as a proportion of average earnings at each uprating since 1979

  Uprating date

  Income support for a lone parent with 1 child under 11 (£)

  Real value (£)

  Income support as a percentage of earnings

  April 1988

  54.00

  82.99

  24.7

  April 1989

  57.05

  81.16

  23.8

  April 1990

  60.50

  78.64

  23.0

  April 1991

  65.40

  79.90

  23.0

  October 1991

  66.40

  79.92

  22.5

  April 1992

  71.05

  83.23

  23.3

  April 1993

  73.60

  85.12

  23.2

  April 1994

  76.50

  86.26

  23.5

  April 1995

  77.90

  85.01

  23.2

  April 1996

  80.10

  85.35

  22.8

  April 1997

  81.80

  85.10

  22.3

  April 1998

  83.40

  83.40

  21.7

  Notes:

  1. Benefit rates shown are applicable at uprating dates.

  2. Real values calculated via use of Retail Price Index (all items) produced by the Office for National Statistics.

  3. Average Earnings for all employees calculated via the New Earnings Survey and Average Earnings Index as produced by the Office for National Statistics.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Overseas Students
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) at which UK universities overseas students are currently studying; and where these students are from; [78122]

  (2) how many overseas students are currently studying in Great Britain. [78129]

  Mr. Mudie
  Tables showing the numbers and domiciles of overseas students in individual UK higher education institutions in 1997–98 have been prepared from statistical records collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  In 1997–98 there were 266,000 overseas students studying in higher education and further education institutions in Great Britain.

  Pupil Numbers
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each(a) metropolitan district Council, (b) shire district council, (c) unitary council, (d) shire county council and (e) London borough council the current number of (i) primary school and (ii) secondary school pupils. [74806]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is given in a table, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Key Stage 2 Statistics
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools entered pupils for the level 6 (i) Science, (ii) English and (iii) Mathematics paper in Key Stage 2 SATS tests in 1998, 1997 and 1996 broken down by(a) local education authority and (b) type of school. [79329]
  630
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The number of schools who entered at least one child for the level 6 test in the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Assessment tests broken down by subject and school type is shown in the table.

  Number of schools with at least one child participating in the Key Stage 2 level 6 tests by subject and school type

  English

  Mathematics

  Science

  Maintained mainstream

  1996

  6,134

  4,119

  1,253

  1997

  5,544

  4,066

  1,423

  1998

  5,071

  3,845

  1,331

  Independent

  1996

  383

  318

  153

  1997

  430

  364

  190

  1998

  456

  378

  208

  Special

  1996

  4

  2

  3

  1997

  11

  7

  4

  1998

  10

  6

  4

  All schools

  1996

  6,521

  4,439

  1,409

  1997

  5,985

  4,437

  1,617

  1998

  5,537

  4.229

  1,543

  Tables showing the maintained number of schools broken down by subject and by Local Education Authority have been placed in the Library.

  Education Funding
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amount of Derbyshire County Council's total education budget was not passed on to schools in(a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998. [79342]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The amount of the General Schools Budget which was not included in the Aggregated Schools Budget in Derbyshire in the years in question was as follows:

  £

  1996–97

  82,089,000

  1997–98

  68,006,000

  1998–99

  71,567,000

  We expect that there will be a substantial reduction in amounts held centrally by Local Education Authorities in 1999–2000 as a result of increased delegation to schools under the new Fair Funding framework.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the amount in cash terms of(a) funding from his Department per pupil in Derbyshire between 1996–97 and 1997–98 and (b) the funding allocated by Derbyshire County Council to each school, per pupil, over the same period. [79362]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This question cannot be answered in the form in which it has been tabled. Education SSAs have a wider coverage than funding which can be allocated to schools. They have to cover costs such as home-to-school transport, school meals, and some central costs which cannot be delegated to schools, such as the LEA contribution to the Standards Fund. In addition,
  631
  pupils are counted at different dates for the purposes of calculating education SSAs and allocating school funding respectively.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent in total on education in Derbyshire at constant prices in each of the last five years from all public sources of funds. [79364]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  No "like-for like" data exist on total expenditure in Derbyshire on education over the last five years from all public sources of funds. The following table sets out Derbyshire's overall education spending, net of specific grants, in each of the last five years but it is not possible to adjust the figures for each year to take account of local government reorganisation and changes in local authority functions, such as the reform of inter-authority recoupment or the nursery voucher scheme, to give a true picture. Since we took office, some £18 million has been supported through the Standards Fund programme in Derbyshire and the authority has 632
  received capital allocations of some £18 million. There has been an underlying increase in Derbyshire's education SSA for 1999–2000 of £15.6 million or 6.1 per cent.

  £ million

  Financial Year

  Education spend

  1994–95

  333

  1995–96

  323

  1996–97

  336

  1997–98

  243

  1998–99

  266

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average standard spending assessment provision for(a) primary and (b) secondary pupils in each English local education authority area in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99, in current prices. [79366]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table sets out the information requested.

  1998–99 SSAs

  1997–98 SSAs in 1998–99 prices

  Real terms increases

  LEA

  Primary per pupil £

  Secondary per pupil £

  Primary per pupil £

  Secondary per pupil £

  Primary per pupil £

  Secondary per pupil £

  Primary per pupil %

  Secondary per pupil %

  City of London

  3,094

  9,236

  3,094

  7,430

  0

  1,805

  0.0

  24.3

  Camden

  3,131

  3,947

  3,050

  3,836

  81

  112

  2.6

  2.9

  Greenwich

  2,967

  3,854

  2,881

  3,773

  86

  81

  3.0

  2.1

  Hackney

  3,327

  4,558

  3,259

  4,441

  68

  117

  2.1

  2.6

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  3,128

  4,081

  3,030

  3,924

  97

  157

  3.2

  4.0

  Islington

  3,168

  4,218

  3,075

  4,129

  93

  90

  3.0

  2.2

  Kensington and Chelsea

  3,047

  3,946

  2,780

  3,723

  267

  223

  9.6

  6.0

  Lambeth

  3,307

  4,661

  3,185

  4,515

  122

  146

  3.8

  3.2

  Lewisham

  3,111

  4,088

  3,010

  3,988

  101

  100

  3.4

  2.5

  Southwark

  3,197

  4,191

  3,106

  4,132

  90

  59

  2.9

  1.4

  Tower Hamlets

  3,377

  4,434

  3,298

  4,370

  78

  64

  2.4

  1.5

  Wandsworth

  2,900

  3,797

  2,849

  3,763

  51

  34

  1.8

  0.9

  Westminster

  2,987

  3,741

  2,860

  3,670

  127

  71

  4.4

  1.9

  Barking and Dagenham

  2,561

  3,377

  2,490

  3,296

  71

  81

  2.9

  2.5

  Barnet

  2,429

  3,112

  2,359

  3,051

  70

  60

  3.0

  2.0

  Bexley

  2,331

  3,031

  2,262

  2,961

  69

  70

  3.0

  2.4

  Brent

  2,804

  3,710

  2,715

  3.67

  89

  40

  3.3

  1.1

  Bromley

  2,298

  2,965

  2,235

  2,912

  63

  53

  2.8

  1.8

  Croydon

  2,496

  3,288

  2,421

  3,205

  75

  84

  3.1

  2.6

  Ealing

  2,622

  3,503

  2,542

  3,415

  80

  88

  3.1

  2.6

  Enfield

  2,528

  3,260

  2,459

  3,211

  69

  49

  2.8

  1.5

  Haringey

  2,892

  3,849

  2,832

  3,816

  60

  32

  2.1

  0.8

  Harrow

  2,388

  3,148

  2,325

  3,076

  63

  72

  2.7

  2.3

  Havering

  2,293

  2,993

  2,231

  2,925

  62

  68

  2.8

  2.3

  Hillingdon

  2.399

  3,115

  2,319

  3,044

  80

  71

  3.4

  2.3

  Hounslow

  2,570

  3,301

  2,502

  3,235

  68

  66

  2.7

  2.0

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,293

  2,954

  2,223

  2,897

  70

  57

  3.1

  2.0

  Merton

  2,451

  3,186

  2,373

  3,107

  78

  79

  3.3

  2.5

  Newham

  2,917

  3,809

  2,822

  3,710

  95

  98

  3.4

  2.6

  Redbridge

  2,456

  3,181

  2,381

  3,114

  74

  68

  3.1

  2.2

  Richmond upon Thames

  2,253

  2,878

  2,180

  2,797

  73

  81

  3.3

  2.9

  Sutton

  2,345

  2,995

  2,275

  2,939

  70

  56

  3.1

  1.9

  Waltham Forest

  2,703

  3,530

  2,628

  3,486

  75

  44

  2.9

  1.3

  Birmingham

  2,370

  3,113

  2,297

  3,036

  73

  77

  3.2

  2.5

  Coventry

  2,243

  2,922

  2,177

  2,857

  67

  65

  3.1

  2.3

  Dudley

  2,059

  2,673

  2,004

  2,624

  55

  48

  2.8

  1.8

  Sandwell

  2,261

  2,954

  2,193

  2,879

  67

  75

  3.1

  2.6

  Solihull

  2,053

  2,648

  2,010

  2,605

  43

  43

  2.1

  1.7

  Walsall

  2,176

  2,819

  2,124

  2,770

  52

  49

  2.5

  1.8

  Wolverhampton

  2,270

  2,987

  2,205

  2,921

  65

  66

  2.9

  2.3

  Knowsley

  2,489

  3,336

  2,441

  3,258

  48

  78

  2.0

  2.4

  Liverpool

  2,436

  3.165

  2,353

  3,099

  83

  66

  3.5

  2.1

  St. Helens

  2,158

  2,824

  2,097

  2,764

  61

  60

  2.9

  2.2

  Sefton

  2,153

  2,789

  2,089

  2,730

  64

  60

  3.1

  2.2

  633

  1998–99 SSAs

  1997–98 SSAs in 1998–99 prices

  Real terms increases

  LEA

  Primary per pupil £

  Secondary per pupil £

  Primary per pupil £

  Secondary per pupil £

  Primary per pupil £

  Secondary per pupil per pupil £

  Primary per pupil per pupil %

  Secondary per pupil per pupil %

  Wirral

  2,218

  2,905

  2,153

  2,834

  65

  71

  3.0

  2.5

  Bolton

  2,159

  2,802

  2,094

  2,742

  65

  60

  3.1

  2.2

  Bury

  2,081

  2,686

  2,022

  2,624

  59

  63

  2.9

  2.4

  Manchester

  2,510

  3,321

  2,419

  3,218

  90

  103

  3.7

  3.2

  Oldham

  2,218

  2,868

  2,155

  2,802

  63

  66

  2.9

  2.4

  Rochdale

  2,235

  2,934

  2,168

  2,877

  67

  57

  3.1

  2.0

  Salford

  2,259

  2,970

  2,193

  2,886

  66

  84

  3.0

  2.9

  Stockport

  2,042

  2,665

  1,988

  2,613

  53

  53

  2.7

  2.0

  Tameside

  2,135

  2,768

  2,076

  2,716

  59

  52

  2.9

  1.9

  Trafford

  2,103

  2,726

  2,044

  2,669

  59

  57

  2.9

  2.1

  Wigan

  2,076

  2,689

  2,019

  2,638

  57

  51

  2.8

  1.9

  Barnsley

  2,154

  2,823

  2,090

  2,755

  64

  68

  3.1

  2.5

  Doncaster

  2,232

  2,918

  2,169

  2,853

  63

  65

  2.9

  2.3

  Rotherham

  2,152

  2,779

  2,089

  2,723

  63

  56

  3.0

  2.1

  Sheffield

  2,184

  2,854

  2,121

  2,794

  63

  60

  3.0

  2.1

  Bradford

  2,272

  2,985

  2,206

  2,917

  66

  68

  3.0

  2.3

  Calderdale

  2,161

  2,820

  2,102

  2,758

  59

  62

  2.8

  2.2

  Kirklees

  2,185

  2,848

  2,118

  2,788

  66

  61

  3.1

  2.2

  Leeds

  2,156

  2,806

  2,092

  2,749

  64

  57

  3.0

  2.1

  Wakefield

  2,097

  2,728

  2,038

  2,670

  59

  58

  2.9

  2.2

  Gateshead

  2,188

  2,854

  2,127

  2,806

  61

  48

  2.9

  1.7

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,296

  2,998

  2,226

  2,919

  70

  79

  3.2

  2.7

  North Tyneside

  2,125

  2,793

  2,066

  2,732

  58

  60

  2.8

  2.2

  South Tyneside

  2,232

  2,900

  2,175

  2,851

  58

  50

  2.7

  1.7

  Sunderland

  2,203

  2,871

  2,142

  2,814

  61

  57

  2.8

  2.0

  Isles of Scilly

  3,884

  5,051

  3,667

  4,821

  217

  230

  5.9

  4.8

  Cambridgeshire

  2,104

  2,734

  2,040

  2,679

  64

  56

  3.2

  2.1

  Cheshire

  2,058

  2,663

  2,002

  2,606

  56

  56

  2.8

  2.2

  Cornwall

  2,162

  2,820

  2,109

  2,767

  53

  54

  2.5

  1.9

  Cumbria

  2,133

  2,774

  2,073

  2,711

  60

  63

  2.9

  2.3

  Devon

  2,137

  2,794

  2,076

  2,736

  61

  58

  2.9

  2.1

  Essex

  2,228

  2,907

  2,157

  2,831

  70

  75

  3.3

  2.7

  Gloucestershire

  2,081

  2,703

  2,027

  2,650

  54

  53

  2.7

  2.0

  Herefordshire

  2,149

  2,818

  2,098

  2,776

  50

  42

  2.4

  1.5

  Worcestershire

  2,051

  2,664

  2,006

  2,623

  45

  41

  2.2

  1.6

  Hertfordshire

  2,257

  2,927

  2,189

  2,859

  68

  68

  3.1

  2.4

  Kent

  2,227

  2,902

  2,158

  2,829

  70

  73

  3.2

  2.6

  Lancashire

  2,138

  2,783

  2,077

  2,724

  60

  59

  2.9

  2.1

  Lincolnshire

  2,149

  2,802

  2,093

  2,744

  56

  59

  2.7

  2.1

  Norfolk

  2,153

  2,802

  2,094

  2,743

  59

  59

  2.8

  2.1

  Northamptonshire

  2,104

  2,739

  2,050

  2,687

  54

  52

  2.6

  1.9

  Northumberland

  2,120

  2,765

  2,067

  2,706

  54

  59

  2.6

  2.2

  Nottinghamshire

  2,077

  2,709

  2,019

  2,646

  58

  62

  2.9

  2.4

  Oxfordshire

  2,178

  2,815

  2,099

  2,737

  79

  78

  3.8

  2.8

  Shropshire

  2,100

  2,727

  2,051

  2,678

  49

  49

  2.4

  1.8

  Somerset

  2,105

  2,747

  2,046

  2,687

  59

  59

  2.9

  2.2

  Suffolk

  2,100

  2,724

  2,033

  2,665

  67

  59

  3.3

  2.2

  Surrey

  2,228

  2,897

  2,162

  2,834

  65

  63

  3.0

  2.2

  Warwickshire

  2,063

  2,685

  2,010

  2,638

  52

  47

  2.6

  1.8

  West Sussex

  2,159

  2,810

  2,094

  2,743

  65

  67

  3.1

  2.4

  North Yorkshire

  2,117

  2,732

  2,057

  2,669

  60

  63

  2.9

  2.4

  Bedfordshire

  2,179

  2,835

  2,107

  2,765

  72

  70

  3.4

  2.5

  Buckinghamshire

  2,180

  2,851

  2,116

  2,781

  64

  70

  3.0

  2.5

  Derbyshire

  2,057

  2,682

  2,001

  2,630

  56

  52

  2.8

  2.0

  Dorset

  2,073

  2,691

  2,013

  2,630

  60

  61

  3.0

  2.3

  Durham

  2,159

  2,824

  2,095

  2,754

  64

  70

  3.1

  2.5

  East Sussex

  2,226

  2.91

  2,147

  2,823

  79

  87

  3.7

  3.1

  Hampshire

  2,124

  2,776

  2,058

  2,697

  66

  79

  3.2

  2.9

  Leicestershire

  2,006

  2,620

  1,953

  2,568

  53

  53

  2.7

  2.1

  Staffordshire

  2,037

  2,653

  1,984

  2,598

  53

  55

  2.7

  2.1

  Wiltshire

  2,092

  2,731

  2.038

  2,669

  54

  62

  2.7

  2.3

  Isle of Wight Council

  2,288

  2,981

  2,221

  2,913

  67

  68

  3.0

  2.3

  Bath and North East Somerset

  2,041

  2,606

  1,982

  2,547

  59

  59

  3.0

  2.3

  City of Bristol

  2,207

  2,911

  2,146

  2,855

  61

  57

  2.8

  2.0

  North Somerset

  2,054

  2.681

  1,991

  2,618

  63

  63

  3.2

  2.4

  South Gloucestershire

  2,004

  2,619

  1,951

  2,560

  54

  59

  2.8

  2.3

  Hartlepool

  2,208

  2,875

  2,151

  2,824

  57

  51

  2.6

  1.8

  Middlesbrough

  2,318

  3,066

  2,255

  3,010

  62

  56

  2.8

  1.9

  Redcar and Cleveland

  2,218

  2,866

  2,158

  2,809

  59

  58

  2.7

  2.0

  Stockton-on-Tees

  2,174

  2,837

  2,119

  2,776

  55

  61

  2.6

  2.2

  634 635

  1998–99 SSAs

  1997–98 SSAs in 1998–99 prices

  Real terms increases

  LEA

  Primary per pupil £

  Secondary per pupil £

  Primary per pupil £

  Secondary per pupil £

  Primary per pupil £

  Secondary per pupil per pupil £

  Primary per pupil per pupil %

  Secondary per pupil per pupil %

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  2,279

  2,968

  2,214

  2,906

  65

  62

  3.0

  2.1

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  2,071

  2,688

  2,011

  2,626

  60

  62

  3.0

  2.3

  North East Lincolnshire

  2,187

  2,849

  2,129

  2,798

  58

  52

  2.7

  1.9

  North Lincolnshire

  2,155

  2,806

  2,091

  2,741

  65

  65

  3.1

  2.4

  York

  2,056

  2.7

  1,995

  2,630

  61

  69

  3.1

  2.6

  Luton

  2,380

  3,111

  2,301

  3,033

  79

  77

  3.5

  2.6

  Milton Keynes

  2,252

  2.956

  2,187

  2,885

  66

  71

  3.0

  2.5

  Derby

  2,197

  2,865

  2,138

  2,817

  59

  4S

  2.8

  1.7

  Poole

  2,044

  2,655

  1,992

  2,604

  52

  50

  2.6

  1.9

  Bournemouth

  2,148

  2,774

  2,084

  2,718

  63

  57

  3.0

  2.1

  Darlington

  2,145

  2,810

  2,089

  2,752

  56

  59

  2.7

  2.1

  Brighton and Hove

  2,303

  3,001

  2,228

  2,919

  75

  82

  3.3

  2.8

  Portsmouth

  2,295

  2,988

  2,218

  2,904

  78

  84

  3.5

  2.9

  Southampton

  2,310

  3,036

  2,234

  2,962

  76

  74

  3.4

  2.5

  Leicester

  2,332

  3,035

  2,264

  2,972

  68

  63

  3.0

  2.1

  Rutland

  2,065

  2,594

  1,991

  2,529

  74

  65

  3.7

  2.6

  Stoke on Trent

  2,155

  2,818

  2,095

  2,761

  61

  57

  2.9

  2.1

  Bracknell Forest

  2,231

  2,909

  2,157

  2,823

  74

  87

  3.4

  3.1

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  2,228

  2,859

  2,151

  2,774

  77

  86

  3.6

  3.1

  Newbury

  2,118

  2,733

  2,045

  2,657

  73

  77

  3.6

  2.9

  Reading

  2,279

  3,037

  2,207

  2,970

  71

  66

  3.2

  2.2

  Slough

  2,613

  3,485

  2,510

  3,361

  103

  124

  4.1

  3.7

  Wokingham

  2,028

  2,657

  1,962

  2,581

  67

  76

  3.4

  2.9

  Peterborough

  2,222

  2,886

  2,153

  2,826

  70

  61

  3.2

  2.1

  Halton

  2,235

  2,946

  2,182

  2,882

  53

  64

  2.4

  2.2

  Warrington

  2,036

  2,659

  1,988

  2,608

  48

  51

  2.4

  1.9

  Plymouth

  2,149

  2,773

  2,085

  2,712

  64

  61

  3.0

  2.2

  Torbay

  2,163

  2,811

  2,107

  2,756

  56

  55

  2.7

  2.0

  Southend

  2,264

  2,955

  2,189

  2,880

  75

  74

  3.4

  2.6

  Thurrock

  2,373

  3,096

  2,296

  3,013

  76

  83

  3.3

  2.7

  Medway Towns

  2,205

  2,876

  2,145

  2,819

  60

  57

  2.8

  2.0

  Blackburn

  2,304

  2,995

  2,234

  2,921

  70

  75

  3.1

  2.6

  Blackpool

  2,168

  2,872

  2,100

  2,808

  68

  64

  3.2

  2.3

  Nottingham City

  2,382

  3,135

  2,321

  3,072

  61

  62

  2.6

  2.0

  The Wrekin

  2,166

  2,820

  2,112

  2,769

  54

  51

  2.6

  1.8

  Swindon

  2,082

  2,720

  2,029

  2,666

  53

  53

  2.6

  2.0

  Total

  2,248

  2,918

  2,183

  2,853

  65

  65

  3.0

  2.3

  School Meal Services
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list in ascending order the difference between income and expenditure for school meal services for each county over the last 10 years. [79365]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This question cannot be answered in the form in which it has been tabled. Expenditure and income for the school meal service will inevitably vary according to the proportion of children entitled to free school meals and of children attending grant-maintained schools in the area of each Local Education Authority.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of the New Deal on the number of unemployed young people. [77829]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Since New Deal Pathfinders were introduced in January 1998, unemployment amongst the 636
  eligible group has fallen by 35 per cent. compared with a fall of 4 per cent. for those not eligible.

  The youth labour market is very dynamic and so some people would have left the claimant count without the help provided by New Deal. Nevertheless, initial evidence comparing Pathfinder with non-Pathfinder areas suggests that the New Deal has increased the flows of young people out of unemployment and the flow into jobs. The impact of New Deal is being addressed through a comprehensive evaluation programme. All final reports from the evaluation will be published and copies placed in the Library.

  Unemployed claimants (UK), nsa, 000s)

  Aged 18–24

  over 6 months

  up to 6 months

  All aged 25 and over

  January 1998

  118.5

  256.8

  1,088.5

  January 1999

  77

  250.9

  1,043.0

  Change

  –41.5

  –5.9

  –45.5

  % change

  –35%

  –2%

  –4%

  637

  Schools, Watford
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of his policy on inner-city education on schools in Watford; and if he will make a statement. [78543]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The programme announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 22 March 1999,Official Report, columns 21–22 to raise standards in inner cities applies in the first instance in six target areas only. The lessons learnt during the "Excellence in Cities" programme will in time benefit all schools. Watford schools already benefit from our national policies to raise standards and from the significant additional investment which the Government are making in the education system.

  Woodcote Infant School, Croydon
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from Croydon LEA concerning the funding of the expansion of Woodcote Infant School, to receive a three form entry per annum. [78713]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Croydon Education Authority has submitted applications to the Department under both Annual Capital Guidelines and infant class size policy for the expansion of Woodcote Infant School. The school did not qualify for Annual Capital Guideline funding for 1999–2000 but discussions are continuing between the Department and Croydon Education Authority about what funding will be available from the Department to enable the infant class size limit to be met.

  School Regulation
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list in respect of (i) treaty articles, (ii) directives and (iii) regulations concerning tenders and contracts,(a) made and (b) supervised by his Department, the commercial requirements which apply in relation to (1) inspection of schools and (2) fulfilling the functions of named local education authorities and (3) assumption of management responsibilities of individual schools from local education authorities. [78806]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department for Education and Employment neither makes nor supervises contracts for the inspection of schools, which are the responsibility of Ofsted. The management of maintained schools is the responsibility of each school's governing body, with support as necessary from the local education authority.

  The Department is making preparations to let and supervise contracts for the discharge of functions of local education authorities which are failing adequately to discharge their statutory functions. These contracts, including those for consultancy services, are subject to Council Directive 92–50, relating to the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public service contracts. The Directive is made under Articles 57(2) and 66 of the Treaty of Rome. The implementing regulations are the Public Service Contract Regulations 1993 number 3228.
  638

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money has been spent to date on the new deal for 18–24 year olds in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire unit of delivery. [78494]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 25 March 1999]Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter form Peter Collis to Mr. Paul Keetch, dated 30 March 1999:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question about how much money has been spent to date on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Unit of Delivery. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr. Lewis as Chief Executive Agency. I am replying in his absence.
  To the end of February £631,854 has been brought to account in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Unit of Delivery on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the largest number of recruits that have been taken on by any one company under the New Deal for Young People. [79433]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. David Maclean, dated 30 March 1999:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question about the largest number of recruits taken on by any one company under the New Deal for young people. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Three quarters of young people joining companies under the New Deal go into unsubsidised jobs. We have no central statistics which break down these job starts by employer not least because the same employer may trade, and recruit, under many different names. As regards subsided job starts, the largest number of starters with a single company is 80.

  I hope this is helpful.

  New Deal (Over-50s)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the criteria for inclusion in the extension of the new deal to those aged over 50 years. [78925]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The new initiative will be open to people aged over 50, out of work for six months or more and on income replacement benefits including Jobseekers Allowance and Incapacity Benefit, and their dependant partners. We intend to consult on the precise eligibility criteria and I will be writing to a number of individuals and organisations shortly.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the extension of the new deal to those aged over 50 years, announced in the Budget, will be implemented. [78926]
  639
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  We will begin to introduce this new initiative from October 1999 in pathfinder areas with full national implementation in early 2000. Details of the pathfinder areas will be announced by early summer.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of people over the age of 50 years in the Greater London area who have benefited from the New Deal; and if he will make a statement. [78536]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Peter Collis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 30 March 1999:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question about the number of people over the age of 50 years who have benefited from New Deal in the Greater London area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr. Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying in his absence.
  The Government Statistical Service figures to the end of January show that 5,032 people over the age of 50 have started the New Deal in Greater London.
  You may be aware that in November last year the Employment Service launched 28 New Deal pilots for people over the age of 25. Four of these pilots are based in Greater London and aim to look at innovative ways to help long term unemployed people over the age of 25 back into the labour market.
  You will, of course, also be aware that the Chancellor recently announced a further package of help for people over the age of 50 who have been unemployed for more than six months. This includes a cash employment credit for people entering employment, as well as personal adviser and job search support and a training subsidy.
  I hope this is helpful
  640

  Head Teachers (Pay)
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of head teachers has been awarded a nine per cent. pay rise. [77322]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has confirmed that all teachers, including head teachers, will receive a general increase of 3.5 per cent. from 1 April 1999. In addition, under proposals announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, on 1 February 1999 which are still subject to detailed consultation, head teachers' pay will be restructured from 1 September 1999. That announcement referred to an average increase of 9.5 per cent. (including the 3.5 per cent. general increase) for head teachers of small primary schools. The group of head teachers in question are the heads of primary schools with fewer than 100 pupils, who comprise 11.5 per cent. of all head teachers. Other primary head teachers will receive an average increase of 6.5 per cent. and secondary head teachers will receive an average increase of five per cent. (including the 3.5 per cent. general increase).

  Higher Education
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for each of the years from 1997–98 to 2000–01, what is the total resource allocation awarded to universities and other higher education institutions from public funds; what is the total number of actual and projected full-time equivalent higher education students; and what is the average level of resource allocation from public funds to each student. [77882]

  Mr. Mudie
  The following table sets out the Government's plans for higher education over the period 1997–98 to 2000–01. The plans are expressed in terms of publicly planned funding for higher education, including private contributions towards tuition fees which institutions will retain.

  The table shows total publicly planned resources for higher education, the total number of actual and projected full-time equivalent student numbers, and the average unit of funding per student.

  Publicly planned higher education funding (cash)1 and student numbers in England

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  Grants to HEFCE & TTA

  3,667

  3,674

  4,138

  4,268

  Additional HEFCE grants earmarked for capital investment in:

  infrastructure and IT

  —

  —

  35

  50

  research

  —

  —

  50

  100

  Estimated tuition fee income:

  public contributions from LEAs

  997

  1,006

  599

  520

  private contributions from students

  —

  130

  235

  333

  Funds for measures to widen access

  22

  41

  74

  76

  Total publicly planned funds

  4,686

  4,851

  5,131

  5,347

  Total FTE students2 (thousands)

  1,014

  1,019

  1,035

  1,052

  Unit of funding3 (£ per FTE)

  4,600

  4,720

  4,800

  4,870

  1Publicly planned funds for higher education include grants to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and, from 1995, to the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) for both recurrent and capital purposes. In addition the plans take account of publicly planned tuition fee income and funds for specific measures to widen access which go mainly to the students.

  2FTE student numbers cover all home and other EU undergraduate and postgraduate students studying both full and part-time in English universities and colleges.
  641
  3The unit of funding per FTE is based on publicly planned HE funds excluding earmarked grants for capital investment and the research infrastructure, and funds for specific measures to widen access. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10. The figures are consistent with grant letters to the HEFCE and are different to those in my answer on 7 December 1998, Official Report col. 90, which required adjustment for consistency with the figures provided there for earlier years.

  Individual Learning Account
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to allow students in further and higher education to pay(a) tuition fees and (b) maintenance from individual learning accounts that have been enhanced by the student's family or employer. [77881]

  Mr. Mudie
  Individual learning accounts will be available to all from April 2000. The Government incentives for individual learning accounts (including the £150 for the first million starter accounts) will be targeted on those in work, for whom no help is currently available. They will be able to use incentives to support a wide range of learning opportunities to improve skills and qualifications.

  Education Grants
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if applications for grants under the Education (Grants for Education Support and Training) (England) Regulations 1998, as amended by the Education (Grants for Education Support and Training) (England) Regulations 1998 (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1999, submitted before the Regulations are revoked on 1 April, will be considered under those Regulations. [79029]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 29 March 19991: Applications for payment of grant allocated under the programme for the 1998–99 financial year ending 31 March 1999 are considered under S.I. 1998 No. 656, the Education (Grants for Education Support and Training) (England) Regulations 1998 and the amendments to this S.I. that come into force before 31 March.

  Examination Verification Staff
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the adequacy of checks made on the suitability of staff working for examination verification bodies in further education. [79210]

  Mr. Mudie
  Awarding bodies are independent organisations responsible for their own recruitment procedures. However, the Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA), has responsibility for monitoring activities of the awarding bodies in order to promote public confidence in the quality, rigour, fairness and consistency of standards of qualifications.

  As part of its statutory regulatory procedures, QCA will require awarding bodies offering accredited national qualifications to meet specified criteria, including procedures for the appointment, training and monitoring of suitable specialists and assessors.

  The Qualifications and Curriculum Assessment Authority for Wales (ACCAC) has a parallel responsibility.

  Tertiary College Heads
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will investigate the 642
  circumstances under which heads of tertiary colleges criticised in National Audit Office reports are re-employed at senior levels in organisations which provide a service to their former employers. [79205]

  Mr. Mudie
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would certainly wish to investigate any such case involving appointment to a publicly-funded body.

  Teacher Promotions
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funds he has estimated will be required to implement his policy on the promotion of teachers in the next five years. [78813]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Technical Document on Pay and Performance Management, published on 1 February 1999, indicated that for the two financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02, up to £1 billion is available to support the implementation of the Green Paper, "Teachers: meeting the challenge of change." Much the largest single element of this will be the new pay arrangements. Expenditure plans have not yet been fixed beyond the financial year 2001–02. The implementation of the Green Paper proposals will be one of the issues considered when they are.

  London Schools (Closures)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools in each of the London education authorities have been closed during the last three years. [78535]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table shows, for each of the last three years, the number of schools in the London Local Education Authorities where there has been a decision (whether by the Authority or the Secretary of State) to close the school. A number of these have not yet been implemented.

  Number of schools closed

  1996

  Greenwich

  1

  Sutton

  1

  1997

  Camden

  1

  Kingston upon Thames

  1

  Lambeth

  3

  1998

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1

  Islington

  1

  The table excludes closures due to amalgamation of infant and junior schools.

  Grammar Schools (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many grammar school places are at present available in the Greater London area. [78893]
  643
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The total capacity (more open enrolment basis) for the 19 grammar schools in the Greater London area was 17,017 at April 1998. The total number of pupils was 17,057 at January 1998. Ten of these schools have a total of 678 more pupils than their capacity.

  New Deal (Single Gateway)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what changes the Government plans to make to the Single Gateway to Benefit before its implementation. [78919]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government have announced plans to forge a new culture in the benefits system which puts work first and provides a modern, integrated, flexible service for all. Pilots will begin in June to test the effectiveness of providing a Single Work-Focused Gateway into the benefits system. Intensive work is taking place to put these pilots into operation in four areas from June and a further eight areas from November. We shall evaluate the pilots thoroughly to inform decisions about wider implementation of the Single Gateway approach.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to extend the use of specialised agencies in the New Deal Gateway process. [78918]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  In last year's Budget statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional £50 million investment in the New Deal Gateway, of which £10 million was allocated to enhance specialist provision to help with such problems as homelessness and drug or alcohol dependency. More recently New Deal personal advisers have been reminded of the need to make full use of the help available from partner organisations, including specialist agencies. We are also currently developing more effective ways of assessing at an early stage in the Gateway whether young people are in particular need of specialist help.

  I will shortly be inviting New Deal partnerships to submit proposals for innovative approaches to delivering New Deal locally which we might support from our new Innovation Fund. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced additional resources for the Fund in this year's Budget. One of the priority areas for support will be proposals to implement recommendations from the New Deal Task Force report, "Meeting the needs of disadvantaged young people". I hope that some partnerships will come forward with proposals to implement and test out the report's recommendation that specialist agencies could provide effective case-management for young people with particularly severe problems during their time on New Deal.

HEALTH

  Mortality Rates (Young Men)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce mortality rates of young men, with particular reference to men in their early-30s. [77714]
  644
  Ms Jowell
  Mortality rates in some groups of young men are cause for concern. In those aged 30–34, specifically, there has been a progressive increase in rates since 1986 associated, for instance, with increased deaths from suicides, drug and alcohol abuse and infectious diseases (e.g. AIDS). These offset reductions in deaths from other causes (e.g. accidents, cancer and heart disease). The "Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health" highlighted, for example, suicide rates in young men and some action has already been taken. Reducing health inequalities is a key aim of our health strategy and the forthcoming "Our Healthier Nation" White Paper will focus on relevant conditions.

  Health Authority Funding (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the financial settlement for Gloucestershire health authority for the next financial year. [77715]

  Mr. Denham
  Gloucestershire health authority has been allocated £334.6 million for 1999–2000, which represents a cash increase of £17.4 million (5.5 per cent.).

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of primary care groups of general practitioners. [77716]

  Mr. Denham
  Primary care groups have been implemented to enable family doctors and nurses to shape and develop services locally in a way which better meets the needs of their population and which improves the health of their community.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made in establishing primary care groups. [77735]

  Mr. Denham
  481 primary care groups, covering the whole of England, will become operational from April, charged with tackling health inequalities and delivering improvements in the quality and efficiency of patient services.

  Skin Cancer
  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to raise public awareness of the dangers of skin cancer. [77717]

  Ms Jowell
  Skin cancers are largely preventable and we continue to work closely with a wide range of public bodies to raise public awareness of the sun's harmful effects. The Health Education Authority's annual sun awareness week and the new ultra-violet solar index being developed with the Meteorological Office are examples of the work the Department of Health is supporting to provide people with information on the day-to-day strength of the sun's rays and its capacity to burn, advice on the measures a person can take to lessen risks of sunburn, and information on the early detection and treatment of skin cancers.
  645

  Dental Services
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that everybody has access to a local NHS dentist. [77718]

  Mr. Denham
  The investing in dentistry (IID) initiative, which we launched in September 1997, and the personal dental services (PDS) scheme, which we announced on 1 January 1998, can both help to improve access to national health service dentistry. IID provides grants to enable dentists to expand existing practices and set up new ones in those areas of the country where the provision of NHS dental services is inadequate and oral health inequalities are most acute. PDS encourages health authorities to work with dentists to develop a variety of new arrangements to improve access to NHS dentistry.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the underspend on his Department's "investing in dentistry" initiative. [77720]

  Mr. Denham
  We expect all the funding available for 1998–99 for investing in dentistry (HD) to be assigned by the end of the financial year. Funding available in the first year of IID was not fully utilised, as most approvals became due for payment in the second year of the scheme.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the "investing in dentistry" initiative. [77728]

  Mr. Denham
  Investing in dentistry has been extremely effective. We have approved over £8 million of grants which will enable around 650,000 people to receive access to national health service dentistry. All dentists receiving grants will be monitored by their health authority to ensure that the conditions of the grant are met; if the dentist does not meet the commitment to provide NHS dentistry to the number of people specified, the grant can be reclaimed in whole or in part.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the principles of clinical governance outlined in "A First Class Service" to dentists working in the general dental services. [79414]

  Mr. Denham
  Health Service Circular 1999/065 "Clinical Governance: Quality in the new NHS" makes it clear that clinical governance arrangements will include general dental practitioners, optometrists and pharmacists. Clinical Governance in the General Dental Services will be implemented to a similar time scale as the rest of the national health service.

  To develop clinical governance in the GDS we will build on the elements already in place, underpinned by continuing professional development and strengthened by self-regulation.

  Care Leavers
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress on improving services for young people leaving local authority care since the publication of "Quality Protects". [77719]

  Mr. Hutton
  All local authorities were required to submit quality protects management action plans to the Department of Health by 31 January. The management 646
  action plans had to set out, among other information, the local authorities' plans for improving the services for young people leaving care. This is one of the six priority areas for the payment of the £375 million children's social services special grant.

  We shall be publishing the findings of our evaluation of the management action plans in a national overview report due out in the summer.

  Waiting Lists
  Ms Stuart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of people on NHS hospital waiting lists(a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) today. [77721]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government inherited the largest and fastest-rising waiting lists ever. We promised that by April 1999 waiting lists would be lower than the position we inherited of 1.158 million. We have delivered this promise a month early by reducing waiting lists by 193,000 since last April to 1.12 million.

  IVF Treatment
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure equality of access to IVF treatment. [77722]

  Ms Jowell
  We have pledged to tackle unacceptable levels of geographical variations in access to in-vitro fertilisation treatment and have set in motion a programme of work to achieve that aim. A Department of Health survey of current health authority infertility service provision will take place shortly to enable the cost implications of any policy changes to be estimated. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists aim to complete their third, and final, set of evidence-based clinical guidelines on infertility this autumn and these will indicate the circumstances in which infertility treatment can be most clinically effective. We can then move towards fairer access to national health service infertility services, where those most able to benefit from such treatment receive it.

  Residential and Nursing Homes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish his report on national required standards for residential and nursing homes for older people. [77723]

  Mr. Hutton
  The report will be published when further work has been done on the likely impact on providers, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance on regulatory impact assessments.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce waiting times for breast cancer treatment. [77724]

  Mr. Hutton
  Considerable progress has already been made through the on-going implementation of Calman/Hine. In addition, the Government have invested £20 million over the past 18 months in breast cancer
  647
  services to speed access to diagnosis and treatment. Quarterly monitoring of "The New NHS" White Paper breast cancer two-week target begins on 1 April.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has assessed on the success rates of early screening programmes in treating breast cancer. [77703]

  Mr. Hutton
  In 1996–97 the national health service breast screening programme, for the first time, matched the cancer detection rate of the original Swedish clinical trial in 1986 on which it was based. The majority of these cancers were small, early cancers which are easier to treat. Based on these results, it is estimated that the programme could be saving 1,250 lives each year.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received on errors made by the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Hospital Trust in diagnosing breast cancer; and if he will make a statement. [78939]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 26 March 1999]We are aware of the two terrible cases which have been the subject of media attention and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to both women to express his feelings of deep regret that they have had such an awful experience.

  We have asked the regional director of public health in Trent to commission a comprehensive review of the circumstances to ensure that everything possible is done to avoid this happening again. The review team will include an expert nominated by the Royal College of Pathologists. My right hon. Friend will be kept informed of progress and will be fully appraised of the conclusions and recommendations of the review team, which will be published.

  Adoption
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the waiting times for children for adoptive families. [77725]

  Mr. Hutton
  Some children needing new families wait too long to be placed with adoptive parents. Decisions about their future should be made more quickly and decisively. We are determined to transform the adoption service through our "Quality Protects" programme.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full service agencies for inter-country adoption are registered in the United Kingdom. [78326]

  Mr. Hutton
  Each local authority may act as an adoption agency for inter-country adoptions. In addition, there are 2 voluntary adoption agencies which are approved under section 3 of the Adoption Act 1976 to act as an adoption society in England and Wales which are also approved to act in overseas adoptions. Applications from two other adoption agencies to act in overseas adoptions have been received recently.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the job description of the Section Head (Adoption) in his Department. [78306]
  648
  Mr. Hutton
  The section head advises Ministers on domestic and inter-country adoption matters and, on behalf of my right hon Friend the Secretary of State, manages the Department's function as the central authority for England for inter-country adoption.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adoption applications for adoption within the UK were received in each year since 1990; and of these how many resulted in adoptions. [78328]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not available centrally. The Department processes applications only for inter-country adoptions. Domestic adoption applications are processed by the local authority concerned.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adoption applications for inter-country adoptions were received in each year since 1990; and how many of these resulted in adoptions being completed. [78327]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not hold information about the number of children adopted from abroad, only about the number of inter-country adoption applications it has processed since 1993. These will account for the majority of such adoptions since then and are set out as in the table.

  Year

  Number of inter-country adoption applications processed by the Department

  1993

  101

  1994

  115

  1995

  154

  1996

  308

  1997

  223

  1998

  258

  Total

  1,159

  Winter Fuel Allowance
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact the Chancellor's increase in the senior citizens winter fuel allowance will have on the health of senior citizens. [77726]

  Ms Jowell
  By announcing in his recent Budget statement an increase from £20 to £100 in the winter fuel allowance payable to pensioner households, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor clearly signalled the Government's intention to tackle fuel poverty. By benefiting those older people most at risk, this substantial fivefold increase will contribute to combating the many health problems related to cold conditions in homes.

  Radiotherapy Services (North-West)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made to reduce the above average waiting times for radiotherapy treatment in the north-west region caused by a lack of linear accelerators. [77727]

  Mr. Denham
  Since the Royal College of Radiologists collected the data which it published in July 1998, a new radiotherapy unit with two linear accelerators has opened
  649
  in Preston. In that time, the number of machines serving people in the north west and north Wales has increased from 12 to 16. Work is currently under way to house a third machine at Preston, which will come into service next year.

  A report commissioned by the National Health Service Executive North-West, which will make recommendations about the level of provision of radiotherapy treatment machines in the region, is due shortly.

  Complementary Medicine
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the change in the total funding for complementary medicine services from health authority budgets in the past year. [77729]

  Ms Jowell
  Information about health authority spending on complementary medicine services is not available centrally.

  It is for local purchasers and clinicians to decide how their resources would best be used to meet the health needs of their populations, having taken into account all of the available evidence as to the most appropriate and effective forms of treatment, whether conventional or complementary. We shall, however, be studying the use that the new primary care groups make of complementary medicine.

  Accident and Emergency Services (North-east London)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on plans to improve accident and emergency services in north-east London. [77730]

  Mr. Denham
  On 16 February my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that £30 million from the modernisation fund will be spent on improving England's accident and emergency services. In north-east London, Whipps Cross Hospital and Oldchurch Hospital have received £695,000 and £748,000 respectively to redevelop and modernise their accident and emergency units. These figures include awards from the National Health Service Executive's London Regional Office.

  On 15 March 1999, Official Report, columns 707–20, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that an extra £70 million-£80 million would be made available from her Majesty's Treasury aimed at new and better ways of staffing and organising accident and emergency services in England, including the introduction of emergency nurse practitioners, greater use of tele-medicine and tackling long trolley waits.

  Mental Health Institutions (Medical Emergencies)
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include in the code of practice under the Mental Health Acts a requirement for mental health institutions to have procedures for dealing with medical emergencies. [77731]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Mental Health Act 1983 code of practice provides guidance on the treatment, care and management of patients, with respect to their mental disorder, who are detained under the Mental Health Act 650
  1983. The code does not provide detailed guidance on procedures for dealing with medical emergencies in mental health institutions. It is for each mental health trust to ensure that policies and procedures are in place for dealing with medical emergencies involving all psychiatric patients, not just those detained under the Act.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his proposed timetable for the implementation of the recommendations of the royal commission on long-term care. [77732]

  Mr. Hutton
  There is already action in hand relating to several of the Royal Commission's recommendations. Others will require more detailed consideration over the coming months.

  Beta-interferon
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the prescription of beta-interferon for multiple sclerosis sufferers. [77733]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) today,Official Report, column 845.

  Renal Services
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources his Department has made available for renal unit facilities. [777341

  Mr. Denham
  Funds for specific services or aspects of treatment provided by the national health service are not separately identified either nationally or within individual health authority or NHS trust allocations. The pressures on renal services were identified during the comprehensive spending review process and were taken into account when calculating the final settlement for the NHS. However, it is for individual HAs to decide the resources which should be devoted to the provision of renal services in the context of local priorities and needs. The "National Priorities Guidance 1999/2000–2001/02" makes it clear that this is an area where HAs are expected to secure improvements.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Government policy on the provision of health services to patients with multiple sclerosis. [77736]

  Mr. Denham
  The national health service provides health care on the basis of clinical need. This includes the health services which may be required by people with multiple sclerosis ranging from primary care to specialist services.

  Guidance on betainterferon was issued to the national health service in November 1995.

  Mental Health (Children)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investment the Government plan to make over the next three years to help children with(a) attention deficit disorder, (b) phobias, (c) depression and (d) other mental health problems. [77708]
  651
  Mr. Hutton
  The Government are making an additional £84 million available over three years from April 1999 to improve provision of appropriate, high-quality care and treatment for children and young people by building up locally based child and adolescent mental health services. These services address a range of child and adolescent mental health problems, including emotional and behavioural disorders such as attention deficit disorder, phobias and depression.

  Cancer
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths occurred last year from (i) prostate, (ii) breast, (iii) lung and (iv) colon cancer; and what was the amount of Government funding for(a) treatment and (b) research allocated to each of those cancers. [77572]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of deaths in England and Wales in 1997 (the latest data available) for the following cancers are given in the table.

  ICD code

  Men

  Women

  ICD9 185

  Prostate

  8,523

  —

  ICD9 174/5

  Breast

  67

  11,980

  ICD9 162

  Trachea, bronchus and lung

  19,087

  10,889

  ICD9 153

  Colon

  5,125

  5,323

  Information about the cost of treatment classified by disease is not routinely collected locally, hence there is no collation of such data centrally. However, approximately 6.3 per cent. of national health service hospital expenditure is on cancer.

  The Government fund health and medical research in a number of ways. The Department funds research and development to support its work on policy development and evaluation in health and social care. The Department also manages the national health service research and development levy, which is used to support research and development of relevance to the national health service in hospitals, general practice and other health care settings, and to fund the NHS research and development programme. In addition, the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology in the Department of Trade and Industry, funds medical research as part of the Government's funding of the science and engineering base.

  Management of much of the research supported by the NHS research and development levy is devolved, and details of expenditure at project level are not collected routinely by the Department. During 1997–98, the Department invested the following amount on directly commissioned research: £187,000 on lung cancer; £29,000 on prostate cancer; £832,000 on breast cancer and £197,000 on bowel cancer.

  During 1997–98, the MRC spent £691,000 on lung cancer; £18,000 on prostate cancer; £3,328,000 on breast cancer and £1,469,000 on bowel cancer. The MRC's figures relate to research specifically into these named cancers, and research which has been classified as being undertaken in one of these sites may well have implications in another and vice versa. As a guide, the MRC spent £13.2 million on cancer in 1994–95.
  652
  Studies in cancer should be viewed in the context of a large body of basic MRC research which underpins, and is of some relevance, to them. This includes the study of molecules and cells (£64.5 million in 1997–98), genetics and health (£52.4 million) and infections and immunity (£60.3 million).

  In addition to the MRC's funding of the specified cancers, it is also supporting 10 trials, details of which are listed. These trials are co-ordinated by the MRC cancer trials office (CTO), which supports about 30 trials at any one time. Costs cannot be ascribed to individual studies, but, as a guide, the CTO's budget in 1997–98 was approximately £1 million.

  MRC Trials

  Breast cancer:
  A randomised trial of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide vs. epirubicin and paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer

  Bowel cancer:
  A randomised trial of intravenous versus intrahepatic arteria 5-FU and leucovorin for colorectal liver metastases
  A randomised trial comparing 2 durations and 3 systemic chemotherapy regimens in the palliative treatment of advanced colorectal cancer

  Lung cancer:
  The Big Lung Trial: a randomised trial of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for all patients with non-small cell lung cancer;
  A randomised trial of supportive treatment with or without immediate thoracic radiotherapy in the prevention and palliation of symptoms in inoperable NSCLC;
  A randomised trial of pre-operative chemotherapy versus radiotherapy in patients with stage IIIA NSCLC;
  A randomised trial of ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide with mid-cycle vincristine (VICE) vs. standard practice chemotherapy in patients with SCLC and good performance status;
  A randomised trial of surgical resection with or without pre-operative chemotherapy in patients with operable NSCLC;

  Prostate cancer:
  A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of adjuvant oral sodium clodronate in patients commencing or responding to initial hormone therapy for metastatic adenocarcinoma comparing time to symptomatic bone progression;
  A randomised trial of high dose therapy in localised cancer of the prostate using conformal radiotherapy techniques.

  Project details of work directly funded by the Department or supported through the NHS research and development levy can be found on the National Research Register (NRR). This is available in the Library and most medical libraries on CD Rom, and on the Internet: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nrr.htm. The NRR also contains many details of projects/trials funded by the MRC and other funders.

  Cancer Care Services
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department makes available to the public on the quality and performance of cancer care services; and if he will make a statement. [78222]

  Mr. Hutton
  A range of information is available which has a bearing on the quality and performance of cancer care services. Annual statistical bulletins on the breast and cervical screening programmes in England give information on uptake, coverage and detection rates. The
  653
  Office for National Statistics publishes the following information on cancer incidence, cancer survival and mortality:

  Source

  Incidence

  Cancer Statistics Registrations England and Wales 1992 ONS Series MB1

  Cancer survival

  ONS Monitor MB1 98/1 Cancer survival in England and Wales: 1981 and 1989 registrations

  Mortality

  Mortality Statistics Cause England and Wales 1997 ONS Series DH2 No.24

  Waiting list data by specialty are collected and published quarterly in both the "Department of Health NHS Executive Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England" for inpatients and the "Department of Health NHS Executive Waiting Times for First Outpatient Appointments in England: Detailed Statistics" for outpatients. Data are available at specialty level for both health authorities and national health service trusts. Cancer treatment data may be contained within some of the various specialty classifications. Hospital episode statistics, which show the number of finished consultant episodes, are also collected. Copies of all publications are available in the Library.

  High level performance indicators (HLPIs) will be published shortly, which will include a number of indicators for cancer services. The HLPIs aim to provide an overview of how the NHS is performing, encourage national and local improvements in performance and support public accountability.

  A cancer information strategy, within the wider health information strategy, is currently being developed, which will streamline information sources. Areas for action which have been identified include developing a core cancer information pack for patients, carers and other users; information requirements of primary care; and patient-centred information systems.

  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he is assessing on specialist support for CFS/ME(a) nationally and (b) in the Northern Region. [78484]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are not currently assessing any proposals nationally or in the northern region on specialist support for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). The national health service provides a considerable number of services to which people suffering from CFS/ME have access, and such patients are seen within a wide range of hospital specialties. The recently established CFS/ME working group will produce guidance aimed at improving the quality of this care and treatment. The CFS/ME working group will complete its work by the summer of 2000 and the guidance will be published later that year.

  Carers
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will inform health care service providers of the developing policies towards carers outlined in the national strategy for carers. [78553]
  654
  Mr. Hutton
  A copy of the national strategy, "Caring about Carers", was sent to chief executives of health authorities and national health service trusts on 8 February. The Chief Executive of the National Health Service Executive wrote to all chief executives personally on 11 March emphasising his commitment to implementation of the national strategy. Further information will be sent directly to all doctors in England by the Chief Medical Officer. The Department is also working closely with organisations representing general practitioners, nurses and managers in general practice on publicising the national strategy to primary care teams. Further opportunities for informing the national health service about supporting carers will be taken as they arise, and in the context of a wide range of initiatives under way in my Department.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with ministerial colleagues methods of establishing a one-stop shop advice service for carers. [78554]

  Mr. Hutton
  The issue of how best to provide information and advice for carers was fully discussed in the course of developing our national carers' strategy. We will be working to provide carers with improved information in a range of different ways-through helplines, including NHS Direct, through an improved network of local support services and carers' centres, and through information technology. Carers' centres and carer support services already provide information and advice on a wide range of issues. We will help them to do this better, such as by providing information on our policies and services on the internet. We also intend to help the staff of all services that support carers to become knowledgeable about the issues which concern them and about other local services which can help them.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he intends to take to ensure that primary health care providers are able to(a) identify and (b) provide services to carers. [78552]

  Mr. Hutton
  The national priorities guidance for the health and social services for 1999–2000 requires primary care teams to identify patients who are carers or who have carers. We are working with a number of organisations, including the medical and nursing royal colleges, on ways of ensuring that primary care teams support carers, in particular by helping them to maintain their own health and by providing them with information about other services in their area.

  Violence against Women
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals the Government have to develop the strategy agreed in the Beijing Platform for Action for tackling all forms of violence against women. [78873]

  Ms Jowell
  We will shortly be releasing a report outlining an integrated approach to preventing violence against women. This report will promote inter-agency working and will include measures based on prevention, and the provision of protection and justice. The report's development has been informed by research into the causes and consequences of violence against women and the effectiveness of preventive measures.
  655
  The United Kingdom is fully committed to opposing trafficking in women and its associated activities. The UK has comprehensive laws in place to deal with those who engage in activities associated with trafficking and prostitution and measures are in place to ensure that victims are dealt with fairly.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the savings to the NHS if pharmacists were permitted to prescribe the limited selection of drugs that district nurses may prescribe. [78885]

  Mr. Denham
  No estimate has been made of whether allowing pharmacists to prescribe a limited selection of drugs would lead to savings or to additional costs.

  NHSNet
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the acceptability to GP practices of NHSNet in respect of(a) security, (b) cost and (c) speed relative to other internet providers. [78924]

  Mr. Denham
  The NHSNet is a private communications network dedicated to national health service purposes and as such it is fundamentally more secure than equivalent public networks such as the internet.

  The initial cost of connecting general practitioners to NHSNet will be met from modernisation funds. GPs will have to meet any increased costs related to telephone call charges and this is estimated to be £400 per practice per annum in the first instance. However, this cost will be treated as a practice expense and will be met indirectly through the expenses element in the gross fees and allowances paid to GPs.

  NHSNet is capable of delivering information as quickly as the best internet providers.

  Prescriptions (Pensioners)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost was incurred by his Department in the most recent available year in respect of NHS prescriptions to pensioners. [78934]

  Mr. Denham
  In 1997, the estimated cost of prescription items dispensed by community pharmacies and appliance contractors to persons aged 60 and over was £1,906 million.

  This is the net ingredient cost, which is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charge income. Information about the cost of prescriptions dispensed in the community by dispensing doctors or dispensed in hospitals to persons aged 60 and over is not available.

  Herbal Medicines
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policies in respect of herbal remedies. [79505]
  656
  Ms Jowell
  Our overall objective is that the public should have access to a wide range of safe, high-quality herbal medicines with appropriate information about the use of the product. There are currently two contrasting routes to the market for herbal medicines. Licensed herbal medicines have to meet rigorous standards of safety, quality and efficacy. Unlicensed herbal remedies in the UK do not have to meet any specific standards for safety, quality or efficacy.

  We fully share the view, which was expressed at a recent meeting held by my noble Friend Baroness Hayman, by a range of organisations working in the natural health sector, that the current regulatory arrangements for herbal medicines have significant weaknesses and require review. The regime for unlicensed medicines does not give systematic protection to the public against low-quality and unsafe unlicensed herbal remedies which are known to reach the UK market. Nor does it permit manufacturers legally to give written information to consumers about the intended use of the product. In contrast, elements of the regime for licensed medicines—particularly some of the efficacy requirements—are difficult for responsible companies to satisfy in relation to herbal medicines. We believe that there is a need to work towards arrangements which provide better protection and information to the public, while continuing to allow responsible business and practitioners to operate effectively.

  We have asked the Medicines Control Agency to examine options for achieving our objectives for herbal medicines, consulting widely with interested organisations. Medicines law operates within a European framework. Accordingly, we will need to develop a position which is realistically achievable within the European Union. We intend to participate actively and constructively in any on-going EU discussions about future regulatory arrangements for herbal medicines.

  Medical Devices Agency
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the key targets for 1999–2000 for the Medical Devices Agency. [79614]

  Ms Jowell
  We have agreed the agency's key targets for 1999–2000 and copies have been placed in the Library.

  Day-care Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the levels of charges by local authorities for non-residential day-care services; and what plans he has to introduce guidance on the appropriate levels of such charges. [78920]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on charges made to individuals for non-residential services is not available centrally. However, the total amounts reported by local authorities as having been received from clients in the form of fees and charges, in 1996–97, for different services are collected centrally, and are available in the form of computer tables on the Department's World Wide Web pages [Internet reference http:\\www.open.gov.uk/doh/public/pssstat.htm] for all local authorities in England.
  657
  We will consider what action to take to make the present charging system for non-residential services more equitable, including the case for guidance on appropriate levels of charges, when we have assessed the recommendations of the royal commission's report on long-term care, and the results of a survey by the Audit Commission on local authority charging practices.

  Lamotrigine
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into the safety of the drug, Lamotrigine. [67006]

  Mr. Denham
  As for all marketed medicines, the available research into the safety of lamotrigine was assessed at the time of granting the marketing authorisation and continues to be evaluated by the Medicines Control Agency. Recognised side effects of lamotrigine are included in the authorised product information and the British National Formulary.

  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been made to his Department since the drug Lamotrigine was licensed for use in Britain, arising out of or related to the use of this drug or arising out of or connected to side effects suspected to be related to the use of this drug. [67005]

  Mr. Denham
  The Medicines Control Agency, which is responsible for drug regulation in the United Kingdom, has received 35 inquiries relating to lamotrigine from health professionals and members of the public since the marketing authorisation was granted in 1991.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farmers (North-west)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to visit farmers in Chorley and Bolton. [77526]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 18 March 1999]: I have no plans at present to visit farmers in Chorley and Bolton. I undertake regular visits to different regions in England and other parts of the UK to consult with farmer representatives and farmers themselves on matters of interest to them. I hope, as part of that programme, to be able to visit Lancashire.

  OTMS
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to review the over-30-months scheme; and if he will make a statement. [78211]

  £

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Regional Selective Assistance

  385,000

  75,000

  30,000

  1,400,000

  Processing and Marketing Grants

  585,638

  706,867

  813,046

  1,065,192

  Objective 5b1

  0

  0

  0

  429,501

  LEADER II Projects

  0

  0

  0

  2,758

  Mid Wales Development Grant

  47,000

  0

  208,000

  0

  Total

  1,017,638

  799,329

  1,051,046

  3,638,933

  1 The Objective 5b scheme began in 1995, however no payments were made until 1998.

  658
  Mr. Rooker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 7 December 1998,Official Report, column 104, to which I have nothing further to add at the present time.

  Cutting Plants (Veterinary Inspections)
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the average annual cost of moving from monthly to weekly and then daily veterinary supervision in a licensed cutting plant handling under five tonnes of meat per week. [78409]

  Mr. Rooker
  Based on a licensed cutting plant handling under five tonnes of meat per week, with veterinary attendance of one hour per day and weekly working assumed to be five days, the average annual cost of moving from monthly to weekly to daily veterinary supervision will be:

  Monthly inspection—annual cost (12 hours): £342

  Weekly inspection—annual cost (52 hours): £1,482

  Daily inspection—annual cost (260 hours): £7,410.

  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average cost of daily veterinary inspections as a percentage of turn-over for the category of plant which handles(a) under five tonnes and (b) between 250 and 5,000 tonnes of meat per week. [78416]

  Mr. Rooker
  The average annual costs of daily veterinary inspections at these premises will be:

  Plant handling under five tonnes of meat

  Annual cost: £7,410

  (based on supervision of one hour/day)

  Plant handling between 250 and 5,000 tonnes of meat per week

  Annual cost: £17,280

  (based on average supervision of two hours/day).

  Information on the turnover of licensed premises is not available I regret that I am therefore unable to provide a percentage of turnover value.

  Milk
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sums have been invested in the modernisation of the United Kingdom milk processing industry in each year from 1995 to date; and what Government financial support for investment has been provided in each year. [78195]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 23 March 1999]: Information on total investment in the modernisation of the United Kingdom milk processing industry is not held centrally.

  Government financial support for investment from 1995 to date is as follows:
  659

  Potatoes
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by his Department with regard to the ecological links between the cultivation of potatoes and the existence of the aquatic flies and similar fauna vital for the survival of young salmon and trout; and if he will make a statement. [78879]

  Mr. Rooker
  No research of this type has been commissioned or evaluated.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being undertaken by his Department(a) directly and (b) by contract to outside bodies on the genetic modification of potatoes; and if he will make a statement. [78878]

  Mr. Rooker
  My Department currently funds two research projects involving the genetic modification of potatoes. Both projects involve strategic R&D to investigate genetic manipulation as a possible means to reduce the use of chemicals during the growth and storage of potato tubers.

  A three-year project within the Cell Engineering LINK programme started in 1996 and is due to end on 30 April. The LINK consortium comprises the University of Leeds and Advanced Technologies (Cambridge) Ltd. Government contributors come from MAFF and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The aim of this project is to investigate the feasibility of genetic modification as a means of reducing damage by nematodes and thus reduce the use of chemical nematicides.

  A second three-year project funded by MAFF at the University of Nottingham started in February 1999. HRI-Wellesbourne is a sub-contractor on this project, which also receives an "in-kind" contribution from Advanced Technologies (Cambridge) Ltd. The aim of this project is to investigate specific biochemical changes occurring in potato tubers which affect their storage behaviour.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the incidence of tuberculosis in(a) badgers and (b) cattle in each of the last three years in Cheshire; and if he will make a statement. [78787]

  Mr. Rooker
  With respect to part(a) of the question, the incidence of TB in badgers has not been systematically studied in Great Britain outside the Woodchester Park area. With regard to part (b) of the question, there were no confirmed TB incidents in cattle herds in Cheshire in 1996 or 1997. There were two confirmed TB incidents in herds in Cheshire in 1998.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards small abattoirs. [79536]

  Mr. Rooker
  Small abattoirs make a valuable contribution to the economy, but they cannot be exempt from the requirements of EU law.
  660

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the health implications of the consumption of dairy products where bovine somatotropin has been used in the production process. [78984]

  Mr. Rooker
  Bovine somatotropin (BST) occurs naturally in all cows milk. The manufactured form of BST is not currently permitted for use in the EU. If its use were to be authorised, it would be classified as a veterinary medicinal product. Products have previously been assessed by independent scientific committees against the statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. I asked the independent Veterinary Products Committee to set up a Working Group, which is currently consulting the latest scientific information on animal and human safety, and the Committee is expected to offer advice to Ministers on the safety of BST in the summer.

CABINET OFFICE

  Drugs Misuse
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the degree of correlation between the level of law enforcement on the possession and use of illegal drugs and the overall level of availability of illegal drugs in the United Kingdom since the appointment of the Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator. [79333]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I have been asked to reply.

  Such a simple correlation is not possible as there are many factors, other than the level of law enforcement, which could impact on the availability of illegal drugs on our streets. Furthermore, although statistics are collected on the number and weight of seizures of illicit drugs, we have no measure at present of the overall size of the drugs market, or the percentage of illegal drugs seized, which would allow comparisons to be made.

  A methodology is being developed to measure the key corporate objective under the availability aim of the Drugs Strategy to reduce access to drugs among young people. It is intended to provide a better understanding of the impact of law enforcement measures on the availability of drugs in the United Kingdom.

  Senior Salaries
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what was the average percentage increase in salaries of members of the Senior Civil Service for 1998–99; and to what extent the pay awards were staged. [78769]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The average individual increase in 1998–99 (before staging) was 5.44 per cent. 2 per cent. of the pay award was paid on 1 April 1998 and the remainder on 1 December 1998. The individual average percentage in-year increase taking account of staging was 3.15 per cent.
  661

  Task Forces
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list for all task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997(a) their dates of establishment, (b) those which

  Task force/policy review

  Date established

  Date of publication of final report

  Date of termination

  Expected reporting and termination dates

  Better regulation Task Force

  15 September 1997

  —

  No termination date set

  Review of Export Promotions

  18 June 1998

  12 March 1999

  12 March 1999

  —

  Modernising Government Quality Schemes Task Force

  26 January 1999

  —

  —

  December 1999

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list all those task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997 which have set up(a) sub-groups, (b) working parties and (c) other subsidiary committees. [79250]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  (a) Sub-groups—The Better Regulation Task Force; (b) working parties—none; (c) other subsidiary committees—none.

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which public bodies remain outside the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. [79248]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The vast majority of executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and those advisory NDPBs which have significant dealings with members of the public are now within the parliamentary ombudsman's jurisdiction. Those which remain outside his jurisdiction generally have few or no dealings with members of the public or are within the jurisdiction of another ombudsman, for example, the Local Government Ombudsman, or else have external adjudicators.

  There are some exceptions to this, where the Government have decided that it would be inappropriate to bring a particular executive NDPB within the parliamentary ombudsman's jurisdiction, because of the nature of the body's work. These are listed:

  Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales

  Alcohol Education and Research Council

  Audit Commission

  Criminal Cases Review Commission

  Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board

  Funding Agency for Schools

  Gaming Board

  Horserace Totalisator Board

  Horticulture Research International

  Independent Commission for Police Complaints

  Police Authority for Northern Ireland

  Police Complaints Authority

  Policyholders Protection Board

  Student Loans Company.

  Ofwat customer service committees are excluded from the parliamentary ombudsman's jurisdiction as complaints from members of the public may be taken to the Director General of Water Services.
  662
  have issued final reports and their dates of publication, (c) those which have been terminated and their dates of termination and (d) for those bodies still in existence, expected reporting and termination dates. [79272]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The information is given in the table.

  The British-Russia Centre and the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe, which are currently outside the parliamentary ombudsman's jurisdiction are shortly to be brought within his remit.

  Public Services
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what he will do to ease public access and improve efficiency in dealing with complaints across different public services in England. [79668]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I am pleased to announce that the Government are about to undertake a review of the organisation of public sector ombudsmen in England. The review will be conducted by a team in the Cabinet Office and its terms of reference are as follows:The review will consider whether the present arrangements for the organisation of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, the Health Service Commissioner for England and the Local Government Ombudsman in England are in the best interest of complainants and others against a background of moves towards the more integrated provision of public services; and whether those arrangements hinder achieving better value for money.
  The review will also consider the potential interaction between those ombudsmen and other independent complaints authorities, such as the Independent Housing Ombudsman and the Data Protection Registrar.
  The review will make recommendations about the public sector Ombudsmen, including recommendations on their statutory powers and duties, having regard for constitutional issues.

  This review will support the Modernising Government agenda by examining the scope for a more joined-up ombudsman system for England.

TREASURY

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter inviting civil servants in his Department to waive Working Time Directive requirements. [79424]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have done so.

  Births
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the percentage of births, live and stillborn, with birth weight(a) under 2,500g and (b) under

  663
  3,000g (i) stillborn in the United Kingdom and (ii) live and stillborn in the 10 wards with the highest percentage of births under 2,500g; and if he will give these figures for each of the past five years; [78754]

  (2) if he will list the percentage of births where birth weight was under 2,500g which were (a) stillborn and (b) live births for each of the past 10 years. [78789]

  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. Frank Field, dated 30 March 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary questions on births.
  The information requested for the percentage of all births with selected birthweights in the United Kingdom, 1993–1997, is shown in the attached table 1. Similar information for the ten wards with the highest percentages can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  The percentages of births where birth weight was under 2,500g which were stillborn and live are shown in the attached table 2.

  Table 1 Stillbirths with a selected birthweight as a percentage of all births with a stated birthweight Residents of United Kingdom, 1993–1997

  Stillbirths

  Total birth

  Under 2,500 grams

  Under 3,000 grams

  Numbers

  1993

  742,579

  2,799

  3,316

  1994

  736,015

  2,814

  3,335

  1995

  732,819

  2,788

  3,279

  1996

  733,287

  2,759

  3,259

  1997

  727,095

  2,620

  3,085

  Percentages

  1993

  —

  0.4

  0.4

  1994

  —

  0.4

  0.5

  1995

  —

  0.4

  0.4

  1996

  —

  0.4

  0.4

  1997

  —

  0.4

  0.4

  Sources:

  Office for National Statistics

  Information and Statistics Division, Scotland

  DHSS, Northern Ireland

  Table 2 Number of live and stillbirths with birthweight under 2,500 grams.Percentage of births where birthweight was under 2,500 grams which were live and stillborn Residents of United Kingdom 1988–97

  All births Under 2,500 grams

  Live births Under 2,500 grams

  Stillbirths Under 2,500 grams

  Numbers

  19881

  52,226

  49,983

  2,243

  1989

  52,432

  50,284

  2,148

  1990

  53,861

  51,667

  2,194

  1991

  54,256

  52,110

  2,146

  1992

  52,470

  50,376

  2,094

  1993

  52,837

  50,038

  2,799

  1994

  53,362

  50,548

  2,814

  1995

  55,549

  52,761

  2,788

  1996

  55,167

  52,408

  2,759

  1997

  55,785

  53,165

  2,620

  Percentages

  19881

  —

  96

  4

  1989

  —

  96

  4

  664

  Table 2 Number of live and stillbirths with birthweight under 2,500 grams. Percentage of births where birthweight was under 2,500 grams which were live and stillborn Residents of United Kingdom 1988–97

  All births Under 2,500 grams

  Live births Under 2,500 grams

  Stillbirths Under 2,500 grams

  1990

  —

  96

  4

  1991

  —

  96

  4

  1992

  —

  96

  4

  1993

  —

  95

  5

  1994

  —

  95

  5

  1995

  —

  95

  5

  1996

  —

  95

  5

  1997

  —

  95

  5

  1 Great Britain only—Information for Northern Ireland is not available for 1988.

  Sources:

  Office for National Statistics

  Information and Statistics Division, Scotland

  DHSS, Northern Ireland

  Office for National Statistics
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli, Pembrokeshire (Ms Lawrence) of 24 February 1999,Official Report, column 285, on the Office for National Statistics, what progress has been made with the restructuring of the management board; where the post of director of finance and corporate services has been advertised; and by when the new board is planned to be in place. [79396]

  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. David Kidney, dated 30 March 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the restructuring of the ONS management board.

  The ONS Board has been restructured so that it consists of

  The Director of ONS

  A Director of Economic Statistics

  A Director of Social Statistics

  A Director of Methodology and Quality

  A Director of Corporate Services

  Interim appointments from current ONS staff have been made to these posts from 1 April, and job descriptions for the posts are in preparation. I am discussing with the Civil Service Commissioners how best to attract external applications for the Corporate Services post, which I expect to be advertised in late April. Arrangements for filling the other posts are still being considered.

  Employment (Merseyside)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of people in work in(a) Birkenhead and (b) the Wirral in 1979 and at the latest date for which figures are available broken down between (i) full-time and (ii) part-time work. [79214]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 29 March 1999]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
  665
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 30 March 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on employment.
  Information is available for the number of Employee Jobs, derived from the Annual Employment Survey (AES) for September 1997 (latest available date) and the Census of Employment for September 1981 (the closest available date to 1979). The persons who hold these jobs may live outside the area shown.

  Employee jobs 1 at September

  Thousand

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Wirral1

  1981

  69.0

  25.0

  1997

  59.1

  34.8

  Birkenhead2

  1981

  32.7

  11.6

  1997

  21.3

  11.2

  1 Local Authority District

  2 Parliamentary Constituency

  Investment Companies
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will announce the timetable for the introduction of legislation to enable cash and fund-of-fund open-ended investment companies to be launched in the UK domestic market; and when authorisation of cash and fund-of-fund open-ended investment companies will enable ISA providers to promote such companies as an alternative to authorised unit trust schemes. [79344]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Financial Services and Markets Bill will include a provision to make orders allowing the formation of a wide range of open-ended investment companies (oeics). The aim will be to create a single corporate code for all authorised oeics. The Financial Services Authority will then be able to authorise oeics with a broad range of investment objectives. These could include cash and fund-of-fund open-ended investment companies.

  Existing cash and fund-of-fund authorised unit trusts are eligible for inclusion in ISAs. Changes to the tax regulations permitting cash and fund-of-fund open-ended investment companies to be offered as ISA products will be introduced once these are established in law and are authorised by the Financial Services Authority.

  Energy Levy
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what advice he has received on the likely impact on the United Kingdom steel industry's international competitiveness of the climate change levy at the indicative levels currently proposed; [79349]

  (2) how he plans to ensure, in introducing the proposed energy levy, that United Kingdom manufacturing exports are not unfairly disadvantaged in world markets. [79348]

  Ms Hewitt
  In line with the Statement of Intent on Environmental Taxation, the Government considered carefully the potential impact of the climate change levy on the international competitiveness of United Kingdom industry. The design of the levy closely follows Lord Marshall's recommendations. Its introduction will 666
  involve no increase in the overall burden of taxation on business. The Government intend to recycle the revenues to business through a cut of 0.5 percentage points in the main rate of employer National Insurance Contributions. Businesses will also benefit from an additional £50 million for schemes aimed at providing energy efficiency directly and stimulating the take-up of renewable sources of energy.

  The Government also recognise the need for special consideration to be given to the position of energy intensive industries given their energy usage, the separate Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regulation and their exposure to international competition. In line with the recommendations made by the CBI, the Government will not be taking a blanket "across the board" approach to setting the appropriate level of the new levy. Subject to any legal and practical constraints, the Government intend to set significantly lower rates for those energy intensive sectors that agree targets for improving energy efficiency which meet the Government's criteria.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish criteria for defining an energy-intensive industry, to be exempted from the new energy tax; and if he will publish a ranked list of manufacturing sectors in terms of their energy intensity. [79197]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 29 March 1999]: The Chancellor announced in the recent Budget that, subject to any legal and practical constraints, the Government intend to set significantly lower rates for energy intensive sectors that agree targets for improving energy efficiency. Sites in sectors covered by the EU Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive will be eligible. The Deputy Prime Minister, along with Ministers from the DTI and HM Treasury, met with the energy intensive sectors on 29 March to begin these negotiations.

  Lord Marshall's report, "Economic Instruments and the Business Use of Energy", which was published on 3 November 1998, contains an analysis of energy intensity by business sector.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of companies which will be liable for his proposed energy tax. [79384]

  Ms Hewitt
  In the draft Regulatory Impact Assessment published by Customs and Excise on 9 March they commented that we expect that fewer than 1,000 businesses will be liable to account for the levy. Following Custom's consultation a more accurate figure will be calculated.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what method tax revenue from the new energy tax will be collected by energy utilities. [79192]

  Ms Hewitt
  It will be for energy suppliers to decide how they pass on the climate change levy to their business customers. We expect most suppliers to include it in the unit price, but it will be up to them to choose whether to identify it as a separate amount.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government have taken to ensure that their proposed energy tax is compliant with(a) the rules of EU Single Market and (b) the rules of the World Trade Organisation. [79189]
  667
  Ms Hewitt
  The EU rules governing the harmonisation of taxes within the Single Market permit member states to introduce national taxes provided they do not give rise to border-crossing formalities in trade between member states, nor infringe State Aid rules. Customs and Excise's consultation paper on the design and administration of the levy, published on 9 March, proposes a treatment of the imports and exports of energy products which meets our obligations concerning trade between member states. And following the announcement of the climate change levy in the Budget, I informed the European Commission of the Government's announcement. The Government are working closely with the European Commission to help ensure that the proposed scheme to set significantly lower rates for energy intensive sectors that agree targets for improving energy efficiency is compatible with State Aid rules. In doing so, we shall also take into account our obligations under the World Trade Organisation.

  Select Committee Reports
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 16 March 1999,Official Report, columns 641–42 and 19 March 1999,Official Report, column 857, for what reasons he did not provide the information requested about his (a) political advisers, (b) officials and (c) Ministers. [78528]

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 1999,Official Report, column 101, for what reason he did not provide the information requested relating to the receipt by his parliamentary private secretary of the draft report of the Social Security Committee. [79193]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answers 25 and 29 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 16 March 1999, Official Report, columns 641–42, which gives a detailed account of the position.

  Public Opinion Polls
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a full report of the questions asked and answers given in all the public opinion polls commissioned by the Treasury since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement on the policy objective of commissioning public opinion polls. [72026]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 22 February 1999]: The Government are committed to providing modern public services which are responsive to the needs of the public. Although the Treasury undertakes various public opinion research, this is usually in the form of business and economic surveys. The Treasury has not commissioned specific public opinion polls since 1 May 1997.

  Limbless Association
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if tax relief under the Millennium Gift Aid scheme is available in respect of the services provided by the Limbless Association in the UK. [79549]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Millennium Gift Aid scheme is for donations to UK charities to support education and anti-poverty projects in the world's poorest countries. Donations to support services provided in the UK would generally not qualify.
  668
  I am unable to comment on a particular organisation's tax affairs.

  Millennium Compliance
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recent report of the Financial Services Agency on millennium compliance; and if he will make a statement. [79385]

  Ms Hewitt
  As the FSA has made clear, the primary responsibility for ensuring high levels of Year 2000 preparedness lies with the industry itself. But the FSA regards the issue as a major supervisory priority. It recently made public, on an aggregated basis, its assessment of the state of readiness in financial institutions. The UK financial services sector is generally regarded as a leader in working towards Year 2000 preparedness. Within that overall picture, though, a small number of firms appears to be less ready than others. The FSA has challenged these firms either to show that this assessment is out of date or rapidly produce a plan for remedial action. It has also made clear that—where there is no better way to protect depositors, investors or policyholders or the integrity of markets—it will take supervisory action.

  The decisions on whether to take such action are the statutory responsibility of the FSA, though the Treasury will continue to liaise closely with them.

  Endowment Mortgages Mis-selling
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish a review of the estimated £1.5 billion of mis-sold endowment mortgages on the same basis as the recent pensions mis-selling review. [79187]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Financial Services Authority has confirmed that it is currently gathering information with a view to considering if such a review is necessary.

  Mr. Charlie Whelan
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what duties Mr. Charlie Whelan has undertaken for Treasury Ministers since 4 January; [79000]

  (2) how many times Mr. Charlie Whelan has visited HM Treasury since 4 January. [79003]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Mr. Whelan resigned from the Treasury with effect from 13 January. Since then he has not undertaken any duties for Treasury Ministers.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on employment of a 5 per cent. increase in the value of the pound against the euro, assuming no other changes of policy or external circumstance over a two-year period. [79213]

  Ms Hewitt
  Assuming that the exchange rate were to increase with all other things remaining equal, there would tend to be a depressing effect on output, employment, and inflation in the short term. However, this is a wholly artificial assumption, not least because the Bank of England is required to set interest rates to hit a symmetrical inflation target.
  669

  Property Transactions (Stamp Duty)
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many property transactions worth(a) over £250,000 and (b) over £500,000 took place in 1998; and how many of these related to (i) commercial property, (ii) domestic property and (iii) intellectual property; [79045]

  1998–1999 (provisional)

  Price Band

  Number1 of transactions (thousands)

  Net2 receipts (£ million)

  Proportion3 of net receipts %

  Transactions over £250,000 but not over £500,000

  Residential transactions

  40

  245

  80

  Commercial property and land transactions

  10

  65

  20

  Total

  45

  310

  100

  Transactions over £500,000

  Residential transactions

  5

  215

  20

  Commercial property and land transactions

  10

  825

  80

  Total

  15

  1,040

  100

  All transactions over £250,000

  Residential transactions

  45

  460

  35

  Commercial property and land transactions

  20

  890

  65

  Total

  65

  1,350

  100

  1 Transactions rounded to the nearest 5,000. Figures are rounded individually and may not sum to the totals shown.

  2 Net receipts rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  3 Proportions rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.

  It is estimated that stamp duty on transactions of intellectual property amount to about £5 million in 1998–99 from about 2,000 transactions. No further details are available on such transactions.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [76821]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor to the hon. Member for Chesham
  670
  (2) what proportion of stamp duty revenue from property transactions worth (a) over £250,000 and (b) over £500,000 in 1998 related to (i) domestic property, (ii) commercial property and (iii) intellectual property. [79044]

  Ms Hewitt
  Information on stamp duty revenue is normally presented on a financial year basis. Provisional estimates for 1998–99 are given in the table.

  and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 22 October 1998, Official Report, column 1200. All arrangements for overseas travel by Treasury Special Advisers are consistent with the requirements set out in the Ministerial Code.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if people eligible for the working families tax credit will receive free prescriptions. [78311]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 15 March 1999,Official Report, column 517.

  Crime and Disorder Act: Ethnic Monitoring
  Crime and Disorder Act: Ethnic Monitoring
  Human Rights Act 1998
  Human Rights Act 1998
  Asylum Interviews: Tape Recording
  Asylum Interviews: Tape Recording
  Football Hooliganism
  Football Hooliganism
  Bone-in Beef: Sale Ban
  Bone-in Beef: Sale Ban
  Meat Hygiene Inspection Charges
  Meat Hygiene Inspection Charges
  Rural Businesses: Policy
  Rural Businesses: Policy
  Forestry Strategy: Conifer Production
  Forestry Strategy: Conifer Production
  Genetically Modified Foods
  Genetically Modified Foods
  Oil and Fibre Plant Seed Certification
  Oil and Fibre Plant Seed Certification
  Regional Industrial Assistance: Targeting
  Regional Industrial Assistance: Targeting
  Job Creation and the Single Market
  Job Creation and the Single Market
  Mr. Kevin Maxwell: Proceedings
  Mr. Kevin Maxwell: Proceedings
  Mirror Group Newspapers plc: Inquiry Report
  Mirror Group Newspapers plc: Inquiry Report
  Medical Devices Agency
  Medical Devices Agency
  Armagh-Portadown Rail Link
  Armagh-Portadown Rail Link
  Strategic Review Joint Initiatives
  Strategic Review Joint Initiatives
  Chemical Defence Programme
  Chemical Defence Programme
  Global Positioning System Disruption
  Global Positioning System Disruption
  Criminal Justice System Plans
  Criminal Justice System Plans
  Mr. Peter Clarence Foster: Extradition Proceedings
  Mr. Peter Clarence Foster: Extradition Proceedings
  The Prince of Wales: Legal Proceedings in Argentina
  The Prince of Wales: Legal Proceedings in Argentina
  Taiwan and Chinese Missiles
  Taiwan and Chinese Missiles
  Sierra Leone
  Sierra Leone