Written Answers of 13 May 1999

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Health and Social Services Estates Agency
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for 1999–2000 for the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Estates Agency. [84333]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The targets, which have been set for 1999–2000, are based on the corporate aims and objectives of the Agency as set out in section 5 of its Corporate and Business Plan and reflect in part a refinement of the previously set targets. The targets are in line with the Government's policy of seeking to improve the service provided to clients in terms of both quality and value for money and I am satisfied that they present a demanding challenge for the Agency. A copy of the Corporate and Business plan will be placed in the Library.

  The targets are as follows:

  Delivery of Services

  1. Provide a regional support service to the HSSE and the Department on embedded systems and medical devices in relation to the Y2K problem in the HPSS estate. As a central part to this support service, obtain the compliance status of Northern Ireland utilities (electricity, water etc.) and provide guidance on the required level of contingency planning recommended for these utility services.

  2. Provide the consultation draft of the Review of the Key Management Document in the Firecode suite "Policy and Principles", by March 2000.

  3. Provide and Energy/Environment Report for the Minister on the progress of the DHSS and the HPSS is making towards meeting the Government's targets on green issues by November 1999.

  4. Assess and advise the HSSE on 60 per cent. of capital investment business case submissions within 20 working days, subject to a maximum 24 business cases per annum.

  5. Provide the HSSE with a Defects Centre in relation to the HPSS estate. Investigate and clear (60 per cent.) of all adverse incidents within six months (and 90 per cent. within two years) of notification to Health Estates subject to a maximum of 120 adverse incidents per annum.

  6. 80 per cent. of clients to regard the Directorate's Client Support and Project Management Services as satisfactory or better in respect of:
  Two projects being procured by the PFI/PP process with an estimated capital value of £2.6 million.
  Preparation and completion of 5 Outline Business Cases with an estimate capital value of £15.35 million.
  The completion of the tendering and contract award stages of 4 projects with an estimated capital value of £12.25 million.
  Nine projects during the construction/completion stages with an estimated capital value of £134.85 million.

  7. Complete 90 per cent. of periodic specialist sterilizer equipment tests by the programmed dates and 100 per cent. within 6 weeks of that date subject to a maximum client request for this service of 500 man days.

  176

  8. Complete 95 per cent. of diagnostic equipment and laboratory equipment acceptance tests, and other tests within 4 weeks of receipt of written request and the remainder within 10 weeks.

  9. Complete 95 per cent. of the initial evaluations for Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Projects within 4 weeks of receipt of written request and the remainder within 10 weeks. Complete Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Projects within 10 months of clients providing their instruction to proceed.Financial Management

  10. Ensure that the Agency lives within its running cost allocation and demonstrates that its full costs are recovered, on a notional basis, through Service Level Agreements with clients.

  Emergency Provisions Legislation
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she intends to publish the report by Mr. J. J. Rowe QC on the operation during 1998 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996. [84334]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Mr. Rowe's Report is being published today and copies are being placed in the Library. I note that Mr. Rowe recommends that the legislation be renewed.

  The UK's counter terrorism legislation is currently under review. The Government intend to bring forward, as soon as possible, new UK-wide legislation to replace the existing temporary provisions.

  In December last year, the Government published a consultation paper entitled, "Legislation Against Terrorism". Around eighty responses have been received. The process of examining each contribution and preparing the Government's legislative response is well underway. The Government have made clear that during the period the new legislation is being prepared it will not leave the people of Northern Ireland without the protection of necessary counter-terrorism measures. For that reason I propose to continue the EPA in force for a temporary period and I shall lay before the House as soon as possible a draft Order for consideration which would have that effect.

  The Government are committed to steadily transforming the security environment in Northern Ireland and achieving complete normalisation as part of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as a whole. In such circumstances, the Government's position is that there will be no need for any temporary Northern Ireland specific powers. The Government will make a judgment about that nearer the time the new UK-wide legislation is introduced.

  Valuation and Lands Agency
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the Review of the Valuation and Lands Agency. [84335]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  On 27 February 1998,Official Report, columns 413–14, I announced to the House the Review of the Valuation and Lands Agency. Each Agency undergoes a periodic review to evaluate performance and to reconsider whether agency status is the best way of doing the job.

  I am pleased to announce that this Review is now complete. It has found that there have been substantial improvements in productivity and efficiency, and in the

  177
  overall quality of service to customers. The Review recommends that the Valuation and Lands Agency should remain an Agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel.

  The Review goes on to recommend that a feasibility study should be carried out into the possibility of a merger with the Rate Collection Agency. The decision, under devolved arrangements, to transfer the Rate Collection Agency to the Department of Finance and Personnel should facilitate such a study and I have commended the findings in the Review Report to the First Minister (Designate) and deputy First Minister (Designate).

  I am placing a copy of the Report in the Library today. Work will continue on a revised Framework Document and this will become a matter for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland to approve in due course.

PRIME MINISTER

  Devolution
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to amend the Civil Service Code to take account of devolution for Scotland and Wales. [84171]

  The Prime Minister
  There will continue, under the Devolution settlements, to be a unified Home Civil Service whose members will serve their respective Administrations in accordance with the well-established principles of integrity, honesty, impartiality and objectivity. A revised Civil Service Code is being issued to all civil servants to reflect the changes brought about by devolution to Scotland and Wales. Copies of the Code have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Intelligence and Security Committee has reported to him on Sierra Leone; and if he will publish the report. [84486]

  The Prime Minister
  The Intelligence and Security Committee sent a Report examining the intelligence aspects of the counter-coup in Sierra Leone to me in February. Following discussions about which parts of the Report must be withheld for security reasons, the Report is being published today. The Government intend to publish a formal response to the Report in due course.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  M11
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the eventual total cost of the M11 Link Road; and on what date it is expected to be fully completed. [83598]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
  178
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 13 May 1999:
  The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Al2 Hackney to Mll Link Road.
  The current estimated total out turn cost of the scheme is £360 million.
  We anticipate opening the road to traffic in phases, starting next month. The whole scheme should be open later this Summer, although finishing works will carry on until the Autumn.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in how many instances in each of the last five years for which figures are available, a request for change of the sex recorded on a driving licence was(a) received and (b) acted upon. [83571]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No separate record is kept of applications. Provided the application is supported by appropriate documentation, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will accept the request.

  M6 Corridor
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in commissioning the M6 corridor transport study; and what timetable he has agreed. [83743]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Lord Whitty announced on 23 March 1999 the start dates for the programme of multimodal and roads based studies. The West Midlands to North West Conurbation Study will begin in Summer 1999. Consultation with the Regional Planning Conferences in both the West Midlands and the North West will start before then, initially on the preparation of the consultants' brief, and will continue throughout the life of the study. As part of the multimodal study, consultants will develop a full range of options to tackle the traffic problems of the corridor, including the possibility of modal shift.

  Multimodal Transport Studies
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has issued to prospective consultants in respect of consultation with the public as part of the proposed multimodal transport studies. [83746]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department is currently preparing guidance on the methodology for the multimodal studies. The guidance will be aimed at consultants undertaking work on the studies and will cover the role of consultation in the study process.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what opportunities there will be for local stakeholders to be involved in drawing up the terms of reference for the proposed multimodal transport studies. [83745]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government Offices responsible for taking forward the multimodal studies will draw up terms of reference in consultation with the local Regional Planning Bodies and agree them with the study steering group.
  179
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has issued in respect of the geographical scope of multimodal studies; what area the proposed M6 corridor transport study will cover; and which major routes will be included other than the M6. [83744]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The geographical scope of each multimodal study will be set out in its terms of reference, which will be drawn up by Government Offices in consultation with the Regional Planning Bodies.

  The terms of reference for the West Midlands to North West Conurbation study have not yet been agreed, but the geographical scope is expected to be the broad corridor along the M6/west coast main line routes, including the A500, A50(M1), A34 and other possible rail and bus routes.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 20 April 1999,Official Report, column 473, on genetically modified crops, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay between the holding reply and the final reply. [83820]

  Mr. Meacher
  The sudden upsurge in media and public interest in genetic modification technology earlier this year resulted in a very substantial increase in the volume of Ministerial correspondence, Parliamentary Questions and correspondence from members of the public needing to be handled by officials. My officials have also been required to handle significantly increased levels of briefing resulting from several Select Committee appearances and the general increase in Ministerial activity in this area. This increased level of activity coupled with the need to provide full and considered replies to the large number of sometimes detailed and complex Parliamentary Questions tabled has inevitably resulted in some increase in response time, which I regret.

  Concessionary Bus Fares
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he plans to put in place to ensure that local authority transport schemes which currently exceed the proposed minimum standard of half price concessionary bus fares for older people do not reduce their benefits to older people when the proposed national scheme is implemented. [83845]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Beyond the terms of our national standard minimum for concessionary travel schemes for elderly people, local authorities will continue to have full discretion to decide on the terms of their concessionary travel schemes. Local authorities will therefore remain entirely free to provide concessionary fare schemes which are more generous than our proposed statutory minimum. We believe that it is right to maintain the principle that locally elected authorities should consider these matters in the light of local needs and circumstances and their overall financial priorities, and to be locally accountable for the decisions then made.
  180
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his proposed minimum national concessionary bus fare scheme for older people will be applicable to all people aged over 60 years. [83844]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Our proposed national minimum for concessionary fares will be based on the present statutory position, whereby concessionary travel for older people is linked to the state pension age.

  Waste
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what impact the landfill tax has had on reducing the proportion of total waste which is disposed of through landfill sites; and what proportion of United Kingdom waste has been recycled in each of the last 10 years. [83623]

  Mr. Meale
  [holding answer 11 May 1999]: The information currently available suggests that the landfill tax has reduced the quantity of material going to licensed landfill sites, particularly construction and demolition waste. There is little statistical information at this stage to support any conclusions as to the extent to which this results from a reduction in the amount of waste generated as opposed to being diverted to different outlets.

  The data available for municipal waste only are as follows:

  Municipal waste recycling rate

  Percentage

  Year

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  1998

  18

  2—

  2—

  1997

  17

  2—

  3.4

  1996

  6.5

  no data

  no data

  1995

  no data

  no data

  no data

  1994

  no data

  0.64

  no data

  1993

  no data

  0.66

  no data

  1992

  no data

  0.68

  no data

  1991

  no data

  0.61

  no data

  1990

  no data

  0.63

  no data

  1989

  no data

  no data

  no data

  1Data still to be fully verified

  2Data still to be collected or processed

  Single Vehicle Approvals
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress is being made following his consultation on the system of single vehicle approvals. [84208]

  Dr. Reid
  Changes to the current limit on the number of commercially traded vehicles which can be approved into the UK each year under the Single Vehicle Approval Scheme (SVA) scheme will be introduced from March 2000. The main elements of the changes are:Progressive lifting of limits on the total number of commercially traded vehicles which can be approved and registered under SVA, starting with 1,000 vehicles in March next year and increasing by 1,000 each month until the end of year 2000 when all limits will be lifted.

  181
  Introduction of enhanced technical standards for key environmental, safety and security (anti-theft) items to apply to commercially traded vehicles. The current SVA standards will continue to apply to amateur-built vehicles and genuine personal imports as redefined below.
  Complete lifting of limits on vehicles which have been approved to equivalent standards to the enhanced SVA in other European member states.

  Tightening of the rules for vehicles to qualify as "personal imports" by requiring importers to have lived abroad for at least 12 months and used their vehicles abroad for at least 6 months.

  Transport (EU)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what response his Department has made to the European Commission White Paper establishing a common transport infrastructure charging framework in the EU. [83941]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Commission has not invited member states to comment on its White Paper and neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have made any formal response. However, as proposed in the White Paper, the Commission has established a committee of experts to develop guidance on methods to estimate the marginal costs of transport, and our officials are participating in that process.

  Auditors
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the maximum period of time for which an auditor may be appointed by the Audit Commission; [84044]

  (2) what powers the Audit Commission has to terminate the appointment of an appointed auditor (a) in general and (b) for professional incompetence; [84045]

  (3) what powers the Audit Commission has to vary the personal fee levels of appointed auditors. [84046]

  Ms Armstrong
  Section 3 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 makes provision for the appointment of auditors by the Audit Commission. There is no prescribed maximum period, but it is the commission's general policy, in accordance with good professional practice, to change a council's auditor at least once every seven years. The Audit Commission may terminate an appointment where the auditor fails to comply with the statutory Code of Audit Practice, or other statutory obligations. Where an auditor is not a Commission employee, section 3(8) provides for the appointment to be on such terms and for such period as the Commission may determine. Such terms include the personal fees payable by the commission to the individual auditor or the firm of individuals.

  District Auditor's Inquiry (Westminster)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the impact on Westminster City Council's fulfilment of its statutory 182
  functions of the reimbursement of legal costs associated with councillors and officers in connection with the District Auditor's inquiry into designated sales. [84065]

  Ms Armstrong
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of any such representations.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he proposes to take, in relation to the work of the auditor involved in the inquiry, following the Court of Appeal's judgment reducing the Westminster auditor's calculation of loss in connection with the inquiry into designated sales. [84064]

  Ms Armstrong
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has no function in relation to the work of auditors appointed by the independent Audit Commission.

  Planning Inquiries
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average time taken between the completion of a planning inquiry and the announcement of the inspector's decision within the south-west region. [84220]

  Mr. Caborn
  Such information is available only for Planning Appeals made under S78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. In the last year April 1998 to March 1999 the average time taken for cases in the south-west region decided by the Secretary of State was 27 weeks compared with a national average of 34 weeks.

  Rents
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the average rents in each year since 1989 for(a) local authority properties, (b) housing association properties and (c) private properties. [84047]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The average weekly rents for England are as set out. These averages take no account of differences in the size, age or location of dwellings covered under the three tenures.

  £

  Year

  Local authority

  Housing association1

  Private

  1989–90

  20.86

  n/a

  n/a

  1990–91

  23.92

  n/a

  40

  1991–92

  27.59

  29.62

  n/a

  1992–93

  30.84

  34.34

  n/a

  1993–94

  33.70

  38.17

  61

  1994–95

  35.79

  40.71

  65

  1995–96

  38.41

  44.00

  70

  1996–97

  40.17

  46.74

  76

  1997–98

  41.18

  49.71

  79

  1Housing association rents are at 31 March in each year. The series above runs from 31/3/92—31/3/98.

  Source:

  LA: DETR Housing Subsidy claim forms.

  HA: annual Housing Corporation HAR 10/1 and RSR.

  Private: 1990, Survey of Private Renters. Other years, DETR Survey of English Housing—like all estimates from sample surveys, these figures are subject to sampling variability.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Community Legal Service
  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department when he proposes to publish the Community Legal Service consultation document. [83822]

  Mr. Hoon
  I expect to publish the document shortly.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the current caseload of the Serious Fraud Office. [83889]

  The Solicitor-General
  The current caseload of the Serious Fraud Office is 66 active cases. Caseload figures for the three previous financial years, as set out in the SFO Annual Reports, are as follows: 70, 82 and 78 (for 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 respectively).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EU Fraud
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) discussions he has had and (b) proposals his Department has put forward at Council of Ministers' meetings in respect of EU fraud; and if he will make a statement. [77775]

  Ms Quin:
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Treasury on 19 March 1999, Official Report, column 858–59.

  European Commission
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 1999,Official Report, column 505, for what reason he has not received from the European Commission the information requested by the hon. Member for Ludlow on 13 January. [81980]

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 1999,Official Report, column 505, on the European Commission, what steps he has taken to secure the information requested from the European Commission. [82179]

  Ms Quin
  I have written to the right hon. and hon. Members. A copy of these letters has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the proposals which he has made at the Council of Ministers for the reform of the European Commission. [82482]

  Ms Quin
  The UK has shared with partners a number of specific reform ideas aimed at making the Commission more efficient, transparent and accountable. These include changes to Commission internal management structures,184
  personnel policy and financial control. Some progress has already been made. For example, the Council is expected shortly to approve plans for an independent fraud investigation office within the Commission, the make-up of which will owe much to UK ideas.

  EU Council Meetings
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the average proportion of the agenda for European Union Council meetings attended by his Ministers which change in the period between his monthly announcement of the proposed agenda and the actual meeting. [82296]

  Ms Quin
  The agendas for EU General Affairs Councils (GACs) are subject to changes in the run-up to the meetings: Ministers often need to react quickly to events. Over the last six months, I estimate that the agendas for the GACs have changed by up to 50 per cent. between the monthly announcements and the actual meetings.

  As part of the Parliamentary process, my department provides the Scrutiny Committees with updated agendas for the GACs two weeks in advance of the meetings, which are updated thereafter if there are further significant changes.

  EU Treaties
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish as a single paper the texts of the revised Treaties on European Union and the European Community as coming into effect on 1 May together with all the protocols and declarations contained in their component treaties and showing for each article therein references to earlier numbered Articles related to those now current. [83819]

  Ms Quin
  I refer my hon. Friend to Command Paper CM 3780, presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in October 1997. The consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union begins on page 110, that of the Treaty establishing the European Community on page 130. This text also includes references to the previous numbering of articles.

  Peacekeeping (UN)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1999,Official Report, column 421, on UN peacekeeping, if he will list the cases which have arisen, other than in Kosovo, when in the light of all the circumstances a limited use of force has been deemed justifiable under international law in support of purposes laid down by the Security Council. [84066]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  A limited use of force was deemed justifiable in support of the purposes laid down by the Security Council but without the council's express authorisation in order to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq shortly after the Gulf War. The No Fly Zones were established in 1991 (northern Iraq) and 1992 (southern Iraq) in support of UNSCR 688 which called on Iraq to end its brutal repression of the civilian population: coalition aircraft help protect the interests of the Shias in
  185
  the south and the Kurds and other minorities in the north by ensuring Iraqi aircraft cannot fly below the 33rd or above the 36th parallel.

  Military Exports (Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of British military equipment exported to Yugoslavia since 1989 on the present conflict. [80160]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since the introduction of UN and EU arms embargoes in 1991 we have no evidence of UK companies, either directly or through intermediaries, supplying the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with any military equipment prohibited by the embargoes. Details of military equipment exports during the period 1 January 1989 to July 1991, when the EU embargo was applied, were published on 16 February 1993, Official Report, columns 124–32, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith). These included military aircraft component spares, which were short term consumable items and are unlikely to still be in service. We assess that they have had little direct impact on operations.

  Radar equipment and spare parts to support the civil/military radar system were also supplied. Many of these assets have been attacked and damaged or destroyed by NATO air-strikes. We believe that some UK supplied equipment is continuing to contribute to Serbia's remaining air surveillance capability.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  SOLOTEC (Chief Executive)
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the reasons for the financial compensation package paid on the resignation of the Chief Executive of SOLOTEC. [83377]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Board of SOLOTEC is responsible for setting the terms and conditions of SOLOTEC's staff. I understand that the Board decided last summer to vary the then Chief Executive's terms of employment to incorporate the severance payment he has since received. I further understand that the Board at the time believed that the financial compensation package was necessary to retain the services of the Chief Executive. When the Board subsequently decided to part with the Chief Executive, they decide to make the payment in full.

  The compensation package was agreed and paid without the knowledge of the Department. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made clear our view that there are no circumstances in which a payment of this size could be justified for any TEC employee.

  Latin American Students
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the(a) number of and (b) origin of students studying at British universities from the countries of Latin America. [83369]
  186
  Mr. Mudie
  The latest available data are given in the following table:

  Number of higher education students from Latin American countries studying in higher education institutions in Great Britain 1998–99

  Country

  Number of students1

  Argentina

  365

  Bolivia

  35

  Brazil

  1,046

  Chile

  202

  Colombia

  475

  Costa Rica

  25

  Cuba

  10

  Ecuador

  50

  El Salvador

  15

  Guatemala

  12

  Honduras

  6

  Mexico

  1,056

  Nicaragua

  8

  Panama

  27

  Paraguay

  15

  Peru

  120

  Uruguay

  43

  Venezuela

  279

  Total

  3,789

  1Full-time, part-time, undergraduates and postgraduates

  Mature Students
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency showing the numbers of part-time and full-time mature students who entered higher education in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998. [83590]

  Mr. Mudie
  Information for the three years requested is given in the table.

  Mature1 entrants to UK higher education institutions

  Year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1996–97

  172,100

  226,000

  398,100

  1997–98

  170,400

  230,800

  401,200

  1998–99

  168,700

  250,100

  418,700

  1Mature entrants are defined as students in their first year of study aged 25 and over on postgraduate courses and aged 21 and over on undergraduate courses. The numbers cover home and overseas domiciled students and are taken from HESA December Student Record datasets.

  Note:

  Comparisons between 1997–98 and 1998–99 are affected by a change in the basis for identifying first year students used by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Adjusting for this change gives a growth rate of -4 per cent. in full-time entrants (rather than -1 per cent. suggested by the unadjusted numbers) and +5 per cent. in part-time (rather than +8 per cent. suggested by the unadjusted numbers).

  The figures show that the numbers of mature students have increased since the introduction of tuition fees. The tendency for more mature students to opt for part-time rather than full-time study began before tuition fees were introduced for all categories of student and has continued since.

  Brain Drain
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK citizens with post-graduate degrees
  187
  obtained at British universities who have subsequently taken up employment abroad; and if he will make a statement. [83356]

  Mr. Mudie
  The available information relates only to the destinations of individual cohorts of postgraduate qualifiers six months after qualification.

  The latest figures relating to 1996–97 show that of the 17,367 UK domiciled full-time postgraduate qualifiers from GB higher education institutions for whom we have destination information, 1,100 (or 6 per cent.) are reported to have taken up employment overseas.

  Wirral Metropolitan College
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will call for a report from the FEFC on the decision of the previous directors of Wirral Metropolitan College to award an enhancement of eligible service to the recently retired Principal of Wirral Metropolitan College; [83689]

  (2) what external advice he (a) sought and (b) received about the appropriateness of the retirement package of the recently retired principal of Wirral Metropolitan College. [83691]

  Mr. Mudie
  The retirement package was a decision made by the previous governors of Wirral Metropolitan College. The decision was made in line with guidance provided by the FEFC in its financial memorandum to colleges. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the FEFC to review the advice it gives to colleges to ensure that careful consideration is given to the guidance so that it is appropriate in different circumstances.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Romania
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set out her Department's planned financial assistance towards orphanages in Romania in the financial year 1999–2000. [83965]

  Clare Short
  We have no plans to provide financial assistance for orphanages in Romania for the financial year 1999–2000. We are considering a request from the Romanian Department for Child Protection which may include support for orphanages.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Macpherson Report
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the findings of the independent investigation into the leak of material relating to the report by Sir William Macpherson into the death of Stephen Lawrence. [84332]

  Mr. Straw
  I have now received from my Permanent Secretary the report of the independent investigation into the leak, carried out following longstanding practice by a member of the panel maintained by the Cabinet Office. The summary findings of the report are as follows:
  188
  Information deriving from the draft report of the Judicial Inquiry was leaked to the Sunday Telegraph on 21 February. The most likely route for the leak was not the draft Report itself but a summary of its findings and associated commentary which were internal to Government. The leak is not, therefore, thought to have come from the Inquiry team or from the printers.

  Appropriate security arrangements were instituted by the Home Office to control tightly the handling of the draft Report and related papers. They excluded advance briefing of the media. The handling procedures and the restriction on briefing of the media were observed. All copies of the relevant papers were accounted for. No-one was found who had had unauthorised access to the material. Despite intensive investigation, it has not been possible to establish who deliberately leaked the story to the Sunday Telegraph.

  I regret that it has not been possible to trace the originator of this deplorable leak. I had access myself to the papers, and I have already given in my Statement to the House on 22 February 1999, Official Report, columns 21–34, my personal word that I was not responsible. The only other Minister with relevant access was my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office, the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) who has asked me to relay to the House a similar absolute assurance which he has given me and which I fully accept. The number of officials and advisers who also had access to the relevant papers is small, and I do not intend therefore, to publish their names which would only serve to throw suspicion unfairly on them as a group when there is no evidence that identifies any individual as responsible.

  Cigarette Lighters
  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the number of house fires which are caused each year by faulty cigarette lighters; and if he will make a statement. [83813]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In 1997, there were 527 fires caused by cigarette lighters which resulted in 10 fatal and 265 non-fatal casualties. The statistics do not specify whether or not the cigarette lighter in question was faulty.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the financial costs to the Metropolitan Police of the additional security arrangements in London in response to the recent nail bomb attacks; and what additional financial provision he proposes to make to cover these costs. [83888]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the estimated cost of the enhanced high visibility policing provided to reassure the public, in particular, in policing in areas populated or frequented by all known minority groups, as part of the measures to combat the recent nail bombings, is £1,435,144. The figures do not include policing of the bomb scenes themselves.

  These policing operations were of the character for which the funding of the Metropolitan Police already provides.

  CCTV
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the benefits of compulsory registration of privately operated CCTV systems with the local police. [83886]

  Mr. Boateng
  There is no requirement for owners of privately operated Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems to register with the local police, nor are there any plans to assess the benefits of requiring them to do so.

  The Data Protection Act 1998 provides a framework for the statutory regulation of CCTV systems. Their controllers will be required to notify details of their processing of personal data to the Data Protection Commissioner who will make them publicly available in a register. They will also have to comply with a set of enforceable principles of good data handling practice.

  Our recently published White Paper on the statutory regulation of the private security industry would require those operating CCTV systems to be licensed.

  Case Allocation Unit
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the throughput of files achieved by the case allocation unit for the latest available period. [83954]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  During the week ending 8 May, the case allocation unit allocated a total of 3,563 files to Case Management Units. A further 1,545 files were sent to other locations.

  Prison Visitors
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he has had with the National Association for lay visiting about custody suites at police stations regarding(a) length of service of lay visitors, (b) retirement age of lay visitors and (c) the future of the lay visitors scheme; [83967]

  (2) what representations he has received from (a) the West Midlands Police and (b) other organisations regarding proposed changes by the West Midlands Police Authority to the lay visitors scheme; [83969]

  (3) what role he has in approving changes in the operation of the West Midlands lay visitors scheme; [83971]

  (4) what discussions he has had with the police authorities regarding the National Association for Lay Visiting schemes for custody suites at police stations with reference to (a) length of service, (b) retirement age and (c) the future of the lay visitors scheme; [83968]

  (5) what proposed changes to lay visitors schemes have been notified to him by the West Midlands Police Authority. [83970]

  Mr. Boateng
  Lay visiting to police stations is a non-statutory function which is the responsibility of police authorities. The National Association for Lay Visiting (NALV) is an independent voluntary organisation which works to support and promote lay visiting to police stations. The Home Office has issued guidance to police authorities on the operation of lay visiting schemes.
  190
  This guidance states that visitors should be independent persons of good character, able to make informed judgments which the community and the police will accept, and that as far as possible they should be representative of the community in terms of age, gender, race and so on.

  The Home Office guidance makes no reference to any age limits for the appointment of lay visitors. However, the separate guidance issued for the Metropolitan Police area currently states that persons who are under the age of eighteen or over the age of seventy will not normally be appointed. This guidance is shortly to be reviewed and the upper age limit likely to be removed.

  Although the guidance for police authorities outside London does not mention age limits, it suggests that lay visitors should be appointed for a fixed term. The reason for this is the desirability of lay visitors not becoming too closely associated or over familiar with their local police stations. On the other hand, it is necessary to take into account the need for lay visitors to gain sufficient experience to make an effective contribution. By way of example, the guidance mentions that in London, lay visitors are appointed for a three-year term of office, with the possibility of renewal for a further final three-year term.

  The implementation and interpretation of guidance issued by the Home Office is a matter for individual police authorities. In practice, it has been recognised from the earliest days of lay visiting that individual schemes must evolve to suit local circumstances.

  There have been no recent discussions between the Home Office, NALV and police authorities regarding lay visiting, but the Home Office shortly expects to discuss with NALV the recommendations arising from research commissioned by the Home Office on lay visiting. The Home Office will then consider the issue of fresh guidance to police authorities. The research report has already been copied to police authorities.

  The Home Office has become aware of proposed changes to the lay visiting scheme operated by the West Midlands Police Authority through correspondence from Members of Parliament.

DEFENCE

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when live firing experiments using animals were last carried out(a) in the UK and (b) involving UK personnel. [82521]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Michael Hancock, dated 13 May 1999:
  I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about live firing experiments using animals. My reply refers to the arrangements at DERA as we undertake, on behalf of MOD, the majority of work involving the use of animals.

  191
  DERA, or one of its predecessors, has conducted research into the prevention and treatment of physical injuries certainly since the mid 1970s. Over the course of the last year live firing experiments using anaesthetised animals were carried out in the UK involving UK personnel during May, June, July, September and November 1998 and February 1999.
  Recent areas of research include:
  the use of anaesthetised pigs to develop enhanced blast protection for military personnel and to validate physical and computer models of chest injury from blast waves.
  work on anaesthetised rats to determine the pathophysiology of abdominal and thoracic injury from blast waves and the development of treatment strategies for injured military personnel.
  I hope the above is helpful.

  Research Spending
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's planned spending on research broken down by category in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03; and what was actual spending in 1998–99. [83473]

  Mr. Spellar
  Planned defence expenditure on major customers' research budgets for 1999–2000 is £453 million as set out in the Government's Expenditure Plans 1999–2000 to 2000–01, Cmnd. 4208, published in March 1999. Actual spending in 1998–99 is estimated at £460 million. The main categories within this expenditure are the Applied Research Programme, about £325 million in 1998–99, and the Corporate Research Programme, about £120 million. A similar breakdown is expected to apply in 1999–2000. Total figures for subsequent years will be published in subsequent editions of Government Expenditure Plans.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individual members of the Territorial Army are currently serving with British forces in the Kosovo theatre; and with which units they are serving. [83627]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 12 May 1999]: 19 individual members of the TA are serving in Macedonia with the following units:

  HQ 4 Armd Bde: 9

  2 Sqn RAF: 1

  HQ UK NSE: 3

  21 Engr Regt: 4

  28 Engr Regt: 1

  23 Para Fd Amb: 1.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is departmental policy to refer to the "New Territorial Army" in official communications or publications. [84098]

  Mr. Spellar
  No.

SCOTLAND

  Census Records
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are (a) the storage space occupied by the enumerators' books for the post-1920 decennial
  192
  censuses for Scotland and (b) the estimated costs of micro-filming each of these census records. [83772]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 10 May 1999]: (a) The census returns for Scotland which remain closed to the public occupy approximately the following amounts of shelving in secure storage belonging to the Registrar General for Scotland.

  Linear metres

  1901 Census

  776 volumes

  18.3

  1911 Census

  1,225 volumes

  38.3

  1921 Census

  1,720 volumes

  39.2

  1931 Census

  1,175 volumes

  34.8

  1939 National Registration1

  2,087 volumes

  91.0

  1951 Census

  3,720 binders

  247.1

  1961 Census

  10,800 binders

  591.1

  1966 Sample Census

  3,528 binders

  146.2

  1971 Census

  19,279 boxes

  1,290.2

  1981 Census

  19,150 boxes

  1,666.1

  1991 Census

  12,852 boxes

  1,863.5

  All closed censuses

  6,025.8

  1No census of the population of Scotland was taken in 1941. Instead, shortly after the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the Registrar General undertook 'national registration', which amounted to a census of the population for the purposes of conscription and the rationing of food etc. The original paper volumes remain in the ownership of the Registrar General and are treated essentially as if they were closed census returns.

  (b) No estimates are available of the costs of either photographic microfilming or digital imaging of these closed records. Since closure is for 100 years it is likely that, with changing technologies, such estimates would be out of date before the need to release the records to the public made their imaging necessary. A pilot exercise has however begun to provide information about the most appropriate methods, and the costs, of imaging the 1901 closed census returns. This set of census returns is due for release to the public on 1 January 2002.

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

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Vaux Brewery
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will commission an independent assessment of the advice given to Swallow plc regarding the asset value of Vaux brewery. [79361]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 30 March 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the comments I made during his Adjournment debate on this on 29 April 1999, Official Report, columns 596–600.

  Law Commission Report (No. 227)
  Mr. Gander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's policy with regard to the report from the Law Commission (1994 No. 227), entitled "Restitution: Mistakes of Law and ultra vires Public Authority Receipts and Payments". [82307]
  193
  Mr. Byers
  This is primarily a matter for the Lord Chancellor's Department, and I refer the hon and learned Member to the reply given by the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department on 29 April 1999,Official Report, column 245.

  Oil and Gas Industry (Wales)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the prospects for the oil and gas industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [82728]

  Mr. Battle
  Work is being carried out or is planned to be carried out under landward licences held over acreage in North and South Wales.

  I expect to be able to offer further licensing opportunities for onshore areas in due course which will allow further appraisal of the hydrocarbon potential in and around Wales, including coal gas related prospects.

  Industry Council (Luxembourg)
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Industry Council held in Luxembourg on 29 April; and if he will make a statement. [83263]

  Mr. Byers
  My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe represented the UK at the EU Industry Council held on 29 April.

  The Council reached political agreement on a common position on a late payments directive. The purpose of this directive is to deter late payment by giving all businesses a right to statutory interest on debt not paid on time, regardless of where the debtor is based in the EU. Now that Ministers have reached a political agreement, a common position will be finalised for communication to the European Parliament for the Directives second reading.

  Council conclusions were agreed on shipbuilding which sent a strong message of support to the European shipbuilding industry, given the lack of orders for European yards so far this year. In particular, the Conclusions provided a mandate for Commissioner Bangemann's forthcoming discussions with South Korea. The Commission also presented the third monitoring report on aid to German and Spanish shipyards.

  The Council had an open debate on globalisation and competitiveness. Ministers spoke on a wide range of themes. The Presidency summed up by identifying the key themes arising from the discussions: venture capital, take-up of university research, intellectual property, strengthening the internal market to create the framework conditions for the information society training and the global context of competition policy and liberalisation. The Presidency concluded that the Council saw itself as having a co-ordinating role in updating EU industrial policy, and there was a need for further rationalisation of Council structures.

  The Council adopted a Resolution settling the outstanding issue of ownership and administration of the assets of the ECSC after the expiry of the Treaty in 2002. The Resolution reflects agreement reached by member states by which the assets will be transferred to the ownership of the remaining Communities, while
  194
  being ring-fenced from other Community funds. The Commission also presented the latest monitoring report on past steel aid cases and noted that there were no particular problems.

  A lunchtime discussion was held on industrial aspects of enlargement of the EU. There was agreement that enlargement should not lead to competitive distortions, that effective implementation of the EU acquis was essential, and that restructuring would be needed in several sectors. A meeting of representatives of such sectors and Ministers from candidate countries would be held in Estonia in the autumn, to help them learn from EU experience.

  Agreement was reached on two amending regulations which would allow the Commission to bring forward a new block exemption policy for dealing with vertical agreements between companies. The Presidency also noted agreement of a Council declaration on the essential elements that the new block exemption should contain. The Commission undertook to take on board the content of the Council declaration and made its own declaration to this effect.

  The Presidency withdrew its proposed Council Conclusions which encouraged the Commission to bring forward and adopt its White Paper on the Modernisation of Competition Policy, following the Commission's adoption of the White Paper on 28 April. The White Paper is intended to bring about debate on the future implementation of Articles 85 and 86.

  The Council also adopted Conclusions on benchmarking, sustainable development, the Business Environment Simplification Task Force (BEST) Report and the Commission's White Paper on Commerce.

  The Commission gave presentations on the economic situation in the EU and its Communication on Tourism and Employment.

  Competitiveness
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 26 March 1999,Official Report, column 444, on competitiveness, on what basis he has defined productivity performance. [83316]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 5 May 1999]: Labour productivity can be measured by value added per worker or by value added per hour worked. Irrespective of the measure chosen, the UK's productivity performance is disappointing. The Analysis and Background document, which was published along with recent Competitiveness White Paper (Cm 4176), showed that only Japan has lower productivity as measured by value added per hour worked, and that the UK lags all of the G7 on a per worker basis. Both documents are in the Library of the House.

  Assisted Areas Map
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what joint meetings he has attended with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss the Assisted Areas Map. [83619]
  195
  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 10 May 1999]: I meet my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues including the Assisted Areas Map.

  European Space Agency
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency. [84387]

  Mr. Byers
  My noble Friend the Minister for Science and Space was invited to chair the Ministerial meeting held in Brussels. At the meeting the UK led its partners in the European Space Agency (ESA) to embark on a new £400 million programme of environmental research. The "Living Planet" programme will help scientists to understand and predict the Earth's environment and humankind's effects upon it. For example, it will monitor the effect of global warming on the polar ice caps and measure soil moisture and other factors that are essential to the accurate modelling of climate systems.

  We have announced £67 million investment in the programme by the British National Space Centre (BNSC). The UK has taken a strong lead in devising this programme. Our scientific community has worked closely with the BNSC in identifying how to deliver a challenging value-for-money initiative, using state of the art equipment and know-how. The agreement we secured is the first step towards providing an assured long-term programme of scientific research which looks at the Earth and its environment from space. We are putting Earth sciences on an equal footing with ESA's traditional areas of scientific research—astronomy and planetary exploration.

  We also announced further commitments of around £40 million to other new ESA programmes in satellite multimedia and global navigation satellites. These were coupled with renewed commitments of around £46 million per year to existing science and facility investment programmes.

  The Government's support for space has allowed the UK to make major commitments not only to science, where the substantial increase in funding in the recent Comprehensive Spending Review is already bearing fruit, but also to the continued health of the UK space industry. Our subscriptions to the satellite multimedia and navigation programmes will position our companies at the forefront of the knowledge-driven economy and give them the opportunity to maximise their share in global markets that will be worth around £65 billion a year within the next decade.

  I am confident that, with the current spirit of co-operation between the member states of ESA, we will now be able to press ahead with the exciting missions of ESA's Horizons 2000 programme, such as Planck/FIRST, and that we will be able to include the unique Mars Express mission. This is a new chapter, opening a period of great potential for European space.

  Export Licensing
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if errors have been identified in the information 196
  on export licensing decisions included in Part II of the Government's Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls; and if he will make a statement. [84388]

  Dr. Howells
  Regrettably, a small number of recording errors and omissions have been identified. These errors were identified in the course of work carried out to compile certain information requested by the quadripartite committee established to carry out a joint inquiry into the Government's first Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. As was noted in the Report, human error cannot be eliminated altogether in the compilation of such a large body of data.

  The recording errors identified are as follows:
  Eleven refused applications were omitted from the data published in the Report. These did not cover goods specified as subject to control in the relevant legislation but goods subject to the end-use control because of concern about their use in weapons of mass destruction programmes.One licence, covering military imaging equipment, was described as covering exports to China but should have been described as covering exports to Taiwan.Two items for which a licence was refused were in error included in the list of military equipment licensed for export to Turkey.There was some duplication in a Table in the Report giving information on the coverage of Open Individual Export Licences issued during the period. The final, correct ratings of the goods concerned were given in the Table, but the original, incorrect ratings were not removed.Some destinations excluded from the coverage of 2 Open Individual Export Licences during the period were omitted from the relevant Table in the Report, as were some of the ratings of the goods covered by 1 such licence.Errata sheets will be placed in the Library of the House, and arrangements are being made to ensure that these sheets accompany all copies of the Report disseminated in future. The procedures for recording export licensing information and checking such records prior to publication are being reviewed with the aim of ensuring that these errors do not occur in future.

  Sub-postmasters (Remuneration)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of sub-postmasters' remuneration is accounted for by(a) sale of postal services and (b) payment of benefits. [84058]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I understand from the Post Office that around 25 per cent. of sub-postmasters' remuneration is accounted for by the sale of postal services and around 35 per cent. is accounted for by the payment of benefits. The remainder of their post office remuneration derives from banking, bill payment and other financial and licensing transactions.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current hourly target rate of remuneration for sub-postmasters. [84057]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Sub-postmasters are not employees of the Post Office but are independent business people who provide post office service on an agency basis.

  The Post Office makes payments to sub-postmasters based on the amount of transactions they perform, plus some core payments and allowances. The concept of an hourly rate of remuneration is therefore not applicable.
  197
  Because of their contractual position, sub-postmasters are able to—and typically do—operate a private retail business from the same premises as the sub post office. This enables them to gain income from the private business as well as from the post office, whilst sharing overheads.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which employment sectors are currently excluded from the 48-hour week provision of the Working Time Directive; for which of them Her Majesty's Government have tabled alternative proposals; and what maximum hours respectively are suggested in these proposals. [83839]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The employment sectors currently excluded from the Working Time Directive are air, rail, road, sea, inland waterway and lake transport, sea fishing, other work at sea (essentially the offshore oil and gas industry) and doctors in training.

  It would not be appropriate for the Government to discuss specific details of its negotiating position. However, the Government are not opposed to the extension of working time in principle, although we want to ensure the new measures accommodate our concerns and do not adversely affect the competitiveness of industry or the delivery of healthcare within the NHS.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will modify the Working Time Regulations to take into account hours at work spent not continually working on account of machine breakdown, supply difficulties or for other reasons beyond the direct control of management. [83840]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  There are no plans to amend the definition of working time in the Working Time Regulations. Under the Regulations working time is defined as time when a worker is 'working, at his employer's disposal and carrying out his activities or duties'. For time to be working time all three elements must be satisfied.

  Post Office
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to(a) introduce and (b) modify minimum standards of service for the Post Office, with particular reference to deliveries. [83841]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The targets for the percentages of first class mail delivered the next working day after posting and second class mail delivered within three working days of posting are set by the Post Office in consultation with the Post Office Users' National Council. The targets to achieve first delivery in urban areas by 9.30am and to achieve delivery in rural areas by 2.00pm are set internally by the Post Office.

  A key element of the package of Post Office reforms announced last December is the creation of an independent regulator to protect consumers' interests including standards of service. It is also planned to give the Post Office Users' National Council a more central role and increased powers. Together with the other
  198
  elements of the reform package these changes will ensure that service standards will improve over time. Further details will be set out in a White Paper shortly.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to publish the Post Office White Paper. [83842]
  Mr. Ian McCartney: It remains my expectation, as I told the Trade and Industry Select Committee on 9 December, that the White Paper will be published in the first half of the year.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) Crown post offices and (b) sub-post offices have shut during the last 12 months. [84055]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I understand from the Post Office that there has been a net reduction of one Crown post office and 232 sub post offices in the 12 months to the end of March 1999.

  The Crown office reduction was the net result of merging two nearby offices in London when the opportunity was taken to open a new flagship Crown office in their place.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of sub-post offices is located in rural areas. [84053]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Post Office classify approximately 50 per cent. of sub-post offices as being in rural areas.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Correspondence
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, the hon. Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), will respond to the letters from Mr. P. Pritchard of Eastbourne dated 21 January and 5 March. [83159]

  Angela Eagle
  We can find no record of Mr. Pritchard's correspondence from January and March. The last recorded correspondence for Mr. Pritchard was in November 1998 in response to a letter from the hon. Member. If the hon. Member could forward copies of Mr. Pritchard's correspondence we will reply urgently to his concerns.

  Ancillary Workers
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance has been issued to Benefits Agency Offices on the payment of those ancillary workers affected by the Social Security Commissioner's decision CIS/14661/1996 of December 1997 who had been advised not to sign on with the Employment Service for the period of their unpaid leave. [83903]

  Angela Eagle
  Since Social Security Commissioner's Decision CIS/14661/1996 was made on 21 August 1997 (received by the Department on 13 September 1997), guidance has been issued to Benefits Agency and
  199
  Employment Services staff explaining that Jobseeker's Allowance cannot be paid under normal rules to those who did not claim at the relevant time.

  It is, however, sometimes possible for ex-gratia payments to be made to people in these circumstances. Agency staff have been asked to keep a note of those ancillary workers who have inquired about such payments so that consideration can be given to their requests.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, under the proposed reforms to Incapacity Benefit, persons who have their entitlement reduced to zero by their level of pension will continue to receive national insurance credits. [83721]

  Mr. Bayley
  People who have their entitlement to Incapacity Benefit reduced to nil under the proposed reforms will qualify for national insurance credits for each week they remain incapable of work.

  Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reason the Green Paper, "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future", is no longer available on his Department's website. [84042]

  Mr. Timms
  Following the wide endorsement of the proposals in the Green Paper, we have set out how we are putting our plans into action in "A New Contract for Welfare: Safeguarding Social Security" which is available on the website.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Bendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of housing benefit claimants are unemployed. [84048]

  Angela Eagle
  About 12 per cent. of Housing Benefit recipients are unemployed and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance.

  Notes:

  1. Data used to calculate the answer is provisional.

  2. The data refers to benefit units and has been rounded to the nearest whole percent.

  3. The data is for those Housing Benefit claimants who are unemployed and claim Jobseeker's Allowance.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit Management Information System Annual 1 per cent. sample taken May 1998.

HEALTH

  Testicular Cancer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for improving public awareness amongst men of the benefits of self-testing for testicular cancer, with particular reference to the highest-risk age group; and if he will make a statement. [83597]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department encourages men to consult their doctor as soon as they notice any unusual changes in their testicles.
  200
  Leaflets produced by the Department and by the Health Education Authority draw attention to testicular cancer, particularly for men in the 20 to 35 year age group who are potentially most at risk, provide advice on self-examination and re-emphasise the importance of early reporting of possible signs of cancer to a general practitioner. GPs are bound by their terms of service to carry out all appropriate health promotion and prevention activities and are generally well aware of this risk to health in young men.

  The "Our Healthier Nation" health strategy is designed to improve the health of the whole population, including men. The strategy highlights cancer prevention as one of the main areas for action.

  Medicinal Products (Registration)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made with plans to hold an international conference for the Harmonisation of Technical Standards for the Registration of Medicinal Products. [83789]

  Ms Jowell
  The International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) was established in 1990 as a joint regulatory/industry project. The aim of the project is to improve, through harmonisation of the regulatory requirements, the efficiency of the process for developing and registering new medicinal products in Europe, Japan and the United States, in order to make these products available to patients with a minimum of delay.

  The Fourth International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH 4) was held in Brussels, 16–18 July 1997. Plans for a fifth phase are currently under discussion.

  Licensed Medicines (Children)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the issue of establishing a proper licensing system for medicines used in the treatment of children is given the highest priority at a European level; [83788]

  (2) what steps he plans to take to examine the experience of the United States in the licensing and regulation of medicines used on children; and if he will make a statement; [83790]

  (3) what steps he is taking to press the European Commission to monitor the implementation of EU guidance on the licensing of medicines used in the treatment of children. [83787]

  Mr. Hutton
  The United Kingdom took the lead in revising the European guideline and is committed to working closely with the European Commission and other Member States to monitor the effectiveness of its operation. The Government are committed to ensuring that the regulatory system within Europe effectively addresses the licensing of medicines for use in children. We will work with other Member States to press the Commission to take further action should this prove necessary.

  We intend to monitor closely the combination of financial incentives and legislation which has now been introduced in the United States. We will keep the

  201
  Commission informed of the effectiveness of the US initiative, and its suitability or otherwise for replication within the European Union.

  Iophendalyte
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much iophendalyte was purchased by the National Health Service in each financial year from 1969–70 until 1987–88. [83793]

  Ms Jowell
  As with other pharmaceutical products purchased by National Health Service trusts this information is not available centrally.

  Cigarette Lighters
  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the forthcoming White Paper, Our Healthier Nation, will include measures aimed at preventing injury from accidents caused by unsafe cigarette lighters; and if he will make a statement. [83814]

  Ms Jowell
  Accidental injury was one of the four national priority areas in the "Our Healthier Nation" Green Paper, published last year. It set out the framework for a range of measures to be carried out by the many Departments and agencies with a role to play in reducing death and injury from accidents. Although product safety and fire safety issues are integral to this overall effort, the White Paper, to be published later this month, will not include an exhaustive list of measures relating to the safety of specific product types, such as cigarette lighters.

  Minister

  Date

  Location

  Counterpart

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  14 January 1999

  Washington

  Al Gore: Vice President

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  28 November—2 December 1998

  Washington

  Al Gore: Vice President

  Janet Reno: Attorney Generalplus senior officials including General Barry McCaffrey: Director, Office National Drug Control Policy

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  21–24 June 1998

  Washington

  Senior officials only

WALES

  New Deal
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who have entered(a) further education, (b) training and (c) employment programmes under the New Deal in Wales. [83767]

  Mr. Hain
  The latest information from the Department for Education and Employment indicates that, by the end of February 1999:
  just under 2,200 young people had entered the Full-time Education and Training Option of the New Deal for 18–24s in Wales (separate totals are not available to show the numbers entering Education or Training);almost 1,500 young people had entered subsidised jobs under the Employer Option of the New Deal for 18–24s in Wales.
  A further 1,900 young people had entered a period of work experience with either the Environment Task Force or the Voluntary Sector.

  Beta Interferon
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue new guidelines on the use of beta interferon in the NHS. [80174]

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make beta interferon universally available on the NHS. [78995]

  Mr. Denham
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1999, c. 131]: I regret that the reply I gave was misleading. It should read:

  The Department will shortly he consulting interested parties on a draft health service circular on the prescribing of beta-interferon for people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

CABINET OFFICE

  Ministerial Meetings (US)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times Ministers in his Department have met their counterparts in the US Government since 1 June 1998; and if he will list the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved on each occasion and the name of the US counterpart at each meeting. [82266]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Ministers have had the following meetings with members of the US Government:

  Rail Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has in respect of the improvement of North-South rail services; and if he will make a statement. [84296]

  Mr. Hain
  I consider that a better rail service between North and South Wales is essential for the economic and social cohesion of Wales. The Welsh Office is now working in partnership with the North Wales Economic Forum to secure two return services a day via Wrexham, and to reduce the fastest journey time between Bangor and Cardiff by half an hour. I expect to see the new services in place by the summer timetable next year.

  Following the transfer of functions, the National Assembly will take a close interest in rail services in Wales. Responsibility for the regulation and financial support of the railways will remain with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  Owen-Corning
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect on employment at Pentre, Deeside, of the decision not to allow Rockwool to take over the Owen-Corning's plant. [83982]

  Mr. Hain
  My hon. Friend, the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs published the report of the Competition Commission, `Rockwool Ltd. and Owen-Corning Building Products (UK) Ltd.; a report on the proposed merger' on 7 May, and a copy is in the Library of the House.

  As part of the report, the Commission considered that the most likely outcome of prohibiting the merger would be that Owen-Corning would sell the Queensferry plant to another party.

TREASURY

  Road Fuel Duty
  Mr. Brady
  : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of road fuel duty per litre of diesel in (a) the UK and (b) other EU member states in 1999–2000. [83201]

  Ms Hewitt
  The rate of duty on ultra low sulphur diesel in the United Kingdom is 47.21 per litre and on standard diesel the rate is 50.21 per litre.

  The latest available rates of duty in the other member states range from about 18 per litre in Luxembourg and Greece to 28 per litre in Italy.

  Pension Funds
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of Government economic policy on the overall value of UK pension funds. [83202]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government are pursuing policies to promote economic stability and raise productivity, and so enhancing the worth of pension fund investments.

  Financial Support (Families)
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the measures he is taking to increase financial support to families. [83203]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  All families will have benefited from the increase in child benefit for the eldest child which came into force in April and from the above-inflation increases announced for next April. Following the introduction of the new children's tax credit in April 2000 a family with one child receiving this and child benefit will get double the support for their child, £23 a week, compared with their position in May 1997 when they would have received £11.40 a week.

  In addition, the working families tax credit will be introduced in October this year and will benefit 1.5 million families. It will provide a guaranteed minimum income of £200 for a family with someone in full-time work on the national minimum wage.
  204
  The WFTC and related increases to the child premia in income related benefits will ensure that all low-income families benefit from the increased support for children. Overall, as a result of the last two budgets, families with children will, on average, be £740 a year better off. As a result of the budget measures, 700,000 children will be lifted out of poverty. The tax rate for a family on average earnings with two children will be cut to its lowest level since 1972.

  FTSE Index
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he takes of the level of the FTSE index in devising economic policy; and if he will assess its accuracy. [83204]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Government take account of all relevant economic and financial information in devising economic policy, including the level of stock market indices.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in levels of national insurance paid by the self-employed in 2001–02 as a result of the March Budget. [83205]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is estimated that the self-employed will pay about £420 million less in National Insurance contributions in 2000–01, but £520 million more in 2001–02 as a result of the March 1999 Budget.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the Department of Social Security in respect of practices adopted by some companies to avoid paying national insurance contributions. [83207]

  Dawn Primarolo
  One of the benefits of transferring the Contributions Agency and policy responsibility for National Insurance to the Inland Revenue is that the Departments will be able to combine their efforts in detecting and preventing artificial avoidance of National Insurance which cost the National Insurance Fund hundreds of millions of pounds a year in lost revenue.

  In my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's Budget we announced a further move. We shall be bringing forward legislation shortly to counter avoidance in personal service provision.

  Ms Stuart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his reform of national insurance contributions. [83197]

  Mr. Milburn
  In March 1998 the Chancellor announced the most radical restructuring of the National Insurance system for 20 years, in line with the recommendations of the Taylor Report, The Modernisation of Britain's Tax and Benefits System'.

  These reforms will improve work incentives by reducing burdens on the lower paid thereby encouraging people to move from welfare to work and simplify the structure of the National Insurance contribution scheme for both employees and employers.

  Debt Relief (Poor Countries)
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report on progress made on debt relief for poor countries at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings. [83206]

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report on progress made on debt relief for poor countries at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings. [83216]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  At the Spring meetings of the IMF/World Bank last month I took forward proposals for faster, deeper and wider debt relief. There was general consensus on the need for an enhanced initiative.

  I am now hopeful that we can resolve to:
  cut the burden of unpayable debt by at least 50 billion dollars in the year 2000;sell IMF gold to help pay for this;increase the aid for health, education and economic development;give a billion through our own charitable giving.

  Duty-free Sales
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of duty-free sales. [83209]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Duty free sales on journeys made wholly with the European Union are due to end from 30 June as a result of a decision taken by the Council of Finance Ministers in 1991. The Government are pressing for an extension to allow time to work out better duty paid arrangements. However, we have never underestimated the difficulty of this task as it requires unanimity among member states. The Government will continue to press for the best and most sensible deal possible for the UK. Duty free sales on journeys made to countries outside the EU will continue unaffected after 30 June 1999.

  Objective 1 Projects
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to provide funding to allow objective 1 EU projects to proceed. [83210]

  Mr. Milburn
  The funding arrangements for EU projects are a matter for the Departments, and devolved administrations, which administer the Structural Funds programmes as well as the individual project applicants. Departments' and devolved administrations' overall expenditure is decided in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Business Taxation
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of tax paid by business from 1999–2000 to 2001–02 of the March 1999 Budget. [83211]

  Mrs. Roche
  All companies who pay tax will benefit from the cuts in Corporation Tax that were announced in this year's Budget and in previous Budgets.

  Intrastat Returns
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to enable companies to make Intrastat returns electronically. [83212]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Companies have been able to submit Intrastat returns using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) since the start of the Single Market on 1 January 1993. This allowed companies to send in their data on floppy disk, tape or via the Value Added Network.

  In December 1998 two further methods of submitting Intrastat data electronically were introduced using the internet. A third method of submitting data via the internet, of particular benefit to smaller companies, will be considered later this year.

  Savings Ratio
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his projections for the saving ratio in 2001–02. [83213]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Government's forecast for the saving ratio is set out in the March 1999 Financial Statement and Budget Report. This shows the saving ratio rising from 7 per cent. in 1998 to 7½ per cent. in 1999 and beyond.

  Single Currency
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he made of the prospects for the UK joining the single currency(a) at the time of the announcement of the five tests and (b) at the most recent date. [83214]

  Ms Hewitt
  In his statement to the House of Commons on 27 October 1997,Official Report, columns 584–88, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that, barring some fundamental and unforeseen change in economic circumstances, making a decision, during the lifetime of this Parliament, to join the single currency was not realistic. But preparations should be made so that Britain would be in a position to join a successful single currency early in the next Parliament, should Government, Parliament and the British people agree. This position was restated by the Prime Minister in his statement to the House of Commons on 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 179–83.

  Sixth VAT Directive
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met EU Finance Ministers to discuss the sixth VAT directive. [83215]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The last occasion was at a meeting of ECOFIN on 15 March, when a European Commission proposal for the introduction of an experimental reduced VAT rate on labour intensive services was briefly considered.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of(a) children and (b) adults in households whose income

  207
  will increase to above half average income in each of the next three years as a result of measures introduced in each of his Budget statements. [83217]

  Ms Hewitt
  As a result of tax and benefit measures announced in the last two Budgets, 1; million people—700,000 of them children—will no longer be living in households below half the average equivalised income after allowing for housing costs.

  Company Values
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government's monetary policies on the value of companies quoted on the London stock exchange. [83218]

  Mr. Milburn
  Maintaining low and stable inflation is the best contribution monetary policy can make to the Government's goal of high and stable levels of growth and employment. Economic stability is good for companies' performance and may be one of several factors behind recent equity market valuations.

  Global Economic System
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to meet European Finance Ministers to discuss the global economic system. [83219]

  Ms Hewitt
  ECOFIN was asked by the Vienna European Council to produce a report on reform of the international financial architecture for the Cologne European Council starting on 3 June. The draft report is expected to be discussed by EU Finance and Economic Ministers at the 25 May ECOFIN.

  Taxation Changes
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the changes in taxation paid in 2001–02 as a result of Budgets since July 1997. [83220]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Costings of the measures in the July 1997, March 1998 and March 1999 Budgets can be found in tables 2.2, 1.3 and 1.3 of the respective Financial Statement and Budget Reports.

  Work Incentives
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his measures to increase the financial incentive to work. [83221]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government are determined to make work pay through reforms to the tax and benefit system aimed at alleviating both the poverty and unemployment traps. From April this year a new lop rate of income tax was introduced, this will halve the tax bill for 1.5 million low-paid workers. It will be complemented by a series of reforms to National Insurance Contributions which will take 900,000 low-paid workers out of NICs 208
  altogether and reduce burdens on employers and employees alike. The Working families Tax credit Will be introduced in October 1999. It will increase the return to work for at least 1.5 million people. In combination with the National Minimum Wage and other tax and benefit reforms the WFTC will provide a minimum income guarantee for families with someone in full-time work at the national minimum wage of £200 a week.

  Financial Services and Markets Bill
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the report of the Joint Committee on the draft Financial Services and Markets Bill. [83222]

  Ms Hewitt
  We commend the Committee for a very thorough inquiry, and are grateful to the many organisations which gave evidence. The Committee has broadly endorsed the approach to reform set out in the draft bill published last year, and the improvements announced in the light of public consultation. They have also made constructive recommendations for further improvements, which we will consider carefully before responding.

  Married Couple's Allowance
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 55 to 63 are eligible for the married couple's allowance in 1999–2000. [83223]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We estimate that there will be 1.8 million claims to the married couple's allowance from people aged 55–63 for 1999–2000. Around 200,000 of these claimants will not have sufficient income to be able to benefit from the allowance.

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of new savers who will open individual savings accounts in the current year. [83225]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 3 March 1999,Official Report, column 810.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from the road haulage industry on(a) vehicle excise duty and (b) duty on diesel. [83226]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have received a number of representations in writing from the road haulage industry about vehicle excise duty and fuel tax.

  Representations are also being made through the new Road Haulage Industry Forum which had its first meeting on 8 April and which brings together Transport, Treasury and Trade and Industry Ministers with industry and union representatives. The Government hope that the Forum will provide a helpful dialogue on the issues facing the haulage industry and give hauliers an opportunity to put across their concerns in a constructive way.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons(a) working families tax credit is classified as negative income tax and (b) mortgage interest tax relief at source is not so classified. [83227]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Working Families' Tax Credit will be paid by the Inland Revenue through pay packets as an income tax credit, and will be regarded as such by families. Mortgage interest tax relief is officially classified by the Office for National Statistics as public spending.

  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the numbers of households which will be eligible for the working families tax credit which are(a) single parent families, with the woman the sole earner, (b) single parent families, with the man the sole earner, (c) couples, where the male is the sole earner, (d) couples, where the female is the sole earner and (e) dual-income families. [83807]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 10 May 1999]: Estimates for 2000–01, the first full year of the Working Families Tax Credit, are given in the table:

  Family Type

  Number of recipients

  Lone Parent

  Female

  580,000

  Male

  30,000

  Couples

  Male sole earner

  480,000

  Female sole earner

  100,000

  Dual-earners

  210,000

  Total

  1.400,000

  Euro
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the difference in the estimate between the number of euro coins required for UK participation in the single currency set out in the Outline National Changeover Plan and that indicated in his answer of 18 June 1997,Official Report, column 239, on the Euro. [83734]

  Ms Hewitt
  The estimated coin requirement set out in the Outline National Changeover Plan relates to the initial quantities needed to launch euro coins on the first day of their circulation, should the UK decide to join the single currency. The higher figure quoted in 1997 was the estimated total needed to replace all the coins in circulation. The preferred timing for the introduction of euro coins would be when coin demand is seasonally low, and for up to six months euro coins would be circulating in parallel with sterling coins.

  The estimates for both the initial launch quantities and the ultimate total coin requirement are subject to ongoing review with the banks and other interested parties.

  ECOFIN Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the agenda for the ECOFIN Council of 10 May. [83817]
  210
  Ms Hewitt
  The agenda for the 10 May ECOFIN, as finalised by Coreper on 6 May, listed the following substantive items for discussion:

  (a) the European Commission's recommendations for the 1999 Broad Economic Policy Guidelines;

  (b) the Presidency's draft for an European Employment Pact;

  (c) the Preliminary Draft Budget for the financial year 2000;

  (d) European Union common strategy on Russia: Economic and Financial aspects.

  ECOFIN Ministers also had lunch with the Social Partners.

  European Community Pension Scheme
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the new European Community pension scheme will be privately funded; what liabilities currently exist; and if he will make a statement. [83931]

  Mr. Milburn
  There is no new European Community pension scheme. Any changes to the pension arrangements for the staff of the European Community institutions would need to be proposed by the European Commission, and they have not made any proposals for a new pension scheme.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for the current tax year(a) the number of people in work whose marginal income tax rate will be 10 per cent., (b) the number of people in work whose marginal income tax rate will be 23 per cent. and (c) the proportion of group (b) whose marginal income tax rate would have been 20 per cent. had the income tax rates remained the same and the thresholds been increased in line with statutory indexation only. [83761]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Estimated numbers of people in work with 10 per cent. and 23 per cent. marginal tax rates in 1999–2000 are shown in the table.

  Marginal rate (%)

  Numbers (million)

  (a)

  10

  1.4

  (b)

  23

  18.4

  Around 3.3 million of those with a 23 per cent. marginal rate would have had a marginal rate of 20 per cent. had income tax rates remained the same as in 1998–99. However, these are people with taxable incomes of between £1,500 and £4,500 and overall they will pay between £150 and £60 less income tax per year as a result of the introduction of the lop starting rate.

  Low-income Families
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the gain from work for a one-earner couple on £200 per week with two children under 11 years(a) previous to the 1998 Budget, (b) after the 1998 Budget and (c) after the 1999 Budget. [83762]
  211
  Dawn Primarolo
  The data requested is given in the table:

  Gain from work for a one-earner couple on £200 per week with two children under 11 years

  £ per week

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Gross earnings

  200.00

  200.00

  200.00

  Net earnings after FC/WFTC

  185.65

  189.29

  232.90

  JSA

  110.95

  113.60

  121.05

  Gain from work

  74.70

  75.69

  111.85

  Notes:

  1. Net earnings are gross earnings minus income tax and National Insurance plus Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit.

  2. Income tax payments are calculated on the basis that the household receives no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and only have income from employment.

  3. All earners are assumed to pay Class 1 national insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate.

  4. 1999 net earnings assume all tax and NIC measures announced in the 1999 Budget and due to be introduced after 1999–2000 are already in place.

  5. For the calculation of JSA both members of the couple are assumed to be 18 years or over.

  6. Net income is before housing costs.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agricultural Research
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the Government spent on research and development relating to(a) organic farming, (b) genetic engineering biotechnology and (c) agricultural biotechnology at 1999 prices, in each of the most recent 10 years for which figures are available. [83241]

  Mr. Rooker
  Details of how much Government spent on the research and development of(a) organic farming, (b) agricultural genetic engineering and (c) agricultural biotechnology are shown in the tables. All the figures are given at 1999 prices.

  (a) Organic farming

  £000

  Year

  MAFF

  SOAEFD

  BBSRC

  Total

  1994–95

  1,030

  161

  42

  1,233

  1995–96

  950

  178

  14

  1,142

  1996–97

  1,173

  183

  0

  1,356

  1997–98

  954

  192

  0

  1,146

  1998–99

  1,576

  240

  0

  1,816

  (b) Agricultural genetic engineering (including risk assessment research)

  £000

  Year

  MAFF

  DETR SOAEFD

  Total

  1994–95

  377

  531

  183

  1,091

  1995–96

  1,827

  419

  625

  2,871

  1996–97

  1,769

  371

  1,045

  3,185

  1997–98

  1,876

  647

  1,618

  4,141

  1998–99

  2.718

  856

  2,230

  5,804

  212
  BBSRC could not provide figures for agricultural genetic engineering because it proved too difficult for them to separate agricultural genetic engineering from biotechnology.

  (c) Agricultural biotechnology (excluding agricultural genetic engineering)

  £000

  Year

  MAFF

  SOAEFD

  DANI

  BBSRC

  Total

  1994–95

  17,347

  4,002

  unavailable

  unavailable

  21,349

  1995–96

  18,260

  6,393

  unavailable

  unavailable

  24,653

  1996–97

  21,173

  6,805

  1,000

  unavailable

  29,029

  1997–98

  23,339

  7,429

  1,000

  113,800

  46,318

  1998–99

  26,191

  5,729

  1,200

  114,500

  48,415

  1As explained in (b), the BBSRC figures do not distinguish between agricultural biotechnology and agricultural genetic engineering

  Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  BSE
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on whether the rendering process carried out by approved rendering plants guarantees the denaturing of the prion thought to be responsible for BSE/nvCJD. [83741]

  Mr. Rooker
  MAFF commissioned two major studies on rendering processes. One examined the inactivation of the BSE agent by rendering procedures (see D. M. Taylor et al. Veterinary Record 1995. Vol. 137, 605–610) and the second examined the effects of rendering procedures on the scrapie agent (see D. M. Taylor et al. Veterinary Record 1997. Vol. 141, 643–649). The results of these experiments resulted in European Commission Decisions 94/382 and 96/449 being made, which set standards for the rendering of mammalian animal by-products throughout the European Union. This European legislation is currently implemented in the UK in the Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997 and the Animal By-Products Order 1999 and all approved UK rendering plants operate to these standards.

  BSE is a notifiable disease in the UK. Cattle showing clinical signs suggestive of BSE are slaughtered on farm and sent for incineration. They are not rendered.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letter of 18 March to the Minister of State on behalf of his constituent Mr. Marshall. [83751]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 10 May 1999]: I received the right hon. Gentleman's letter on 23 April. I replied on Monday 10 May. This was well within the Department's published target for the return of replies.

  Food (Supply and Demand)
  Mr. Beard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the current worldwide balance of supply and demand is for food; and what estimate he has made of what it would be if Northern American and Western European
  213
  agricultural demand switched to organic produce in the proportions (a) 5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent. and (c) 20 per cent. [83891]

  Mr. Morley
  Details of current and future trends in global production and consumption of agricultural commodities can be found in the OECD publication `Agricultural Outlook 1999–2004'.

  Aspects of possible futures for agriculture in 2020 and 2050, including different levels of low-input and organic farming, are being addressed as part of a project at Sussex University. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is funding the researchers to develop a number of socio-economic scenarios as an aid to climate change studies. The work is due to report by autumn this year.

  Green Transport Plan
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82840]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 11 May 1999]: Since last July's Integrated Transport White Paper, which sets out targets for the introduction of green transport plans for Government Departments, my Department is finalising four plans covering all of our London headquarters buildings and our York building, which houses two of the Ministry's Executive Agencies. We are developing plans for our remaining 19 sites in line with the target for March 2000 set in the Integrated Transport White Paper.

  GM Foods
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from consumer groups and individuals in relation to the details of genetically modified flavourings 214
  and additives to be included on food labelling; and what actions are being taken by his Department in pursuance of this. [83783]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 12 May 1999]: I have received a number of representations requesting that GM additives and flavourings be labelled. We are pressing the European Commission to bring forward proposals in this area as quickly as possible.

  Meat and Bonemeal
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress made in disposing of meat and bonemeal derived from the over thirty month scheme. [83781]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 11 May 1999]: Over 27,000 tonnes of MBM from OTMS animals has now been burned in the high temperature waste incinerator at Fawley.

  The Intervention Board announced the first contract for the large scale incineration of MBM with energy recovery in October 1998. Burning under the contract is subject to the company, Fibrogen Ltd. obtaining the necessary planning and environmental consents in accordance with normal procedures. Following a detailed technical assessment of, and extensive consultation on, Fibrogen's application, the Environment Agency granted an authorisation to burn waste MBM under Section 6 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on 26 April 1999. Fibrogen are considering whether to mount an appeal following the decision by North Lincolnshire Planning Committee on 12 March 1999 to refuse planning permission to change fuel from poultry litter to MBM, which has delayed tangible progress.

  The Intervention Board has completed its evaluation of the costed proposals received for the balance of its OTMS MBM incineration requirement and contract negotiations are on-going. Details of the companies will be announced when contracts are signed. These companies will also need the necessary planning and environmental consents from the relevant authorities before the burning of MBM can commence.

  Yugoslavia: EU Oil Embargo
  Yugoslavia: EU Oil Embargo
  Lawrence Inquiry: Report Leak
  Lawrence Inquiry: Report Leak
  Right of Individual Petition under International Conventions
  Right of Individual Petition under International Conventions
  Human Rights Act: Implementation
  Human Rights Act: Implementation
  Kosovar Refugees: Asylum Data
  Kosovar Refugees: Asylum Data
  Volunteers: Checking by Criminal Records Bureau
  Volunteers: Checking by Criminal Records Bureau
  Strategic Export Controls: Errors in Annual Report
  Strategic Export Controls: Errors in Annual Report
  European Space Agency: Ministerial Council
  European Space Agency: Ministerial Council
  BSE: Number of Cases
  BSE: Number of Cases
  Meat Hygiene Charges and Closure of Small Abattoirs
  Meat Hygiene Charges and Closure of Small Abattoirs
  Military Action Overseas 1988–89: Cost
  Military Action Overseas 1988–89: Cost
  Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
  Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
  Vehicle Licensing via the Internet
  Vehicle Licensing via the Internet
  Non-working Parents: Social Security Benefits
  Non-working Parents: Social Security Benefits
  National Curriculum Test Standards
  National Curriculum Test Standards
  Northern Ireland: Prisoner Releases
  Northern Ireland: Prisoner Releases
  Northern Ireland: National Curriculum Test Results
  Northern Ireland: National Curriculum Test Results
  Northern Ireland: SEN Pupil Expenditure
  Northern Ireland: SEN Pupil Expenditure
  Northern Ireland: SEN Pupil Numbers
  Northern Ireland: SEN Pupil Numbers