Written Answers of 14 May 1999

DEFENCE

  Reservists
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for calling up regular reservists as individual reinforcements. [82345]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: Depending on the requirement for reservists in any particular operation, Personnel and Record Offices trawl the records of members of the ex-regular reserve forces. Those who are identified as qualified, and, in the case of a voluntary call out, who have also indicated their willingness to be called out, are served a call-out notice. This notice requires them to report to a mobilisation centre where they are accepted into service on completion of various administrative procedures. The call-out order made on 31 March 1999 under section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 allows the further call out of members of the ex-regular reserve forces as well as members of the volunteer reserve forces to support operations in the former republic of Yugoslavia and in the region of Iraq. During the year 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 some 30 per cent. (155) of the Army's reservists who were called out and accepted into service came from the Army's ex-Regular Reserve Force.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the Minister for Defence Procurement has visited the Chemical and Biological Defence Unit at Porton Down; and when he will next visit the establishment. [84118]

  Mr. Spellar
  Once. My noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement has no immediate plans for a further visit.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Kosovar Refugees
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has made in the past three weeks to the European Commission about its aid programme for Kosovar refugees. [83966]

  Clare Short
  We are in close contact with the Commission over its assistance programmes for the Kosovo refugees, both in Brussels and in the region. A Department for International Development representative attended the Humanitarian Aid Committee meeting on 7 May, which approved proposals from the EC Humanitarian Office for the allocation of a further 150 million euros of humanitarian assistance, in addition 216
  to the 32 million euros already allocated. We are pressing to ensure that those funds are disbursed quickly. We have also spoken with the Commission about the need to accelerate its planning for refugee return.

WALES

  Air Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to promote north-south air services; and if he will make a statement. [84355]

  Mr. Hain
  I am keen to improve public transport links between North and South Wales, including air services. Work is currently under way on an air services study for Wales, in line with the commitment which I gave in the Welsh transport policy statement 'Transporting Wales into the Future'. This study is focusing on the scope for new and enhanced services as well as the role of airports in economic development. It will be for the National Assembly, in collaboration with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, to decide how to take forward the findings of the study.

  Road Traffic (Deeside)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance he has provided to the local highways authority to reduce road traffic on Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [84356]

  Mr. Hain
  Flintshire County Council is receiving Transport Grant support of £500,000 in 1999–2000 towards its Deeside Integrated Transport Strategy and has been provided with indicative allocations of £300,000 and £125,000 for 2000–01 and 2001–02 respectively. The Council has also been allocated £39,000 in 1999– 2000 towards its Safe Routes to School project covering a number of schools in the Deeside area. This support builds on £480,000 that the Council was allocated towards its Integrated Transport Strategy in 1998–99.

  Following the transfer of functions, future bids for Transport Grant support will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of new jobs created since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [80846]

  Mr. Hain
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 April 1999, c. 502]: I regret that there was a computer error at the Office for National Statistics. Revised figures are as follows: Seasonally adjusted figures show that between March 1997 and December 1998 the number of employee jobs in Wales increased by 16,000 to 997,000.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Licences
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what his estimate is of the current time
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  taken by his Department in considering export licences for goods with a possible military application; and what steps he is taking to speed the process up; [82439]

  (2) in each of the last five years for which he has figures, (a) how many applications for export licences for goods with a possible military application his Department has considered and (b) what the average time was for considering each application. [82440]

  Dr. Howells
  The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained for applications:

  Year

  Standard or Open Individual Export Licences were received

  1994

  17,187

  1995

  15,247

  1996

  14,153

  1997

  12,679

  1998

  11,799

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

  As regards the average time for considering an application I refer my hon. Friend to my answer given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 87.

  Finally, on 1 March 1999 the Export Control Organisation introduced the new ELATE database for Standard Individual Export Licence applications which should, among other advantages, improve the exchange of licensing information between Departments and is intended to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the licensing process.

  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) of 1 February 1999,Official Report, columns 501–03, if he will provide a detailed description of the military equipment licensed for export to Indonesia between 10 May 1998 and 31 December 1998 under ratings (a) ML4, (b) ML5, (c) ML6, (d) ML9, (e) ML10, (f) ML11, (g) ML14, (h) ML15, (i) ML21, (j) ML22 and (k) PL5017. [83024]

  Dr. Howells
  Inquiries are being made under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. As confidential information is involved, the parties concerned will be asked if they consent to its disclosure and this may take some time. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

  Military Exports (Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a list of the documents held by his Department on military exports to Yugoslavia. [83291]
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  Dr. Howells
  While the DTI's Export Control Organisation maintains records of export licence applications, it does not compile records of licensed exports. I also refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) on 5 May 1999,Official Report, column 414.

  Energy Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the agenda for the Energy Council of 11 May. [83816]

  Mr. Byers
  I have today placed copies of the agenda for the 11 May Energy Council in the Libraries of the House. The agenda can also be found on the DTI in Europe page of the Department's website (www2.dti.gov.uk/).

  EU Copyright Directive
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the implementation of the EU Copyright Directive. [83827]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 11 May 1999]: The draft EU Directive on copyright and related rights in the Information Society is still under discussion in a working group of the Council of Ministers. The Opinion of the European Parliament was given in February but the common position of the member states is not expected for some time owing to the complex and controversial nature of some of the proposals. Only when the Directive is finally adopted will we prepare the necessary implementing legislation for approval by Parliament, and we shall wish to consult widely before doing so.

  The electronic environment necessitates international harmonisation of copyright laws and the Government have welcomed the broad thrust of the draft Directive. We are pressing for rapid adoption of the proposal, which will also enable the UK and the rest of the EU to ratify two new international treaties. However, there are concerns about certain aspects of the draft Directive including the treatment of temporary copies, the approach on exceptions to rights for a broad range of users, and provisions on technical measures. We are actively pursuing these issues in the Council and, in particular, continuing to press for more flexibility for member states in the area of exceptions. We are seeking to maintain a fair and reasonable balance between the interests of all the key players.

  Owen-Corning
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his decision relating to the proposal by Rockwell to take over Owen-Corning' s plant at Pentre, Deeside, Flintshire. [83981]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 13 May 1999]: On 7 May I announced that I had decided to prohibit the proposed acquisition by Rockwool Ltd. of the stone wool manufacturing business of Owens-Corning Building Products (UK) Ltd. My decision was in accordance with the recommendation of the Competition Commission and the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading.
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  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Michelin Tyre plc's application to build a new combined heat and power gas-fired power station at their Stoke-on-Trent tyre factory. [84622]

  Mr. Battle
  I have today granted consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to Michelin Tyre plc for construction of a 58 MW gas-fired Combined Heat and Power station at its tyre factory in Stoke-on-Trent Council. The station has also today been given clearance as a gas-fired station under Section 14 of the Energy Act 1976 and planning permission has been deemed to be granted, subject to 50 planning conditions agreed with the City of Stoke-on-Trent Council. The decisions have been taken in accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper entitled 'Conclusions of the Review of Energy sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee' (Cm 4071).

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

  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Rolls-Royce Power Venture Ltd's notification to build an open cycle gas turbine power station at Croydon. [84621]

  Mr. Byers
  I have decided not to issue a direction under section 14(3) of the Energy Act 1976 to stop Rolls-Royce Power Ventures Ltd. building a new 49MW gas-fired power station at Croydon. In taking my decision
  I concluded that the contribution to providing future diversity of technology by allowing the commercial demonstration of this innovative development is such that it would have been inappropriate to issue such a direction.

  Although new natural gas-fired generation would normally be inconsistent with the Government's energy policy concerns relating to diversity and security of supply, the Energy White Paper indicated that there may be a few exceptional examples which might merit support so as to help provide future diversity of technology. The White Paper also emphasises the importance of long term diversity of technology (together with diversity of fuels and sources of supply) in promoting flexibility and an ability to adapt to an uncertain future. I have concluded that the need for Rolls-Royce's Industrial Trent turbine to be commercially demonstrated, and so ensure the future diversity of technology, is such that it is appropriate for the proposal to be carried out.

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

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many heavy goods vehicles are receiving the reduction in 220
  vehicle excise duty announced in his Budget statement following a reduction in the amount of their exhaust emissions. [83823]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  As of 30 April 1999, 120 heavy goods vehicles were licensed in the Reduced Pollution tax classes. This figure does not take into account any operators who obtained a Reduced Pollution Certificate in April and waited for the end of the month before relicensing at the lower rate.

  A370
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received calling for the installation of speed cameras on the A370 between Westonsuper-Mare and Congresbury. [84181]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No representations have been received calling for the installation of speed cameras. The installation of speed cameras on the A370 is for North Somerset Council to consider in its role as the local highway authority. The Secretary of State's consent is not required.

  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for new safety measures on the A370 between Weston-super-Mare and Congresbury.[84182]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The A370 is a local road for which North Somerset Council is the local highway authority. It is for the local authority to determine the need for new safety measures on this road.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his definition is of homes which have been substantially altered, as it relates to his Department's report, Water Charging in England and Wales: Government Decisions Following Consultation, page 7, paragraph 24. [84224]

  Mr. Meale
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Westminster City Council Inquiry (Fees)
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how much the Audit Commission has paid to Mr. Tony Childs, the Westminster Auditor's legal representative, for his professional fees incurred over the period 18 July 1989 to 30 April 1999 in connection with the Auditor's inquiry into Westminster City Council's designated sales policy; [84119]

  (2) how much the Audit Commission has paid to Mr. John Magill, the Westminster Auditor, in professional fees over the period 18 July 1989 to 30 April 1999 in connection with his inquiry into Westminster City Council's designated sales policy; [84120]

  (3) how much the Audit Commission has paid to Mr. John Howell QC, for his professional fees incurred in representing Westminster City Council's appointed Auditor at (a) the Divisional Court hearing in 1997, (b) the Appeal Court hearing in 1999 and (c) since he

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  was first consulted in connection with the Auditor's inquiry into Westminster City Council's designated sales policy. [84121]

  Ms Armstrong
  The cost of investigations carried out by auditors appointed by The Audit Commission are borne by the authority concerned. The Commission indemnifies the auditor for the cost of any court proceedings resulting from such investigations. Under the indemnity the Commission has met, in relation to the Westminster designated sales inquiry, costs of £2,997,000 incurred by the auditor in respect of his costs, and those of his solicitor and barrister.

  Strategy for Sustainable Development
  Mr. Patrick Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the revised UK Strategy for Sustainable Development. [84538]

  Mr. Prescott
  "A better quality of life—a Strategy for sustainable development for the UK" will be published on Monday 17 May. Copies will be placed in the House Libraries. It will also be available on my Department's website at www.detr.gov.uk.

  The aim of sustainable development is to deliver a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. That means building economic prosperity in a way that protects our environment and shares that prosperity more widely. It means creating "livability" —towns, cities and rural areas which are based on sustainable communities, offering a better quality of life for all. The Sustainable Development Strategy will provide the framework for meeting those objectives, by tackling problems in a co-ordinated way and by linking local, national and international action. The Strategy will look at the overlapping themes of a sustainable economy, sustainable communities and managing the environment and resources, with the challenges and opportunities each represents. It will include indicators as a means to measure progress, including a set of headline indicators.

  The Government will lead in putting the Strategy into practice. But it will be important for each sector—and all of us as individuals—to pull in the same direction. The Strategy is therefore being supported by the launch of the next phase of the "Are you doing your bit?" advertising campaign, to communicate key elements of sustainable development to everyone.

  Smoke Alarms
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of lives that would be saved each year if every local authority dwelling in England was fitted with a smoke alarm. [79606]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [pursuant to the reply, 13 April 1999, c. 62]: I have been asked to reply.

  The previous reply provided figures for fire casualties in all households in England; a separate estimate is not available for local authority dwellings. Fire statistics do not reveal whether the dwelling in which the fire occurred was owned or rented in the private or public sector, although it is known that 17 per cent. of all households in England are in the ownership of local authorities.
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SOCIAL SECURITY

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what additional costs there will be for the pensions schemes for the Police and Fire Services as a result of the changes contained in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill to incapacity benefit for claimants with occupational pensions; and what other public service schemes will be similarly affected.[84043]

  Mr. Bayley
  [holding answer 13 May 1999]: Currently Police, Fire and other public service pensions awarded on injury grounds are abated to take account of benefits. The Regulatory Impact Assessment published with the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill made it clear that there may be some additional costs for such schemes from the proposal to take pension income over £50 a week into account for future Incapacity Benefit claims. But until the schemes consider the implications in detail, the scale of these costs cannot be assessed.

  ICL Pathway Project
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what compensation his Department has(a) sought and (b) received as a result of the delays to the ICL Pathway Project; [84250]

  (2) what the original timetable was for automation of post offices for computerised delivery of social security payments under the ICL Pathway Project; and what delays are now forecast;[84252]

  (3) what savings have occurred under the pilot scheme for the ICL Pathway Project; [84254]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the savings as a result of the ICL Pathway Project once all post offices are automated as planned. [84251]

  Angela Eagle
  The Benefits Agency, Post Office Counters Ltd. and ICL Pathway continue to work together to progress the project. Contractual and commercial matters remain confidential to the parties.

  When the project was let in May 1996, it was assumed that all post offices would be automated by the end of 1998. To date, 204 post offices have been automated in the North East and South West of England. On current plans, automation will be completed int he next two years.

  The payment card is estimated to have resulted in £91,000 fraud savings up to the end of March 1999. The order book control service, which enables bar-coded order books to be identified by the system, has resulted in £1.6 million in fraud savings over the same period.

  It is estimated that when paper based methods of payment are fully automated, £189 million savings per annum will be achieved.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Mr. Patrick Finucane
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will investigate the statements
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  made by her Department on the (a) extent and (b) thoroughness of the original inquiries of the RUC into Mr. Finucane's murder. [83405]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  A summary of Mr. Steven's first inquiry, indicating the extent and thoroughness of that inquiry, was published. In light of this, my hon. Friend may wish to direct my attention to any statements by my department which he thinks I should investigate.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions(a) she and (b) officials in her Department have had with the Chief Constable of the RUC concerning Mr. John Steven's statement on his authority in relation to investigating the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane. [83406]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Operational policing, including the request to Mr. Stevens to investigate the murder of Mr. Finucane, is a matter for the Chief Constable. The Chief Constable keeps me informed about important developments by discussions with me and with my officials.

TREASURY

  Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since 11 November 1998 he has met the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) to discuss matters within his remit which might be taken forward in policy development terms through the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee mechanism. [69335]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 4 February 1999]: None.

  Stamp Duty
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are to take place in the treatment for stamp duty purposes of leases under which the rent is to be adjusted in the light of changes in the retail prices index; and if he will make a statement. [84623]

  Ms Hewitt
  In the light of recent legal advice given to the Inland Revenue, the treatment of these leases for Stamp Duty is to be changed.

  When a new lease is taken out, Stamp Duty is charged by reference to both the premium and the rent under the lease. The premium attracts duty at the same rates as the selling price on the sale of a freehold interest. The premium gets the benefit of the £60,000 nil rate band provided that the rent does not exceed a ceiling, currently £600 per annum. The average annual rent is charged at rates of between one per cent. and 24 per cent., depending on the length of the lease.

  Many leases provide that the rent is to increase by a fixed percentage at annual or other intervals—or they lay down the actual amounts of the increases. The average annual rent, and therefore the Stamp Duty, is straightforward to calculate in these cases. But if future rent levels are expressed in terms of future movements in an index, like the RPI, it is less clear how a figure for the average annual rent can be calculated at the time the lease is taken out. In the light of representations, the then
  224
  Economic Secretary made a statement to this House by way of Written Answer on 6 November 1996, Official Report, columns 541–43, setting out how the Stamp Office would apply Stamp Duty in such cases for the future, on the basis of legal advice. Broadly, where the rent under a lease was to be adjusted by reference to future changes in an index, Stamp Duty would be calculated by reference to changes in that index during the year ending with the date of execution of the lease.

  However, the legal validity of this approach has been challenged. Further legal advice given to the Inland Revenue is that the current system of applying a formula to allow for increases in an index number after the date of execution of a lease is not appropriate. So this practice will cease.

  In future, where there is a formula expressed in the lease for rent reviews based on the RPI, only any change in the RPI up to the date of its execution will be taken into account for Stamp Duty purposes. This is expected to result, in most cases, in the average rent being little more than the initial rent.

  This change means that people who have paid Stamp Duty on this type of lease may have paid more duty than they should have done. The Inland Revenue will invite those who paid duty on a lease of this kind to contact the Stamp Office and claim any repayment due to them. Details of the arrangements for repayments are set out in an Inland Revenue Press Release and on the Inland Revenue website.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  "People in Britain"
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors decided which Labour candidate's photograph to use as demonstrative of the UK electoral process in the section rights and responsibilities of his departmental publication "People in Britain". [83948]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  A picture researcher is appointed to find pictures to illustrate the text. A selection of suitable photographs is supplied to the designer who picks the best quality shots for reproduction. The only political consideration is balance. The booklet was produced in 1996.

  Pre-Accession Advisers (EU)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the(a) role, (b) budget and (c) fees for the pre-accession advisers funded under the EU twinning programme with candidate countries in central Europe; who will select them; on what criteria; and if he will make a statement. [83928]

  Ms Quin
  The UK is actively involved in the European Commission's new twinning programme under which experts from Member States are seconded to Central European Candidate Country Ministries to help them prepare for accession to the EU.

  The role of Pre-Accession Advisers (PAAs) is to help Central European (CE) Ministries adopt the legislative and administrative changes that are necessary in order to

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  join the EU. PAAs work full-time for at least one year within a CE Ministry to implement a twinning project. This includes the support and co-ordination of any short-term expert missions and training activities within the project.

  Funding for PAAs is set as part of the individual budget for each twinning project. The Commission estimates an approximate budget of 200,000 euro per year for each PAA.

  The Pre-Accession Adviser continues to be paid his/her normal civil service salary throughout the project. The Commission then reimburses the cost of the salary to the Member State Department concerned. The PAA receives a per diem allowance, as well as housing, removal costs and school fees, where appropriate. The remuneration of PAAs is similar to that of other Commission funded secondees such as Detached National Experts (DNEs).

  PAAs are selected by the Member State Ministry or mandated body when preparing a bid to meet the requirements of a specific twinning project. The qualifications of the proposed PAA are an important factor in the final decision of the Central European Candidate Countries when they consider twinning bids from Member States. PAAs must therefore have the relevant skills to carry out the project. For example, the DTI have seconded the Deputy Head of their State Aid Policy Unit to help the Czechs on a State Aids project; and the Home Office are seconding the Head of International Section in Policing Organised Crime Unit to help Poland with an organised crime and border management project.

  MEP Statute
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of(a) the draft MEP statute agreed by the Council of Ministers, (b) the proposal from the European Parliament set before the Council and (c) the European Parliament Legal Affairs Committee report on the Council amendments; what assessment he has made of the prospects for agreement being reached on an MEP statute; what action his Department is taking to reach such an agreement; and if he will make a statement.[83944]

  Ms Quin
  The first two documents have already been sent to the House Scrutiny Committee. I shall arrange for further copies to be deposited in the Library. The European Parliament Legal Affairs Committee proposed a resolution which was adopted with some amendments by the plenary on 5 May. I will also arrange for the resolution to be deposited in the Library.

  In the resolution, the European Parliament did not consider the draft Statute agreed by the Council and reaffirmed the Parliament's text on 3 December 1998. The Council is continuing to talk to the European Parliament to resolve outstanding issues. But in view of the imminence of the June European elections prospects for adoption of a Statute during this European Parliamentary term are uncertain. Agreement would have to be sought with the new Parliament. In the meantime, existing arrangements for MEPs would continue.
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  General Affairs Council
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions at the General Affairs Council of 26 and 27 April concerning European Court of Justice preparations for implementation of the Amsterdam treaty. [83929]

  Ms Quin
  There was no substantive discussion on the European Court of Justice's (ECJ) preparations for the implementation of the Amsterdam Treaty at the General Affairs Council on 26 and 27 April. The Dutch delegation did, however stress the need for the ECJ to prepare for the extra workload.

  The ECJ is expected to produce a review of its operation and procedures shortly.

  East Timor
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what records his Department has(a) from August, September and October 1975 of communications between Britain and (i) Australia and (ii) Indonesia in those months, (b) from 1975 and 1976 of communications between Britain and (i) Australia, and (ii) Indonesia concerning the invasion of East Timor and (c) of the visits to his Department in London by (i) Jose Ramos-Horta in February 1976 and (ii) James Dunn in early 1977; when each of these sets of records was last consulted; and who has access to them. [83958]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

  Ilisu Dam (Turkey)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the proposal for Her Majesty's Government to support the construction of the Ilisu Dam in Turkey meets the criteria of the Government's ethical foreign policy. [83920]

  Ms Quin
  No decision has yet been taken on the provision of export credit cover for the Ilisu Dam project. In assessing the arguments whether or not to provide export credit cover, we and other Government Departments are examining carefully all aspects of the project's potential impact. We will examine in particular the likely environmental impact, the issue of resettlement of local communities, the riparian rights of neighbouring states, and the impact on the region's cultural heritage, as well as any likely economic and social benefits the project may bring about.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department was first informed by the Department of Trade and Industry of its proposal to support the construction of the Ilisu Dam in Turkey. [83945]

  Ms Quin
  The Export Credits Guarantee Department first informed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the application for export credit cover in respect of the proposed contract to build the Ilisu Dam on 12 January 1999.
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  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Syria and the Government of Jordan, representing Iraq, on the proposals of the Government of Turkey to construct the Ilisu Dam. [83921]

  Ms Quin
  The State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic raised the issue of the Ilisu Dam project with our Ambassador to Damascus on 4 March.

  We have had no discussions with the Government of Jordan on this issue.

  Child Soldiers (Ethiopia and Eritrea)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the use of child soldiers in(a) Ethiopia and (b) Eritrea [83923]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Both sides have alleged the other is using child soldiers, but we have seen no firm evidence to support these allegations. Both insist that their policy remains not to recruit anyone younger than 18.

  We remain concerned and will continue to monitor the situation.

  Overseas Territories (Homosexual Laws)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in changing the laws on homosexual acts in the overseas territories since publication of the White Paper on dependent territories. [83940]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The White Paper on Britain and the Overseas Territories makes clear, in keeping with our commitment to a modern relationship based on partnership and responsible self-government, that we would prefer for these reforms to be enacted by the Overseas Territories Governments themselves. Discussions with the Overseas Territories on a wide range of issues covered in the White paper are continuing.

  Entry Clearance Refusals
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to appoint a new Chairman of the Independent Monitor of Entry Clearance Refusals. [84269]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The Independent Monitor's current contract expires in November this year. No decision has yet been taken on the appointment of a new Independent Monitor.

  Canadian SFOR Armoured Vehicles
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the proposed export of spare parts for Canadian NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR) armoured vehicles in Bosnia. [84546]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Government have granted a licence for the export to Bosnia of spare parts for armoured vehicles deployed by the Canadian NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR). We were glad to approve this 228
  export licence in view of the need for SFOR to maintain its vehicles so that it can carry out its peace-keeping activities with the maximum degree of safety.

  Falklands
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Ms Perham) of 28 April 1999,Official Report, column 180, on the Falkland Islands, at what time and on what date he spoke to the Chilean Foreign Minister to disagree with the decree issued by that Government suspending Lan Chile's flights to the Falklands; and to whom the Minister of State reported on 19 April the issue of the decree. [84183]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend spoke to the Chilean Foreign Minister on the telephone on 27 April. I reported the issue of the decree in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) on 19 April 1999,Official Report, column 406.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place a copy of his letters to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham of 30 and 28 April in the Library. [84184]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Al Shifa Plant
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 11 May 1999,Official Report, column 120, on the Al Shifa plant, what steps Her Majesty's Government took to check the Americans' evidence that the plant was being used for the production of chemical weapons materials. [84223]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  It is established practice under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose or discuss information received in confidence from foreign governments.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Kosovo Refugees
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate have been assigned to work on the evacuation of refugees from Kosovo to the United Kingdom. [83803]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  A unit has been set up within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to facilitate the entry of persons coming to the United Kingdom under the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) humanitarian evacuation programme and to expedite the processing of asylum applications from nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. At present, some 24 people are directly involved, with support from others when necessary. Immigration Service staff are also involved at the point when the evacuees arrive at United Kingdom airports.
  229
  Arrangements have been made to assist the UNHCR in its task of processing applications from Kosovars in the camps to come to the United Kingdom under the Humanitarian Evacuation Programme. The first team under the leadership of Richard Tilt, the recently retired Director General of the Prison Service, flew out to Macedonia on 9 May and further teams will be going out on a rolling basis.

  Immigration Detention Centres
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were held in detention centres for immigration offences on 30 April. [83589]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There were 418 males and 40 females detained solely under Immigration Act powers in immigration detention centres in the United Kingdom on 30 April 1999. These figures exclude persons detained in Prison Service establishments and, other than at Dover, in police cells.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reached a decision on the possible use of HMP Aldington and HMYOI Hatfield as immigration detention centres; and if he will make a statement. [84280]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Following a review of the projected future requirements of both the Prison Service and the Immigration Service, it has been agreed that Her Majesty's Prison Aldington should be closed by the end of August 1999 and the site handed over to the Immigration Service to pursue its development as an immigration

  Average staffing levels—UK Passport Agency

  Total

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  HQ

  1998–99

  Senior Civil Servant

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Grade 6

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Grade 7

  10

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  5

  Senior Executive Officer

  18

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  11

  Higher Executive Officer

  63

  6

  9

  7

  7

  7

  3

  24

  Executive Officer

  185

  33

  37

  31

  27

  34

  12

  11

  Administrative Officer

  755

  120

  158

  169

  119

  120

  59

  10

  R Examining

  116

  0

  29

  33

  30

  11

  13

  0

  Administrative Assistant

  541

  34

  112

  159

  87

  120

  24

  5

  Personal Secretary

  7

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  3

  Typing Manager

  3

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Typist

  10

  2

  1

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Support Grade Band 1

  12

  6

  1

  1

  1

  2

  0

  1

  Support Grade Band 2

  54

  15

  14

  6

  4

  12

  3

  0

  Total

  1,778

  220

  365

  411

  279

  310

  117

  76

  Total

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  HQ

  1997–98

  Senior Civil Servant

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Grade 6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Grade 7

  12

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  7

  Senior Executive Officer

  17

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  10

  Higher Executive Officer

  58

  5

  6

  6

  7

  7

  3

  24

  Executive Officer

  189

  27

  41

  30

  38

  31

  12

  10

  Administrative Officer

  678

  108

  145

  147

  127

  101

  39

  11

  R Examining

  71

  0

  41

  28

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Administrative Assistant

  545

  21

  145

  116

  142

  77

  41

  3

  230
  detention centre. This will provide an opportunity to build a centre designed for the needs of immigration detainees as part of the Government's White Paper commitment to reducing the use of Prison Service accommodation. It is planned to re-deploy the staff of the prison elsewhere within the Service and no compulsory redundancies of mobile grades are envisaged as a result of this closure. We will also make every effort to avoid any redundancies for non-mobile grades. The Unions will be closely involved in those arrangements.

  The future of Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution Hatfield is still being considered, but I expect to be in a position to announce a decision shortly.

  Asylum Seekers (Yugoslavia)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia currently detained under Immigration Act powers have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom since 24 March. [83799]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  New data are currently being collated. I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  UK Passport Agency
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in each of the last three years(a) in total and (b) broken down by grade were employed in each office of the UK Passport Agency. [83917]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The table shows the average staffing in each office of the UK Passport Agency for the last three years, in total and broken down by grade.
  231

  Total

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  HQ

  Personal Secretary

  8

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  0

  4

  Typing Manager

  3

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Typist

  16

  2

  3

  5

  1

  2

  2

  1

  Support Grade Band 1

  16

  6

  2

  4

  1

  2

  0

  1

  Support Grade Band 2

  71

  12

  18

  18

  12

  9

  2

  0

  Total

  1,686

  185

  405

  357

  331

  235

  100

  73

  Total

  London

  Liverpool

  Peterborough

  Newport

  Glasgow

  Belfast

  Hayes

  HQ

  1996–97

  Grade 5

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Grade 6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Grade 7

  11

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  6

  Senior Executive Officer

  16

  1

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  9

  Higher Executive Officer

  59

  6

  5

  8

  7

  7

  3

  1

  22

  Executive Officer

  200

  32

  42

  30

  38

  28

  12

  3

  15

  Administrative Officer

  747

  93

  147

  173

  149

  123

  43

  7

  12

  R Examining

  86

  5

  19

  26

  24

  12

  0

  0

  0

  Administrative Assistant

  633

  40

  129

  112

  164

  123

  34

  26

  5

  Personal Secretary

  9

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  0

  0

  4

  Typing Manager

  2

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Typist

  18

  3

  3

  2

  2

  3

  2

  2

  1

  Support Manager 3

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Support Grade Band 1

  17

  6

  2

  4

  2

  2

  0

  1

  0

  Support Grade Band 2

  73

  3

  19

  21

  13

  9

  2

  6

  0

  Total

  1,874

  192

  371

  379

  402

  311

  97

  46

  76

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the UK Passport Agency performed against its targets in 1998–99; and what are the targets set for the Agency in 1999–2000. [83908]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The UK Passport Agency's targets for 1998–99 and its performance against these targets were as follows:

  Target
  To process properly completed straightforward applications within a maximum of 15 working days in April, and 10 working days for the remainder of the year.

  Performance

  April: 15

  May: 18

  June: 26

  July: 23

  August: 22

  September: 15

  October: 18

  November: 17

  December: 25

  January: 27

  February: 26

  March: 34.

  Target
  In seeking to meet this target, the Agency will give priority to customers' travel needs, aiming to meet declared travel dates for at least 99.99 per cent. of passports issued.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in each of the last three years for which figures are available the UK 232
  Passport Agency has not met the declared travel dates for issue of passports; and what is its current target for meeting declared travel dates. [83907]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Figures are available only from 1998–99 when the UK Passport Agency's standard of service target first included meeting customers declared travel dates. Available information indicates that there were 95 cases in 1998–99 where the UK Passport Agency has been made aware that declared travel dates were not met.

  The Agency's current target for meeting declared travel dates is to meet those dates for at least 99.99 per cent. of passports issued. This target was achieved in 1998–99.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many restricted validity passports have been issued by the UK Passport Agency in each month for each of the last three years. [83918]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested on restricted validity passport issues is shown in the table.

  Restricted validity passport issues

  1996

  1997

  1998

  January

  1,404

  2,231

  2,228

  February

  1,359

  2,365

  2,191

  March

  3,397

  2,834

  3,011

  April

  3,522

  2,840

  3,017

  May

  4,124

  3,729

  3,111

  June

  4,287

  4,206

  4,740

  July

  5,720

  5,330

  4,692

  August

  5,451

  5,002

  3,825

  September

  4,061

  3,608

  3,206

  October

  3,629

  3,395

  3,032

  November

  2,606

  2,371

  2,270

  December

  2,674

  2,815

  2,690

  Total

  42,234

  40,726

  37,513

  233

  Immoral Earnings (Imprisonment)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were sentenced to imprisonment in 1998 for living on immoral earnings. [83912]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information for 1998 will not be available until the summer. The table gives equivalent data for 1997.

  Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for offences of living on immoral earnings of prostitution, by sex, England and Wales, 1997

  Offence

  Males

  Females

  Living on earnings of prostitution or exercising control over prostitute [Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sections 30 and 31]

  23

  1

  Living wholly or in part on the earnings of male prostitution [Sexual Offences Act 1967 Section 5(1)]

  1

  —

  Refugees
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees have entered the United Kingdom since 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [83910]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Between 1 January and 31 March 1999, 5,905 applications for asylum were made by persons arriving at ports in the United Kingdom. In addition to this, 8,035 applications were received from persons already within the United Kingdom making a total of 13,945 applications for asylum received in the first three months of 1999.

  Asylum Support System
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of staff to be employed in the administrative machinery for the proposed Home Office asylum support system. [83955]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Consultants, KPMG, have recommended that the Asylum Support Directorate should have 298 staff in 2000–01 and 323 staff in 2001–02. We are still considering this recommendation.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been undertaken by his Department into the levels of support that will need to be available to dispersed asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [84040]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The proposed levels of support we have announced are the result of detailed discussions with other Government Departments, the local authority associations, individual local authorities and the voluntary sector. No formal academic research has been undertaken.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what transitional arrangements he will put in place under the Immigration and Asylum Bill to 234
  deal with existing asylum seekers who are waiting for their applications to be processed; and if he will make a statement. [84037]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Local Government Association and the Association of London Government are jointly developing new arrangements for supporting asylum seekers which mirror the support system which is due to come into operation on 1 April 2000 and which will, therefore, ease the transition to the new system. It is proposed that the Immigration and Asylum Bill will give statutory backing to these transitional arrangements with effect from Royal Assent.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from(a) refugee organisations and (b) other agencies since the assessment of the level of cash support available to asylum seekers proposed under the Immigration and Asylum Bill; and if he will make a statement. [84039]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  A number of refugee organisations and other agencies have commented on the proposed cash allowances for asylum seekers. We are now considering these comments.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures he plans to introduce to allow asylum seekers of school age to claim free school meals; and if he will make a statement. [84036]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  If they are of compulsory school age, the children of asylum seekers who are being supported by the Home Office will, if eligible, be entitled to free school meals.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the procedures are for informing applicants of exceptional delays in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.[84270]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The recent disruption to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND) caseworking operation has meant that some applications are taking longer to process than would normally be the case. A number of measures have been taken to alert applicants. Letters, warning of possible delays, together with an explanatory leaflet, are now enclosed with all application forms. Leaflets have also been distributed widely among representatives, user groups and agencies in order to publicise the changes in IND as widely as possible.

  HM Inspectorate of Constabulary
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are employed in HM Inspectorate of Constabulary. [84268]

  Mr. Boateng
  As of 12 May 1999, 84 persons were employed at Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

  The total number of current staff is as follows:

  1 Chief Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary

  5 Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary

  2 Assistant Her Majesty's Inspector's (Police)

  2 Assistant Her Majesty's Inspector's (Non Police)

  32 Seconded Police Officers

  235

  4 Seconded Civilians

  32 Home Office employees

  6 Staff contracted to Home Office.

  Additionally, there are currently seven vacancies in the group "Home Office employees" with these staff, there would be a total establishment of 91.

  Mr. Tom Neil
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Mr. Tom Neil of Hillbrook Road, Totnes(a) has not received confirmation of his visa status in the United Kingdom and (b) has been informed that, should he leave the United Kingdom at any time, his application would be cancelled. [83900]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Mr. Neil was granted an extension of stay in the United Kingdom and his passport returned to him on 12 May. I am sorry that this had been delayed. Under Paragraph 34 of House of Commons paper 395, Mr. Neil's application would have been treated as withdrawn had he requested the return of his passport before his application had been dealt with.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Schoolteachers
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average annual cost of employing a schoolteacher in 1998–99 in(a) Northumberland and (b) Slough. [83543]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The average cost of employing a schoolteacher in a Local Education Authority depends on the average salary levels of those teachers currently employed within that Authority.

  The estimated average cost of employing a full-time teacher (including heads and deputies) in the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special sector in Slough and Northumberland in 1998–99:

  £

  Slough

  Northumberland

  Average salary1

  23,800

  24,000

  Employer costs2

  3,500

  3,500

  Total cost

  27,300

  27,500

  1Average salaries at local education authority level are likely to vary for a number of reasons, including the grade structures required by the mix of school sizes, teachers average length of service and payment of recruitment and retention points. The estimate takes account of the staged pay award in 1998–99, 2.0 per cent. in April with the full 3.8 per cent. paid in December.

  2Includes 7.6 per cent. National Insurance contributions and 7.2 per cent. pension costs.

  Note:

  All figures are rounded to the nearest hundred pounds.

  CSE/GCSE Examinations
  Sir Geoffrey JohnsonSmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils were entered for CSE/GCSE examination papers, in 1997–98; how many sat for only one subject paper and failed to pass it; and at what cost. [83281]
  236
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The number of pupils in schools in England entered for CSE/GCSE examination papers in 1997–98 was 659,300. Of these 9,300 sat for only one subject paper and failed to pass it, with an estimated examination fee cost of £150,000.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many classes for five to seven-year-olds in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire had over 30 pupils in each year from 1992 to date; and if he will make a statement. [83962]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information is shown in the following table.

  We have recently approved Shropshire Education Authority's class size implementation plan, which will mean that no infant pupils in Shropshire will be in classes of over 30 from September 2000. To support that plan in 1999–2000 we have allocated to Shropshire £540,000 for additional teachers and £249,000 for extra classrooms.

  Number of Keystage 1 classes taught by one teacher with 31 or more pupils: England

  January each year

  Shropshire1

  Shropshire2

  Telford and of Wrekin

  Constituency of Shrewsbury and Atcham

  1996

  111

  —

  —

  —

  1997

  109

  —

  —

  —

  1998

  100

  —

  —

  —

  1999

  —

  34

  17

  9

  1Before Local Government re-organisation of April 1998

  1After Local Government re-organisation of April 1998

  National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the report of the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education. [84620]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I am pleased to announce that today the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education published their report "All our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education". Copies have been placed in the Library and the report is also available on my Department's website, www.DfEE.gov.uk.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Research Spending
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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 the actual spending in 1998–99. [83472]

  Mr. Rooker
  Our outturn spend on research and development in 1998–99 is estimated at £125 million. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, we are examining the R and D programme spend for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 in the light of our new policy aim and objectives. An announcement will be made in due course.
  237

  GM Foods
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safety measures and regulations his Department has implemented in relation to genetically modified food products on sale in the UK; and what proposals he has to extend these regulations. [83784]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 May 1999]: All GM foods for sale in the UK are first assessed for safety in accordance with the requirements of the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97). Those that are approved must then comply with the labelling requirements contained in this regulation and, where appropriate. the EC Regulation on the labelling of GM Soya and Maize (1139/98). The Government took steps in March to ensure that the provisions in the latter Regulation also applied to foods sold in catering establishments and similar premises. The UK is the only country in Europe to have done this so far.

HEALTH

  Remand Fostering Schemes
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to change the funding mechanisms for remand fostering schemes; [83896]

  (2) what studies he has commissioned into the relative cost and efficacy of (a) remand fostering schemes for juveniles and (b) remand in (i) secure units, (ii) young offender institutions and (iii) prisons; [83897]

  (3) what plans he has to encourage wider use of remand fostering for juveniles. [83898]

  Mr. Hutton
  Every local authority determines its own need for remand fostering schemes. Funding for this and other special fostering schemes is found from within existing annual budgets. There are no plans to change this.

  In 1994, the National Foster Care Association (NFCA) published a report "On Remand: Foster Care and the Youth Justice Service". This national survey of remand fostering provision identified 29 local authorities operating such schemes. A 1998 NFCA report "Focus on Teenage Fostering" found that provision for remand fostering has since increased.

  The Government have not commissioned any relative cost and efficacy studies into the areas referred to. However, one of the objectives of the Quality Protects programme launched in September 1998 is to increase placement choice for all children in local authority care. This will include provision for remand fostering.
  238
  The Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales has a development fund of £85 million over the next three years. The YJB will make grants to local authorities and other agencies for the development of good practice in the provision of youth justice services and in other work to help prevent youth offending. £35 million has been earmarked for bail support and supervision schemes and for other remand-related initiatives, which could include the development of good practice in remand fostering work. The YJB would be interested to receive bids in this area.

  Berkshire Health Authority
  Mr. Bendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects the funding for Berkshire Health Authority to be fully on the basis of the weighted capitation formula for the first time; [84178]

  (2) if he will estimate the accumulated difference between the funds which would have been provided to Berkshire Health Authority under the weighted capitation formula when the formula was introduced and the amount actually provided. [84179]

  Mr. Denham
  Allocations have been made directly to health authorities since 1996–97.

  We remain committed to the principle of achieving equity in resource allocation based on weighted capitation as soon as practicable. Health authorities are brought closer to their target fair share by a process of levelling up. Under target health authorities such as Berkshire will therefore be brought to target over time. In 1999–2000 Berkshire Health Authority's allocation was £15.62 million or 3.50 per cent. below target.

  It is possible hypothetically to calculate the additional resources Berkshire Health Authority would have received if they had been funded to target. This can be done by aggregating the health authority's distances from target of each of the years since 1996–97 which gives a cumulative total of £58 million.

  Newbury Hospital
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further information he requires before he can authorise a start to the building of the new Newbury Hospital. [84180]

  Mr. Denham
  Following discussions about the legality and accounting correctness of the proposed arrangements, the South East Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive and trustees of the charity are currently preparing advice to Ministers.