Written Answers of 25 May 1999

WALES

  Ministerial Meetings (US)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times ministers in his Department held meetings with members and officials in the US Administration between 1 May 1997 and 1 June 1998,

  Newly diagnosed HIV positive cases by probable means of transmission1

  Year

  Sex between men

  Sex between men and Women

  Injecting drug use

  Injecting drug use and sex between men

  Blood factor

  Blood/tissue transfer

  Mother to infant

  Not known

  Total

  1981

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1984

  3

  —

  —

  —

  30

  30

  —

  —

  33

  1985

  8

  —

  —

  1

  19

  19

  —

  —

  28

  1986

  21

  3

  1

  1

  2

  2

  —

  —

  28

  1987

  21

  6

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  29

  1988

  20

  10

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  34

  1989

  18

  9

  2

  1

  —

  —`

  —

  2

  32

  1990

  17

  10

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  32

  1991

  17

  11

  4

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  34

  1992

  35

  12

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  49

  1993

  19

  11

  2

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  35

  1994

  23

  14

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  42

  1995

  29

  9

  3

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  44

  1996

  20

  9

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  35

  1997

  20

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  37

  1998

  14

  12

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  29

  19992

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  3

  1Cases reported by region/Heath Authority of reporting officer. Therefore data do not necessarily equate to area of residence and may exclude Welsh residents diagnosed outside Wales but resident in Wales.

  2To 31 March.

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

  Newly diagnosed HIV positive cases by Health Authority of diagnosis1

  Year

  North Wales

  Dyfed Powys

  Morgannwg

  Bro Taf

  Gwent

  Total

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1984

  —

  —

  2

  31

  —

  33

  1985

  6

  —

  5

  17

  —

  28

  1986

  3

  1

  2

  18

  4

  28

  1987

  4

  2

  6

  15

  2

  29

  1988

  5

  1

  5

  17

  6

  34

  1989

  10

  3

  4

  15

  —

  32

  1990

  3

  5

  6

  17

  1

  32

  1991

  4

  —

  2

  27

  1

  34

  1992

  9

  4

  10

  21

  5

  49

  1993

  10

  2

  10

  11

  2

  35

  1994

  9

  3

  1

  23

  6

  42

  1995

  10

  4

  14

  12

  4

  44

  64
  dicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved and the name of the US departments involved in each meeting. [84316]

  Mr. Michael
  The previous Secretary of State received a courtesy call from the American Ambassador on 8 October 1997 in Cathays Park, Cardiff.

  HIV/AIDS
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were newly diagnosed HIV positive
  (i) broken down by probable means of transmission and
  (ii) in total in(a) Wales and (b) each health authority area of Wales for each year from 1981 to 1998 and for 1999 to date. [84808]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information provided by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre is given in the following table.

  Newly diagnosed HIV positive cases by Health Authority of diagnosis1

  Year

  North Wales

  Dyfed Powys

  Margannwg

  Bro Taf

  Gwent

  Total

  1996

  5

  1

  6

  21

  2

  35

  1997

  7

  1

  5

  21

  3

  37

  1998

  5

  3

  4

  17

  —

  29

  19992

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  3

  1 Cases reported by region/Health Authority of reporting officer. Therefore data does not necessarily equate to area of residence and may exclude Welsh residents diagnosed outside Wales but resident in Wales.

  2To 31 March.

  source

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
  65
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the cumulative numbers of people with AIDS who died in(a) Wales and (b) each health authority area of Wales in each year from 1981 to 1998 and in 1999 to date. [84806]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information provided by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre is given in the following table.

  Cumulative numbers of people with AIDS known to have died

  Year

  North Wales1

  Dyfed Powys1

  Morgannwg

  Bro

  Taf

  Gwent

  Total

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  —

  —

  —

  2

  ߞ

  2

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  3

  1986

  2

  —

  —

  7

  2

  11

  1987

  3

  —

  1

  8

  3

  15

  1988

  4

  1

  1

  14

  3

  23

  1989

  6

  2

  3

  22

  4

  37

  1990

  9

  3

  6

  26

  4

  48

  1991

  14

  4

  10

  32

  6

  66

  1992

  15

  5

  14

  38

  8

  80

  1993

  20

  7

  18

  51

  10

  106

  1994

  24

  10

  23

  59

  13

  129

  1995

  29

  10

  31

  67

  15

  152

  1996

  31

  10

  34

  75

  18

  168

  1997

  32

  10

  35

  79

  19

  175

  1998

  32

  10

  35

  81

  19

  177

  19992

  34

  10

  35

  81

  19

  179

  1Total excludes 1 case where year of death is not known

  2To 31 March

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

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

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people with AIDS died in(a) Wales and (b) each health authority area of Wales in each year from 1981 to 1998 and in 1999 to date. [84805]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information provided by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre is given in the following table.

  People with AIDS known to have died

  Year

  North Wales1

  Dyfed Powys1

  Morgannwg

  Bro Taf

  Gwent

  Total

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1986

  2

  —

  —

  4

  2

  8

  1987

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  4

  1988

  1

  1

  —

  6

  —

  8

  1989

  2

  1

  2

  8

  1

  14

  1990

  3

  1

  3

  4

  11

  1991

  5

  1

  4

  6

  2

  18

  1992

  1

  1

  4

  6

  2

  14

  1993

  5

  2

  4

  13

  2

  26

  1994

  4

  3

  5

  8

  3

  23

  1995

  5

  —

  8

  8

  2

  23

  1996

  2

  —

  3

  8

  3

  16

  1997

  1

  —

  1

  4

  1

  7

  1998

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  19992

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1Total excludes 1 case where year of death is not known

  2To 31 March

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
  66
  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people diagnosed with AIDS and not known to have died there were in(a) Wales and (b) each health authority area of Wales in each year from 1981 to 1998 and in 1999 to date. [84804]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information provided by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre is given in the following table.

  People diagnosed with AIDS not known to have died

  Year

  North Wales

  Dyfed Powys

  Morgannwg

  Bro Taf

  Gwent

  Total

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1987

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1989

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1990

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1991

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1992

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1993

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  3

  1994

  —

  1

  —

  4

  —

  5

  1995

  3

  —

  7

  1

  —

  11

  1996

  1

  —

  3

  4

  2

  10

  1997

  1

  —

  6

  3

  —

  10

  1998

  —

  —

  1

  6

  —

  7

  19991

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1To 31 March

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

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

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the cumulative number of people diagnosed with AIDS in(a) Wales and (b) each health authority area of Wales in each year from 1981 to 1998 and in 1999 to date. [84807]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information provided by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre is given in the following table.

  Cumulative number of people diagnosed with AIDS by Health Authority of diagnosis1

  Year ending

  North Wales

  Dyfed Powys

  Morgannwg

  Bro Taf2

  Gwent

  Total

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1984

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  4

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  7

  —

  7

  1986

  4

  —

  —

  10

  2

  16

  1987

  5

  1

  1

  12

  3

  22

  1988

  9

  3

  4

  24

  4

  44

  1989

  11

  6

  7

  32

  5

  61

  1990

  15

  7

  10

  38

  8

  78

  1991

  16

  7

  15

  45

  11

  94

  1992

  17

  9

  21

  48

  14

  109

  1993

  26

  10

  26

  59

  14

  135

  1994

  33

  12

  30

  74

  15

  164

  1995

  37

  12

  44

  82

  17

  192

  1996

  39

  12

  48

  90

  21

  210

  67

  Cumulative number of people diagnosed with AIDS by Health Authority of diagnosis1

  Year ending

  North Wales

  Dyfed Powys

  Morgannwg

  Bro Taf2

  Gwent

  Total

  1997

  40

  12

  54

  94

  21

  221

  1998

  40

  12

  55

  100

  21

  228

  19993

  41

  12

  55

  100

  21

  229

  1 Cases reported by region/Health Authority of reporting officer. Therefore data do not necessarily equate to area of residence and may exclude Welsh residents diagnosed outside Wales but resident in Wales. Data do not equate to prevalent cases due to the mobility/mortality of cases.

  2Total excludes 1 case where year of diagnosis is not known.

  3To 31 March

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

  Cumulative numbers of newly diagnosed HIV positive cases, in people not known to have died, by probable means of transmission1

  Year ending

  Sex between men

  Sex between men and Women

  Injecting drug use and sex between men

  Blood factor

  Blood/tissue transfer

  Mother to infant

  Not Known

  Total

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1984

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15

  —

  —

  —

  15

  1985

  2

  —

  —

  —

  21

  —

  —

  —

  23

  1986

  14

  2

  —

  —

  22

  —

  —

  —

  38

  1987

  24

  6

  1

  —

  22

  —

  —

  —

  53

  1988

  37

  13

  1

  —

  22

  —

  —

  1

  74

  1989

  47

  20

  2

  —

  22

  —

  —

  1

  92

  1990

  57

  27

  3

  —

  22

  —

  —

  4

  113

  1991

  69

  34

  6

  —

  22

  —

  1

  4

  136

  1992

  90

  43

  7

  —

  22

  —

  1

  4

  167

  1993

  101

  51

  9

  1

  22

  —

  2

  4

  190

  1994

  114

  62

  13

  1

  22

  —

  2

  4

  218

  1995

  136

  69

  16

  2

  22

  —

  2

  4

  252

  1996

  155

  77

  16

  2

  22

  1

  3

  7

  283

  1997

  175

  90

  16

  2

  22

  1

  3

  10

  319

  1998

  189

  101

  19

  2

  22

  1

  3

  10

  347

  19992

  190

  101

  19

  2

  22

  1

  3

  12

  350

  1Cases reported by region/Health Authority of reporting officer. Therefore data do not necessarily equate to area of residence and may exclude Welsh residents diagnosed outside Wales but resident in Wales. Data do not equate to prevalent cases in Wales due to the mobility of people

  2 To 31 March.

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

  Cumulative numbers of newly diagnosed HIV positive cases, in people not know to have died, by Health Authority of diagnosed1

  Year ending

  North Wales

  Dyfed Powys

  Morgannwg

  Bro Taf

  2Gwent

  Total

  Year ending

  North Wales

  Dyfed Powys

  Morgannwg

  Bro Taf

  Gwent

  Total

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1984

  —

  —

  1

  14

  —

  15

  1985

  3

  —

  3

  17

  —

  23

  1986

  5

  1

  3

  27

  2

  38

  1987

  7

  1

  5

  37

  3

  53

  1988

  8

  2

  9

  49

  6

  74

  1989

  13

  4

  12

  57

  6

  92

  1990

  14

  9

  16

  68

  6

  113

  1991

  16

  9

  16

  89

  6

  136

  1992

  22

  11

  20

  105

  9

  167

  1993

  30

  12

  26

  112

  10

  190

  1994

  35

  14

  27

  129

  13

  218

  1995

  44

  17

  34

  141

  16

  252

  1996

  48

  18

  39

  160

  18

  283

  1997

  55

  19

  44

  180

  21

  319

  68
  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the cumulative number of people who had been diagnosed HIV positive and not known to have died
  (i) broken down by probable means of transmission and
  (ii) in total in(a) Wales and (b) each health authority area of Wales for each year from 1981 to 1998 and for 1999 to date. [84810]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information provided by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre is given in the following table.

  Cumulative numbers of newly diagnosed HIV positive cases, in
  people not know to have died, by Health Authority of diagnosed1

  Year ending

  North Wales

  Dyfed Powys

  Morgannwg

  Bro Taf

  Gwent

  Total

  1998

  59

  22

  48

  197

  21

  347

  19992

  61

  22

  49

  197

  21

  350

  1Cases reported by region/Health Authority of reporting officer. Therefore data do not necessarily equate to area of residence and may exclude Welsh residents diagnosed outside Wales but resident in Wales. Data do not equate to prevalent cases in Wales due to the mobility of people

  2 To 31 March.

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

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

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the cumulative number of people who had been diagnosed HIV positive (i) broken down by probable
  69
  means of transmission and (ii) in total in (a) Wales and (b) each health authority area of Wales for each year from 1981 to 1998 and for 1999 to date. [84809]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Information provided by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre is given in the following tables.

  Cumulative numbers of newly diagnosed HIV positive cases by probable means of transmission1

  Year ending

  Sex between men

  Sex between men and women

  Injecting drug use

  Injecting drug use and sex between men

  1981

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  4

  —

  —

  —

  1985

  12

  —

  —

  1

  1986

  33

  3

  1

  2

  1987

  54

  9

  2

  2

  1988

  74

  19

  3

  3

  1989

  92

  28

  5

  4

  1990

  109

  38

  6

  4

  1991

  126

  49

  10

  5

  1992

  161

  61

  11

  5

  1993

  180

  72

  13

  6

  1994

  203

  86

  17

  6

  1995

  232

  95

  20

  7

  1996

  252

  104

  21

  7

  1997

  272

  118

  21

  7

  1998

  286

  130

  24

  7

  19991

  287

  130

  24

  7

  Year ending

  Blood factor

  Blood/tissue transfer

  Mother to infant

  Not known

  Total

  1981

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1982

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1983

  2

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1984

  32

  —

  —

  —

  36

  1985

  51

  —

  —

  —

  64

  1986

  53

  —

  —

  —

  92

  1987

  53

  1

  —

  —

  121

  1988

  53

  1

  —

  2

  155

  1989

  53

  1

  —

  4

  187

  1990

  53

  1

  —

  8

  219

  1991

  53

  1

  1

  8

  253

  1992

  53

  1

  2

  8

  302

  1993

  53

  2

  3

  8

  337

  1994

  53

  2

  3

  9

  379

  1995

  53

  4

  3

  9

  423

  1996

  53

  4

  4

  13

  458

  Complements of healthcare staff at young offender institutions

  Location

  Principal officers (healthcare)

  Senior lofficers (healthcare)

  Prison officers (healthcare)

  Nurses—all grades

  Total

  Feltham

  2

  3

  8

  17

  30

  Aylesbury

  1

  1

  2

  6

  10

  Brinsford

  1

  0

  0

  20

  21

  Castington

  0

  1

  0

  10

  11

  Hollesley Bay

  0

  I

  2

  3

  6

  Huntercombe

  0

  1

  1

  2

  4

  Lancaster Farms

  0

  0

  0

  22

  22

  Onley

  0

  0

  1

  7

  8

  Portland

  0

  1

  3

  1

  5

  Stoke Heath

  0

  0

  0

  12

  12

  70

  Year ending

  Blood factor

  Blood/tissue transfer

  Mother to infant

  Not known

  Total

  1997

  53

  4

  4

  16

  495

  1998

  53

  4

  4

  16

  524

  19992

  53

  4

  4

  18

  527

  Cumulative numbers of newly diagnosed HIV positive cases by Health Authority of diagnosis1

  Year ending

  North Wales

  Dyfed powys

  Morgannwg

  Bro Taf

  Gwent

  Total

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  3

  1984

  —

  —

  2

  34

  —

  36

  1985

  6

  —

  7

  51

  —

  64

  1986

  9

  1

  9

  69

  4

  92

  1987

  13

  3

  15

  84

  6

  121

  1988

  18

  4

  20

  101

  12

  155

  1989

  28

  7

  24

  116

  12

  187

  1990

  31

  12

  30

  133

  13

  219

  1991

  35

  12

  32

  160

  14

  253

  1992

  44

  16

  42

  181

  19

  302

  1993

  54

  18

  52

  192

  21

  337

  1994

  63

  21

  53

  215

  27

  379

  1995

  73

  25

  67

  227

  31

  423

  1996

  78

  26

  73

  248

  33

  458

  1997

  85

  27

  78

  269

  36

  495

  1998

  90

  30

  82

  286

  36

  524

  19992

  92

  30

  83

  286

  36

  527

  1 Cases reported by region/Health Authority of reporting officer. Therefore data does not necessarily equate to area of residence and may exclude Welsh residents diagnosed outside Wales but resident in Wales. Data does not equate to prevalent cases due to the mobility/mortality of cases.

  2 To 31 March

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

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

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Young Offenders
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the full complement of health care offenders and nurses at(a) Feltham Young Offenders Unit and (b) other young offender units. [84846]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The figures requested are given in the table.
  71

  Complements of healthcare staff at young offender institutions

  Location

  Principal officers (healthcare)

  Senior 1officers (healthcare)

  Prison officers (healthcare)

  Nurses—all grades

  Total

  Thorn Cross

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Werrington

  0

  1

  1

  1

  3

  Wetherby

  0

  1

  0

  3

  4

  Macpherson Report
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police(a) progress in implementing and (b) plans to implement recommendations of the Macpherson report. [85063]

  Mr. Straw
  On 24 March I published, an Action Plan which sets out how the report's recommendations will be taken forward. Progress has been made on implementing the recommendations in line with the published plan. Specifically in April:
  New police discipline procedures and code of conduct came into effect.Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary inspection of the Metropolitan Police is under way.Targets for the recruitment, retention and career progression of minority ethnic officers were set and published.New guidance to the police on pre-inquest disclosure in relation to deaths in police custody was issued.I wrote to all local crime and disorder reduction partnerships about tackling racist crime.A new internal inspection and review framework was introduced within the Metropolitan Police.A draft manual of police operations in relation to race and hate crime was issued for consultation.
  The Steering Group, chaired by me, which has responsibility for overseeing implementation of the report, met for the first time on 18 May.

  Community Supervision
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unacceptable absences are allowed before an offender on community supervision becomes the subject of breach proceedings. [84889]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The current National Standards for the Supervision of Offenders in the Community require breach proceedings to be taken on, or before, a third unacceptable absence. The Government are keen to improve the enforcement of community penalties and are at present reviewing the National Standards with a view to introducing revised Standards next April.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were on the Probation Service's community supervision case load for (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998; and what the probation budget was for England and Wales for each of those years. [84888]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The case load figures are given in the table. The budget figures are shown in the Government's Expenditure Plans 1999–2000 to 2001–02 for the Home Office and Charity Commission (Volume Two).
  72

  Persons supervised by the probation service England and Wales 31 December

  Number of persons (thousand)

  All persons supervised1

  1996

  171

  1997

  185

  19982

  191

  1 Includes those supervised under criminal court orders, those supervised pre and post-release from custody, and those under Family Court supervision.

  2Estimated figure at 30 September 1998.

  Probation Orders
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were made subject to (i) a Probation Order and (ii) a Combination Order in(a) 1997 and (b) 1998; and how many in each case have been breached for failure to comply with the terms of the order. [84890]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The available figures are given in the tables.

  Persons starting supervision by the probation service England and Wales 31 December

  Number of persons (thousand)

  Probation Order

  Combination Order

  1997

  50.9

  18.9

  1997 (first 9 months)

  38.2

  14.3

  1998 (first 9 months)1

  40.6

  15.2

  1 Estimated

  Termination of orders supervised by the probation service England and Wales 1997

  Number of persons (thousand)

  All terminations

  Failed to comply with the terms of the order1

  Probation order

  51.4

  2.3

  Combination order

  16.8

  1.5

  1 Does not include terminated early for conviction of an offence.

  Asylum Seekers
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people applied for asylum in the UK during 1998; how many of these applied (i) at a port of entry and (ii) within the country; how many decisions were made; and of those how many were(a) recognition as a refugee, (b) exceptional leave to enter or remain and (c) refusal of asylum; and of the refusals, how many were (x) on safe third country grounds, (y) on non-compliance grounds and (z) refused after full consideration of the case; how many applications were withdrawn; and how many asylum applications were outstanding at the end of the year. [85045]
  73
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested will be published on 27 May in the annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1998", a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House on that day.

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people applied for asylum in the UK in(a) March and (b) April; how many people were (i) recognised as refugees, (ii) granted exceptional leave and (iii) refused asylum in each of those months; and how many decisions on the asylum backlog were taken in each of those months. [85043]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested will be made available on the Home Office Internet site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm, as part of the monthly reporting of asylum figures, on 25 May 1999.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the pilot of the Casework Programme in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to begin. [84975]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Piloting involves using the system on real cases for the first time and will not begin until the system has been thoroughly tested by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. It is not possible at this stage to give a firm date, since testing has not yet begun.

  Prisoners (Voting Rights)
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many working days elapsed between the issuing of guidance to prisons in regard to arrangements for unconvicted prisoners wishing to take part in the local government elections and elections for the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament and the date by which applications to vote by post or proxy had to be received by electoral registration officers. [84949]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Five working days elapsed between the date that guidance was issued to prisons by electronic mail, and the closing date for receipt by electoral registration officers for applications to vote by post or proxy.

  Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by prison, the number of prisoners on each level of the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme. [84948]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The provisional figures for 30 April 1999, which are subject to final validation, are given in the table.

  Prisoners on basic, standard and enhanced regimes

  Prison name

  Basic

  Standard

  Enhanced

  Acklington

  13

  240

  375

  Albany

  7

  91

  335

  Aldington

  1

  67

  63

  Altcourse

  19

  481

  229

  Ashwell

  40

  243

  202

  Askham Grange

  0

  36

  70

  Aylesbury

  0

  288

  76

  Bedford

  3

  314

  57

  74

  Prisoners on basic, standard and enhanced regimes

  Prison name

  Basic

  Standard

  Enhanced

  Belmarsh

  6

  607

  102

  Birmingham

  18

  954

  94

  Blakenhurst

  191

  586

  53

  Blantyre House

  36

  17

  61

  Blundeston

  12

  272

  72

  Brinsford

  120

  251

  118

  Bristol

  8

  447

  100

  Brixton

  1

  409

  299

  Brockhill

  17

  100

  21

  Buckley Hall

  9

  197

  175

  Bullingdon

  18

  719

  106

  Buliwood Hall

  7

  76

  50

  Camp Hill

  15

  360

  81

  Canterbury

  4

  275

  2

  Cardiff

  24

  417

  217

  Castington

  19

  315

  41

  Channings Wood

  8

  277

  174

  Chelmsford

  3

  358

  28

  Coldingley

  10

  184

  90

  Cookham Wood

  0

  82

  67

  Dartmoor

  15

  556

  63

  Deerbolt

  28

  305

  90

  Doncaster

  21

  873

  168

  Dorchester

  0

  166

  19

  Dover

  11

  218

  21

  Downview

  1

  102

  236

  Drake Hall

  2

  140

  68

  Durham

  12

  196

  674

  East Sutton Park

  0

  64

  26

  Eastwood Park

  1

  186

  55

  Elmley

  10

  645

  228

  Erlestoke

  1

  132

  157

  Everthorpe

  9

  318

  130

  Exeter

  3

  337

  98

  Featherstone

  15

  535

  45

  Feltham

  37

  672

  131

  Ford

  0

  136

  195

  Foston Hall

  5

  90

  61

  Frankland

  0

  0

  0

  Full Sutton

  16

  214

  254

  Garth

  9

  500

  132

  Gartree

  2

  64

  296

  Glen Parva

  65

  554

  218

  Gloucester

  14

  220

  48

  Grendon

  4

  4

  82

  Guys Marsh

  21

  345

  129

  Haslar

  0

  122

  26

  Hatfield

  3

  112

  14

  Haverigg

  4

  162

  181

  Hewell Grange

  0

  105

  63

  Highdown

  6

  600

  65

  Highpoint

  27

  410

  243

  Hindley

  10

  385

  74

  Hollesley Bay

  21

  21

  197

  Holloway

  21

  393

  93

  Holme House

  18

  825

  105

  Hull

  14

  328

  150

  Huntercombe

  8

  142

  128

  Kingston

  1

  1

  174

  Kirkham

  15

  298

  101

  Kirklevington

  0

  49

  131

  Lancaster

  3

  188

  24

  Lancaster Farms

  45

  272

  140

  Latchmere House

  0

  82

  93

  Leeds

  30

  919

  218

  Leicester

  11

  300

  36

  Lewes

  5

  392

  49

  Leyhill

  7

  148

  228

  Lincoln

  1

  313

  133

  Lindholme

  20

  558

  88

  Littlehey

  17

  491

  122

  Liverpool

  11

  1,015

  290

  Long Lartin

  40

  131

  170

  75

  Prisoners on basic, standard and enhanced regimes

  Prison name

  Basic

  Standard

  Enhanced

  Low Newton

  1

  62

  37

  Lowdham Grange

  12

  58

  414

  Maidstone

  11

  256

  263

  Manchester

  35

  274

  808

  Moorland

  28

  581

  160

  Morton Hall

  8

  67

  84

  Mount

  0

  472

  147

  New Hall

  4

  249

  67

  North Sea Camp

  0

  111

  59

  Northallerton

  6

  280

  4

  Norwich

  6

  539

  127

  Nottingham

  4

  295

  123

  Onley

  51

  462

  75

  Parc

  28

  534

  190

  Parkhurst

  26

  226

  211

  Pentonville

  8

  833

  270

  Portland

  5

  406

  98

  Preston

  8

  578

  81

  Ranby

  49

  562

  118

  Reading

  2

  98

  101

  Risley

  10

  403

  261

  Rochester

  5

  326

  27

  Send

  0

  17

  56

  Shepton Mallet

  7

  169

  24

  Shrewsbury

  32

  200

  79

  Stafford

  33

  469

  110

  Standford Hill

  0

  114

  127

  Stocken

  5

  466

  102

  Stoke Heath

  133

  366

  116

  Styal

  0

  343

  107

  Sudbury

  0

  232

  259

  Swaleside

  4

  308

  290

  Swansea

  1

  254

  71

  Swinfen Hall

  18

  114

  141

  Thorn Cross

  1

  189

  89

  Usk

  5

  5

  89

  Verne

  5

  293

  270

  Wakefield

  35

  475

  382

  Wandsworth

  81

  930

  210

  Wayland

  3

  389

  236

  Wealstun

  3

  3

  275

  Weare

  2

  222

  72

  Wellingborough

  7

  254

  60

  Werrington

  29

  36

  39

  Wetherby

  17

  177

  122

  Whatton

  0

  110

  160

  Whitemoor

  35

  213

  201

  Winchester

  4

  351

  140

  Wolds

  21

  191

  183

  Woodhill

  18

  623

  40

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1

  474

  315

  Wymott

  3

  556

  224

  Female Prisoners (Prescription-only Drugs)
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many doses of prescription-only(a) psychotropic, (b) hypnotic, (c) other drugs acting on the central nervous system and (d) other drugs were prescribed in each prison holding female prisoners in the most recent year for which figures are available. [84946]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Pharmaceuticals are generally purchased locally and managed using a number of systems. Also, prescription records are kept within individual prisoner medical files,
  76
  making it difficult to aggregate information about total usage of individual drugs, or families of drugs, in a meaningful way.

  The Prison Service, in deciding on the range of management information about health care activity that is collected from prisons, tries to strike a balance between the costs involved, including the administrative burden on prison staff, and the possible benefits. However, increasing use of Information Technology offers the opportunity to broaden the range of statistics that can be readily available and this matter is kept under review.

  Prisoners (Voting Rights)
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unconvicted prisoners in England and Wales exercised their right to vote in the recent local government elections and elections for the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament. [84947]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The figures for the number of unconvicted prisoners who exercised their right to vote in the recent local government elections and elections for the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Home Detention Curfew
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by prison the number of prisoners(a) assessed for release on home detention curfew, (b) released and (c) recalled. [84942]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The table gives the information requested up to the end of April according to the Prison Service's inmate information system. The number of prisoners assessed for home detention curfew at each establishment is estimated from the population extracts for the end of each month for prisoners who had a calculated home detention curfew eligibility date within the relevant period. The number actually assessed may be more or less due to the transfer or reception of prisoners during the month.

  Home detention curfew—numbers eligible, placed on curfew and recalled—28 January to 30 April 1999

  Eligible (estimated)

  Curfewed

  Revoked

  Acklington

  96

  30

  3

  Albany

  2

  0

  0

  Aldington

  73

  28

  2

  Altcourse

  139

  21

  0

  Ashwell

  80

  12

  1

  Askham Grange

  41

  40

  0

  Aylesbury

  6

  3

  1

  Bedford

  118

  19

  1

  Belmarsh

  121

  20

  3

  Birmingham

  289

  164

  9

  Blakenhurst

  236

  62

  1

  Blantyre House

  0

  0

  0

  Blundeston

  18

  6

  0

  Brinsford

  88

  13

  0

  Bristol

  100

  16

  2

  Brixton

  141

  47

  3

  Brockhill

  39

  9

  0

  Buckley Hall

  31

  5

  0

  Bullingdon

  210

  58

  4

  Bullwood Hall

  19

  7

  0

  77

  Home detention curfew—numbers eligible, placed on curfew and recalled—28 January to 30 April 1999

  Eligible (estimated)

  Curfewed

  Revoked

  Camp Hill

  113

  12

  0

  Canterbury

  65

  17

  0

  Cardiff

  217

  55

  4

  Castington

  47

  5

  0

  Channings Wood

  106

  21

  1

  Chelmsford

  78

  15

  1

  Colchester

  0

  0

  0

  Coldingley

  8

  0

  0

  Cookham Wood

  26

  5

  1

  Dartmoor

  66

  12

  1

  Deerbolt

  134

  15

  0

  Doncaster

  216

  49

  3

  Dorchester

  59

  4

  0

  Dover

  82

  19

  3

  Downview

  20

  12

  1

  Drake Hall

  160

  72

  3

  Durham

  225

  42

  2

  Earlstoke

  40

  14

  0

  East Sutton Park

  37

  30

  0

  Eastwood Park

  99

  32

  0

  Elmley

  156

  32

  4

  Everthorpe

  103

  50

  4

  Exeter

  157

  53

  5

  Featherstone

  68

  26

  3

  Feltham

  103

  24

  1

  Ford

  144

  119

  2

  Foston Hall

  35

  9

  1

  Frankland

  0

  0

  0

  Full Sutton

  0

  0

  0

  Garth

  0

  0

  0

  Gartree

  0

  0

  0

  Glen Parva

  173

  37

  2

  Gloucester

  53

  13

  0

  Grendon

  72

  69

  1

  Guys Marsh

  196

  61

  4

  Haslar

  2

  2

  0

  Hatfield

  87

  60

  2

  Haverigg

  112

  18

  0

  Hewell Grange

  100

  102

  1

  Highdown

  167

  69

  2

  Highpoint

  154

  43

  2

  Hindley

  116

  13

  0

  Hollesley Bay

  82

  48

  5

  Holloway

  75

  28

  1

  Holme House

  323

  69

  3

  Hull

  181

  31

  0

  Huntercombe

  95

  61

  4

  Kingston

  0

  0

  0

  Kirkham

  330

  203

  8

  Kirklevington

  44

  38

  0

  Lancaster

  152

  6

  0

  Lancaster Farms

  79

  19

  0

  Latchmere House

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  238

  51

  5

  Leicester

  36

  1

  0

  Lewes

  133

  38

  4

  Leyhill

  44

  34

  0

  Lincoln

  110

  20

  1

  Lindholme

  144

  63

  3

  Littlehey

  76

  12

  0

  Liverpool

  498

  60

  3

  Long Lartin

  0

  0

  0

  Low Newton

  37

  19

  1

  Lowdham Grange

  0

  0

  0

  Maidstone

  7

  3

  0

  Manchester

  99

  15

  0

  Moorland

  86

  43

  2

  Morton Hall

  135

  97

  3

  78

  Home detention curfew—numbers eligible, placed on curfew and recalled—28 January to 30 April 1999

  Eligible (estimated)

  Curfewed

  Revoked

  New Hall

  103

  30

  0

  North Sea Camp

  108

  80

  0

  Northallerton

  87

  30

  3

  Norwich

  264

  128

  6

  Nottingham

  44

  2

  1

  Onley

  161

  65

  3

  Parc

  155

  7

  0

  Parkhurst

  10

  1

  0

  Pentonville

  278

  65

  5

  Portland

  114

  24

  0

  Preston

  155

  19

  3

  Pucklechurch

  0

  0

  0

  Ranby

  217

  33

  0

  Reading

  62

  12

  0

  Risley

  257

  33

  0

  Rochester

  17

  9

  0

  Send

  11

  6

  0

  Shepton Mallet

  34

  12

  0

  Shrewsbury

  86

  46

  6

  Stafford

  116

  27

  2

  Stanford Hill

  93

  97

  2

  Stocken

  75

  26

  1

  Stoke Heath

  193

  17

  0

  Styal

  64

  38

  3

  Sudbury

  82

  69

  2

  Swaleside

  4

  3

  0

  Swansea

  92

  18

  2

  Swinfen Hall

  6

  2

  0

  The Mount

  93

  34

  2

  The Verne

  43

  8

  0

  The Wolds

  38

  7

  1

  Thorn Cross

  88

  61

  9

  Usk

  71

  54

  0

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  244

  58

  1

  Wayland

  78

  33

  2

  Wealstun

  81

  63

  1

  Weare

  173

  54

  2

  Wellingborough

  49

  25

  1

  Werrington

  0

  0

  0

  Wetherby

  41

  20

  2

  Whatton

  20

  0

  0

  Whitemoor

  0

  0

  0

  Winchester

  133

  55

  5

  Woodhill

  182

  53

  1

  Wormwood Scrubs

  203

  70

  3

  Wymott

  80

  11

  0

  Bookmakers
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decision he has taken on the composition of the Bookmakers Committee. [85651]

  Mr. George Howarth
  On 3 December 1998, we sought the views of interested bodies on proposals for reconstituting the Bookmakers' Committee. Having taken careful account of the views expressed we have decided to make those changes. We believe that this will improve the Committee's ability to represent bookmakers' interests in a balanced way in carrying out its task of recommending to the Horserace Betting Levy Board the levy rates to be paid by bookmakers for the benefit of horseracing.
  79
  Therefore, I have today made regulations to establish the following membership:

  Seats

  Betting Office Licensees Association Ltd

  2

  National Association of Bookmakers Ltd

  2

  British Betting Office Association Ltd

  2

  Ladbroke Racing Ltd

  2

  Willian Hill Organisation Ltd

  2

  Coral Racing Ltd

  2

  Total

  12

  In providing for the three companies which in 1998–99 contributed nearly 80 per cent. of the total levy yield to have half of the seats on the Committee, we are redressing their previous under-representation while at the same time recognising the extent to which there are many smaller firms whose ability to pay needs to be properly represented. In reaching this decision, we have sought to achieve a reasonable balance between the different bookmaking interests and organisations. The factors taken into account were the size of organisations' membership, the number of off-course shops, the leviable turnover and the levy paid. We do not believe that the new structure will give any companies double representation on the Committee. Nor do we believe that continuing representation of the Scottish Independent Bookmakers Association is justified, given the small number of members, some of whom also belong to other trade associations. We believe that the new constitution will still take proper account of the interests of small independent bookmakers, whether in Scotland or South of the Border.

  It will be for the Committee itself to decide who will chair it and how it will manage its business. We very much hope that the Committee will make every effort to reach agreement on the next levy scheme with the Levy Board. Co-operation between bookmaking and racing interests is important in this as in other areas.

  We will keep the new arrangements under review, with the help of the independent members of the Levy Board, whose brief it is to have regard to the interests of racing, bookmakers in all categories and the punter.

  Monkeys
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that(a) the importation of monkeys to Shamrock Farm, Henfield and (b) the treatment of monkeys at Shamrock Farm, Henfield is conducted in accordance with approved procedures and legislation. [85362]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The transportation and importation of animals is primarily a matter for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In 1996, the Home Office introduced new measures relating to the acquisition of non-human primates from overseas sources for use in procedures under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. These are summarised in Appendix A to the 'Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1997'. In support of these new measures, the Home Office set administrative requirements including that
  additional records be kept of the breeding and conditions of housing and husbandry at the centre from which the animals were obtained; and 80 after each delivery of primates from an overseas source, the Home Office be sent:confirmation that the animals were shipped according to the agreed plan and arrived safely;lifetime records for each animal;a report of the veterinary inspection that must be carried out on arrival; and within six weeks, details of any morbidity and mortality arising during the first four weeks following arrival in the United Kingdom.
  These are in addition to the records on the source, use (where appropriate) and disposal of animals that all designated establishments are required to keep and make available to the Home Office on request.

  All designated establishments must meet the terms and conditions of the certificate of designation and, unless otherwise authorised, are expected to comply with the requirements of the relevant code of practice for the housing and care of animals.

  Responsibility for abiding by the laws rests primarily with the individuals concerned and all establishments are now required to have local ethical review processes which, amongst other things, will provide advice about the care and welfare of animals.

  All designated establishments are, however, regularly visited by Home Office inspectors, often without notice, to monitor compliance with all the relevant controls including those relating to the acquisition and care of animals.

  Prisoner Accommodation (Offences against Children)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide accommodation at prison sites for offenders convicted of offences against children on the completion of their sentence; if he will list the prisons to be used for such accommodation; and if he will make a statement. [85344]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are plans to transform office accommodation within the secure perimeter of Nottingham Prison into bedsits to house two or three offenders previously convicted of offences against children. They will live under close supervision. We have no such plans for any other prison.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims were lodged outside the limitation period in each year of operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 1996; and of these, how many were allowed to proceed. [85365]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has provided the following information:

  Year

  Claims outside time limit

  Number allowed to proceed

  1996–97

  5,507

  5,426

  1997–98

  5,972

  5,465

  1998–99

  5,948

  5,067

  81
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many awards at the maximum level 25 rate were(a) made and (b) remain outstanding for each year of operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 1996. [85366]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advises that the following level 25 awards have been made:

  Year

  1996–97

  0

  1997–98

  1 (interim)

  1998–99

  3

  One further award at level 25 is currently on offer.

  It is not possible to say how many of the thousands of applications presently in the system, and where further inquiries are being made, for example, of the police and medical authorities, will result in an offer of award at level 25.

  Criminal Matters (Newspaper Reports)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Newspaper Society about their members' ability to report on criminal matters and trials where young people under the age of 18 years are involved; and if he will make a statement. [85274]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill introduced in the House of Lords on 3 December 1998 proposes changes to reporting restrictions in respect of under 18's. A number of media organisations, including the Newspaper Society, have written to Ministers and met with my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Williams and officials to argue for a wider right to report identities. The Government are carefully considering the points made.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the cost per mile of running a 40 tonne goods vehicle in(a) the UK, (b) Belgium, (c) France, (d) Holland, (e) Germany, (f) Italy, (g) Luxembourg, (h) Portugal, (i) Spain and (j) Austria. [81459]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested by the hon. Member is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mobile Refrigeration Units (Solar Energy)
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what examination his Department has made of the feasibility of installing photo-voltaic cells on the roofs of large refrigerated articulated trucks in order to power mobile refrigeration units by renewable means. [84317]
  82
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department is aware of the development work that has been carried out by J. Sainsburys plc in partnership with Southampton University and a consortium of manufacturers. An articulated HGV using photo-voltaic cells to power the refrigeration unit of the trailer has been in daily use for the past two years. Although such a vehicle requires expensive initial capital investment and the additional weight of the power unit results in a loss of vehicle payload, the technology has proved reliable and has the potential to be cost effective. The Department of Trade and Industry is supporting a project under its new and renewable energy programme looking at the further development of Sainsbury's photo-voltaic powered refrigeration unit.

  The main benefit derived from use of this power source has been reduced noise, since an internal combustion engine is no longer required to power the refrigeration unit. Additional benefits are zero emissions from the refrigeration itself and low maintenance costs. As the technology can only be used to operate chill units, designed to operate at temperatures down to +3°C there is some loss of trailer flexibility.

  Local Safety Schemes
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to allocate funding to highway authorities for the provision of safety measures at sites with an accident record of less than three years; [84633]

  (2) what plans he has to review the criteria for allocating funding to highway authorities under the Local Safety Scheme Programme; [84634]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the policy to restrict funding allocations under the Local Safety Scheme Programme to sites with a three-year accident record; [84631]

  (4) what plans he has to review the current guidelines for highway authorities on the provision of accident reduction and traffic calming measures; [84632]

  (5) what assessment he has made of the impact on road accident reduction of the Local Safety Scheme Programme. [84643]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Under the Transport Policies and Programme (TPP) regime for local capital transport expenditure, funding for Local Safety Schemes was restricted to sites which had a three year record of accidents. A consistent pattern of accidents suggested a problem with the road layout which was likely to be alleviated by engineering measures, rather than randomly occurring accidents arising from other causes, such as driver behaviour.

  In terms of assessment, the 1996 Transport Research Laboratory study "Accident Reductions from Local Authority Safety Schemes using Transport Supplementary Grant" outlined the success of the general approach to these schemes. An overall 29 per cent. reduction in accidents followed the implementation of the schemes and an overall first year rate of return of 190 per cent. was achieved. Most of the schemes produced a reduction in the severity of accidents; there was a 29 per cent. drop in slight casualties, a 46 per cent. drop in serious

  83
  casualties and an 88 per cent. drop in fatalities. A new research project is currently looking in more depth at the effectiveness of recent local safety schemes and is expected to be completed later in 1999.

  The Government's Transport White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" announced the replacement of the TPP system with Local Transport Plans (LTPs). These plans will place much greater emphasis on targets and the strategy to achieve those targets rather than individual projects. There will be a greater emphasis on local authorities getting results, but greater flexibility in how they achieve them.

  In April this year we published guidance to local authorities on producing the provisional Local Transport Plans for 2000–01, due to be submitted in July 1999. Consistent with the new approach, it does not prescribe that expenditure be on sites with a three year accident record. Local authorities will, however, need to continue to examine where accidents and accident casualties are occurring and to plan cost effective remedial engineering measures as one element of an overall safety strategy. The LTP guidance will be reviewed following receipt of the provisional plans in July and we expect to produce further guidance in time for the full LTPs, due in July 2000.

  We will continue to issue advice on the technical aspects of traffic calming to local highway authorities through Traffic Advisory Leaflets.

  Genetically Modified Foods
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he has responded to the Local Government Association statement on genetically modified foods. [75496]

  Mr. Meacher
  Yes, I have responded to the Local Government Association statement on genetically modified foods and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  Media Relations
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84201]

  Mr. Meale
  [holding answer 18 May 1999]: Detailed information on the numbers of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 were provided in a memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on the Government Information and Communication Service (HC 770) in July 1998. A copy is in the Library of the House. The number of GICS Press Officers in post in DETR(C) on 1 May 1999 was 37.

  Special Advisers in this Department have ad hoc contact with the media but none are specifically employed in media relations.

  Global Warming
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment 84
  he has made of the report published in the New Scientist on 1 May on the speeding-up of the cooling of the mesosphere and its likely impact on global warming. [84909]

  Mr. Meale
  Cooling of the upper atmosphere is an expected consequence of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, and although the reported study is yet to be completed, and the size of the cooling confirmed, cooling of the mesosphere is not expected to impact significantly predictions of climate change.

  Canals
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision exists to facilitate the reinstatement of canals obstructed by road construction and improvement. [84905]

  Mr. Meale
  There is a duty for a highway authority wishing to promote a road scheme which would cross a waterway where there are extant navigation rights to provide a suitable crossing. The Department is reviewing the issues of managing the different interests involved in canal restoration and highway schemes. This should be covered in the daughter document on inland waterways which will be published in the next few months.

  British Rail Employees (Asbestos)
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 May 1999,Official Report, column 245, if he will list (a) the dates on which claims were made, (b) the dates on which compensation was received, (c) the value of the compensation claimed and (d) the region in which the employee was working, for all claims since 1991 by former employees of British Rail who are diagnosed as having mesothelioma, asbestosis or primary carcinoma of the lung, related to exposure to asbestos. [84985]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand from the British Railways Board that information requested is not available in a form which can be analysed in the manner requested without disproportionate cost.

  Water Companies
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers his Department retains to ensure that the plans of the water companies for asset replacement are consistent with public safety. [84892]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government require water companies to operate in ways which are consistent with public safety through a variety of regulatory requirements, such as those concerned with health and safety at work and the quality of drinking water, rather than through control of their asset replacement policies.

  The Director General of Water Services is required to exercise his powers and duties in the manner that he considers is best calculated to secure that the functions of water and sewerage undertakers are properly carried out as respects every area of England and Wales, and that undertakers are able to finance the proper carrying out of their functions.
  85
  The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Wales have published "Raising the Quality", giving guidance to the Director General of Water Services on the environmental and quality obligations to be achieved by the water industry in England and Wales 2000–05. That guidance covered such public health matters as tackling deteriorating raw water quality and reducing the risk from cryptosporidium. Ministerial guidance has also been given in "Maintaining Public Water Supplies" on issues arising in the preparation of water resources plans by the water companies in England and Wales. The Director General will take this guidance into account in determining water company price limits in the current Periodic Review of water prices.

  Ministers also have power, under Section 208 of the Water Industry Act 1991 to give directions to water undertakers covering emergencies and in the interests of national security.

  Westminster City Council
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 May 1999,Official Report, column 287, concerning reviews by the Audit Commission of the District Auditor's investigation of Westminster City Council's designated sales, if he will list the reviews carried out. [85061]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Audit Commission considered reviews concerning the auditor's investigation into Westminster City Council's designated sales on two occasions in 1994, two occasions in 1995 and most recently in April 1996.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to use his powers to regulate relative tolling levels in respect of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [85037]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are no plans to do so. A statutory decision has been reached to change the basis on which the Birmingham Northern Relief Road (BNRR) has been promoted and authorised. The Decision Letter of 23 July 1997 followed a lengthy statutory process. In it the Secretary of State decided against modifying the BNRR toll order to prescribe a relationship between the tolling levels of different classes of vehicle. The Court of Appeal judgment of 23 March concluded that there was no requirement for the Secretary of State to impose restrictions on the relative level of tolls and, although he did have a power to do so, his statutory decision was perfectly valid.

  Eyesight Standards
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the(a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of exempting lorry and bus drivers from European Union eyesight standards. [85261]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: Drivers of lorries and buses (group 2) who obtained their licence since the implementation of the Second EC Driving Licence Directive on 1 January 1997, are subject to the Directive eyesight requirements.
  86
  Drivers of group 2 vehicles who obtained their licence before 1 January 1997, who are unable to meet the Directive eyesight requirements for such vehicles, but who can continue to meet the pre-Directive requirements, may renew their licence.

  Drivers of group 2 vehicles who obtained their licence before 1 January 1997, who are unable to meet the pre-Directive requirements for such vehicles, but who can continue to meet the requirements applicable when they obtained their entitlement, may renew their licence provided that they have not been involved in a road accident in the preceding 10 years where defective eyesight was a contributory factor and that they have adequate recent experience of driving these vehicles. This has allowed drivers with a safe driving record over many years to retain their employment.

  We have no evidence that preserved rights for these drivers have had an adverse effect on road safety.

  Road Safety Strategy
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Road Safety Strategy will be published; and what representations he has received on the inclusion of casualty reduction targets. [85262]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: It is intended to publish the road safety strategy and targets in Autumn 1999 in order to reflect the findings of the review of speed policy announced in chapter 3 of the Government's Transport White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone".

  We consulted widely in 1997 on options for possible casualty reduction targets. There was an overwhelming response in favour of such targets. The road safety strategy will include targets for casualty reduction for 2010.

  Road Fatalities
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road fatalities there were among(a) cyclists and (b) pedestrians in (i) Coventry, (ii) the United Kingdom and (iii) each EU member state in the last year for which figures are available. [85259]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Pedal cyclists killed 1997

  Pedestrians killed 1997

  Coventry

  1

  5

  United Kingdom

  187

  1,010

  Austria

  66

  156

  Belgium

  122

  142

  Denmark

  65

  87

  Finland

  61

  69

  France

  348

  982

  Germany

  679

  1,147

  Greece

  n/a

  n/a

  Irish Republic

  24

  130

  Italy

  429

  894

  Luxembourg1

  2

  7

  Netherlands

  240

  119

  87

  Pedal cyclists killed 1997

  Pedestrians killed 1997

  Portugal

  75

  624

  Spain

  116

  960

  Sweden

  42

  74

  11996 figures

  Sources:

  OECD—International Road traffic Accident Database for EU data. DETR, DOE (NI)—for UK data.

  Peat Working Group
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will report on the work of the Peat Working Group. [85436]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Peat Working Group was convened in 1997 to review existing planning policies for the provision of peat and alternative materials, and to advise the Government of the need, or otherwise, for change. It will report shortly, and we will consider arrangements for the publication of its findings.

  Shipping Services Directive
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's support for full implementation of EU Directive 94/57 on the freedom to provide classification and other shipping services; and what progress has been made by EU member states in implementing this Directive. [85307]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The UK supports full implementation of Council Directive 94/57/EC and expects other Member States to do likewise. I understand that all Member States have transposed the Directive into their national legislation.

  Energy Efficiency Schemes
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the average change in the proportion of income spent on heating by households who receive home improvements under the(a) new home energy efficiency schemes and (b) new home energy efficiency Plus schemes; [85469]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of households receiving assistance under the (a) new home energy efficiency schemes and (b) new home energy efficiency Plus schemes which will be removed from his Department's definition of fuel poverty. [85470]

  Mr. Meale
  The definition of a fuel poor household applied by academics and organisations active in the sector is one which needs to spend in excess of 10 per cent. of household income in order to achieve a satisfactory indoor heating regime (21°C in the living room and 18°C in the other occupied rooms).

  We estimate that the assistance provided under the proposed new home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) and new HEES Plus will reduce the cost of heating an average 3 bedroom semi-detached house to the required standard by between £600 and £1,000 depending on the energy efficiency of the property prior to improvement. Due to the vast large variety of combinations of dwelling
  88
  type, size, heating and level of insulation, we are not at this stage able to estimate what would be the average improvement under either new HEES or new HEES Plus. For the same reason we are not able to estimate what would be the average improvement in terms of the standard assessment procedure.

  The intention of new HEES and new HEES Plus will be to move households out of fuel poverty and we expect to substantially achieve that. The main exception will be those few households (1 per cent. or less) who are eligible for new HEES and live in properties that are both semi-detached/detached and use on-peak electricity or smokeless solid fuel. The size and type of these properties combined with the cost of the fuel used make it difficult to move these households entirely out of fuel poverty. Our consultation paper seeks comments on the best package to assist these households.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of (i) the number of homes to be improved, (ii) what the average new grant will be and (iii) the average improvement in terms of the standard assessment procedure rating of homes under the(a) new home energy efficiency schemes and (b) new home energy efficiency plus schemes. [85468]

  Mr. Meale
  We estimate that in the first two years, 2000–01 and 2001–02, the new home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) will assist some 200,000 households, with the average value of grant assisted work being £400 per household.

  Over the same period, we estimate that new HEES Plus will assist a further 300,000 low income over-60's households, with the average value of grant assisted work being £700 per household. We are carrying out further work in order to refine these estimates.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what proportion of the expenditure announced in "Fuel Poverty: The New Home Energy Efficiency Schemes" to alleviate fuel poverty will be allocated to(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales;[85471]

  (2) how many of the households included in the (a) new home energy efficiency plus schemes and (b) new home energy efficiency schemes will be in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales; [85472]

  (3) how much money is available to be spent on new home energy efficiency schemes and new home energy efficiency plus schemes in the next two years; and what proportion of this will be spent on (a) grants to households and (b) administration and other costs. [85467]

  Mr. Meale
  Over 2000–01 and 2001–02, we have allocated a total of £300 million to tackling fuel poverty through energy efficiency improvements. Since this will be a devolved function, we shall shortly consider the most appropriate method of dividing the moneys between the proposed new home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) in England and the separate programmes in Scotland and Wales, taking account of the extent of fuel poverty in each.

  We estimate that some 7.7 million households in England will be eligible for assistance under either new HEES or new HEES Plus. In 1996 we estimated that there

  89
  were between 4.3 million and 5.4 million fuel poor households in England. Our proposed criteria for eligibility therefore go wider than the definition of the fuel poor in order to reach all those households for whom the health risks from cold homes are the greatest.

  Administrative costs will be kept as low as possible consistent with ensuring that the most vulnerable households are identified quickly and with ensuring the quality of the service provided. Costs will be determined ultimately by competitive tender. Under the existing scheme some administrative costs are included in installer charges and there is no obligation to target the most vulnerable households.

  Advisory Group on Motorcycling
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what issues were discussed at the first meeting of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling; when its next meeting will be held; and what procedures exist for members of the public to make representations to the Group. [85338]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The first meeting of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling identified key areas of concern to motorcyclists and other interested parties. These included the issues of training and licensing, safety and the environment. The Group will consider these and other issues to assist the Government in developing their policy on motorcycling.

  The next meeting will take place on 21 July. It is open to members of the public to make representations to member organisations or, of course, direct to the Government, should they wish.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the membership of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling. [85337]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The membership of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling is:

  National Motorcycle Council

  British Motorcyclists Federation

  Motorcycle Industry Association

  Despatch Association

  Motorcycle Retailers Association

  Motorcycle Action Group

  Motorcycle Rider Training Association

  Automobile Association

  Royal Automobile Club

  Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association

  Association of London Borough Road Safety Officers

  Association of Chief Police Officers

  Local Government Association.

  Safety Regulations (Riverside Sites)
  Mr. John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the nature and basis of the statutory regulations relating to safety in connection with repair or construction work on bridges and other structures over tidal water on the River Thames upstream of Gravesend,90
  with particular reference to those applying to the specification of safety boats and the qualifications of their
  crews. [Transferred] [85306]

  Mr. Meale
  The safety of construction and repair workers at riverside sites, is covered by the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996. They include measures to prevent falls, minimise the risk of drowning and to provide rescue equipment (but do not specify what type). The Regulations require the safe transport of workers by water, any vessel used shall be suitably constructed and properly maintained, under the control of competent person and not be overloaded. An inspector would take these factors into account when visiting a site.

  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency can advise on appropriate standards for rescue and work boats which are used only on inland waters, but there are no specific merchant shipping regulations laying down standards for such boats or qualifications of those manning them.

  The Port of London Authority (PLA) require boats carrying goods or up to 12 passengers to be licensed and operated by licensed watermen. The PLA is not empowered to insist on this for boats used solely as rescue boats, but can only advise. The most suitable craft for individual circumstances is best determined through a properly conducted risk assessment.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if local authorities that opt for area-based committees will be permitted to delegate executive functions to them under his proposals for local government reform. [85381]

  Ms Armstrong
  Having regard to the responses received to our Paper "Local leadership, local choice" (Command Paper 4298), we are considering how any legislation for new forms of local governance can allow decisions to be devolved to local areas whilst ensuring there will be clear corporate executive accountability in each council.

  Concessionary Fares (London)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 May 1999,Official Report, column 290, concerning the London concessionary fares scheme, if he will table amendments in the House of Lords to extend the reserve scheme to include surface rail services. [85445]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Greater London Authority Bill will provide adequate powers for London local authorities to deal satisfactorily with the provision of concessions on London rail services. We have always made clear that our general aim for the Greater London Authority Bill is to transfer existing responsibilities to the Mayor, rather than attempt major revisions of legislation affecting London going beyond the policies outlined in the White Paper. The creation of a new statutory reserve scheme including surface rail would not be compatible with that aim.

  Canary Wharf
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Canary Wharf Developments restores the bridge between Canary Wharf and South Keys. [85458]

  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State understands that the British Waterways Board is currently liaising with Canary Wharf Developments and various groups on the South Quay with the aim of putting in place a temporary footbridge while the existing bridge between Canary Wharf and South Quay is not in use.

  Brownfield Land
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the amount of available brownfield land suitable for housing development; [85449]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the amount of available brownfield land suitable for industrial development; [85450]

  (3) what is his current estimate of the amount of available brownfield land suitable for retail development. [85457]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Provisional results from the National Land Use Database were published on 20 May. These show an estimate of 33,000 hectares of previously developed vacant and derelict land across England. Some 4,800 hectares of this land was allocated in local plans or had planning permission for housing, about 4,500 hectares for mixed use and around 13,400 for other uses. In total, just over 12,000 hectares of vacant and derelict land either had planning permission or were allocated in the local plan for housing or were judged suitable for housing. Suitability was not assessed for retail or industrial development.

  The National Land Use Database also included sites currently in use but allocated in local plans for redevelopment or with planning permission for housing; other sites expected to become available for redevelopment; and sites occupied by vacant commercial buildings. Such sites accounted for an estimated 23,000 hectares, of which over 5,000 hectares were allocated for redevelopment in plans or had planning permission for housing and a total of over 14,000 hectares were judged suitable for housing.

  A copy of the DETR/Government Statistical Service Bulletin has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Urban Task Force Report
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to receive the report from the Urban Task Force. [85455]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Deputy Prime Minister hopes to receive the final draft of the Task Force's report in the next few days. It will then be prepared for publication, which will be by the end of June.

  Car Insurance
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to strengthen the rules in relation to car insurance and the abuse of cover notes. [85309]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Increasing use of electronic delivery of services in the insurance industry is making abuse of cover notes more difficult. As the Government move to electronic direct relicensing of vehicles, including use of the Association of British Insurers planned motor insurance database, such abuse should be virtually eliminated because enforcement authorities will be able to have access to insurance information on-line in real time.

  Anybody who had the misfortune to be the victim in an accident involving a driver abusing a cover note should be reassured that compensation would be paid by the Motor Insurers Bureau under the terms of the Uninsured Drivers Agreement.

  Road Tax
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to eliminate fraud through the abuse of road tax discs. [85308]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Vehicle excise duty (VED) fraud can take a number of forms. The display of fraudulent tax discs is a serious matter which is dealt with solely by the police. There is no evidence to suggest that the practice is widespread. Where vehicles are used or kept unlicensed on the public road, the detection role is carried out by the police, who pass offence reports to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for enforcement action.

  My Department has introduced a number of new initiatives aimed at reducing the level of vehicle excise duty evasion. These include measures to improve the quality of the vehicle register and to make it more difficult for motorists to drop out of the licensing system. The national scheme to wheelclamp and impound unlicensed vehicles continues to be successful in encouraging motorists to relicense their vehicles. A pilot scheme to use camera technology for automating the detection process is to begin shortly.

  Best Value in Housing Framework
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the recently completed consultation exercise on the best value in housing framework. [85628]

  Ms Armstrong
  On 21 January 1999 we published the consultation paper "Best Value in Housing Framework". This explained the framework within which local housing authorities will need to operate in obtaining best value in housing taking into account key housing aspects such as the relationship between best value and the Housing Investment Programme; the important role of tenants and residents; and the operation and establishment of the Housing Inspectorate.

  The consultation paper flowed from the work of the Best Value in Housing Steering Group which brings together representatives from my Department; the Local Government Association; the Chartered Institute of

  93
  Housing; the Audit Commission; the Housing Corporation; the National Housing Federation; and TAROE–the Tenants and Residents Organisations of England. Consultation ended on 16 April 1999. We received 268 responses from across a wide range of local authorities, tenants organisations and housing professional bodies which will help inform the content of the final guidance.

  I am pleased to announce that the consultation shows that there is strong support for the principles of best value in housing as set out in the consultation paper and, in particular, for the involvement of tenants and residents. There is also strong support for a protocol setting out the working relationships between the key organisations involved in assessing housing performance at the local level and compliance with the duty of best value. The consultation paper has been instrumental in raising awareness of best value among local authorities and others. Many local authority respondents indicated that they have found it a useful guide in helping them to prepare for best value.

  In supporting the principles, a number of respondents raised resource, staffing and budgetary concerns relating to the implementation of best value. We accept that there are likely to be some compliance costs in areas such as best value reviews and performance plans. However, the intended purpose of the best value provisions is to secure continuous improvements in the way in which local government exercises its functions. The improved efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources which result is expected to deliver cost savings as well as improvements in service delivery. To ensure efficiency, best value will be underpinned by rigorous audit, inspection and enforcement provisions. These will include the audit of the local authority performance plans as well as their accounts, which will include the costs of conducting reviews and preparing plans. The clear signal from the consultation is that we should proceed to work up a final set of guidance on the application of best value to housing. We aim to publish this towards the end of the year. The timing reflects the need to take account of the statutory arrangements to be put in place for best value.

  In taking this work forward, through the Best Value in Housing Steering Group and others, we shall also want to take account of the detailed comments of respondents to the consultation exercise; further emerging lessons from the best value pilots; the read across to the work of the Housing Corporation in applying best value to registered social landlords; and the arrangements being developed by the Audit Commission for the operation and establishment of the Housing Inspectorate. Meanwhile, it is important that all local authorities, if they have not already done so, start planning ahead for best value. The new duty of best value, as laid down in Part I of the Local Government Bill, is expected to apply as from 1 April 2000.

  I am placing a list of the respondents, excluding any who requested confidentiality, in the House Library together with a report providing an analysis of the responses. The list and specific responses are available in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Library, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE, telephone 0171 890 3039.
  94

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Fair Trade Products
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to introduce fair trade products at(a) meetings, (b) events and (c) catering facilities within his Department. [82869]

  Janet Anderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 5 May 1999,Official Report, column 410.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received regarding proposals by the BBC to withdraw concessionary TV licences from sheltered accommodation. [84904]

  Janet Anderson
  We have received no such representations. The BBC has no power to amend the concessionary television licence scheme, nor has the Corporation submitted proposals for change to the Government or the BBC funding review panel. The Government have, however, received representations from Members of Parliament, local authorities and members of the public about the withdrawal of concessionary licences from sheltered accommodation which no longer meets the qualifying criteria for entitlement to the concession.

  Radio Authority
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who are(a) the auditors responsible for ensuring the financial propriety of the Radio Authority and (b) the authors of the report on allegations of impropriety in the award of radio licences by the Radio Authority. [85096]

  Janet Anderson
  The Radio Authority's internal auditors are PricewaterhouseCoopers. Its external auditors are Grant Thornton, whose Crawley office is responsible for the audit.

  The authors of the independent report of the Inquiry into allegations concerning the award of the East of England regional licence were the Forensic Services Group of the London office of Grant Thornton.

  Royal Opera House
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the deficit at the Royal Opera House in (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01. [85287]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: If the Royal Opera House development appeal is successful in reaching its fund raising target, then the deficit at the Royal Opera House will have been eliminated by the end of the current financial year.

  RADA
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had
  95
  with the Arts Council regarding the finances of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art; and if he will make a statement. [85288]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: I have regular discussions with the Arts Council on a wide range of issues.

  English Tourism Council
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the aims and objectives of the English Tourism Council. [85293]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: On 14 December 1998 we announced in "A New Cultural Framework" that we would establish a new streamlined, more strategic body to support tourism in England. "Tomorrow's Tourism", the strategy we published in February gave further information on the role of the new body. On 27 April 1999, Official Report, columns 114–15, I announced to the House that the body would be known as the English Tourism Council (ETC) and provide a further indication of the ETC' s functions. We are working with the English Tourist Board on the detailed remit of the ETC and will be publishing aims and objectives as part of the launch of the ETC, which we expect to take place in July.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to support the development of the English Tourism Council. [85295]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: Officials in my Department are working very closely with staff at the English Tourist Board as work on the development of the English Tourism Council continues. As well as advice, we are providing funds of £2.8 million over two years to support the transition.

  Broadcasting Standards Commission
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last had discussions with the Broadcasting Standards Commission; and if he will make a statement about its future role in the regulation of taste, decency and impartiality. [85290]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: I last met the members of the Broadcasting Standards Commission on 23 March. The Government completed their consultation on the future regulation of broadcasting and telecommunications earlier this year. We will report on the outcome, and set out our plans for developing regulation and the role of the BSC, in the near future.

  Accommodation Rating Scheme
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funds have been allocated by his Department for the consumer marketing of the harmonised accommodation rating scheme. [85296]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The funding of £11.8 million allocated to the English Tourist Board last December represents an increase of £2.1 million from the previous year. The increase is to be used for transforming the ETB into the English Tourism Council and also recognises our desire for a successful consumer launch of the new harmonised accommodation
  96
  rating schemes. In accordance with our funding agreement with the ETB and the recent "Report and Action Plan for Establishing a New National Body for Tourism in England", the ETB has budgeted £300,000 of its total Government allocation for the consumer launch, which it is planning in partnership with the AA and the RAC for this September.

  Arts Council
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the organisations which have received Arts Council stabilisation grants indicating the sums involved in each case; and what criteria the Council used in making its decisions on the allocation of the grants. [85298]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The Pilot Stabilisation Programme, launched by the Arts Council of England in September 1997, made financial awards to 14 organisations, including two consortiums and one interim award (to the English National Opera). The aim of the programme is to strengthen arts organisations creatively, managerially and financially by providing them with expert advice and financial resources, giving them the opportunity to put themselves on a more secure financial footing.

  £

  Birmingham Repertory Theatre

  5,773,000

  Blackheath Concert Halls

  1,150,000

  Bournemouth Orchestras

  3,182,000

  Cinema City, Norwich

  385,272

  Embroiderers' Guild

  485,301

  English National Opera

  19,200,000

  Hampshire Arts Centres Consortium

  394,000

  Inner City Music

  530,260

  The Junction, Cambridge

  474,013

  London Symphony Orchestra

  868,000

  Northern Sinfonia

  1,691,781

  Sheffield Museums and Galleries Consortium

  1,098,377

  Tara Arts Group

  605,534

  West Yorkshire Playhouse

  2,645,000

  1Two awards: October 1997 £4.5m and September 1998 £4.7m

  The criteria used by the Arts Council were published at the time the scheme was originally announced.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the Arts Council of England's grant in aid for the current year remains unallocated. [85289]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The Arts Council has allocated its budget in full, including making provision for flexible funding for new initiatives. Plans for these initiatives will be announced over coming weeks.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Arts Council on improving the performance of their building monitors. [85291]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The National Audit Office published on 14 May its report on the Arts Council's monitoring of major capital projects, funded by the National Lottery, which covered the performance of building monitors. My officials have, of course, discussed with the Arts Council the content

  97
  of the report and ways of maintaining improvements in the performance of building monitors, and will continue to do so.

  National Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to change the legal status of national museums and galleries; and if he will make a statement. [85292]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: During the DCMS Comprehensive Spending Review, the National Museums Directors Conference expressed the wish for a more strategic relationship with Government through greater operational independence and flexibility.

  Subsequently, DCMS Ministers have been considering various ways in which institutions might be given greater financial and managerial autonomy. Options might include improved public sector management, public/ private partnerships or a change of legal status.

  No decision has yet been reached in this matter.

  Wembley Stadium
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when site work on the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium will commence; and if he will make a statement. [85300]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: Work on demolishing the existing stadium at Wembley is scheduled to begin in September 2000. Following acquisition of the stadium in March, my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport and I establish a committee with the key parties to monitor progress against the agreed programme.

  World Cup (2006)
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money he has spent to date in support of England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. [84990]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The Football Association advise that, up to the end of 1998, they have spent £3,053,522 on the 2006 World Cup bid, from a budget of some £9.4 million.

  Youth Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the latest version of the agenda for the Youth Council of 27 May, prior to the meeting. [85082]

  Mr. Mudie
  I have been asked to reply
  The latest version of the Agenda Youth Council of 27 May is as follows:

  1. Adoption of the agenda.

  2. Approval of list of A items.

  3. Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a community single programme on Youth.

  4. Presidential Memorandum "Youth and Europe-Our future".
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  5. Possible Community Communication concerning a proposal for a Decision on the implementation of measures aimed at combating sex tourism involving children.

  6. Decision on community action on measure to prevent violence against children, young persons and women (the DAPHNE PROGRAMME).

  7. Any other business.

PRIME MINISTER

  Scottish Parliament
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Prime Minister what guidance has been given to Ministers in replying to letters from Members of the Scottish Parliament on matters reserved under the Scotland Act 1998. [84910]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 May 1999]: Guidance on handling correspondence from Members of the Scottish Parliament—and from Members of the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly—will be issued to all Government Departments. Copies of the guidance will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Cabinet Meetings
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 19 May 1999,Official Report, column 1060, if he will list the Cabinet meetings he has not attended; and for what reasons he did not rearrange those Cabinet meetings. [85438]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 30 April 1999,Official Report, column 281.

  Scottish Office Ministers
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the responsibilities of each Scottish Office Minister after 1 July. [85434]

  The Prime Minister
  At 1 July Scottish Office Ministers will represent Scottish interests in reserved matters within the UK government, exercise certain specific responsibilities under the Scotland Act 1998, and be expected to promote good communications and relationships between the UK Parliament and Government and the Scottish Parliament and Executive.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Firearms Training
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the types of (i) public and (ii) private institution falling within his area of responsibility in which individuals aged under 18 years may be trained in the use of firearms; and if he will estimate the numbers of individuals receiving such training in each type of institution in each of the last five years. [81137]
  99
  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 21 April 1999]:Schools

  The only circumstances in which schools would have access to firearms training is through the Combined Cadet Forces and in a small number of schools with Home Office approved target-shooting clubs.

  Further Education Colleges

  Firearms training takes place in only five colleges of agriculture and horticulture. Students undertaking these courses would be doing so as part of courses in conservation or game keeping. In 1997–98, 63 students aged under 18 undertook this training.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many extra Scottish resident students at United Kingdom universities would be exempted from paying university tuition fees if the income level below which tuition fees are not levied were raised by(a) £2,000 and (b) £4,000 per annum; [84059]

  (2) how many extra United Kingdom students would be exempted from paying university tuition fees if the income level below which tuition fees are not levied were raised by (a) £2,000 and (b) £4,000 per annum. [84060]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 13 May 1999]: It is estimated that an additional 5 per cent. of United Kingdom students would be exempted from paying tuition fees if the income level below which tuition fees are not levied were raised by £2,000; this figure would be 10 per cent. if the income level were raised by £4,000. The equivalent figures for Scottish domiciled students at United Kingdom universities are estimated to be 5 per cent. and 9 per cent.

  Commonwealth Students
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students currently studying in the UK from Commonwealth countries have received financial assistance from his Department towards the cost of their education studies in the UK in each of the last three years. [84742]

  Mr. Mudie
  The majority of scholarships for Commonwealth students are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development. While the Department of Education and Employment does not offer direct financial support to these students, the Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme (ORSAS), funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England supported 822 students in the 1996–97 academic year at the cost of £3.792 million, 721 students in 1997–98 at £3.507 million and 709 students in 1998–99 at £3.713 million. In addition, the Montserrat Emergency Award Scheme, funded through the British Council, supported 6 students in 1997–98 and 92 students in 1998–99 academic year, with maintenance awards of £3,500 each per year.

  Post-16 Education
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the review of post-16 education. [84855]
  100
  Mr. Mudie
  We are currently considering a range of options for delivering post-16 education and training, and will be presenting our proposals to Parliament in the summer.

  Newly Qualified Teachers
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the rules governing employment in sixth form colleges of newly qualified teachers. [84853]

  Mr. Mudie
  Newly qualified school teachers are free to take up employment in sixth form colleges. Such teachers do not have to serve a period of statutory induction until they wish to teach in a maintained school or a non-maintained special school.

  A-Levels (Funding)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much on average(a) a sixth form college and (b) an equivalent local education authority school receives annually for a student studying three A-levels annually. [84854]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Department has published the costs of a successful three A-level package, typically lasting two years, in "The Public Funding Costs of Education and Training for 16–19 year olds in England 1996–97". These costs were £7,380 and £5,910 for local education authority maintained school sixth forms and sixth form colleges respectively.

  Jobseekers
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much time is allowed to claimants in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance who are parents to make child care arrangements in the event of them receiving the offer of a job. [85093]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  A claimant in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) who has caring responsibilities is required to be able to take up employment within 48 hours. For JSA purposes, caring responsibilities include caring for a child who is either a close relative of the jobseeker or who is living in the same household as the jobseeker.

  New Deal (Advisers)
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what training is available for Employment Service Personal Advisers to New Deal trainees; and if he will make a statement. [84926]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 21 May 1999]: ES New Deal Personal Advisers receive up to 46 days training, specifically designed to help them deliver the New Deal. The type and duration of training varies depending on which particular New Deal individual Personal Advisers are delivering.

  It includes training in interviewing, in work benefits and allowance payments, how to deal with special client groups and how to manage a case load of New Deal participants.
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  New Deal Personal Advisers are also given in depth information on how New Deal operates, what options are available to participants and what local provision is available to help prepare them for work.

  Swimming Lessons
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what studies his Department has made on the effect on small schools of the new funding arrangements for swimming lessons; and if he will make a statement; [85141]

  (2) what representations he has received from within the County of Lancashire about the effect on small schools of his Departments' new proposals for the funding of swimming lessons. [85142]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under the Financing of Maintained Schools Regulations 1999, the cost of providing swimming lessons must be met from schools' delegated budgets. The Regulations allow local education authorities to include factors in their funding formulae to compensate schools for the cost of hiring "off-site" facilities (including swimming pools); formulae may also take account of the need for transport to and from such facilities. LEAs may also compensate small schools more generally for their diseconomies of scale. Within this framework, LEAs can enable small schools to maintain the provision of swimming lessons, at least on a scale sufficient to meet the needs of the National Curriculum.

  Representations on the funding of swimming were made by Lancashire LEA in its response to the May 1998 consultation paper, "Fair Funding" and, subsequently, in the course of consultation on the Financing of Maintained Schools Regulations. The Department has been unable to trace any more recent representations on the subject from within Lancashire, with the exception of a letter from the hon. Member, a letter from my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Miss Smith) about the future of certain specific swimming pools in her constituency, and a letter on the same subject from a member of the public in Heysham.

  Appraisals Handbook
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects the Appraisals Handbook to be completed; and what action the Department will take to distribute it. [85373]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Consultation on the Green Paper proposals ended on 31 March. We plan to publish a Performance Management Framework later this year.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out the tender specification for the contract to prepare the Appraisals Handbook, and the criteria used to determine the winning bid. [85374]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The tender specification for the contract to prepare the Appraisal Handbook was detailed in an advertisement in the Times Education Supplement on 6 February 1998. I am placing a copy of the advertisement and the tender specifications in Library.
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  Bids were assessed on the following criteria:
  Contractors' capacity:to demonstrate an understanding of the policy context;to ensure outputs which would meet the Secretary of State's specification;to demonstrate that the scope of their organisation could ensure a credible outcome;to demonstrate that they had made suitable plans within the timescale to produce results;recent relevant experience in term of policy and project management.
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the contract for the Appraisals Handbook was set; who were the bidders for the contract; who won the contract; and what is the cost of the contract. [85375]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The tender specification for the contract to prepare the Appraisal Handbook was set out in an advertisement in the Times Education Supplement on 6 February 1998. There were nine bidders, whom we are not able to name under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  No bid was deemed to fully meet the tender specifications. Following further examination it was agreed to combine the best aspects of two bids. The resulting consortium consisted of Coopers and Lybrand/ Salter Baker & Associates (Education) Ltd. and Nottinghamshire LEA.

  The information on the cost of the contract is commercial in confidence.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  National Insurance Fund
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the balance in the National Insurance Fund at the end of each of the next 10 years assuming(a) unchanged policies, (b) an increase in the basic state pension to £75 per week, (c) the implementation of his proposed reforms to SERPS, the state second pension and the stakeholder pension and (d) both (b) and (c) above. [84635]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  Responsibility for the National Insurance Fund was transferred to the Treasury from 1 April 1999. In each tax year the Treasury is required to carry out a review of the general level of the National Insurance Fund with a view to determining whether a Treasury Grant is required or whether an order should be made varying the contribution rates for the following tax year. The aim is to ensure that a reasonable working balance is maintained in the Fund at the end of the year. The Government Actuary recommends that the minimum level of the National Insurance Fund at the end of the year should be equivalent to one-sixth of annual benefit payments for the year. The future balances in the National Insurance Fund will be subject to these annual reviews and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the proportion of pensioner households headed by a person aged(a) 65 to 69, (b) 70 to 74, (c) 75 to 79 and (d) 80 years or more who are (i) in receipt of income support and (ii) in receipt of any means-tested benefit, on a basis consistent with his estimate that one in four of all pensioner households are in receipt of income support. [84756]

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

  Pensioners in receipt of income-related benefits

  Percentage

  Age

  Proportion of pensioners receipt of Income Support

  Proportion of pensioners in receipt of any means-tested benefit

  65–69

  12

  26

  70–74

  12

  31

  75–79

  16

  39

  80 and over

  25

  42

  Notes:

  1. 'Pensioners' refers to pensioner benefit units, which represents a single person, or a couple where one or both partners is in the age group specified.

  2. The figures are consistent with the estimate that one in five of all pensioner benefit units are in receipt of Income Support.

  3. The estimates of benefit caseloads group pensioner couples according to the age of the oldest member of the couple. Population estimates by benefit unit classify couples according to the age of the male member of the couple. The estimated proportions are therefore based on the assumption that the male partner is the oldest.

  4. Figures exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes.

  5. Percentages are rounded to the nearest 1 per cent.

  6. Means-tested benefits refer to Income Support, Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  7. Overlaps between recipients of more than one of these benefits have been removed.

  Sources:

  1. Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry May 1998.

  2. Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

  3. Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  4. Housing Benefit Management Information Systems, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries, May 1998.

  5. GAD 1996 population projections by marital status.

  Social Security Act 1998
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the decision making and appeals provisions of the Social Security Act 1998 will come into effect; and if he will make a statement. [85653]

  Angela Eagle
  In March I laid the main Regulations relating to the new system for handling decisions and appeals in benefits and child support being established under last year's Social Security Act. In addition this week I am making the Social Security Act 1998 (Commencement No 7 and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 1999 which commences the relevant parts of the Act for introducing the new system for child support from 1 June. The Order also makes associated transitional and consequential provisions. Further Commencement Orders relating to benefits will be made in due course.
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  The new arrangements are a significant further step to modernise the delivery of Social Security and child support as part of the reform of welfare. The current system has to change. It is confusing for claimants and staff. Correcting mistakes is complicated and frequently claimants have to appeal. Even where they have no reasonable prospect of success, appeals currently take an average of seven months to be cleared.

  The new system will enable the Benefits Agency, Child Support Agency and Employment Service to give a more helpful and accessible service. It will also help to tackle delays in the handling of appeals. Decisions will, as now, be based on the facts and the law, with the right of appeal to an independent tribunal. Decisions will be clearer and communications to the public are being simplified. There will be new arrangements for handling disputes, so mistakes can be corrected without the need for an appeal. Appeal tribunals will comprise one, two or three members according to the issues raised by the appeal, and there will be new arrangements for handling appeals which have no reasonable prospect of success.

  To ensure service to the public is maintained during the transition period, the new system will come into operation in stages as follows:

  Date

  1 June 1999

  Child Support

  5 July 1999

  Child Benefit Guardians Allowance Industrial Injury Scheme Benefits

  6 September 1999

  Retirement Pension Widows Benefit Incapacity Benefit Severe Disablement Allowance Maternity Allowance

  5 October 1999

  Working Families Tax Credit Disabled Persons Tax Credit

  18 October 1999

  Jobseeker's Allowance Disability Living Allowance Attendance Allowance Invalid Care Allowance Vaccine Damage Payments

  29 November 1999

  Income Support Social Fund

  The Chief Executives of the Agencies will be fully accountable to Parliament for the quality of decision making in their Agencies.

  In addition, while appeal tribunals will continue to be independent, in April 2000 a new Appeals Service Agency will be established in this Department to be responsible for appeals administration. From 1 June, in a period of shadow working before the agency is launched, responsibility for the administration of appeals will be transferred from the President, Judge Harris, to the Chief Executive designate of the Appeals Service, Neil Ward. Benefit claimants and child support clients will receive information about the new arrangements in notifications and other letters from the Agencies as their cases are handled.

  Income Support
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if an employed lone mother in receipt of working families tax credit whose pay is stopped when taking parental leave under the provisions of the Employment Relations Bill, will be eligible to claim income support. [84983]

  Angela Eagle
  A lone mother who is on parental leave will be able to claim Income Support if she meets the entitlement conditions. This applies whether or not she is in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if an employed individual in a two-parent couple in receipt of working families tax credit, whose pay is stopped when taking parental leave under the provisions of the Employment Relations Bill, will be able to claim income support. [84984]

  Angela Eagle
  Either member of the couple will be able to claim Income Support for the family when on unpaid parental leave if they meet the entitlement conditions. This applies whether or not the family is in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit.

  Lone Parents (Benefits)
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he has taken to correct the benefit position whereby a number of lone parents receiving incapacity benefit or severe disability allowance have not received the full increase in their benefits from April. [85652]

  Mr. Darling
  A small number of lone parents in receipt of these benefits have, through an error in the regulations, failed to receive the full increase in benefit rates this year. We took swift action and introduced amendments to the regulations which became effective on 17 May. Those affected will have their payments corrected automatically, including any arrears from April.

DEFENCE

  UK Ambassador (NATO)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the responsibilities of the United Kingdom Ambassador's to NATO in respect of miliary operations conducted by NATO. [84762]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council, established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty, represents the United Kingdom in the Council on all matters including military operations.

  Aircraft Carriers
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has carried out into the use of nuclear steam-generating plant on future aircraft carriers; which organisations were consulted; and what conclusions were reached. [78778]
  106
  Mr. Spellar
  Concept studies involving the MOD and UK industry have investigated a number of propulsion options for the future aircraft carriers, including nuclear power. Nuclear propulsion for the two ships has been discounted on cost-effectiveness grounds.

  Mine Countermeasures Vessels
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the ships which were originally in the Mine Countermeasures vessels upgrade programme will remain in Royal Naval service for their projected service life. [84520]

  Mr. Spellar
  As we announced in the Strategic Defence Review, we have concluded that the number of Mine Countermeasures vessels should be limited to 22, rather than 25 as previously planned. No decisions have yet been taken as to which vessels will be disposed of. A decision is expected later this year. On current plans the remaining vessels, including those upgraded with Sonar 2193, will remain in service for their projected service lives.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the planned cost over what period of time of the upgrade programme for all Mine Countermeasure Vessels; [84519]

  (2) when the decision to delay the upgrade of Royal Navy Mine Countermeasure Vessels was taken; and for what reasons; [84517]

  (3) when those companies which had been invited to tender for the upgrade programme for Mine Countermeasure Vessels were informed of the delay in the programme; how this was done; and by whom. [84569]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 May 1999:
  I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the programme to upgrade the Royal Navy's Mine Countermeasure Vessels. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  The decision to delay the upgrade of the Royal Navy Countermeasure Vessels was made in the context of the Department's annual budget setting process which was completed in March 1999. The process takes account of cost, operational and industrial factors, and priorities are assessed on the basis of the Defence Missions and Tasks defined in the Strategic Defence Review (Cm 3999) published in July 1998. I can confirm that competing companies (Lockheed Martin and Thomson Marconi Sonar) were formally notified of the delay to the programme by letter on 24 March 1999.
  I am afraid that I am unable to disclose the information you request on the cost of the programme as its disclosure could prejudice the competitive position of the Department in negotiations with contractors. I am therefore withholding this information under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Sonar 2193 Programme
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision about the Sonar 2193 programme; and what plans he has for its role in Royal Naval service. [84518]
  107
  Mr. Spellar
  On current plans, we expect to place a contract for the Sonar 2193 upgrade programme by mid-2001. The sonar upgrade will be introduced into service in 2003, and will improve the minehunting performance of the HUNT Class mine countermeasures vessels. In particular it will enhance their effectiveness against modern, stealthy mines.

  Royal Fleet Auxiliary
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the(a) target in service date for the replacements for (i) RFA Sir Geraint and (ii) RFA Sir Percivale and (b) the planned capacity of the replacements; [84510]

  (2) what is the target date for completion of the replacements for RFA (a) Sir Geraint and (b) Sir Percivale; [84509]

  (3) when RFA Sir Geraint and RFA Sir Percivale will be taken out of service; and what is the target date for the contract to be let for their replacement. [84522]

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

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 May 1999:
  I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Alternative Landing Ships Logistic (ALSL) programme to replace RFAs SIR GERAINT and SIR PERCIVALE. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.The ALSLs will be required to transport and deliver troops, vehicles and stores as integral elements of an amphibious task force off-loaded at sea to landing craft. Options for the capacity of these new vessels will be dependent on the designs offered by industry in their bids, but we expect each vessel to embark between 350 and 500 military personnel and to have between 500 and 1000 lane metres of capacity.We plan to place the contract for the ALSLs in mid 2000 with a target date for completion of the two vessels (defined as the Contract Acceptance Date) of Summer 2003 and early 2004 respectively. The planned in service dates are early 2004 and Autumn 2004. Full passenger certification for RFAs SIR GERAINT and SIR PERCIVALE will expire in 2003 and 2004, but they will continue to operate as logistic support ships until they are replaced by the new ALSLs.

  Open Government
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 10 May 1999,Official Report, column 21, if he will make a statement on the nature of those applications made to his Department for disclosure of information under the open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which were not granted for 1998. [84859]

  Mr. Spellar
  For central monitoring purposes, the total number of applications made under the Code and the number of requests which were refused are collected, but not details of the reasons for non-disclosure of information. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Each request for information under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information is considered on a case-by-case basis.108
  Departmental instructions made it clear that decisions to withhold information must be approved by a member of the Senior Civil Service or equivalent military rank, and that reasons for non-disclosure must be made in terms of the Code's exemptions.

  Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Agency
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Agency for the financial year 1999–2000. [85604]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Agency's key targets for the financial year 1999–2000 are:

  Operational Strategy

  Key Target 1—Deliver 100 per cent. of Operational Tasks to time.

  Key Target 2—Deliver at least 92 per cent. of Operational Support Tasks to time.

  Performance Strategy

  Key Target 3—Achieve a quality failure rate for completed tasks of less than 1.5 per cent.

  Financial Strategy

  Key Target 4—Reduce the full cost per task hour to below 85 per cent. of the FY96–97 figure in real terms.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to use the TA to replace regular army units currently stationed in Germany but warned to deploy to Kosovo. [85378]

  Mr. George Robertson
  There are no current plans to use the TA to replace regular Army units currently stationed in Germany but warned to deploy to Kosovo.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Licences
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those Governments who received a licence to export UK surplus military equipment in (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998. [83007]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  The major capital surplus exports on a Government to Government basis were as follows:

  Year

  1996–97

  Brazil

  Type 22 frigates

  Uruguay

  Wessex helicopters and spare equipment

  Australia

  Sea King helicopters

  Malta

  Vehicles

  Austria

  MS78 light armoured vehicles and spares

  1997–98

  1997–98

  Brazil

  Type 22 frigates

  Uruguay

  Wessex helicopters

  Philippines

  Peacock Class Hong Kong patrol craft

  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total capacity of the new gas-fired power stations approved since May 1997; and if he will estimate the amount of coal-use they will displace. [84360]

  Mr. Byers
  Some 4 GW of new gas-fired capacity has been cleared since May 1997. This compares to some 23 GW of new gas-fired capacity cleared by the previous Government. In broad terms each extra 1 GW of new gas-fired capacity could displace coal burn by about 2.5 million tonnes a year. The precise impact, however, is not so simple since displacement in a particular case depends on the mode of operation, the competitive position of other plant (which may be coal or non-coal plant) and the level of demand that is required to be met.

  Photo-voltaic Generation
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions he has conducted with(a) the Electricity Regulator and (b) the electricity supply industry concerning the practice of requiring separate meters to record the supply and consumption of electricity by domestic premises where photo-voltaic generating capacity has been installed; [84319]

  (2) what discussions he has conducted with (a) the Electricity Regulator and (b) the electricity supply industry concerning the current pricing arrangements for purchasing electricity generated by photo-voltaic installations in domestic premises. [84320]

  Mr. Battle
  Renewable sources, including photovoltaic (PV) installations, have an important contribution to make to the development of sustainable energy supplies in the UK. It is important that renewables and other forms of embedded generation can compete on a level playing field. My Department's New and Renewable Energy Programme has supported a number of studies, involving both renewable generating companies and the electricity supply industry, with the aim of encouraging the development of commercial and technical frameworks that will assist them to compete on an equal footing.

  In addition, "New and Renewable Energy: Prospects for the 21st Century", the consultation paper which I published on 30 March, invited comments on issues surrounding the connection of embedded renewable generators to the electricity system. I will consider what further action may be required in the light of that consultation.

  Metering is of course an essential component of a competitive market. It is important however, that metering arrangements do not discriminate between alternative sources or impose excessive costs. I understand that, while all generators are required to measure their exports and imports separately, for the very smallest sources (those below 100kW), such as domestic PV systems, a simpler system of metering is required.

  I would encourage those who wish to see changes in the existing arrangements for metering or trade in PV or other types of embedded generation to take this up with the Director General of Electricity Supply at their earliest opportunity, and I will take a close interest in the outcome of those discussions.

  UKAEAC
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the results of the recent inspection of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. [85606]

  Mr. Battle
  I understand that the full text of the report by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, Mr. Colin Smith, is being published today by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Constabulary's Policy Authority. This is the first time that an inspection report on the UKAEAC has been published, and I welcome this commitment to increased openness. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  I am pleased to note that the Inspector formed a good opinion of the professionalism of the men and women who police our nuclear installations. His report acknowledges the considerable modernisation in the force's management and general effectiveness brought about in recent years by the former and current Chief Constables.

  The report makes 14 recommendations for improvements primarily on a range of management, training, communications and personnel issues, all of which the Chief Constable and Police Authority are committed to implementing.

  Post Office
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the commercial acquisitions made by the Post Office since 1 November 1998, giving the approximate value of each acquisition and the date in which approval was given. [85345]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The commercial acquisitions made by the Post Office since 1 November 1998 are as follows:

  Germany:
  German Parcel—acquisition cost around £300 million Der Kurier—acquisition cost less than £10 million
  Austria:
  Delacher—acquisition cost less than £3 million.
  Government approval for the German Parcel acquisition was given to the Post Office on 19 December 1998. The other deals fell within permitted borrowing limits for smaller development investments which are notified to Government but do not require specific approval. Fuller details of the arrangements will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  BSE Inquiry
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of the BSE Inquiry. [85506]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The BSE Inquiry was originally intended to report on 31 December 1998. At the request of the Inquiry, my right hon. Friend the Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham), the previous Minister of
  111
  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, announced on 9 March 1998, Official Report, column 3, that the original terms of reference would be revised to allow the Inquiry until 30 June 1999 to report. The Inquiry has now requested a further extension and, following discussions with the Committee about the time needed to complete their task, the Government have agreed that the Report shall be delivered by 31 March 2000.

  Meat Hygiene Service (Charges)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many complaints he has received over meat hygiene service charges since April 1998. [85131]

  Mr. Rooker
  Since April 1998, my Department has received over 500 representations about hygiene inspection charges and the proposal to introduce charges for Specified Risk Material controls. In the same period, the Meat Hygiene Service has also received in excess of 100 representations about the level of its charges.

  Date-based Export Scheme
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has made to improve participation within the Date-Based Export Scheme. [85132]

  Mr. Rooker
  I expect uptake of the Date-based Export Scheme (DBES) to be low initially. The condition under which exports may resume are very strict: we can only change them in further negotiations and it is the Government's view that we must first show that we can operate the scheme as it stands. There are a few slaughterhouses which want to participate. My officials have been discussing with these slaughterhouses how the scheme might work for them, and will talk with any others which are interested. After we have seen and considered the report of Commission's April inspection of our DBES procedures, we will be writing to the slaughterhouses with details of the Scheme and an invitation to apply for participation or further information.

  Hormone-treated Beef
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made through the WTO to end the dispute with the USA and Canada over hormones in beef. [85134]

  Mr. Rooker
  On 17 May the General Affairs Council called on the European Commission to intensify its contacts with the USA and Canada on all aspects of the dispute concerning hormonal growth promoters and, in particular, to enter into detailed and transparent discussions on the basis of the scientific evidence available.

HEALTH

  NHS Direct and Walk-in Clinics
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent clinical governance guidelines will apply to(a) walk-in clinics and (b) NHS Direct. [84371]
  112
  Mr. Denham
  We will ensure that walk-in centres will be subject to appropriate clinical governance guidelines. The responsibility for ensuring this is achieved will depend on the nature of the organisation which takes responsibility for running the centre. NHS Direct will be subject to current clinical governance guidelines.

  Cancer Treatments
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each health authority the capital spend for projects relating to cancer treatment in the last 12 months. [84418]

  Mr. Hutton
  National Health Service Regional Offices do monitor large capital projects, but the information they have on capital spend is not disease specific. In many cases, a building or a piece of equipment will not be used solely for cancer patients and it is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the effect of abolition of private medical insurance tax relief on demand for public healthcare. [84659]

  Mr. Denham
  It was anticipated that there would be no significant cost to the National Health Service of people withdrawing from private medical insurance schemes and seeking NHS treatment through changes to tax relief.

  Guild Community Trust
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what(a) discussions and (b) correspondence he has had with the non-executive directors of the Guild Community Trust, Preston; [84704]

  (2) what discussions he has had with (a) the authors of and (b) others about the Galbraith/Campbell report relating to the Guild Community Trust, Preston; [84705]

  (3) what steps he is taking to ensure that more (a) openness and (b) accountability is introduced into the governance of NHS trusts; [84708]

  (4) what steps he is taking to encourage non-executive directors of NHS trusts to bring to his attention any mismanagement within the trust; [84709]

  (5) when he expects to appoint a permanent Chairman of the Guild Community Trust, Preston; [84706]

  (6) what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence he has had concerning the appointments of the non-executive directors of the Guild Community Trust, Preston; [84707]

  (7) when he read the Galbraith/Campbell report relating to the Guild Community Trust, Preston; and what assessment he has made of its findings; [84711]

  (8) what (a) discussions he has had and (b) advice he has received from the North West Regional Office concerning the appointments of the current non-executive directors of the Guild Community Trust, Preston. [84710]

  Mr. Dobson
  [holding answer 18 May 1999]: After considering the independent reports into the management of the Guild Community National Health Service Trust and discussions with National Health Service Executive

  113
  Regional Office officials, I concluded that relations between non-executive directors of the Trust had reached a state of irretrievable breakdown and that it would not be in the best interests of the NHS or the Trust and, most of all, the community it is supposed to serve, for them to continue in office. I therefore asked all five remaining non-executive directors to resign. Two agreed to do so and I exercised my powers under Regulation 9(3) of the National Health Service Trust (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990 to terminate the membership of the remaining three who refused to resign.

  I have appointed Mrs. Christine Kirk to chair the trust until 30 November 1999. Mrs. Kirk was appointed by the previous Government to chair the Calderstones NHS Trust. I have appointed five new non-executive directors for a four year period. They are:
  Mr. P. Farrer
  Mrs. A. Knowles
  Mrs. G. Pashley
  Mr. P. Passi
  Mrs. H. Anslow.

  None of these have any declared party political affiliations. The selection panels which chose them had some members with declared party political activity. Of these all were Conservative. These appointments were carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and she has been kept informed at all stages of the problems at the Guild Community NHS Trust, the resignations, dismissals and appointments.

  The openness and accountability of NHS trusts has been extended by the present Government, for example by requiring the trust boards to meet in public.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to inform GPs of the outcome of the Edinburgh study into organophosphates. [84906]

  Ms Jowell
  The report of this study has not yet been completed. We understand that the report is likely to be finalised over the next few weeks and will then be published. The report will be submitted for urgent consideration by the Government's expert advisory committees.

  Children's Wards
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals covering the Greater London area have children's wards. [85083]

  Mr. Hutton
  40 National Health Service trusts within the London Regional Office area have children's wards. These can be broken down into the following sectors:
  37 NHS trusts have acute children's wards;6 NHS trusts have mental illness children's wards;1 NHS trust has a learning disability children ward.
  Note:

  (1997–98 figures). Some NHS Trusts have more than one type of children's ward, hence the sector breakdown is higher than the total.

  Nurses' Pay
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those NHS trusts which did not pay the increased pay award to nurses in their pay packets for April 1999. [85372]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18 May 1999, Official Report, column 321.

  Care Guidance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that his Department's work on devising fair access to care guidance is integrated with work on charging policies. [85382]

  Mr. Hutton
  As promised in the Social Services White Paper we are drafting guidance to help authorities apply eligibility criteria more consistently, thus ensuring fairer access to care services around the country. We will be involving local authorities and other agencies as well as users and carers in working up this guidance, and will ensure that it properly takes account of other relevant policy development including any changes to the charging system.

  Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of(a) the current financial position of the Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust and (b) the Trust's year end figures for 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [85383]

  Mr. Denham
  The financial plans of health authorities and NHS trusts for financial year 1999–2000 have not yet been finalised.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the responsibilities of non-executive directors of NHS trusts. [85143]

  Mr. Denham
  The responsibilities are set out in the information pack sent to all potential candidates for appointment to National Health Service boards. Copies of the information pack have been placed in the Library.

  Renal Services
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 May 1999,Official Report, column 352, on renal services, what extra capital and revenue resources have been made available to the four health authorities in Lancashire and South Cumbria to fund the 15 new dialysis stations. [85225]

  Mr. Hutton
  The £1.1 million capital investment comprises £300,000 from the North West regional capital programme and £800,000 from the capital programme of Preston Acute Hospitals National Health Services Trust. The health authorities will be responsible for meeting the revenue costs from their general allocations, beginning in 2000–01; these are estimated to be in the region of £1 million.

  Dismissal (NHS Trusts)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the grounds on which a non-executive director of an NHS trust can be dismissed from his post. [85144]

  Mr. Denham
  The grounds are listed in regulations 9(3) to 9(7) of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990, as amended. Copies of the relevant Regulations are available in the Library.

  Listening to Women
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Listening to Women reply-paid cards have been printed; how many have been issued to(a) individual women and (b) women's organisations; and at what cost to date. [85376]

  Ms Jowell
  1,250,000 reply-paid postcards were printed. 1,200,000 have so far been distributed to a range of sources to reach individual women and women's organisations. This includes Marks and Spencer; British Home Stores; Superdrug as well as the Women's National Commission; the Commission for Racial Equality; general practitioners surgeries; citizens advice bureaux; public libraries; post offices; bingo halls/cinemas, advice centres. In addition there have been personal requests from individuals and organisations.

  The costs to date are £59,000 excluding Value Added Tax. The deadline for returning postcards ends on 30 June 1999.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the 13 letters beginning 20 August 1997 and ending 21 February 1999, sent to him by Mrs. Blee, a constituent of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, will receive an answer. [85343]

  Mr. Denham
  Five letters have been received from Mrs. Blee since January 1998, the period when records are held. Of these, one was addressed direct to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and a response was sent on 20 August 1998.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the six letters from Mrs. Blee, a constituent of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, sent between 29 October 1998 and 19 April 1999, addressed to the SE Regional Chairman, NHS Executive and the Chairman of West Kent Health Authority, will be answered. [85342]

  Mr. Denham
  There is no trace of any correspondence from Mrs. Blee.

  The Regional Chairman of the South East Office of the NHS Executive and the Chairman of West Kent Health Authority have responded to all correspondence received from Mr. Alan Blee between 29 October 1998 and 19 April 1999.

  Officials have confirmed that there is no trace of any correspondence received from Mrs. Blee.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Servants (New Deal)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people have been employed in the Civil Service under the New Deal for the young and unemployed. [85556]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  As at 1 April 1999, the information on Civil Service Departments (including their Agencies) participating as employers in the New Deal is as follows:

  New Deal 'starts' since programmes began

  Main department name (including their agencies)

  Age 18–24

  25 and over

  Total

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  5

  0

  5

  Cabinet Office

  6

  0

  6

  Culture, Media and Sport

  0

  1

  1

  Defence

  5

  2

  7

  Education and Employment

  345

  10

  355

  Environment, Transport and the Regions

  5

  1

  6

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  3

  0

  3

  Health

  4

  4

  8

  Home Office

  1

  0

  1

  International Development

  0

  0

  0

  Lord Chancellors

  0

  0

  0

  Northern Ireland Office

  0

  0

  0

  Scottish Office

  13

  0

  13

  Social Security1

  18

  0

  18

  Trade and Industry

  21

  1

  22

  HM Treasury

  5

  1

  6

  Welsh Office

  4

  1

  5

  Other:

  Charity Commission

  5

  0

  5

  Export Credits Guarantee Department

  4

  0

  4

  Government Offices for the Regions

  3

  0

  3

  Intervention Board

  2

  0

  2

  Totals

  449

  21

  470

  1 Includes the Contributions Agency which transferred to the Inland Revenue on 1 April 1999

  Public Appointments
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action he is taking to increase the representation of women, members of ethnic minority groups and disabled people on the boards of public bodies. [85607]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  In June 1998, the Government launched a new initiative to increase the participation of under-represented groups in public life. Details of the Government's plan of action, including individual departmental plans, were published in "Quangos: Opening Up Public Appointments", copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

  The action plan has now been updated. This requires all Departments to continue their work towards the equal representation of women and men in public appointments, a pro-rata representation of members of ethnic minority groups, and the increased participation of disabled people in public life.
  117
  Individual departmental plans have also been updated and contain specific goals and objectives for the period 1999–2002. The revised plans are published today, and copies will be sent to all hon. and right hon. Members as well as being placed in the Libraries of the House. The plans will also be made available electronically on the Internet.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Aricept
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the(a) number and (b) percentage of Alzheimer patients being treated with Aricept in Northern Ireland. [84878]

  Mr. McFall
  Information in the form requested is not available. The Central Services Agency, Northern Ireland, holds information on the drug Aricept in relation to prescriptions dispensed in Northern Ireland and this is as outlined:

  January 1998–December 1998

  Item

  Number/cost

  Number of prescriptions dispensed

  5,042

  Quantity (total number of tablets)

  184,701

  Ingredient cost (cost of drugs before discount)

  £538,144

  Terrorist Prisoners
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list(a) the number and (b) the affiliation of terrorist prisoners who have been released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. [84989]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 21 May 1999]: The information in respect of (a) and (b) is shown in the table. To date there have been 267 prisoners released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. Information is held in relation to the perceived paramilitary association of prisoners, where applicable, for management purposes. It should be noted, however, that with the exception of HMP Maze where links are more clearly defined, this information is based on a combination of factors including the offence, sympathies and associates. This information is taken from statistics which are current at 24 May 1999.

  Perceived affiliation of prisoners released on licence under the 1998 Sentences Act

  Total (as at 24 May 1999)

  UDA

  63

  No Trace

  8

  UFF

  5

  PIRA

  123

  UVF

  47

  Former INLA

  7

  Loyalist

  4

  Republican Sympathisers

  2

  RHC

  2

  Criminal

  1

  LVF

  4

  Republican

  1

  Total

  267

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Portcullis House
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what steps were taken(a) to carry out an environmental impact assessment of Portcullis House and (b) to ensure that it sets a high standard for energy efficiency. [85055]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  An environmental impact assessment was not carried out during the design period.

  The House determined that the building should be energy efficient. The Measures to achieve this, which are included in the design of the building, are:
  The use of cold ground water taken via a borehole to provide the chilling for the air conditioning system;
  heat recovery from exhaust air and
  the use of the thermal mass of the building to even out the heating and cooling requirements between night and day.

  As a result, the building is expected to consume only one third of the energy of a conventionally air conditioned building.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the reference by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), to the scope of UN Security Council resolutions 1132 on 12 March 1998,Official Report, column 841, was first brought to his attention. [76064]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 11 May 1999]: I refer to my statement in the House on 2 March 1999, Official Report, columns 894–901. Statements to Parliament by other FCO Ministers are brought to my attention as appropriate, not as a matter of course.

  International Conventions and Charters
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many international(a) conventions and (b) charters have been (i) signed and (ii) ratified by the United Kingdom since 1972. [85278]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Treaties (agreements binding in international law) are known by a variety of names, such as; Convention, Charter, Treaty, Protocol, Agreement, Final Act. etc. The term "charter" is also used to describe non-legally binding instruments.

  The United Kingdom has signed a total of 587 multilateral treaties since 1972, and has ratified 387 in the same period. Of the multilateral treaties signed, 274 are conventions and 3 are charters. Of those ratified, 244 are conventions and 2 are charters. (The above figures for conventions include amending protocols to conventions, which are treaties in their own right and require separate signature and ratification). Corresponding information for bilateral conventions and charters can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent incident in the South Atlantic involving a Falkland Islands fishery protection vessel opening fire on a Taiwanese fishing boat. [85219]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  With Her Majesty's Government's approval, the Falkland Islands Government recently armed one of its Fisheries Protection Vessels (FPVs) with a 20mm Oerlikon cannon. On 15 May the armed FPV challenged an unlicensed Taiwanese fishing vessel which was 19 miles inside the Falkland Islands Outer Conservation Zone and appeared to be fishing. Messages and signals were passed by the FPV to the vessel which failed to respond. Warning shots were fired. After all warnings and warning shots had been ignored by the illegal vessel, the FPV sought and received permission from the Director of Fisheries of the Falkland Islands Government to fire directly at its bows. Another warning shot was fired followed by five single, aimed shots at the bow of the vessel. The illegal vessel was pursued out of Falkland Islands waters by the FPV, which acted in accordance with strict guidelines throughout the incident.

  Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what export restrictions currently apply to FYROM; for what reasons; and what proposals the Government have to lift them. [85211]

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  June 1999

  1

  Dresden

  Agriculture Ministers (Informal)

  3–4

  Cologne

  European Council

  7

  Luxembourg

  Education Council

  8

  Luxembourg

  Health Council

  10

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  10–13

  European Parliament Elections

  14

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN (possible)

  14–15

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  17–18

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  21

  Luxembourg

  Internal Market Council

  21–22

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  22

  Luxembourg

  Labour and Social Affairs Council (possible)

  24–25

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council

  28

  Luxembourg

  Culture and Audiovisual Council

  28–29

  Rio de Janeiro

  EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit

  July 1999

  2–3

  Oulu

  Industry and Research Ministers (Informal)

  9–10

  Oulu

  Labour/Social Affairs Ministers (Informal)

  12

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  16

  Brussels

  Budget Council

  18–20

  Savonlinna

  Culture and Audiovisual Ministers (Informal)

  19–20

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  19–20

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  20–23

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  23–25

  Helsinki

  Environment Ministers (Informal)

  28–30

  Brussels

  EU-ACP Ministerial Meeting

  August 1999

  No Council Business

  September 1999

  4–5

  Saariselka

  Foreign Ministers (Informal)

  10–11

  Turku

  ECOFIN (Informal)

  12–14

  Tampere

  Agriculture Ministers (Informal)

  13–14

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  13–17

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  120
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Export controls in general apply to all destinations.

  The only country specific export control currently in place on the Republic of Macedonia is Group 3, Part 1, Schedule 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, which prohibits the export without an export licence of certain all-wheel drive utility vehicles capable of off road use, heavy duty recovery vehicles and drop sided trucks.

  This control was introduced to address concerns that such vehicles might be used by para-military groups against British troops deployed on peace-keeping duties in the former Yugoslavia.

  We are currently taking steps to remove this control in respect of the Republic of Macedonia.

  European Union Events
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for June; and if he will list the major European Union events for the next six months. [85608]

  Ms Quin
  The list is as follows:European Calendar: June-November 1999
  This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.
  121

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  16–17

  Turku

  Justice and Home Affairs Ministers (Informal)

  24–25

  Tampere

  Education Ministers (Informal)

  27–28

  Kuopio

  Ministers of Housing

  27–28

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  30 September-1 October

  Helsinki

  Ministerial Conference on Equality between Women and Men

  October 1999

  4–5

  Luxembourg

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  4–5

  Tampere

  Regional Policy Ministers

  4–8

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  6

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  8

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN

  11–12

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  11–12

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council

  15–16

  Luxembourg

  Special European Council

  18–19

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  22

  Luxembourg

  Labour/Social Affairs Council

  24–25

  Helsinki

  Energy Ministers Task Force Meeting

  25–29

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  26

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  28

  Luxembourg

  Research Council

  29

  Luxembourg

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  November 1999

  3–4

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  8

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  8

  Brussels

  Consumer Affairs Council

  9

  Brussels

  Industry Council

  11

  Brussels

  Development Council

  12

  Brussels

  Labour and Social Affairs Council (possible)

  12–13

  Helsinki

  Ministerial Conference on the Northern Dimension

  15–16

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  15–16

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  15–19

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  18

  Brussels

  Health Council

  19

  Brussels

  Youth Council

  22

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council (possible)

  22–23

  Brussels

  EU-ACP Ministerial Meeting (possible)

  23

  Brussels

  Culture and Audiovisual Council

  26

  Brussels

  Budget Council

  26

  Brussels

  Education Council

  29

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  29

  Brussels

  Labour and Social Affairs Council

  30

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  Monthly Forecast of Business: June 1999

  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  1 June 1999—Dresden—Agriculture Ministers (Informal)

  No formal agenda

  3–4 June 1999—Cologne—European Council

  No formal agenda

  7 June 1999—Luxembourg—Education Council

  Adoption of provisional agenda

  Adoption of list of "A" points

  New generation of programmes

  Leonardo II decision and negotiations on Socrates II (information from Presidency)

  Commission report on Socrates I (information from the Commission and exchange of views)

  Implementation of Leonardo II and Socrates II (information from the Commission)

  Implementation of Europass (information from the Commission)

  Contribution of Education to European Employment Pact (Presidency discussion paper)

  Forward planning in the field of education (Presidency discussion paper)

  (poss.) Conference of European Education Ministers in Budapest on 24–26 June 1999 (information from Presidency)

  Any other business
  122
  8 June 1999—Luxembourg—Health Council

  Morning

  Adoption of the agenda

  (poss.) Approval of the list of "A" items

  Future Community action in the field of public health Draft Council Resolution
  Exchange of views

  Antibiotic resistance—a strategy against the microbial threat
  Draft Council Resolution

  Communicable diseases

  Commission report on the 4th meeting of the EU-United States task force on communicable diseases 8159/99 SAN 52 Commission briefing on development in Europe

  Report on the State of Health in the Community (Migrants) Commission progress briefing

  Health issues in connection with the future enlargement of the community

  (A) Presentation of Commission working paper on "Health and Enlargement"

  (B) Preparation of informal Meeting with the Ministers of the countries applying for accession

  Approval of the annotated agenda

  Informal meeting with the Ministers of the applicant countries Afternoon
  123
  Proposal for a Council recommendation on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields 0 HZ-3000 GHZ (0)

  (Legal basis: Article 152(4), second sub-paragraph)

  Adoption 9620/98 SAN 107 ECO 230

  Integration of health protection requirements in Community policies

  Draft Council conclusions

  Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSES)

  Exchange of views

  Other business

  (A) WHO tobacco free initiative

  (Request by the Netherlands delegation)

  (B) Non-conventional medicine

  (Request by the Belgian Delegation)

  (0) Item on which a vote may be taken

  10 June 1999—Luxembourg—Fisheries Council

  Adoption of the agenda

  Approval of the list of "A" items

  Proposal for a Council regulation laying down the details rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (X)

  Legal basis: Article 37 of the Treaty

  Final adoption

  DOC. 13605/98 PECHE 413

  Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a list of types of behaviour which seriously infringe the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (X)
  Legal basis: Article 37 of the Treaty Final adoption

  DOC. 6030/99 PECHE 31

  (poss.) Proposal for a Council regulation allocating the fishing possibilities for certain fish stocks and modifying regulation no. 48/99 (in particular the allocation of tacs for blue whiting and for new tacs for spurdog and northern shrimps) (X) (Commission proposal awaited)

  Final adoption

  Fisheries agreements with third countries: cost/benefit analysis State of play (oral report by the Commission)

  Fisheries relations with Morocco

  North Sea Conference—Intermediate Ministerial Meeting (IMM) 13–14 March 1997 Bergen, Norway—follow-up

  Report by the Commission

  (poss.) Presentation of Commission communication to Council and Parliament

  Conservation of sandeels

  Oral report on state of play by the Commission (at the request of the UK delegation)

  Other business

  Situation in the Adriatic as a consequence of the events in Kosovo (at the request of the Italian delegation)

  Organisation of future work

  (X) Item on which a vote may be requested.

  10–13 June 1999—European Parliament Elections

  14 June 1999—Luxembourg—ECOFIN (possible)

  No agenda yet available

  14–15 June 1999—Luxembourg—Agriculture Council
  No agenda yet available

  17–18 June 1999—Luxembourg—Transport Council

  No agenda yet available

  21 June 1999—Luxembourg—Internal Market Council

  No agenda yet available
  124
  21–22 June 1999—Luxembourg—General Affairs Council

  No agenda yet available

  22 June 1999—Luxembourg—Labour and Social Affairs Council (possible)

  No agenda yet available

  24–25 June 1999—Luxembourg—Environment Council

  No agenda yet available

  28 June 1999—Luxembourg—Culture and Audiovisual Council

  No agenda yet available

  28–29 June 1999—Rio de Janeiro—EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit

  No agenda yet available.

  Sudan
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 May 1999,Official Report, column 241, if the United States has informed him that it remains its position that chemical weapons materials related to international terrorism were being produced at the pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum in Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [85460]

  Mr. Hoon
  The US Government have not informed us of a change in their position on this issue.

  Balkan Conflict (Legality)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the charges made against the British Government by the Government of Yugoslavia in the International Court of Justice at the Hague in respect of the conflict in Yugoslavia; what has been his response; and if he will make a statement. [85341]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The application instituting proceedings and the request for interim measures in the case brought by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia against the United Kingdom at the International Court of Justice will be placed in the Library of the House, together with the oral statements made on behalf of the FRY and the UK at the hearing on the request for interim measures which was held from 10 to 12 May.

SCOTLAND

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the National Union of Students in Scotland to discuss tuition fees. [84135]

  Dr. Reid
  Scottish Office Ministers meet representatives of the higher education sector, including the National Union of Students in Scotland, from time to time. A range of issues are discussed.

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

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the vice-chancellors of Scottish universities to discuss tuition fees. [84140]
  125
  Dr. Reid
  Scottish Office Ministers meet representatives of the higher education sector, including the Vice Chancellors of Scottish Universities, from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

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

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of students attending Scottish universities to discuss tuition fees. [84144]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Scottish Office Ministers meet representatives from the higher education sector, including students, from time to time. A wide range of issues are discussed.

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

  Pathfinder Report
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking in response to the pathfinder report published in late March. [84136]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Pathfinders to the Parliament report has been widely disseminated. The report has allowed business to generate ideas for early consideration by the Scottish Parliament and it is now for the Parliament and Scottish Executive, in partnership with business and industry, to consider and, if appropriate, to take forward the recommendations in the report.

  Clydeside Industries
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the prospects for shipbuilding and related industries on Clydeside. [84137]

  Dr. Reid
  Three of the four shipyards on the Clyde have healthy order books. A Task Force has been appointed by the Under-Secretary, my noble Friend Lord Macdonald to help identify potential purchasers for the fourth yard, Kvaerner Govan, and has achieved real progress towards this end.

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

  Social Inclusion Strategy
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's social inclusion strategy. [84139]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Government are taking forward a wide-ranging and well resourced programme of action to promote social inclusion in Scotland. Our social inclusion strategy was published on 1 March this year. The work taken forward under the strategy will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Elections (Scottish Parliament)
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the system for elections to the Scottish Parliament. [84141]
  126
  Dr. Reid
  I have no plans to review the system of elections to the Scottish Parliament.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to provide RSA funding for the development of clusters of industrial and biotechnology institutions. [84143]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Regional Selective Assistance is available for qualifying investment projects carried out in the Assisted Areas, including projects in the biotechnology sector.

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

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in reducing the number of beds which are blocked in Scottish hospitals. [84145]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Health Boards in Scotland continue to work with their local authority partners in addressing all avenues to reduce delays in discharge from NHS care.

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

  European Union Funding
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress being made to determine the boundaries for Objective 2 status funding by the European Union. [84146]

  Mr. Macdonald
  We are currently consulting on this and will submit to the European Commission proposals for eligible areas for Objective 2.

  Anti-drugs Strategy
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's anti-drug abuse strategy. [84147]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Government recently enhanced the approach to tackling drug misuse in Scotland with the publication of "Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership". This document establishes a new framework of co-operation across agencies and communities in the implementation of a programme of comprehensive action throughout Scotland.

  From 1 July 1999, it will be for the Scottish Parliament to consider the strategy set out in "Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership" and continue the task of reducing drug misuse in Scotland.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator to discuss the implementation of Her Majesty Government's anti-drugs strategy in Scotland. [84131]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Secretary of State has not met formally with the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, but the former Minister for health and the arts in Scotland, my hon. Friend the Member for
  127
  Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith), has discussed Scotland's contribution to the UK Government's drugs strategy with Mr. Hellawell. This is set out in "Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership", which was launched in March 1999.

  From 1 July 1999, it will be for the Scottish Parliament to consider the strategy set out in this document.

  Gartcosh
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet Lanarkshire Development Agency to discuss the industrial and jobs potential at Gartcosh. [84148]

  Mr. Macdonald
  I have no immediate plans to meet with Lanarkshire Development Agency to discuss the industrial and jobs potential at Gartcosh. The previous Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Anniesland (Mr. Dewar), and the Prime Minister met with Lanarkshire Development Agency on 8 April to discuss inward investment and the opening of a new call centre at Cumbernauld. North Lanarkshire Council and Lanarkshire Development Agency have formed a Partnership to promote the regeneration of the Gartcosh site as a strategic industrial location capable of being marketed throughout the UK and internationally. The partnership is investing £11.6 million to transform the site into a fully-serviced 200 acre industrial park, which will be capable of accommodating up to 5,000 jobs and attracting substantial new investment into Lanarkshire.

  Oil Industry Task Force
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the work of the oil industry task force. [84149]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Oil and Gas Industry Task Force is examining a number of key areas vital to the long term future of the UK oil and gas industry. The priorities for action are Competitiveness, Skills and Training, Innovation and Technology, Fiscal Administration, Regulation and Licensing, Sustainable Development, and Long Term Vision. As a result of the work undertaken in the Task Force so far, a number of measures to boost oil and gas exploration and development were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Industry on 31 March.

  The Task Force is expected to make final recommendations by the summer.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the extent of his responsibilities following the creation of the Scottish Executive. [84150]
  128
  Dr. Reid
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Members for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) and for Bromsgrove (Miss Kirkbride).

  Funding (Health and Education)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received this year on(a) higher and further education funding and (b) NHS funding. [84151]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Scottish Office Ministers and officials have had regular contact with a wide range of institutions and interests in further and higher education. Issues arising have included matters relating to funding and I have been particularly pleased by the warm response from both sectors to our commitment to invest significantly in further and higher education throughout the three year Comprehensive Spending Review period.

  Representations on NHS funding have been received from a variety of bodies. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review an additional investment of £1.8 billion is being made available in the NHS in Scotland over the next three years. A further £37.1 million over the next three years was provided in the March budget for Capital Modernisation.

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

  Infant Deaths
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a confidential case inquiry into each incident of sudden unexpected infant death in Scotland. [84152]

  Mr. Macdonald
  I have no plans to do so. There is already a significant body of evidence relating to the epidemiology of sudden unexpected infant death. This is consistent with Health Departments' guidance and advice on reducing the risk of cot death. The Government will continue to support biomedical and health service research into this important topic, alongside the valuable work of voluntary agencies, such as the Scottish Cot Death Trust, to help find out how sudden unexpected infant death might be reduced further.

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

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact on small businesses of the flat rate levy to fund the new Food Standards Agency. [84153]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The possible impact of the levy has been discussed with representatives from small business organisations at a series of consultation seminars across Scotland. We have also received a large number of responses to the public consultation on the charging proposals. We are considering these responses—including suggestions for alternative proposals—before deciding how to proceed.

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

  NHS Reform
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the reform of the NHS. [84154]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Our broad plans to modernise the NHS in Scotland were set out in the White Paper "Designed to Care", which we published in December 1997. That programme is now being implemented in detail, and the primary legislation required is currently before Parliament. Our intention now is to consolidate the modernisation process.

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

  EU Structural Funds
  Mrs. McKenna
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in deciding the future of European structural funds in Scotland. [84155]

  Mr. Macdonald
  We have made good progress. At the Berlin Summit in March, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister secured a special aid package for the Highlands and Islands, and we are now consulting on Objectives 2 and 3.

  Millennium Bug
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the degree of preparedness for the Year 2000 and the millennium bug of the pharmacy practice division of the Common Services Agency of the Scottish Health Service. [84867]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Common Services Agency has an extensive programme for Year 2000 preparedness. In the case of the Pharmacy Practice Division, the decision was taken to replace the existing old and largely manual system with a completely new system which incorporates high speed Intelligent Character Recognition. I am advised by the General Manager of the CSA that best current estimates from the suppliers indicate that the new

  AIDS cases not known to be dead as at 31 December of selected years by health board of AIDS registration, and for Scotland, as at 31 March 1999

  Health Board

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1998

  1999

  Argylle & Clyde

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  3

  3

  Ayrshire & Arran

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Borders

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dumfries & Galloway

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fife

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  15

  15

  Forth Valley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grampian

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  7

  7

  Greater Glasgow

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  1

  10

  13

  77

  78

  Highland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Lanarkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  5

  Lothian

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  6

  15

  25

  106

  110

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tayside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  4

  26

  24

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Scotland

  0

  0

  0

  3

  7

  9

  29

  46

  243

  246

  Note:

  This table is based on year of AIDS diagnosis.

  Source:

  The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health AIDS/HIV Register
  130
  system will complete testing and come into operation before the end of this calendar year, and that robust contingency plans are being developed to ensure continuity of payments to pharmacy contractors.

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

  HIV/AIDS
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the cumulative number of people who had been diagnosed HIV positive (i) broken down by probable means of transmission and (ii) in total in(a) Scotland and (b) each health board area of Scotland, for each year from 1981 to 1988, in 1998 and for 1999 to date; [84823]

  (2) how many people were newly diagnosed HIV positive (i) broken down by probable means of transmission and (ii) in total in (a) Scotland and (b) each health board area of Scotland, for each year from 1981 to 1988, in 1998 and for 1999 to date. [84822]

  (3) if he will list the cumulative number of people who had been diagnosed HIV positive and not known to have died (i) broken down by probable means of transmission and (ii) in total in (a) Scotland and (b) each health board area of Scotland, for each year from 1981 to 1988, in 1998 and for 1999 to date. [84824]

  Mr. Macdonald
  I shall write to my right hon. Friend in view of the extent of the information requested. I shall arrange for a copy of my letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

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

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people diagnosed with AIDS and not known to have died there were in(a) Scotland and (b) each health board area of Scotland in each year from 1981 to 1988, in 1998 and in 1999 to date. [84818]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information is set out in the following table:
  131
  From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people with AIDS died in(a) Scotland and

  AIDS deaths by health board of AIDS registration, and for Scotland, by year of death, as at 31 March 1999

  Health board

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1998

  1999

  Argyll and Clyde

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Borders

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fife

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Forth Valley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grampian

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  1

  0

  Greater Glasgow

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  6

  3

  8

  6

  0

  Highland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Lanarkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Lothian

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  4

  8

  6

  0

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tayside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  8

  2

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Scotland

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  10

  12

  17

  22

  2

  Source:

  The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health AIDS/HIV Register.

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

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the cumulative number of people diagnosed with AIDS in(a) Scotland and (b) each health board area

  Cumulative AIDS cases diagnosed as at 31 December of selected year, by health board of AIDS registration, and for Scotland, as at 31 March 1999

  Health board

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Argyll and Clyde

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  3

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Borders

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fife

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  2

  Forth Valley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Grampian

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  4

  6

  Greater Glasgow

  0

  1

  1

  3

  5

  9

  21

  32

  51

  Highland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Lanarkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  Lothian

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  8

  21

  39

  81

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tayside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  6

  13

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Scotland

  0

  1

  1

  5

  10

  22

  54

  88

  165

  Cumulative AIDS cases diagnosed as at 31 December of selected year, by health board of AIDS registration, and for Scotland, as at 31 March 1999

  Health board

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Argyll and Clyde

  4

  4

  4

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  7

  7

  Ayrshire and Arran

  4

  4

  5

  6

  8

  10

  10

  11

  11

  11

  Borders

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2

  2

  2

  2

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Fife

  3

  4

  4

  8

  11

  16

  22

  26

  27

  27

  Forth Valley

  2

  2

  2

  3

  3

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Grampian

  9

  14

  19

  20

  28

  33

  36

  36

  37

  37

  Greater Glasgow

  74

  107

  130

  161

  188

  213

  227

  249

  257

  258

  132
  (b) each health board area of Scotland in each year from 1981 to 1988, in 1998 and in 1999 to date. [84819]

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

  of Scotland in each year from 1981 to 1998, and in 1999 to date. [84821]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information is set out in the table:
  133

  Cumulative AIDS cases diagnosed as at 31 December of selected year, by health board of AIDS registration, and for Scotland, as at 31 March 1999

  Health board

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Highland

  2

  3

  3

  3

  4

  4

  5

  6

  7

  7

  Lanarkshire

  2

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  11

  12

  15

  15

  Lothian

  121

  160

  198

  266

  310

  367

  404

  428

  441

  445

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tayside

  18

  37

  50

  68

  96

  121

  140

  147

  154

  154

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Scotland

  241

  345

  426

  552

  667

  788

  868

  928

  964

  969

  Source:

  The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health AIDS/HIV Register

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

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the distribution figures across (i) higher and further education institutions in Scotland and (ii) higher and further education courses in Scotland for the Government's target of(a) 750,000 higher and further education places in Scotland, (b) increasing the number of higher and further education places in Scotland by 42,000 and (c) 40,000 full time equivalent places in Scotland by 2001–02. [84876]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The information is not available in the form requested. The table indicates the numbers of students in further and higher education institutions in Scotland, and the distribution across further and higher education courses for 1997–98, the last year for which statistics are available. 42,000 additional student places will be funded over the Comprehensive Spending Review period from 1999–2000 to 2001–02 (40,000 in FE colleges and 2,000 in HE institutions). The distribution of these places between level and mode of delivery will be a matter for the Scottish Further and Scottish Higher Education Funding Councils. We have indicated that institutions should make it a priority to draw additional students from under-represented groups.

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

  HE institutions

  FE institutions1

  Total

  1997–98

  FE courses2

  72,923

  341,941

  414,864

  HE courses

  178,575

  69,124

  247,699

  Total

  251,498

  411,065

  662,563

  1 Provisional

  2 It is possible for a student to be enrolled on more than one course in one year. This is particularly relevant to the part time FE sector. Students are counted for each course on which they enrol.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve energy efficiency and eradicate dampness in housing. [R] [84142]

  Mr. Macdonald
  A new Warm Deal will be introduced on 1 July providing a £500 grant to improve energy efficiency for low income households. This year's budget 134
  will be £12 million and the scheme will also create up to 400 places under the New Deal. This will be the best measure yet to provide affordable warmth and tackle damp houses in Scotland.

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

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Office for the Supervision of Solicitors
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received about the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors. [84162]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Lord Chancellor's Department receives many representations about the handling of complaints of inadequate professional service by the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors.

  The Government have increasing concern about the Office and are therefore bringing forward proposals to amend the Access to Justice Bill, which are aimed at improving its performance.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the implications of the Government's proposals for freedom of information for the work of his Department. [84165]

  Mr. Vaz
  Neither I nor my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon) have had any discussions. The Lord Chancellor was actively involved in the collective ministerial discussions which led to the publication of a draft Bill for consultation on 24 May.

  Access to Justice
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received on the impact of his proposals to increase access to justice on poorer people. [84166]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has received representations from a wide range of individuals and interested organisations on all aspects of access to justice.
  135
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to maintain access to justice for rural communities. [84168]

  Mr. Vaz
  Once the Regional Legal Service Committees have established the legal needs of their particular communities, the Legal Service Commission will purchase, as far as possible within the financial resources available, the most appropriate quality assured legal service to meet those needs. Provision and need will then continue to be monitored by the Regional Legal Service Committees for both level and standards of service and adjusted appropriately. Additionally, if necessary, special provision can be made, such as solicitors having to travel to their clients, and the use of telephone advice and outreach services is also being developed to improve access to justice for all.

  Community Legal Service
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the impact of the proposed community legal service on representation at tribunals. [84167]

  Mr. Vaz
  It would generally be premature to decide what changes to make in respect of help with tribunal cases until the Government have completed their review of whether tribunal arrangements, including representation, meet our ECHR and EU obligations. Meanwhile, advice and assistance short of representation is, and will remain, available for tribunal cases.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department since May 1997 how many(a) male, (b) female, (c) white, (d) black and Asian, (e) over 60-year-old and (f) under 30-year-old magistrates have been appointed. [84169]

  Mr. Vaz
  The information requested is only available from 1 January 1997 to 31 March 1999 and is as follows:

  (a) 1,591 male magistrates appointed

  (b) 1,635 female magistrates appointed

  (c) 3,021 white magistrates appointed

  (d) 95 black and 110 Asian magistrates appointed

  (e) 56 magistrates over the age of 60 appointed

  (f) 42 magistrates under the age of 30 appointed.

  Ogden Tables Working Party
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will implement the recommendations of the Ogden tables working party to set a rate of return of two per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [84932]

  Mr. Vaz
  The discount rate to be applied in the calculation of damages for personal injuries and fatal accidents cases affects the interests of both plaintiffs and 136
  defendants. The Lord Chancellor will be issuing a consultation paper next month canvassing views on how the rate should be set, and reviewed, before deciding whether and how to exercise the power to set the rate conferred on him by Section 1 of the Damages Act 1996.

  Magistrates (Doncaster)
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates sit on the Doncaster Magistrates Bench; and how many of those magistrates reside in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency. [84986]

  Mr. Vaz
  There are currently 184 magistrates on the Doncaster Bench and of those, 16 reside in the Barnsley, East and Mexborough constituency.

  Magistrates (Barnsley)
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates sit on the Barnsley Magistrates' Bench; and how many of those magistrates reside in the Barnsley, East and Mexborough constituency. [84987]

  Mr. Vaz
  There are currently 129 magistrates on the Barnsley Bench and of those, 11 reside in the Barnsley, East and Mexborough constituency.

  Unified Civil Rules
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the court service's performance in introducing the new, unified civil rules and related procedural reforms. [84159]

  Mr. Vaz
  Implementation of the Civil Procedure rules took place only four weeks ago, on Monday 26 April. It is therefore a little early to assess the Court Service's performance in detail. However, that the first stage of implementation of the reforms is going well is thanks to the efforts of everyone who worked so hard to achieve implementation on time.

TREASURY

  Domestic Fuel Bills
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Government have made of the effects in percentage terms on average domestic fuel bills of(a) the introduction of competition into the domestic gas market, (b) the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel and (c) the windfall tax, over the period since each measure was introduced. [84660]

  Ms Hewitt
  According to latest DTI figures, the combined impact of competition and regulation has reduced the average domestic gas bill by around 16.5 per cent. in
  137
  real terms since competition was first introduced into the domestic gas market in 1996.

  Assuming no demand effects, the reduction in the VAT rate on domestic fuel from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent. in September 1997 reduced the average domestic fuel bill by just under 3 per cent.

  In his Budget speech in July 1997, the Chancellor said that the windfall tax could be paid without any impact on prices. It is the Government's view that domestic fuel bills have not been affected by the windfall tax. The energy regulators have publicly supported this view.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to review the classification of community psychiatric nurses as essential users of cars; [84577]

  (2) if he will publish the studies commissioned by him into the essential use of cars by community psychiatric nurses. [84578]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 18 May 1999]: The Chancellor has not commissioned any studies into the use of cars by community psychiatric nurses and he has no plans to do so. Community psychiatric nurses provided with small cars with low carbon dioxide emissions, in which they drive low business mileage, stand to benefit from the fundamental reform of company car tax to be implemented from April 2002.

  Euro
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the euro will be adopted as the currency in French overseas territories. [84901]

  Ms Hewitt
  The euro is the currency of the French overseas Departments and of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Mayotte. The euro has not been adopted as the currency of the French overseas territories.

  UK Payments (EU)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what currency the UK's contribution to the EU is made. [84902]

  Ms Hewitt
  United Kingdom gross contributions to the EC Budget are made in pounds sterling.

  Millennium Gift Aid
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons(a) Jordan, (b) Syria, (c) Lebanon and (d) the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are excluded from the list of countries eligible for Millennium Gift Aid; and if he will make a statement. [84903]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Millennium Gift Aid scheme (MGA) was introduced in 1998 as part of the Government's138
  initiative to relieve the debt burden in developing countries. MGA provides tax relief for donations to UK charities for educational and anti-poverty projects in the world's poorest countries. The relief applies to the 80 countries that are eligible for lending either by the International Development Association (IDA), or jointly by the IDA and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, both organisations of the World Bank. Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are not on the World Bank list.

  On 6 April 1999 the Chancellor announced that MGA is to be extended to cover donations to UK charities to help the Kosovan refugees. This is in response to the urgent humanitarian crisis in Kosovo and to assist charities with their emergency fund-raising appeals. There are no plans to add further to the causes that are eligible for MGA.

  There is a range of tax reliefs for giving to charity, apart from MGA, which apply to all charitable causes. In addition, the Review of Charity Taxation has proposed extending the advantages of MGA to all charitable causes after 31 December 2000.

  Overseas Debt
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's policy on reductions in debt service payments after a country has emerged from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative; and if he will make a statement. [84961]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for International Development have called for an enhanced HIPC initiative which will provide debt relief faster, deeper and wider than is currently delivered. The UK has stressed the importance of early debt service reductions, and thereby of releasing funds for programmes that reduce poverty.

  Superannuation Schemes
  Ms Stuart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) current and (b) deferred members there are in (A) the (i) police, (ii) fire service, (iii) principal Civil Service, (iv) National Health Service, (v) armed forces and (vi) local government pension schemes and (B) the teachers' superannuation scheme. [85271]

  Mr. Milburn
  The administration of public service pension schemes is the responsibility of various other Government Departments or local authorities, not Her Majesty's Treasury. The latest information held centrally, which has been supplied by the responsible Departments, is as follows.
  139

  Responsible department

  Pension schemes

  Current members

  As at

  Deferred members

  As at

  Home Office1

  Police (E, W & Sc)2

  140,000

  31 March 1999

  —4

  —

  Home Office1

  Firefighters (E, W & Sc)2

  38,000

  31 March 1998—4

  —4

  —

  Cabinet Office

  Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme

  510,000

  30 September 1997

  237,000

  30 September 1998

  Department of Health

  National Health Service (England & Wales)

  892,000

  31 March 1999

  240,000

  31 March 1999

  Scottish Office1

  NHS (Scotland)

  108,000

  31 March 1999

  60,000

  31 March 1999

  Ministry of Defence

  Armed Forces

  212,000

  1 April 1997

  238,000

  1 April 1997

  Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions

  Local Government (England and Wales)2

  1,328,000

  31 March 1998

  386,000

  31 March 1998

  Scottish Office1

  Local Government (Scotland)2

  157,0003

  31 March 1998

  36,0003

  31 March 1998

  Department for Education and Employment

  Teachers (England and Wales)

  558,000

  31 March 1997

  151,000

  31 March 1997

  Scottish Office1

  Teachers (Scotland)

  66,000

  31 March 1999

  41,000

  31 March 1999

  1From 1 July 1999 responsibility for police, fire, NHS, local government and teachers' pensions in Scotland will pass to the Scottish Executive.

  2 These schemes are administered by local authorities, which provide any data.

  3 Provisional figures.

  4 Not available centrally.

  VAT
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the proposed new VAT exemption categories available to VAT-registered bodies where VAT is incurred and not recovered on importation, intra-EC acquisition, or production of goods following the judgment of the European Court against the Republic of Italy (Case C-45/95); and if he will make a statement. [85114]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The proposed changes were explained in a technical note, issued on 21 April, which invited comments by 21 May 1999.

  Electronic Transactions
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in achieving the Government's target on electronic transactions with Government; and if he will make a statement. [85100]

  Mr. Milburn
  Good progress is being made by Departments in achieving the overall target of undertaking 90 per cent. of Government low value transactions electronically by 2001. The volume of low value transactions undertaken through the Government Procurement Card continues to double each quarter and currently stands at 58,000 transactions worth £6.5 million.

  The Minister for the Cabinet Office is responsible for the Information Age targets which were set out in the Modernising Government White Paper that 25 per cent. of dealings with the Government should be capable of being done by the public electronically by 2002, 50 per cent. by 2005, and 100 per cent. by 2008. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office will be reporting progress shortly.

  Funding (Advertising)
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Financial Services and Markets Bill is planned to relax existing rules on advertising for funding. [85276]
  140
  Ms Hewitt
  The Financial Services and Markets Bill will introduce an updated and improved regime for the regulation of financial promotions. I announced on 17 March 1999,Official Report, columns 661–62, the publication of a consultation paper. This includes consideration of ways to facilitate informal capital raising to assist small and medium sized firms gain access to investment funding. A number of responses have been received and are being considered.

  London Stock Exchange
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with the Director General of Fair Trading the operation of the rules of the London Stock Exchange as they relate to the publication of information affecting employees of listed companies. [85318]

  Ms Hewitt
  We are in contact as the need arises with the Director General of Fair Trading on competition aspects of the rules of the London Stock Exchange. However, the rules of the Exchange do allow a company at its discretion to undertake confidential consultation with employee representatives before making a public announcement.

  Securities Commissions
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with the International Organisation of Securities Commissions on the relocation of its headquarters to the United Kingdom. [85126]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The application procedure involved cities rather than Governments applying to host the IOSCO headquarters. The Corporation of London's bid was supported by the Prime Minister and by Treasury Ministers.

  International Organisation of Securities Commissions
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the
  141
  relocation of the headquarters or other offices of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions to the United Kingdom. [85127]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: HM Government have supported the Corporation of London's bid for the IOSCO secretariat to relocate to London.

  Endowment Policies
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 May 1999,Official Report, columns 348–49, on endowment policies, what estimate he has made of the size of the traded endowment market. [85123]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The traded endowment market has an estimated value of £250 million per year. In contrast the value of with-profit bonds issued by life offices is £6 billion per year.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 May 1999,Official Report, column 348, on endowment policies, on the basis of what evidence he stated that the prices offered for second-hand endowment policies are tending to converge with surrender values. [85122]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) monitors prices in the industry. FSA reports that some life offices have increased the surrender values of endowment policies, bringing them closer to the typical prices offered on the second hand endowment market.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 May 1999,Official Report, column 348, on endowment policies, what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the scope of the Financial Services Act 1986 to include all dealings in traded endowment policies. [85121]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The important issue is not absolute cost but the need to avoid disproportionate cost. Given the small size of the traded endowment market and the convergence between surrender values and traded endowment prices, the cost of including all dealings within the scope of the Financial Services Act 1986 is likely to exceed any benefits. The Treasury is keeping the situation under review.

  Comparative Earnings
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the average weekly earnings(a) including and (b) excluding overtime for part-time workers in (i) Scotland, (ii) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland and (iii) Great Britain, broken down for men and women in manual employment and non-manual employment and for all workers; [85051]

  (2) if he will list the percentage of workers on adult rates of pay in part-time employment whose hourly earnings (a) including and (b) excluding overtime pay are less than (i) £4.79, (ii) £6.38, (iii) £6.90 and (iv) £3.60 in (1) Scotland, (2) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland and (3) Great Britain, broken down by
  142
  (A) male manual, (B) male non-manual, (C) female manual, (D) female non-manual, (E) all manual, (F) all non-manual and (G) all workers. [85050]

  Ms Hewitt
  [24 May 1999]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Michael Moore, dated 25 May 1999:
  As the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent questions regarding earnings for part-time workers in Scotland, the Scottish local authorities and Great Britain.The New Earnings Survey (NES) can provide earnings data for small geographical areas. However, the release of NES data is restricted to figures which are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees, and have an acceptable level of accuracy. I have provided the available data for Scotland, the Scottish local authorities and Great Britain in the attached tables. These are based on the 1998 NES, the latest survey for which data are available.The NES is based on a one per cent. sample of employees in the PAYE system and is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff earning below the tax threshold and in particular those who work part-time.I will arrange for a copy of this letter to be placed in the Library.

  Green-field and Brown-field Development
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a taxation system that will(a) discourage the development of green-field sites and (b) encourage the development of brown-field land. [85459]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government's policy is to discourage green-field development and to raise the proportion of new homes built on brown-field land. But this is an extremely complicated issue and needs careful analysis. Tax is just one factor in meeting housing policy objectives and it may not be the most effective. Land use planning clearly has a key role.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic situation in the manufacturing sector(a) in the West Midlands region and (b) in the United Kingdom; and what steps he is taking to encourage growth in the sector. [85135]

  Ms Hewitt
  Recent surveys have shown an improvement in confidence among manufacturers across the country and there is a widespread consensus that manufacturing output will strengthen into 2000. The Government believe that the best way they can support all sectors of business is by delivering long-term stability—based on low inflation and sound public finances—and by working with business to help improve Britain's productivity performance.

  BBC
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the commercial operations of the BBC are subject to Treasury approval. [85347]

  Mr. Milburn
  The commercial operations of the BBC are subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

  Yugoslav Nationals Resident in UK
  Yugoslav Nationals Resident in UK
  President Milosevic
  President Milosevic
  Kosovo: Objectives
  Kosovo: Objectives
  Human Rights Commission: Availability of Reports
  Human Rights Commission: Availability of Reports
  Pakistan: Arrest of Mr. Najan Sethi
  Pakistan: Arrest of Mr. Najan Sethi
  Tunceli, Turkey
  Tunceli, Turkey
  Mr. Akin Birdal
  Mr. Akin Birdal
  Israel-Lebanon Monitoring Group
  Israel-Lebanon Monitoring Group
  Rambouillet Accords
  Rambouillet Accords
  Kosovar Refugee Camps: Control
  Kosovar Refugee Camps: Control
  NATO Use of Force in Yugoslavia
  NATO Use of Force in Yugoslavia
  Euro-Atlantic Area
  Euro-Atlantic Area
  European Council and European Union: Forthcoming Business
  European Council and European Union: Forthcoming Business
  Chess as a Sport
  Chess as a Sport
  Fish Landings: French Limits
  Fish Landings: French Limits
  EU Parliamentary Candidates: Age Restriction
  EU Parliamentary Candidates: Age Restriction
  Macpherson Report: Leak
  Macpherson Report: Leak
  Bookmakers' Committee
  Bookmakers' Committee
  E. coli and Use of Organic Waste on Land
  E. coli and Use of Organic Waste on Land
  Agriculture Council, 17–18 May
  Agriculture Council, 17–18 May
  Millennium Dome
  Millennium Dome
  Atypical Antipsychotic Medication
  Atypical Antipsychotic Medication
  E.Coli Contamination of Vegetables
  E.Coli Contamination of Vegetables
  Hearing Loss
  Hearing Loss
  Medicines (Advertising Regulations): Independent Review Panel
  Medicines (Advertising Regulations): Independent Review Panel
  Anti-epileptic Drugs in Pregnancy
  Anti-epileptic Drugs in Pregnancy
  Liverpool: Trolleybus Scheme
  Liverpool: Trolleybus Scheme
  Structural Funds: Objective 2 Designations
  Structural Funds: Objective 2 Designations