Written Answers of 1 November 1999

PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to a letter dated 12 October 1999 from Dr. S. L. McKee of Devisdale Road, Bowdon, regarding his decision to appoint the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. [95333]

  The Prime Minister
  My Office did so on Friday 22 October 1999.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 26 July 1999,Official Report, column 27, concerning his meeting with KLA officials on 18 May, who were the officials referred to in his answer. [95419]

  The Prime Minister
  At the meeting, which was held in Tirana, Albania, I was accompanied by my Foreign Affairs Private Secretary, a senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office official and an interpreter.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister how many bodies of victims of war crimes, by nationality, have been uncovered in Kosovo. [95545]

  The Prime Minister
  The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which is responsible for investigating alleged war crimes in Kosovo, is collating the results of forensic work undertaken over the last four months. UK forensic teams have made a major contribution to this work. Within the next few weeks, ICTY should be able to confirm the number of bodies of victims which have been uncovered. Our estimate is that at least 10,000 civilians were killed between June 1998 and June 1999. Most of the victims have been Kosovar Albanians although the bodies of some Serbs have also been recovered.

  British Business Initiative
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 26 July 1999,Official Report, column 26, what criteria are used to assess the effectiveness of the work of the Ambassadors for British Business, initiative. [95785]

  The Prime Minister
  The Ambassadors for British Business Initiative is a voluntary scheme in which participating business leaders make time when overseas on company business to promote the UK's wider commercial interests. The main criterion used to assess the effectiveness of the Ambassadors for British Business initiative is feedback from the Heads of our overseas 2
  posts. This has shown that the Ambassadors for Business are achieving their objectives of promoting and raising the profile of British Business

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those areas(a) the EU Presidency, (b) the Commission and (c) the Government have expressed a willingness to discuss at the forthcoming Inter governmental Conference. [95543]

  The Prime Minister
  Neither the Presidency nor the Commission has yet formally stated its position on the IGC. The Presidency is currently preparing a report that it will present to the Helsinki European Council in December. The Dehaene Report, published on 18 October, was commissioned to feed ideas into the Commission before the next IGC. The Commission will now consider the report and submit its formal opinion in due course.

  The Government, along with the other member states outlined their position at the European Council in Cologne. This called for an IGC dealing primarily with the institutional issues not resolved at Amsterdam (Commission size, vote reweighting, possible extension of QMV). The Government will issue a White Paper before the IGC begins next year.

  Ministers
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total number of Government Ministers on 1 January for each year since 1979. [96190]

  The Prime Minister
  The information is given in the table for January each year.

  Date

  Number of ministers

  22 January 1979

  109

  21 January 1980

  106

  19 January 1981

  106

  18 January 1982

  107

  17 January 1983

  107

  16 January 1984

  102

  14 January 1985

  106

  20 January 1986

  106

  12 January 1987

  107

  11 January 1988

  105

  16 January 1989

  106

  15 January 1990

  106

  21 January 1991

  108

  20 January 1992

  108

  18 January 1993

  108

  11 January 1994

  107

  10 January 1995

  109

  10 January 1996

  109

  9 January 1997

  109

  13 January 1997

  109

  12 January 1998

  113

  11 January 1999

  115

  27 October 1999

  109

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from pensioners on the subject of the April 2000 pensions uprating since the publication of the RPI for the year to September 1999. [96191]
  3
  The Prime Minister
  Since 12 October, my Office have received approximately 800 letters about the uprating of pensions.

  European Charter of Rights
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what statements he has made concerning the decisions made at the European Councils, at Cologne, and at Tampere relating to the establishment of a body to draw up the text of a draft European charter of human rights; and what action is now planned by Her Majesty's Government to implement that decision. [96500]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 28 June 1999,Official Report, column 20, following the decisions of the Cologne European Council.

  The then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon), wrote to the Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) and the Chairman of the European Communities Committee in the Other Place (Lord Tordoff) on 7 October enclosing the Presidency's proposals for the practical arrangements governing the Charter drafting body. These were finalised and agreed by Heads of Government at Tampere, and are annexed to the Tampere conclusions, copies of which were deposited in the Libraries on 19 October. The first meeting of the drafting body is scheduled for 17 December. I will be nominating a representative shortly.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the means by which hon. Members will be selected to serve on the drafting body of the working group to establish a European Charter of Rights. [96584]

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to Madam Speaker and to my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor on 19 October inviting them to nominate two hon. Members and two alternates.

  Government Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the targets to be met by central Government(a) set and (b) announced by him since May 1997, indicating in each case (i) the target to be met and (ii) the date by which it is to be met. [95820]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: The extra investment that the Government have made, particularly in our key priority areas of health and education, is conditional on achieving higher standards, improved productivity and the modernisation of all our public services. Public Service Agreements set out what departments will deliver by when in return for these additional resources.

  Central government itself does not have specific targets beyond those which are the responsibility of the Cabinet Office. The full list of the Government's manifesto commitments, together with a summary of progress to date on each of them, is contained in the Government's Annual Report (Cm 4401).

  Chinese President (State Visit)
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with Chinese President Jiang Zemin about the political future of Tibet during the State Visit this week. [94928]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: I discussed Tibet with President Jiang Zemin at Downing Street on 21 October both during our bilateral talks, and at the lunch which followed. It is the Government's firm view that Tibetans should have a greater say in running their own affairs in Tibet. The best way to achieve this is through dialogue between the Chinese and the Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama. We take every opportunity to encourage both sides to enter into such dialogue.

  In his discussion with the Chinese Foreign Minister on 20 October 1999, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary again urged the Chinese to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama on the future of Tibet. The Chinese replied that the door for dialogue was open provided the Dalai Lama discarded his proposals for independence and recognised one China, including Taiwan as a province.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications his office had with (i) other Government departments and (ii) police forces, pertaining to the treatment of demonstrators during the state visit by the President of China. [96580]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations were made by his office to(a) the Metropolitan Police, (b) the Royal Parks Police and (c) Cambridgeshire Police about the policing of the state visit of the President of China. [96491]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 October 1999]: None.

  Tampere Presidency
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister what additional co-operation, under paragraph 11 of the Tampere Presidency Conclusions, is intended with respect to(a) combating poverty, (b) preventing conflicts and (c) ensuring rights for women and children; what Treaty base will apply; what budget sums will be involved; and what budget line will be their source. [96576]

  The Prime Minister
  These issues are covered under paragraph 11 in Section AI of the Tampere Presidency Conclusions. The intention is that these issues should be pursued as part of the future work of the High Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration, whose mandate was extended by the Special European Council at Tampere.

  Appropriate Treaty bases and budgetary issues will be considered as implementation of the Action Plans progresses.

  It is unlikely that implementation could be undertaken within existing resources and the UK will give careful consideration to the financial implications of any specific measures which emerge.

  Secretary for Appointments
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister when the name of his new Secretary for Appointments will be announced; what process was used to recruit and select the new secretary; who is the head of the department to which the secretary is responsible; and what is his job specification. [966581

  The Prime Minister
  The name of my new Secretary for Appointments was announced on 11 October. He is William Chapman, a career civil servant on secondment from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The selection process, including an interdepartmental trawl, was based on normal Civil Service appointment practices. My Principal Private Secretary has line management responsibility for this post. The Secretary for Appointments advises me on a wide range of Crown Appointments and on a number of appointments which I make in my own right; he also offers advice on related policy matters and undertakes duties in relation to the honours system. The Appointments Secretary also acts as Ecclesiastical Secretary to the Lord Chancellor, with overall responsibility for advising on the appointments to certain cathedral canonries and parishes.

  European Union
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Prime Minister what opinion research the Government have commissioned on attitudes to(a) Economic and Monetary Union and (b) the European Union, indicating the polling organisations used in each case. [96844]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government commissioned a survey on attitudes to Europe, which included questions on EMU, in November 1997. The contract was won by GGC/NOP following a tender process. A copy of the results was placed in the Libraries of the House in April 1998.

  Government Contracts
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the pending Government contracts with French firms. [96843]

  The Prime Minister
  It is established practice under section 7(a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information whose disclosure would prejudice commercial or contractural activities.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Regional Chambers
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to hold referendums on the introduction of elected regional government in England. [95978]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have made clear that, in time, we will allow the people to decide whether they want directly elected regional government in England, but we have not yet set a timetable for holding referendums.
  6
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what have been the set-up costs to date of the regional chambers; and from what sources they have been met. [95977]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The set-up costs of the voluntary regional chambers are a matter for their members. The Government have provided some support in-kind. In the East Midlands, a member of the Government Office staff was seconded to assist with start up arrangements and in the South East the Government Office has provided office space to the chamber.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many regional chambers have been recognised as such under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. [95979]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have designated regional chambers under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 in all eight English regions outside London (where separate arrangements will apply).

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list, by English region (i) the number of full-time equivalent staff employed and (ii) the annual budget for the current year and next year, for each(a) Government office, (b) regional development agency, (c) regional chamber, as designated under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 and (d) local government-based regional body which is not a Government office, regional development agency or designated regional chamber. [96006]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 29 October 1999]: (a) Full-time equivalent staff in each Government Office, as at 1 October 1999, along with the running costs budgets (in £000s) for the current financial year, are in the table. The budgets have not yet been agreed for next year. The Government Offices' Central Unit's budget is included as some funds are held centrally.

  Government office

  Staff

  Running costs for 1999–2000

  GO-NE

  227

  8,219.57

  GO-NW

  348

  12,753.60

  GO-YH

  230

  8,632.55

  GO-WM

  219

  9,110.85

  GO-EM

  203

  6,855.04

  GO-E

  156

  6,662.32

  GO-SE

  281

  8,425.80

  GO-SW

  198

  7,611.84

  GO-L

  336

  13,665.43

  Sub total

  2,198

  81,937.00

  GO-CU

  25

  3,756.58

  Total

  2,223

  85,693.58

  (b) Full-time equivalent staff in the Regional Development Agencies, as at 1 April 1999 (the most recent figures available) and administration budgets for this year and next (in £000s) are as follows:

  Regional Development Agency

  Staff

  1999–2000

  2000–2001

  One North East

  203

  9,771

  9,493

  North West

  1821

  12,131

  11,933

  Yorkshire Forward

  174.5

  8,036

  7,852

  7

  Regional Development Agency

  Staff

  1999–2000–

  2000–2001

  Advantage West Midlands

  118.5

  7,678

  7,509

  East Midlands

  107

  7,155

  6,988

  East of England

  38

  4,803

  4,649

  South East

  60

  5,225

  5,051

  South West

  143

  7,488

  7,322

  Total

  1,026

  62,287

  60,797

  1 Total staff, not full-time equivalents. No separate figure for part-time staff available.

  (c) The budgets and staffing of the voluntary regional chambers are a matter for their members. Details are not held centrally.

  (d) I have placed in the Library details provided by the English Regional Associations of the resources deployed by the constituent authorities of the regional planning bodies. The budgets and staffing of local government-based regional bodies are a matter for the members of such bodies.

  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are currently employed by One North East; and what have been its administration costs since its establishment. [96733]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The number of staff currently employed by One North East is 238 which in the main reflects the number employed by the partner organisations from which it was formed. For 1999–2000, the net indicative allocation for administration costs is £9,711,000 which will be fully utilised.

  Rural White Paper
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Urban White Paper will be published at the same time as the Rural White Paper. [95981]

  Mr. Prescott
  There are important links to be drawn between the Urban and Rural White Papers, and work on the two White papers is proceeding in tandem. No decision has yet been taken on the timing of publication.

  New Houses (Oxfordshire)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many houses he estimates will need to be built in Oxfordshire by 2016. [96561]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Requirements for future house building in Oxfordshire are currently under review as part of the preparation of Regional Planning Guidance for the South East. This guidance will set out housing requirements by county, including Oxfordshire, for the years 1996 to 2016. An independent Panel examined draft proposals prepared by local authorities at a Public Examination over the summer. The report setting out the conclusions of this panel has recently been received by the Secretary of State who will examine its recommendations very closely. It is anticipated that a draft 8
  version of regional planning guidance following on from this exercise will be published early in the new year, and a period of consultation on the proposals will allow interested parties to respond before full guidance is issued by the Secretary of State later in the year.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development met in 1999. [96556]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My understanding is that the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development will have met six times in plenary session during 1999.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to publish new indicators on sustainable development. [96558]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We plan to publish within the next couple of months a report giving details and analysis of around 150 indicators of sustainable development, which underpin the Strategy "A better quality of life", published in May 1999.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often the British Government Panel on Sustainable Development met in 1999. [96557]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My understanding is that the British Government Panel on Sustainable Development will have met six times during 1999.

  Brown-field Sites
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has issued to local authorities relating to the use of brown-field sites for housebuilding in areas where there is a lack of such sites; and if his target of two thirds use of brown-field sites for new housebuilding is measured by county. [96043]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: Our draft revision of Planning Policy Guidance note 3: Housing provides guidance on how to accommodate housing needs in all types of areas. It is for authorities to develop their strategies in the light of that guidance. The final version of PPG3 should be published very shortly.

  The Government's national target is that 60 per cent. of new housing, including conversions, should be developed on previously-developed land. Local planning authorities are required to set their own recycling targets, consistent with national and regional targets.

  Travellers
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if powers are currently available to local authorities to enable them to
  9
  prevent repeated incursions on a particular piece of land by the same group of travellers without having to go back to the courts on each occasion; and if he will make a statement. [96711]

  Mr. Mullin
  Section 77(3) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 makes it a criminal offence for a person who has been directed by a local authority to leave land where he is camped without permission, and to return to the same land with a vehicle within three months of the date of the direction. Persons committing an offence under section 77 are liable to a maximum fine of £1.000.

  In proceedings for an offence under this section, it is a defence for the accused to show that his re-entry to the land with a vehicle was due to illness, mechanical breakdown, or other emergency.

  We have no plans to remove the requirement in the 1994 Act for local authorities to obtain a court order before eviction can take place.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list all performance targets set for his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, other than those listed in Public Service Agreements 1999–2002 [Cm 4181], stating in each case(a) the target to be reached and (b) the date by which it was to be reached. [94984]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Department has set out the key performance targets on which it will be judged in its PSA, and the measures of success it will use in the Output and Performance Analysis (OPA) published in March this year. A full list of the targets and target dates for Agencies and Executive NDPBs can be found annually in the Next Steps and Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies report.

  High-level targets not covered by the PSA include:

  Target

  Target date

  Reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide by 80 per cent. against 1980 baselines

  2010

  Reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 30 per cent. against 1988 baselines

  1999

  Achieving air quality objectives in the UK National Air Quality Strategy

  2005

  Reduce road traffic casualties by a third of the average for 1981–85

  2000

  Improve energy efficiency on the Government estate by 20 per cent.

  31 March 2000

  These high-level targets are supported at operational level by numerous targets to ensure delivery by individual units.

  Rural Rail Services
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the provision of rural rail services; and if he will make a statement. [96601]
  10
  Mr. Hill
  Where services are heavily dependent on subsidy, as in rural areas, Passenger Service Requirements reflect closely the level of services operated by British Rail at the time of franchising. We have made available an additional £100 million over the next three years for a new Rail Passenger Partnership scheme aimed specifically at providing support for locally sponsored services that are not commercially viable. This is being administered by the Franchising Director.

  Disability Grants
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what grants are available to disabled people to enable them to fit aids in their homes; what is the maximum total value to an individual of those grants; if they vary in value depending on the type of house; and if he will make a statement. [96695]

  Mr. Mullin
  Disabled facilities grants, which are administered by local housing authorities, are available to disabled people to help them carry out essential adaptations to their homes. Mandatory grants, which are subject to a test of resources, are available up to a maximum of £20,000 per application, but authorities have powers to give additional grant above that level. The value of each grant depends on the cost of the works required and on the resources that the applicant is assessed to have, and is not affected by the type of house occupied by the applicant. Local housing authorities also have powers to give home repair assistance, which is not means-tested, for minor works up to a maximum of £2,000

  Wildlife
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation relating to wildlife; and if he will make a statement. [96698]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government are committed to introducing legislation to improve the protection and management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and to strengthen the enforcement provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. We will take action as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

  Planning Guidance
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the comprehensive list of current planning guidance issued by his Department announced in the Modernising Planning Progress report. [96929]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have today published a list of current planning policy guidance on the Department's website at http://www.databases.detr.gov.uk/planning/npp/. This list, which is the first of its kind, will be a useful tool for local authorities, planners, developers, academics and the general public.

  Besides listing the guidance contained in Departmental Circulars, Planning Policy Guidance Notes, Minerals Policy Guidance Notes and Regional Planning Guidance Notes, the list will also include key statements to Parliament, a list of research reports and best practice

  11
  advice published by the Department. We shall update the list as and when new guidance is issued or existing guidance is modified. In the meantime, we are working to make as many of the documents as possible directly accessible by hypertext link from the list.

  This initiative is a practical demonstration of the government's policy to increase substantially the volume of business transacted by electronic means.

  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what date he will publish Design in the Planning System. [96598]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Good Practice Guide on Design in the Planning System will be an important contribution to our commitment to achieving urban renaissance. It must therefore be right. We therefore intend to publish it once we are satisfied that it is capable of meeting our requirements.

  Housing Subsidy (West Oxfordshire)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on West Oxfordshire District Council's revenue and capital spending of his changes to the negative housing subsidy regime. [96599]

  Mr. Mullin
  My Department will be consulting later this Autumn on the detail of the proposals for changes in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy regime. Consideration of the outcome of that exercise will be required before any decisions are taken. It is too early to say what the impact of any changes will be. The implications for any authority will depend upon both the results of the consultation exercise and conditions pertaining nearer the time that any changes are made.

  Local Government
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions what plans he has for changes to the structure of local government in England. [96689]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  There are no plans at present to reform the structure of local government in England. Our programme of reform for local government is about how councils work and how they can be more in touch with the people whom they serve. This will also give the stability that local government needs in order to deliver an efficient and effective service.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Restraining Orders
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what requirement there is for all parties to be(a) informed and (b) represented before a restraining order can be agreed to by the courts; and if he will make a statement. [96699]

  Jane Kennedy
  Under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, a court sentencing or otherwise dealing with a12
  person convicted of an offence under section 2 or 4 of the Act may make a restraining order under section 5 of the Act to protect the victim of the offence (or any other person mentioned in the order) from further harassment. The defendant would be present at the time of sentence and would be entitled to be represented. The parties in a criminal trial are the prosecution and the defendant. There is no specific requirement for the court to inform the victim or any other person mentioned in the order, or for those persons to be represented at court, before the order is made. In the civil courts, an application for an injunction, the equivalent of a restraining order, would be served on the defendant before the hearing. There is no specific requirement for the defendant to be represented.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all performance targets set for the Lord Chancellor's Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, other than those listed in Public Service Agreements 1999–2002 [Cm 4181], stating in each case(a) the target to be reached and (b) the date by which it was to be reached. [94982]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Department has set out the key performance targets on which it will be judged in its PSA, and the measures of success it will use in the Output and Performance Analyses (OPA) published in March this year. The Lord Chancellor's Department Departmental Reports 1998–99 and 1999–2000 include targets and achievement for the Public Records Office, Her Majesty's Land Registry, and the Northern Ireland Court Service. The targets and target dates for the Court Service Agency and the Public Trust Office can be found annually in the Next Steps Report, and for the Legal Aid Board in the annual Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies Report.

DEFENCE

  Equal Opportunities
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if an action plan for increasing the representation of women in public life has been(a) prepared by his Department and (b) published since November 1998. [94853]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 682.

  UK BVRAAM Competition
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected date on which the Equipment Approval Committee will make its final recommendation for the UK BVRAAM competition. [95347]
  13
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence hopes to reach a decision on the outcome of the competition in the new year.

  Fleet Management
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimates he has made of the savings in each of the next five years through the RAF private finance initiative for the non-combat vehicle fleet management project; [95755]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the economies of scale which could result from a tri-services private finance initiative for non-combat vehicle fleet management; and if he will make a statement. [95795]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  A five year PFI contract for the RAF non-combat vehicle fleet was placed in 1996. It is expected to deliver total savings of almost £6 million in Net Present Value terms against conventional procurement methods. Five further non-combat vehicle PFI projects, covering national tri-Service requirements on a regional basis, are under way. It is not possible at this stage to quantify the savings which are expected from the five tri-Service contracts and the re-let of the RAF contract.

  Departmental Contracts
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tayside North of 19 February 1998,Official Report, columns 842–43, on departmental employees, if he will provide figures for research contracts by region for the most recent financial year. [95366]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The information requested is not available in precisely the form requested. The number and total value of extant research contracts in Financial Year 1998–99 in the following locations is as listed:

  Location

  Number of contracts

  Value of contracts (£)

  (a) London

  82

  11,695,303

  (b) the rest of the South East of England

  250

  274,714,231

  (c) England (including (a) and (b)

  908

  393,879,546

  (d) Scotland

  21

  1,692,493

  (e) Wales

  1

  26,019

  (f) Northern Ireland

  0

  —

  The information cannot be provided by the Regions requested as such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department's police are next due for inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. [96542]

  Mr. Spellar
  The next inspection of the MOD Police by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is due in the year 2001.

  Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to ensure that his Department complies with S.I. 1997 No. 135, the Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997. [96464]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  S.I. 1997 No. 135, the Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997 have been implemented as MOD policy. The instruction was incorporated into the MOD Health and Safety Handbook, Joint Service Publication 375 Volume 2 Chapter 10 in April 1997. A copy of the Joint Service Publication is available in the Library of the House.

  Homosexuals
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the possible cost to his Department of retrospective claims for compensation following the ECHR ruling in the cases of Mr. Prean, Mr. Beckett, Miss Smith and Mr. Grady regarding discrimination in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [96889]

  Mr. Spellar
  In light of the ECHR's judgment on 27 September 1999, the Secretary of State for Defence has authorised that settlement negotiations be entered into with those individuals discharged as a result of their homosexuality who have submitted Employment Tribunal applications.

  As these negotiations are currently underway, I am withholding disclosure of my Department's financial provision for settling these claims under Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Effective Management and Operations of the Public Service) as this information could compromise the negotiations and delay settlement.

  Army Establishment
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the net inflow/outflow figures for the Army for each month since January 1998 to date. [96121]

  Mr. Spellar
  A breakdown of UK Trained Army Personnel inflow and outflow, in the period January 1998 to September/August 1999 (the latest date for which information is presently available), is detailed in the table:

  Month

  Outflow1

  inflow2

  Net flow

  1998

  January

  -1,265

  974

  -291

  February

  -966

  804

  -162

  March

  -899

  1,000

  101

  April

  -932

  867

  -65

  May

  -947

  673

  -274

  June

  -921

  841

  -80

  July

  -936

  892

  -44

  August

  -961

  1,042

  81

  September

  -1,133

  901

  -232

  October

  -985

  872

  -113

  November

  -804

  901

  97

  December

  -795

  593

  -202

  Sub Total

  -11,544

  10,360

  -1,184

  15

  Month

  Outflow1

  Inflow2

  Net flow

  1999

  January

  -1,124

  999

  -125

  February

  -833

  798

  -35

  March

  -909

  749

  -160

  April

  1,053

  970

  -83

  May

  -908

  1,010

  102

  June

  -932

  854

  -78

  July

  -801

  794

  -7

  August

  -822

  969

  147

  September

  -962

  1,024

  62

  Sub Total

  -8344

  8,167

  -177

  1 Outflow of UK Trained Army Personnel, includes natural wastage and voluntary wastage.

  2 Inflow to trained strength from basic training of Regular Army Personnel.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Army recruitment and retention. [96065]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Government inherited a shortfall on Army manning and are committed to achieving full manning by around 2005. We recognise fully that improved recruiting and retention will be key to realising this goal.

  In 1998–99, the Army recruited some 610 officers and 15,609 soldiers, which represents 98 per cent. of the overall recruiting target for the year. It was the best recruiting year for the Army since the beginning of the decade and there are encouraging signs that the momentum is being maintained this year. A broad range of national and regional recruiting initiatives are in hand to encourage young people to view the Army as a career of first choice.

  The rate at which we lose our people has been too high for too many years, and it is one of this Government's highest priorities to rectify the situation. There has been some improvement in retention in the Army in the last two years, but achieving further improvements remains a challenge. The Army has in hand a series of initiatives as part of its Human Resources Strategy. This includes a six month strategic review being undertaken by external consultants to examine the effectiveness of present Army retention policies, which includes field research and making recommendations for improvements, the results of which will inform the Army's personnel management policies. Other measures to improve retention, which have been welcomed by Army personnel, include an improved operational welfare package, life long learning, and the efforts of the Service Families Task Force.

  Depleted Uranium (Iraq)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the amount of uranium dust released in Iraq during the Gulf War from depleted uranium rounds; and what action he proposed to take to manage the risk to public health. [96667]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is assessed that over 860,000 depleted uranium-based ammunition rounds, of varying calibre, were used by Coalition Forces during the Gulf conflict.
  16
  Evaluation of the environmental effects of depleted uranium is ongoing.

  As part of this work, we would, of course, consider any reliable medical or scientific data which may emerge from any source of risk to public health posed by depleted uranium.

  Army Retention Study
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list and summarize the specific areas of research being undertaken as part of the Army's Retention Study. [96837]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Army Retention Study, which is being undertaken under contract by the Hay Management Group, will draw on and initiate structured quantitative and qualitative market research into retention in the Army. In addition to analysis of existing research and retention initiatives, a programme of field research will be conducted to establish a cross section of views from all ranks, and their families, to determine why people leave the Service and to identify trends. Further consultation will take place with Unit Retention Officers, Policy Staffs, and individuals who have recently joined and left the Army, among others. The Study will consider the extent to which current retention policies and initiatives are effective, and identify areas where they can be improved.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the remit of the Army's Retention Study currently being undertaken by the Hay Management Group. [96834]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 705.

  Service Families Task Force
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the (i) particular responsibilities, (ii) manner of operation and (iii) decision-making processes of the Ministerial Group, Families Forum and Working Group that make up the Service Families Task Force. [96836]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Families Forum enables the three Service families associations to raise issues of concern to me and, in turn, allows me to inform them of the progress the Task Force is making. The Ministerial Group identifies the desired outcome to these issues and directs the Working Group of officials to progress them.

  Forensic Experts
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many forensic teams are investigating(a) war graves and (b) sites of war crimes; and which countries they represent. [96097]

  Mr. Hain
  I have been asked to reply.

  Thirteen states have provided investigative teams including forensic experts to assist the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in Kosovo, although forensic investigations have now been scaled down with the onset of winter. They are: the UK, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. The UK was the first

  17
  to send such a team. ICTY also has its own team of investigators including forensic experts working in Bosnia.

  Kosovo
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what organisation is responsible for reporting on numbers of bodies found in graves in Kosovo and on evidence of war crimes committed; when it will report and to whom. [96098]

  Mr. Hain
  I have been asked to reply.

  There is no one organisation responsible for reporting on atrocities in Kosovo. However, the UN Commission for Human Rights has asked the UN High Commissioner to report on atrocities. She has produced two reports in May and September of this year.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bodies were exhumed from the Trepca mine in Kosovo; and what forensic evidence was found that could prove claims that the Trepca mine had been a mass grave. [96096]

  Mr. Hain
  I have been asked to reply.

  The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has conducted extensive investigations at Trepca mine. No bodies have been found there to date. There is no forensic evidence to date to confirm that it was a mass grave site.

  Ascension Island
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts he has made to attract civilian airlines to use Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island; and if he will make a statement. [96035]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  Civil aircraft may use Wideawake Airfield only with the agreement of both the UK and US authorities.

  In December 1998, the UK passed to the United States authorities for consideration, a draft treaty to allow certain types of civil flights into Ascension.

  During the visit of my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the United States on 4-5 October 1999, the United States Government agreed in principle that the airfield should be opened to certain types of civil flights on a limited basis.

  We are encouraging the United States authorities to complete their internal discussions and to secure a mandate for formal negotiations to begin. British Embassy officials in Washington will soon meet State Department officials to take this issue forward.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Archaeology (Funding)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his policy 18
  towards funding of archaeology; what (a) national and (b) EC grants are available; and if he will make a statement. [95299]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Funding for archaeological projects is provided through English Heritage's (EH) archaeology budget (£9.7 million for 1999–2000), of which £4.975 million is provided in grants to outside bodies; archaeology will also feature in other EH funded projects. Developers' contribution to archaeological costs is estimated at £30 million per annum. Although the Local Government Finance Settlement is the best one for seven years, the provision of conservation services in local authorities is kept under review, and, where necessary, EH will continue to fund a number of archaeological posts (costing £150,000 in 1999–2000). Financial assistance has been available from the EU's Raphael fund, which is due to be replaced by the Culture 2000 Framework Programme, under which archaeological projects will be eligible; projects may also qualify for funding under a range of other EU programmes.

  HMG is also funding a two-year project of pilot schemes in six areas of England for the voluntary recording of all archaeological finds, which started in September 1997. The Heritage Lottery Fund is funding a further six pilot schemes from early 1999, extending coverage to more than half the country. An Annual Report and website were launched on 24 March.

  Television News
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will instruct the ITC to obtain from ITV the latest figures showing(a) the change in the numbers watching news on Channel 3 since the abolition of News at Ten and (b) the change in the viewing numbers for the 10 to 10.30 p.m. weekday slot on Channel 3 since the abolition of News at Ten. [95751]

  Janet Anderson
  The Independent Television Commission is monitoring the performance of ITV following changes to its news provision. ITV began their new evening schedule on 8 March, replacing the bulletin at 5.40-6.00 and News at Ten with a half hour news bulletin from 6.30-7.00 and an update from 11.00-11.15. For the four weeks beginning 14 September, the latest figures available to the ITC, the average audiences who were watching news on Channel 3 and the figures for the equivalent weeks in 1999 are as follows:

  Million

  1998

  5.40-6.00

  4.1

  10.00-10.30

  5.6

  Total

  9.7

  1999

  6.30-7.00

  5.5

  11.00-11.15

  3.5

  Total

  9.0

  During this period in 1998, 5.6 million were watching Channel 3 in the 10.00 to 10.30 pm slot and during the same period in 1999, since the rescheduling of News at Ten, this has changed to 6.8 million.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what was the change in the total number of jobs in tourism-related industries in the year to December 1998 in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; [95435]

  (2) what was the change in the total number of jobs in tourism-related industries in the year to December 1998 in (a) London and (b) the north-west of England. [95926]

  Janet Anderson
  The changes in the number of self-employment and employee jobs in the tourism related industries in the year to December 1998 in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland, (e) London and (f) north-west England are shown in the table.

  Region

  December 1997

  December 1998

  Change over the year (%)

  England

  1,510,000

  1,481,000

  -2

  Scotland

  170,000

  171,000

  +0.06

  Wales

  79,000

  82,000

  +4

  Northern Ireland

  43,000

  44,000

  +2

  London

  276,000

  275,000

  -0.4

  North West

  186,000

  183,000

  -2

  Source:

  GB: Employee jobs from Annual Employment Survey and Short Term Employment Survey and self employment jobs from Labour Force Survey (ONS)

  NI: Employee jobs from Northern Ireland Quarterly Employment Survey and self employment jobs from the NI Labour Force Survey (Northern Ireland Office)

  Due to the level of detail required, the self-employment figures are for the winter period of December to February, and therefore do not directly match the reference period for employee jobs (of December).

  Analogue Radio Frequencies
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with(a) commercial radio broadcasters, (b) the BBC and (c) consumer groups regarding the future of analogue radio frequencies. [95126]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: With the collaboration of the DTI's Radiocommunications Agency, my officials are considering the current use of analogue radio frequencies and the scope for new services. Representatives of the commercial radio broadcasters, the Radio Authority, the BBC and the Community Media Association have been invited to participate. One of the key requirements of the licensing process is for applicants to demonstrate consumer need within the licence area and consumer interests will be an important part of our policy consideration. We shall ensure that consumer needs are properly addressed in this review.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list all performance targets set for his Department, agencies and 20
  non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, other than those listed in Public Service Agreements 1999–2002 [Cm 4181], stating in each case (a) the target to be reached and (b) the date by which it was to be reached. [94978]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Department has set out the key performance targets on which it will be judged in its PSA, and the measures of success it will use in the Output and Performance Analyses (OPA) published in March this year. Performance targets, where appropriate, have also been set for the Department's NDPBs and its agency through the production of annual funding agreements. These agreements have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Information on targets and their delivery can also be found in the annual reports and accounts of the agency and non-departmental public bodies. The high level targets which appear in funding agreements, the PSA and the OPA are supported at operational level by numerous targets to ensure delivery by individual units. Listing these operational targets would be inappropriate and disproportionate in terms of resources.

  Broadcasting Standards
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his policy on standards in radio broadcasting. [96605]

  Janet Anderson
  Responsibility for the content of radio services rests with the BBC and the independent broadcasters. The BBC operates within the terms of its Charter and Agreement and undertakes to provide services which are of high general standards in all respects. Independent radio services are licensed and regulated by the Radio Authority under the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. The Authority is under a general duty to facilitate the provision of licensed services which (taken as a whole) are of high quality and offer a wide range of programmes calculated to appeal to a variety of tastes and interests.

  The Broadcasting Standards Commission is responsible under the Broadcasting Act 1996 for producing codes of practice relating to standards and fairness in programmes, considering and adjudicating on complaints and monitoring, researching and reporting on standards and fairness in broadcasting. The BBC and Radio Authority are required, when drawing up or revising their own codes relating to principles and practice, to reflect the general effect of the Broadcasting Standards Commission's codes.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Equal Opportunities
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if an action plan for increasing the representation of women in public life has been(a) prepared by her Department and (b) published since November 1998. [94848]

  Clare Short
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 682.

  China
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by the World Bank in implementing the China western poverty reduction scheme. [95291]

  Clare Short
  An Inspection Panel has just returned from China after conducting an investigation into whether the World Bank violated policies and procedures with regard to the design and appraisal of the Western Poverty Reduction Project. It will now prepare a detailed report for submission to World Bank management. It is anticipated that the report, and the management response to it, will be presented to the Executive Board of the World Bank in February 2000. No disbursement of funding on the Qinghai component of the project will take place until this has happened.

  Departmental Twinning
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many requests there have been to her Department for placement of officials from Central, East European and CIS states as twins of his officials; how many such officials have been accepted as twins; and from which countries(a) those who were accepted and (b) those who were not accepted came. [94005]

  Clare Short
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 739, by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz).

  Health Projects
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received on the reduction in the percentage of Government contributions to sexual and reproductive health projects under the new Civil Society Challenge Fund les. [96515]

  Clare Short
  We have received a number of representations about the funding arrangements for reproductive health activities under the new Civil Society Challenge Fund (CSCF).

  In the spirit of a Challenge Fund, it is important that all our partners demonstrate their commitment and the quality of their projects by raising funds within their own support based or from other donors. However, in recognition of the initial problems likely to be faced by organisations which had access to 100 per cent. funding from the JFS, I have agreed a transitional arrangement under which reproductive health activities will be eligible for 85 per cent. funding in year one of the new Fund, 70 per cent. in year two, and 50 per cent. in year three.

  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the non-Governmental organisations which are receiving 22
  100 per cent. funding for population and reproductive health projects in 1999–2000 through the joint funding scheme. [96514]

  Clare Short
  Eleven NGOs are in receipt of 100 per cent. funding for population, reproductive and sexual health projects from the Joint Funding Scheme in the current financial year:

  Alternative for India Development

  AMREF (Africa Medical and Research Foundation)

  CARE International (UK)

  ICR (International Care and Relief)

  International Family Health

  Marie Stopes International

  The Naz Foundation

  Plan International

  Population Concern

  Population Services International

  Urban Aid

  Democratic Republic of Congo
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the level of UK aid is to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the current financial year; and if she will make a statement. [96708]

  Clare Short
  We hope that the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, which came into effect on 1 September, will bring an end to a war that has caused untold suffering and damage to the region. We continue to urge all parties to implement the agreement in full, but the onus of implementation lies with the parties themselves.

  We and our EU partners have made clear our readiness to help with rebuilding the country, providing there is tangible progress towards respect for human rights, democracy, economic reform and the rule of law. Britain was the first bilateral donor to pledge support to a World Bank managed Trust Fund intended to focus on immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation following the fall of President Mobutu. The conflict has diverted attention away from the key task of establishing the essential economic and governance reforms necessary for utilisation of the Trust Fund. It is vital that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo use the opportunity of the Lusaka Agreement to focus on these issues.

  In the meantime, the UK is responding to demonstrable humanitarian needs where access and security allow. So far this financial year, we have committed over £1.1 million to help both the most vulnerable groups within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the refugee populations in the surrounding countries.

  Bermuda
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the level of UK aid to Bermuda is in the current financial year; and if she will make a statement. [96707]

  Clare Short
  There are no plans for bilateral development assistance expenditure by my Department to Bermuda in the current financial year or thereafter.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Consumer White Paper
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1999,Official Report, column 315, if The Times industrial correspondent was briefed prior to the general press briefing at 12 noon on 22 July 1999. [94302]

  Dr. Howells
  Neither I nor my colleagues spoke to The Times industrial correspondent prior to the general press briefing on 22 July.

  Philippines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if offsetting arrangements were associated with UK defence sales to the Philippines in the mid-1990s. [94802]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I have been asked to reply.

  Offset arrangements have been associated with UK defence exports to the Philippines. Such arrangements are a matter between the contractor(s) and the Philippine Government.

  European State Aid
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions United Kingdom representatives have held with Commission officials over whether to categorise French Government assistance to the Société Marseillaise de Cr édit as state aid; and if he will make a statement. [95297]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Commission has exclusive competence to determine whether an aid is compatible with the Treaty. The Commission is currently investigating the aid granted to Société Marseillaise de Crédit. If, at the end of its investigation, the Commission reaches a negative decision and finds that the aid is not compatible with the Treaty, it may order the French authorities to recover the aid paid with interest. UK representatives have not held any discussions with Commission officials regarding this case.

  Brussels Convention
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is regarding the proposed revision of the Brussels Convention regarding cross-border consumer contract law; and if he will make a statement. [95923]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department is consulting business, consumer and other organisations about the approach the Government should take towards the draft proposal put forward by the European Commission to convert the Convention into a Community Regulation. The DTI hosted a conference for this purpose on 15 October. We are extremely keen to see e-commerce flourish in the EU and our aims are to give consumers confidence and to minimise costs to business.

  Alcohol (Advertising)
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is regarding the advertising of alcoholic drinks; and if he will make a statement. [95925]
  24
  Dr. Howells
  Alcohol advertising is subject to general legislation and other rules relating, for example, to accuracy, truthfulness and decency. In addition, there are specific rules relating to alcohol in the Codes of Practice of the principal bodies controlling advertising in the UK: the Independent Television Commission; the Radio Authority; and the Advertising Standards Authority. These rules are designed to ensure that alcohol advertising is socially responsible. Advertisements should not appeal to young people, should not show alcohol in association with dangerous activities such as driving, sports or operating machinery, and should not give the impression that alcohol improves performance.

  In addition, television advertising is also subject to a European Union Directive. Article 15 of the Television Without Frontiers Directive requires that television advertising for alcoholic drinks must not be aimed specifically at minors or depict minors consuming them. The regulators have reflected this in their Codes of Practice by specifically prohibiting advertisers from directing promotions for drinks containing alcohol at people under eighteen years of age.

  I understand that compliance with the Codes in this area is very high. Relatively few complaints are received about alcohol advertising and we have no reason to believe the system is not working well across the media. My colleagues in the Department of Health are examining the role of advertising in the context of the development of the new alcohol misuse strategy for England.

  Scientific Researchers
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish the results of the Office of Science and Technology studies into the careers, conditions and salaries of young scientific researchers. [95796]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Office of Science and Technology has not commissioned such studies. It supports the Research Careers Initiative, chaired by Sir Gareth Roberts, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, which expects to publish a second report in the new year, surveying progress in improving the career management and development of research staff on fixed-term contracts in universities.

  The first report, from October 1998, is available on the CVCP website at: www.cvcp.ac.uk.

  Working Time Regulations
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the level of compliance by employers with the new Working Time Regulations. [95696]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: The level of compliance with the Working Time Regulations is difficult to assess at this early stage. When the autumn Labour Force Survey is available (early in 2000) it will provide information for some assessment of

  25
  the Regulations to be made. The enforcing authorities are also collecting data, which may be indicative of compliance.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to amend the Working Time Regulations in respect of(a) record-keeping by those who opt out of the 48-hour week and (b) extending the scope of the unmeasured working time exemption; and if he will make a statement. [96700]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Draft regulations to amend the Working Time Regulations, in respect of the requirement to keep records for workers who have opted out of the working time limit and extending the scope of the unmeasured working time exemption, were laid before Parliament on 19 October. They will be debated in both Houses before being made.

  The extension of the 'unmeasured working time' derogation provides greater flexibility for workers who can determine their own hours of work, but have an element of their working time predetermined. The second amendment replaces the requirement to keep records for those who opt-out of the working time limit, with a single requirement to keep a list of those who have signed an opt-out.

  Electrical Installations
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of installing residual current devices on the incidence of fires in domestic dwellings with an electrical cause. [95265]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The DTI has made no formal assessment of the impact of installing residual current devices (RCDs) on the incidence of fires in domestic dwellings with an electrical cause.

  However, the Department has undertaken research into the role and added value of RCDs in the home, including an examination of their potential for preventing fires. The report was published in October 1997 and the contractor was ERA Technology Ltd. A copy of the report "Residual Current Devices—added value for home safety" is available in the Library.

  Defence Trade
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the amount(a) in total and (b) by country of the five nations with the highest amount of such trade, of UK (i) imports and (ii) exports of defence goods and services for the past two years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [95932]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: Information on exports of military equipment during 1997 was included in the Government's Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 25 March 1999. Information for 1998 will be included in the Government's next Annual Report which is currently being prepared.

  Figures for exports of goods prior to 1997, imports of goods and trade in services could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Millennium Trade Round
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are Her Majesty's Government's priorities at the Millennium Round of the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [95729]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The Government's priorities are unchanged from those outlined in the reply given by my predecessor on 21 January 1999, Official Report, columns 548-49.

  Trade Schemes Regulations
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which EU legislation required the introduction of the Trading Schemes (Exclusion) (Amendment) Regulations 1997/1887. [96204]

  Dr. Howells
  There is no such EU legislation.

  Business Links
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of Business Links. [96203]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Small Business Service will develop a network of local Business Link franchises. Key stakeholders involved in existing Business Link local partnerships will be invited to submit proposals to deliver high quality coherent services under the new franchise arrangements. The number of local Business Link areas will be reduced from 81 to 45.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria will be used in determining Business Link boundaries. [96324]

  Ms Hewitt
  On 30 June, a public consultation on the Small Business Service was launched. The Small Business Service will be given responsibility for taking forward the Business Link network.

  In a letter to RDA Chairs in June, RDAs were asked to consult local partners and make recommendations on the boundaries for local delivery of SBS services. The letter also set out the criteria for determining these boundaries. The underlying principle for determining SBS boundaries was the desire to have no more than 40-50. This would maximise administrative savings and provide a more effective local network for planning, funding, managing and driving up quality, while still ensuring that businesses would have good access locally to business support services.

  Specifically, RDAs were asked to ensure that boundaries:
  fit with local travel-to-work and travel-to-study patterns and with the pattern of business and commercial activities;
  be co-terminous with the Learning and Skills Council areas and other key local economic or social units and partnerships—especially with local authorities, the sub-regional partnerships set up locally to tackle economic and social issues, and be within RDA/GO boundaries; and
  be large enough to assure economies of scale and cost effectiveness—a resident population of 0.5 million is considered to be the minimum—although it is expected to be much greater in conurbations.
  27
  Ministers subsequently made it clear to RDAs that they wished LSC/SBS boundaries not to cut across LEA boundaries.

  Ministers considered RDA recommendations in detail, alongside the criteria set in the letter to RDA Chairs and with advice from the relevant Government Offices. They also considered a number of direct representations from interested parties. The decisions were announced to the House on 28 July 1999, Official Report, columns 936–38.

  Robert Maxwell
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will be in a position to publish the results of the inquiry into Robert Maxwell. [96254]

  Dr. Howells
  The independent inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers plc (there is no inquiry into the late Robert Maxwell) are still carrying out their work. Consequently they have yet to report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Dismissal of Workers
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce measures in his proposed employment relations legislation to prevent the dismissal of employees involved in a lawful strike. [96173]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  We intend to bring section 16 and Schedule 5 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 into force by Easter next year. These provisions will extend the right of protection for those dismissed for taking lawfully organised industrial action to complain to a tribunal of unfair dismissal. They will make it automatically unfair to dismiss workers for the first eight weeks of the action and give employees a right to claim unfair dismissal, if dismissed after the eight week period, where the employer has failed to follow all reasonable procedural steps to try to resolve the dispute. These provisions are designed to stop precipitate dismissals and to place an onus on both employers and unions to settle disputes by negotiation.

  Nuclear Fusion
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports he has received on progress towards nuclear fusion at the USA National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories in California. [96435]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My Department's contribution on nuclear fusion is managed and undertaken by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

  UKAEA has received no reports on progress towards nuclear fusion at the USA National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, California, other than those presented at international fusion conferences and meetings, and reports in the scientific press.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contributions his Department is making to nuclear fusion projects in the USA and Europe; and where they are taking place. [96434]
  28
  Mrs. Liddell
  My Department's contribution on nuclear fusion is managed and undertaken by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). UK contribution for fusion projects in Europe (including UK) is split into two parts:the UKAEA expenditure of £14.6 million per year, including their contribution of 8 Million Euro per year as host to the Joint European Torus (JET), an EU Joint Undertaking based at Culham, Oxfordshire;
  the UK's contribution to the European Union R&D; Framework Programme supporting the European fusion collaboration.

  No contribution is made by my Department to fusion projects in the USA.

  Export Credit Guarantees
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which countries currently qualify for ECGD over. [96323]

  Mr. Caborn
  This information is in the public domain, published in the Autumn 1999 issue of 'ECGD News'. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in each of the last five years, how much the Treasury has had to make available to ECGD to cover losses incurred by the ECGD. [96562]

  Mr. Caborn
  Over the last five years, cash-flow on ECGD's trading operations has been positive:

  £ million

  Financial year

  Cash-flow

  1994–95

  -8.1

  1995–96

  245.9

  1996–97

  444.9

  1997–98

  442.6

  1998–99

  353.5

  As a result, over this period, ECGD has not been a charge on the Exchequer and has contributed £1.5 billion to it.

  Radio Frequencies
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much revenue Her Majesty's Government have raised in selling radio wave frequencies since May 1997. [96402]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 and 1998 provide for licences to be issued to establish or use stations for wireless telegraphy and to install or use wireless telegraphy apparatus. Fee income from such licences, other than for television reception, totalled £92.571m over the two financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99.

  Letter Stamps (Europe)
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the percentage increase in the cost
  29
  of a letter stamp for Europe in (a)1998 and (b)1999; what were his reasons for authorising the increases; and if he will make a statement. [96486]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: The cost of a stamp for a letter up to 20g to European destinations rose by an average of 4.8 per cent. on 6 April 1998 and by a further 13.33 per cent. on 25 October 1999. It is still one of the cheapest rates in Europe.

  The increase was prompted by increasing handling costs and is in line with the agreement, set out in the European Postal Services Directive, that prices should be geared to costs. The increases were introduced by the Post Office following consultation with the Post Office Users' National Council (POUNC).

  Mobile Telephones
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress towards issuing licences for third generation mobile spectrum under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 and 1998. [96905]

  Ms Hewitt
  I am delighted to announce that the Information Memorandum for the auction of licences for Third Generation mobile spectrum is being published today.

  The Memorandum sets out the detailed arrangements for the auction. Applications to take part in the auction are scheduled to be due on 12 January 2000. The auction itself is expected to start in March 2000. The Government expect that this will be the first auction for Third Generation licences in Europe, giving UK consumers early access to this exciting new technology, and keeping the UK at the forefront of international developments in mobile communications.

  I am pleased that Vodafone's and BT Cellnet's Telecommunications Act Licences were modified by consent on 22 October to provide for the negotiation of roaming agreements with any new entrants. This will help to encourage market entry and competition, so benefiting consumers.

  A copy of the Information Memorandum is being placed in the Library of the House and on the auction website at www.spectrumauctions.gov.uk.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of inward investment into(a) the UK and (b) the area covered by the Government Office for the North East in each year since 1995. [96732]

  Mr. Caborn
  The following table shows the total value of the stock of inward investment into the UK for the years 1995 to 1997, the latest year for which information is available. Figures are not available for foreign investment by region.
  30

  Total stock of UK inward

  £ million

  1995

  128,885

  1996

  134,654

  1997

  156,969

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  Electronic Communication Costs
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the comparative costs to SME's of 2 megabite electronic communications between central London and(a) outer London and (b) areas around London. [96657]

  Ms Hewitt
  Several companies compete in the provision of high capacity telecommunications links in the central London area.

  The price which SMEs will pay for high capacity links will vary according to their length and the choice of supplier.

  The Government are committed to extending competition in high bandwidth communications as the best means of increasing choice to business and residential consumers.

  Combined Heat and Power Stations
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many consents to build combined heat and power stations since(a) May 1997 and (b) June 1998 have been received; and how many have been refused consent. [96890]

  Mrs. Liddell
  This Government have always recognised the environmental and other benefits of combined heat and power. Since May 1997, 17 proposals for combined heat and power schemes have been considered by this Government and all have received clearance.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Oral Statements
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the reports published by his Department and its associated bodies, (b) the reports received from bodies set up by his Department, (c) the decisions his Department has taken and (d) events in the UK and elsewhere, since 27 July, which satisfied the criteria he uses for deciding whether to apply to make oral statements to the House when the House is sitting. [93967]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Council on 19 October 1999,Official Report, columns 429-30.

  Treaty of Rome
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those occasions when the Treaty of Rome has been(a) renegotiated and (b) amended. [95500]
  31
  Mr. Vaz
  Renegotiation is necessary before any treaty amendment can be made. The Treaty of Rome has been amended on the following occasions:

  Merger Treaty 1967

  Treaty amending Certain Budgetary Provisions 1971

  Treaty amending Certain Financial Provisions 1977

  Greenland Treaty 1985

  Single European Act 1986

  Treaty on European Union 1992

  Treaty of Amsterdam 1997

  The Treaty has also been amended as a result of the accession of new member states. This happened in 1973, 1981, 1986 and 1995.

  "Becoming Europeans" Conference
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the(a) nature and (b) cost of Government support to the Becoming Europeans Conference at Castel Gandolfo; and if he will place the papers presented by representatives of the Government there, in the Library. [95406]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office contributed £10,000 to support the Becoming Europeans Conference held in Castel Gandolfo near Rome, 14-17 October 1999, to cover transport costs, conference organisation and documentation. The British Council provided organisational support. There was also commercial sponsorship. The conference took the form of informal discussions rather than set piece speeches; the aim was an exchange of ideas. There are no records of individual contributions. A copy of the conference report will be placed in the Library as soon as it is published.

  Echelon System
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on civil liberties of the Echelon system; [96547]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the purpose of the Echelon system. [96548]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  As the hon. Gentleman is aware, it is long-standing practice not to respond to speculation on alleged intelligence operations.

  Chinese State Visit
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact representatives from his Department had with police responsible for policing the visit by the Chinese President; on how many occasions; when; if the treatment of protesters was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [96502]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) on 28 October 1999,Official Report, column 993.

  Departmental Asset Sales
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of 32
  assets sold by his Department and their value, item by item, in each year from 1991–92 to 1998–99 and an estimate of the value of asset sales planned for 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [96298]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the late Derek Fatchett to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce), on 16 February 1999, Official Report, column 741, in which sales of FCO property from 1 April 1997 to date are listed. The remainder of the information requested is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member with further information in due course.

  Montenegro
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy of Her Majesty's Government are towards Montenegrin aspirations for more independence from Serbia. [96495]

  Mr. Vaz
  We hope that an acceptable compromise can be reached between Montenegro and Serbia which addresses Montenegro's legitimate aspirations. Clearly it is more likely that negotiations will succeed when President Milosevic's regime has been replaced by democratic government in Serbia.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government are making contingency plans for intervention in Montenegro if steps towards independence are violently opposed by Serbia. [96494]

  Mr. Vaz
  We conduct contingency planning on a worldwide basis. It is not our policy to discuss individual contingency plans.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all performance targets set for his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, other than those listed in Public Service Agreements 1999–2002 [Cm 4181], stating in each case(a) the target to be reached and (b) the date by which it was to be reached. [94980]

  Mr. Hain
  The Department has set out the key performance targets on which it will be judged in its PSA, and the measures of success it will use in the Output and Performance Analysis (OPA) published in March this year. The Department's PSA targets also refer to the British Council and the BBC World Service. The Department has adopted the Service First initiative and provides regular performance reports on the Modernising Government Action Plan, published in July 1999. The Department publishes information on its progress towards meeting its objectives in its annual Departmental Report. Reflecting our commitment to an increasing use of new technologies, the report can be found on our award-winning Internet site.
  33
  These high-level targets are supported at operational level by numerous targets to ensure delivery by individual units. Listing these targets would be disproportionate in terms of resources.

  Bermuda
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the United Kingdom gives the Island of Bermuda to help them with air sea rescue, drugs enforcement and shipping control; and if he will make a statement. [96706]

  Mr. Battle
  The UK stands ready to provide technical advice and assistance to Bermuda when necessary. The British Maritime and Coastguard Agency provides air/sea rescue training to Bermuda. Bermuda has access to a British Drugs Liaison Officer (DLO) based in New York and is included in regional drug operations. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency also provides advice and training where required to the Bermudian administration to assist it in fulfilling its obligations under relevant international maritime conventions.

  Duma Elections
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to provide monitors from the United Kingdom of the Russian Federation's Duma elections on 19 December. [96331]

  Mr. Vaz
  We are currently making plans to send a delegation of 35 short-term observers and three long-term observers to monitor the Duma elections. This delegation makes up roughly 10 per cent. of the monitoring mission organised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

  Ukraine Elections
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will monitor the elections in the Ukraine on 31 October from the United Kingdom. [96330]

  Mr. Vaz
  At the invitation of the Ukrainian Government, an official election monitoring mission is being carried out by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. We have funded the Head and Deputy Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission. In addition, we have funded the participation of two long-term and 20 short-term monitors for the first round of voting on 31 October. The United Kingdom will fund the continued participation of 11 monitors in the event of a second round of voting. Around 10 members of the British Embassy in Kiev, as well as visiting staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, are also accredited as official election monitors and will coordinate their activities with the OSCE/ODIHR Mission. My hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Ms Jones) will participate in monitoring as a member of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

  Genetically Modified Food
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to ensure that companies involved in the production of genetically modified foods do not disadvantage farmers in the world's poorest countries; and if he will make a statement. [96604]

  Mr. Hain
  We wish to see the benefits available from genetic modification spread equitably, in ways that support sustainable development, help to eliminate poverty, and do not pose unacceptable risks to health or the environment. We are working to develop appropriate international frameworks: in particular to agree a Biosafety Protocol regulating movements of living modified organisms; and to promote an internationally agreed Code of Responsible Behaviour in the development, testing and release of GMOs. The Department for International Development has published a briefing document setting out how it reflects these aims in the support it provides for sustainable agriculture in developing countries.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were recruited to full-time membership of the RUC for the calendar years 1996, 1997 and 1998; what was the perceived religious/community origin of the intake in each year; and what percentage of the intake each year had previously served as members of(a) the RUC Reserve and (b) HM armed forces. [94658]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The following table shows the number of recruits to the RUC for the years 1996, 1997 and 1998, their perceived religious/community origin and the percentage previously members of the RUC Reserve. It has not been possible within the timescales to show the number who previously had served in HM Forces but this information will be sent to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Year

  Perceived Protestant

  Perceived Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Percentage formally RUCR

  1996

  172

  36

  18

  226

  45

  1997

  242

  28

  17

  287

  51

  1998

  140

  22

  17

  179

  39

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the staffing levels of the RUC in September (i) in total and (ii) broken down by(a) gender, (b) perceived religious/community origin and (c) numbers and percentages of full-time, reserve full-time and reserve part-time staff; and what were the changes in composition over the past five years. [94656]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The tables show the staffing levels of the RUC in September 1999 and 1994 broken down by perceived religious/community origin and gender.
  35

  RUC strength 1999 (September)—perceived religious composition

  Staff

  Perceived Protestant

  Perceived Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Percentage perceived Protestant

  Percentage perceived Roman Catholic

  Regulars

  7,525

  716

  284

  8,525

  88.27

  8.40

  Full-time Reserve

  2,442

  194

  160

  2,796

  87.34

  6.94

  Part-time Reserve

  1,121

  57

  15

  1,193

  93.96

  4.78

  Total

  11,088

  967

  459

  12,514

  88.60

  7.73

  RUC strength 1999 (September)—by gender

  Staff

  Male

  Female

  Percentage female

  Regulars

  7,533

  992

  11.64

  Full-time Reserve

  2,544

  252

  9.01

  Part-time Reserve

  775

  418

  35.04

  Total

  10,852

  1,662

  13.28

  RUC strength 1994 (end of year)—perceived religious composition

  Staff

  Perceived Protestant

  Perceived Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Percentage perceived Protestant

  Percentage perceived Roman Catholic

  Regulars

  7,578

  660

  256

  8,494

  89.21

  7.77

  Full-time Reserve

  2,823

  206

  168

  3,197

  88.30

  6.44

  Part-time Reserve

  1,403

  67

  20

  1,490

  94.16

  4.50

  Total

  11,804

  933

  444

  13,181

  89.50

  7.08

  RUC strength 1994 (end of year)—by gender

  Staff

  Male

  Female

  Percentage female

  Regulars

  7,640

  854

  10.05

  Full-time Reserve

  3,054

  143

  4.47

  Part-time Reserve

  995

  495

  33.22

  Total

  11,689

  1,492

  11.32

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in each rank in order the numbers and perceived religious/community origin of RUC officers. [94659]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The following table shows the number of officers in the RUC by rank and perceived religious/community origin:

  Rank

  Perceived Protestant

  Perceived Roman Catholic

  Not known

  Total

  Senior Officers

  8

  0

  2

  10

  Chief Superintendent

  33

  6

  0

  39

  Superintendent

  102

  21

  2

  125

  Chief Inspector

  154

  15

  4

  173

  Inspector

  430

  53

  15

  498

  Sergeant

  1,262

  113

  24

  1,399

  Constable

  5,526

  507

  238

  6,271

  Total

  7,515

  715

  285

  8,515

  Full-time reserve

  2,414

  191

  157

  2,762

  Part-time reserve

  1,115

  57

  15

  1,187

  Threats (Antrim)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received about threats made to a woman and her husband that forced them to leave the Antrim area on 23 May; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of these threats; what is the present stage of the police investigation. [94490]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: I am advised that there is insufficient detail in this question for the police to accurately check their records. Perhaps my hon. Friend can provide me with more precise information.

  Stone Throwing Attacks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the RUC took following the stone-throwing attack on an East Antrim councillor on 18 May; what injuries were caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; what other attacks took place in that area at that time; and what is the present stage of the police investigation. [94486]
  37
  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: I am advised that there is insufficient detail in this question for the police to accurately check their records. Perhaps my hon. Friend can provide me with more precise information.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in order of their publication dates in the last calendar year those public bodies that are required to lay their annual report and accounts before the House and indicate those reports that are available through the Vote Office. [94655]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The information for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments for the 1998 calendar year is as follows:

  Public body

  publication date

  Probation Board for Northern Ireland

  2 April 1998

  Independent Commission for Police Complaints

  28 April 1998

  Fisheries Conservancy Board

  6 July 1998

  Northern Ireland Health & Social Services Estates Agency

  20 July 1998

  Social Security Agency

  21 July 1998

  Industrial Research & Technology Unit

  23 July 1998

  Compensation Agency

  27 July 1998

  Child Support Agency

  29 July 1998

  Training & Employment Agency

  29 July 1998

  Foyle Fisheries Commission

  4 August 1998

  Equal Opportunities Commission (Northern Ireland)

  15 October 1998

  Commission for Racial Equality (Northern Ireland)

  22 October 1998

  National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland

  27 October 1998

  Fair Employment Commission (Northern Ireland)

  5 November 1998

  Education and Library Boards

  18 November 1998

  Arts Council (Lottery activities)

  20 November 1998

  Sports Council (Lottery activities)

  24 November 1998

  Police Authority for Northern Ireland

  30 November 1998

  The Vote Office stocks all parliamentary papers and can also obtain other publications for Members of Parliament.

  RUC (Equal Opportunities Unit)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when was the last inspection of the RUC Equal Opportunities Unit by HM Inspector of Constabulary; what were its findings; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [94660]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The Equal Opportunities Unit was last inspected by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary as part of the 1998–99 inspection of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Sections 3.73 to 3.81 of the Report refer. A copy was placed in the Library on 23 July 1999.

  RUC (Portadown)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the role of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints in relation to the investigation by the 38
  Royal Ulster Constabulary into whether officers present when Robert Hamill and Gregory Girvan were assaulted in Portadown town centre on 27 April 1997 will be subject to disciplinary charges. [95359]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The role of the ICPC is as laid down in Part II of the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1987. In the particular cases of the assaults on Robert Hamill and Gregory Girvan, the ICPC is currently supervising the police investigation of disciplinary matters arising from a complaint relating to the conduct of police in Portadown on 27 April 1997. When the disciplinary investigation report is submitted the Commission will issue a statement as to whether or not the investigation was conducted to its satisfaction. Following this, the Chief Constable will inform the Commission of his opinion in relation to the preferring of charges. At that juncture, the Commission will review all the evidential documentation and decide whether or not the bringing of disciplinary charges is warranted.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will identify(a) by rank and (b) by perceived religious/community origin, the officers employed within Portadown sub-division of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [95361]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The RUC have advised that officers of the following ranks served in Portadown Sub-Division at 1 July 1999:

  Rank

  Number

  Superintendent and above

  12

  Chief Inspector

  7

  Inspector

  21

  Sergeant

  55

  Constable

  263

  Total

  358

  The perceived religious/community origin is 319 perceived Protestant, 28 perceived Roman Catholic and 11 undetermined.

  Macpherson Report
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Efford), on 19 April 1999,Official Report, column 468, what has been the outcome of the examination of the recommendations in the Lawrence report and what measures have been adopted to promote racial, religious, sex and disability equality. [95350]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: As I said in an earlier reply, the terms of reference of the Review of Criminal Justice and the Patten Report cover areas highlighted by the report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. The Criminal Justice Review team is due to report shortly and the Government are currently consulting on the recommendations of the independent Commission on Policing as required by the Good Friday Agreement. The Government will be making a statement

  39
  on the outcome of consultation on the Patten report, "A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland", after that consultation is complete.

  The Government remain committed to the principles of equality of treatment, respect for human rights and different cultures as fundamental elements of policing in Northern Ireland. Since April the Government have announced a number of significant measures. For example, the new Equality Commission for Northern Ireland was established on 1 October and the appointment of Mrs. O'Loan as Police Ombudsman Designate was announced on 11 October.

  The report of the working group considering the treatment of vulnerable or intimidated witnesses in the criminal justice system was published in July. The group endorsed the recommendations made by a similar working group in England and Wales. In particular they recommended, and I agreed, that the provisions in the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, which relate to such witnesses, should be extended to Northern Ireland by means of Order in Council. This has now been done. The group is continuing to meet to oversee implementation of its recommendations.

  Following the Report the Deputy Chief Constable of the RUC has taken responsibility for co-ordinating activities and action plans are being introduced. A Positive Action Team has been set up to progress ethnic minority recruitment. All probationers complete a Police Community Relations module dealing with equality and race relations legislation, human rights and harassment. Officers receive local training on how to respond effectively and sensitively to racial incidents. Family Liaison Officers have been established force-wide.

  Local Community Affairs officers monitor racially motivated incidents as defined in the Lawrence Report. Community Affairs Branch in partnership with the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities supported by the Commission for Racial Equality have set up a Community and Police Liaison Committee with ethnic minority organisations. Contact has been established with the Chinese Welfare Association and a crime desk set up at the Indian Community Centre.

  RUC (Guidelines)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance is issued to Royal Ulster Constabulary officers on the circumstances in which the assistance of Army units should be sought in dealing with public order problems; and whether a copy of such guidance will be placed in the Library. [95364]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: Guidance is reviewed and issued annually in a Force Policy document. This is a confidential operational policing manual and it would therefore be inappropriate to place a copy in the Library.

  Paramilitary Violence
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many families have left their homes due to paramilitary intimidation in Northern 40
  Ireland (a) since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and (b) during 1999; and if he will make a statement. [95716]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The figures listed in the table are for people (owner-occupiers and tenants from both the private and social housing sectors) who have approached the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and have been awarded A1 status for reasons of sectarianism, terrorist intimidation or threat of intimidation. These cases would arise from a variety of sources, for example paramilitary feuds and alleged anti-social behaviour.

  Number

  April to December 1998

  253

  January to 2 September 1999

  300

  Total

  553

  "Forced Upon Us"
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Northern Ireland Arts Council decided to withdraw funding from the Dubbeljoint/Just Us production of their play, "Forced Upon Us"; what reasons were given for this decision; on what date the theatre company was informed; if he will list the correspondence received by the Arts Council from the RUC, the Police Authority, and any other public authority in connection with this play; and if he will make a statement on freedom of expression and political vetting in the Arts. [95368]

  Mr. McFall
  [holding answer 27 October 1999]: I am advised by the Chief Executive of the Arts Council that the Artistic Director of Dubbeljoint Productions was informed in a letter of 28 June 1999 that Arts Council revenue funding for the production of "Forced Upon Us" was conditional upon receipt of a completed script which the Council could assess artistically. Two unfinished scripts which were received by the Arts Council on 24 June and 15 July 1999 fell well below the threshold of artistic acceptability in the opinion of the Council and its external assessors. The Council informed Dubbeljoint Productions and Just Us Community Theatre on 22 July 1999 that their script of "Forced Upon Us" fell well below the artistic standard which the Council expected from its clients and that no Council funding could be directed towards it production.

  I am advised that no correspondence was received by the Arts Council from the RUC, the Police Authority or any other public authority in connection with "Forced Upon Us". The Arts Council of Northern Ireland operates at arm's length from Government and has complete independence in exercising its artistic judgment within available resources.

  From the information available to me, I am satisfied that the Arts Council's decision to withhold funding from Dubbeljoint Productions for its production of "Forced Upon Us" was taken solely on artistic grounds and was not motivated by any political considerations. The Arts

  41
  Council and Dubbeljoint Productions issued a joint statement on 1 October 1999 indicating that the matter had been resolved to their mutual satisfaction.

  Drug Tariff
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total expenditure by the NHS on items in part IXB of the Drug Tariff in each year from 1988–89 to 1998–99, with such breakdown of the figures for each year to types of item as is available. [96080]

  The net ingredient cost of incontinence appliances dispensed in the community

  Net ingredient cost £

  Incontinence appliances

  1992

  1993

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Incontinence sheaths

  171,020.03

  198,141.00

  235,247.52

  299,713.02

  326,148.71

  322,222.80

  336,658.59

  Leg bags

  220,197.53

  235,275.11

  290,905.11

  345,460.78

  395,251.19

  407,507.72

  427,867.64

  Night drainage bags

  56,004.16

  62,213.18

  66,788.43

  87,090.29

  4,529.83

  103,191.27

  111,458.88

  Suspensory systems

  7.10

  —

  1,890.94

  1,528.57

  1,347.06

  1,724.15

  1,607.24

  Tubing and accessories

  —

  —

  2,833.32

  4,988.12

  4,567.92

  5,921.02

  12,144.10

  Total

  447,411

  495,629

  597,665

  738,779

  821,853

  840.567

  889,736

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Appeals
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under what circumstances claimants who submit an appeal against the loss of benefit may have their Income Support reduced because they have submitted such an appeal; and if he will make a statement. [94797]

  Angela Eagle
  There are no circumstances in which submitting an appeal leads directly to a reduction in Income Support.

  However, where someone who is claiming benefit on grounds of incapacity for work fails the "all work test" and appeals this decision, then Income Support can be paid at a reduced rate until a final decision on the appeal is made. The reduction is equal to 20 per cent. of the appropriate personal allowance for a single person of their age. The reduction is made good in full if the appeal succeeds. Full benefit can be paid if the person concerned makes themselves available for work and claims Jobseeker's Allowance instead.

  Income Support
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he proposes to encourage the take-up of Income Support unclaimed by those already in receipt of Incapacity Benefit but entitled to additional benefit. [95464]

  Mr. Bayley
  We want all of those entitled but not receiving their benefits to claim. Our current focus is on the most vulnerable group—those pensioners who live on incomes below the Minimum Income Guarantee. Research shows that this group is particularly resistant to claiming their entitlement and our priority is to overcome barriers and establish the most effective way of encouraging them to claim.

  The new ONE service, which is currently being piloted, will improve the take-up of Income Support in appropriate cases by those claiming Incapacity Benefit. One of the
  42
  Mr. George Howarth
  The information available is shown in the table. No information is available prior to 1992.

  Total expenditure by the NHS on incontinence appliances is not available. The table shows the net ingredient cost of items that were dispensed in the community in Northern Ireland.

  The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of an appliance and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.

  major advantages of this new system is that, for the first time, there will be an holistic approach to the benefit requirements of working-age people. ONE will ensure that claimants receive appropriate advice at the first point of contact with the benefit system.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals are claiming Incapacity Benefit who have(a) an individual income and (b) a household income which is in excess of £400 a week before taking into account any benefits due to their disability. [95530]

  Mr. Bayley
  Data for 1997–98 suggest that there are 140,000 individuals in receipt of Incapacity Benefit with a household income over £400 a week, not including Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance or any other benefit awarded for incapacity or disability. The number with an individual income over £400 a week cannot be estimated reliably from the available data. Data also suggest that there are around 300,000 Incapacity Benefit households with a total income of more than £400 a week.

  Notes:

  1. Weekly household income in the unequivalised income, net of tax and other deductions of the household that the benefit recipient lives in less any benefits awarded on the grounds of incapacity or disability.

  2. Weekly individual income is the income of the individual in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, less benefits awarded on the grounds of incapacity or disability.

  3. All amounts are in April 1999 prices.

  4. Figures are estimates taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data set that is based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS does not include Northern Ireland. 1997–98 is the latest year for which information is available.

  Pensions
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide the basis of his Department's calculation that restoring the basic state pension link with earnings would cost £8 billion by 2010. [96105]
  43
  Mr. Rooker
  The gross cost of increasing the basic State pension in line with earnings is calculated by the Government Actuary's Department to be £7.6 billion in 2010–11. An explanation of the method for calculating gross costs of the basic State pension is given in Appendix D (paragraphs 14.21 to 14.35), of the Government Actuary's Department publication "National Insurance Fund: Long Term Financial Estimates", (Cm 4406: July 1999), which is available in the Library. For the purposes of this costing, it is assumed that annual real earnings growth is 1.5 per cent. above price inflation.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will consider funding a one-off payment to pensioners of £50 in addition to the basic state pension on the occasion of the millennium. [96748]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have already increased the Winter Fuel Payment to £100 this year to ensure that today's pensioners do not have to worry about turning their heating up when it is cold because of the cost of their winter fuel bills.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 722, concerning SERPS if he will update the figures with net cost (a) using the pensions model and (b) using the assumptions made in the answer to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) of 16 December 1998, Official Report, column 611. [96677]

  Mr. Rooker
  Precise estimates of net costs using the pensions model are not available. For a delay in changes to inherited SERPS until 2010, income-related benefit savings are estimated to be in the range 0-5 per cent. of gross costs between 2000 and 2010, and 5-10 per cent. of gross costs between 2010 and 2020. A delay in changes until 2005 leads to estimated income-related benefit savings of the order of 0-5 per cent. of gross costs between 2000 and 2010, and between 5-15 per cent. of gross costs between 2010 and 2020.

  Income-related benefit offsets based on the Family Resources Survey are not applicable as the latest model applies to the current year only.

  Note:

  Income-related benefit offsets are estimated using PENSIM, a dynamic simulation model that projects pensioners' incomes into the next century. PENSIM estimates are based on a number of economic and behavioral assumptions and show the broad order of magnitude of future changes—as such offset ratios should be viewed as indicative rather than definitive.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the estimated cost would be of(a) uprating the minimum income guarantee for pensioners in line with earnings, (b) uprating the minimum income guarantee in line with prices for pensioners under 85 years, and in line with earnings for those over 85 years, in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2010–11, (iii) 2020–21 and (iv) 2030–31. [95535]

  Mr. Rooker
  No projections have been made of long-term expenditure on the Minimum Income Guarantee. The projected expenditure for 2000–01, as published in the Social security Departmental Report (Cm 4214) in March 1999, is based on an assumed uprating for all cases in line with average earnings, at an estimated cost of £155 million.
  44
  PENSIM, the Department's dynamic microsimulation model of pensioners' incomes, does project pensioners' income distribution under different policy scenarios up to 2025. However, it is not considered sufficiently accurate to be used as a forecasting model of absolute amounts of expenditure on the income-related benefits. Instead it is best used as a comparative model to assess the broad impact of different policy options on the distribution of pensioner's incomes over time.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department is taking to raise public awareness about the minimum income guarantee for pensioners. [96684]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are particularly concerned about pensioners entitled to but not claiming the guarantee and we will make an announcement shortly on our plans to increase awareness and to tackle barriers to claiming.

  Therapeutic Work
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the employed classification as that of people suffering from a severe disability who undertake limited work on medical advice, with the permission of the Benefits Agency. [96263]

  Mr. Bayley
  No such representations have been received.

  Social Security regulations limit the circumstances in which people can work while maintaining entitlement to incapacity benefits but otherwise the status of that work is not a relevant consideration for benefit purposes.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the application of the minimum wage in respect of work used as therapy for people with severe disability. [96248]

  Mr. Bayley
  Entitlement to incapacity benefits is based on the fundamental principle that they are for people who are incapable of work because of sickness or disability. It is recognised that in some cases a limited amount of work can benefit a person's medical condition and may increase their prospects of a return to the labour market. A longstanding provision, known as the therapeutic work rule, allows benefit recipients to do some paid work on the advice of a doctor without it affecting their underlying entitlement. The work is subject to a weekly earnings limit. An hours limit of 16 hours a week also applies unless the work is done under medical supervision, as part of a hospital treatment programme, or in a sheltered workshop.

  The application of the national minimum wage to this work is not a relevant consideration for benefit purposes. However, last April the earnings limit was increased from £48 to £58 to ensure that the hours limit was consistent with 16 hours work paid at the national minimum wage rate of £3.60 an hour (16 x £3.60 = £57.60).

  Social Security Expenditure
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate of the all-items RPI to September 1999 underlay his projections of social security
  45
  expenditure for 2000–01; and by how much expenditure would be reduced if benefits were uprated by the actual inflation rate to September 1999. [96299]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 29 October 1999]: The inflation assumptions underlying the Department's expenditure forecasts were set out on Page 89 of the Social Security Departmental Report (Cm 4214). The Report also makes clear that the forecast depended on a number of other assumptions. These include economic assumptions such as the rate of unemployment and the growth in earnings which underpins forecast spending on the Minimum Income Guarantee. It also takes account of Government policies already announced, such as above inflation rises in Child Benefit. The effect of a 1 per cent. variation for all benefits is around 830 million. This assumes that both the RPI and the Rossi index vary by the same amount.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Fisheries Policy (European Commission Questionnaire)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will deposit in the Library(a) a copy of the questionnaire distributed at the June 1998 Lisbon seminar at Expo 98 by the Director General of DG XIV, as indicated in OJ C182(/51) of 28 June, and (b) the Commission's scrutiny report on the same; and when the consultation procedure is to finish. [92856]

  Mr. Morley
  I am arranging for a copy of the European Commission questionnaire on the Common Fisheries Policy after 2002 to be placed in the Library, together with a copy of the Commission's analysis of replies to the questionnaire. The Commission's extensive programme of consultations with fishing and other interests ended in June this year.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance he will give to organic farmers who have already made the conversion from conventional to organic farming; what assessment he has made of the take-up of financial aid among organic farmers; what he is doing to ensure organic farmers know what aid is available to them; what assessment he has made of the length of time it takes for financial aid to be given to organic farmers after application under the Organic Aid Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [96267]

  Mr. Morley
  Prior to the introduction of the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), the Government considered carefully the question of whether those already farming organically should receive aid. We decided to target available resources on the conversion period when yields drop and premia for organic produce are not available. I have no plans to extend aid beyond the five year period provided by the OFS.

  I expect the review of the OFS to consider the take-up of organic aid by farmers since April 1999 and to make recommendations for the future design of the conversion aid schemes.
  46
  Advice to prospective organic farmers on how to obtain free advisory visits is provided by a dedicated Helpline telephone number and advice on conversion aid payments is available from MAFF Regional Service Centres. The scheme literature sent to each prospective applicant points out that organic farmers can still benefit from a range of aid measures which are available to farmers generally.

  The timing of payments to farmers under the Organic Aid Scheme formed part of the 1998 review of support for the organic sector. The review recommended moving from payments made in arrears to payments made annually in advance, at the end of the first quarter. We implemented the recommendation and have retained the same pattern of payments in the OFS.

  We want to see organic farming succeed. We inherited a situation in which total payment for organic conversion averaged about £1 million annually. Over the last six months we have allocated about £16 million to more than 750 fanners. In the debate on agriculture on 28 October 1999, Official Report, column 1131, my right hon. Friend the Minister announced that further money would be made available. This will allow another 250 or so farmers to benefit from the OFS. And it will allow us to pay aid to all the farmers already in the OFS much sooner than would otherwise have been possible.

TREASURY

  Offshore Betting
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the situation regarding offshore betting following the judgment of Mr. Justice Lightman in July; and if he will make a statement. [94812]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government are concerned about the potential growth of offshore betting and are currently considering how best to ensure that bookmakers in the United Kingdom pay their fair share of taxes and are protected from unfair competition. Customs and Excise have appealed Mr. Justice Lightman's decision and I have asked them whether early changes to the law are required to maintain its effectiveness.

  Equal Opportunities
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he(a) has established and (b) published a baseline for policy appraisal against which to measure progress on equal treatment. [94858]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government are committed to ensuring their policies are fair and inclusive, and focus on public service users, not providers. This aim is contained in guidance (published in 1998) which helps Departments consider the impact of their policies on gender, ethnicity and disability. In addition to considering impact the guidance encourages consultation with women's groups and others where appropriate and action to deal with any differential impact if this appears appropriate. The Treasury applies the principles contained in the guidance when developing its policies. For example a full gender analysis of the Budget's impact was undertaken last year and will be again this year.

  National Statistics
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the options paper on access to registration records which was submitted to him by the Director of the Office of National Statistics. [94914]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The essence of the Registrar General's advice was included in the consultation document "Registration: Modernising a Vital Service" published on 8 September, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Contributions Agency
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the grades of posts which have been transferred from the Contributions Agency to the Treasury in the year prior to the passing of the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc) Act 1999; how many members of staff will be transferred in the coming year; and what is the nature of the posts of the staff who have been or are to be transferred. [95509]

  Dawn Primarolo
  All the staff of the Contributions Agency were transferred to the Inland Revenue on 1 April 1999, their grades being as follows:

  CA grade

  IR grade

  Civil service grade

  Al

  E2

  AA

  A2

  E1

  AO

  B1

  E1

  AO

  B2

  D

  EO

  B3

  D

  EO

  B3

  D

  EO

  C2

  C2

  HEO

  C3

  C1

  HEO

  DI

  B

  UG7

  D2

  B

  UG7

  D3

  B

  UG6

  SCS

  SCS

  SCS

  All posts concerned were related to the collection of NICs and the recording and supply of NICs information.

  Civil Procurement
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Review of Civil Procurement in Central Government; and if she will make a statement. [95452]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Work is progressing to ensure that the Office of Government Commerce will be operational by 1 April 2000. A Chief Executive will be appointed in November and I hope to be able to announce shortly the composition of the Supervisory Board and the transfer of its constituent agencies.

  Trade Missions
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many trade missions he has led since taking office; and to which countries. [94973]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: None. Trade missions are usually carried out by the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Resource Accounting
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to include (i) central Government grants paid to and (ii) the budgets of(a) local authorities in England, (b) the Scottish Parliament and Executive, (c) the National Assembly for Wales and (d) the Northern Ireland Assembly in resource accounting procedures for the 1999–2000 and subsequent financial years. [96459]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 29 October 1999]: Central government grants paid to local authorities will be recorded in the resource accounts of the relevant Government departments making these grants. Expenditure covered by the budgets of local authorities in England falls outside the resource accounting boundary, and therefore will not be included in resource accounts.

  Grants to the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Executive, and, if devolution takes place, the Northern Ireland Assembly will represent the allocation of funds to those bodies, and will be shown in the resource accounts of respectively the Wales Office, Scotland Office, and Northern Ireland Office.

  Expenditure by the National Assembly for Wales will appear in its resource accounts.

  Accounting policies for expenditure by the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly are a matter for those bodies. I understand, however, that legislation currently before the Scottish Parliament envisages control by the Scottish Parliament of resources, and hence resource accounting.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amendments, additions and deletions will be made to the Resource Accounting Manual, as published in August 1999, that will apply to the 1999–2000 financial year. [96460]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 29 October 1999]: The Resource Accounting Manual is updated as necessary to take into account the impact on resource accounting of new accounting standards issued by the Accounting Standards Board (ASB) and other accounting developments including, for example, refinements arising from the implementation of resource accounting by departments.

  The amendments to the version of the Manual published in August 1999, to apply to the 1999–2000 resource accounts, will take into account the amendment to Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 5 "Reporting the Substance of Transactions—Private Finance Initiative and Similar Contracts", and FRS 15 "Tangible Fixed Assets"—both issued by the ASB.

  These and future amendments, following consultation with the Financial Reporting Advisory Board, will be included in periodic updates to the Manual, which I understand the House of Commons Library has arranged to receive.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to exempt energy use for all types of industrial electrolysis from the Climate Change Levy. [96709]
  49
  Mr. Timms
  As indicated in the consultation document published by Customs and Excise on Budget day, coal and gas used in chemical reactions will not be subject to the levy. In the light of the representations received on the treatment of electrolysis, my hon. Friend the then Economic Secretary announced on 27 July 1999,Official Report, column 390, that we proposed to extend this exemption to electricity used in certain processes.

  Following that announcement we have received further representations, all of which are receiving careful consideration.

  Departmental Accounts
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if liabilities incurred by Departments of State as a result of(a) private finance initiatives and (b) public private partnerships will be accounted for under the principles outlined in Chapter 4 of the Resource Accounting Manual published in August. [96848]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Any liabilities incurred as a result of such transactions will be accounted for in line with the requirements of Chapter 9 of the Resource Accounting Manual. This states that for all complex transactions, the overriding principles of Financial Reporting Standards (FRS) 5 "Reporting the Substance of Transactions" should be followed.

  In particular, an amendment to the version of the Manual published in August 1999, which has been agreed with the Financial Reporting Advisory Board, will make clear that Private Finance Initiative (PH) transactions should be accounted for in accordance with the Treasury Taskforce's Technical Note No. 1 (revised) "How to account for PFI transactions".

  The Technical Note sets out additional practical guidance on how the Accounting Standards Board's Application Note (AN) "Amendment to FRS 5—;Private Finance Initiative and Similar Contracts" is to be followed in the public sector and should be read in conjunction with the AN.

  In addition, Chapter 4 of the Manual sets out the disclosure requirements in respect of commitments under contracts for which departments have not made provision in their resource accounts.

HEALTH

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) his Department's and (b) the Royal College of Medicine's recommended minimum population which should be served by an accident and emergency unit in England. [92572]

  Ms Stuart
  The configuration of local accident and emergency services should be determined in accordance with local needs. Neither the Department of Health nor the Royal Colleges set minimum population requirements.
  50
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will give a substantive reply to the Question tabled by the right hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden for answer on 26 July. [96851]

  Ms Stuart
  I replied to the right hon. Member today.

  Correspondence
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the letter sent by the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East to him on 14 June about representations on the Health Bill[Lords] and Pro-Life legislation. [96484]

  Yvette Cooper
  I am sorry the hon. Member has not received a reply to his letter. The correspondence appears to have been misplaced. I have now received a copy of the original papers and will ensure that a reply is sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Continence Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he will publish the NHS guidance on continence services; [96073]

  (2) what measures he intends to take to ensure that local health authorities and primary care groups implement the forthcoming guidance on continence services; [96075]

  (3) what is the earliest practical date from which local health authorities and social services will have to incorporate the NHS guidance on continence services into their budgets; [96074]

  (4) what meetings he and his officials have had with GP representatives to ensure that GPs are proactive in identifying patients who need continence care. [96076]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have recently received the report from the working group which was set up to advise the Department on guidance for continence services. We are now considering the report. The working group included a general practitioner representative. We hope to publish the guidance in the near future.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is provided by NHS Direct to callers who call with inquiries about continence; and what is the source of that information. [96077]

  Ms Stuart
  The way in which NHS Direct deals with calls about continence will depend very much on the nature of the caller's symptoms and needs. Calls from members of the public generally fall into two broad categories. If the continence problem is a new symptom for the caller, the nurse adviser would assess the call using the relevant protocol and would refer the caller to the most appropriate health professional, for example the general practitioner. Otherwise, if the call was a general inquiry about continence, the caller would be referred to the most relevant source for further information.

  Acupuncture
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what courses exist for training in acupuncture; how these are funded; what financial support students can claim while studying; what plans he has to review the arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [96850]
  51
  Ms Stuart
  The identification and accreditation of suitable training courses for any complementary therapy is primarily the responsibility of the professional body or bodies which regulate it. An increasing number of higher education courses in complementary and alternative medicine are being offered in publicly-funded institutions and are meeting the requirements set by the Education Student Support Regulations 1999 for automatic designation for student support. While the Department for Education and Employment does not routinely collect details of such courses, any which are either wholly run by a private institution or are jointly provided by a privately and publicly funded institution must apply to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for special designation.

  Any student on a designated course receives the same package of financial student support as any student in higher education. Tuition fees are means-tested and, depending on individual circumstances, a student may pay all, part, or none of the cost himself. Student loans are available. And supplementary grants may be made in particular circumstances, for example to disabled students or those with dependants. Students on non-designated courses do not qualify for student support.

  Optical Services
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the value of the vouchers given to pensioners for the purchase of spectacles; and if he will make a statement. [96600]

  Mr. Hutton
  Children and adults of all ages on low incomes are eligible for optical vouchers which vary in value depending upon the power of the prescription. From last April we increased the voucher values from between 2.5 per cent. and 18 per cent. to target help towards patients with the highest refractory errors. As a result the highest value voucher increased from £125 to £147.50. We will shortly be announcing the increase to take effect from April 2000.

CABINET OFFICE

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list her Department's spending on official publications since May 1997. [93689]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The spending on official publications by the Cabinet Office and its Executive Agencies between 1 May 1997 and 31 July 1999, which includes identifiable costs incurred by the Department in publishing, production and purchase of copies for official use, is listed in a table, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. This excludes publications produced solely for internal purposes. Where the Department makes use of a private sector publisher, the publishing, printing and design costs are normally met by the publisher, as part of their acceptance of the risks of publication.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list all performance targets set for her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies 52
  since May 1997, other than those listed in Public Service Agreements 1999–2002 [Cm 4181], stating in each case (a) the target to be reached and (b) the date by which it was to be reached. [94989]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Cabinet Office has no performance targets other than those listed in Public Service Agreements 1999–2001 (Cm 4181).

  The targets for each of my Department's agencies are shown in the table.

  Details of performance targets for COI can be found in COI's annual reports. The last report was published in July 1999 by the Stationery Office (ISBN: 0-10-273199-3).

  None of the non-departmental public bodies are executive and are therefore included within the rest of my Department's targets.

  1997–98

  Target

  Target date

  Security Facilities Executive—Targets announced 15 July 1997 (Official Report WA 100-101)

  To achieve 100% cost recovery in accruals terms excluding 0.5% restructuring costs

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To achieve a Vote surplus of £0.2 million, excluding restructuring costs

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To achieve sales of £20 million

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To achieve a reduction in the unit cost of outputs of no less than 4% in real terms

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To achieve a customer satisfaction rating of 92%

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To reassess the timetable and produce a revised action plan for attaining Investors in People accreditation in 1999

  By 31 March 1998

  To maintain accreditation to quality standard ISO 9000, and extend it to cover Common Services

  By 31 March 1998

  Property Advisers to the Civil Estate—Target announced 23 July 1997 (Official Report WA 582)

  To identify savings from proposals to be agreed with departments for the co-ordination of property activities on the Civil Estate which in net present terms should be at least 10 times the agency's related running costs

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To deliver on time at least 85% of the Central Advice Unit's annual work plan

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To recover 100% of the costs of providing intelligent client services and to increase the percentage of all the agency's running costs recovered

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To dispose of 110 freeholds and leaseholds within an annual net provision of £95 million

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To achieve 75% overall customer satisfaction for the agency's services.

  Year to 31 March 1998

  The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency—Targets announced 30 July 1997 (Official Report WA 315)

  To break even on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To deliver CCTA services within voted provision

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To establish a baseline for operation within the CCTA customer charter

  31 March 1998

  To secure savings which will result in a 5% reduction in the cost of supporting services in 1998–98

  31 March 1998

  To achieve 85% of customers assessing satisfaction with CCTA's services at levels 1 and 2 of a 5 point scale

  Year to 31 March 1998

  Civil Service College—Targets announced 30 July 1997 (Official Report WA 315)

  To break even on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To earn £1.5 million from consultancy

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To attract 900 students from the private sector

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To attract 1,515 students from the Senior Civil Service

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To earn 88% of students' course evaluations in the highest 2 of 6 categories

  Year to 31 March 1998

  53

  1997–98

  Target

  Target date

  Central Office of Information—Targets announced 30 July 1997 (Official Report WA 315)

  To achieve a surplus of £1 million in modified historical cost terms after recovering all costs including interest on borrowings

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To achieve a 2% increase in efficiency as measured by unit cost reduction

  Year to 31 March 1998

  To achieve an average score of 8.25 out of 10 for COI customer satisfaction index

  Year to 31 March 1998

  1998–99

  Target

  Target date

  The Buying Agency—Targets announced 28 April 1998 (Official Report WA 109-100)

  To generate a return on capital employed of 8%

  Year to 31 December 1998

  To increase total sales by 2% on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 December 1998

  To reduce the cost per pound of total savings by 2.5% on 1997 outturn

  Year to 31 December 1998

  To maintain the cost per pound of total sales at 1997 outturn

  Year to 31 December 1998

  To resolve 95% of customers' complaints received in the year within one month, except where explicitly agreed otherwise by the customer

  Year to 31 December 1998

  To deliver 95% of direct orders by the due date

  Year to 31 December 1998

  To secure re-accreditation under ISO 9001

  31 December 1998

  To reduce the Agency's electricity consumption per member of staff at its headquarters by 3%

  Year to 31 December 1998

  Property Advisers to the Civil Estate—Targets announced 7 May 1998 (Official Report WA 445)

  To identify savings from proposals to be agreed with departments for the co-ordination of property activities on the Civil Estate which in net present terms should be at least 11 times the agency's related running costs

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To deliver on time at least 90% of the Central Advice Unit's annual work plan

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To recover 100% of the costs of providing intelligent client services and to increase the percentage of all the agency's running costs recovered to 10%

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To dispose of 75 freeholds and leaseholds and to maintain expenditure within voted provision

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To achieve 2.5% improvement in overall customer satisfaction for the agency's services

  Year to 31 March 1999

  The Government Car and Despatch Agency—16 June 1998 (Official Report WA 152)

  To break even on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To maintain sales turnover at 1997–98 outturn

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To maintain expenditure and receipts within voted provision

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To improve the gross contribution as a percentage of sales revenue by 2%

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To increase income per point of labour cost to £2.00

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To review the existing customer satisfaction survey and establish a benchmark for future performance

  31 March 1999

  To achieve an annual average of 26 miles per gallon for the GCS and IDS fleets

  Year to 31 March 1999

  The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency—Targets announced 21 July 1998 (Official Report WA 444)

  To break even on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To deliver CCTA services within voted provision

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To achieve 75% of customers surveyed confirming that CCTA has operated within the terms of its Charter

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To secure a 5% reduction in the cost of support services

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To secure customer satisfaction at levels 1 and

  Year to 31 March 1999

  54

  1998–99

  Target

  Target date

  2 (out of 5) on 85% of assignments and services delivered

  Civil Service College—21 July 1998 (Official Report WA 444)

  To break even on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To achieve £900,000 of consultancy income

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To attract 1,500 students from the Senior Civil Service

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To attract 900 students from the private sector

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To earn 88% of student course evaluations in the highest 2 categories (on a 6 point scale)

  Year to 31 March 1999

  Central Office of Administration—Targets announced 21 July 1998 (Official Report WA 444)

  To achieve a financial surplus of £1 million on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To achieve efficiency improvements of a unit cost reduction of 2%

  Year to 31 March 1999

  To achieve a customer satisfaction index of 8.25 (out of 10)

  Year to 31 March 1999

  1999–2000 Targets set for the Cabinet Office Agencies for 1999–2000 are covered by (but not listed in) the Department's PSA targets

  Target

  Target date

  The Buying Agency—Targets announced 28 July 1999 (Official Report WA 322)

  To generate a return on capital employed of 8% (excluding the costs of restructuring)

  Year to 31 December 1999

  To reduce the cost per pound of savings by 2.5% on 19998 outturn

  Year to 31 December 1999

  To raise customer satisfaction by 5% over the year

  Year to 31 December 1999

  The Government Car and Despatch Agency—Targets announced 12 May 1999 (Official Report WA 174)

  To break even on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To achieve sales turnover of £11 million

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To maintain expenditure and receipts within voted provision

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To maintain gross contribution as a percentage of sales at 1998–99 outturn

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To increase income per point of labour cost to £ 2.04

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To improve customer satisfaction by 2%

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To convert to alternative environmentally friendly fuels 50% of the cars purchased and capable of conversion

  Year to 31 March 2000

  Property Advisers to the Civil Estate— Targets announced 15 July 1999 (Official Report WA 285)

  To identify savings from proposals to be agreed with departments for the co-ordination of property activities on the Civil Estate which in net present value terms should be at least 12 times the agency's related running costs

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To deliver on time at least 93% of the Central Advice Unit's annual work plan

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To recover 100% of the costs of providing intelligent client services and to increase the percentage of all the agency's running costs recovered to 12%

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To achieve an improvement in overall customer satisfaction for the agency's services

  Year to 31 March 2000

  Civil Service College—Targets announced 15 July 1999 (Official Report WA 286)

  To break even on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To generate an income on consultancy of £1.1 million

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To attract 1,900 students from the Senior Civil Service

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To attract 900 students from the private sector

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To achieve 89% of course evaluations by students in the highest two categories (on a 6 point scale)

  Year to 31 March 2000

  55

  1999–2000 Targets set for the Cabinet Office Agencies for 1999–2000 are covered by (but not listed in) the Department's PSA targets

  Target

  Target date

  Central Office of Information—Targets announced 15 July 1999 (Official Report WA 286)

  To achieve a financial surplus of £0.1 million on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To achieve efficiency improvements of a unit cost reduction of 2%

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To achieve a customer satisfaction index of 8.25 (out of 10)

  Year to 31 March 2000

  Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency—Target announced 20-7-99 (Official Report WA 490)

  To break even on an accruals basis

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To deliver CCTA services within voted provision

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To achieve 75% of customers surveyed confirming that CCTA has operated within the terms of its Charter

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To secure savings that will reduce the cost of support services by 5%

  Year to 31 March 2000

  To achieve 93% of customer satisfaction evaluations in the top 2 boxes of a 5 box scale

  Year to 31 March 2000

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Efficiency
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent measures he has taken to improve efficiency in police forces. [95005]

  Mr. Straw
  Studies by both Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Audit Commission have shown that there is considerable scope for improving the efficiency of police forces thus releasing more officers for key operational duties.

  The Comprehensive Spending Review set the police an annual target of two per cent. efficiency gains which must be reinvested in frontline policing. The new duty of Best Value will be placed upon Police Authorities from 1 April 2000, and will require them to deliver efficient and high quality services and demonstrate year on year improvements.

  Police Establishment
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to increase the total number of police officers in England and Wales. [95006]

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding plans to increase police numbers. [95008]

  Mr. Straw
  I made a full statement of the position on police numbers to the Home Affairs Committee and to this House on 26 October 1999,Official Report, columns 821–34.

  Under legislation passed by the previous government, the powers of the Home Secretary to set overall police numbers were removed. The Government have allocated money for a Crime Fighting Fund which among other things will provide the funding for 5,000 more recruits over and above the number forces would otherwise have recruited over the next three years, commencing in April
  56
  2000. £35 million of new money will be available to support this next year, and there will be further funding in the two following years. All of this is additional to the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement for policing.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Police Federation to discuss police numbers. [95018]

  Mr. Straw
  I have regular formal and informal meetings with all three Police Staff Associations to discuss a range of issues, including police numbers.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers retired from forces in England and Wales in the three years to 31 March; and if he will make a statement. [95019]

  Mr. Straw
  The numbers of police officers who have retired over the last three years are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1996–97

  4,478

  1997–98

  4,807

  1998–99

  4,204

  These figures show the total of ordinary and medical retirements in each year and have been obtained from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. They do not include losses to the service through death nor do they include the figures for those officers who resigned or were dismissed in each of the above years. For these latter details I would refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 21 October 1999, Official Report, column 625.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were recruited to police forces in England and Wales in the last three years. [95009]

  Mr. Straw
  Including transfers between forces, 18,384 police officers were recruited by forces in England and Wales between 1996–97 and 1998–99.

  Licensing Hours
  Ms Christine Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to make changes to the pub licensing regime. [95007]

  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to make changes to the pub licensing regime. [95023]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We hope to publish a White Paper early in the New Year setting out our proposals for modernising the liquor and public entertainment licensing laws, and to bring forward a Bill when Parliamentary time permits.

  Confiscation of Criminals' Assets
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to re-examine the rules under which the assets of convicted criminals are confiscated; and what steps he is planning to take to ensure that full disclosure of assets takes place. [95010]
  57
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  While the courts already have extensive powers to require disclosure of assets following a conviction, and to order confiscation, the Government are preparing a package of measures to strengthen further the investigation, tracing and confiscation of criminal proceeds. The proposals will take account of the Home Office Working Group on Confiscation, whose report was published in November and is available in the Library, and of a recently initiated study by the Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit, which will be completed early next year.

  Neighbourhood Watch
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department gives to neighbourhood watch schemes. [95011]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Home Office officials work closely with the Neighbourhood Watch movement, which we support enthusiastically. We have funded national initiatives such as publicity campaigns and training packs which have played a considerable part in the continued growth of the movement over the years.

  Drug Misuse
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the education and youth services about combating drug abuse. [95012]

  Mr. Boateng
  I take the opportunity in local visits to speak with teachers, youth workers and others engaged in delivering the Government's anti drugs strategy. My Department is fully engaged with the Department for Education and Employment about the role of education and youth services in combating drug abuse.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage greater use of anti-social behaviour orders. [95013]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I wrote to all Chief Executives of local authorities and Chief Officers of police on 13 October to remind them of the uses to which anti-social behaviour orders might be put. My officials are also working closely with the Local Government Association to develop good practice on the use of these orders which we will circulate widely.

  I am encouraged that more authorities are considering the use of anti-social behaviour orders—anecdotal evidence suggests that the simple threat of an order can lead to significant improvements in behaviour.

  Cremation
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the regulations governing the cremation of body parts. [95014]

  Mr. Boateng
  Provided the body itself has been cremated and the necessary documentation is available, there appears to be no reason why the cremation of body parts removed in the course of a post mortem should not take place. Where the body was buried, separate 58
  cremation of the organs is not possible, but I am prepared to propose an amendment to the Cremation Regulations to facilitate their disposal in accordance with the family's wishes.

  Police (Staffordshire)
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chief constable of Staffordshire to discuss police numbers. [95015]

  Mr. Straw
  The Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), met the Chief Constable of Staffordshire in September to discuss a range of policing issues, including resources.

  Under legislation passed by the previous government, the number of police officers in each force is determined by chief constables on the basis of the resources made available to them.

  Asylum Applications
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog of asylum applications. [95016]

  Mrs. Roche
  We are developing new procedures to speed up the consideration of cases in the current backlog. In addition we are recruiting around 250 new staff to deal purely with asylum applications, and training more of our existing staff in asylum skills. The Immigration and Asylum Bill sets out our proposals to deliver a more effective asylum system. This will protect those in genuine need of protection while dealing swiftly and firmly with unfounded applications. The Bill will deliver key elements of our strategy to reform the asylum system, including new support arrangements for asylum seekers.

  Young Offenders
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to speed up the process for bringing young offenders to trial. [95017]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Measures in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to reduce criminal justice delays have now been successfully piloted and start operating across England and Wales today. We are also starting pilots for statutory time limits in selected youth courts.

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent measures he has taken to deal with persistent young offenders. [95025]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We are working with the youth justice services to halve the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders. This should cut offending on bail and enable quicker action to tackle offending behaviour. The Youth Justice Board has recently issued new practical guidance, and is helping local areas to produce joint improvement plans to ensure that the target will be achieved.

  Scottish Legislation
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has held with the First Secretary, Scottish Parliament, and the Secretary of State for Scotland concerning the proposed
  59
  amendments to the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 as contained in the Immigration and Asylum Bill. [95020].

  Mr. Straw
  My officials and those of the Scottish Executive have been in regular contact over this and other matters throughout the passage of the Bill. The amendment brings Scottish social services legislation in line with provisions applying elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

  HM Prison Preston
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions he proposes to take on the recently published report on HM Prison Preston. [95021]

  Mr. Boateng
  In accordance with the protocol for handling inspection reports, the Prison Service will produce an action plan within 30 working days of publication of the report, addressing all the recommendations made by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons.

  Telephone Harassment
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from chief constables on the working of the law in relation to telephone harassment in the light of information which has been supplied to him. [95022]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I have no plans to do so at present.

  Wormwood Scrubs
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Prison Officers Association about morale at Wormwood Scrubs prison. [95024]

  Mr. Boateng
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary visited Wormwood Scrubs on 6 September and met representatives of staff associations, including the Prison Officers Association. This meeting covered a range of issues including concerns about the effect of the current investigations on their members. I visited Wormwood Scrubs on 13 October and met members of staff associations including the Prison Officers Association in private, when they were given the opportunity to raise any matters which affected their members.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money the Government are investing in CCTV systems in the current financial year. [95026]

  Mr. Straw
  Under the first round of the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV initiative, crime reduction partnerships in England and Wales have been invited to prepare final proposals on 376 bids for new and extended CCTV schemes mainly directed at tackling vehicle crime and crime problems in housing are as at a potential capital 60
  cost of £68 million, a proportion of which will be expended in the current financial year. Final decisions will be announced later in the year.

  Mandatory Drug Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on relations between the police and ethnic minorities of his proposals for mandatory drug testing. [95027]

  Mr. Boateng
  The police service needs to secure the trust and confidence of all sections of the community and to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination against any racial group. The police service is committed to a programme of action in response to the recommendations of the report of the Inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence published in February, to ensure that this aim is achieved.

  We would expect these principles to be reflected in any arrangements to be introduced for drug testing of arrestees.

  Electoral Reform
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is considering to reform election procedure. [95028]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary published the final report of the Working Party on Electoral Procedures on 19 October. He has welcomed the report and will be seeking the earliest practical opportunity for a Bill to carry forward the body of its recommendations.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions took place on the issue of commercial use of the electoral register between the Home Office Working Party on Electoral Procedures and(a) direct marketing organisations, (b) credit agency organisations, (c) other business organisations, (d) consumer organisations and (e) the Data Protection Registrar; if any of those organisations or individuals were invited to present their views in person to the Home Office Working Party on Electoral Procedures; and if he will consult further with these organisations before final decisions are taken on those aspects of the proposed Bill on reforming electoral procedures which would affect the use of the electoral register for commercial purposes. [96846]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  During the lifetime of the Working Party, members of its Secretariat held meetings as follows: with representatives of direct marketing organisations on two occasions; representatives of credit agency organisations on four occasions; and representatives of other business associations on three occasions. The Data Protection Registrar, by virtue of her statutory advisory role, was invited to make a personal presentation at one meeting of the Working Party. Further consultation is taking place on the Working Party's recommendations for restrictions on the sale of the electoral register for non-electoral purposes.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his Department's intention to publish the submissions made by businesses and individuals in response to the consultation document on
  61
  electoral procedures, with the exception of those who have asked for their submissions to remain private. [96847]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No. But any businesses or individuals can, of course, publish their own submissions if they wish to do so.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce trials of early voting at elections other than the Greater London Authority elections. [96685]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Working Party on Electoral Procedures, which published its final report on 19 October, recommended that early voting should be among the electoral innovations included in pilot schemes.

  The Government have welcomed the Working Party's recommendations. We intend to legislate to give effect to them as soon as Parliamentary time permits.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement. [95029]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There has been widespread support for the establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau. The Government have considered very carefully the many representations that we have received arguing for charges to be waived for checks carried out by the Bureau in the case of volunteers who work with children. The concerns which have been expressed have increased our determination that the cost of certificates from the Bureau should be kept as low as possible. The cost of certificates has been previously estimated at between £5 and £10 depending on type of certificate.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with freedom of information legislation. [95001]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Consultation document on Freedom of Information, published on 24 May 1999, invited comments on the draft legislation. We received a total of 2,248 submissions, all but 400 of which were part of an organised petition about scientific experimentation on animals. Copies of the submission have been placed in the Library.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 22 October the changes we propose to make to the draft Bill following the consultation period. We will now seek to introduce a Freedom of Information Bill as soon as the legislative timetable allows.

  Crime Reduction Partnerships
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with the formation of crime reduction partnerships. [95004]
  62
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The crime and disorder reduction partnerships brought into being by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 have published their strategies. They are currently implementing them. This is a vital part of the attack upon crime, based on local priorities and needs.

  Suspended Sentences
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has made of the consequent reduction in prison numbers if suspended sentences of imprisonment were more widely available to the judiciary. [95475]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Estimates of the likely effect on the prison population vary between a few hundred and a few thousand depending upon the exact nature of the new arrangements introduced, whether the sentences they replaced were custodial or non-custodial, the length of any such custodial sentences and the rate of activation of the new suspended sentences. The current restriction, which limits suspension of a custodial sentence to cases where exceptional circumstances exist, was introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 1991. Criminal Statistics for England and Wales 1997 show that the number of offenders sentenced for indictable offences to a fully suspended sentence fell from 25,800 in 1987 to 2,700 in 1993.

  Remembrance Sunday
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to invite German, Italian and Japanese veterans to join the Remembrance Sunday parade in Whitehall. [96029]

  Mr. Straw
  There are no plans to widen the attendance at the Cenotaph ceremony on Remembrance Sunday to include German, Japanese and Italian veterans.

  The Royal British Legion, which organises the march past the Cenotaph which follows the official ceremony on Remembrance Sunday, has however made proposals which will allow greater participation in future years by non ex-Service groups and individuals. I have welcomed the proposals for expansion of the march past put forward by the Royal British Legion, and my officials are discussing the details with them.

  National Attack Warning System
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with(a) local authorities, (b) civil protection organisations and (c) others about the content of messages to be delivered by the National Attack Warning System. [96538]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The National Attack Warning System is designed to be used in war. It is inappropriate at this stage to discuss with local authorities or other civil protection organisations the precise content of the messages to be carried.

  Discussions about the system are continuing with the British Broadcasting Corporation.

  Paddington Train Crash
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if interim recommendations relevant to civil
  63
  protection matters will be published about the Paddington crash in advance of the full report being published. [96541]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has commissioned inquiries into the crash. I shall be looking very carefully at any lessons for the wider civil protection response which may be identified in those inquiries.

  WPC Yvonne Fletcher
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in the investigation by the Metropolitan Police into the case of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. [95457]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The continuing investigation into WPC Fletcher's murder is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police. They have made clear, however, that they intend to pursue this investigation vigorously and expect full co-operation from the Libyan authorities.

  Cyber Crime
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the letter of 1 July from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Firms, what action he has taken to promote international co-operation in the field of cyber crime detection and pursuit. [94975]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government have been playing an active role in promoting international co-operation in this new and important area of criminality. The conference of G8 Justice and Interior Ministers held in Washington in December 1997, in which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary participated, agreed a set of principles and an action plan to combat high-tech crime. The principles in the Washington communiqué, a copy of which is in the Library, were subsequently endorsed by the European Union's Justice and Home Affairs Council under my right hon. Friend's chairmanship during the United Kingdom's European Union Presidency.

  G8 experts, including a Home Office led delegation from the United Kingdom, have since established a network of law enforcement contacts available around the clock to provide urgent assistance to authorities in partner countries investigating computer and internet crimes. The network is now expanding with United Kingdom encouragement, and a number of non-G8 countries including additional European Union Member States have joined.

  Further progress was made at the meeting of G8 Justice and Interior Ministers in Moscow on 18-20 October. I was present on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. The Moscow communiqué, of which I am placing a copy in the Library, includes agreement on new principles for providing law enforcement authorities with transborder access to stored data needed for criminal investigations. The Ministerial conference has instructed G8 experts to develop options within one year for co-operation in tracing computer communications taking place for illegal purposes, both while they occur and afterwards, as part of a continuing wide-ranging programme of work.
  64
  The United Kingdom is also participating in work in the Council of Europe to draft a Cybercrime Convention. Information about this was given by the Minister of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington), on 21 October 1999, Official Report, column 621.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all performance targets set for his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, other than those listed in Public Service Agreements 1999–2002 [Cm 4181], stating in each case(a) the target to be reached and (b) the date by which it was to be reached. [94983]

  Mr. Straw
  A large number of performance targets are set within the Home Office and its executive agencies and associated non-departmental public bodies, and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a wide range of information on performance targets is contained in the various Home Office and agencies' business plans. Copies of available publications have been placed in the Library and, in some instances, on the internet at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/index.htm.

  Official Secrets Act
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to allow someone charged under the provisions of the Official Secrets Acts to advance a defence based upon overriding public interest; and if he will make a statement. [96071]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government believe that the Official Secrets Act 1989 provides a sound basis for protecting sensitive official information. We have no current plans to replace or amend it.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charges of racial discrimination have been made by staff of the Commission for Racial Equality against the Commission itself in each of the last five years. [96701]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The number of complaints made by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) staff to the Employment Tribunal alleging racial discrimination for each of the last five years is as follows:

  1995–0

  1996–5

  1997–4

  1998–8

  1999–3

  Of these 20 cases, three are ongoing, five were settled and the Tribunal dismissed 12. No finding of racial discrimination has ever been made against the CRE by the Tribunal.

  Chinese State Visit
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis following
  65
  the visit of the President of China to London; what further discussions he plans; and if he will make a statement. [96697]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary meets regularly with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to discuss policing issues in London, and there are regular contacts with the Metropolitan Police at both Ministerial and official level. There were no specific discussions of the issues specified at my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's meetings prior to the Chinese State Visit nor at other meetings between Ministers and officials and the Metropolitan Police. At a regular meeting between my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the Commissioner on 27 October 1999, the Commissioner told my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that the Metropolitan Police were conducting an internal review into the policing of the visit of the President of China.

  Channel Islands
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what legislative powers he has advised the authorities in Guernsey that they cannot alter Section 201 of their income tax law; and if he will make a statement on the powers of HM Government in relation to taxes levied in the Channel Islands. [96849]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There are regular discussions between United Kingdom officials and the authorities in the Crown Dependencies on matters of mutual interest. I understand that the Guernsey authorities do not now propose to amend Section 201 of the Income Tax (Guernsey) Law 1975. All primary legislation passed by the Channel Island legislatures requires the Assent of the Queen in Council.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Class Sizes
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many of the 4,500 extra teachers provided for under the Class Size Initiative had been recruited as at 30 September; of those recruited, how many came from existing jobs in(a) infant classes and (b) junior classes; and how many were newly-qualified teachers; [96833]

  (2) how many teachers were in post in infant classes as at 30 September 1998 and 30 September 1999. [96832]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We have provided funding for 4,500 extra teachers from September 1999 to implement our infant class size pledge. Of this number, 3,000 are additional to the 1,500 we funded from September 1998. LEAs have informed us that they have employed the extra teachers for which they received funding. Full statistical returns of the number of teachers in post are collected each January. We do not hold information on where individual teachers are recruited from, but we are providing Local Education Authorities with the resources to take on additional teachers to enable them to reduce infant classes to 30 or below.

  Parental Leave
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice he has circulated to schools about compliance with the Parental Leave Regulations. [96410]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend has not circulated any advice to schools. The regulations have not yet been laid before Parliament. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will issue guidance on parental leave.

  Mental Health (Children)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the evidence published by the Mental Health Foundation about the emotional development of the nation's children. [95217]

  Jacqui Smith
  We welcome the Mental Health Foundation's Report "Bright Futures". An official from my Department had observer status on the steering group which guided Bright Future's preparation and will tomorrow attend a seminar the Mental Health Foundation is holding to review its impact.

  My officials are working with their Department of Health counterparts to ensure that policy on child and adolescent mental health services takes account of educational considerations. We shall further consider Bright Futures in the context of the forthcoming review of the guidance we issue to schools and local education authorities on the education of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children of asylum seekers are currently not receiving an education because local education authorities have not offered them a school place. [96195]

  Jacqui Smith
  Children of asylum seekers are entitled to education in the same way as other children, irrespective of their immigration status or right to residence in a particular location. It is the legal duty of the Local Education Authorities to ensure that education is available for all children of compulsory school age in their area appropriate to age, abilities and aptitudes and any special educational needs they may have. Local Education Authorities receive funding from this Department for the education of children of asylum seekers in the same way as they do for other children.

  Teacher Retirements
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers have retired as a result of ill-health in the three years to 31 March. [96430]
  67
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The number of teachers who have retired as a result of ill health from the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special sector, England, in financial years 1996–97 to 1998–99 are as follows:

  Number

  1996–97

  4,980

  1997–98

  3,290

  1998–991

  2,220

  1 1998–99 data are provisional

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what his policy is on the inclusion in mainstream schools of children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement. [96463]

  Jacqui Smith
  Promoting inclusion within mainstream schools, where parents want it and appropriate support can be provided, is a cornerstone of the Government's special educational needs strategy. The education of children with special needs is a key challenge for the nation, and critical to the creation of a fully inclusive society. There are strong educational, as well as social and moral, grounds for educating pupils with special needs or disabilities with their peers.

  Where parents want a mainstream setting for their child our policy is to try to provide it. We are providing, this year, £8 million through the Standards Fund and £20 million through the Schools Access Initiative to promote inclusion. Equally, when parents want a specialist setting for their child it is important that their wishes are respected. Our approach has been practical, not dogmatic. We are advocating inclusion by choice and have underlined that there remains a continuing and vital role for special schools. The key objective must be to safeguard the interests of all children and to ensure that they achieve to their full potential.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority(a) the number of pupils with moderate learning difficulties and (b) the proportion who were taught in special schools in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [96498]

  Jacqui Smith
  Central statistics giving details of the number of pupils by type of special educational need are not collected.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the research by Professor Alan Dyson of Newcastle-upon-Tyne University on the benefits to children with moderate learning difficulties of attending mainstream schools. [96507]

  Jacqui Smith
  The report highlighted the wide variations which exist in the access to, and the quality of, provision for pupils with special educational needs. Working together to better meet special educational needs is a key message within the SEN programme of action. Spearheading action under this theme is the expansion of the SEN regional co-ordination projects to cover the whole of England by April 2000. The projects are encouraging local authorities to work with each other, the 68
  voluntary and private sectors and other partners to better plan and meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and to standardise provision.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what additional support he plans to give to(a) mainstream schools and (b) special schools for children with special educational needs. [96478]

  Jacqui Smith
  Our Programme of Action on Special Educational Needs, published in November 1998, is an integral part of our strategy for improving all schools. Measures in it will develop the existing statutory framework and procedures, building on experience and best practice. They aim to shift the emphasis from procedures to practical support. It is a measure of the priority we are giving to children with SEN that we have virtually doubled—to £35 million—the targeted support for SEN under the Standards Fund in 1999–2000. We have also increased five-fold the capital support under the Schools Access Initiative, from the £4 million we inherited in 1997–98, to £20 million in 1999–2000. We are planning further big increases to the SEN Standards Fund and the Schools Access Initiative for the following two years. This specific funding for SEN is in addition to the very substantial increases in the overall resources available to schools.

  School Funding (Leeds)
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average funding allocation per child attending(a) junior and (b) secondary schools in each of the last 20 years, in real terms, in Leeds Local Education Authority. [96189]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The table shows the primary and secondary education Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) per pupil in real terms, for Leeds Education Authority, for each of the last ten years, at 1990–2000 prices. The information is not available for the years prior to the introduction of SSAs, which occurred in 1990–91.

  Unit SSA allocations in real terms (£'s per pupil)

  Change on previous year (Percentage)

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  1990–91

  1,916

  2,793

  -

  -

  1991–92

  2,069

  3,078

  8.0

  10.2

  1992–93

  2,113

  3,168

  2.1

  2.9

  1993–94

  2,095

  3,118

  -0.9

  -1.6

  1994–95

  2,091

  2,998

  -0.2

  -3.8

  1995–96

  2,027

  2,765

  -3.0

  -7.8

  1996–97

  2,052

  2,805

  1.2

  1.5

  1997–98

  2,093

  2,817

  2.0

  0.4

  1998–99

  2,156

  2,876

  3.0

  2.1

  1999–2000

  2,227

  2,922

  3.3

  1.6

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress his Department is making in ensuring that schools recognise dyslexia and respond with appropriate teaching methods. [95311]

  Jacqui Smith
  Under the Education Act 1966, schools and local education authorities (LEAs) have a duty to identify and make suitable provision for all children with
  69
  special educational needs, including children with dyslexia. The Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs gives guidance to schools and LEAs on how to meet this duty. Paragraphs 3.60 to 3.63 provide guidance on specific learning difficulties and have particular reference to dyslexia.

  To assist schools in recognising dyslexia we have produced simple guidance which provides hints to primary school teachers to help them identify children who may be dyslexic. In addition the Department has recently provided a grant to help the British Dyslexia Association produce a schools resource pack entitled "Achieving dyslexia friendly schools".

  A recent seminar bringing together the main government departments and agencies, and external partners for an exchange of views on the key educational issues in the areas of dyslexia, was well received. Ways in which individual expertise and resources can be pooled were identified, and a consensus reached over a shared agenda for tackling issues in the areas of early identification, teacher training, and the use of ICT. An informal working group has been set up to take matters forward.

  Changes to Initial Teacher Training introduced in September 1998 require all trainees to demonstrate that they are able to identify pupils who have special educational needs including specific learning difficulties and know where to get help in order to give positive and targeted support.

  Anaphylaxis
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what action his Department has taken and what plans he has to ensure children from atopic families avoid early sensitisation to nut products and that parents and carers are aware of the risk of sensitisation; [96530]

  (2) what information his Department issues concerning anaphylaxis and contact between young children and nut products; [96440]

  (3) what recent representations he has received from groups concerned about anaphylaxis and the difficulties faced by sufferers in everyday life; [96438]

  (4) what representations he has received from leisure providers concerning the use of their facilities, and participation in activities, by sufferers from anaphylaxis. [96654]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department has not received any recent representations from anaphylaxis groups or from leisure providers. We have issued guidance for schools on "Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs" which contains advice on anaphylaxis. Advice is also available on the joint DfEE and Department of Health Wired for Health website. We will be consulting shortly on draft regulations on new nutritional standards for school lunches. The new standards will allow caterers flexibility to respond to the requirements of children who have allergies to particular foods. I will send a copy of the draft regulations to the hon. Member when they are published. The question about early sensitisation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list all performance targets set for his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, other than those listed in Public Service Agreements 1999–2002 [Cm 4181], stating in each case(a) the target to be reached and (b) the date by which it was to be reached. [94987]

  Mr. Blunkett
  My Department has set out the key performance targets on which it will be judged in its PSA, and the measures of success it will use in the Output and Performance Analysis (OPA) published in March this year. A full list of the targets and target dates for Agencies and Executive NDPBs can be found annually in the Next Steps Report and Executive and Non-Departmental Public Bodies Report on the Stationery Office website. In addition, my Department has published a Strategic Framework to 2002: Learning and Working Together for the Future, setting out our aim, objectives, targets and supporting policies for that period; and has published the Government's National Learning Targets to 2002 in the leaflet "National Learning Targets for England for 2002—now including the new Learning Participation Target" and in its publication "National Learning Targets—action plan".

  These high-level targets are supported at operational level by numerous targets to ensure delivery by individual units. Listing these operational targets would be inappropriate and disproportionate in terms of resources. However, the DfEE annual Departmental Report and Annual Report of the Employment Service also include performance related information.

  Student Complaints
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education to publish its draft proposals for student complaints systems in higher education. [96590]

  Mr. Wicks
  I understand that the Quality Assurance Agency intends to issue its draft Code of Practice on Student Complaints and Appeals to higher education institutions and other interested parties for consultation during the week commencing 1 November.

  Adult Education
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in the development of national programmes to deliver information and advice on education and training for adults. [96409]

  Mr. Wicks
  As set out in the White Paper, "Learning to Succeed" (Cm 4392), we want adults to have the help they need to make informed choices about learning and work. That help will be available through Learning Direct, the national learning helpline; through Lifelong Learning Partnerships, who are developing a free information and advice service for adults at local level; and, for unemployed people, through the comprehensive advice and support service associated with the Employment Service's New Deal programmes for young people, the unemployed and people with disabilities.
  71
  Since it was launched last year, Learning Direct has helped more than 860,000 callers. Following consultation earlier in the year, my Department is now agreeing plans with Lifelong Learning Partnerships for the development of information and advice services that are tailored to local needs. To date, more than 348,000 young people aged 18-24 and 144,000 adults aged 25 and over have received specialised advice and support through the New Deal.

  AS Levels
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of(a) the policy of university admission authorities towards AS levels and (b) if they will make offers based on AS levels. [95867]

  Mr. Wicks
  It is for universities to decide on their admissions policies. Early indications are that they are considering using AS qualifications rather than GCSEs as predictors of likely A level performance. Universities such as Cambridge have also indicated that they are considering using the new Advanced Extension Award as an alternative to its STEP exam. Universities will normally make final offers on the basis of final A level and GNVQ scores, but may also include AS qualification and AE achievement as evidence of breadth and depth.

  Access Funds
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students attending higher education institutions have received financial help from access funds in each of the last 10 academic years. [96186]

  Mr. Wicks
  The following table shows the number of successful applications in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98. Comparable figures for 1998–99 will not be available until the New Year. The figures for earlier years are not immediately available, but I shall write to my hon. Friend with them shortly.
  72
  These figures are based on returns from higher education institutions to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Some institutions have not returned information for the relevant years. The returns show only approved applications, and some students have applied successfully more than once.

  Year

  Number of successful applications

  1997–98

  49,236

  1996–97

  52,256

  1995–96

  55,453

  The Government have more than tripled spending on HE Access Funds, to £75 million, since 1997.

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the funding available for access funds for each further education college in England in the(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000 academic years. [96188]

  Mr. Wicks
  Total access funds provision for further education colleges has been £6.0 million in 1996–97, £6.0 million in 1997–98, £10.3 million in 1998–99 and £37.4 million in 1999–2000. Grants to individual colleges are published in an annual Further Education Council Circular. The references for the Circulars for the years in question are:

  96/22 for 1996–97

  97/32 for 1997–98

  98/29 for 1998–99

  99/27 for 1999–2000

  Copies of the circulars have been placed in the Library.

  Play Schemes (Exclusions)
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children were excluded from(a) local council and (b) other leisure and play schemes on the grounds of medical conditions which are not classed as disabilities. [96528]

  Ms Hodge
  The information required is not collected centrally.

  Bahrain: Arms Export Licences
  Bahrain: Arms Export Licences
  Therapeutic Cloning
  Therapeutic Cloning
  South Yorkshire: EU Objective 1 Status
  South Yorkshire: EU Objective 1 Status
  Maritime Studies: University Courses
  Maritime Studies: University Courses
  Spouses' Additional Pension: Compensation for Reduction
  Spouses' Additional Pension: Compensation for Reduction
  Council of the European Union: Forthcoming Business
  Council of the European Union: Forthcoming Business
  Pakistan: Locally Engaged Staff in Diplomatic Posts
  Pakistan: Locally Engaged Staff in Diplomatic Posts
  Kosovo: Military Equipment for Security Forces
  Kosovo: Military Equipment for Security Forces
  Chechnya
  Chechnya
  Visa Fees
  Visa Fees
  Sri Lanka: Executive Presidency
  Sri Lanka: Executive Presidency
  ACP Countries: Sugar Accords Review
  ACP Countries: Sugar Accords Review
  China: Human Rights
  China: Human Rights
  Bahrain: Human Rights
  Bahrain: Human Rights
  Abattoir Closures
  Abattoir Closures
  Fisheries Council, 26 October
  Fisheries Council, 26 October
  Intervention Board: Performance Targets
  Intervention Board: Performance Targets
  BSE
  BSE