Written Answers of 3 November 1999

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Railways
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the level of public investment in each of the past five years in new rolling stock for the railway systems; and if he will make a statement on the future of the Northern Ireland Railway Network. [94837]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The level of investment in new rolling stock in each of the past five years is detailed in the table (the information is provided on a financial year basis).

  Year

  £

  1994–95

  5,279,774.36

  1996–96

  4,468,495.88

  1996–97

  5,700,559.34

  1997–98

  1,529,794.75

  1998–99

  173,394.36

  Seventy-five per cent. of the investment was met from European Structural Funds.

  Government are conscious of the need to invest in public transport infrastructure and rail rolling stock. The Northern Ireland Transport Policy Statement, 'Moving Forward', confirmed the need for further investment in the railways and highlighted that the possible use of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to secure investment in provision of public transport services would be explored. To that end, and given the capital costs involved, the

  Annex A: Private sector new dwelling starts by district council area 1989–98

  District council area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Total

  Antrim

  176

  154

  188

  230

  274

  271

  238

  246

  341

  196

  2,314

  Ards

  411

  284

  273

  293

  436

  509

  429

  499

  443

  575

  4,152

  Armagh

  208

  172

  207

  180

  235

  260

  314

  265

  390

  385

  2,616

  Ballymena

  248

  219

  250

  226

  326

  276

  297

  303

  337

  266

  2,748

  Ballymoney

  96

  96

  89

  113

  135

  117

  178

  196

  316

  194

  1,530

  Banbridge

  219

  154

  202

  195

  274

  297

  304

  372

  359

  478

  2,854

  Belfast

  476

  403

  95

  488

  172

  80

  158

  68

  500

  350

  2,790

  Carrickfergus

  348

  295

  258

  252

  302

  286

  237

  232

  300

  199

  2,708

  Castlereagh

  158

  352

  408

  412

  390

  430

  447

  486

  210

  148

  3,441

  Coleraine

  271

  361

  342

  388

  458

  496

  479

  468

  531

  512

  4,306

  Cookstown

  132

  99

  88

  99

  130

  196

  161

  131

  110

  145

  1,291

  Craigavon

  400

  313

  250

  304

  427

  435

  380

  467

  588

  511

  4,075

  Derry

  341

  235

  260

  321

  492

  536

  620

  520

  343

  374

  4,042

  Down

  351

  283

  245

  226

  259

  307

  349

  375

  451

  412

  3,258

  Dungannon

  127

  56

  103

  85

  50

  85

  182

  332

  385

  350

  1,755

  Fermanagh

  223

  230

  266

  207

  316

  328

  343

  396

  314

  535

  3,158

  Larne

  160

  126

  101

  127

  106

  200

  251

  170

  194

  153

  1,588

  Limavady

  99

  112

  115

  128

  181

  214

  162

  196

  190

  246

  1,643

  Lisburn

  594

  408

  464

  451

  494

  559

  601

  498

  466

  384

  4,919

  Magherafelt

  141

  116

  111

  151

  159

  224

  237

  295

  335

  271

  2,040

  Moyle

  43

  77

  53

  51

  67

  102

  102

  132

  243

  165

  1,053

  Newry and Mourne

  426

  306

  451

  448

  574

  510

  503

  563

  530

  681

  4,992

  Newtownabbey

  382

  379

  278

  363

  376

  377

  372

  417

  433

  453

  3,830

  174
  Government are currently considering the possible use of PPPs for the replacement of rolling stock and rail infrastructure.

  Equal Opportunities
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [94841]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 682.

  Housing
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to renovate the Housing Executive dwellings at Braeside Gardens, Killybagh, County Down. [94836]

  Mr. George Howarth
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I am advised by its Chief Executive that Braeside Gardens forms part of a scheme for multi element improvements, currently planned to commence in May 2000.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each of the last 10 years the number of dwellings erected in each council area in Northern Ireland by(a) the private sector, (b) the Housing Executive and (c) housing associations. [94832]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [holding answer 21 October 1999]: The information requested is as follows. Annexes A-C list, for each of the years 1989–1998, the number of new dwellings started in each district council area in Northern Ireland by the private sector (Annex A), the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (Annex B) and housing associations (Annex C). In addition, Annex D lists, for the same period, the total number of new dwellings started in each district area.
  175

  Annex A: Private sector new dwelling starts by district council area 1989–98

  District council area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Total

  North Down

  546

  241

  209

  201

  209

  235

  214

  274

  258

  259

  2,646

  Omagh

  117

  180

  168

  127

  142

  136

  209

  142

  325

  417

  1,963

  Strabane

  70

  53

  57

  133

  86

  205

  208

  207

  223

  210

  1,452

  Total

  6,763

  5,704

  5,531

  6,199

  7,070

  7,689

  7,975

  8,250

  9,115

  8,869

  73,165

  Source:

  District council building control officers

  Annex B: NIHE dwelling starts by district council area 1989–98

  District council area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Total

  Antrim

  0

  0

  25

  0

  26

  0

  2

  4

  0

  0

  57

  Ards

  4

  141

  110

  37

  53

  85

  64

  88

  38

  0

  620

  Armagh

  4

  27

  28

  4

  0

  18

  30

  0

  19

  15

  145

  Ballymena

  17

  2

  9

  0

  57

  10

  0

  0

  56

  0

  161

  Ballymoney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  0

  0

  31

  0

  43

  Banbridge

  0

  32

  8

  0

  22

  20

  0

  3

  10

  14

  109

  Belfast

  588

  426

  318

  309

  148

  301

  251

  343

  237

  112

  3,031

  Carrickfergus

  53

  7

  0

  0

  0

  7

  31

  0

  34

  0

  132

  Castlereagh

  15

  17

  10

  8

  30

  0

  0

  5

  0

  0

  85

  Coleraine

  16

  32

  6

  0

  32

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  98

  Cookstown

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  6

  8

  Craigavon

  8

  14

  55

  46

  37

  37

  42

  42

  22

  14

  317

  Derry

  99

  115

  113

  2

  327

  136

  121

  53

  45

  22

  1,033

  Down

  3

  2

  37

  40

  35

  53

  40

  52

  69

  0

  331

  Dungannon

  0

  12

  0

  4

  4

  10

  62

  13

  21

  0

  126

  Fermanagh

  5

  29

  12

  53

  71

  6

  28

  22

  35

  7

  268

  Larne

  16

  7

  0

  0

  53

  0

  16

  0

  5

  0

  97

  Limavady

  0

  18

  0

  0

  13

  19

  2

  0

  0

  0

  52

  Lisburn

  36

  17

  165

  79

  21

  138

  126

  82

  25

  23

  712

  Magherafelt

  0

  41

  0

  0

  62

  11

  44

  12

  0

  0

  170

  Moyle

  12

  6

  4

  0

  27

  8

  27

  0

  7

  6

  97

  Newry and Mourne

  30

  54

  28

  41

  36

  52

  34

  123

  74

  0

  472

  Newtownabbey

  16

  0

  0

  0

  0

  48

  1

  6

  14

  34

  119

  North Down

  0

  0

  36

  56

  24

  0

  14

  101

  6

  2

  239

  Omagh

  5

  50

  11

  33

  8

  10

  37

  31

  6

  3

  194

  Strabane

  0

  10

  26

  6

  46

  78

  20

  35

  63

  3

  287

  Total

  927

  1,059

  999

  718

  1,132

  1,071

  994

  1,015

  817

  261

  8,993

  Source:

  NIHE

  Annex C: Housing association new dwelling starts by district council area 1989–98

  District council area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Total

  Antrim

  0

  1

  1

  37

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  13

  52

  Ards

  0

  36

  2

  25

  53

  51

  114

  0

  0

  16

  297

  Armagh

  7

  16

  0

  23

  0

  54

  0

  0

  6

  110

  216

  Ballymena

  1

  0

  8

  0

  56

  95

  27

  38

  14

  20

  259

  Ballymoney

  0

  0

  32

  0

  0

  0

  0

  40

  22

  0

  94

  Banbridge

  0

  32

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  19

  21

  0

  72

  Belfast

  198

  456

  377

  334

  130

  174

  139

  259

  298

  357

  2,722

  Carrickfergus

  2

  8

  0

  0

  0

  48

  21

  17

  19

  46

  161

  Castlereagh

  41

  4

  0

  0

  40

  0

  0

  2

  22

  37

  148

  Coleraine

  53

  0

  41

  22

  11

  1

  13

  13

  62

  16

  232

  Cookstown

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  1

  0

  12

  23

  Craigavon

  31

  6

  7

  0

  15

  25

  53

  29

  7

  29

  202

  Derry

  42

  116

  48

  52

  0

  84

  274

  167

  176

  209

  1,168

  Down

  0

  0

  2

  26

  33

  0

  0

  0

  44

  75

  180

  Dungannon

  0

  0

  25

  0

  25

  31

  0

  74

  35

  8

  198

  Fermanagh

  26

  0

  26

  23

  0

  43

  18

  13

  6

  44

  199

  Larne

  0

  0

  44

  0

  0

  26

  22

  32

  17

  0

  141

  Limavady

  0

  0

  0

  39

  0

  0

  16

  28

  32

  41

  156

  Lisburn

  0

  0

  79

  67

  20

  100

  0

  4

  44

  87

  401

  Magherafelt

  0

  0

  0

  34

  0

  0

  0

  3

  13

  16

  66

  Moyle

  0

  0

  8

  0

  0

  30

  0

  0

  24

  20

  82

  Newry and Mourne

  25

  12

  24

  0

  28

  6

  39

  51

  72

  42

  299

  Newtownabbey

  2

  48

  12

  35

  77

  38

  12

  10

  75

  17

  326

  North Down

  70

  5

  24

  1

  0

  111

  0

  0

  63

  12

  286

  Omagh

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  10

  46

  11

  6

  91

  165

  Strabane

  0

  24

  31

  0

  0

  0

  6

  10

  16

  11

  98

  Total

  498

  764

  791

  718

  489

  927

  810

  821

  1,094

  1,329

  8,241

  Source:

  DOE (NI)
  176 177

  Annex D: Total new dwelling starts by district council area 1989–98

  District council area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Total

  Antrim

  176

  155

  214

  267

  300

  271

  240

  250

  341

  209

  2,423

  Ards

  415

  461

  385

  355

  542

  645

  607

  587

  481

  591

  5,069

  Armagh

  219

  215

  235

  207

  235

  332

  344

  265

  415

  510

  2,977

  Ballymena

  266

  221

  267

  226

  439

  381

  324

  341

  407

  286

  3,158

  Ballymoney

  96

  96

  121

  113

  135

  129

  178

  236

  369

  194

  1,667

  Banbridge

  219

  218

  210

  195

  296

  317

  304

  394

  390

  492

  3,035

  Belfast

  1,262

  1,285

  788

  1,131

  450

  555

  548

  670

  1,035

  819

  8,643

  Carrickfergus

  403

  310

  258

  252

  302

  341

  289

  249

  353

  245

  3,002

  Castlereagh

  214

  373

  418

  420

  480

  430

  447

  493

  232

  185

  3,672

  Coleraine

  340

  393

  389

  410

  501

  509

  492

  481

  593

  528

  4,636

  Cookstown

  132

  99

  88

  99

  130

  196

  173

  132

  110

  163

  1,322

  Craigavon

  439

  333

  312

  350

  479

  497

  475

  538

  617

  554

  4,594

  Derry

  482

  466

  421

  375

  819

  756

  1,015

  740

  564

  605

  6,243

  Down

  354

  285

  284

  292

  327

  360

  389

  427

  564

  487

  3,769

  Dungannon

  127

  68

  128

  89

  79

  126

  244

  419

  441

  358

  2,079

  Fermanagh

  254

  259

  304

  283

  387

  377

  389

  431

  355

  586

  3,625

  Larne

  176

  133

  145

  127

  159

  226

  289

  202

  216

  153

  1,826

  Limavady

  99

  130

  115

  167

  194

  233

  180

  224

  222

  287

  1,851

  Lisburn

  630

  425

  708

  597

  535

  797

  727

  584

  535

  494

  6,032

  Magherafelt

  141

  157

  111

  185

  221

  235

  281

  310

  348

  267

  2,276

  Moyle

  55

  83

  65

  51

  94

  158

  129

  132

  274

  191

  1,232

  Newry and Mourne

  481

  372

  503

  489

  638

  568

  576

  737

  676

  723

  5,763

  Newtownabbey

  400

  427

  290

  398

  453

  463

  385

  433

  522

  504

  4,275

  North Down

  616

  246

  269

  258

  233

  346

  228

  375

  327

  273

  3,171

  Omagh

  122

  230

  179

  160

  151

  156

  292

  184

  337

  511

  2,322

  Strabane

  70

  87

  114

  139

  132

  283

  234

  252

  302

  224

  1,837

  Other1

  13

  0

  137

  69

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  219

  Total

  8,201

  7,597

  7,458

  7,704

  8,691

  9,687

  9,779

  10,086

  11,026

  10,459

  90,618

  1 Includes dwellings commenced by Ministry of Defence etc. which cannot be broken down by district council area.

  Sources:

  District council building control offices, NIHE and DOE (NI)

  Pig Industry
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what new measures of support for the pig industry were introduced during the past six months; what assessment he has made of the (i) current situation and (ii) situation one year ago in the pig industry; and if he will make a statement. [94824]

  Mr. George Howarth
  No new measures of support for the pig industry have been introduced during the past six months.

  Government are unable to directly aid the sector as such assistance would be in breach of European Union State Aid rules.

  Government are very aware of the crisis in the pig industry. Although returns to pig producers have increased over the past year they still do not cover production costs.

  Government will continue to liaise closely with the industry and the EU Commission to seek solutions, compatible with EU State Aid rules, to the current difficulties. In the interim every effort will be made to ensure that United Kingdom retailers and consumers fully appreciate the excellent quality and high welfare standards of British produced pigs.

  BSE
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the incidence of BSE in cattle in each of the past five years; how many cases of BSE 178
  have been identified in 1999 to date; and if he will make a statement on the impact of Northern Ireland beef products into the European Union. [94838]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested in relation to the incidence of BSE in Northern Ireland is provided in the table.

  Apart from a relatively small amount of beef exported under the Export Certified Herds Scheme in the second half of 1998 and the first half of 1999 there have been no exports of Northern Ireland beef since the export ban on UK beef was imposed in March 1996.

  BSE confirmed cases in Northern Ireland 1994–99

  Total cases

  1994

  363

  1995

  170

  1996

  81

  1997

  28

  1998

  18

  1999

  15

  1 Figure as at 21 October 1999

  EU Agriculture Council
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Minister responsible for Northern Ireland agriculture last attended a meeting of the European Union Council of Ministers in Brussels;
  179
  and if he will make a statement on the contribution of his Department to European Union agriculture policy decisions. [95075]

  Mr. George Howarth
  My hon. Friend Lord Dubs, the Minister responsible for agriculture in Northern Ireland, last attended the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers on 5 March 1999 during the final stages of the negotiations on the Agenda 2000 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). He also attended the Fisheries Council meeting on 17-18 December 1998.

  The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland plays a full and active role in the establishment of the UK's position on relevant EU agricultural policy issues. Decisions on EU agricultural policy are, of course, beyond the remit of a single member state and reflect the collective position of all fifteen members of the European Union. Nevertheless, recent examples of the successful representation of Northern Ireland interests in the EU Council of Ministers include the introduction of the Export Certified Herd Scheme in June 1998 and the special allocation of additional milk quota to Northern Ireland as part of the Agenda 2000 agreement on CAP reform, neither of which was replicated in other parts of the UK.

  The issues arising at each Agriculture Council meeting are discussed in advance by senior officials of the four UK Agriculture Departments. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also meets his agriculture Ministerial colleagues before each Council meeting.

  Gay Men
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the money ring-fenced by the Northern Ireland health boards to provide services for gay men has been spent on such services since the institution of such ring-fencing; what the figures are for each health board; and if he will make a statement. [96616]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Health and Social Services Boards' allocations are not ring-fenced for the provision of services for gay men. It is for individual boards to use their funds to respond to the health needs of their local populations, including gay men.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Millennium Compliance
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the President of the Council what representations she has received about the safety of air travel on 1 January 2000. [96319]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have received no representations about the safety of air travel on 1 January 2000.

  As part of Action 2000's work on key sectors of the national infrastructure, the latest independent assessments show that there is no risk of material disruption to national air traffic control systems, airports and airlines as a result of the Millennium Bug.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Corporate Manslaughter
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the law of corporate manslaughter as it affects incidents in the transport sector. [95983]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 27 October 1999]: I have been asked to reply.

  We are considering what action to take in the light of the Law Commission's report on Involuntary Manslaughter which includes proposals in relation to corporate manslaughter. We will make our proposals known shortly.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans for the system of parish councils. [96465]

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for(a) reducing and (b) increasing the powers, responsibilities or statutory roles of parish councils; and if he will make a statement. [96417]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 677.

  Rail Safety
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on rail safety following the Paddington rail disaster; and if he will make a statement on the safety measures to be taken and who will be responsible for implementing them. [96545]

  Mr. Hill
  Ministers have received a large number of representations from many quarters. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced measures being taken to the House on 19 October 1999,Official Report, columns 266-69. Further recommendations will no doubt emerge from the Public Inquiry into this disaster.

  In addition, on 25 October my right hon. Friend agreed an immediate plan with rail industry leaders covering further measures to improve safety, namely: consistent standards of driver training; a nationwide independent confidential reporting system; accelerating implementation of the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) and development of Automatic Train Protection (ATP); immediate investigation of all signals passed at danger (SPADs) to a common standard; urgent action on the 22 Actions required by the HSE for reducing SPADs; and establishing a consistent approach to safety management.

  Millennium Compliance
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards preparing airlines for millennium compliance by 1 January 2000. [96317]
  181
  Mr. Mullin
  UK airlines are well advanced in their preparations for millennium compliance. All necessary remedial work has been carried out, underpinned by robust contingency plans for the continued safe operation of services over the millennium period. The Civil Aviation Authority has completed assessments of both safety and business continuity systems and has stated that the UK industry is ready for the millennium.

  As regards foreign airlines, work is continuing to gather comprehensive information. The emerging global view from the major international aviation organisations is that the aviation industry is on track for compliance. Foreign aircraft are granted a permit to operate in this country only if they comply with international safety standards, which, over the millennium, includes assurance that they carry no Y2k safety related risks.

  Water Industry
  Mr. Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which organisations applied to be designated to recognise persons as approved contractors under clause 1(2)(b) of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, what are the criteria for the award and removal of such designation and recognition; and when and with whom he will be consulting on the matter. [96752]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 created, for the first time, the legal concept of an approved contractor in relation to installing water fittings. My officials have discussed the terms of approved contractor schemes with a number of professional and training bodies. The Water Regulations Advisory Committee advise Ministers on these issues. Schemes should be compatible with those to be introduced by the water undertakers under Regulation 1(2)(a). The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme will be consulted accordingly. The Institute of Plumbing have applied to be designated to recognise persons as approved contractors, and officials have held an exploratory discussion with them.

  Aarhus Convention
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the procedural changes introduced by his Department and its agencies following the Government's signing of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Environmental Information. [96719]

  Mr. Mullin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 21 July 1999,Official Report, columns 519-20.

  The Government continue to take account of the Convention. For example, all Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and the forthcoming Pollution Prevention Control Regulations are being drafted to implement parts of the Convention.

  Air Traffic
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the annual growth in air traffic to 2010. [97249]
  182
  Mr. Mullin
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 1997 Air Traffic Forecasts forecast international terminal passengers under three growth scenarios; low growth, mid-point growth and high growth. The full results are in the table. New forecasts are expected to be complete by early 2000.

  Millions of passengers

  2000

  2005

  2010

  2015

  Short Haul

  Low

  66.3

  73

  84.8

  99.3

  Mid-P

  73.9

  87.8

  107.9

  131.1

  High

  81.6

  102.6

  130.9

  163.0

  Long Haul

  Low

  36.5

  43.9

  52.5

  63.6

  Mid-P

  39.3

  51.7

  66.5

  85.4

  High

  42.2

  59.5

  80.6

  107.3

  Total

  Low

  102.8

  116.9

  137.2

  162.8

  Mid-P

  113.3

  139.5

  174.3

  216.5

  High

  123.7

  162.1

  211.4

  270.2

  Greater London Authority Bill
  Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will provide explanatory notes for the new Clauses and new Schedules added to the Greater London Authority Bill since 5 May. [97111]

  Mr. Hill
  I am today placing explanatory notes in the Library of the House.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Television Licensing
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to require the TV licensing authorities to run television licences from the precise date when bought rather than the end of the previous month; and if he will make a statement. [96985]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 2 November 1999]: None. As explained in my reply of 27 October 1999, Official Report, columns 861-62, the BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day to day administration as agent for the Corporation.

  BBC
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ensure that his Department makes every effort to hear representations from employees of the companies and other interested parties about the proposed sale of BBC Resources and BBC Worldwide; and if he will make a statement. [97037]

  Janet Anderson
  We have received a number of representations from individuals and organisations on the independent review panel's recommendations about BBC Resources and BBC Worldwide. The recommendations are contained in the panel's report on the future funding of the BBC, published for public consultation on
  183
  5 August. The closing date for the public consultation was 1 November. We will consider all the panel's recommendations in the light of responses received and hope to reach final decisions around the end of the year.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are being taken to ensure that under-16s do not enter the Dome alone. [95191]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) aims to ensure that all visitors to the Dome enjoy a safe and exemplary day. The company does not wish to encourage unaccompanied children to travel alone to visit the Dome. The company is also concerned about the general safety of young children on the site. Consequently NMEC will not knowingly sell tickets to, nor generally admit, children under 16 years of age who are not accompanied by an adult. All Millennium Experience ticketing material makes it clear that NMEC reserves the right to refuse entry in these circumstances. NMEC's policy in this respect is similar to that adopted by most major visitor attractions in the UK.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Metropolitan Police in relation to security at the Millennium Dome. [95122]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company has regular discussions with the Metropolitan Police about all aspects of security. By definition, it would not be helpful to reveal the detail of those discussions or the security arrangements implemented as a result. I am satisfied that those arrangements are robust and comprehensive

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many book titles will be sold in the Dome; and how many of these have been(a) commissioned and (b) sponsored by the NMEC. [94691]

  Janet Anderson
  NMEC is not commissioning or sponsoring books. About 200 general titles will be available at the Dome which relate to the Millennium Experience and Dome content. The company is publishing one book—a guide to the Dome which will be a keepsake of the day for visitors and which will be only available at the Dome. The company has licensed a number of publishers (Booth Clibborn Editions, Dennis Publishing Limited, Dorling Kindersley Limited, including Funfax, Harper Collins Publishers, and Manning Partnership Limited) to produce a portfolio of books and is working with the publishers to develop them. Thirty one books are covered by these licence arrangements and the portfolio caters for all ages and interests. All thirty one will be available at the Dome and on the high street.

  Millennium (Sponsorship)
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which sponsors of the Millennium Experience have signed sponsorship contracts with the New Millennium Experience Company. [95147]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: Contractual arrangements have been completed with British Aerospace, British Airports Authority, BT,
  184
  Camelot, Corporation of London, Ford, GEC, Kodak, Marks and Spencer, McDonald's, Tesco, Wall's and Woolwich. The remaining contractual arrangements are all close to completion. All announced sponsors are irrevocably committed at Board level.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his Department's spending on official publications since May 1997. [93693]

  Mr. Hain
  The spending on official publications produced by the publications Section of Information Department from May 1997 was:

  Year

  £

  May 1997 to March 1998

  2,062,363.30

  April 1998 to March 1999

  1,487,125.70

  April 1999 to September 1999

  641,007.01

  The answer totals the cost of Publications for use overseas (£4,190,495) and the two departmental reports produced since May 1997 (£28,871).

  Death Penalty (United States)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Ministers and officials of his Department have held meetings with members and officials of the United States Government to discuss the death penalty since 1 November 1998; and if he will list the(a) dates, (b) locations and (c) names of the US members and officials, and their respective departments, at each meeting. [93958]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Foreign Office Ministers and officials discuss frequently the death penalty with their US counterparts. At Ministerial level, Baroness Symons most recently raised HMG's opposition to the use of the death penalty in the United States with Harold Koh, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, US State Department, during her visit to Washington on 25 March.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1999,Official Report, column 375, concerning KFOR investigations and Hashim Thaci, when he will reply to the hon. Member for Halifax. [96022]

  Mr. Vaz
  A letter in answer to my hon. Friend's original question was sent on 26 October and placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  UN Security Council Resolution 1,244, which established the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the NATO-led Kosovo force (KFOR), gives UNMIK responsibility for maintaining civil law and order in Kosovo. This includes investigations into alleged crimes,

  185
  including inquiries into crimes alleged to have taken place in Kosovo before UNMIK and KFOR' s deployment in June 1999.

  Questions about specific allegations are therefore for the UNMIK authorities. Anyone seeking to obtain or provide information about alleged crimes should contact UNMIK directly. In the case of possible war crimes, decisions would be made in consultation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

  Von Weizsäcker-Dehaene-Simon Group
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations took place with Her Majesty's Government on behalf of the Von Weizsäcker-Dehaene-Simon Group concerning the topics they covered in their recently published documents on Enlargement and Institutional Affairs of the European Union. [96505]

  Mr. Vaz
  Members of the Group were briefed on the UK' s approach to institutional reform. However they sat on the Group in a personal capacity. Consequently the report represents their own views, not those of any national Government.

  Burma
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs further to his answer of 21 October 1999,Official Report, column 633, what consular services have been provided to James Mawdsley and his family. [96499]

  Mr. Hain
  Embassy staff have visited James twice since his arrest and taken him soap, vitamins, food, letters, books and other items. The Embassy and our Consular Division in London have been in close contact with James's family. The Embassy has made numerous requests for permission for his mother to visit him. The Burmese have now agreed to this.

  Caucasus
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support proposals for a special conference on security in the Caucasus region under the auspices of the OSCE. [96428]

  Mr. Vaz
  We are committed to supporting existing efforts to promote security in the Caucasus, including the involvement of the OSCE in helping to resolve the conflicts over Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia and, in support of the UN, over Abkhazia. We expect these issues to be discussed at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul, as well as the situation in the North Caucasus, including Chechnya. We believe there may be a role for the OSCE in seeking a resolution to the conflict in Chechnya. But we are not aware of proposals for a special OSCE conference on security in the Caucasus more broadly.

  Chechnya
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the security situation in Chechnya and the Caucasus will be discussed at the OSCE meeting of Heads of State at Istanbul, on 18 to 19 November. [96427]
  186
  Mr. Vaz
  We remain deeply concerned about the situation in Chechnya, and reported civilian casualties. We expect the conflicts in Chechnya and the South Caucasus to be discussed at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul, and hope that the discussion will contribute to security in the region.

  Entry Clearance (Subcontinent)
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long a person applying for entry clearance for settlement in June, July and August can be expected to have to wait for an interview in each queue at each post in the Indian subcontinent. [96617]

  Mr. Vaz
  The statistics requested are as follows:

  Waiting times in weeks on last day of month

  Post

  Queue

  June

  July

  August

  India

  Bombay

  Q1

  0

  0

  0

  Q2

  6

  5

  4

  Q3

  6

  5

  5

  1Q4

  6

  5

  5

  Calcutta

  2—

  0.4

  1

  0

  Sri Lanka

  Colombo

  2—

  12

  11

  9

  1 Re-applicants

  2 Calcutta, Colombo, Karachi and Madras do not operate separate queues

  The extended queues in Islamabad and Dhaka in particular are a consequence of seasonal pressures. We have deployed additional staff to Islamabad to deal with increased applications for short term visits.

  United Nations
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the UK Government's financial contribution to the United Nations'(a) staffing and (b) volunteer programmes for each of the past 10 years. [96652]

  Hain
  Staffing costs account for approximately 70 per cent. of UN Regular Budget expenditure. The UK's mandatory contributions for 1990–99 to the Regular Budget are listed in the table. UK contributions to other UN funds and programmes, specialised agencies and peacekeeping and humanitarian operations also cover staffing costs.

  The UN Volunteers Programme (UNV) is administered by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and will account for around 5 per cent. of UNDP's budget for the period 2000–01. The UK's voluntary contributions to the UNDP core budget for 1990–99 are also listed in the table. Since 1991 the UK has also provided £315,848 directly to UNV.

  UK Mandatory Contribution to UN Regular Budget

  US$000

  1990

  38,436

  1991

  44,776

  1992

  49,438

  1993

  51,230

  1994

  51,068

  187

  UK Mandatory Contribution to UN Regular Budget

  US$000

  1995

  57,589

  1996

  58,106

  1997

  56,662

  1998

  53,890

  1999

  52,890

  UK Voluntary Core Contributions to UNDP

  UK financial years

  £000

  1990–91

  27,017

  1991–92

  28,890

  1992–93

  30,104

  1993–94

  31,235

  1994–95

  28,212

  1995–96

  26,031

  1996–97

  29,000

  1997–98

  22,602

  1998–99

  30,850

  1999–2000

  35,817

  Ibiza
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were arrested in Ibiza for(a) possession of and (b) dealing in drugs in each of the last five years. [96626]

  Mr. Hain
  We do not record separately details of British nationals arrested in Ibiza for possession of drugs and those arrested for dealing in drugs.

  The numbers of British nationals detained in Ibiza over the past five years for drugs related offences are:

  Number

  1995

  68

  1996

  18

  1997

  57

  1998

  30

  1999

  46

  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were arrested and for what categories of offences during 1999 in Ibiza. [96625]

  Mr. Hain
  On 28 October 1999, our records showed that 162 British nationals had been detained in Ibiza this year. The offences range from violence to drink driving, drugs, damages, fraud and theft.

  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were involved in drug-related medical emergencies in Ibiza during each of the past five years. [96624]

  Mr. Hain
  We do not record details of British nationals involved in drug-related medical emergencies in Ibiza. Spanish hospitals are not required to inform consulates when British Citizens are admitted for treatment.

  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens travelled to Ibiza during 1999. [96623]
  188
  Mr. Vaz
  As at 30 September 1999 approximately 651,834 British nationals are believed to have visited Ibiza during the year.

  Nuclear Disarmament
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will be supporting the resolution at the UN General Assembly's First Committee on Disarmament and International Security entitled, "Towards a Nuclear Weapon Free World: the Need for a New Agenda"; and if he will make a statement. [96433]

  Mr. Vaz
  As at last year, the New Agenda resolution contains many proposals we strongly support, but also a number we do not, including measures we examined in detail in the Strategic Defence Review, and concluded were incompatible with the maintenance of our minimum nuclear deterrent. We will therefore vote against the resolution as a whole.

  Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Russian counterpart about that country's level of compliance with its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty; and if he will make a statement. [96925]

  Mr. Vaz
  We attach great importance to compliance with the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty by all States party to it. Russian implementation of the Treaty is of major concern, and we have been pressing and will continue to press the Russians for action in areas where they are non-compliant. We have been taking this action both bilaterally and in multilateral forums, including in contacts in Vienna.

  Iran
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when Her Majesty's Government last made representations on behalf of the human rights of the Baha'is faith people of Iran; and if he will make a statement; [96980]

  (2) when the Permanent Representative of the United Nations last spoke on behalf of the human rights of the Baha'is faith people of Iran; and if he will make a statement; [96983]

  (3) when the Permanent Representative of the European Union last spoke on behalf of the human rights of the Baha'is people of Iran; and if he will make a statement. [96982]

  Mr. Hain
  Iran is aware of our serious concern about the Baha'is. Persecution of individuals on religious grounds is totally unacceptable. We and our EU partners regularly press the Iranian authorities on this issue. I personally raised our concerns during a call by the Iranian Ambassador on 4 August. The EU regularly press the Iranian authorities over the plight of the Baha'is, most recently the Germany Presidency did so at the latest EU/Iran talks in May. I assured Barnabas Leith, Secretary General of the UK Baha'is Community of our continue support when we met on 18 October.
  189
  The 1998 report on Human Rights in Iran by UN Special Representative Maurice Copithorne was particularly critical of Iranian treatment of the Baha'is. We expect his 1999 report to contain similarly critical language. We and our EU partners sponsored a Resolution on Human Rights in Iran at the 1999 UN Commission on Human Rights; this was adopted on 23 April and reaffirmed international concern about the Baha'is plight. We expect that a further resolution, also sponsored by the EU and containing equally firm language on the Baha'is, will be adopted at the current session of the United Nations General Assembly.

  Departmental Accounts
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what methods of depreciation his Department will apply in the current financial year to fixed assets in the preparation of departmental resource accounting balance sheets. [97046]

  Mr. Hain
  Depreciations will be provided at rates calculated to write off the valuation of fixed assets by equal instalments over their estimated useful lives. Freehold land is not depreciated. This method is in accordance with HM Treasury's Resource Accounting Manual. The requirements in the Manual regarding methods of depreciation will be underpinned by Financial Reporting Standard 15 "Tangible Fixed Assets", issued by the Accounting Standards Board.

  Strategic Export Control
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government intend to publish the second Annual Report on strategic export control. [97215]

  Mr. Hain
  We have issued the second Annual Report today. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It has now been entered on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk).

  Angola
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in inhibiting the use of diamond sales for funding the war in Angola. [96084]

  Mr. Hain
  UN Security Council resolution 1173 of 12 June 1998 imposed a ban on the direct or indirect import from Angola of all diamonds not controlled through the Angolan Government's Certificate of Origin of Origin regime. The aim was to cut off diamond revenues to UNITA, and so reduce their ability to fund continued fighting. The UK implements the resolution through the Angola (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1998.

  UN Security Council resolution 1237 of 7 May 1999 established a panel of experts to investigate alleged violations of the sanctions against UNITA, in support of the work of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee. Panel members are paying a series of visits to the region, and will report on how sanctions in relation to UNITA diamonds can be implemented and enforced more effectively.
  190
  We welcomed the announcement by De Beers on 5 October that they will no longer purchase any Angolan diamonds, and will urge their clients to adopt a similar policy.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UN Sanctions Committee for Angola has identified(a) the source of illegal arms importation in Angola and (b) those countries and corporations which have broken trade embargoes with Angola; and if he will make a statement. [96085]

  Mr. Hain
  The UN Angola Sanctions Committee has been looking at ways to tighten implementation of UN sanctions against UNITA, but has not yet commented publicly on these matters. UN Security Council resolution 1237 of 7 May 1999 established, in support of the work of the Committee, a panel of experts with a mandate to investigate alleged violations of the sanctions against UNITA, including the arms embargo and restrictions on trade. Panel members will be paying a number of visits to the region. Based on their findings, they will issue conclusions and recommendations on how to improve implementation of the sanctions regime. The UK Government fully support the work of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee.

  International Criminal Court Statute
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made by him in seeking ratification by the UK of the International Criminal Court Statute. [96086]

  Mr. Hain
  Detailed work to prepare legislation enabling the UK to ratify the International Criminal Court Statute is going forward and will be introduced as soon as the Parliamentary timetable permits. We remain strongly committed to the Court and intend to be among the first sixty states to ratify.

  Chinese President (State Visit)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in any of the bilateral meetings which took place between representatives of his Department and of the Metropolitan police prior to the visit of President Jiang Zemin, the police were made aware that demonstrations in support of Tibet would cause embarrassment to the Government. [97117]

  Mr. Battle
  We discussed demonstrations in the terms set out in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) on 28 October 1999,Official Report, column 993. At no time did we say that demonstrations in support of Tibet would cause embarrassment to the Government.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the time limit for the Quality of Legislation EC Working Group; and what progress it has made. [95304]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Group met for the last time on 3 December 1998. After adoption by the three Institutions involved, (European Parliament, Commission and Council), the

  191
  Inter-Institutional Agreement on the quality of drafting of Community legislation was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 17 March 1999. The IIA requires the Institutions to follow guidelines setting out the general principles of good quality drafting and to implement some practical measures.

  The UK Government have circulated the Agreement to all Departments and published it in full in the "Guide to Better European Regulation", copies of which have been widely disseminated, including to all MPs.

  I understand that good progress is being made in the Institutions on the implementation measures including:
  An Inter-Institutional Group to implement the Guidelines has been established.
  A practical guide is due to be published in March 2000;
  in the Commission each Directorate General has appointed a legislative co-ordinator who will ensure that drafting rules and technical rules are complied with when texts are drafted;
  in the Commission and Council officials responsible for legal drafting will, after training, form specialist drafting units to train officials who draft legal texts;
  improvements have been made to the IT tools available to assist legal drafting in both the Council and the Commission, for example "LegisWrite", which provides models for all types of Community texts, has been recently introduced in the Commission.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  IT Projects
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the network information technology projects which are being undertaken by his Department, including the date each project started, the planned date for completion, the current expected date of completion, the planned cost of the project and the current estimate of total cost; and if he will make a statement. [94770]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 21 October 1999]: A list of those significant Information Technology (IT) projects currently being undertaken by the Home Office, where the IT value of the project is in excess of £5 million or the project is critical to the business of the Home Office has been placed in the Library.

  A wide interpretation has been taken as to what is meant by network information technology projects. I have included those projects which have a significant element of business change or voice technology as well as the more traditional computing projects.

  The information presented on costs and timetables reflects differences between the nature and current stage of the projects.

  Prisoner Licences
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been let out on licence each year since the scheme's inception; how many have broken their licence conditions in each year; and what monitoring he is putting in place to gauge the impact of the scheme. [95536]
  192
  Mr. Boateng
  The Home Detention Curfew scheme began operation on 28 January 1999. Between that time and 27 October, 12,280 offenders have been made subject to the scheme. In the same period, 567 curfewees have had their licence revoked by the Secretary of State. Breaches of non-curfew related conditions by curfewees whose original offences were committed prior to 1 January 1999 are dealt with by the courts. Information on these cases is not held centrally.

  The Home Detention Curfew scheme is being monitored and evaluated by the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate, who will be producing a report on the first year of the scheme's operation during the course of the year 2000.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in(a) January 1998, (b) July 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) July 1999 were engaged (i) wholly and (ii) partly in making (x) asylum and (y) immigration decisions. [96027]

  Mrs. Roche
  Information is not available in the form requested. Prior to the formation of the Integrated Casework Directorate (ICD) in December 1998, asylum decisions were made by staff working in the Asylum Directorate, and immigration casework decisions by the After Entry and Appeals Directorate (AEAD) and some staff in the Immigration Service Enforcement Directorate (ISED). The total number of staff in the Asylum Directorate in January 1998 was 659 and in July 1998 was 530, and in the AEAD for the same months was 623 and 569 respectively. These totals include management and support grades. Over and above these figures, there were a number of caseworkers in the ISED making decision in deportation and illegal entry cases.

  Since the creation of the ICD, casework is dealt with by multi-skilled teams which deal with both asylum and immigration casework. Figures on the breakdown of staff dealing with differing types of case are not kept centrally. The total number of staff in the ICD in January 1999 was 424 and in July 1999 was 1,452.

  Despite the lack of detailed figures, it has become clear that the number of trained asylum caseworkers now in the ICD is significantly lower than was available in January and July 1998. This has been a function of declining staffing levels in anticipation of efficiencies from the new caseworking system which did not in fact materialise. We are therefore recruiting around 250 caseworkers specifically to process asylum cases and training a greater proportion of our existing caseworkers in asylum skills.

  Judicial and Police Co-operation
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 1999,Official Report, column 264 on judicial and police co-operation, if he will list those measures in respect of the Treaty of the European Community which the Government intend (a) to adopt and (b) not to adopt; if they participate in consideration of measures which they do not intend to adopt; and in respect of each measure if

  193
  he will include its official reference, where and when it was discussed, and the current stage of parliamentary scrutiny to which it is subject. [96568]

  Mr. Straw
  Title VI of the Treaty on European Union contains provisions on police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters in which member states participate as of right. The question of adopting or not adopting individual measures does not, therefore, arise. Each measure is subject to unanimity. All Third Pillar matters which meet the criteria for scrutiny are submitted to Parliament in the usual way. The following issues are under consideration:

  Draft Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters

  Official reference 9636/99 (COPEN 11).

  Last discussed by the Article 36 Committee on 22 October.

  Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 23 July. Not yet cleared.

  Draft Framework Decision on counterfeiting of the euro

  Official reference 9966/99 (DROIPEN 4).

  Last discussed in the Working Group on Substantive Criminal Law on 19 October.

  Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 20 July. Not yet cleared.

  Draft joint action on combating serious environmental crime

  Official reference 5579/99 (CK4 10).

  Last discussed in the Working Group on Substantive Criminal Law on 16 September.

  Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 29 January.

  Cleared by the House of Lords on 3 March and by the House of Commons on 16 June.

  Draft Framework Decision on combating fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment

  Official reference 11217/99 (CRIMORG 135).

  Not yet discussed.

  Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 13 October. Not yet cleared.

  Draft joint action on criminal law protection against fraudulent or unfair anti-competitive conduct in the award of public contracts in the common market

  Official reference 6946/99 (JUSTPEN 16).

  Last discussed in the Working Group on Criminal Law/Community Law on 7 April.

  Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 6 April and cleared on 28 April.

  Draft Decision on the Exchange of Information between Financial Intelligence Units

  Official reference 9961/99 (CRIMORG 101).

  Discussed by the Multi-Disciplinary Group on Organised Crime on 26 and 27 July.

  Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 6 August. Not yet cleared.

  Draft Joint Action on Asset Sharing

  Official reference 13007/98 (CRIMORG 178).

  Discussed at the K4 Committee on 23 and 24 January.

  Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 4 March. Not yet cleared.

  Council Decision authorising the Director of Europol to enter into negotiations on agreements with third states and non-European Union related bodies

  Official reference 11854/2/99 (EUROPOL 43).

  Discussed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council Meeting on 29 October.

  Deposited for Parliamentary scrutiny on 20 October.

  Cleared by the House of Lords on 26 October and by the House of Commons on 27 October.

  K4 Committee
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer of 8 June 1999,Official Report, column 259, on the K4 Committee, if he will list the bodies involved in such consultation and publish their responses; what further consultations and discussions have (a) taken place and (b) are planned within the European Union on this matter; what measures he expects to be necessary to implement such a proposal; and on what treaty articles they would be based. [96504]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave evidence about the United Kingdom initiative on mutual recognition of judicial decisions in criminal matters to the House of Lords' European Communities Committee before the Tampere European Council. No detailed legislative proposals concerning mutual recognition have yet been tabled in the European Union. The European Council has, however, asked the Council and the Commission to adopt, by December 2000, a programme of measures to implement the principle of mutual recognition. Any proposals for legal instruments will be submitted to Parliament in accordance with normal procedures, and I will also ensure that United Kingdom bodies concerned in implementing the proposals are consulted. It is likely that primary legislation would be needed to implement these proposals. It is expected that the proposals would be based on Article 34 of the Treaty on European Union.

  Women Medical Examiners
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by police authority area, the number of women medical examiners available for examinations involving child victims of sex attacks; and if in all areas child victims or their families are able to choose to be examined by a female doctor. [96398]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Comprehensive information about numbers of female medical examiners is not held centrally. It is accepted as good practice that child victims of sexual assaults, or their families on their behalf, should be given the choice of being examined by a female doctor. Unfortunately, this cannot always be guaranteed as there are some police forces which do not have female medical examiners.

  Crime and Disorder Act 1998
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 685, on the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, if he will list the areas in which (a) reparation orders, (b) parenting orders, (c) child safety orders and (d) action plan orders are being piloted; and if he will give the number of such orders which have been issued in each respective pilot area. [96473]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is set out in the table. It indicates the number of orders made in the pilot areas by 30 September 1999, the latest date for which this information is readily available.
  195

  Pilot area/order

  Reparation order

  Parenting Order

  Action plan order

  Westminster

  13

  2

  24

  Kensington and Chelsea

  13

  0

  20

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  16

  0

  40

  Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight

  471

  3

  261

  Wolverhampton

  122

  14

  88

  Sheffield

  179

  0

  57

  Lewisham

  1—

  7

  1—

  Devon

  1—

  5

  1—

  Bedfordshire

  1—

  25

  1—

  Luton

  1—

  10

  1—

  St. Helens

  1—

  21

  1—

  Sunderland

  1—

  35

  1—

  Blackburn

  15

  1—

  1—

  Total

  829

  122

  490

  1 Indicates that the provision is not being piloted, or was not available, in that area

  In addition, one child safety order was made in the Sunderland pilot area.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 689 on asylum seekers, if asylum seekers will be deemed to be statutorily homeless. [96543]

  Mrs. Roche
  Asylum seekers who are destitute will be able to apply for accommodation and other essential living needs under the arrangements made under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Bill. Once those arrangements are in place, only those asylum seekers who are entitled to social security benefits will be entitled to assistance under the homelessness legislation.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on plans for standardisation of the appeal system for asylum seekers whose asylum request has been rejected, following Tampere. [96572]

  Mrs. Roche
  I am aware of no such plans, although consideration of appeal procedures may in due course feature in work on minimum standards for the qualification of nationals of third countries as refugees in accordance with article 63 of the Treaty of Amsterdam. The United Kingdom has the choice of opting into these measures.

  Schengen Agreement
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those organisations he has consulted in deciding whether to join elements of the Schengen Agreement. [96550]

  Mrs. Roche
  In deciding which parts of the Schengen acquis to participate in and in preparing the United Kingdom's formal application for participation, the Home Office consulted colleagues within Government with relevant policy interests. We also consulted the Governments of Gibraltar, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, the police service and the Data Protection Registrar. In addition, we took note of the reports of the House of Lords European Communities Committee, including comments from a range of organisations and interests.
  196
  The Government's approach to Schengen follows our established policy of full engagement in justice and home affairs matters, where compatible with the maintenance of frontier controls. As such, our application raised no fresh issues on which wider consultation might have been required.

  Civil Protection (Overseas)
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance he has given to countries overseas towards their civil protection plans. [96537]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Indirect assistance has been given through co-operation with the European Commission and the member states of the European Union, and with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and its Partner countries. In addition, the Emergency Planning College has provided training to members of the civil protection services of overseas countries, on a full cost recovery basis.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of prisoners in United Kingdom jails by category; what is the average proportion of sentence served in each category, and what is the average annual cost of keeping a prisoner in each category. [96869]

  Mr. Boateng
  Female prisoners, remand prisoners and recently sentenced prisoners are not allocated to a security category. The centrally available information on the numbers of prisoners in each security category and the average proportion of sentence served by category on release of prisoners released in 1998 is given in the tables. The cost per place by type of establishment is in the Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts for April 1998 to March 1999, a copy of which is available in the Library, and is given in the tables.

  Information about prisons and prisoners in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively.

  Numbers of prisoners in England and Wales in security categories A-D

  Category

  Number

  Category A

  660

  Category B

  7,400

  Category C

  26,330

  Category D

  14,920

  1 On 30 September 1999

  Note:

  Females, remand prisoners and recently sentenced prisoners are not categorised.

  Average proportion of sentence served by category on release for prisoners in England and Wales released during 1998

  Category

  Percentage

  Category A

  65

  Category B

  56

  Category C

  54

  Category D

  44

  Note:

  Females, remand prisoners and recently sentenced prisoners are not categorised.
  197

  Cost per place by type of establishment for prisons in England and Wales

  Type of establishment

  Cost per place (£)

  Female Closed

  27,966

  Female Local

  27,426

  Female Open

  16,995

  Category B

  21,079

  Category C

  17,543

  Dispersals

  34,383

  Male Local

  24,604

  Male Open

  14,505

  Male Remand Centres

  23,644

  Male Closed Young Offender Institutions

  18,885

  Male Open Young Offender Institutions

  18,650

  Male Under 18s

  26,113

  Overall Average

  22,649

  Note:

  Establishments are categorised in the table by their main role only. Establishments that have more than one role have been placed in the category that represents the primary or predominant function of the prison.

  Staffordshire Police Authority
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total staffing levels of the Staffordshire Police Authority were for(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96, (c) 1996–97, (d) 1997–98, and (e) 1998–99: what the projected levels are for (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01, (iii) 2001–02 and (iv) 2002–03; and if he will give these figures broken down by front-line and other staff. [96989]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on police officer and civilian support staff strength is collected at the end of March and September. The figures for the period requested are set out in the table.

  Total officer strength

  Total civilian strength

  31 March 1994

  2,208

  1734

  31 March 1995

  2,231

  749

  31 March 1996

  2,209

  754

  31 March 1997

  2,211

  763

  31 March 1998

  2,292

  866

  31 March 1999

  2,238

  1,004

  1 As at 31 December 1993

  The powers of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to set police establishment levels for each force were removed under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994. It is for the chief officer to determine staffing requirements within the overall resources available. This year, Staffordshire Police Authority has set a budget that will allow the force to spend up to £122.2 million—an increase of £3.3 million or 2.7 per cent. over 1998–99. This increase, along with the 2 per cent. efficiency improvements that have been set, should be sufficient for the force to maintain levels of service. Future staffing levels are for the Chief Constable to determine within the overall resources available. However, the Government are making available additional resources, in a new ring-fenced Crime Fighting Fund, to enable forces to recruit 5,000 more police officers, over and above those that they had otherwise planned to recruit over the next three years. Staffordshire Police will be able to apply for a share of this funding.
  198
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government funding Staffordshire Police Authority received in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96, (c) 1996–97, (d) 1997–98 and (e) 1998–99 and will receive in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01, (iii) 2001–02 and (iv) 2002–03 in real terms; and from what other sources the Staffordshire Police Authority has received funding for the same years as above. [96988]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested in respect of years 1994–95 to 1999–2000 is set out in the table. Information for later years is not available, but the provisional police funding settlement for 2000–01 will be announced in the next few weeks.

  In addition to the Government funding set out in the table, police authorities can also use income from council tax to meet their budget requirements.

  Government funding £ million 1

  1995–96 Price Base £ million

  Real terms increase on previous year Percentage

  1994–952

  52.313

  n/a

  —

  1995–96

  89.194

  89.194

  —

  1996–97

  97.044

  94.016

  5.4

  1997–98

  99.204

  96.518

  2.7

  1998–99

  98.519

  96.082

  -0.5

  1999–2000

  99.449

  97.024

  1.0

  1 Includes Police revenue grant, capital grant, loan charges grant paid on pre, 1990 debt, grants paid under section 48 of the Police Act 1996, grant for special constabulary, grant paid for implementation of Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, special grant towards policing costs of Birmingham Northern Relief Road, Revenue Support grant and National Non Domestic Rates, both of whom fall to the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  2 Excludes Revenue Support Grant and National Non Domestic Rates—no separately identifiable figures for the police within total allocation paid to County Council.

  The table shows the breakdown of funding paid to Staffordshire from 1994–95 and to 1999–2000, and the Treasury Gross Domestic Product deflators used to convert the totals to the same price base (1995–96) to show the real terms increases.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given local authorities and the police about responsibility for initiating anti-social behaviour order procedures in cases where the behaviour complained of emanates from a privately owned house. [97092]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Guidance on the operation of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) was issued in March 1999 and applies to anti-social behaviour from wherever it emanates. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote in October to Chief Executives and Chief Officers of police to remind them of the use to which ASBOs could be put.

  Wildlife Protection
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful wildlife protection prosecutions were launched in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by police authority area. [97118]
  199
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Available information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database is given in the table.

  Number of defendants proceeded 1 against at magistrates courts and convicted 2 at all courts for wildlife offences 3 by type of offence and police force area, 1998 4

  Summary offences 5

  Indictable offences

  Police force area

  Total proceeded against 1

  Total convicted 2

  Total proceeded against 1

  Total convicted 2

  Avon and Somerset

  118

  102

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire

  16

  14

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  91

  82

  1

  1

  Cheshire

  124

  97

  —

  —

  Cleveland

  40

  37

  —

  —

  Cumbria

  94

  85

  —

  —

  Derbyshire

  116

  99

  —

  —

  Devon and Cornwall

  129

  109

  1

  —

  Dorset

  56

  24

  —

  —

  Durham

  40

  38

  8

  8

  Essex

  151

  129

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  79

  66

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  95

  82

  1

  1

  Hampshire

  100

  82

  3

  2

  Hertfordshire

  157

  124

  —

  —

  Humberside

  168

  146

  —

  —

  Kent

  32

  26

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  169

  144

  3

  3

  Leicestershire

  164

  147

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  100

  91

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  49

  41

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police6

  151

  134

  5

  4

  Norfolk

  118

  113

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  165

  150

  26

  25

  Northamptonshire

  29

  27

  3

  3

  Northumbria

  100

  91

  —

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  78

  67

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire

  136

  122

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  147

  130

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  47

  38

  —

  —

  Surrey

  73

  67

  —

  —

  Sussex

  175

  163

  —

  —

  Thames Valley

  204

  191

  —

  —

  Warwickshire

  167

  154

  5

  5

  West Mercia

  136

  122

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  80

  70

  1

  1

  West Yorkshire

  78

  72

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  60

  49

  —

  —

  Dyfed Powys

  110

  90

  —

  —

  Gwent

  51

  42

  —

  —

  North Wales

  82

  63

  —

  —

  South Wales

  66

  55

  20

  18

  England and Wales

  4,341

  3,775

  77

  72

  1 Includes defendants arrested and summoned by the police and those also summoned by others (ie RSPCA or RSPB).

  2 Includes defendants proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences.

  3 Includes offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Protection of Badgers Act 1992, Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, fishery law; and poaching and gaming laws.

  4 Provisional

  5 Excludes offences under $13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and others relating to wildlife offences which cannot be identified separately from other summary offences.

  6 Includes City of London.

  Animal Toxicity Tests
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the number of additional animal toxicity tests likely to be required over the next 15 years as a result of the EU Biocidal Product Directive (98/8/EC); [96565]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the likely overall impact of the EU Biocidal Product Directive (98/8/EC) on numbers of tests on animals over the next 15 years. [96566]
  200
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is not possible for the Home Office to give an estimation of the likely scale and nature of animal use under the Directive.

  The consequence of regulations coming into force will be a requirement for all biocidal products and their active substances to be authorised for use. The new requirement may increase animal testing in this area.

  To minimise duplicate testing, however, Article 13 of the Directive requires authorisation holders to take all reasonable steps to share data. The Article also allows for member states to oblige applicants to share data in order to avoid unnecessary and duplicate testing on animals.

  The Home Office is currently working with other Government departments and agencies to agree a strategy for increasing data sharing in United Kingdom regulatory safety testing.

  Electric Shock Dog Collar
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Prison Service still has an electric shock dog collar in its possession; and how many times such a collar has been used since November 1998. [97109]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Prison Service is no longer in possession of an electric shock dog collar. Records held at the National Dog Training Centre indicate that the collar was used seven times on six dogs between March 1993 and July 1995. The electric collar was to be used only when authorised by the head of the National Dog Training Centre. It was used on adult dogs as part of a training course or remedial training and only as a last resort, when other methods of correcting a dog in control-related exercises had failed. The collar has not been used since 6 July 1995. On 14 April 1999, an amendment was made to Prison Service orders. It instructed that electric collars were not to be used, under any circumstances, on Prison Service dogs during training.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have an electric shock dog collar; and how many times such a device has been used since July 1998. [97110]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, 20 possess electric shock dog collars for use in training. The device has been used by eight forces on a total of 37 occasions since July 1998. I understand that the relevant committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers is to review the use of this item.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Equal Opportunities
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [94852]
  201
  Mr. Wills
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 682.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many requests have been made by parents for an urgent inspection of a maintained school in each year since 1996. [96858]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Subject to the maximum interval between inspections, which is specified in regulations, it is for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector to determine when each school will be inspected. He frequently receives letters from parents expressing concerns about particular schools. Figures are not kept on how many of these letters ask him to conduct an early inspection.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his letter of 27 October to the hon. Member for Hertsmere on infant class sizes, if the £620 million to which the letter refers has previously been announced. [96769]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Yes. The money was announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in his oral statement of 15 July 1998,Official Report, columns 412-25. In his letter of 27 October, my right hon. Friend sought to remind the hon. Member that Local Education Authorities were being provided with the resources to meet the Government's pledge to reduce the size of infant classes to 30 or below.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his letter of 27 October to the hon. Member for Hertsmere, if he will provide a breakdown of classes taught by one teacher(a) in primary school classes other than infant classes and (b) in secondary schools in each local authority on the same basis as in his letter. [96768]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The requested data were not collected in September 1999. National level data for January 1999 were published in the Statistical First Release SFR 2/1999 'Class Sizes in Maintained Schools in England: January 1999 (provisional)'. New data will be collected in January 2000.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Hertsmere of 27 October on infant class sizes, if he will publish the figures for infant class sizes for each local authority so as to include the number of pupils entering in the Autumn term under staggered entry. [96767]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We have estimated nationally that the staggered intake will lead to an extra 6,000 pupils in classes of over 30 pupils, over and above those already reflected in the 1999 September Class Size Count. This figure has been included in the 181,000 total which was published on 27 October.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his letter of 27 October to the hon. Member for Hertsmere on infant 202
  class sizes, how many teachers were employed in maintained schools in each of the last five years; and how many he estimates will be employed in each of the next five years. [96770]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following shows teacher numbers (full-time equivalents) in maintained schools in England:

  January 1995: 408,964

  January 1996: 409,022

  January 1997: 409,326

  January 1998: 407,065

  January 1999: 411,293.

  Estimates of the number of teachers that will be employed in future years are not available. Figures to 1998 inclusive reflect the spending decisions of the previous administration.

  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of infant-age pupils in the London Borough of Redbridge were in classes of over 30 in each of the years 1990 to 1999. [96892]

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

  Percentage of Key Stage 1 pupils in classes of size 31 or more in Redbridge LEA

  Date

  Percentage of pupils

  September 1999

  11.0

  January 1999

  25.2

  January 1998

  28.8

  January 1997

  32.5

  January 1996

  48.5

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his letter of 27 October to the hon. Member for Hertsmere on infant class sizes, how many pupils in Key Stage 2 in primary schools were in classes of(a) over 36 pupils and (b) over 40 pupils in (i) September 1998 and (ii) September 1999. [96915]

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

  Classes as taught: pupils in classes taught by one teacher January each year

  Key Stage 2

  1999

  1998

  Classes of size: over 36 pupils

  Number of pupils

  38,960

  40,440

  Percentage of pupils

  1.8

  1.9

  Classes of size: over 40 pupils

  Number of pupils

  1,690

  2,390

  Percentage of pupils

  0.08

  0.11

  Exclusions
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils were excluded from UK schools(a) temporarily and (b) indefinitely, for the last year for which figures are

  203
  available, broken down by age and local education authority. [96669]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 1 November 1999]: The category of indefinite exclusion was abolished with effect from 1 September 1994. The latest available information on pupils permanently excluded from schools in England is shown in the following table.

  Number of permanent exclusions by age and local education authority area England 1997–98

  Age1

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  England

  0

  0

  81

  131

  176

  254

  368

  616

  703

  North East

  0

  0

  3

  3

  3

  10

  20

  37

  42

  Hartlepool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  Middlesbrough

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  1

  Redcar and Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Stockton-on-Tees

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  Darlington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  10

  Northumberland

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  1

  8

  7

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  1

  5

  1

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  3

  4

  4

  11

  North Tyneside

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  1

  3

  4

  South Tyneside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  2

  2

  Sunderland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  2

  North West and Merseyside

  0

  0

  13

  20

  25

  42

  58

  117

  90

  North West

  0

  0

  9

  15

  20

  31

  45

  90

  62

  Halton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Warrington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  2

  4

  4

  4

  2

  7

  3

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  2

  2

  4

  Bolton

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  3

  5

  2

  Bury

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  2

  6

  5

  12

  20

  18

  Oldham

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  2

  0

  3

  3

  Rochdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  4

  Salford

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  6

  2

  Tameside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  7

  3

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  Wigan

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  Blackburn with Darwen

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  0

  Blackpool

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Lancashire

  0

  0

  2

  0

  4

  8

  9

  20

  12

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  4

  5

  5

  11

  13

  27

  28

  Knowsley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  1

  3

  1

  2

  8

  13

  17

  St Helens

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  2

  Sefton

  0

  0

  3

  0

  2

  6

  2

  5

  5

  Wirral

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  2

  3

  6

  4

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  0

  0

  4

  8

  17

  31

  29

  67

  71

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  33

  1

  1

  7

  North East Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  3

  5

  4

  North Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  4

  York

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  5

  0

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  4

  2

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  1

  4

  1

  1

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  1

  4

  15

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  Sheffield

  0

  0

  0

  4

  4

  3

  9

  12

  10

  Bradford

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  7

  0

  7

  12

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  2

  1

  Kirklees

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1

  1

  5

  3

  Leeds

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1

  9

  4

  14

  9

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  0

  East Midlands

  0

  0

  5

  11

  14

  11

  27

  44

  71

  Derby

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  4

  5

  6

  10

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  4

  1

  4

  6

  6

  Leicester City

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1

  2

  7

  4

  10

  204
  Information on fixed period (temporary) exclusions was not collected for the school year 1998–99.

  For information on schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, I refer my hon. Friend to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively.
  205

  Number of permanent exclusions by age and local education authority area England 1997–98

  Age 1

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  Rutland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leicestershire

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  3

  2

  9

  Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  1

  1

  5

  1

  0

  9

  9

  Northamptonshire

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  2

  4

  5

  13

  City of Nottingham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  6

  6

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  1

  2

  2

  1

  3

  6

  8

  West Midlands

  0

  0

  11

  13

  20

  28

  49

  61

  76

  Herefordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Worcestershire

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1

  0

  3

  6

  6

  Telford and Wrekin

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  2

  Shropshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  4

  1

  2

  Stoke

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  4

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  1

  3

  1

  2

  6

  2

  10

  Warwickshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  5

  1

  5

  Birmingham

  0

  0

  6

  7

  7

  15

  19

  14

  22

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  2

  13

  8

  Dudley

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  4

  3

  2

  Sandwell

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  1

  3

  3

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  1

  Walsall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  2

  5

  Wolverhampton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  11

  6

  Eastern

  0

  1

  0

  1

  5

  2

  2

  2

  6

  Luton

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  2

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  3

  3

  4

  City of Peterborough

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  4

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  Southend

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Thurrock

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  1

  3

  4

  Essex

  0

  0

  1

  2

  3

  7

  11

  6

  7

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  6

  8

  6

  8

  13

  10

  15

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  3

  9

  4

  7

  9

  16

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  6

  7

  11

  London

  0

  0

  13

  30

  31

  49

  55

  107

  137

  Inner London

  0

  0

  8

  17

  18

  28

  24

  52

  54

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  1

  2

  5

  5

  Hackney

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  5

  7

  6

  0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  0

  0

  0

  5

  1

  2

  3

  2

  4

  Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  3

  5

  Islington

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  0

  2

  2

  5

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  0

  1

  2

  Lambeth

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  3

  3

  7

  2

  Lewisham

  0

  0

  1

  0

  4

  7

  3

  7

  6

  Newham

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  2

  1

  7

  3

  Southwark

  0

  0

  2

  1

  4

  1

  1

  6

  12

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  2

  1

  Wandsworth

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1

  2

  1

  3

  5

  Westminster

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  4

  Outer London

  0

  0

  5

  13

  13

  21

  31

  55

  83

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  1

  1

  4

  2

  Barnet

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  2

  3

  2

  Bexley

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  2

  7

  3

  Brent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  3

  4

  4

  Bromley

  0

  0

  2

  3

  0

  1

  1

  3

  6

  Croydon

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  4

  8

  12

  Ealing

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  3

  4

  15

  Enfield

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1

  3

  3

  6

  Greenwich

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  6

  5

  Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Havering

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  1

  3

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Hounslow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  5

  5

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Merton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  4

  Redbridge

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  1

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Suton

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  1

  2

  Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  2

  3

  1

  7

  206 207

  Number of permanent exclusions by age and local education authority area England 1997–98

  Age 1

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  South East

  0

  0

  15

  24

  24

  35

  53

  85

  89

  Bracknell Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  1

  1

  Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  2

  West Berkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  2

  1

  Reading

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  Slough

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  4

  2

  1

  Wokingham

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  3

  Milton Keynes

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Buckinghamshire

  0

  0

  2

  3

  0

  3

  2

  3

  0

  Brighton and Hove

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  3

  1

  5

  1

  East Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  3

  1

  5

  3

  Portsmouth

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  2

  2

  1

  Southampton

  0

  0

  0

  2

  4

  1

  1

  3

  5

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  2

  5

  2

  9

  7

  14

  16

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Medway

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  2

  3

  8

  5

  Kent

  0

  0

  5

  4

  7

  5

  9

  13

  27

  Oxfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  2

  4

  Surrey

  0

  0

  3

  2

  0

  2

  7

  8

  12

  West Sussex

  0

  0

  1

  1

  4

  2

  2

  12

  5

  South West

  0

  0

  7

  7

  20

  22

  35

  50

  70

  Bath and NE Somerset

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  2

  6

  City of Bristol

  0

  0

  2

  0

  3

  5

  8

  3

  17

  North Somerset

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  South Gloucestershire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  5

  Cornwall

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  4

  4

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Torbay

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  2

  City of Plymouth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  6

  6

  Devon

  0

  0

  1

  4

  5

  6

  6

  6

  8

  Bournemouth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Poole

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Dorset

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  1

  2

  3

  Gloucestershire

  0

  0

  1

  1

  3

  3

  5

  3

  6

  Somerset

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  2

  1

  6

  3

  Swindon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  2

  1

  Wiltshire

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  3

  5

  6

  4

  Number of permanent exclusions by age and local education authority area. England 1997–98

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  Total

  England

  1,564

  2,385

  3,351

  2,447

  192

  24

  5

  1

  12,298

  North East

  91

  102

  200

  156

  9

  1

  0

  0

  677

  Hartlepool

  5

  6

  8

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  34

  Middlesbrough

  4

  2

  6

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  23

  Redcar and Cleveland

  9

  7

  8

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  35

  Stockton-on-Tees

  2

  5

  22

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  43

  Darlington

  4

  4

  10

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  39

  Durham

  16

  21

  27

  26

  1

  0

  0

  0

  107

  Northumberland

  15

  10

  25

  19

  4

  0

  0

  0

  93

  Gateshead

  1

  1

  10

  8

  2

  0

  0

  0

  32

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  15

  14

  29

  17

  1

  1

  0

  0

  102

  North Tyneside

  8

  5

  22

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  59

  South Tyneside

  7

  14

  24

  22

  0

  0

  0

  0

  74

  Sunderland

  5

  13

  9

  11

  1

  0

  0

  0

  46

  North West and Merseyside

  218

  377

  516

  403

  8

  2

  0

  0

  1,889

  North West

  171

  283

  394

  329

  7

  1

  0

  0

  1,457

  Halton

  2

  5

  8

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  23

  Warrington

  2

  8

  10

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  32

  Cheshire

  12

  16

  30

  26

  2

  0

  0

  0

  112

  Cumbria

  4

  24

  36

  24

  0

  0

  0

  0

  100

  Bolton

  8

  13

  32

  20

  0

  0

  0

  0

  86

  Bury

  10

  13

  14

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  52

  Manchester

  22

  28

  48

  36

  1

  0

  0

  0

  198

  Oldham

  4

  19

  15

  20

  0

  1

  0

  0

  71

  Rochdale

  3

  6

  8

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  29

  Salford

  14

  24

  21

  22

  0

  0

  0

  0

  93

  Tameside

  11

  16

  16

  17

  0

  0

  0

  0

  73

  208 209

  Number of permanent exclusions by age and local education authority area. England 1997–98

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  Total

  Trafford

  5

  7

  7

  10

  1

  0

  0

  0

  33

  Wigan

  9

  17

  21

  16

  0

  0

  0

  0

  86

  Blackburn with Darwen

  13

  14

  19

  9

  1

  0

  0

  0

  62

  Blackpool

  10

  6

  7

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  40

  Lancashire

  38

  59

  82

  65

  2

  0

  0

  0

  301

  Merseyside

  47

  94

  122

  74

  1

  1

  0

  0

  432

  Knowsley

  1

  9

  11

  10

  1

  0

  0

  0

  34

  Liverpool

  27

  41

  65

  28

  0

  0

  0

  0

  206

  St Helens

  4

  7

  10

  11

  0

  1

  0

  0

  38

  Sefton

  9

  18

  21

  14

  0

  0

  0

  0

  85

  Wirral

  6

  19

  15

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  69

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  180

  251

  338

  246

  15

  4

  0

  1

  1,262

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  3

  9

  6

  3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  24

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  15

  14

  17

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  66

  North East Lincolnshire

  7

  6

  8

  18

  0

  0

  0

  0

  52

  North Lincolnshire

  4

  6

  8

  18

  0

  0

  0

  0

  32

  York

  6

  10

  12

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  38

  North Yorkshire

  9

  15

  20

  27

  3

  0

  0

  0

  82

  Barnsley

  8

  11

  13

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  47

  Doncaster

  40

  49

  51

  29

  1

  2

  0

  1

  197

  Rotherham

  7

  6

  13

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  35

  Sheffield

  18

  22

  31

  15

  0

  0

  0

  0

  128

  Bradford

  12

  20

  46

  34

  2

  0

  0

  0

  145

  Calderdale

  5

  9

  10

  6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  38

  Kirklees

  5

  8

  28

  11

  1

  0

  0

  0

  66

  Leeds

  28

  48

  55

  49

  3

  2

  0

  0

  225

  Wakefield

  13

  17

  21

  29

  3

  0

  0

  0

  87

  East Midlands

  131

  190

  275

  213

  15

  0

  1

  0

  1,008

  Derby

  12

  16

  36

  21

  0

  0

  1

  0

  112

  Derbyshire

  20

  19

  46

  23

  0

  0

  0

  0

  131

  Leicester City

  20

  24

  20

  17

  0

  0

  0

  0

  109

  Rutland

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Leicestershire

  7

  20

  24

  29

  1

  0

  0

  0

  97

  Lincolnshire

  15

  24

  26

  34

  3

  0

  0

  0

  128

  Northamptonshire

  16

  24

  40

  25

  8

  0

  0

  0

  141

  City of Nottingham

  19

  22

  31

  31

  0

  0

  0

  0

  116

  Nottinghamshire

  22

  41

  51

  33

  3

  0

  0

  0

  173

  West Midlands

  204

  288

  466

  305

  23

  0

  0

  0

  1,544

  Herefordshire

  7

  7

  8

  5

  2

  0

  0

  0

  33

  Worcestershire

  7

  12

  43

  43

  2

  0

  0

  0

  126

  Telford and Wrekin

  16

  14

  18

  15

  1

  0

  0

  0

  69

  Shropshire

  3

  6

  17

  16

  0

  0

  0

  0

  50

  Stoke

  12

  22

  40

  18

  0

  0

  0

  0

  101

  Staffordshire

  15

  27

  60

  26

  3

  0

  0

  0

  156

  Warwickshire

  13

  21

  31

  21

  3

  0

  0

  0

  104

  Birmingham

  62

  87

  107

  41

  3

  0

  0

  0

  390

  Coventry

  22

  25

  25

  22

  0

  0

  0

  0

  122

  Dudley

  4

  8

  21

  15

  3

  0

  0

  0

  64

  Sandwell

  16

  33

  32

  34

  0

  0

  0

  0

  125

  Solihull

  11

  8

  17

  14

  0

  0

  0

  0

  54

  Walsall

  6

  10

  33

  25

  3

  0

  0

  0

  87

  Wolverhampton

  10

  8

  14

  10

  3

  0

  0

  0

  63

  Eastern

  115

  201

  252

  215

  16

  0

  1

  0

  1,020

  Luton

  3

  7

  5

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  28

  Bedfordshire

  12

  12

  29

  14

  1

  0

  1

  0

  81

  City of Peterborough

  2

  8

  16

  11

  1

  0

  0

  0

  46

  Cambridgeshire

  5

  9

  15

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  46

  Southend

  5

  7

  7

  8

  3

  0

  0

  0

  37

  Thurrock

  6

  13

  11

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  48

  Essex

  29

  48

  46

  47

  0

  0

  0

  0

  207

  Hertfordshire

  20

  53

  59

  50

  8

  0

  0

  0

  256

  Norfolk

  16

  22

  30

  36

  0

  0

  0

  0

  142

  Suffolk

  17

  22

  34

  24

  3

  0

  0

  0

  129

  London

  278

  396

  523

  356

  41

  10

  1

  0

  2,027

  Inner London

  112

  147

  174

  106

  13

  3

  0

  0

  756

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  3

  8

  17

  4

  2

  0

  0

  0

  50

  Hackney

  6

  7

  9

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  46

  210 211

  Number of permanent exclusions by age and local education authority area. England 1997–98

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  Total

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  9

  11

  6

  9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  52

  Haringey

  5

  13

  13

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  46

  Islington

  10

  8

  11

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  47

  Kensington and Chelsea

  7

  7

  9

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  38

  Lambeth

  10

  13

  11

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  62

  Lewisham

  12

  14

  17

  4

  2

  0

  0

  0

  77

  Newham

  5

  12

  15

  6

  0

  1

  0

  0

  54

  Southwark

  13

  24

  20

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  96

  Tower Hamlets

  10

  10

  12

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  49

  Wandsworth

  3

  13

  21

  14

  0

  0

  0

  0

  76

  Westminster

  9

  7

  13

  16

  9

  2

  0

  0

  63

  Outer London

  166

  249

  349

  250

  28

  7

  1

  0

  1,271

  Barking and Dagenham

  4

  11

  13

  7

  1

  0

  0

  0

  47

  Barnet

  11

  12

  13

  20

  10

  1

  0

  0

  77

  Bexley

  9

  16

  21

  8

  2

  0

  0

  0

  72

  Brent

  13

  24

  23

  20

  5

  1

  0

  0

  97

  Bromley

  12

  18

  30

  16

  0

  1

  0

  0

  93

  Croydon

  14

  13

  23

  29

  0

  0

  0

  0

  108

  Ealing

  11

  13

  13

  17

  0

  2

  0

  0

  82

  Enfield

  9

  12

  24

  21

  5

  0

  0

  0

  87

  Greenwich

  11

  10

  14

  12

  1

  0

  0

  0

  61

  Harrow

  8

  13

  24

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  60

  Havering

  12

  15

  18

  18

  0

  0

  0

  0

  70

  Hillingdon

  5

  18

  19

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  58

  Hounslow

  10

  13

  22

  9

  2

  2

  0

  0

  71

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  3

  7

  11

  4

  1

  0

  1

  0

  29

  Merton

  5

  8

  14

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  36

  Redbridge

  7

  9

  11

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  35

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  5

  10

  21

  16

  0

  0

  0

  0

  54

  Suton

  4

  11

  12

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  45

  Waltham Forest

  13

  16

  23

  19

  1

  0

  0

  0

  89

  South East

  227

  355

  513

  355

  39

  6

  2

  0

  1,822

  Bracknell Forest

  4

  10

  11

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  38

  Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

  2

  7

  10

  12

  2

  0

  0

  0

  38

  West Berkshire

  4

  10

  6

  8

  1

  0

  0

  0

  35

  Reading

  10

  17

  13

  8

  1

  0

  0

  0

  54

  Slough

  0

  9

  11

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  40

  Wokingham

  6

  5

  12

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  32

  Milton Keynes

  5

  6

  17

  10

  2

  0

  0

  0

  44

  Buckinghamshire

  9

  14

  18

  21

  1

  1

  0

  0

  77

  Brighton and Hove

  6

  8

  17

  8

  0

  1

  0

  0

  52

  East Sussex

  18

  13

  39

  16

  1

  0

  0

  0

  102

  Portsmouth

  10

  20

  8

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  59

  Southampton

  10

  11

  18

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  67

  Hampshire

  33

  50

  81

  49

  2

  0

  0

  0

  270

  Isle of Wight

  3

  0

  8

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  14

  Medway

  16

  11

  27

  14

  1

  0

  0

  0

  90

  Kent

  44

  75

  97

  60

  10

  2

  2

  0

  360

  Oxfordshire

  10

  13

  23

  19

  3

  0

  0

  0

  77

  Surrey

  24

  38

  42

  40

  11

  2

  0

  0

  191

  West Sussex

  13

  38

  55

  45

  4

  0

  0

  0

  182

  South West

  120

  225

  268

  198

  26

  1

  0

  0

  1,049

  Bath and NE Somerset

  6

  11

  7

  14

  1

  0

  0

  0

  50

  City of Bristol

  23

  36

  37

  16

  1

  0

  0

  0

  151

  North Somerset

  5

  11

  12

  13

  1

  0

  0

  0

  48

  South Gloucestershire

  5

  8

  10

  14

  2

  0

  0

  0

  47

  Cornwall

  8

  17

  22

  24

  0

  0

  0

  0

  81

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Torbay

  4

  10

  5

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  29

  City of Plymouth

  4

  6

  12

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  43

  Devon

  9

  22

  27

  18

  1

  0

  0

  0

  113

  Bournemouth

  3

  7

  14

  9

  1

  0

  0

  0

  39

  Poole

  0

  8

  9

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  19

  Dorset

  8

  13

  9

  15

  11

  0

  0

  0

  66

  Gloucestershire

  15

  40

  43

  18

  6

  0

  0

  0

  144

  Somerset

  13

  14

  14

  18

  0

  1

  0

  0

  75

  Swindon

  4

  5

  13

  9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  38

  Wiltshire

  13

  17

  34

  18

  2

  0

  0

  0

  106

  1 Age as at 31 August 1997

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census 1999

  Working Time Regulations (Derogations)
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if derogations from EU directive 94/33/EC have been entered in relation to the Armed Forces. [96588]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  Articles 9 and 10 of EU Directive 94/33/EC provide for derogations for adolescents involved in work performed in the context of the Armed Forces. To the extent that Articles 9 and 10 have been implemented in UK legislation by the Working Time Regulations, these derogations have also been incorporated in the Regulations.

DEFENCE

  Gulf War Veterans
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the research conducted by Professor Han Sharma of the University of Waterloo into links between illnesses in Gulf war veterans and exposure to depleted uranium, a copy of which was provided to his Department. [94150]

  Mr. Spellar
  On 18 March 1999, my Department received a copy of a letter from Professor Sharma to the Chairman of the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association (NGV&FA) about testing the urine of some UK Gulf veterans for uranium isotopes. The content of the letter was assessed by the Ministry of Defence's statutorily appointed radiation protection advisers who concluded that it did not contain sufficient scientific information for the Department to properly review the research nor interpret Professor Sharma's results. Despite requests to Professor Sharma and the NGV&FA, as at 15 October 1999, my Department is yet to see scientifically robust, properly validated, and preferably peer reviewed hypotheses, methodologies and full results of Professor Sharma's work. My Department remains open minded on the issue of Gulf veterans' illnesses and keeps the situation under constant review as scientific knowledge develops. In the meantime, we have offered a further test to the veterans concerned. This would be undertaken at three testing establishments including one to be nominated by the veterans.

  Arms Fair (Chertsey)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the representatives of the defence industry regarding the presence of landmine manufacturers at the arms fair in Chertsey in September. [95242]

  Mr. Spellar
  Prior to the opening of the exhibition, my Department was in regular contact with Defence Systems and Equipment International Ltd., the private company which working closely with the defence industry trade organisations organised the event at Chertsey. We made sure that DSEi Ltd. was fully aware of the Government's policies concerning the export of defence equipment, and we sought and obtained from them assurances that they would require exhibitors to comply with these policies and with UK legislation, including the Landmines Act 1998.
  214
  Following allegations in the British media that a Romanian company was promoting anti-personnel landmines at DSEi, we instructed the MOD Police to investigate the matter. Separately, the Romanian authorities have contacted the MOD to explain that, in error, their company had on its stand literature which mentioned an anti-personnel landmine. They have informed us that they stopped manufacturing this item in 1990, but that the company had not updated its equipment lists. We have received an apology from the Romanian authorities, but the MOD Police are still investigating the matter and will submit a file to the Crown Prosecution Service in due course.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Jakarta office of the Defence Export Services Organisation remains open. [96397]

  Mr. Spellar
  The First Secretary Defence Supply, who represents DESO in the British Embassy in Jakarta, has no role in the support of marketing and sales by British defence companies in Indonesia while the EU embargo is in force. The future of the post is currently under review.

  Multi-role Armoured Vehicle Programme
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Government expect to sign the contract for the provision of the new Multi-role Armoured Vehicle programme; and if he will make a statement. [96569]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is expected that the contract for the development of the multi-role armoured vehicle will be signed soon.

  MOD Police
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what external auditing there has been of the operation of the housing allowances for MOD police. [96444]

  Mr. Spellar
  None. The Ministry of Defence Police Agency regularly hosts audit visits from the National Audit Office. However, the National Audit Office have not focused on Ministry of Defence Police housing allowance at least since the inception of the Agency in 1996.

  Departmental Staff
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff employed by his Department who were in a mobile grade and who did not have limited mobility, have been offered either compulsory early severance or compulsory early retirement terms (including those who volunteered for such terms) in the last two years. [96877]

  Mr. Spellar
  The details of any offers of Compulsory Early Retirement (CER) and Compulsory Early Severance (CES), which may or may not eventually be accepted, are not held centrally. However, during the period 1 October 1997 to 30 September 1999, records indicate that 351 mobile staff left the Ministry of Defence on CER/CES terms.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the strengths and (b) the cost of the Territorial Army in each year since 1995. [96866]

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

  HMS Fearless
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Fearless last put to sea. [96738]

  Mr. Spellar
  HMS Fearless is currently at sea, in the Mediterranean, participating in Exercise Bright Star, a multi-national amphibious exercise.

  HMS Intrepid
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current crew level of HMS Intrepid expressed as a percentage of the total complement. [96735]

  Operational or engaged in preparing for service, trials or training

  Undergoing refit

  Type 22 frigates

  Campbeltown, Coventry, Cumberland, Sheffield

  Brave, Chatham, Cornwall

  Type 23 frigates

  Argyll, Grafton, Iron Duke, Marlborough, Monmouth, Montrose, Norfolk, Northumberland, Richmond, Somerset, Sutherland, Westminster

  Lancaster

  Type 42 destroyers

  Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Gloucester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton, York

  Nottingham

  The specific operational readiness of each ship is classified for security reasons, and is being withheld under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Public-private Partnerships
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many proposed public-private partnership programmes his Department has; and what the value of each is; [96650]

  (2) how many public-private partnership programmes have been let since 2 May 1997; and with what value. [96651]

  Mr. Spellar
  To date my Department has signed 27 PFI contracts, representing a capital investment in defence by the private sector of some £1 billion. 17 of these contracts, with a total capital value of some £781 million, have been let since 2 May 1997, as follows:

  £ million

  Armed Forces Pay and Administration Agency

  150

  Attack Helicopter Training Simulator

  165

  Central Scotland Family Quarters

  13

  Defence Fixed Telecommunications Service

  70

  Hawk Simulator

  10

  Joint Service Command Staff College

  68

  Medium Support Helicopter Air Crew Training Facility

  100

  Naval Recruitment and Training Agency Fire Fighting Training Simulator

  35

  216
  Mr. Spellar
  The current crew level of HMS Intrepid is 15 which represents 100 per cent. of the total complement in her present reduced readiness state. In a fully operational state her complement would be 580.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Intrepid last put to sea. [96739]

  Mr. Spellar
  HMS Intrepid was last at sea in March 1994.

  Frigates and Destroyers
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current operational availability of each of the Royal Navy's Type 22 frigates; [96740]

  (2) what is the current operational availability of each of the Royal Navy's Type 42 destroyers; [96742]

  (3) what is the current operational availability of each of the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates. [96741]

  Mr. Spellar
  Of the Royal Navy's 32 frigates and destroyers, 27 are operationally available and the remaining five are in refit or protracted maintenance. A breakdown of their employment as at 29 October 1999 is set out in the table.

  £ million

  RAF Basic Flying Training (Bulldog Replacement)

  30

  RAF Cosford/Shawbury—Family Quarters

  13

  RAF Fylingdales (Power Station)

  7

  RAF Lossiemouth Family Quarters

  24

  RAF Lyneham Sewerage

  5

  RAF Mail

  12

  Tidworth Garrison Provision of Sewerage Services

  6

  Tornado GR4 Simulator

  65

  Yeovilton Family Quarters

  8

  79 further PFI projects are in procurement or under consideration as follows:

  £ million

  Abbey Wood Family Quarters

  50-60

  Accommodation Services in Cyprus

  NYK

  Adjutant General's Corps Training Group

  25

  Aerial Targets

  NYK

  Aldershot Barracks

  NYK

  Archer Class Support

  NYK

  Armoured Fighting Vehicles (RAC Bovington)

  122

  Army Foundation College

  33

  Ascension Petroleum Supply Depot

  NYK

  Astute Trainers

  50

  AWE Aldermaston Site Heating

  18

  AWE Management and Operation

  NYK

  Base Ordnance Depot Bicester

  NYK

  Battle Group Thermal Imaging

  140

  Bowman Training

  NYK

  "C" Vehicles

  NYK

  217

  £ million

  Central Britain White Fleet

  60

  Colchester Garrison

  180

  Corsham Estate

  NYK

  Defence Animal Centre

  9

  Defence Housing Executive Information Systems

  80 (whole life)

  Defence NBC Centre

  NYK

  Defence Storage and Distribution Agency Marketing Partner

  NYK

  Defence Vetting Agency

  NYK

  Devonport Support Services

  NYK

  E3D Sentry Aircrew Training Service

  10

  Electronic Commerce Service (DECS)

  NYK

  Eurofighter Mission Support Centre

  55

  Expeditionary Camp Infrastructure

  45

  Falkland Island Communications Project

  15

  Field Electrical Power Supplies

  65

  Future Cargo Vehicle

  350

  Future Command and Liaison Vehicle

  370

  Future Fuel Vehicles

  96

  Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

  2,500

  Future Wheeled Recovery Vehicle

  160

  Heavy Equipment Transporters

  93

  High Frequency/Low Frequency Communications

  40

  HMS Nelson

  NYK

  Infantry Training Centres

  NYK

  Initial Training Group (excluding Army Foundation College)

  NYK

  Inmarsat

  6

  Inner London Barracks

  36

  Joint Rapid Reaction Force Roll-on Roll-off Ferries

  140

  Joint Services Parachute Centre

  NYK

  Land Command Training Ranges

  NYK

  London District White Fleet

  12

  Main Building Refurbishment

  175

  Marchwood Military Port

  NYK

  Marine Service Vessels

  NYK

  Marketing Training Group Defence Agency Ground Training

  NYK

  MOD-wide Water and Sewerage Project Acquatrine

  100

  Multi-Engine Pilot and Rear Crew Training

  NYK

  Northern Calibration Facility

  NYK

  Northwood Estates Development Plan

  38

  Pay As You Dine

  25

  Petroleum Supply/Bulk Fuel Installation

  17

  Porton Down Power Station

  4

  Principal Casualty Recovery Ships

  NYK

  RAF Fire Training

  NYK

  RAF Halton

  NYK

  RAF Infrastructure

  NYK

  RAF Wyton Water and Sewerage

  2

  Records Storage and Management

  15

  Royal Logistics Corps Training Group Accommodation/Training Facilities

  48

  Royal School of Military Engineers

  49

  Royal School of Signals

  5

  Satellite TV

  6

  Scotland White Fleet

  35

  Skynet 5

  750

  South West White Fleet

  24

  Southern Britain White Fleet

  50

  Submarine Rescue

  NYK

  Surgeon General and Defence Secondary Care

  NYK

  Tidworth Garrison

  150

  Tri-Service Airfield Support Services

  350

  Tri-Service Materials Handling Service

  39-50

  Wattisham Family Quarters

  5-60

  Wattisham/Woodbridge Redevelopment

  NYK

  Note:

  Capital values assessed against the estimated cost of public provision (the public sector comparator)
  218
  These projects will be pursued to completion if they can deliver best value for money for the tax payer. In a number of cases, it is premature to assign estimated capital values to them.

  Additional Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and other PFI projects are likely to emerge in due course.

  Phoenix UAV System
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Phoenix UAV system was deployed in Kosovo. [95972]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 2 November 1999]: Yes. A Royal Artillery Phoenix Battery was deployed to Macedonia in June 1999 to conduct reconnaissance operations in support of operation ALLIED FORCE. Subsequently the Battery moved into Kosovo as part of the UK contribution to KFOR and assisted in verifying the Yugoslav withdrawal and compliance with the provisions of the Military Technical Agreement. The Battery was withdrawn in September.

  Under-18-year-olds
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake not to use members of the forces in conflict situations if they are under 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement. [96087]

  Mr. Spellar
  We recruit volunteers into the Armed Forces from the age of 16. Some of these personnel join their units, having completed training well into their 17th year, but prior to their 18th birthday. While the number involved is relatively small, these trained personnel who, having joined their units, contribute to the operational effectiveness of that unit. Removing these personnel from units would undermine unit cohesiveness as well as operational effectiveness. It would also be unpopular with the personnel themselves and could exacerbate the problems of retention and overstretch.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make available full details of experiments at Porton Down to the relatives of former participants in those experiments who are now deceased; and if he will make a statement. [96720]

  Mr. Spellar
  A dedicated 'Porton Down Volunteers Helpline' was set up in February 1998 to deal with inquiries from former service volunteers, or their relatives, wishing to obtain information about the experiments in which they participated. Following an inquiry, all the information held in the Porton Down records relating to the volunteers' attendance at Porton Down, together with an explanation of the type of tests in which they participated, is made available. The amount of information held can vary, depending on the type of test and when it took place. Former volunteers or their relatives are invited to visit Porton Down if they wish to examine the records for themselves and discuss their experiences with scientific staff.

  Anyone wishing to contact the Helpline should write to Porton Down Volunteers, Room 37/Building 106, DERA Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SB4 OJQ. Alternatively, they can telephone them on 0845 603 9140.

SCOTLAND

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Special Advisers are currently employed by his Department; and what was the ratio of Special Advisers to Ministers in each of the last eight years. [96716]

  Dr. Reid
  Special Advisers are appointed by and work for the Secretary of State for Scotland of the day.

  I have three Special Advisers, one of whom is part-time and unpaid.

  Details of the numbers of Special Advisers employed in each of the last eight years by my predecessors is as follows:

  Special advisers

  1999

  3

  1998

  3

  1997

  2

  1996

  2

  1995

  2

  1994

  2

  1993

  2

  1992

  2

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants were working in his Department and where their primary location was for June, July, August, September and October. [96727]

  Dr. Reid
  The total numbers of civil servants working in my Department at the end of each month was as follows (the figures include the staff of the Advocate General's office shown in brackets):

  London based

  Edinburgh based

  June

  29(5)

  18(17)

  July

  32(5)

  18(17)

  August

  32(5)

  21(19)

  September

  33(5)

  23(19)

  October

  33(5)

  31(20)

  In addition I have three Special Advisers, one of whom is part-time and unpaid.

  Use of mice for experimental purposes bred in MAFF laboratories since 1 May 1997

  Project

  FT0177

  Characterisation of the BSE infectious agent

  FT0658

  Improving prospects for TSE control in sheep and goats by studies of host genotype, isolates and their invivo and invitro interaction

  FT0799

  Immunohistological examination of tissues from mouse bioassay of TSE in Greater Kudu

  OM0037

  Investigation of scrapie infectivity and PrP genotype in clinically normal cast ewes from infected flocks

  QI0002

  Ubiquitin conjugates in bovine brain—a biochemical approach

  SC0042

  Development of a murine model for study of the pathogenesis of BSE by alimentary infection

  SE1736

  Experimental production of bovine tissues for validation of diagnostic tests

  SE1746

  Characterisation and validation of a serum metabolite as a marker for BSE in the live animal

  SE1753

  Preparation of more sensitive bioassay models for the improved detection, differentiation and diagnosis of the BSE agent

  SE1802/1816

  Transmissibility of BSE to pigs by injection with brain homogenate

  SE1803/1817

  Transmissibility of BSE to pigs by oral exposure to brain homogenate

  Official Residences
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the running costs for his official residences since June and estimate the annual cost for 1999–2000. [96722]

  Dr. Reid
  I have no official residences.

  Ministerial Payments
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the level of payments to Ministers who were formerly in his Department since 7 May. [96723]

  Dr. Reid
  From 7 May until 16 May, the Ministers of The Scottish Office were:

  The right hon. Donald Dewar MP

  The right hon. Helen Liddell MP

  Mr. Henry McLeish MP

  Mr. Sam Galbraith MP

  Mr. Calum Macdonald MP

  The Lord Sewel of Gilcomstoun

  The Lord Macdonald of Tradeston.

  Mr. Dewar was paid as Secretary of State, Mrs. Liddell and Mr. McLeish at the level of Ministers of State and the other Ministers at the level of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, except Lord Macdonald, who was unpaid.

  From 17 May until 28 July, Mr. Macdonald, Lord Sewel and Lord Macdonald were Ministers in my Department at the level of Parliamentary Under-Secretary. Lord Sewel and Mr. Macdonald also received payments on leaving the Government on 28 July, in accordance with section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

  Mr. Brian Wilson MP was appointed to my Department on 29 July and is paid at the level of Minister of State.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Mice
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the projects undertaken by his Department using mice from his Department's mouse-breeding facilities since 1 May 1997. [94468]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: Officials in my Department have prepared a list of projects in the following table.
  221

  Use of mice for experimental purposes bred in MAFF laboratories since 1 May 1997

  Project

  SE1804/1818

  Transmissibility of BSE to cattle by oronasal exposure to placentae of affected cattle

  SE1805

  Transmissibility of BSE to domestic fowl by injection with brain homogenate

  SE1806

  Transmissibility of BSE to domestic fowl by oral exposure to brain homogenate

  SE1813/1822

  Transmissibility of scrapie to pigs by oral exposure to brain homogenate

  SE1828

  The exposure of British sheep and cattle to mites

  SE1829

  Replication of scrapie and BSE prions in mites

  SE1901

  Pathogenesis of experimental BSE to cattle

  SE1909

  Studies of the cellular and humoral responses of distal ileum mucosa and mesenteric lymph nodes in the pathogenesis of BSE

  SE1910

  Small virus-like particles: immunostaining in experimental scrapie rodent brain: occurrence in brains of animals with natural TSE

  SE1919

  Studies to identify possible homologies between scrapie agents in the British sheep population and the agent of BSE by strain typing in mice

  SE1929

  Studies of BSE in sheep of known PrP genotypes

  SE1930

  Further studies of the effect of oral inoculum dose on attack rate and incubation period of BSE in cattle

  SE1938

  Strain typing of isolates of natural scrapie: correlation with host PrP genotype and pathological phenotype

  SE1941

  Studies to investigate the pathogenicity, phenotype and pathogenesis of endemic scrapie in cattle

  SE1942

  The attack rate and phenotype of scrapie-like disease on transmission to cattle of fresh and rendered pools of scrapie

  TS4003

  Urine chemistry for BSE

  PV0410

  Validation of population census methods for house mice

  VC0410

  Investigations into the use of semiochemicals for vertebrate pest population control

  VC0407

  Development of vertebrate repellents derived from chemical signals

  VC0405

  Development of methods to assess and improve the humaneness of vertebrate trapping techniques

  PN0922

  Assessment of risk to birds and mammals from solid pesticide formulations

  Correspondence
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many replies he has received since 1 July from(a) prisons, (b) health authorities and (c) local authorities to letters sent by him urging them to obtain products of the highest welfare and animal hygiene standards; [95775]

  (2) how many letters he has written since 1 July to (a) prisons, (b) health authorities and (c) local authorities urging them to obtain products of the highest welfare and animal hygiene standards; [95776]

  (3) further to his oral answer of 28 October 1999, Official Report, column 1141, answering letters about public sector meat purchases, on what date the letters he referred to were sent. [97115]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: I wrote on 27 October to 150 local authorities concerning both beef and pigmeat, and additionally to 131 prisons and 401 health authorities concerning pigmeat on the same date. I have since received a number of responses.

  Sheep Sales
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total number of (1) ewes on British farms and (2) lambs sold to market was in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [96546]

  Ms Quin
  The number of (1) breeding ewes on agricultural holdings in the UK at 1 June and (2) clean sheep and lambs marketed in the UK are shown below for the years 1990 to 1998.

  Breeding ewes on holdings at 1 June 1

  Clean sheep and lambs marketed 2

  1990

  21,241

  19,181

  1991

  21,090

  20,726

  1992

  21,112

  319,132

  1993

  21,282

  19,204

  222

  Breeding ewes on holdings at 1 June 1

  Clean sheep and lambs marketed 2

  1994

  21,273

  18,330

  1995

  20,830

  18,673

  1996

  20,550

  17,358

  1997

  20,696

  16,104

  1998

  21,260

  3,418,162

  1 The figures come from the June Agricultural and Horticultural Census and relate to the position on main and minor holdings. Up to 1994, the figures relate to ewes kept for breeding, including draft and cast ewes and two-tooth ewes put, or to be put, to the ram. From 1995, the figures relate to ewes and shearlings that have produced lambs in the last year (whether intended for further breeding or slaughter) and female sheep (one year and over) put, or to be put, to the ram.

  2 The figures consist of home fed slaughterings and live exports, and have been adjusted to take account of unrecorded trade.

  3 For comparability with other years, the figures have been adjusted from a 53 week to a 52 week basis.

  4 Provisional.

  School Milk
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department is taking in EU institutions in respect of the funding of the school milk scheme. [96881]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Minister raised the question of the future of the EU school milk scheme at the Agriculture Council in June when he received a very positive response from other member states. We continue to lobby the Commission for the scheme to remain in place.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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
  223
  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. [94979]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 1 November 1999]: 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 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 Non-Departmental Public Bodies Report.

  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.

  Diversification Grants
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the introduction of diversification grants for non-assisted areas. [96705]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 1 November 1999]: We are currently considering what measures, including aid for diversification, we should introduce under the new Rural Development Regulation, in the light of responses to our recent consultation.

  Milk Marque
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes he intends to make to Milk Marque following the report by the Competition Commission; and if he will make a statement. [96609]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 1 November 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Minister has no locus to require changes to be made to Milk Marque.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers he estimates will be affected by his proposals for Milk Marque. [96610]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 1 November 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Minister has made no such proposals. All the farmers who are members of Milk Marque will be affected directly by the action proposed by Milk Marque as a result of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report. There may be indirect effects on others.

  Hens
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been brought against United Kingdom egg producers for being in contravention of legislation for the welfare of laying hens; and how many prosecutions there have been in other European Union countries in each of the last three years. [96753]

  Mr. Morley
  The number of prosecutions of UK egg producers brought by UK Agriculture Departments for offences in breach of animal welfare legislation in each of the last three years was two in 1996, four in 1997 and nil in 1998. Records of prosecutions taken by other bodies such as local authorities and the RSPCA are not kept centrally. Requests or information concerning prosecutions in other EU countries should be addressed to the individual member states.

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the figures, by country of destination, for the export of British beef in(a) the last month prior to the introduction of the ban and for (b) the same month 12 months earlier. [96296]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 29 October 1999]: The table shows UK exports of beef during March 1996, the last month prior to the beef ban, and the same month 12 months earlier, as recorded in the Official Overseas Trade Statistics. British beef is not separately identifiable from that of non-UK origin in the data.

  March 1995

  March 1996

  Country of destination 1

  Tonnes

  Value (£ million)

  Tonnes

  Value (£ million)

  France

  13,074

  26.7

  6,339

  13.3

  Italy

  3,209

  9.7

  2,470

  6.8

  Netherlands

  2,279

  6.9

  2,303

  6.7

  Irish Republic

  3,855

  6.0

  3,292

  5.8

  South Africa

  1,998

  1.9

  1,893

  1.5

  Spain

  871

  2.1

  399

  1.0

  Denmark

  645

  1.5

  441

  1.2

  Belgium-Luxembourg

  592

  1.7

  177

  0.9

  Portugal

  379

  0.9

  487

  1.2

  Germany

  372

  1.4

  127

  0.6

  Others

  5,411

  7.1

  1,400

  2.4

  Total

  32,685

  65.8

  19,329

  41.4

  1 This does not necessarily represent the final destination of the goods

  Pesticides Safety Directorate
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to conduct a Quinquennial Review of the Pesticides Safety Directorate. [97430]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The Pesticides Safety Directorate was established as an Executive Agency on 1 April 1993. I am today announcing the Quinquennial Review of this Agency, which will include an evaluation of the performance of the Agency, and reconsideration of the Prior Options relating to Agency status as well as the options required under Better Quality Services. If appropriate, the existing Framework Document will also be reviewed.

  The terms of reference for the review are as follows:
  to conduct an evaluation of the performance of the Agency since its inception;
  to consider in the light of this evaluation, and the views of customers and other stakeholders, whether among the available options Agency status remains the most cost effective way of achieving MAFF's aims; and
  if the review concludes that the Pesticides Safety Directorate should continue to function as an Executive Agency, then to consider what changes, if any, are required to the Framework Document in the light of the findings of the review. If, however, the review concludes that a different delivery system would provide high quality, more effective and better value for money services, to set out the rationale and to recommend an appropriate option to Ministers.

  The review will be conducted by officials from MAFF working with officials from PSD in close consultation with the Cabinet Office and Treasury and with the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales.
  225
  It will draw on and take account of other relevant work, for example the considerations feeding into the White Paper and Bill to establish the Food Standards Agency, and other relevant material.

  We shall be setting out the arrangements whereby interested parties will be given an opportunity to submit their views.

  I hope to publish the outcome of the review in the second quarter of 2000.

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to conduct a Quinquennial Review of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. [97429]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The Veterinary Medicines Directorate was established as an Executive Agency on 2 April 1990. I am today announcing the Quinquennial Review of this Agency, which will include an evaluation of the performance of the Agency, and reconsideration of the Prior Options relating to Agency status as well as the options required under Better Quality Services. If appropriate, the existing Framework Document will also be reviewed.

  The terms of reference for the review are as follows:
  to conduct an evaluation of the performance of the Agency since the date of the last review;
  to consider in the light of this evaluation, and the views of customers and other stakeholders, whether among the available options Agency status remains the most cost effective way of achieving MAFF's aims; and
  if the review concludes that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate should continue to function as an Executive Agency, then to consider what changes, if any, are required to the Framework Document in the light of the findings of the review. If, however, the review concludes that a different delivery system would provide high quality, more effective and better value for money services, to set out the rationale and to recommend an appropriate option to Ministers.

  The review will be conducted by officials from MAFF working with officials from VMD in close consultation with the Cabinet Office and Treasury. It will draw on and take account of other relevant work, for example the considerations feeding into the White Paper and Bill to establish the Food Standards Agency, and other relevant material.

  We shall be setting out the arrangements whereby interested parties will be given an opportunity to submit their views.

  I hope to publish the outcome of the review in the second quarter of 2000.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Fair Trade
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in promoting the purchase of fair trade goods by Departments and other public bodies. [95590]
  226
  Mr. Foulkes
  My Department takes every opportunity to promote fair trade products and also to support ethical trading in mainstream business. As my hon. Friend knows, fair trade tea and coffee are available in all the Department for International Development (DFID) outlets and in the House of Commons. I understand that a number of Departments have considered stocking fair trade products.

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress there has been among UK manufacturers in adopting a fair trade approach to the purchase of agricultural commodities from developing countries; and if she will make a statement. [95595]

  Clare Short
  A growing number of products have obtained the FairTrade Mark from the Fairtrade Foundation. Seventy-five such products (covering coffee, tea, cocoa and honey) are now available, compared to 50 a year ago. The FairTrade Mark tends to be applied for more by alternative trading organisations than large UK manufacturers.

  Companies can also trade in a way which has a positive impact on the livelihoods of the poor but does not meet the requirements for certification through the FairTrade Foundation. For example, companies can work with the Ethical Trading Initiative, which concentrates on codes of conduct for responsible business. The Ethical Trading Initiative now has fifteen members; one of the most recent is the Tea Sourcing Partnership, whose members represent 60 per cent. of tea packed in the UK.

  Multinational Companies
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the impact of multinational companies on developing countries. [95591]

  Clare Short
  The private sector and multinational companies are key to achieving the economic growth necessary to meet the international poverty reduction targets.

  We have established a Business Partnership Unit to strengthen our links with the private sector. We have also established a resource centre to help business to access information, expertise and contacts to help them implement socially responsible business and examine and monitor their impact in poor countries. We have provided funding and support to the Ethical Trading Initiative which brings together business, trade unions and non-governmental organisations to examine supply chains in poorer countries against an agreed code of conduct, including key commitments on labour standards.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the Government of Zimbabwe regarding United Kingdom assistance to the land resettlement programme. [95592]

  Clare Short
  We believe that land reforms are needed, as part of a strategy to reduce poverty in Zimbabwe. We have consistently told the Government that as part of such
  227
  a strategy we would be prepared to support a land reform programme that is transparent, cost-effective, properly managed and on which local people are consulted.

  Fraud
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on measures to combat fraud in the provision of overseas aid. [95593]

  Clare Short
  My Department has strong control systems designed to ensure regularity, propriety and value for money in the expenditure of our budget. These systems are reviewed by our internal auditors and they are regularly updated. Our systems are also subject to examination by the National Audit Office (NAO).

  There were nine cases of fraud reported in our 1998–99 Annual Fraud Return. There were no reported cases involving the Department for International Development (DFID) staff. In all cases action has been taken to improve systems of control to avoid any recurrence. Legal action is pending for the recovery of DFID funds in three of these cases.

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with non-governmental organisations on the implications for developing countries of the agenda for the Seattle ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation. [95594]

  Clare Short
  We are keen to promote dialogue and discussion with civil society. Ministers and officials from across Government meet regularly with non-governmental organisations and a wide range of other civil society representatives, to discuss trade-related issues. On 2 March, I made a speech entitled "Future Multilateral Trade Negotiations: A Development Round?" which has been circulated to NGOs and more widely. A copy is in the Library of the House.

  This morning I made a speech to 100 civil society representatives where I set out how we can make the next trade Round work for the world's poor. I will also be speaking at a conference with NGOs and civil society at Seattle on 29 November.

  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure that developing countries will derive substantial development benefits from the next World Trade Organisation conference. [95599]

  Clare Short
  We are working bilaterally and with a wide range of other organisations, to help build the capacity of developing countries to participate effectively in the multilateral trading system. A full list of the work we are supporting has been placed in the Library of the House.

  It is not widely appreciated that three quarters of the members of the World Trade Organisation are developing countries. This means that they are in a position to make great gains and improve their development prospects in the next trade round. It also means that agreement in the next round is dependant on developing country support. We have over the last two years provided £10 million to
  228
  support training in developing countries negotiating capacity and ability to make use of trade opportunities. We are also working to encourage the EU, World Bank and other support agencies.

  Debt Relief
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress in relieving the indebtedness of highly indebted poor countries. [95596]

  Clare Short
  International agreement on a substantial revision to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative was reached at the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF at the end of September. The new HIPC framework will deliver deeper debt relief, and provide this relief more quickly and to more countries. A comprehensive financing package is still being worked out. I made an additional pledge of $50 million towards the multilateral costs of HIPC, bringing the UK's total commitment to $221 million (approx £135 million). We are pressing the European Commission to bring forward proposals to make a substantial contribution towards the revised HIPC, as they announced at the Annual Meetings.

  I very much welcome the agreement in Washington to tie HIPC debt relief to national poverty reduction strategies. The strategies will be country specific and developed through an open, consultative process which is led by national governments. However each will discuss policy options and propose how all resources, not just debt service savings, are used for poverty elimination and the achievement of the international development targets.

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will report progress on initiatives to reduce the debt of and poverty in the heavily indebted poor countries. [95601]

  Clare Short
  Agreement on a substantial revision to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative was reached at the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF at the end of September. The new framework will deliver deeper debt relief, and provide this relief more quickly and to more countries. The debt relief will be strongly focused on supporting poverty reduction strategies. A comprehensive financing package is still being worked out. I made an additional pledge of $50 million towards the costs, bringing the UK's total commitment to $221 million (approx £135 million). We are pressing the European Commission to firm up their proposals to a contribution of at least 1 billion euro. If this is agreed the UK contribution to the trust fund will rise to $400 million.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is on the attachment of conditions for debt relief in the case of heavily indebted poor countries. [95602]

  Clare Short
  I very much welcome the new international consensus that the purpose of debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries is to allow countries to tackle poverty more effectively. We are extremely pleased that the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF in September agreed that the provision of debt relief under the revised Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative should be tied to supporting national poverty reduction strategies.

  Mongolia
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development aid her Department provided to Mongolia in 1998–99; what aid it plans to provide in the current year; and if she will make a statement. [95597]

  Clare Short
  Most UK aid to Mongolia is channelled through multilateral agencies. For 1997, the total UK contribution to Mongolia through multilateral agencies was estimated at £5.7 million. This figure is set to rise slightly over the next two to three years. Figures for our multilateral commitments in 1998 will be available next February.

  UK bilateral development assistance totalled £470,000 in 1998–99, including the Small Grants Scheme and support for UK Non Government Organisations' work through the Joint Funding Scheme. Projects include support to street children, provision of basic education services and income generation for households in the poorest provinces of Mongolia.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate the amount spent on aid in Kosovo to date. [95598]

  Clare Short
  An estimated spending figure for all donors is not yet available. The World Bank is currently collating figures provided by donors in preparation for the Donors' Conference to be held on November 17 in Brussels.

  Prior to the end of the air campaign, my Department spent approximately £40 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the crisis. We have committed a further £62 million since the refugees were able to return.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian aid is committed for the current year to assist the people of Kosovo. [95600]

  Clare Short
  Since the end of the air campaign my Department has committed some £62 million in assistance to Kosovo. Our strategy has six strands which have been agreed in consultation with other donors. These include support for the United Nations-led international civil administration; human rights promotion including the provision of objective information and accessible justice for all Kosovars; clearing mines, unexploded ordnance and booby traps; providing relief to returnees and internally displaced people; restoring essential elements of the health system; and supporting emergency rehabilitation to restore essential community and public infrastructure, particularly power and water supplies.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on current assistance to Kosovo. [95603]

  Clare Short
  Our strategy for assistance to Kosovo has six strands, which have been agreed in consultation with other donors and agencies active in Kosovo. These include support for the United Nations-led international civil administration, both through the provision of personnel and payment of stipends for local public employees. We are supporting the promotion of human 230
  rights; this includes the provision of objective information, particularly through support for independent media, and accessible justice for all Kosovars, through funding legal advice centres. We have provided emergency response teams to map and clear mines and unexploded ordnance. We have funded humanitarian agencies to provide relief to returnees. We are restoring essential elements of the health system, including Pristina University Hospital and local clinics. We have established an Emergency Infrastructure Engineering Unit which is helping local authorities to re-establish basic power and water supplies; we are also beginning emergency work on Pristina airport to keep essential supplies coming into Kosovo and enable 24 hour civil air access during the winter months.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the non-military support given in aid to Kosovo by the UK in 1999; and if she will estimate the total UNHCR aid to Kosovo over that period. [96904]

  Clare Short
  My Department gave £500,000 to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) in early March 1999 to enable them to respond flexibly to developments in Kosovo and the neighbouring states. In response to the refugee crisis we spent some £39 million in direct operations and in support of agency interventions in Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro.

  Following NATO entry, my Department has committed some £59 million in assistance to Kosovo. Our strategy has six strands which have been agreed in consultation with other donors. These include support for the United Nations-led international civil administration; human rights promotion including the provision of objective information and accessible justice for all Kosovars; clearing mines, and unexploded ordnance; providing relief to returnees and internally displaced people; restoring essential elements of the health system; and supporting emergency rehabilitation to restore essential community and public infrastructure, particularly power and water supplies. We have recently committed £3 million for work to keep Pristina airport open for civilian air operations through the winter.

  UNHCR have appealed for $332.9 million for Kosovo related work in 1999. Figures for their spending in Kosovo itself are not available. The UK has contributed some £5.8 million of in-kind assistance (seconded staff, convoys, airlifts) and $4.4 million in grants to support their activities in Kosovo.

  Know-how Fund
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what new proposals she has to extend the know-how fund in the Caucasus. [95604]

  Clare Short
  We have bilateral (Know How) programmes in all three countries of the South Caucasus and we plan to increase the level of our assistance to the region. We have no plans to develop such programmes in the North Caucasus.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects to make an announcement about the provision of an airfield on the island of St. Helena. [95605]

  Clare Short
  The results of a preliminary study into the technical and regulatory feasibility of establishing air access to St. Helena are currently under consideration. I am aware of the strong lobby for air access but the costs are considerable and obviously not feasible unless the provision of such facilities can provide an economic return.

  Poverty Reduction
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry on the impact of export credit guarantees on poverty reduction efforts in less-developed countries. [95606]

  Clare Short
  I have had various informal discussions with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (DTI) on this issue and my Department are participating in the review of ECGD announced by DTI on 27 July. Also in July, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, setting out my views on how ECGD could make a greater contribution to fulfilling the Government's development objectives set out in the White Paper on 'International Development: Eliminating Poverty'.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the United Kingdom is providing to combat the spread of AIDS in southern Africa. [95607]

  Clare Short
  We have provided over £40 million in the last five years to countries in southern Africa to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and to deal with its social and economic impacts. We are working with national and regional programmes to promote behaviour change, school and peer education for young people, social marketing of condoms and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. We are assessing the impact of HIV/AIDS in all of our new programmes in the region and we are including measures to reduce or mitigate the impact of AIDS where possible.

  We plan to support the implementation of SADC's regional HIV/AIDS strategy, working with other donors. At national level our programmes include support for the South African National AIDS Control Programme and development of the HIV/AIDS National Plan In Mozambique. In South Africa, support is being provided for a joint Government/Private Sector/Trade Union initiative with mining communities to promote safe sex practices and to deal effectively with sexually transmitted diseases. DFID has funded the production and distribution, throughout South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia, of school materials targeted at 12 to 16 year olds which highlight HIV/AIDS issues. We have just approved a £35 million contribution to support Malawi's sexual and reproductive health programme over
  232
  six years. My Department is considering new proposals on HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe (up to £15 million over five years), Zambia and Mozambique.

  Ghana
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on UK aid policy in relation to Ghana. [95608]

  Clare Short
  Ghana is a major Sub-Saharan country partner for our development programme. The central objective of the Ghanaian Government's development agenda as set out in "Ghana Vision 2020" is to improve the quality of life for all Ghanaians, to generate employment and to reduce poverty. This is consistent with our White Paper commitment to help countries achieve the international development goals.

  We provided £26 million in 1997–98 financial year and are providing in the region of £40 million this financial year.

  We have provided assistance to help the Government of Ghana meet their development objectives in health, education, water, rural infrastructure, natural resources and forestry, through sector-wide approaches and budgetary and public service reforms.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards Sierra Leone. [95609]

  Clare Short
  Britain's policy towards Sierra Leone is directed at building a lasting peace and security and promoting poverty reduction and sustainable development.

  For the sake of its beleaguered and war-weary people, we are doing all we can to support the implementation of the peace settlement signed at Lomé on 7 July 1999. Our first priority, in common with the rest of the international community, is to help create security and stability through the urgent implementation of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme. As well as providing humanitarian assistance directly to communities and to the refugees of war we are also providing emergency budgetary support to enable the country meet its debt servicing obligations, a pre-requisite to obtaining IMF and other financial support. My Department is also preparing a development programme which will contribute towards the establishment of effective government, at local and national levels.

  Departmental Publications
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the title of research studies, audits and surveys(a) being undertaken and (b) commissioned by her Department for completion within (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000, stating in each case whether the results are due to be published. [95510]

  Clare Short
  The number of research studies, audits and surveys being undertaken or commissioned by the Department in 1999 and 2000 is too large to list (at acceptable cost). Research studies are published. Audits and surveys may be for internal purposes in which case
  233
  they are not normally published; or they may be carried out on behalf of an overseas government, whose permission would need to be sought for publication.

  Angola
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money the United Nations has calculated is necessary to meet current humanitarian needs in Angola; how much has been offered in response to the appeal; and how much the British Government have offered. [96081]

  Clare Short
  The resumption of fighting in December 1989 in Angola has led to a significant increase in the number of internally displaced and war-affected people. The original requirement of the 1999 UN Appeal for Angola, US$66,665,852, has been revised upwards to US$110,840,321 as the levels of humanitarian need became apparent. As of October 1999, total funds available amounted to US$82,127,986. The UK has committed £1.7 million through UN agencies towards the 1999 UN Appeal and we are also providing some £3.75 million for food aid through WFP. We have also committed a further £1.8 million through international Non Governmental Organisations and the International Committee for the Red Cross in 1999.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in Angola are calculated to be in need of humanitarian help; and how many people current humanitarian services are reaching. [96082]

  Clare Short
  The number of internally displaced and people affected by the conflict in Angola has increased significantly since the resumption of fighting in December 1998. According to the United Nations, there are approximately two million people in need of humanitarian relief. In addition the UN estimate that there are three million people living in areas that are inaccessible and whose condition therefore cannot be assessed.

  In October, the World Food Programme distributed food aid to a total of 1.12 million people.

  Macedonia and Albania
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress being made in assisting Macedonia and Albania to recover from the consequences of the war in Kosovo; what specific projects are being funded; and if she will place detailed documents on these matters in the Library. [96083]

  Clare Short
  We are contributing towards the care and protection needs of remaining refugees in Albania and Macedonia, ensuring that outstanding pledges and promises made to refugee-hosting communities are fully honoured and taking forward pledges of longer term bilateral technical assistance.

  For this calendar year, the European Union has a planned expenditure of 56.5 million for Albania and 22.1 million euro for Macedonia. The United Kingdom contributes 15.5 per cent. to the EU budget.

  In Macedonia a medium term strategy is being developed. So far we have been developing support centres for small and medium enterprises in the regions
  234
  of Gostivar, Tetevo and Ohrid; providing advice to the Government of Macedonia on short term budget management, financial planning and accountability issues; and working with the World Bank to develop a longer term programme of reform for public expenditure and institutional structures within the Government. We will be providing training on EU negotiating skills.

  In Albania we are supporting the development of rural communities in the north of the country; providing strategic advice to the Albanian Customs Service as part of a wider European Commission programme; supporting the establishment of a network of citizen's advice and information centres; and, in co-operation with the World Bank, working to improve primary health care in the Tirana region. A mission will be undertaken this month to develop future strategy.

  We commissioned a study of the post-crisis trade environment in the Balkans, which identified the trade development needs of countries in the region and proposed ways in which these might be met. This study is being placed in the Library. Country strategies will be made available as they are completed.

WALES

  Ministerial Engagements
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list his engagements for 2, 5, 6, 8, 12 and 13 July; [94041]

  (2) if he will list his engagements for 15, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 26 July. [94438]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Prior to my appointment as Secretary of State for Wales, on the dates in question I carried out my duties as Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office.

  The former Secretary of State carried out duties in both his capacity as Secretary of State and First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales.

  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the engagements of the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) and the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) for 2, 5, 6, 8, 12 and 13 July; [94042]

  (2) if he will list the engagements of the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) and the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) for 15, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 26 July. [94439]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) attended a Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 event on 5 July. On the other dates, he was involved in Government business and constituency responsibilities.

  My hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) attended the Motorsport Industry Awards on 12 July; receptions for Carlton Media, S4C and Unison on 13 July. On the other dates, he was engaged on Government business and constituency responsibilities.
  235
  My hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, Central undertook official engagements at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells on 19 July. On the other days, he was engaged on Government business, or undertook constituency responsibilities.

  My hon. Friend the Member for Neath was engaged on Government business and constituency responsibilities on these dates.

  Nursing
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives are being pursued to attract more young people into nursing in Wales; and what is the cost of these initiatives. [96253]

  Mr. Hanson
  The responsibility for recruitment of nurses in Wales rests with the National Assembly for Wales. I understand however that there are currently significant more applications to join the nursing profession in Wales, than there are places available.

  Departmental Accounts
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the methods of depreciation his Department will apply in the current financial year to fixed assets in the preparation of departmental resource accounting balance sheets. [96927]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  For any assets which are depreciated, the straight-line method is applied. This method is in accordance with the Treasury's Resource Accounting manual, and the requirements in the Manual are underpinned by Financial Reporting Standard 15, 'Tangible Fixed Assets'.

  Cabinet Committees
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on which Cabinet committees(a) he and (b) his Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State sit. [96987]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information is given in the following list:

  Secretary of State

  Economic Affairs

  Welfare to Work

  Productivity and Competitiveness

  Environment

  Local Government

  Better Government

  Home and Social Affairs

  Legislation

  Food Safety

  Constitutional Reform Policy

  Incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights

  Freedom of Information

  Devolution Policy

  European Issues

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

  Energy Policy

  Biotechnology and Genetic Modification

  236

  Health Strategy

  Drug Misuse

  Women's Issues

  Crime Reduction and Youth Justice

  Millennium Date Change.

CABINET OFFICE

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 26 October 1999 to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Swinney),Official Report, column 858, if she will list those Next Steps agencies operating in Scotland which are not responsible to the Scottish Executive; and if she will list for each such agency the (i) number of civil servants employed in Scotland, (ii) the total wage bill and (iii) the wage bill for staff based in Scotland. [96721]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The next steps agencies operating in Scotland which are not responsible to the Scottish Executive are:

  Department/Agency

  Staff4

  MAFF

  Meat Hygiene Service

  169

  Veterinary Laboratories Agency

  27

  Cabinet Office

  Central Office of Information

  1

  Civil Service College

  3

  Property Advisers to the Civil Estate

  15

  Ministry of Defence 1,2,3

  Army Base Repair Organisation

  147

  Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency

  34

  Army Personnel Centre

  1,256

  Army Training and Recruiting Agency

  1,023

  Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency

  2

  Defence Codification Agency

  107

  Defence Communications Services Agency

  75

  Defence Dental Agency

  55

  Defence Estates Organisation

  71

  Defence Postal and Courier Service Agency

  6

  Defence Secondary Care Agency

  1

  Defence Vetting Agency

  7

  Disposal Sales Agency

  3

  Medical Supplies Agency

  7

  Meteorological Office

  165

  Ministry of Defence Police

  860

  Naval Bases and Supply Agency

  4,016

  Naval Recruiting and Training Agency

  156

  Queen Victoria School

  67

  RAF Logistics Support Services

  5

  RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency

  3

  RAF Signals Engineering Establishment

  59

  RAF Training Group Defence Agency

  81

  Ships Support Agency

  171

  Specialist Procurement Services

  71

  Department for Education and Employment

  Employment Service

  3,740

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency

  102

  Driving Standards Agency

  127

  Maritime and Coastguard Agency

  221

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  145

  Ordnance Survey

  52

  237

  Department/Agency

  Staff4

  Home Office

  UK Passport Agency

  299

  Department for Social Security

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  6,998

  Social Security Child Support Agency

  1,291

  Department for Trade and Industry

  Companies House

  29

  Insolvency Service

  6

  Radiocommunications Agency

  12

  Employment Tribunals Service

  43

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  National Savings

  7

  Valuation Office

  83

  1 As at 1 July 1998, there were 8,448 staff employed in Scotland by executive agencies responsible to the Secretary of State for Defence. This is the last year for which figures are available. The MOD has since restructured and a number of the Agencies mentioned have ceased to exist and other new agencies have been created.

  2 The data cover UK regular forces and UK based permanent civilian personnel counted in official Ministry of Defence civil service figures. Civilian figures are full-time equivalents, where part time staff are counted in proportion to the hours worked.

  3 The data exclude all Defence Evaluation and Research Agency staff and the UK Hydrographic Office on whom reliable data is not available.

  4 Figures are on the basis of full-time equivalents. Casuals are excluded.

  Information on the total wage bill and the wage bill for staff based in Scotland is not held centrally.

  Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what advice and guidance are given to former members of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee concerning disclosures of JCCC deliberations in memoirs. [96745]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  All members of the JCC are bound, in respect of the proceedings of the Committee, by the recommendations of the Radcliffe Report on Ministerial memoirs.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is the most recent estimate of the annual cost of servicing the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee. [96743]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Copeland (Dr. Jack Cunningham) on 1 July 1999,Official Report, column 254.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 3 November. [96613]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I will have further such meetings later today.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Marriage Support Funding
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will announce his formal response to Sir Graham Hart's review of marriage support funding. [96629]

  Jane Kennedy
  Sir Graham Hart's report on marriage support funding will be published shortly, together with the Lord Chancellor's response.

  Tobacco and Alcohol Smuggling
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice his Department gives to licensing magistrates on action to take against clubs, pubs and other licensed premises where smuggled or bootlegged tobacco and alcohol have been sold either by the licensee and staff or by customers. [96645]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has given no advice to licensing magistrates on action to take in the circumstances described. Guidance provided jointly by the Magistrates Association and the Justices' Clerks Society refers generally to the fitness of the applicant for a licence but not specifically to smuggled or bootlegged tobacco and alcohol.

  Motoring Offences
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance determines the choice by magistrates of sentences for motoring offences. [96642]

  Jane Kennedy
  Within the statutory sentencing framework, the nature and severity of the sentences which magistrates impose for motoring offences, as with all offences, are matters for the independent exercise of judicial discretion. Guidance on sentencing in motoring cases exists in the form of judgments by the higher courts and guidelines issued by the Magistrates Association.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what processes are in place to monitor the appropriateness of sentences imposed by magistrates for motoring offences. [96643]

  Jane Kennedy
  Sentences imposed by magistrates for motoring offences may, as with all offences, be appealed to the Crown Court.

TREASURY

  Pensions
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the annual pensions liabilities of the European Communities; and what is the projected figure for 2020. [96579]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Appropriations for pensions and severance grants for the institutions of the European Community were 466.8 million euro in 1998, and 501 million euro in 1999.
  239
  This includes Retirement pensions, Invalidity pensions, Survivors' pensions and Severance grants.

  The EC budgetary authorities have not agreed estimates for 2020.

  Von Weizsäcker-Dehaene-Simon Report
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was (i) to the Communities budget and (ii) to the UK of producing the von Weizsäcker/Dehaene/Simon report to the Commission; who instigated it; what UK assistance was provided; and if he will make a statement. [96578]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Von Weizsäcker/Dehaene/Simon Report is an independent report, produced at the request of the President of the European Commission, Mr. Romano Prodi.

  Government shareholdings at 31 March 1999

  £

  Department/description of holding

  Nominal value

  Approximate market value

  Ministry of Defence

  AWE Plc: £ Preferential Share

  1

  n/a

  AWE pensions Trustees Ltd.: £1 Preferential Share

  1

  n/a

  British Shipping Federation Ltd.: £1 7.5% Non-Cumulative Irredeemable Preference Shares

  55,040

  n/a

  Chamber of Shipping: £1 7.5% Non-Cumulative Irredeemable Preference Shares

  688

  n/a

  International Military Services Ltd.: Shares at cost

  19,999,999

  n/a

  Royal Dockyard Devonport plc: £1 Preferential Share

  1

  n/a

  Royal Dockyard Rosyth plc: £1 Preferential Share

  1

  n/a

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  BAA: £1 Special Share

  1

  n/a

  Docklands Light Railway: £1 Shares

  100

  n/a

  DoT Share offer (No. 1): £1 Shares

  2

  n/a

  DoT Share offer (No. 2): £1 share

  2

  n/a

  Eurostar (UK) Ltd.: £1 Special Share

  1

  n/a

  Intercapital and Regional Rail Ltd.: £1 Special Share

  1

  n/a

  London and Continental Railways Ltd.: 25p Special Shares

  1

  n/a

  Railsale Ltd.: £1 Ordinary Shares

  100

  n/a

  Railtrack Ltd.: 4,087,165 25p Shares

  1,021,791

  57.8 million

  Railtrack Share Offer: £1 Shares

  2

  n/a

  Sealink Stena Line Ltd.: Preference Share

  1

  n/a

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Holding of shares in Chilean schools

  4,900

  n/a

  Calcutta Clinic

  268

  n/a

  Jakarta International School Bond

  22.372

  n/a

  Caracas School

  794

  n/a

  Quito School

  8,384

  n/a

  Santiago School

  360

  n/a

  Home Office

  HM Prison Service holdings: 38,814 Dairy Crest Shares

  9,704

  105,000

  12,771 Genus Shares

  1,277

  n/a

  3,998 National Milk Records Shares

  400

  n/a

  Inland Revenue

  Holdings of miscellaneous foreign bonds and shares in Companies

  821,910

  n/a

  Scottish Office

  West Highlands Crofters and Farmers Ltd.

  10

  n/a

  Department of Trade and Industry

  AEA Technology plc: £1 Special Rights Preference Share

  1

  n/a

  British Aerospace plc: £1 Special Rights Preference Share

  1

  n/a

  British Energy plc:

  £1 Special Shares

  1

  n/a

  £1 Ordinary Shares

  5,006,246

  29.7 million

  British Nuclear Fuels plc: £1 Ordinary Shares

  32,668,243

  n/a

  Cable and Wireless £1 Special Rights Redeemable Preference Share

  1

  n/a

  Government Shareholdings
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all shareholdings currently held by Her Majesty's Government, together with an approximate market value for each where this is available. [96403]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information is shown in the table. This shows the nominal values of government shareholdings held at 31 March 1999, as reported to the Treasury, excluding shares held for possible distribution as bonus shares to eligible shareholders. An approximate market value, based on their closing prices on 31 March 1999, is also shown for those of the shares quoted on the London Stock Exchange. This information is not available in other cases, either because the assets held are not marketable or because a market value could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
  241

  Government shareholdings at 31 March 1999

  £

  Department/description of holding

  Nominal value

  Approximate market value

  National Grid Group plc: £1 Special Rights Redeemable Preference Share

  1

  n/a

  National Power plc: £1 Special Rights Redeemable Preference Share

  1

  n/a

  Nuclear Electric plc: £1 Ordinary Share

  1

  n/a

  PowerGen plc: £1 Special Rights Redeemable Preference Share

  1

  n/a

  Rolls Royce Ltd.: £1 Special Share

  1

  n/a

  United Kingdom Nirex Ltd.: £1 Special Share

  1

  n/a

  HM Treasury

  Bank of England: Capital Stock

  14,553,000

  n/a

  BAA plc: £1 Ordinary Shares

  660

  4,500

  British Airways plc: 120 25p Ordinary Shares

  30

  500

  British Energy:

  Bonds 2003

  101,923,000

  n/a

  Bonds 2006

  144,291,000

  n/a

  Bonds 2016

  105,407,000

  n/a

  British Telecommunications plc: 10.705.164 25p Ordinary Shares

  2,676,291

  108.2 million

  National Power plc: 50p Ordinary Shares

  389,381

  3.7 million

  PowerGen plc: 50p Ordinary Shares

  678,710

  9.3 million

  Railtrack Ltd.:

  Bonds 2006

  694,000

  n/a

  Bonds 2016

  516,000

  n/a

  Scottish Power plc: Bonds 2001

  142,000,000

  n/a

  Tobacco and Alcohol Smuggling
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated loss to the Treasury through smuggled tobacco and alcohol into the United Kingdom in each year since 1997. [96774]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  HM Customs and Excise assess the total amount of revenue (excise duty and VAT) losses through all forms of tobacco smuggling in 1998 at about £1.7 billion. There is no comparable assessment for total revenue losses through all forms of alcohol smuggling.

  The revenue lost through cross-Channel smuggling of alcohol and tobacco in 1998 is estimated at £220 million and £1 billion respectively. Comparable figures for 1997 are £180 million for alcohol and £790 million for tobacco.

  Financial Services Authority
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Economic Secretary last met the Head of the Financial Services Authority; and what matters were discussed. [96957]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I meet the Chairman of the Financial Services Authority on a regular basis and discuss a wide range of issues.

  Departmental Accounts
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methods of depreciation his Department will apply in the current financial year to fixed assets in the preparation of departmental resource accounting balance sheets. [97048]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Treasury will be applying straight line depreciation to relevant fixed assets for the current financial year. The Treasury's depreciation methods are in accordance with the Treasury's Resource 242
  Accounting Manual, which is itself underpinned by the Financial Reporting Standard 15 'Tangible Fixed Assets' issued by the Accounting Standards Board.

  Blood-alcohol Limit
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on Treasury revenue from excise duty, value added tax and income tax of a reduction in the blood-alcohol limit for drivers. [96903]

  Mr. Timms
  No such estimate is available.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Imports
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase the imports of(a) food and (b) wine from New Zealand and Australia; and if he will make a statement. [96620]

  Ms Quin
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government have no plans to increase imports of food or wine from any particular country.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the percentage value of the basic state pension(a) as a percentage of average earnings and (b) in 1999 prices; and what it will be in (i) 2000, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2020, (iv) 2030 and (v) 2050 if it is increased only in line with prices, (1) assuming average earnings continue to grow at the same average rate as they have since 1979 and (2) assuming average earnings increase at 2 per cent. more per year than the retail prices index. [95633]
  243
  Mr. Rooker
  The information requested is in the table.

  Year

  Basic pension in 1999 prices (£)

  As a percentage of average earnings

  1999

  66.75

  16.6

  2000

  66.75

  16.3

  2010

  66.75

  13.4

  2020

  66.75

  11.0

  2030

  66.75

  9.0

  2050

  66.75

  6.1

  Note:

  Real earnings growth when rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent. is the same for (1) and (2) at 2 per cent.

  Pensioners (Overseas)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the countries in which UK retirement and other pensions are increased in line with inflation for residents therein and (b) those countries where they are not. [96329]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is as follows.

  Countries where UK state pensions are uprated

  Austria

  Barbados

  Belgium

  Bermuda

  Channel Islands

  Cyprus

  Denmark

  Finland

  France

  Germany

  Gibraltar

  Greece

  Iceland

  Italy

  Israel

  Jamaica

  Liechtenstein

  Luxembourg

  Malta

  Mauritius

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Philippines

  Portugal

  Republic of Ireland

  Spain

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  Turkey

  United Kingdom

  United States of America

  Yugoslavia (including former members)

  244
  Countries where UK state pensions are not uprated

  Albania

  Algeria

  Andorra

  Angola

  Anguilla

  Antigua

  Antilles (Netherlands)

  Arab Emirates (United)

  Argentina

  Ascension Island

  Australia

  Bahamas

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Barbuda

  Belize

  Benin

  Bhutan

  Bissau (Guinea)

  Bolivia

  Botswana

  Brazil

  Brunei

  Bulgaria

  Burkina Faso

  Burma

  Cameroon

  Canada

  Cape Verde Islands

  Cayman Islands

  Chile

  China Peoples Republic

  Colombia

  Congo

  Cook Islands

  Costa Rica

  Cote D'Ivoire

  Cuba

  Djibouti

  Dominican Commonwealth

  Dominican Republic

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  El Salvador

  Ethiopia

  Falkland Islands and Dependants

  Faroe Islands

  Fiji

  Gambia

  Ghana

  Grenada

  Guam

  Guatemala

  Guinea

  Guyana

  Honduras

  Hong Kong

  Hungary

  245

  India

  Indonesia

  Iran

  Iraq

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kenya

  Kiribati

  Kuwait

  Lebanon

  Lesotho

  Liberia

  Libya

  Macau

  Malagasy Republic

  Malawi

  Malaysia

  Maldive Islands Mexico

  Monaco

  Mongolia

  Montserrat

  Morocco

  Mozambique

  Namibia

  Nepal

  Nevis St Kitts - Nevis

  New Caledonia

  New Zealand

  Nicaragua

  Nigeria

  Norfolk Island

  Oman

  Pakistan

  Panama

  Papua New Guinea

  Paraguay

  Peru

  Poland

  Qatar

  Republic of Belarus

  Republic of Estonia

  Republic of Kazakhstan

  Republic of Latvia

  Republic of Lithuania

  Republic of Uzbekistan

  Republic of Yemen

  Rumania

  Rwanda

  Sabah

  Samoa

  San Marino

  Sarawak

  Saudia Arabia

  Senegal

  Seychelles

  Sierra Leone

  Singapore

  Solomon Islands

  Somalia

  South Africa

  246

  South Korea

  Sri Lanka

  St Helena and Dependants

  St Lucia

  St Martins

  St Vincent and Grenadines

  Sudan

  Surinam

  Swaziland

  Syria

  Taiwan

  Tanzania

  Thailand

  The Czech Republic

  The Russian Federation

  The Slovak Republic

  Togo

  Tonga

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tunisia

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  Tuvalu

  Uganda

  Ukraine

  Uruguay

  Vanuatu

  Vatican City State

  Venezuela

  Vietnam

  Virgin Islands (British)

  Zaire

  Zambia

  Zimbabwe.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children aged(a) 0 to five years and (b) five or more receive child benefit. [96862]

  Angela Eagle
  It is estimated that, at May 1999 Child Benefit was in payment in respect of 3,385,860 children aged 0 to four years and 9,431,020 children aged five or more years.

  Source:

  5 per cent. sample of current live Child Benefit claims.

  Exceptional Hardship Payments
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on exceptional hardship payments (housing benefit) in the years 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 in(a) the London Borough of Redbridge, (b) the London Borough of Newham, (c) the London Borough of Havering, (d) the London Borough of Waltham Forest and (e) the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham; and in relation to exceptional hardship payments in the above years, what was the (i) amount of Government money provided to and (ii) permitted spending totals set for each of the above councils. [96653]
  247
  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Allocation and expenditure on exceptional hardship payments

  £

  Amount of central government contribution

  Permitted total

  Total expenditure

  1996–97

  Barking and Dagenham

  41,786

  —

  2,183

  Havering

  51,846

  —

  5,593

  Newham

  293,611

  —

  12,863

  Redbridge

  175,530

  —

  56,611

  Waltham Forest

  143,934

  —

  11,235

  1997–98

  Barking and Dagenham

  51,935

  —

  2,776

  Havering

  52,813

  1

  17,712

  Newham

  306,062

  —

  32,040

  Redbridge

  177,223

  —

  125,258

  Waltham Forest

  179,371

  —

  33,345

  1998–99

  Barking and Dagenham

  55,242

  137,870

  14,599

  Havering

  57,772

  144,183

  27,207

  Newham

  372,294

  929,151

  37,313

  Redbridge

  206,547

  515,490

  119,965

  Waltham Forest

  244,093

  609,193

  not available

  Notes:

  1. The Permitted Totals for the years 1996–97 and 1997–98 were based on a percentage of each local authority's expenditure on rent allowance cases in year, and was not therefore a fixed amount. However, for 1998–99 the Permitted Total was a fixed amount based on 1995–96 expenditure on deregulated tenancies referred to the rent officer.

  2. The expenditure figures quoted are based on information provided by the local authorities.

  Source:

  1996 to 1998–99 Housing Benefit Subsidy claim forms from Local Authorities and the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Circular S5/99, annex 1.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate, for each of the last five years, the proportion of recipients of Housing Benefit whose gross rent is above the cap set by the rent officer. [96672]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available as no central data exist to give the base for such estimation.

  Council Tax (Pensioners)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the modelled average levels of(a) gross council tax bills and (b) net council tax bills of pensioner households, in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000 which are produced by his Policy Simulation Model. [96673]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.
  248

  Average annual council tax bills of pensioner households from the Department's policy simulation model

  £

  Gross council tax bill

  Net council tax bill

  1998–99

  630

  470

  1999–2000

  670

  510

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

  2. The 1998–99 figures are based on the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1998–99 prices, benefit levels and caseloads. Council Tax benefit caseloads and average amounts are calibrated to DSS forecasts consistent with the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review.

  3. The 1999–2000 figures are based on the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1999–2000 prices, benefit levels and caseloads. Council Tax benefit caseloads and average amounts are calibrated to DSS forecasts consistent with the 1999 Departmental Report.

  4. A "pensioner household" is defined as a household containing a person aged 60 or over within the head benefit unit.

  5. Gross Council Tax is defined as Council Tax liability for the year, net of any discounts. Net Council Tax is defined as Gross Council Tax net of any Council Tax Benefit payable.

  6. Gross Council Tax estimates in the Policy Simulation Model are based on data provided by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions which are then uprated to the relevant policy year using DSS forecasts.

  Pensioner Households (Tynemouth)
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households there are in Tynemouth. [96867]

  Mr. Rooker
  The administration of Retirement Pension is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Alan Campbell, dated 2 November 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Mr Mathison to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many pensioner households there are in Tynemouth. As Mr Mathison is currently away on leave I am replying.
  The information you require is not readily available in the requested format. The database from which the information can be extracted is currently being used in connection with the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) exercise. To interrupt that exercise at this time could jeopardise payments to customers, which I am sure you will agree is not acceptable.
  On completion of the WFP exercise in January 2000, we can obtain the information you seek should you still require it. I would be obliged if you could advise us accordingly.
  In the meantime, you may be interested to note the following. The total number of benefit accounts in respect of customers over pension age in North Tyneside, including Tynemouth, is 31,000. The figure includes 6,500 accounts with Income Support interest and relates to individual customers rather than households.
  I hope this is helpful.

  State Pension
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total expenditure on the state
  249
  pension in the United Kingdom and the total expenditure on the state pension in Scotland in the last financial year; and if he will estimate expenditure on this for (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04; [96714]

  (2) how many pensioners in the United Kingdom and Scotland are in receipt of the state pension; and if he will estimate the number who will be in receipt of the state pension in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04. [96715]

  Mr. Rooker
  Figures for outturn and planned Retirement Pension expenditure and estimated numbers receiving Retirement Pension in respect of Great Britain from 1993–94 to 2001–02 were published in the Departmental Report 1999 (Cm 4214). No estimates are available for 2001–03 and 2003–04.

  An estimate of Retirement Pension expenditure and estimated numbers in Scotland for 1998–99 is calculated from administrative data from the Pensioners Strategy Computer System. Similar data are not available for future years.

  Such information as is available is in the tables.
  250

  Estimated expenditure on pensioners in receipt of retirement pension in Great Britain and Scotland

  £ billion

  Great Britain 1

  Scotland

  1998–99 estimated outturn

  35.6

  3.0

  1999–2000 plans

  37.4

  n/a

  2000–01 plans

  38.4

  n/a

  2001–02 plans

  40.2

  n/a

  1 Total Retirement Pension (basic element and earnings-related component)

  Source:

  Table 1 Departmental Report 1999

  Estimated numbers of pensioners in receipt of retirement pension in Great Britain and Scotland

  Thousand

  Great Britain

  Scotland

  1998–991

  10,752

  868

  1999–20002 forecast

  10,789

  n/a

  2000–012 forecast

  10,884

  n/a

  2001–022 forecast

  10,945

  n/a

  1 5 per cent. sample of Pensioners Strategy Computer System as at 31 March 1999

  2 Table 12 Departmental Report 1999

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