Written Answers of 9 November 1999

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Estate (Running Costs)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what are the estimated running costs for Portcullis House and the running costs in the latest year for which figures are available for 7 Millbank and Norman Shaw North and South. [96726]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  [holding answer 3 November 1999]: The annual running costs for Portcullis House are estimated to be some £3.6 million. This includes the cost of utilities, rates, cleaning and maintenance. Comparable figures for other buildings on the parliamentary estate for 1998–99 are; 7 Millbank—£2.5 million and Norman Shaw North and South—£1.3 million. The hon. Member will wish to note that Norman Shaw South is overdue for a major refurbishment, and therefore running costs have been somewhat curtailed in the last few years.

  Westminster Hall
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is the cost of refurbishing the Grand Committee Room for the Westminster Hall sittings. [97520]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  The total cost of the refurbishment is £882,000.

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, from what budget heading costs for Scottish Grand Committee meetings will be allocated. [97587]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  [holding answer 5 November 1999]: Costs associated with meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee at Westminster are met from the general

  Date

  Bill

  Number of amendments disagreed to

  Session 1992–93

  7 June 1993

  Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill

  3

  14 June 1993

  Housing and Urban Development Bill (changed to Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Bill)

  1

  19 July 1993

  Education Bill

  13

  3 November 1993

  Railways Bill

  3

  Session 1993–94

  21 April 1994

  Sunday Trading Bill

  1 (Motion to agree negatived)

  28 June 1994

  Coal Industry Bill

  3

  19 October 1994

  Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill

  18

  20 October 1994

  Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill

  12

  1 November 1994

  Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill

  2

  Session 1994–95

  17 July 1995

  Criminal Appeal Bill

  2

  464
  administrative budgets of the House of Commons. Additional costs associated with meetings in Scotland are met from the budget for standing committees' travel and subsistence.

  Library
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what arrangements have been made between the Library and the British Museum for the keeping of those parts of the Library's older book stock which are of antiquarian interest but which are seldom needed by hon. Members. [97838]

  Mr. Allan
  The Library has a substantial number of books which were acquired when it was re-stocked after the fire of 1834. These volumes, often in fine bindings, are not often used by hon. Members but are of potential interest to scholars. I have been informed that the Librarian has signed an agreement with the Director of the British Museum which will mean that these books will be transferred on a long term loan to the care of the Museum, where they will be housed in the King's Library. This room was vacated when the British Library moved to its new St. Pancras building. The loan will mean that the books will be on display in a fine setting and that the Museum will be able to provide access by scholars, both its own staff and others. If any volumes are needed by hon. Members, the Library will be able to retrieve them, but it will not be responsible for the continuing care of the books and will gain the use of valuable storage space. The books will be transferred when the refurbishment of the King's Library is complete, which is expected to be in 2003.

  Lords Amendments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Council on how many occasions, in each parliamentary session since 1992, Lords amendments to Bills which have been the subject of a motion moved in this House to disagree have been(a) rejected and (b) accepted by this House. [97820]

  Mrs. Beckett
  There appear to be no examples to category(b) in the period in question. The table gives details, according to the records, of Lords amendments disagreed to by this House since Session 1992–93. All were subject to motions to disagree except for one case in 1993–94, where a motion to agree with a Lords amendment to the Sunday Trading Bill was negatived on division.
  465

  Date

  Bill

  Number of amendments disagreed to

  Session 1995–96

  15 July 1996

  Asylum and Immigration Bill

  3

  17 July 1996

  Nursery Education and Grant-Maintained Schools Bill

  1

  22 July 1996

  Housing Bill

  3

  Session 1996–97

  18 February 1997

  Firearms (Amendment) Bill

  6

  Session 1997–98

  24 July 1997

  Education (Schools) Bill

  1

  30 July 1997

  Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill

  8

  20 April 1998

  Bank of England Bill

  1

  9 June 1998

  European Communities (Amendment) Bill

  1

  13 July 1998

  Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords]

  1

  15 July 1998

  School Standards and Framework Bill

  20

  28 July 1998

  National Minimum Wage Bill

  4

  27 October 1998

  European Parliamentary Elections Bill

  4

  11 November 1998

  Scotland Bill

  11

  Session 1998–99 (to 5 November 1999)

  22 June 1999

  Tax Credits Bill

  3

  21 July 1999

  Access to Justice Bill [Lords]

  1

  21 July 1999

  Employment Relations Bill

  1

  3 November 1999

  Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill

  12

  4 November 1999

  Greater London Authority Bill

  3

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Schengen Accord
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the mechanism by which Her Majesty's Government can rescind participation in Schengen. [97527]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union, annexed to the Treaties by the Treaty of Amsterdam, makes provision in Articles 4 and 5 for the participation of the United Kingdom in the Schengen acquis and in its development. Once the United Kingdom has chosen to participate, to that extent the normal arrangements of the Treaties apply, and it would not be possible to rescind participation. The United Kingdom is otherwise not bound by the Schengen acquis. My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, submitted on 26 May 1999, an application on behalf of the United Kingdom to participate in certain provisions of the Schengen acquis, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which elements of Schengen Information System data, in accordance with Section 13 of the Commission Opinion on the request by the UK to take part in certain provisions of the Schengen acquis, the Commission recommends the UK remain excluded from access. [97522]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Commission Opinion refers to the need to study the feasibility of limiting the United Kingdom's access to data held under Article 96 of the Schengen Implementing Convention. This reflects the terms of the United Kingdom to participate in certain provisions of the Schengen acquis; we requested that we should be allowed not to enter or receive such data, which is related to the refusal of admission to third country nationals at the external frontier. This is because we are not seeking to participate in the external frontier control provisions of the Schengen acquis.

  Asylum and Immigration
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the latest period for which figures are available the number of people entering the UK from non-EU countries as visitors with permission to stay for up to six months; the proportion of these not permitted to pass immediately through passport control but subject to interview and the proportion of those interviewed refused entry. [97445]

  Mrs. Roche
  All non-European Economic Area (EEA) passengers seeking entry as visitors are subject to interview to determine their admissibility under the immigration rules. In the 12 months from July 1998 to June 1999, some 8.2 million non-EEA nationals were granted leave to enter as visitors for up to six months. Information on persons seeking entry as visitors who were subject to further examination is available only for 13 of the largest ports. At these ports, 23,500 non-EEA visitors were subject to further examination in the 12-month period and of these, 68 per cent. (16,100) were refused leave to enter.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average waiting time at(a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick airports of people wishing to enter the UK as visitors who are not permitted to pass immediately through passport control but are subject to interview. [97444]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information requested is not available.

  The length of time involved in assessing a passenger's eligibility for entry varies considerably depending on the particular situation and on factors such as the availability of interpreters and sponsors, which are outside the control of the Immigration Officer.

  Every effort is made to deal with each case at the earliest opportunity.
  467
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to ensure that the Immigration and Nationality Directorate operates in a non-discriminatory way; and what monitoring is carried out of the Directorate's(a) operations and (b) statistics on immigration case decisions. [97530]

  Mrs. Roche
  Staff in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) are required by the Immigration Rules to perform their duties without regard to the race, colour or religion of persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. Staff dealing with applications are trained in racial and cultural awareness. All IND staff are in the process of receiving training in discrimination issues and equal opportunities. IND investigates all complaints by members of the public against IND staff, including complaints of racial and other unfair discrimination. The independent Complaints Audit Committee, appointed by my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, monitors the effectiveness of the procedures, and reports to him annually. Copies of these Reports are placed in the Library. The number of complaints of discrimination since 1995 are given in the table:

  Racial discrimination

  Other unfair discrimination

  Total

  Substantiated

  1995

  40

  1

  41

  1

  1996

  31

  6

  37

  1

  1997

  41

  8

  49

  0

  1998

  38

  11

  49

  0

  19991

  21

  4

  25

  4

  1 Provisional figures to end of September

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the numbers of staff employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate who deal with individual casework excluding administrative staff, indicating the proportions from(a) black and (b) ethnic minority communities. [97529]

  Mrs. Roche
  Since January 1999, the majority of casework has been undertaken by staff in the Integrated Casework Directorate (ICD). Most casework decisions in the ICD are taken by Administrative Officers (AOs) or Executive Officers (EOs) with staff in other grades providing either management, quality control, or administrative support for the caseworking function. The data requested are as follows:

  Grade

  Number of staff 1

  Black (%)

  Ethnic Origin 2 Asian (%)

  Other (%)

  AA

  386

  15.28

  33.05

  1.23

  AO

  516

  11.43

  23.31

  0.67

  EO

  460

  9.11

  16.35

  1.63

  HEO

  204

  2.76

  5.52

  0.60

  SEO

  37

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 7

  9

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 6

  —

  —

  —

  SCS

  —

  —

  —

  1 Figures exclude Support Grade Band staff

  2 The percentages shown relate to the number of staff in each grade whose ethnic origin is known

  Domestic Violence
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to 468
  police authorities in respect of the concession in immigration law on the one year rule in respect of domestic violence. [97372]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Secretary to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Standing Committee on the Disclosure of Convictions was notified at the same time as the concession was announced so that all Chief Police Officers could, in turn, be advised that the concession was operational. This is now being taken forward through ACPO procedures. ACPO's Standing Committee had previously agreed that immigration caseworkers could make written inquiries of the criminal records office of individual police headquarters about cautions for domestic violence. Referral forms and procedures were agreed with ACPO.

  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to Women's Aid and other agencies regarding the concession in immigration law on the one year rule in respect of domestic violence. [97373]

  Mrs. Roche
  No specific notification was sent to Women's Aid but Southall Black Sisters, who were involved in discussions about the proposed concession, were sent details when it was announced. Information about the concession can be found in the Immigration Directorate Instructions. These are available on the Home Office Internet website and a copy is also available in the Library.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women died as a result of domestic violence in each of the last three years for which figures were available; and if he will make a statement. [97450]

  Mr. Boateng
  Details of homicides held centrally do not enable those cases preceded by domestic violence to be separately identified.

  The table shows the number of currently (as at 31 July 1998) recorded homicides in England and Wales, 1995 to 1997, where the victim was the current or former spouse, cohabitant or lover of the principal suspect:

  Currently recorded homicides where the victim was the current or former spouse, cohabitant or lover of the principal suspect, England and Wales, 1995 to 1997

  Male victims

  Female victims

  1995

  38

  92

  1996

  26

  92

  1997

  34

  105

  A Home Office Research, Development and Statistics project has looked at domestic homicides in West Yorkshire between 1994 and 1997, based on data provided by the police. The aim of this study included an exploration of the links between domestic violence histories of offenders and domestic homicides. A draft report is currently in preparation; it is anticipated that a final report will be produced next year.

  Immigration Detainees
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently
  469
  detained under the Immigration Acts in (a) detention centres, (b) Prison Service establishments and (c) other accommodation. [97576]

  Mrs. Roche
  The latest available information, relating to the snapshot of all persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers, by location, on 30 September 1999, is given in the table.

  Persons recorded as being in detention 1 in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers as at 30 September 1999, by place of detention

  Location

  Total detainees

  Immigration detention centres 2

  Campsfield House

  174

  Dover Harbour

  27

  Harmondsworth

  90

  Harwich

  2

  Heathrow's Queens building

  15

  Longport

  5

  Manchester airport

  7

  Tinsley House

  142

  Other immigration centres

  1

  Prison establishments

  Aberdeen

  8

  Bedford

  3

  Belmarsh

  10

  Birmingham

  2

  Blakenhurst

  5

  Brixton

  3

  Canterbury

  15

  Dorchester

  2

  Durham

  2

  Elmley

  5

  Feltham

  5

  Gloucester

  2

  Haslar

  157

  High Down

  16

  Holloway

  16

  Holme House

  2

  Lancaster Farms

  2

  Leeds

  5

  Liverpool

  4

  Longriggend

  18

  Manchester

  7

  Norwich

  2

  Pentonville

  10

  Preston

  2

  Rochester

  191

  Swansea

  2

  Wandsworth

  5

  Winchester

  3

  Woodhill

  2

  Wormwood Scrubs

  7

  Other prison establishments

  9

  Total

  985

  1 Figures exclude persons detained in police cells (other than at Dover Harbour)

  2 Figures include the use of police cells at Dover Harbour

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the draft Freedom of Information Bill to ensure that non-departmental public bodies are required to disclose information explaining the bases of their decisions to allocate financial resources. [97365]
  470
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The draft Freedom of Information Bill provides that all public authorities, including non-departmental public bodies, are required to disclose information they hold, subject to the conditions and exemptions set out in the draft Bill. Even where information is exempted information, the changes to the draft Bill which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, South (Mr. Pearson),Official Report, 21 October 1999, column 624, will mean that a public authority will have to consider the public interest in disclosing information when considering whether to exercise the discretionary authority to disclose.

  Probation Service (Computers)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek compensation from the suppliers of software to the Probation Service. [97550]

  Mr. Boateng
  The suppliers of the case management software to the Probation Service are contractually obliged to deliver a Year 2000 compliant version of that software by the end of November. Although there was some delay, earlier this year, in progress against plan in the development of that software, the suppliers are now back on schedule to achieve this.

  British Board of Film Classification
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 May 1997 local authorities have(a) refused to allow the screening of films cleared by the British Board of Film Classification and (b) permitted the screening of films deemed unsuitable for screening by the British Board of Film Classification. [97593]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: Under the cinema licensing regime provided by the Cinemas Act 1985, local authorities have the power to determine whether particular films may be shown in cinemas in their area. I understand that local authorities generally require cinemas to abide by the classification certificate issued by the British Board of Film Classification and that decisions not to do so are rare. Records of their decisions are not held centrally.

  Prison Goods (Sales)
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the textile, clothing and footwear produced within HM Prisons is sold at normal commercial prices for goods of comparable quality; and what measures are in place to ensure that this is done. [97959]

  Mr. Boateng
  Clothing, textiles and footwear are sold at normal commercial prices. Products are costed using an industry-recognised costing software package. Allowance is made for the lower productivity levels achieved in prison workshops. These prices are compared with commercially available statistics to check that they are in line with normal wholesale prices.

  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the annual sales turnover of textile, clothing and footwear products produced within HM Prisons broken down between those consumed
  471
  by (a) the Prison Service, (b) other Government Departments, (c) local authorities and (d) the private sector in each of the last five years. [97958]

  Mr. Boateng
  The breakdown of sales for textiles and footwear products from prison workshops for the year 1989–99 is given in the table. Figures are not available for previous years due to a change in reporting procedures.

  Sales of textiles and footwear from prison workshops 1998–99

  £

  Textiles

  Prison Service

  12,647,801

  Other Government Departments/Agencies

  650,143

  Local Authorities

  2,700

  Private Sector

  129,800

  Total

  13,430,444

  Footwear

  Prison Service

  2,025,977

  Private Sector

  52,610

  Total

  2,078,587

  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of HM Prisons are engaged in the production of textiles, clothing and footwear; and what was the annual turnover of such products in each establishment in the latest year for which information is available. [97957]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are 64 prison establishments involved in textiles and four in footwear. Turnover for textiles and footwear products for 1998–99 are given in the table.

  1998–99

  Establishment

  Sales value (£)

  Textiles

  Acklington

  385,385

  Albany

  162,067

  Ashwell

  49,442

  Birmingham

  626,282

  Blundeston

  117,878

  Bristol

  253,607

  Bullingdon

  18,643

  Bullwood Hall

  2,574

  Camp Hill

  86,156

  Cardiff

  100,090

  Castington

  72,878

  Channings Wood

  79,561

  Cookham Wood

  53,730

  Dartmoor

  202,293

  Dorchester

  2,762

  Drake Hall

  12,761

  Durham

  335,269

  Exeter

  75

  Featherstone

  1,779,980

  Ford

  67,414

  Foston Hall

  52,765

  Full Sutton

  1,032,129

  Garth

  235,405

  Gartree

  263,755

  Guys Marsh

  45,155

  Haverigg

  612,263

  Hewell Grange

  2,160

  High Down

  13,036

  Highpoint

  174,933

  Hindley

  7,035

  Hull

  119,316

  472

  1998–99

  Establishment

  Sales value (£)

  Lancaster

  295,611

  Leeds

  418,274

  Lincoln

  668,419

  Lindholme

  98,606

  Littlehey

  2,955

  Liverpool

  128,034

  Low Newton

  41,324

  Maidstone

  105,594

  Moorland

  60,193

  New Hall

  103,731

  Norwich

  10,859

  Nottingham

  99,072

  Parkhurst

  41,362

  Pentonville

  153,080

  Preston

  356,326

  Risley

  999

  Shepton Mallet

  59,898

  Shrewsbury

  380,343

  Stafford

  102,009

  Standford Hill

  75,005

  Stocken

  287,861

  Stoke Heath

  76,454

  Styal

  79,560

  Swansea

  18,707

  Wakefield

  836,243

  Wandsworth

  1,017,756

  Wayland

  132,481

  Wealstun

  372,665

  Whatton

  77,210

  Whitemoor

  2,251

  Winchester

  149,342

  Wormwood Scrubs

  22,403

  Wymott

  189,018

  Total

  13,430,444

  Footwear

  Ashwell

  770,131

  Gartree

  370,148

  Liverpool

  32,028

  Sudbury

  906,280

  Total

  2,078,587

  Animal Sanctuaries
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to require operators of animal sanctuaries to be licensed. [97505]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is not Government policy at this time to seek to license the operators of animal sanctuaries, and there are no plans to change that. Animals in sanctuaries have the same protection against cruelty—afforded principally by the Protection of Animals Act 1911—as those in other privately run establishments. It is not considered that there is sufficient evidence of problems with sanctuaries across the country to warrant additional introduction of a statutory licensing regime.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to transfer the operation of anti-social behaviour orders to the County Court. [96380]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I have no such plans.

  Conveyancing (Electoral Register)
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on the speed of the home buying process of his proposal to restrict the commercial use of the electoral register. [97989]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, is currently considering the recommendation, by the Working Party on Electoral Procedures, that electors should have the option of deciding whether the details that they provide for electoral purposes should be made commercially available. He will take into account representations from organisations that offer credit for house purchase when doing so.

  Jury Trials (Fraud)
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to amend the right to trial by jury in fraud cases. [96386]

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter the right to trial by jury in fraud cases. [96389]

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to amend the right to trial by jury in fraud cases. [96382]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government are considering the responses to the consultation document "Juries in Serious Fraud Trials" which was issued last year. They are aiming to announce their conclusions shortly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Departmental Estate
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will(a) list the assets sold by his

  Member State

  Legislation

  Date of coming into force

  Austria

  Telecommunications Act 1997 (reference BGBI. Nr. 100/1997).

  1 August 1997

  Belgium

  Telecommunications Act 1991 of 21 March 1991 as amended on 31 December 1997, and by Royal Decrees of 22 June 1998 (voice telephony), 8 July 1999 (calling line identification) and 14 September 1999 (telephone directories).

  11 January 1998

  Denmark

  Executive Order 581 of 6 July 1999.

  21 September 1999

  Executive Order 580 of 24 July 1999.

  1 August 1999

  Finland

  Regulation 565/1999 of 22 April 1999.

  1 July 1999

  France

  The Telecommunications Act of 26 July 1996 (Loi 96/659), Loi 90/1170 and the Decree on Standard Clauses of 29 December 1990 (Loi 96/1175).

  Dates not known

  Germany

  Telecommunications Act of 25 July 1996.

  1 January 1998

  Telecommunications Carriers Data Protection Ordinance of 12 July 1996.

  19 July 1996

  Greece

  Draft Bill issued.

  Expected January 2000

  Ireland

  Draft regulations issued 17 September 1999.

  Expected end March 2000

  Italy

  Decree number 171 of 13 May 1998.

  18 June 1998

  Luxembourg

  No information is available.

  —

  Netherlands

  Telecommunications Act of 5 November 1998 (Stb.610).

  15 December 1998

  Portugal

  Law 69/98 of 28 October 1998.

  24 October 1998

  Spain

  General Telecommunication Law (November 1998) of 24 April 1998

  26 April 1998

  Royal Decree 1736/1998 of 31 July 1998.

  6 September 1998

  Sweden

  Amendment to the Telecommunications Act (1999.578) and regulations (1999.572).

  1 July 1999

  United Kingdom

  The Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) (Direct Marketing) Regulations 1998 (S.I.3170/1998).

  1 May 1999

  The Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 2093/1999).

  31 March 2000

  1 Dates for Royal Decrees not known

  2 1 December 1999 for some provisions

  3 16 August 1999 for some provisions

  474
  Department and their value, item by item, in each year from 1991–92 to 1998–99 and (b) estimate the asset sales planned for 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [95808]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The information requested by the hon. Member is not available in the form requested.

  Labelling (Dangerous Substances)
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if regulations required by Commission Directive 97/64/EC (O.J. No. L315, 19.11.1997, p.13) regarding labelling of dangerous substances have been published in all EU countries; and if he will list those regulations together with their proposed implementation dates. [96454]

  Dr. Howells
  The Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Safety)(Consolidation)(Amendment) Regulations 1999, which implement Directive 97/64/EC—The Lamp Oils Directive, were laid before Parliament on 22 July 1999 and came into force on 13 August 1999.

  It is for the European Commission to monitor the transposition of EU Directives across the Community and take appropriate action as necessary. The Commission publishes information on which Directives have been transposed on its CELEX database. This can be accessed on the Parliamentary intranet at the Library of the House.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if regulations required under EU Directive 97/66/EC concerning the processing of personal data in the telecommunications sector have been published in all EU member states; and if he will list those regulations together with their proposed implementation dates. [96455]

  Ms Hewitt
  As far as the Government are aware, the latest position regarding the implementation of Directive 97/66/EC, in full or in part by EU member states, is as follows:

  Postal Services
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if regulations required under EU Directive 97/67/EC regarding postal services have been published in all EU member states; and if he will list those regulations together with their proposed implementation dates. [96451]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Postal Services Regulations 1999 (1999 No. 2107) laid before Parliament on 27 July 1999 implement the EU Postal Services Directive (97/67/EC) in the United Kingdom to the extent that it was not already covered by existing legislation and procedures. It came into force on 1 September.

  It is for the European Commission to monitor the transposition of EU Directives across the Community and take appropriate action as necessary. The Commission publishes information on which Directives have been transposed on its CELEX database. This can be accessed on the Parliamentary intranet at the Library of the House.

  Consumer Contracts
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if regulations required by EU Council Directive 93/13/EEC on unfair terms in consumer contracts (O.J. No. L95, 21.4.93, p.29) have been published in each EU country; and if he will list those regulations together with their proposed implementation dates. [96452]

  Dr. Howells
  The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999 No. 2083) currently give effect to the Directive in the UK. These Regulations repealed and replaced 1994 Regulations (S.I. 1994 No. 3159) of the same name which came into force on 1 July 1994.

  It is for the European Commission to monitor the transposition of EU Directives across the Community and take appropriate action as necessary. The Commission publishes information on which Directives have been transposed on its CELEX database. This can be accessed on the Parliamentary intranet at the Library of the House.

  Objective 2 Areas
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the European Commission's views on the proposed Objective 2 areas identified by the Government. [97546]

  Mr. Caborn
  We are currently in discussion with the Commission about the areas proposed for Objective 2 status for 2000 to 2006. We hope our proposed areas will be agreed by the end of the year.

  APEC
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has made to the European Commission about the accelerated tariff liberalisation proposed by APEC; and if he will make a statement; [97151]

  (2) what analysis he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of APEC's proposals in respect of accelerated tariff liberalisation of (a) chemicals, (b) energy
  476
  products, (c) environmental products, (d) fish, (e) forest products, (f) gems and jewellery, (g) medical and scientific equipment and (h) toys. [97150]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 4 November 1999]: APEC's proposals have been considered in detail at both national and Community level. We and all other member states have concluded that the APEC approach is selective and excludes sectors of importance to the EU. Our preference is to optimise market access within the framework of a comprehensive negotiation rather than accelerated sectoral liberalisation but we see no reason why sectoral agreements reached in the course of a comprehensive negotiation could not be implemented on a provisional basis prior to the formal conclusion of the New Round.

  Climate Change Levy
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises in manufacturing of the introduction of the climate change levy; and if he will make a statement. [97640]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government believe that small and medium-sized enterprises also have a contribution to make towards reducing greenhouse emissions. Their initial proposals for the climate change levy reflect Lord Marshall's conclusion that a tax could help improve energy efficiency in small and medium-sized enterprises. The Government are seeking to design and implement the levy in a way that maximises the environmental benefits, while at the same time safeguarding the competitiveness of business of all sizes.

  The Government have previously announced that £50 million per annum of the anticipated revenues from the levy will be used to provide energy efficiency advice for business, including small and medium-sized enterprises; as well as for increased support for renewable sources of energy and a "carbon trust" to develop low carbon technologies. This represents a step change from previous levels of funding. The Government are preparing proposals on the details of these arrangements and expect to make further announcements in due course.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the effect the climate change levy will have on UK industrial competitiveness relative to that of(a) Belgium, (b) Norway and (c) Sweden; and if he will make a statement. [97860]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government aim to design the climate change levy in a way which safeguards the international competitiveness of UK business.

  The United Kingdom is not alone in having to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nor in using economic instruments to do so. We expect that, on current projections, most OECD countries will have to introduce new measures of one kind or another in order to meet their Kyoto obligations. Governments are considering the policies and measures which they will need to deliver these commitments. This will take account of their various national circumstances, including existing fiscal regimes.

  Compensation (Miners)
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for compensation from miners and miners' widows have been received to date for(a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema in (i) South Yorkshire, (ii) Yorkshire and (iii) the UK. [97283]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 5 November 1999]: As at 1 November 1999, the Government have received 87,336 claims from ex-miners and their families for respiratory diseases, of these 17,741 are from claimants in the Yorkshire area and 11,986 of these are from South Yorkshire. On VWF, the Government have received 50,755 claims from ex-miners and their families for vibration white finger, of these 12,783 are from claimants in the Yorkshire area and 10,299 of these are from South Yorkshire.

  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the compensation that will be paid out over the next three years to miners and miners' widows for(a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema in (i) South Yorkshire, (ii) Yorkshire and (iii) the UK. [97282]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 5 November 1999]: The gross level of provision for the British Coal health liabilities assumed by the Department is:

  Year

  £ million

  1999–2000

  228.2

  2000–01

  490.3

  2001–02

  507.5

  Due to a number of uncertainties—not least the number of claims likely to be received and the actual levels of compensation payable in individual cases—it is not possible to say how much will be required to meet the specific cost of miners' health claims for vibration white finger, and chronic bronchitis and emphysema, or to provide regional breakdowns.

  The Government have, however, made clear that they will provide the funds necessary to meet the cost of legitimate claims.

  Power Generation
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he introduced his stricter consents policy on energy sources for power generation; and when he will relax it. [97659]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: The White Paper of October 1998 "Conclusions of The Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government responses to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee" (Cm 4071) set out the Government's programme of reform in the electricity market and introduced a stricter policy on consents for gas-fired power stations to protect diversity and security of supply while the programme of reform was underway. As set out in the White Paper, the policy will be relaxed as soon as the Government conclude, on the basis of advice from the Director General of Electricity Supply on progress in addressing the competition issues, that the reform programme has been undertaken and the
  478
  distortions in the electricity market removed. While this would not necessarily mean completing every aspect of the programme, the Government expect the reforms to be substantially complete across the picture before the consents policy is relaxed.

  Arms Sales
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms are in place to control and monitor advertisements on his Department's export website; and if he will make a statement on the advertisement placed on his Department's website by Nisam International of Esher listing stun guns among the equipment the firm was prepared to sell. [97482]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 5 November 1999, Official Report, columns 335–36.

  The information included in the TradeUK entry for Nisam International Ltd. was provided by them on their application form. The reference to stun guns was removed by the TradeUK contractor on Friday 29 October 1999.

  Gas Turbine Power Stations
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on proposals by Burlington Resources (Irish Sea) Limited to build a combined-cycle gas turbine power station at Rhosgoch, Anglesey and by Kent Power Limited for the construction of a combined-cycle gas turbine power station on the Isle of Grain, Kent. [98158]

  Mrs. Liddell
  A direction has been given to Burlington Resources (Irish Sea) Limited under section 14(3) of the Energy Act 1976 in response to their notice under section 14(1) of that Act to prevent the building of a 560 MW combined cycle gas turbine power station to be fuelled by natural gas at Rhosgoch, Anglesey. Although the scheme would make significant heat supplies available, these would not be sufficient to demonstrate the efficiency levels for combined heat and power set out in the October 1998 White Paper. As well as the benefits which would result from the heat utilisation, the project offers other distinct environmental benefits. However, taken together, I do not consider that these are sufficient in this instance to outweigh the Government's concern over new gas-fired generation.

  Consent, under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, has not been granted to Kent Power Limited (Enron Europe Ltd.) for the construction and operation of a 1,200 MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station on the Isle of Grain, Kent. The company's application will be put on hold unless a case is put forward for a decision to be taken now.

  I have taken these decisions in accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper entitled "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee" (Cm 4071). I would be prepared to review these decisions, if requested, when the stricter consents policy announced in the White Paper is lifted.
  479
  Copies of the relevant Press Notice and letters are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Coal Industry
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many persons are employed in the opencast coal industry in(a) Scotland and (b) England; what is the annual output of the industry in each country; and what percentage of the output of each is used by power stations. [R][97677]

  Mrs. Liddell
  At the end of March 1999, employment in the opencast coal industry (including contractors), as declared to the Coal Authority, was 1,301 in Scotland and 1,882 in England. Opencast output in the year to 31 March 1999 was 6.4 million tonnes in Scotland and 7.0 million tonnes in England.

  Information on the percentage of opencast output used in power stations is not readily available, but in 1998, 82 per cent. of all the coal produced in the United Kingdom by the five largest producers (one third of which was from opencast mining) was sold to power stations.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the total amount of coal imported to the UK in each of the past five years broken down by the nations from which the coal was imported. [R][97680]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Volumes of coal imported into the United Kingdom

  Thousand tonnes

  Country of origin

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Australia

  3,993

  3,641

  3,748

  4,362

  4,610

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  5

  13

  19

  45

  31

  Canada

  830

  1,364

  1,410

  1,632

  1,552

  Colombia

  2,963

  2,686

  2,824

  2,810

  3,820

  France

  15

  —

  23

  9

  —

  Germany

  191

  132

  151

  86

  25

  Indonesia

  153

  64

  27

  84

  24

  Irish Republic

  32

  25

  40

  64

  32

  Italy

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Netherlands1

  225

  104

  253

  183

  157

  Norway

  —

  2

  6

  102

  120

  People's Republic of China

  77

  77

  30

  78

  132

  Poland

  1,961

  1,274

  850

  700

  950

  Republic of South Africa

  706

  1,314

  1,559

  2,472

  2,463

  Russia

  353

  160

  75

  36

  20

  Spain

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sweden

  —

  10

  33

  —

  —

  United States of America

  3,167

  4,859

  6,657

  6,950

  6,746

  Venezuela

  15

  101

  —

  97

  399

  Vietnam

  217

  —

  26

  15

  80

  Other countries

  133

  70

  68

  131

  67

  Total all countries

  15,041

  15,895

  17,799

  19,856

  21,233

  1 Includes some coal from outside the European Union routed through the Netherlands.

  Source:

  HM Customs and Excise as published in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1999

  Post Office
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he was consulted by the Post Office before its decision to appeal against the minimum wage ruling of the Employment Tribunal in the case of Sub-postmistress Elizabeth Bain of Tone, Inverness. [97863]
  480
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  No. This is an operational matter, which is the responsibility of the Post Office Board and management.

HEALTH

  Life Support
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce legislation requiring that the withdrawal of food and fluid from persistent vegetative state patients be subject to a court order but otherwise following the Guideline of the British Medical Association on the withdrawal of treatment. [97097]

  Ms Stuart
  The courts have ruled that the withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration from a patient who is diagnosed in a persistent vegetative state should first be referred to a court for a decision. We have no plans to change the law in this respect.

  We have no plans to introduce legislation requiring the guidelines of the British Medical Association on the Withholding and Withdrawal of Life-prolonging Medical Treatment to be followed.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there are any proposals to amend his Department's Departmental Expenditure Limit/running cost limit for 1999–2000. [98079]

  Mr. Milburn
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates for Class II, Votes 1 and 2, the Department of Health Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £109,984,000 from £40,345,035,000 to £40,455,019,000. The increase is the net effect of changes to Class II, Vote 1 (Hospital, community health, family health and related services, England) of £207,861,000 made up of £114,058,000 in respect of the take up of end year flexibility as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 27 July 1999,Official Report, column 393, and £100,000,000 for the take up of departmental unallocated provision. In addition the following transfers will take place: £1,177,000 from Scotland (£47,000 for the High Security Infectious Diseases Unit and £1,130,000 for out of area treatments); £877,000 from Wales for out of area treatments and £7,464,000 from Class II, Vote 2 (Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England) (£662,000 for the Public Health Development Fund and £802,000 for regional professional development projects). The overall increase is partially offset by transfers of £8,364,000 to Wales, (£6,720,000 for high security psychiatric services and £1,644,000 for cross border adjustments for primary care groups); £4,800,000 to Class I, Vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services) for the King's College Hospital/United Medical and Dental School merger and £2,551,000 to Class II, Vote 2 (£2,500,000 for publicity on Meningitis C vaccine and £51,000 for cancer prevention).

  The increase of £770,000 for Class II, Vote 2 (Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England) is the net

  481
  effect of transfers to Vote 1 of £4,913,000 (detailed above), £6,293,000 take-up of end year flexibility (mentioned above) for claims in respect of 1998–99 asylum seekers grant; £315,000 (£10,000 running costs) from Class IV, Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) mainly for research; £500,000 (running costs) from Class IV, Vote 2 (Prisons, England and Wales) for prison health care services. The overall increase is partially offset by a transfer of £1,425,000 to Class I, Vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services) for a contribution towards the healthy schools initiative.

  The amount required for non-voted supplementary credit approvals for personal social services (DoH/LACAP) in England is to be increased by £1,353,000 from £18,700,000 to £20,053,000 in respect of take up of end year flexibility entitlement as mentioned above.

  The Department's gross running cost limit will be increased by £510,000 from £279,940,000 to £280,450,000 as detailed above.

  All increases will either be offset by transfers to or from other Departmental Expenditure Limits (detailed above) or take-up of end year flexibility and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Waiting Lists (Worcester)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were(a) the number of people waiting for 12 months or more for hospital treatment and (b) the total number of people waiting for hospital treatment, in May in each year from 1992 to 1999 in the Worcester Royal Infirmary Trust area. [96414]

  Mr. Denham
  The figures are for the Worcester Royal Infirmary National Health Service Trust for the end of March every year. Monthly collection of data only started in April 1998 so a time series for May was not possible. Trusts, as they are coded today, have only supplied data from June 1994. Prior to 1994–95 waiting list data were compiled from district health authorities returns. Therefore, there is no comparable data available for 1992 to 1994.

  Worcester Royal Infirmary Trust

  Total

  Over 12 months

  March 1995

  3,092

  0

  March 1996

  3,230

  0

  March 1997

  4,111

  29

  March 1998

  5,047

  191

  March 1999

  4,302

  282

  Clinical Suspicion
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for New Forest, West will receive a substantive response to his question of 19 October on discussions with the professions regarding levels of clinical suspicion. [97827]

  Yvette Cooper
  I replied to the hon. Member on 8 November.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 738, on how many occasions Her Majesty's Government have denied an arms export licence, notified EU partners and objected to another member state's stance on the appropriateness of export; what value of exports was involved; and what (a) values and (b) type of exports have been approved for export by another EU state despite United Kingdom notification. [97247]

  Mr. Hain
  The UK has issued 54 denial notifications under the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports between the adoption of the Code on 8 June 1998 and 31 October 1999.

  Operative Provision 4 of the EU Code of Conduct states that "EU member states will keep such denials and consultations confidential and not use them for commercial advantage".

  Mont Tremblant Conference
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) British and (b) European Communities delegations to the conference on federalism at Mont Tremblant, Quebec, in October; which members of either gave speeches; and if he will deposit texts of the speeches in the Library. [97523]

  Mr. Battle
  There were no formal delegations from the UK or the EC to the conference on federalism held recently at Mont Tremblant in Canada, at which participation was in a personal, rather than governmental capacity. A few, invited British officials attended but they did not make speeches. A British journalist and the Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament did speak, but these were statements of their own views. Information and documentation on the conference may be obtained from the organisers' website (address: www.ciff.on.ca).

  Treaty Modifications
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will deposit in the Library a list of those areas which the Government have indicated a willingness to discuss as focus points for Treaty modification. [97531]

  Mr. Vaz
  The conclusions of the Cologne European Council set out the topics which are likely to be on the agenda for the IGC. A copy of the Cologne conclusions is in the Library.

  Russian Federation
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which(a) regions and (b) cities there are European Commission representative offices in the Russian Federation outside of Moscow. [97405]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: The European Commission does not have any representative offices outside Moscow in the Russian Federation.
  483
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which(a) regions and (b) cities there are diplomatic representations of European Union member states in the Russian Federation outside of Moscow, indicating which of these posts issue visas to Russian nationals to travel to (i) EU countries in the Schengen zone and (ii) EU countries outside the Schengen zone. [97400]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: The following European Union member states have representations in the Russian Federation outside Moscow:

  Austria—St. Petersburg (Honorary Consulate—no visa service)

  Denmark—Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg

  Finland—Karelyia, Murmansk, St. Petersburg

  France—St. Petersburg

  Germany—Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, Saratov

  Greece—Novorosisk, St. Petersburg

  Italy—St. Petersburg

  Netherlands—St. Petersburg

  United Kingdom—Ekaterinburg, St. Petersburg.

  Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Sweden are represented only in Moscow.

  Those EU member states who are party to the Schengen agreement (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) issue Schengen visas as well as visas solely for travel to their own country. None of the EU member states issue visas to Russians for travel to EU countries outside the Schengen zone.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives Her Majesty's Government are taking to assist the restoration of municipal Government in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [97403]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: The United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has responsibility for restoring municipal government in Kosovo. The United Kingdom is making a major contribution to UNMIK in terms of finance and personnel. One of the five UNMIK District Administrators in Kosovo is a British national. Four UK local government and two central government experts are working as part of the United Nations civil administration to advise and assist re-establishment of local government in Kosovo. One of the UK secondees, formerly involved in local government in Northern Ireland, has been appointed UN civil administrator for the city of Pristina.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UK will continue to impose an arms embargo on Afghanistan in line with the EU's Common Position of 17 December 1996. [98111]
  484
  Mr. Hain
  We remain committed to the EU arms embargo against Afghanistan which the UK interprets as covering all goods and technology entered on Part III to Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended.

  Following consultations with this Department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry has issued three licences for the export of mine clearance equipment for use by the United Nations and The Halo Trust to aid their demining activities in Afghanistan. The grant of these licences is for humanitarian purposes.

  British Nationals (Overseas Trials)
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in respect of British nationals on trial overseas. [98112]

  Mr. Battle
  I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the oral answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, North-East (Mr. White) on 2 November 1999,Official Report, column 80. The FCO takes no view as to the innocence or guilt of British nationals on trial overseas—that is a matter for the courts. International law does not allow the FCO to interfere in the judicial procedures of other sovereign states, just as we would not tolerate other countries interfering in our own judicial procedures.

  The FCO therefore cannot intervene in the trials of British nationals overseas. However, the FCO will do everything it can to ensure that such nationals have access to legal representation, and insist that they are treated as well as nationals of the countries concerned.

  Chinese President (State Visit)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) of 28 October 1999,Official Report, column 993, on the Chinese State visit, (a) for what reason no minutes were taken of these meetings and whether that is normal practice and (b) if he will name the officers from (i) the Metropolitan Police and (ii) the Cambridgeshire Constabulary who attended these meetings. [97508]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) on 4 November 1999,Official Report columns 271–72.

  Drugs (Precursors)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (i) he and (ii) his Department has had with the Governments of Peru and Colombia about the export of precursors to drugs; and if he will make a statement. [96497]

  Mr. Battle
  We share the increasing international concern about precursors. We have frequent exchanges with Peru and Colombia at Ministerial and official level on drugs issues. These cover all aspects of the problems which drugs present to our societies, including the problem of the diversion into drugs production of legitimately exported chemicals.
  485
  In 1995, the European Community signed agreements with Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela aimed at preventing the diversion of precursor chemicals.

  UK law enforcement agencies work closely with their counterparts in other countries to counter such diversion.

  Extradition
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to enter into bilateral agreements under Article 98 of the International Court Statute which would prevent the extradition of nationals to(a) the court and (b) a third country. [97828]

  Mr. Hain
  We have no plans to enter into new bilateral agreements which would prevent the surrender of British nationals to the International Criminal Court under Article 98 of the Court's Statute. Article 98 relates to surrender of persons to the International Criminal Court; it does not relate to extradition to a third country.

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 November 1999, c. 186]: An administrative error led to an omission in my answer of 3 November to my hon. Friend. The complete answer should read as follows.

  The statistics 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

  Q4

  6

  5

  5

  Calcutta

  1—

  0.4

  1

  0

  Madras

  1—

  8

  4

  3

  New Delhi

  Q1

  0

  0

  0

  Q2

  15

  15

  16

  Q3

  27

  26

  23

  Q4

  31

  35

  34

  Pakistan

  Islamabad

  Q1

  12

  8

  7

  Q2

  43

  40.5

  39

  Q3

  47

  46

  43

  Q4

  56

  54

  51

  Karachi

  1—

  8

  10

  9

  Bangladesh

  Dhaka

  Q1

  11

  13

  14

  Q2

  22

  20

  21

  Q3

  11

  10

  10

  Q4

  52

  44

  46

  Sri Lanka

  Colombo

  1—

  12

  11

  9

  1 Calcutta, Colombo, Karachi and Madras do not operate separate queues.

  Note:

  Queue 1—Right of Abode cases and Dependant Relatives over 65;

  Queue 2—Spouses and Children under 18;

  Queue 3—Fiance(e)s and Other First Time Applicants; and

  Queue 4—Re-applicants

  486
  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.

  Central and Eastern Europe
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what programmes and resources British Trade International and his Department have to support companies which wish to make investments in Central and Eastern Europe; [97865]

  (2) what programmes and resources British Trade International and his Department have to assist companies looking into the feasibility of making investments in Central and Eastern Europe. [97864]

  Mr. Battle
  Companies wishing to invest in Central and Eastern Europe, like those exporting to those markets, are supported by a variety of British Trade International schemes. These include support for inward and outward trade missions, trade fairs and promotional seminars, and the Export Marketing Research Scheme which is being extended to cover better the needs of outward investors.

  This year British Trade International's budget for promoting trade and investment opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe is £3.5 million.

PRIME MINISTER

  Qualified Majority Voting
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if it is the Government's policy to support, at the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference, extension of qualified majority voting to include treaty modification; and if he will make a statement; [96570]

  (2) if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the extension of qualified majority voting, set out in the Von Weizsäcker/Dehaene/Simon report. [96577]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have already made it clear that they will consider the extension of qualified majority voting on a case by case basis. Where it is in Britain's interests we shall support it. But where key national interests need to be protected, such as border controls, defence, Treaty change and taxation, we shall insist on retaining unanimity.

  European Charter of Rights
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 1 November 1999,Official Report, column 3, on the European Charter of Rights, (a) when he expects to publish the name and qualifications of the personal representative he is nominating to the drafting body of the working group and (b) what items he expects to be included in such a charter additional to those in the existing European Convention and those capable of introduction under existing treaty powers. [97954]

  The Prime Minister
  The Finnish Presidency has now confirmed that the first meeting of the drafting body will take place on 17 December. I will therefore announce the details of my representative shortly.
  487
  I believe that the Charter should make it easier for EU citizens to know the civil and political rights they already enjoy under the Treaties, including those covered by Article 6.2 of the Treaty on European Union. The Cologne Conclusions, copies of which were placed in the Libraries, provide further indications of the ground that might be covered.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Flight Crew Licensing
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking at European Communities Level to enforce compliance with the age limits in the joint aviation requirement on flight crew licensing. [97144]

  Mr. Mullin
  Under Council Regulation 3922-91 on the harmonisation of aviation technical standards the national aviation authorities of member states are required to be members of the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). The Regulation also adopted some of the JAA's Joint Aviation Requirements (JARs) as the European Community's harmonised standard and established a procedure to adopt future JARs as the EC standard. Where a JAR has not yet been adopted under EC law, JAA member states implement them under national law and are obliged, under the JAA Arrangements, to use their best efforts to implement JARs by the due date. The JAR on Flight Crew Licensing (JAR-FCL) was adopted by the JAA in 1996 with an implementation date of 1 July 1999.

  JARs generally set standards that are compatible with those set by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) under the terms of the Chicago Convention, but can introduce differences, so long as member states notify the differences to ICAO. In drawing up the JAR-FCL, the JAA determined that commercial pilots can safely be licensed to the age of sixty five, provided that only one pilot in a multi pilot aircraft may be over 60: this differs from the ICAO standard under which a person can only act as a pilot in command if they are under 60. The UK and most other JAA member states are, or are in the process of, applying this age limit. However, the French Authorities are continuing to apply the ICAO age limits within French airspace, although co-pilots up to the age of 65 are permitted. The UK has raised this matter both within the JAA and directly with the French authorities.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions since May 1997, on what dates, and for what duration he met representatives of the air traffic controllers to discuss the Government's proposals for the National Air Traffic Services. [97248]

  Mr. Mullin
  Since May 1997, Ministers in this Department have met representatives of air traffic controllers on eight separate occasions.

  Household Waste
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are 488
  the targets, and corresponding dates, for the increase in the recycling of household waste; and if he will make a statement. [97140]

  Mr. Mullin
  In the draft waste strategy "A Way with Waste", published on 30 June 1999 by my Department and the Welsh Office, we have set a goal of recycling or composting 30 per cent. of household waste by 2010. We will aim to meet the existing target of recycling or composting 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005.

  By 2015 we expect to recover value from two thirds of our household waste, with at least half of this through recycling or composting.

  Devolution of responsibility for waste policy means that final decisions about the way the strategy is taken forward in Wales will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Loft Insulation
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of houses in England and Wales have(a) three, (b) four, (c) five and (d) six inches of loft insulation. [97226]

  Mr. Mullin
  It is estimated that around 15 per cent., 24 per cent., 10 per cent. and 17 per cent. of homes with accessible lofts in England and Wales have respectively three, four, five and six inches or more of loft insulation. A further 11 per cent. have two inches or less and in 13 per cent. of cases the depth of the insulation is not known. Over 6 per cent. have no loft insulation and there are no data for the remaining 3 per cent. of homes.

  Source:

  GfK Home Audit, Ownership of home insulation at December 1998.

  In-flight Incidents
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which body is responsible for monitoring complaints by air passengers regarding perceived dangerous in-flight incidents. [97265]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the safety regulation of UK registered aircraft and airlines. Under the Air Navigation Order UK airlines are required to report all in-flight occurrences which could affect the safety of the aircraft so that the CAA can monitor airline safety performance. The CAA review all such reports and publish a monthly summary. If a passenger has a concern about an in-flight incident on a UK airline they should take it up with the airline concerned in the first instance. If they are not happy with the response they should write to the CAA.

  The safety regulation of foreign airlines is primarily the responsibility of the State in which the airline is based. Foreign airlines operating to the UK are required to comply with the minimum standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. When the Department receives a complaint from a passenger which indicates that a foreign airline operating to the UK is not complying with ICAO standards we will follow the matter up with the airline concerned, or its regulatory authority.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what relationship he proposes between Regional Development Agencies and local authority development agencies. [97837]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Working in partnership is a central part of the new approach in the regions. We asked the Regional Development Agencies to draw up their regional strategies in conjunction with regional partners, including local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors.

  Implementing the strategies will also require genuine partnership working, since it requires co-ordination and coherence in policies and across programmes.

  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what part regional development agencies will play in the development and implementation of local transport policies. [97835]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Regional Planning Guidance incorporates regional transport strategies which in turn inform local transport plans. RDAs are key partners in the preparation of RPG and draw attention to the transport priorities as they see them related to their regional economic strategies.

  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what relationship he proposes between regional development agencies and local authorities. [97836]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Our regional agenda, set out in the 1997 White Paper "Building Partnerships for Prosperity" is based on a number of principles. These include the need for regional structures to be based on partnership, with each local or regional interest being able to contribute effectively towards an integrated and coherent strategic programme which commands general support. We have, therefore, asked the RDAs to proceed in dialogue with regional partners—local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors—and work to secure the support of regional interests.

  Successful implementation of RDA strategies will mean genuine partnership working in the regions since it will involve co-ordination and coherence in policy and across programmes.

  Local authorities have a significant stake in the work of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). Four of the thirteen board members of each RDA are drawn from local government.

  The Regional Chambers will also be a key partner of the RDAs. The Chambers are local authority led, but also include representatives from business, the voluntary sector and others. Their statutory functions include commenting on the RDAs' strategies and receiving reports on the RDAs' activities.

  House Conveyancing
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes in the law will be required to implement the Government's policy for speeding up the process of buying and selling homes in England and Wales. [96379]
  490
  Mr. Mullin
  We believe that most of the actions we are seeking from service providers can be achieved on a voluntary basis, except that home buyers' searches will probably need to be put on a statutory footing. However, sellers' information packs will need to be made compulsory to ensure that everyone benefits from them. The surveyor will be liable both to the seller and the buyer for the House Condition Report which will be part of the seller's information pack. These changes will require legislation and we plan to do this as soon as a suitable opportunity arises.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  South Africa
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many advisers the South African Sandmen's Institute employ, who are funded by her Department, to work with the San bushmen of South Africa. [97264]

  Clare Short
  My Department is contributing to the running costs of the South African San Institute (SAS) office in Cape Town, and with the establishment of an office in the Northern Cape to support the San communities located in Schmitsdrift near Kimberley, and throughout the Mier area, near the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. This will include up to ten full-time staff whose costs are met by the Department for International Development (DFID). Funds are also available for the provision of short term expertise to support the components of the programme of activities in support of the San communities.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid programmes her Department is supporting in the current financial year in Pakistan; at what cost; and what was the comparable figure for 1998–99. [97582]

  Clare Short
  On October 15 after the military coup in Pakistan, I announced a freeze on all British assistance to the Government of Pakistan and a continuation of all our programmes that directly help the poor. At this stage it is impossible to predict what our 1999–2000 spend will be. Provisional DFID programme expenditure for the 1998–99 financial year is £24.24 million.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  National Lottery
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates he has made of expenditure on Lottery ticket sales as(a) a percentage of household income and (b) a share of total ticket sales for each income decile. [97054]

  Kate Hoey
  My Department has made no such estimates. However, there is an analysis of National Lottery ticket sales by income category in the National Lottery Commission's Social Research Programme Report,
  491
  Number 1, published in May 1999. I have arranged for copies of this Report to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  St. James's Park and Green Park
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will make a statement on the depredations by foxes on wildlife in St. James's Park and Green Park; [97220]

  (2) how many of the Laysan Teal introduced to St. James's Park have (a) survived and (b) died; [97219]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the cause of death of the Laysan Teal in St. James's Park. [97218]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from David Welch to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 19 November 1999:
  I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about foxes and the numbers and fate of Laysan Teal in St. James's Park.
  No foxes actually live in St. James's Park or Green Park although they do regularly come into the parks. The nearest live in the grounds of Lancaster House and under a portacabin in the Treasury building compound. Foxes live largely on rodents, sick pigeons and refuse, which are readily available within the park. They only occasionally take birds and this is only really a problem in winter when the lake freezes over, allowing them to gain access to the two islands. To prevent this, the gamekeepers break the ice between the shore and the islands.
  Six Laysan Teal were introduced into the wildlife collection in St. James's Park about three years ago, of which only one is still alive. The other five have died over the last two years, but as the carcases have not been found it is not possible to say how they died.

DEFENCE

  Multi-role Armoured Vehicle
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of the Multi-role Armoured Vehicle; and if he will make a statement. [96981]

  Mr. Spellar
  The precise number of vehicles required has yet to be defined, but on current planning the estimated total procurement cost to the UK will be over £1 billion. That includes the cost of procuring the vehicles and supporting them for the first two years of their service life.

  Equipment Exhibition
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to the public purse,(a) directly and (b) in terms of the time of officials, of supporting the Defence Systems Equipment International Exhibition; and if he will review the need for future public sector support. [96901]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 22 February 1999,Official Report, column 33, my predecessor outlined that the principal costs for the exhibition would fall to the
  492
  organisers, Spearhead Exhibitions Ltd., but that my Department would make a contribution towards the cost of the official missions to be invited by Her Majesty's Government. We estimated the direct costs to MOD for this to be about £250,000. In the event, official delegations from over 50 countries attended and the final cost remains to be established, although we do not anticipate it will exceed the estimated figure. In addition, the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) organised a British Army Demonstration Area at the exhibition which featured a range of UK equipment; the estimated direct cost of this was £108,000. MOD officials and military personnel carried out activities associated with the exhibition as part of their duties, but these costs could be fully identified only at disproportionate cost. A number of MOD Agencies and organisations also participated at the exhibition, the costs for which are not held centrally. MOD support for future exhibitions will be considered in the light of our experience of this year's DSEi and plans for 2001.

  Raytheon AIM-120 Programme
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the performance of the ramjet-powered variant of Raytheon's AIM-120 programme. [97134]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  My Department was made aware of and attended in 1997 a ground based system demonstration firing undertaken in the United States to demonstrate ducted ramjet powered motor technology. No detailed assessment has been made on any ramjet powered variant of Raytheon's AIM-120 programme.

  International Criminal Court
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had concerning the implications for future British involvement in peacekeeping operations of ratification of the International Criminal Court. [97515]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) gave him on 8 November 1999,Official Report, column 409.

  Armed Forces (Peacekeeping)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which forces, listed in the Memorandum of Understanding with the UN on forces available for peacekeeping operations, are unavailable; what proportion of earmarked forces this represents; and if he will make a statement on the purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding. [97763]

  Mr. Hoon
  The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to demonstrate our continued commitment to the UN. The MOU provides the planning staff in the UN with details of those UK forces on which it might be able to call. Whether those forces are available for any particular operation depends on the nature, location and duration of the operation; and other continuing or known future commitments.

  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of HM armed forces who were in active service during the Gulf War are known to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. [97635]

  Mr. Spellar
  The MOD holds information on those Gulf veterans who were referred by their Service Medical Officer or GP for assessment at the MOD's Gulf Veterans Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). Since its establishment in October 1993 and up to 4 November 1999, the MAP has seen 2,893 patients. Of these, 2,283 have had their clinical findings recorded on the MAP database. Of the 2,283,214 Gulf veterans have a recorded diagnosis of PTSD confirmed by a consultant psychiatrist. Of the 214 patients, the number still suffering from PTSD is not known since the MAP does not routinely monitor their health status nor is it responsible for providing treatment. As the veterans assessed by the programme were all self-selected, these figures cannot be used to determine the extent of PTSD in Gulf veterans as a whole. I will write to the right hon. and learned Gentlemen with information on the prevalence of PTSD in the remaining MAP patients who were seen up to 4 November once their medical notes have been reviewed and catalogued.

  However, the MOD does not keep a central record of all diagnoses made on currently serving personnel. Responsibility for the health of ex-service personnel, if resident in the UK, lies with the NHS which similarly does not keep a central record on all diagnoses. Neither does the NHS routinely communicate diagnostic information to the MOD. No arrangements are in place to monitor the health of ex-service personnel living overseas. Therefore, the total number of service people on active service in 1990–91 or of Gulf veterans suffering from PTSD is not known.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of(a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Army have been medically discharged solely for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since 1995. [97637]

  Mr. Spellar
  The numbers of personnel medically discharged from the armed forces since 1 January 1995 solely on grounds of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are shown in the table:

  Number

  Royal Navy

  23

  Army

  38

  RAF

  10

  Note:

  Figures as reported up to and including 4 November 1999

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the investigations which have been commissioned by medical officers in each year since 1990 regarding the frequency of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among serving members of the armed forces. [97636]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my predecessor to my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 10 February 1999,Official Report, column 216.

  Reservists
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists served in the Balkans theatre with(a) the Army, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy in each year since 1994; with which units they served; what percentage of forces deployed to the theatre they represented; for each service in each year what was the average length of service of reservists; and if he will make a statement. [97615]

  Mr. Spellar
  This information is not available in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since operations commenced in December 1995, reserve forces personnel have represented around 10 per cent. of UK forces deployed in the Balkans theatre.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the readiness cycle for mobilisation for operations in(a) the Territorial Army, (b) the Royal Navy Reserve, (c) the Royal Auxiliary Airforce and (d) among sponsored reservists for the deployment of (i) formed units and (ii) individual members to regular units; and if he will make a statement. [97662]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: Volunteer reserve units from all the Services are held at readiness levels appropriate to their role. In the case of the Territorial Army, this varies from 30 days to 24 months. Following call out, a unit would be required to undergo a period of training before deployment on operations. Individual Territorial Army members called out to serve with the Regular Army are trained at the Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre and then deployed to theatre. Royal Naval Reserve personnel, when mobilised, are deployed as individuals to augment regular units rather than in formed units. It is anticipated that the majority of RNR personnel would be ready to deploy within 30 days of receipt of their call out notice. RAF Planning assumptions also provide for individual reservists to be ready for deployment within 30 days of call out. Operational requirements may necessitate reduced periods of notice and training, and planning is carried out for such contingencies.

  High Readiness Reserves largely drawn from the Territorial Army, have accepted an enhanced liability for call out for permanent service, and in most cases are held at seven days notice to report for duty.

  There are no sponsored reserves currently in service.

  Amphibious Readiness Group
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what forces make up the UK's Amphibious Readiness Group. [97878]

  Mr. Spellar
  The UK's Amphibious Readiness Group is not a standing force and there are no specific forces assigned. The composition of the Group would be dependent on operational considerations and force availability at the time.

  Saffron Sands
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK troops participated in the Saffron Sands exercise; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [97877]
  495
  Mr. Spellar
  A total of 600 troops were deployed on Exercise Saffron Sands this year at a cost of approximately £600K.

  Low Flying
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the(a) safety and (b) continuing need for practice low flying for (i) home and (ii) NATO defence commitments. [97929]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  We continue to pay close attention to the need for low flying when assessing our national and international military training requirements. Low level penetration of hostile airspace remains an effective tactic in many scenarios. The high readiness states which our aircrew have to maintain for participation in operations or preparation for conflict only allows for the honing of low flying expertise, not its creation. All aspects of flight safety are kept under continuous review.

  Uranium Oxide
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the depleted uranium in armour-piercing ammunition is converted upon impact to insoluble oxide particles of less than 10 microns in diameter; and what parameters, transfer coefficients and methodologies are used in estimating the radiological effects of such particles. [97689]

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

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Departmental Accounts
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [96914]

  Mr. Morley
  The Ministry applies depreciation to its fixed assets on a straight line basis, over the useful economic life of each asset. Depreciation is charged in the month of disposal but not in the month of purchase.

  Depreciation is not charged on freehold land, investment properties, assets declared surplus and for sale and assets under the course of construction.

  Fixed asset lives are normally in the following ranges:

  Fixed assets

  Years

  Freehold Buildings

  5 to 60

  Plant, Office, Scientific, IT equipment

  3 to 15

  Fixtures and fittings

  5 to 10

  Vehicles

  4 to 15

  Vessels

  20

  Assets are revalued annually and depreciation is adjusted accordingly.

  Property assets are subject to a full valuation review every five years and the values and lives are adjusted accordingly.
  496
  The above depreciation method is in accordance with the Treasury's Resource Accounting Manual and the requirements in the manual regarding those methods will be underpinned by Financial Reporting Standard 15 'Tangible Fixed Assets', issued by the Accounting Standards Board.

  Offshore Bass Fishing
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take, following the Offshore Bass Fishery Pilot Study report, to control trawl fishing for bass; and if he will make a statement. [97141]

  Mr. Morley
  I announced on 18 October as public consultation on proposals to restrict landings of bass by British fishing vessels to 5 tonnes per week, in the light of concerns about the impact of the spring offshore fishery on the bass stock. I have arranged for copies of the consultation document to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Fisheries
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many EU vessels, by nationality, are covered by agreements with non-EU countries for fisheries access; what is the total cost of these agreements to the EU budget; and if he will deposit the Commission report on third country fisheries agreements in the Library. [97521]

  Mr. Morley
  I have placed a copy of the summary report on the "Evaluation of the Fisheries Agreements Concluded by the European Community", prepared for the European Commission by IFREMER, in the Library of the House.

  According to this report, the average annual number of licences issued to EU vessels to fish in third country waters between 1993 and 1997, broken down by nationality, is as follows:

  Country

  Total average annual number of licences

  Austria

  0

  Belgium

  62

  Denmark

  865

  Finland

  5

  France

  255

  Germany

  159

  Greece

  1

  Ireland

  2

  Italy

  11

  Luxembourg

  0

  Netherlands

  187

  Portugal

  46

  Spain

  953

  Sweden

  54

  UK

  433

  The report also indicates that the average annual total cost to the EU budget of agreements with third countries between 1993 and 1997 was 211 million euros.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what funding his
  497
  Department has provided for research and development into organic farming for each year from 1992 to date; and if he will make a statement. [97280]

  Mr. Morley
  MAFF has provided the following funds for research and development into organic farming since 1992:

  Year

  £000

  1991–92

  481

  1992–93

  720

  1993–94

  1,077

  1994–95

  1,058

  1995–96

  931

  1996–97

  1,116

  1997–98

  908

  1998–99

  1,481

  1999–20001

  2,139

  1 Estimate

  This includes research funded within the organic farming research programme and £323K funded under the Open Contract Scheme over the period.

  In addition the organic farming sector also benefits from much of the other research the Ministry undertakes, for example, its planned spend of over £8 million on biological control techniques, plant health, animal welfare and wildlife conservation on farms this year.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the approved length of time needed to convert farms to organic farming for(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the average EU member state. [97639]

  Mr. Morley
  Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 provides that as a general rule for organic products, except for perennial crops, the conversion period for the land should be two years before the first planting of a crop to be sold as organic. In the case of perennial crops the period is three years before the first harvest of products to be sold as organic. However, these periods may be varied, having regard to the previous use of the land.

  In the UK the majority of conversions will extend over the full periods prescribed by Regulation 2092/91. However, shorter periods are sometimes agreed by the control body (the UK Register of Organic Food Standards) in cases where there is clear evidence that prohibited inputs have not been used on the land (e.g. the land has been subject to an environmental scheme which prohibits such inputs). Other member states are subject to the same Regulation and operate similar rules.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what forecast he has made of the future take-up of grant aid for conversion to organic farming. [97843]

  Mr. Morley
  On 4 October, we announced a review of the Organic Farming Scheme, which provides aid to farmers converting to organic farming. Future up-take of aid is an issue which will be considered in this review.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the growth of the UK organic food market over the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [97940]
  498
  Mr. Morley
  None. Estimates made by the organic sector itself indicate the size of the retail market for organic food to have been just short of £400 million in 1998–99 and project its growth to £1,500 million by 2002–03.

  Fishing Fleets
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of EU national fishing fleets are based in objective 1 areas, broken down by country. [97525]

  Mr. Morley
  For the UK, the Objective 1 areas under the 1994–1999 Structural Funds Programme are the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Merseyside. Vessels with home ports in these areas make up approximately 26 percent. of the UK fleet as at 1 November 1999.

  The Objective 1 areas under the 2000–06 Structural Funds Programme are West Wales and the Valleys, Cornwall and Merseyside. Vessels with home ports in these areas make up approximately 14 percent. of the UK fleet as at 1 November 1999.

  Under the 2000–06 Structural Funds Programme, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and Northern Ireland are transitional Objective 1 areas. Vessels with home ports in these areas, plus West Wales and the Valleys, Cornwall and Merseyside make up approximately 39 percent. of the UK fleet as at 1 November 1999.

  We do not have similar statistics for the fleets in Objective 1 areas of other member states.

  Live Exports
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to discourage vessels which carry live farm animals from Dover to the continent from sailing(a) during severe weather conditions and (b) when severe weather conditions are forecast. [97552]

  Mr. Morley
  MAFF officials on duty at Dover docks have instructions to follow on any occasion when a vessel operator intends to carry livestock for slaughter or further fattening when wind conditions are forecast to reach Force 7 or more during the voyage, and/or the sea state is forecast as rough or worse. These instructions require them to discuss with the master of the vessel his legal obligation to consider if the animals are likely to be caused injury or unnecessary suffering due to adverse weather or sea conditions likely to be encountered during the voyage. If the master decides to sail but our staff have grounds to consider that animals may suffer, they have the legal powers to prevent him from transporting the animals.

  Diversification Grants
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce diversification grants in non-assisted areas. [97841]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 3 November 1999,Official Report, column 223.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Departmental Assets
  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the assets sold by his Department, indicating their value broken down by item, for each year from 1991–92 to 1998–99 together with an estimate of the value of asset sales planned to be made within 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [95467]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: The detailed information is not available in the format or for the years requested. However, the following information can be provided for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments from the 1997–98 financial year:

  £000

  Year

  Land and buildings

  Vehicles, plant and machinery

  Computer and office equipment

  1997–98

  19,378

  364

  15

  1998–99

  21,502

  896

  43

  1999–2000

  18,535

  527

  9

  2000–01

  15,611

  527

  2

  1 Estimate

  RUC Land Rover Crews
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what equipment is issued to the crews of Royal Ulster Constabulary Land Rovers assigned to public order duties to assist in dealing with public order disturbances. [95365]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The following equipment is issued to officers and crews of Mobile Support Units:

  Individual issue:

  Riot helmet and visor

  Header (flame resistant)

  Thermal underwear

  Flame retardant suit

  Public order gloves

  Public order boots

  Arm and elbow guards

  Shin and knee guards

  Ballistically protected body armour

  26 inch nylon public order baton

  Personal firearm

  Water bottle

  Handcuffs

  Crew issue:

  Public order shields

  Small fire extinguishers

  Bulk water containers

  First aid kit (including fire blanket)

  Heckler and Koch riot gun (for firing plastic baton rounds).

  Prisoners (Early Release)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review whether members of the UVF should qualify for early release under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. [97821]
  500
  Mr. Ingram
  The situation with regard to the maintenance of the ceasefires is kept under continual review.

  If there is evidence that in balance an organisation is not maintaining its ceasefire, the Government will not hesitate to take action.

  Quinn Murders
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the person recently found guilty of the murder of the Quinn children has been accepted in the prison as a member of the UVF group there. [97822]

  Mr. Ingram
  The prisoner in question is serving his life sentence at HMP Maghaberry, a fully integrated establishment with no facility for segregation according to paramilitary affiliation. He has not made any application to be transferred to HMP Maze, nor have the UVF prisoners there made any representations for transfer on his behalf.

  Child Care (Expenditure)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional funding, excluding funds for training, was provided to each of the health and social services boards for implementation of the Children (NI) Order 1995 in the financial years 1995–96 to date. [97688]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Additional funding for implementation of the Children (NI) Order

  £000

  Health and Social Services Board

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Northern

  611

  547

  956

  1,768

  Southern

  462

  414

  713

  1,322

  Eastern

  1,058

  947

  1,727

  3,175

  Western

  424

  379

  670

  1,235

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the actual spend on child care services in each health and social services board from April 1996 to March 1999. [97687]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Actual spend on child care services

  £000

  Health and Social Services Board

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Northern

  11,295

  13,431

  13,370

  Southern

  8,387

  9,765

  9,761

  Eastern

  29,581

  33,125

  36,494

  Western

  11,215

  12,914

  14,342

  Source:

  The annual financial returns of the Health and Social Services Boards for Family and Child Care Services

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Community Legal Service
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement about the Community Legal Service and the services it will provide. [96383]

  Mr. Lock
  The Community Legal Service will provide local networks of good quality legal services, based for the first time on local needs and priorities. They will work towards providing a seamless service to the public through an active referral system, so people will receive the right service, of the right quality, at the right price to allow them to resolve disputes, enforce their rights or seek the protection of the courts.

  Family Law
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to promote the interests of children and families in court proceedings. [96384]

  Jane Kennedy
  One of the major initiatives my Department is taking forward is the setting up of the Children and Family Court Advisory Service. It brings together the Family Court Welfare Service function, provided by the Probation Service, the Children's Branch of the Official Solicitor's Department and the Guardian ad Litem and Reporting Officer Service. This will protect the interests of children and families in the court system.

  Magistracy
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress in the reform of selection criteria for magistrates. [96385]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor set out the personal qualities required for appointment in his Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace issued in August 1998. Advisory Committees must take into account the need for benches to be balanced in terms of gender, ethnic origin, occupation, place of residence and social 'background'. Since the beginning of this century, social background has been linked to party affiliation. This has been supported by successive Lord Chancellors. This Government are not, however, convinced that political balance is an adequate proxy and an alternative is being sought.

  Rural Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on his policy on rural magistrates courts. [96387]

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards magistrates courts in rural England. [96388]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Government's policy is that magistrates courts are best managed locally by magistrates courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Decisions concerning the future of 502
  magistrates courts in their area, whether rural or urban, are for the relevant magistrates courts committee to determine.

  Motoring Offences (Magistrates)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what training magistrates receive for dealing with motoring offenders in the ways most effective for reducing re-offending. [96641]

  Jane Kennedy
  [holding answer 3 November 1999]: The training of magistrates is the responsibility of the magistrates courts committees within a framework approved by the Lord Chancellor. Magistrates must acquire specified competences necessary to perform their role, some of which relate to motoring offences. Magistrates also have access to detailed sentencing guidelines, produced by the Magistrates Association, some of which are specific to traffic offences. Magistrates are made aware of the availability of national and local initiatives which are designed to re-educate motoring offenders.

  Law Commission's Reports
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to respond(a) to the Law Commission's report of March 1998 on liability for psychiatric illness and (b) to the Law Commission's report of December 1997 on aggravated and exemplary damages. [97540]

  Mr. Lock
  I am pleased to be able to announce that the Government accept the recommendations on aggravated and restitutionary damages that the Law Commission made in "Aggravated, Exemplary and Restitutionary Damages" (Law Com Rep No. 247). They will legislate when a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

  This Report also made recommendations for legislation on exemplary, or punitive, damages. The Government are grateful to the Law Commission for its important and painstaking work on this subject, and to those who expressed their views during the Law Commission's consultation exercises on the topic. The contending arguments for a complete legislative overhaul of exemplary damages, as recommended by the Law Commission, or abolition as preferred by many commentators, are finely balanced. In the absence of a clear consensus on the issue the Government have decided not to take forward the Law Commission's proposals for legislation on exemplary damages. It may be that some further judicial development of the law in this area might help clarify the issues.

  The Government have carefully considered the Law Commission's recommendations in its Report on "Liability for Psychiatric Illness" (Law Corn Rep No. 249). They believe that it would be worthwhile to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the individual and aggregate effects of the proposals for legislation that are contained in this Report and "Damages for Personal Injury: Medical, Nursing and Other Expenses; Collateral Benefits" (Law Corn Rep No. 262) and "Claims for Wrongful Death" (Law Com Rep No. 263). I have asked my officials to undertake the assessment in co-ordination with officials from the other Departments which have an interest in the outcome. It is hoped that the full assessment

  503
  will be available to inform the Government's final decision on the Law Commission's proposals early next year.

  This assessment is only concerned with those Reports which recommend legislation concerning eligibility for damages and the size of damages awards. It will not consider "Damages for Personal Injury: Non-Pecuniary Loss (Law Commission Report No. 257)", in which the Law Commission offers opinions of which the courts are free to take such account, if any, as they choose in the assessment of damages. This is an area of law which is in the courts' independent sphere and where the Government have no plans to legislate.

  Social Security Commissioners
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last three years, what is(a) the average, (b) the longest and (c) the median time taken by Social Security Commissioners between conducting an appeal hearing and reaching a decision. [97538]

  Jane Kennedy
  The data requested are not held centrally and could be provided only by referring to each individual case file, which would be at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last three years, what is(a) the average, (b) the longest and (c) the median length of time between the lodging of an appeal to the Social Security Commissioners and the hearing of the appeal. [97537]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, many appeals are determined without a hearing. The average waiting time from the lodging of an appeal to the Commissioner's decision for each of the last three years is as follows; 1996—54.75 weeks, 1997—54.64 weeks and 1998—64.27 weeks. The average waiting time in 1999 to the end of September is 50.9 weeks.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last three years, what is the(a) average, (b) longest and (c) median number of appeals (i) heard and (ii) decided by Social Security Commissioners. [97539]

  Jane Kennedy
  The data are not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the table gives the number of appeals determined in each year and the number of oral hearings conducted by the Commissioners.

  Year

  Appeals determined

  Oral hearings

  1996

  4,197

  340

  1997

  3,926

  326

  1998

  4,317

  254

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last three years, how many appeals were lodged with the Social Security Commissioners; and how many were successful(a) in full and (b) in part. [97536]
  504
  Jane Kennedy
  The number of appeals lodged and the number of appeals which were successful are detailed in the table. Information is not kept as to whether appeals were successful in full or in part and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Year

  Appeals lodged

  Appeals determined

  Appeals determined in Claimant's favour

  1996

  3,731

  4,197

  1,909

  1997

  3,400

  3,926

  2,939

  1998

  2,688

  4,317

  3,210

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of complaints against the CSA are investigated(a) by the Independent Case Examiner and (b) by the Parliamentary Ombudsman; [96763]

  (2) what is the current backlog of CSA investigations; and what is his estimate of the length of time needed to clear the backlog (a) with the Independent Complaints Examiner and (b) with the Ombudsman; [96759]

  (3) how many staff the Independent Case Examiner for the Child Support Agency employs; how many are investigating officers; and what plans he has for further recruitment; [96761]

  (4) what is the trend in the numbers of complaints against the CSA being made to (a) the Independent Complaints Commissioner and (b) the Ombudsman; [96760]

  (5) what is the average time for the completion of (a) Independent Case Examiners and (b) Parliamentary Ombudsman investigations of CSA cases (i) from the time when the cause for complaint arises; (ii) from the submission of a complaint and (iii) from the start of the investigation. [96762]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. Peter Bradley, dated 5 November 1999:
  In Faith Boardman's absence, as Deputy Chief Executive, I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions about the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) for the Child Support Agency and the Ombudsman.
  During 1998/99 28,073 complaints were received by the Agency, 1,536 (5.18%) were received by ICE and 45 (0.15%) were accepted by the Ombudsman for full investigation, a total of 29,654. This total includes cases double counted where they were first dealt with by CSA and then by ICE/Ombudsman.
  It may be of interest to note that the 28,073 complaints received by CSA represents a 0.7% increase over the previous year. However, our caseload increased by 22% to 923,960. As a percentage of caseload the complaints rate for the year reduced by 17%.
  ICE have 195 cases awaiting investigation and, if intake levels remain unchanged, they would expect this number to reduce to around 50 by March 2000. I cannot answer the part of your question about the Ombudsman's backlog, if indeed there is one, because that

  505
  is not a matter for the Department of Social Security or its Agencies. Similarly with your questions about trends and clearance times, I would suggest that you approach the Ombudsman's office directly.
  46 staff are currently employed by ICE, of which 38 are engaged in investigation work. There are no plans to recruit additional staff.
  I have attached a month by month breakdown of the numbers of complaints received by ICE. It is clear from this that the first six months of ICE operation were unrepresentative. You will see that since October 1997, following publication of their first Annual Report, there is no discernible trend up or down, especially as a percentage of the Agency's rising caseload.
  No records are held which would allow your question about clearance times to be fully answered without revisiting all cases to extract the information required. However, ICE do record the time taken from receipt of a complaint in the ICE office. Up to the end of September 1999 the average clearance time for a complaint is 29.8 weeks.
  A process was introduced in 1998/99 which allows appropriate cases to be identified and referred to the Child Support Agency for early resolution of the problem by taking prompt action. Thus negating the need for a full investigation by ICE. One effect of this initiative is to lengthen the average time taken to resolve those complaints where early resolution proved impossible and full investigation was needed.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Complaints received by Independent Case Examiner

  Month

  1997

  1998

  1999

  January

  —

  112

  124

  February

  —

  108

  139

  March

  —

  126

  154

  April

  21

  116

  127

  May

  48

  102

  101

  June

  69

  122

  104

  July

  72

  116

  166

  August

  82

  107

  144

  September

  94

  164

  119

  October

  137

  132

  —

  November

  110

  153

  —

  December

  108

  107

  —

  1 Due to office reorganisation a proportion of the July intake is recorded in August

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 27 October 1999,Official Report, columns 875-76, if he will estimate the number of non-resident parents who, because they receive income support or other related benefit, are deemed by the Child Support Agency to have nil maintenance liability. [96979]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 5 November 1999:
  In Faith Boardman's absence, as Deputy Chief Executive, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer of 27 October (Official report, columns 875-6).
  Table 3.3 on page 31 of the Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics for May 1999, the latest published figures, provides an estimate of 289,400 non-resident parents in receipt of Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance Income Based with nil maintenance liability.
  I hope this is helpful.

  State Pension
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Swinney) of 27 October 1999,Official Report, column 876, on the state pension, what rates of increase in average earnings were assumed in calculating the cost of uprating the basic pension in line with earnings. [97555]

  Mr. Rooker
  The assumed annual rate of increase in average earnings is 4.3 per cent. throughout the period.

  Note:

  Average earnings growth is based on a DSS assumption which is broadly consistent with the average of independent (non-Government) forecasts.

  Observatory on Family Matters
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what function is performed by, the Observatory on Family Matters, appointed by the European Commission; what are its(a) terms of reference and (b) annual cost; and who represents Her Majesty's Government on it. [97955]

  Angela Eagle
  The European Observatory on National Family Policies is the responsibility of the European Commission. I understand that its membership involves academics who produce annual reports monitoring family policy in each member state at a cost to the European Commission of £400,000 annually. The Government are not represented on the Observatory but the current UK national expert is Ceridwen Roberts of the Family Policy Study Centre.

SCOTLAND

  European Structural Funds
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the criteria for eligibility for EU structural funds in Scotland. [96353]

  Mr. Wilson
  The framework for the new round of Structural Funds was set by decisions at the Berlin Summit in March 1999. As elsewhere in Great Britain, the criteria relate to industrial decline, urban deprivation, declining rural areas and fisheries dependency.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the recent list of areas eligible for European structural funding in Scotland, compiled by UK ministers and sent to the European Commission for approval; and if he will make a statement. [96365]

  Mr. Wilson
  The detailed proposals for Scotland were based on recommendations by the Scottish Executive, prepared in close consultation with my department. Both I and the Scottish Executive have received a number of representations from different parts of Scotland, including from the North East. The Scottish Executive has made it clear that in implementing Structural Funds it will want to see transitional support concentrated on the highest priority areas which were not included in the proposals for full Objective 2 coverage.
  507
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the prospects for the Scottish economy following the publication of the Government proposals on assisted areas and Objective 2 funds. [96372]

  Mr. Wilson
  Proposed new assisted areas announced in July provide continuing coverage for locations which account for a very high proportion of regional selective assistance awarded over recent years. Proposals for Objective 2 coverage put forward in October represent a fair balance between pressing needs in urban and rural Scotland, while transitional funding will be available for areas no longer covered by Objective 2 and Objective 5b. In each case the outcome should minimise any economic impact of the overall reduction in coverage being imposed for the period from January 2000.

  Memorandum of Understanding
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, when he last met the First Minister, they discussed the memorandum of understanding and the implementation of concordats. [96354]

  Dr. Reid
  The First Minister and I have frequent meetings at which we discuss matters of mutual concern and interest. The Memorandum of Understanding and the overarching concordats, reinforce the principle of devolution which is that we have a Partnership of Parliaments. That is why the First Minister and I launched them jointly on 1 October.

  New Deal
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the operation of the new deal in Scotland. [96355]

  Dr. Reid
  Thanks to the New Deal, 38,000 young people in Scotland so far have better prospects of long term employability and the self respect which comes from participation in work and society.

  Small Business
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the competitiveness of small firms in Scotland. [96356]

  Mr. Wilson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry published a consultation paper about the Small Business Service in June. 98 per cent. of businesses in Scotland employ less than 50 people and they account for around 45 per cent. of non-Government jobs. I, with my right hon. Friend, will consider how any measures within reserved competence can be applied most effectively in Scotland.

  Single Currency
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what preparations his Department is making for the possible effects of entry of the UK into the eurozone on inward investment in Scotland. [96359]

  Mr. Wilson
  International investors look keenly at the stability of economies in making their decisions. This Government's commitment to lasting economic stability 508
  will ensure that, in or out of the single currency, Scotland and the UK offer the best possible climate for business investment and growth.

  Coalfield Communities
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made through the Government task force on investment in the Scottish coalfield communities. [96360]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Coalfields Task Force is a UK wide initiative and an announcement on the allocation of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust's funding for Scotland will be made on 22 November.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the First Minister on the representation of Scottish agricultural issues at UKREP. [96361]

  Dr. Reid
  I have had a number of recent discussions with the First Minister on concordats in general and on the EU concordat in particular.

  Meat Trade (Europe)
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish Executive concerning meat exports and imports to the European Union. [96362]

  Mr. Wilson
  My right hon. Friend has had no formal representations from the Scottish Executive on this issue but I am fully aware of how important it is to Scotland.

  Clothing Industry
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of business and trade unions to discuss employment in the clothing industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [96363]

  Mr. Wilson
  My right hon. Friend has had the opportunity on a number of recent occasions to discuss, formally and informally, employment in the clothing industry in Scotland.

  Beef Industry
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on prospects for the Scottish beef industry. [96364]

  Mr. Wilson
  This is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

  City Status
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the granting of city status to Scottish towns. [96366]

  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recommendations he has made to the Home Secretary regarding Scottish towns bidding for city status. [96367]
  509
  Dr. Reid
  The competition for city status has attracted bids from four Scottish towns. Each of the towns has put in a good bid and each is deserving of further consideration. They all have unique qualities, including rich histories and Royal connections. I was particularly struck by their quality and the degree of local support they have each generated. I think it right that all four bids should have the opportunity to compete in the final stages, and I have therefore, indicated my support, to the Home Secretary, for all Scottish bids.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the number of people in Scotland who will be able to benefit from the working families tax credit; and if he will make a statement. [96368]

  Dr. Reid
  I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, which could benefit up to 140,000 families in Scotland. People who think they may be eligible can ring a freephone number—0800 597 5976—to check eligibility and get application forms. 24,000 Scots have already done so. Those currently receiving Family Credit will automatically be sent an application form.

  Anti-drugs Strategy
  Mrs. McKenna
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held with the First Minister on the co-ordination of the Government's anti-drugs strategy. [96370]

  Dr. Reid
  I meet regularly with the First Minister and discuss a range of topics. The Government's anti-drugs strategy is on the agenda for our meeting immediately after my meeting next month with the Government's Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator.

  Fuel Poverty
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he had with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on determining the proportion of total resources for tackling fuel poverty and cold homes which were allocated to Scotland. [96371]

  Mr. Wilson
  Discussions on the allocation of resources to Scotland for the years 1999/2000 to 2001/02 began under my right hon. Friend's predecessor. They were concluded after 1 July 1999, when responsibility for the subject had passed to the Scottish Executive.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the future of National Air Traffic Services; and if he will make a statement. [96373]

  Dr. Reid
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is fully aware that the Scotland Office supports the Government's commitment to maintaining, and improving wherever necessary, some of the most stringent aviation safety standards in the 510
  world. We also support the public/private partnership which will ensure the separation of safety regulation from the provision of air traffic control services. The Government's commitment to the New Scottish Centre at Prestwick is secure through the partnership arrangements.

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to the oil and gas industry task force; and if he will make a statement. [96374]

  Mr. Wilson
  I participated in the most recent meeting of the Oil and Gas Task Force on 5 October, and expect to attend the last meeting of the Task Force in its current form, which is due to be held in early December. I am taking a very close interest in the oil industry and its service sector because we believe that it will continue to be enormously important to the UK economy for many years to come. We wish to see the industry and Government continue to work in partnership, with the objective being the maintenance of a vital UK Continental Shelf and the recognition of the UK as a world centre for the global oil and gas business.

  Food Safety
  Miss Begg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the steps being taken by the United Kingdom Government to improve food safety in Scotland. [96369]

  Mr. Wilson
  The UK Government are working with the devolved authorities to implement a UK-wide Food Standards Agency. Food safety is a devolved matter and the Agency will provide, through its Scottish arm, advice to the Scottish Executive.

  Departmental Accounts
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [97040]

  Dr. Reid
  Freehold land is not depreciated. Depreciation on other tangible fixed assets will be provided using the straight line method. This is in accordance with the Treasury's Resource Accounting Manual and Financial Reporting Standard 15 "Tangible Fixed Assets" issued by the Accounting Standards Board.

  Entertainments Budget
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the entertainments budget for his Department since June in total; and if he will list the Scottish organisations he has met since June. [96717]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 3 November 1999]: From 1 July to 31 October the Scotland Office has spent £80 on official entertainment. I and my ministerial colleagues have met a number of organisations representing a wide range of Scottish interests.

  Coal Industry
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last had meetings with representatives of the Scottish opencast coal industry; and what issues were discussed. [R][97682]

  Mr. Wilson
  I met with Mr. Campbell Christie, a Director of The Scottish Coal Company Ltd, on 12 October 1999 to discuss transport of coal by rail.

TREASURY

  Medical Equipment (VAT)
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received relating to the differences in treatment for VAT between medical appliances donated to hospitals for named patients and the same items donated to hospital wards. [96448]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No representations have been received relating to differences in treatment for VAT between medical appliances donated to named patients or to hospital wards. This is because the VAT treatment of goods donated to an NHS hospital is the same whether the goods are for a ward or named patient.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of exempting patient participation groups from VAT on their purchases of medical equipment; [97260]

  (2) for what reasons some charitable bodies are exempt from VAT on medical equipment and others are not. [97261]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 5 November 1999]: There is VAT relief for medical equipment bought by charitable patient participation groups when it is donated to National Health Service bodies, charity run hospitals and research institutions operating on a not for profit

  Distribution of employees earnings 1 by when they started with their current employer United Kingdom, spring 1999, not seasonally adjusted

  Pay band

  Employees who started with their current employer less than 3 months ago 2

  Per cent. All employees

  Less than half of average earnings (Less than £4.07)

  38

  18

  From half average earnings up to average earnings (£4.07 to less than £8.14)

  46

  46

  From average earnings to twice average earnings (£8.14 to less than £16.28)

  13

  30

  Two or more times average earnings (£16.28 or more)

  3

  7

  All employees (thousands = 100%)3

  1,160

  23,680

  1 The LFS estimate of average hourly earnings for all employees in spring 1999 was £8.14. LFS hourly earnings estimates exclude employees earning £100 per hour or more.

  2 Employees who said that they started working continuously for their employer in the current month or the two previous calendar months.

  3 Excludes employees who did not give a valid response regarding their hourly earnings.

  Source:

  ONS, Labour Force Survey

  Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in the definition of employment for self-employed contractors contained in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill; and on what basis he has calculated the effect of such changes to the status of employment. [97112]
  512
  basis, first aid or rescue charities or charities providing care to disabled people. This relief benefits public and charitable health care providers. There is no scope to extend VAT relief to medical equipment bought by patient participation groups for any other purpose.

  New Jobs (Pay Rates)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what information his Department collates on the rates of pay of new jobs as a proportion of average earnings; [96237]

  (2) what proportion of new jobs pay (a) below half average earnings, (b) from half average earnings up to average earnings, (c) from average earnings to twice average earnings and from (d) twice average earnings to five times average earnings and above for a convenient period for which he has data. [96236]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 29 October 1999]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 9 November 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary questions about the earnings of people in new jobs.
  The ONS is not able to identify people in newly created jobs. However, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) does collect data on the earnings of employees and on the length of time people have worked for their current employer. LFS estimates of the distribution of the hourly earnings of those who recently joined their employer relative to the average for all employees are shown in the attached table.
  Data for those earning more than five times average hourly earnings have been combined with that for two to five times average earnings because the sample size in the former group is too small for the estimate to be shown separately. The distribution for all employees is also shown. We cannot know how many of these jobs in the former group are newly created and it would be difficult to collect such information reliably from a household survey such as the LFS. Nor does the New Earnings Survey ask employers whether a job is newly created.

  Dawn Primarolo
  Our assumption is that the number of workers covered by the normal employment status tests will not be significantly different from the number which would have been covered by the "control" test, though the population is likely to be different. Any variation would be within the margin of error of the original estimate. The revised Regulatory Impact Assessment published in
  513
  October, a copy of which is placed in the Library, sets out the likely impact of the changes we announced on 23 September.

  Expatriate Scots (England)
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of Scots who have been resident in England in each of the last five years. [97369]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Jim Murphy, dated 9 November 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question asking what estimates have been made of the number of Scots who have been resident in England in each of the last five years.
  The ONS is not able to make estimates of the number of Scots resident in England.

  Young People (Employment)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what data he has collated concerning the numbers of 18 to 25 year olds moving from the North to the South of England to seek employment; and if he will make a statement. [97572]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Peter Pike, dated 9 November 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about young people moving from the North to the South of England to seek employment.
  The ONS does not collect information on the reasons why people move from one area of England to another. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) does collect information on people's region of residence and employment status, both current and a year ago. One might infer that people who had not been in employment and who had moved and were either employed or actively seeking and available for work a year later may have moved in order to seek employment. However, LFS estimates for the geographies and age group specified are below the LFS release threshold. This release threshold (10,000 for one quarter's LFS data) arises because, like any other sample survey, the LFS is subject to sampling variability. Numbers below the threshold are not considered sufficiently reliable to release.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the Inland Revenue's Departmental Expenditure Limit and running costs limit for 1999–2000. [97919]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the Supplementary Estimates for Class XVI, Votes 4 and 5 (Inland Revenue and Valuation Office Agency) the Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £297,235,000 from £1,871,226,000 to £2,168,461,000. The Inland Revenue running cost limit will also be increased by £28,351,000 from £2,140,489,000 to £2,168,840,000.
  514
  The increase is due to the transfer to the Inland Revenue of the Contributions Agency and the National Insurance Fund funded by transfers from DSS and DHSS(NI) and the take up of end year flexibility of £950,000 by the Valuation Office.

  The increase will be offset by transfers or charged to the DEL Reserve and will not add therefore to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Pensions (Tax Treatment)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure equal tax treatment of contributions to state and occupational pension schemes. [97619]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Tax relief is given on contributions for occupational and personal pension schemes to encourage people to make pension provision for their retirement. Adopting the same treatment on contributions for state pensions would result in a significant loss to the Exchequer which would have to be made good by an increase in the rate of taxation, or by corresponding reductions in other tax allowances.

  Enterprise Investment Schemes
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many enterprise investment schemes were undertaken in(a) 1997 and (b) 1998. [97717]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Available information on the number of small unquoted companies raising money by issuing shares under the Enterprise Investment Scheme, and the number and amount of subscriptions, are shown in the table. The table is based on company returns received up to July 1999. However, because of time lags in the receipt of claims, figures for more recent years are less complete than for earlier years. In particular, information for 1998–99 gives a very partial picture.

  Enterprise Investment Scheme: companies, subscriptions and amount invested

  Year

  Number of companies

  Number of subscriptions

  Amount (£ million)

  1996–97

  643

  8,765

  59.6

  1997–98

  615

  10,305

  56.7

  1998–99

  464

  8,192

  40.5

  EC Goods
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those goods legally available in other European Community countries which cannot be brought into the United Kingdom. [97647]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I regret that this information, which would require detailed comparison of relevant UK legislation with that of all other Member States, is not available.

  Official Engagements
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his official engagements were between 3.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday 3 November. [97749]
  515
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: I had meetings at the Treasury and visited the London Stock Exchange to launch Techmark, the London Stock Exchange's new technology market. At 7 p.m. I voted in the division following the debate on Lords Amendment 42 to the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill.

  Personal Service Companies
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals trading as personal service companies are currently(a) on contract to HM Treasury, (b) on contract to the Inland Revenue and (c) employed by EDS in pursuance of their contractual obligations to the Inland Revenue. [97295]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: It is not possible to say how many individuals trading as personal service companies are currently on contract to (a) HM Treasury, (b) the Inland Revenue or employed by EDS in pursuance of their contractual obligations to the Inland Revenue.

  Gold
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how, and under whose authority, the London gold bullion market is supervised; and what reporting requirements exist in gold bullion trades to prevent the manipulation of the gold market. [97394]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: The London bullion market is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in accordance with the principles of the London Code of Conduct. The Code sets out general standards of behaviour and conduct, and appropriate systems and controls, for market participants to adopt when transacting business in gold. The Code also sets out procedures to be followed should there be complaints about non-compliance.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedure was followed to sell gold from Britain's reserves. [97395]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: As announced on 7 May 1999 the sale of part of the United Kingdom's gold holdings will be through a programme of five auctions in 1999–2000. The Information Memorandum, issued by the Bank of England on behalf of HM Treasury, details the arrangements and terms and conditions for the auctions in 1999–2000.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the official gold reserves expressed in tonnes of(a) Germany, (b) France and (c) Italy; and what will be the gold reserves expressed in tonnes of the United Kingdom after the completion of the gold sales programme announced on 7 May. [97396]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: Figures on the gold holdings of other countries can be found in the IMF's International Financial Statistics. Over the medium term the Government are planning to reduce their gold holdings to around 300 tonnes.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the United Kingdom would continue to(a) own and (b) control its gold reserves if Britain were to join the single European currency after January 2002. [97393]
  516
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: If the United Kingdom joined stage 3 of Economic and Monetary Union the provisions of Article 31 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks (Protocol No. 3 to the EU Treaty) would apply.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultation took place with other Governments and central banks prior to the announcement on 7 May about the sale of the United Kingdom's gold reserve. [97397]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 184.

  Tax Documents
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to publish the next Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs document; and if he will make a statement. [98160]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Treasury will today be publishing a booklet containing the estimate of the effects of various illustrative tax changes on tax receipts in 2000–01 and 2001–02 (plus 2002–03 for indirect taxes) and estimates of the costs of the main tax reliefs in 1998–99 and 1999–2000. Copies are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what head voluntary contributions to HM Treasury as a supplement to income tax are classified; and how much was received under this head in the last financial year. [97493]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Voluntary contributions as a supplement to income tax are included in the published figures for income tax receipts. Reliable figures for this sub-category are not readily available.

  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the amount of income tax paid was per resident taxpayer in each county in England for the latest year for which data are available. [96412]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The latest available estimates of income taxpayer numbers and the average income and income tax liability by region and county are published in Table 3.13 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1999" which is available in the Library of the House.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average gross weekly household income was for each county in England for the latest year for which data are available. [96413]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
  517
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Michael J. Foster, dated 9 November 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on average gross weekly household income for each county in England, for the latest available year.
  The latest figures published by the ONS for household income by county are for 1995 and were published in Table 9 of "Regional Accounts 1995: part 2, Economic Trends no. 535, June 1998". Estimates for household income by region, up to 1997, were published in "Regional Accounts 1997: part 2, Economic Trends no. 551, October 1999". Both of these publications are available in the House of Commons Library. Sub-regional estimates of household income in the future will be based on different geographies, owing largely to the reorganisation of local government throughout Great Britain. The first estimates on this basis will be published in the first half of 2000, and will include data for more recent years.
  The figures available relate to the income of the household sector, as defined for the purposes of national and regional accounts. In addition to private households, this includes charities, voluntary and other non-profit organisations, and quasi-corporations.
  The published figures are normally presented in terms of total annual household income per head of population. The 1995 total income estimates figures, converted to weekly averages for all English counties, are given in the attached table.

  Total household income per head by county, 1995

  £ per head per week

  Avon

  190

  Bedfordshire

  209

  Berkshire

  237

  Buckinghamshire

  238

  Cambridgeshire

  210

  Cheshire

  201

  Cleveland

  169

  Cornwall

  183

  Cumbria

  190

  Derbyshire

  179

  Devon

  187

  Dorset

  201

  Durham

  171

  East Sussex

  207

  Essex

  212

  Gloucestershire

  207

  Greater Manchester

  175

  Hampshire

  210

  Hereford and Worcester

  200

  Hertfordshire

  239

  Humberside

  177

  Isle of Wight

  189

  Kent

  203

  Lancashire

  176

  Leicestershire

  189

  Lincolnshire

  199

  London

  233

  Merseyside

  170

  Norfolk

  193

  Northamptonshire

  197

  Northumberland

  201

  North Yorkshire

  219

  Nottinghamshire

  179

  Oxfordshire

  219

  Shropshire

  197

  Somerset

  196

  South Yorkshire

  167

  Staffordshire

  186

  Suffolk

  191

  Surrey

  251

  Tyne & Wear

  163

  518

  Total household income per head by county, 1995

  £ per head per week

  Warwickshire

  210

  West Midlands

  172

  West Sussex

  219

  West Yorkshire

  179

  Wiltshire

  225

  Source:

  Regional Accounts part 2, Table 9, Economic trends no. 535, June 1998

  Departmental Assets
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the value of(a) fixed assets, property and land and (b) moveable assets owned by the Government and its agencies (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) in Scotland. [97296]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Office for National Statistics recently estimated the market value of United Kingdom public sector, tangible, non-financial assets at 31 December 1998 to be £483.3 billion. Of this, £450.3 billion represents land and property and £33 billion represents movable assets (including stocks). These estimates are published in the November edition of Economic Trends (pages 53-68). The figures are provisional and not yet formally part of the National Accounts but updated numbers are expected to be published in the 2000 edition of the National Accounts Blue Book. Separate figures for Scotland are not available.

  In addition, the National Asset Register, published in November 1997, lists all central government owned assets by Department, including the then Scottish Office, without valuations. Departments are preparing balance sheets as part of the move to Resource Accounting and Budgeting.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils in Key Stage 2 were in classes of 41 or more taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools(a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) according to the most recent available figures. [94923]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We do not have information for May 1997 but in January 1997 there were 1,020 pupils in Key Stage 2 in classes of 41 or more, in January 1998 there were 2,390, and in January 1999 there were 1,690. Primary class sizes, including those at Key Stage 2, rose consistently under the previous administration from 1988 to 1998, reflecting the spending decisions and priorities of the time. Between January 1998 and January 1999, reflecting the first budget of this administration, the number of primary pupils in classes over 30 fell from 1,411,366 to 1,278,607 and new figures for Key Stage 1 will be published shortly. The proportion of children in Key Stage 2 classes over 30 fell from 40 per cent. to 39 per cent. between January 1998 and January 1999. This information was published in the statistical volume "Statistics of Education Schools in England" earlier this year, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
  519
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local education authorities with pupils in classes of 41 or more taught by one teacher(a) in maintained secondary schools and (b) in Key Stage 2 in maintained primary schools, indicating how many such pupils there are in each case. [94926]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information is shown in the tables.

  Number of pupils in maintained secondary schools of size 41 or more taught by one teacher, January 1999

  LEA

  Number of pupils

  Blackpool

  41

  Bradford

  41

  Durham

  41

  Nottinghamshire

  41

  City of Bristol

  42

  Manchester

  42

  Northumberland

  42

  City of Plymouth

  44

  Lincolnshire

  45

  Warwickshire

  45

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  45

  Wigan

  48

  Redbridge

  51

  Bolton

  56

  Gloucestershire

  57

  Milton Keynes

  57

  Wolverhampton

  64

  Wiltshire

  66

  Bracknell Forest

  78

  Hertfordshire

  78

  Leicestershire

  99

  Herefordshire

  129

  Kent

  153

  Cumbria

  175

  England

  1,580

  Number of pupils in Key Stage 2 classes of size 41 or more taught by one teacher, January 1999

  LEA

  Number of pupils

  Blackburn with Darwen

  41

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  41

  City of Nottingham

  41

  Derby

  41

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  41

  Leicestershire

  41

  North East Lincolnshire

  41

  Northumberland

  41

  Oldham

  41

  Sefton

  41

  Staffordshire

  41

  Stockport

  41

  Cambridgeshire

  42

  Hertfordshire

  42

  Nottinghamshire

  42

  Wiltshire

  42

  Devon

  43

  Norfolk

  43

  Wirral

  43

  Havering

  54

  Bolton

  83

  Dorset

  83

  St. Helens

  83

  Halton

  87

  Lancashire

  124

  Derbyshire

  387

  England

  1,690

  520
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many pupils were in classes of 41 or more taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools(a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) according to the most recent available figures; [94925]

  (2) how many pupils were in classes of 31 or more pupils taught by one teacher in maintained schools (a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available. [95328]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We have published the following information on numbers of pupils in maintained schools in England taught by one teacher in classes of over 31 pupils and of over 41 in the statistical volume "Statistics of Education Schools in England", copies of which have been placed in the Library. We do not have information for May 1997, so we have given in the table the position in both January 1997 and January 1998. Primary and secondary class sizes rose consistently under the previous Administration from 1988 to 1998, reflecting the spending decisions and priorities of the time. The fall in the number of pupils in large classes in 1999 follows the first budget of this Administration.

  Year

  Number pupils in secondary schools in classes of 41

  Number pupils in classes of 31 in primary and secondary schools

  1997

  470

  1,589,651

  1998

  1,630

  1,693,999

  1999

  1,580

  1,591,581

  The average secondary class remains 6 smaller than the average primary class. Most secondary classes are subject related and these figures do not reflect the varied size of different sets and subject related classes. The Government, in line with Ofsted evidence and most experts, believe that they should concentrate resources on reducing infant class sizes where the numbers in classes over 30 are expected to have fallen from 477,000 in 1997 to below 200,000 in September 1999.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils were taught in classes of 41 or more in nursery classes(a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) according to the most recent figures available. [94927]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested for May 1997 is not available. In 1999, there were a total of 309 pupils in nursery classes of 41 or more where the Annual School Census reported there was one teacher and no other adult. In all cases, they were involved in activities such as PE, games, drama, music, watching TV or listening to the radio. There were no cases of normal nursery classes with a single teacher in charge of more than 40 pupils.

  The information in the following table sets out the child:adult ratio for all nursery classes with one teacher for 1997, 1998 and 1999.

  Year

  Child: adult ratio for all nursery classes with one teacher

  1997

  11.4

  1998

  11.3

  1999

  11.3

  521
  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 he will break down the figure of 6,000 extra teachers according to type of school indicating the overall net change in the number of teachers taking account of teachers who leave the profession. [96771]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Revenue grant is allocated to Local Education Authorities on condition that it is used to employ the additional teachers set out in their approved class size plans. It is for LEAs, in consultation with their schools, to draw up their plans and to determine exactly how they should be implemented. We do not therefore hold precise information breaking down the additional teachers by type of school, but approximately 60 per cent. of teachers will be employed in Community schools, 25 per cent. in VA schools, 2 per cent. in Foundation schools and the remainder in VC schools: broadly in line with the number of primary schools in each category.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the answer of 3 November 1999,Official Report, column 201, on class sizes in primary schools, what factors underlay his decision to restrict the collection of data to classes for five, six and seven-year-olds. [97932]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The September Class Size Count is designed specifically to monitor the implementation of our Infant Class Size Pledge. It also keeps to a minimum any data collection burden placed on schools and local education authorities at a very busy time of year for them.

  Good quality monitoring information is essential to the effective implementation of the Pledge, to ensure that local education authorities are carrying out their class size plans as agreed, to enable the Government to support local education authorities effectively as they do so, to inform the allocation of funding and to help to ensure that good value for public funds is achieved. The results of the count also enable us to take further action quickly at the start of the school year to promote the implementation of the pledge, if this is necessary. Since more comprehensive

  Table 1

  £000

  Year and organization

  Type of asset

  Value of asset

  1991–92

  Department for Education and Employment

  Proceeds of sale of Royal College of Art properties, re-invested in rationalisation of college accommodation

  506

  Principally proceeds of sale of Liverpool City Technology College Land

  655

  National Dock Labour Board Surplus Properties

  520

  Other properties

  170

  Skills Training Agency Asset disposals principally property

  6,674

  Total

  8,525

  Employment Service

  Principally land and buildings

  5,140

  Total

  5,140

  1992–93

  Department for Education and Employment

  Skills Training Agency Asset disposals, principally property

  343

  Land and buildings

  1,178

  Other surplus assets

  760

  Total

  2,281

  522
  information from the Annual School Census is not generally available until April, it does not serve these immediate purposes.

  Partly as a result of effective monitoring of the pledge, the Government is on target to achieve its target that no 5, 6 or 7 year old should be in an infant class of more than 30 children in virtually all schools by September 2000—18 months ahead of schedule. This September, there were 181,000 children in large infant classes, as compared to 354,000 in September 1998.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to answer the questions of 21 October from the hon. Member for Hertsmere regarding nursery class sizes, secondary school class sizes of 41 or more, classes of 31 or more in maintained schools and lists of local education authorities with classes of over 41 at Key Stage 2 and secondary level. [97885]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Replies to all of these questions have been given today, at columns 518-522.

  Departmental Estate
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish a list of assets sold by his Department and their value, by item, in each year since 1991–92; and if he will estimate the value of sales planned for(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [95645]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: The publication of a list of assets sold by the Department and their value, by item in each year since 1991–92 cannot be supplied except at a disproportionate cost to the Department. We can however supply details of total value of asset by type from 1991–92 to 1996–97 and the latter part of 1998–99 (see Table 1). Details for 1997–98 and 1998–99 up to December 1998 were given in the reply by my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Mudie) on 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 278–81.

  The estimate of the value of sales planned for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is shown in Table 2. Tables 1 and 2 set out the information for the Department and exclude non departmental public bodies and local education authorities.
  523

  Table 1

  £000

  Year and organization

  Type of asset

  Value of asset

  Employment Service

  Principally land and buildings

  3,436

  Other surplus assets

  966

  Total

  4,402

  1993–94

  Department for Education and Employment

  STA properties

  240

  Sale of land following withdrawal of City Technology College proposals

  1,592

  Other surplus assets

  12

  Total

  1,844

  Employment Service

  Principally land and buildings

  5,641

  Other surplus assets

  1,573

  Total

  7,214

  1994–95

  Department for Education and Employment

  STA properties

  1,441

  Total

  1,441

  Employment Service

  Principally land and buildings

  7,329

  Other surplus assets

  2,343

  9,672

  1995–96

  Department for Education and Employment

  STA properties

  5,521

  Total

  5,521

  Employment Service

  Principally land and buildings

  3,404

  Other surplus assets

  1,667

  Total

  5,071

  1996–97

  Department for Education and Employment

  Property

  102

  Other surplus assets

  404

  Total

  506

  January 1999-March 1999

  Department for Education and Employment

  No additional sales

  January 1999-March 1999

  Employment Service

  Land and buildings

  170

  Vehicles

  938

  Total

  1,108

  Notes:

  1. Asset details for 1997–98 published on 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 278–81.

  2. Asset details for 1998–99 (April to December 1998) published on 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 278–81.

  Table 2

  £000

  Year and organisation

  Type of asset

  Estimated value of asset

  (a) 1999–2000

  Department for Education and Employment/Employment Service

  Freehold Property

  4,700

  Vehicles, Office Machinery, Fixture and Fitting

  1,353

  Total

  6,053

  (b) 2000–01

  Department for Education and Employment/Employment Service

  Freehold Property

  4,150

  Vehicles, Office Machinery, Fixture and Fittings

  1,403

  Total

  5,553

  524

  Remploy
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the dates and venues of visits made to Remploy factories by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary. [96766]

  Ms Hodge
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment visited the Barking Remploy factory on 26 March 1999 and the Southampton Remploy factory on 10 May 1999. When she was at Southampton the Minister also met Remploy Interwork employees at their placements. In addition she has visited the Newco factory in Central London which provides supported employment for disabled people. She also receives regular feedback from senior Employment Service officials on their factory visits.

  Sex Education
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his policy on teaching five-year-olds about homosexual practices. [97101]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government do not believe such lessons are appropriate for five-year-olds.

  Teacher Training Agency
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what analysis his Department has undertaken of the impact of decisions by the Teacher Training Agency to withdraw funding from teacher training institutions on the number of primary and secondary school teachers completing initial teacher training courses; and if he will make a statement. [97269]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Teacher Training Agency (TTA) withdraws accreditation from teacher training institutions whose quality is judged by Ofsted to be unsatisfactory. Where this happens, the training places and funding are withdrawn and reallocated to high quality providers. Therefore, there should be no reduction in the number of trainees in the system as a whole, and no impact on overall numbers of primary and secondary teachers completing initial teacher training courses. The work of the TTA in improving the quality of initial teacher training is crucial to the Government's standards agenda.

  Primary Pupils (Spending)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answers of 16 April 1999,Official Report, column 381, and 1 July 1999, Official Report, column 245, on primary school pupils, if he will list the money spent per primary age pupil (a) from local education authorities, (b) from central Government and (c) in total in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99 for each local education authority ranked in descending order of total spend. [97646]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  In my reply to my hon. Friend's earlier questions to which he refers I explained that information for 1998–99 in the form in which it was requested was not yet available, and the situation is still unchanged. I will write to my hon. Friend when the figures he requests are available, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library.

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what appeal procedures will be available to teachers who are dissatisfied with their assessment under performance-related pay. [97937]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Under the proposed arrangements for the new performance threshold, heads would assess teachers against the threshold standards. Accredited external assessors would work with heads to ensure national consistency. There will be no appeals against individual threshold decisions, but unsuccessful teachers will be able to re-apply each year.

  It is envisaged that headteachers would be responsible for reviewing the outcomes of teachers' annual performance reviews, and that where governing bodies make decisions about discretionary pay awards to teachers, these would be informed by the outcome of performance reviews. The governing body would continue to have statutory responsibility for pay decisions and it is envisaged that appeals will continue to be dealt with under schools' grievance procedures.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which measures of classroom teachers' performance in assessment for performance-related pay do not relate to attainment by pupils. [97930]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently consulting on the detail of the new performance review arrangements, including the agreeing of objectives for classroom teachers. We are proposing that teacher objectives should cover pupil progress and ways of improving teachers' professional practice, including professional development. Objectives would be internal, individual and agreed with teach leaders to reflect the particular circumstances of each school. Where governing bodies make decisions about discretionary pay awards to teachers, these would be informed by the outcome of performance reviews.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the annual cost of administering performance-related pay. [97936]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The draft Performance Management Framework builds on existing good practice in schools, reinforcing current monitoring and evaluation work, and giving headteachers and line managers the tools to manage their staff effectively. Once implemented, the new arrangements will be an integral part of the management of schools. Headteachers, in common with teachers and governors, will be supported through training and guidance in all elements of the operation of the new arrangements. £20 million will be available to schools via the Standards Fund Performance Management and Threshold Training Grant to support their individual training needs. The Government are also considering arrangements for other aspects of ensuring quality such as advisers to governing bodies on heads' review and assessors for the proposed performance threshold.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his most recent estimate of the number of teachers who will pass through the threshold assessment for performance-related pay. [97935]
  527
  Ms Estelle Morris
  It is for teachers to decide whether to apply for the performance threshold. 250,000 teachers will be eligible to apply to cross the threshold at its inception next year. An additional 20,000 teachers are expected to become eligible to apply in each subsequent year. We have no set expectations of the numbers but we have made it clear that there is no quota. Over time we expect a majority of teachers to cross the threshold.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make additional funding available to(a) local education authorities and (b) individual schools with an above average number of teachers achieving threshold success following the implementation of performance-related pay. [97931]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We will establish a Special Grant to target resources for the performance threshold separate from schools' delegated budgets. All teachers assessed as meeting the national threshold standards will gain an immediate salary increase and access to an upper pay spine. Schools will be able to draw extra funds from the Special Grant via their local education authority for each teacher promoted through the threshold to the upper pay spine.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect on education spending of introducing performance-related pay over(a) the next three years, (b) the next five years and (c) the next ten years. [97934]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government have announced an extra £1 billion to meet the costs of implementing the Green Paper proposals between 2000–01 and 2001–02. Future levels of funding are a matter for decision thereafter.

  ICT
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those firms approved as registered providers of ICT to schools under the National Grid for Learning. [97771]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding reply 8 November 1999]: There is no register of firms qualified to provide ICT to schools under the National Grid for Learning. There is a list of NGfL Certified Managed Service Providers who have been awarded Framework Contracts by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTa) for the supply of managed information system services to a wide range of educational bodies. These are:

  Akhter Computers Ltd.

  Bull Information Systems Ltd.

  Centerprise International Ltd.

  Clifton Reed Consultants Ltd.

  Comtec Business Systems Ltd.

  EIS Kent

  Elonex Plc.

  Hugh Symons Group Plc.

  IBM United Kingdom Ltd.

  Research Machines Plc.

  Apple Xemplar Education Ltd.

  XMA Ltd.

  528
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the criteria used to determine which firms qualify to be registered providers of ICT in schools under the National Grid for Learning. [97772]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: There is no register of firms qualified to provide ICT to schools under the National Grid for Learning. There is a list of NGfL Certified Managed Service Providers who have been awarded Framework Contracts by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTa) for the supply of managed information system services to a wide range of educational bodies.

  The process of awarding these contracts was as follows:
  Advertising
  In accordance with the United Kingdom Public Services Contracts Regulations a Tender Notice was placed in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

  Invitation to Tender
  The criteria used to select firms to be invited to tender from amongst those submitting a Request to Participate are Economic and Financial Standing and Technical Ability.

  Tendering
  Suppliers submit tenders in response to a statement of requirements which includes minimum technical and service specifications.

  Testing of Sample Services
  Suppliers whose tenders appear to meet the minimum requirements are invited to submit Sample Services for testing.

  Supplier Selection
  The criteria for selection for award of a framework contract are the most Economically Advantageous Tenders in terms of Price, Quality, Aesthetics and Functionality, Technical Merit, Technical Back-up, After-sales Service, Running Costs and Delivery.
  BECTa is running a competition with a view to awarding further contacts on the basis of broadly the same criteria.

  Advanced Skills Teachers
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much funding has been available through the Standards Fund for the provision of advanced skills teachers in each year since its inception. [97857]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Funding available through the Standards Fund for the provision of Advanced Skills Teachers was £1.3 million in 1998–99, the first year of the new grade, and £11 million in 1999–2000. These figures include both Local Education Authority and DfEE contributions.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many advanced skills teachers are paid(a) more than £36,000, (b) more than £38,000 and (c) £40,000 per annum. [97846]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Salaries for Advanced Skills Teachers are determined by the relevant body in accordance with the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 1999. Statistical information about the salaries of Advanced Skills Teachers is not held centrally.

  Reading Ages
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current proportion
  529
  of 11-year-olds achieving a reading age appropriate to their age (a) in the last year for which figures are available and (b) two years ago in (i) England, (ii) the North West Region and (iii) Bolton. [97909]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department does not currently collect data on pupils' reading age.

  The Department collects Key Stage 2 National Curriculum test results (for pupils aged 11 years old) in English, including the results of a reading test. The expected level of attainment of 11-year-olds at the end of Key Stage 2 is level 4.

  The proportion of pupils achieving level 4 or above in the Key Stage 2 English reading tests was:

  in 1999: 81 per cent. for England, 81 per cent. for the North West Region and 81 per cent. for Bolton;

  in 1997: 67 per cent. for England, 66 per cent. for the North West Region and 67 per cent. for Bolton.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the number of school inspections carried out and the average cost of school inspections in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools for each of the last five years. [97095]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Teachers' Employment Rights
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the rights to protection against unfair dismissal enjoyed by head teachers and the legislation in which those rights are enshrined. [97093]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: Head teachers who have completed one year's service with their employer enjoy the same rights to protection against unfair dismissal as employees with a similar length of service in the vast majority of occupations. These rights are enshrined in the Employment Rights Act 1996. In addition head teachers, along with other school staff, enjoy a further statutory protection under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the Education (School Government) (England) Regulations 1999. These provide for the governing body of a maintained school to make arrangements for giving any person whom they propose to dismiss an opportunity of making representations to a committee of governors taking the decision, and to afford an opportunity of appealing against a dismissal decision to a separate committee of governors.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of international examples of best practice with regard to teachers' employment rights; and what examples exist of teachers being subject to dismissal by bodies or individuals other than their employers. [97094]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 8 November 19991]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made no separate assessment of international best practice with regard to teachers' employment rights. Teachers are
  530
  subject to the same framework of employment rights as employees generally, and it would not be sensible to assess teachers' rights in isolation.

  Teachers are community, community special and voluntary controlled schools are subject to dismissal by their local education authority on the recommendation of the school's governing body. However, governing bodies are accountable to Employment Tribunals for their decisions by virtue of the Education (Modification of Enactments Relating to Employment) Order 1999.

  School Admissions
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by local education authority(a) the number of admission appeals held to date under the current admissions regulations and (b) the current number of surplus school places; and if he will make a statement on the continuing role of local education authorities in setting school admissions policies for their areas. [97096]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: The current system for dealing with admission appeals began on 1 September, when we also published statutory guidance in the new Code of Practice on School Admission Appeals. The first set of figures for appeals under this system, for the year ending August 2000, will be available in July 2001. The latest available statistics on admission appeals for 1997–98 by Local Education Authority can be found in Statistical First Release 19/1999, Admission Appeals for Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools by Local Education Authority area in England 1997–98, a copy of which is in the Library. Overall, 53,370 admission appeals were heard during the 1997–98 academic year, with 20,316 decided in favour of parents.

  Surplus places figures are collected annually providing a summary of the level of surplus as at January of that year. For the position as at January 1998 I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Lorna Fitzsimons) on the 4 February 1999, Official Report, columns 709-14. New figures as at January 1999 will be published shortly and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Local Education Authority is the admission authority for community and voluntary controlled schools. Foundation and voluntary aided schools are responsible for their own admissions. The Act ensures that admissions authorities consult with each other within the relevant area. Where there are disputes, these are a matter for the Schools Adjudicator rather than the Local Education Authority. The Local Education Authority is required to provide parents with a booklet setting out the details of all the admissions policies of schools in their area in order to help parents choose their preferred school.

  Headteachers and Local Education Authorities are encouraged to work together in local admissions forums to discuss admission arrangements and develop a common timetable to assist parents. Many Local Education Authorities have already established Admissions Forums, and many more have plans to do so.

  Infant Teachers
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers were in post in infant classes in(a) January 1998 and (b) January 1999. [97757]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: We do not collect information on the number of teachers in post in infant classes.

  The available information relates to the number of teachers employed in all classes in maintained primary and nursery schools and is shown in the table.

  January each year

  Number of teachers

  1999

  200,400

  1998

  198,400

  532
  The figures are derived from the annual return about teachers in service made by local education authorities.

  We have provided funding for 4,500 extra teachers from September 1999 to implement our infant class size pledge. Of this number, 1,500 had been funded from September 1998 as well.

WALES

  Fireworks
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to restrict the periods of(a) display and (b) sale of fireworks to the period immediately preceding 5 November and the new Millennium. [97898]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  These are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Human Rights and European Institutions
  Human Rights and European Institutions
  Council of Europe Treaties: Ratification
  Council of Europe Treaties: Ratification
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Expenditure Limit
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Expenditure Limit
  Kosovo Campaign Analysis
  Kosovo Campaign Analysis
  River Danube: Clearance
  River Danube: Clearance
  Outer Space
  Outer Space
  Montenegro and Serbia: Relations
  Montenegro and Serbia: Relations
  Serbia: Iraqi Delegation's Visit
  Serbia: Iraqi Delegation's Visit
  China: Human Rights
  China: Human Rights
  Pakistan: Locally Engaged Staff in Diplomatic Posts
  Pakistan: Locally Engaged Staff in Diplomatic Posts
  Mr Zeljko Kopanja: Attempted Murder
  Mr Zeljko Kopanja: Attempted Murder
  Chechnya Conflict
  Chechnya Conflict
  Turkish Kurds: Human Rights
  Turkish Kurds: Human Rights
  European Convention on Human Rights: Protocol 7
  European Convention on Human Rights: Protocol 7
  IRA Cease-fire
  IRA Cease-fire
  RUC Victims of Terrorist Action: Compensation
  RUC Victims of Terrorist Action: Compensation
  Northern Ireland: Import of Illegal Drugs
  Northern Ireland: Import of Illegal Drugs
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Guardian Article
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Guardian Article
  Channel Islands and Isle of Man: Human Rights Legislation
  Channel Islands and Isle of Man: Human Rights Legislation
  Special Constabulary
  Special Constabulary
  Asylum Applications Outstanding
  Asylum Applications Outstanding
  Prisons: Visiting Ministers of Religion
  Prisons: Visiting Ministers of Religion
  WTO Agreement on Agriculture
  WTO Agreement on Agriculture
  IACS: Appeal Arrangements
  IACS: Appeal Arrangements
  Women's Refuges
  Women's Refuges
  Incapacity Benefit Abatement Exemptions
  Incapacity Benefit Abatement Exemptions
  Incapacity Benefit Substitution for Severe Disablement Allowance
  Incapacity Benefit Substitution for Severe Disablement Allowance
  Organophosphates: Committee on Toxicity Report
  Organophosphates: Committee on Toxicity Report
  Department of Health: Expenditure Limit
  Department of Health: Expenditure Limit
  Beef Hormones and the Precautionary Principle
  Beef Hormones and the Precautionary Principle
  Special Educational Needs Pupils
  Special Educational Needs Pupils