Written Answers of 25 November 1999

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Departmental Transport
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years. [98710]

  Mr. Byers
  All travel undertaken by DTI civil servants complies with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code. The Department maintains records on the travel and subsistence costs of civil servants, but does not break down separately the transport component of this. Budgets for travel and subsistence for DTI civil servants totalled £12.9 million in 1997–98 and £13.0 million in 1998–99.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to(a) Ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years. [98711]

  Mr. Byers
  When travelling on official business, Ministers may use a private car instead of an official car, and claim mileage allowances in the same circumstances and on the same terms as civil servants within the DTI. Ministers and civil servants using their own vehicles for official business may claim the following Fixed Profit Car Scheme (FPCS) mileage rates (pence per mile):

  Pence per mile

  Car engine size

  Up to 4,000 miles (standard rate)

  Over 4,000 miles (lower standard rate)

  Up to 1500cc

  35

  20

  1501–2000cc

  45

  25

  Over 2000cc

  48

  34

  The DTI does not record expenditure on motor mileage separately from other travel and subsistence expenses paid when civil servants or Ministers undertake official business. To provide the information requested would entail disproportionate cost.

  Business Closures
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have gone out of business since May 1997. [98639]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 22 November 1999]There are no official statistics on the number of business closures. Collating them would impose too great a burden on business. Quarterly estimates from Barclays Bank show that there were 922,000 business closures in England and Wales in the 27 months between April 1997 164W
  and June 1999. This is the lowest total of any such period since 1990, and 26 per cent. lower than when closures peaked in the early 1990s.

  Other indicators confirm that business closures are lower than in previous years. There have been 97,700 company and individual insolvencies in England and Wales since April 1997, 32 per cent. fewer than when insolvencies peaked in the early 1990s. There were 155,900 VAT de-registrations in the UK in 1998, a fall of 5 per cent. on 1997 and the lowest total for five years.

  WTO Seattle Round
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the implementation of the OECD guidelines on multi-national enterprises will be on the agenda of November's WTO Seattle Round. [99247]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 23 November 1999]: The OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises are under review in the OECD. There will be a report on the progress made for the OECD ministerial meeting in June 2000. Progress so far in the working group tasked with carrying out the review has been good, with broad agreement on how to bring the text of the Guidelines more up to date. There is also broad agreement that there has to be more effective implementation and wider dissemination of the Guidelines. We believe that the results of the review will make the Guidelines of greater relevance and use for business, other organisations and governments alike.

  Synchrotron
  Ms Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure an informed decision on the site for the new synchrotron. [99739]

  Mr. Byers
  I have considered the issues carefully and it is clear to me that on scientific and financial grounds the choice of a site for the new synchrotron lies between the two main sites of the Central Laboratory for the Research Councils: the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. There has been a number of studies looking at the project proposals and the sites. At the same time, however, the project has been evolving, for example with the announcement in August of the French Government's participation in the project and changing views on capacity requirements and technical solutions. I am, therefore, commissioning two further studies to inform a final decision on the site.

  First, I have asked the Director General of Research Councils to seek the views of synchrotron users on what they see as the key issues of relevance to a decision on the site for the new synchrotron.

  Second, we will be commissioning an external engineering survey and report on the two potential sites for the new synchrotron. I have asked for this report by early January to enable me to make a final decision in the light of all the evidence and announce it by mid January.

  Consultants
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been spent by his
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  Department on external consultants and advisers since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs. [99484]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 24 November 1999]Information on the budgets used for engaging consultants is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Bilateral Concordat
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the bilateral Concordat between his Department and the Scottish Executive. [100334]

  Mr. Byers
  The First Minister and I have today agreed the text of the Concordat between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Scottish Executive. Copies of the Concordat have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and the text will be available on the Department of Trade and Industry website.

PRIME MINISTER

  Intelligence and Security Committee
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to lay the Intelligence and Security Committee's Annual report before Parliament. [99858]

  The Prime Minister
  I am grateful to the Intelligence and Security Committee for their valuable work and their latest annual report. Following consultation with them over matters which could not be published without prejudicing the continuing operation of the intelligence and security agencies, I have today laid the report before Parliament. Copies of the report have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The Government will respond formally to the report shortly.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  External Consultants
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisers since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs. [99490]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 24 November 1999]My Department has spent a total of £1,242,998, all from my Department's running costs.

  Tourism Summit
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for the Tourism Summit planned for the year 2000, as set out in the Government's tourism strategy document, "Tomorrow's Tourism". [100332]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The first Tourism Summit will be held in London on 1 March 2000. It will be a small and businesslike meeting of key Ministers and top industry 166W
  representatives to review progress in implementing "Tomorrow's Tourism" and to decide what more Government should do to help the sustainable growth of tourism. It will be an important stage in a wider process of reviewing progress in partnership with the industry, particularly through the reconstituted Tourism Forum. We will publish the outcome of the Summit in due course.

  Bilateral Concordat
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to publish the bilateral concordat between his Department and the Scottish Executive. [100333]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I am pleased to announce that the concordat between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Scottish Executive has now been agreed. Copies of the concordat have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and the text will also be available on the Department's website.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Bus Route 32
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the extent of(a) improvements in regularity and punctuality of service and (b) compliance with bus lane regulations, as the result of the pilot enforcement measures being tested on bus route 32 on the A5/Edgware Road corridor. [99277]

  Mr. Hill
  The intensive bus lane enforcement being piloted on bus route 32 is showing positive results:

  (a) in rush hour traffic, London Transport Buses have reported bus journeys up to 11 per cent. faster; and,

  (b) after four weeks the boroughs involved had reported a reduction in illegally parked vehicles of between 35 per cent. to 50 per cent.

  Millennium Dome (Park and Ride)
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what options are being considered for the long-term use of the Millennium Dome park-and-ride sites. [98966]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 22 November 1999]: Although the Millennium Experience will be a car free event, it is acknowledged that some visitors will wish to make the first leg of their journey by car. The New Millennium Experience Company is therefore to manage a small number of formal park-and-ride facilities around London at which a limited number of visitors each day, who pre-book in advance, will be able to leave their vehicles before completing their journey on convenient public transport links.

  Whether in existing car parks or in specifically created sites, the park-and-ride capacity is temporary and required only for the duration of the Millennium Experience. The New Millennium Experience Company is not therefore considering options for the longer-term use of these sites.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government are taking to improve the quality of bathing water. [99211]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government have pressed for concerted action by the Environment Agency and the water companies to improve bathing water quality. This year compliance with the mandatory coliform bacteria standards of the Bathing Water Directive in England was the best ever, at 90.3 per cent. The Government also wants substantial additional investment under the current periodic review of water prices in England and Wales to increase mandatory compliance to 97 per cent. by 2005, together with a significant increase in compliance with the more stringent, guideline standards.

  Greenhouse Gases (Aircraft)
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to include aircraft emissions in the UK greenhouse gases totals; and if he will make a statement. [99243]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 23 November 1999]: Published UK greenhouse gas totals include emissions from domestic aviation. Emissions from international aviation are also reported with the UK greenhouse gas inventory, but are not included in the UK total in accordance with international guidelines. The allocation to countries of greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation is under consideration by the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in consultation with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

  Water Pricing
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further guidance he has given the Director General of Water Services in the context of his periodic review of water company price limits. [100178]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Director General of Water Services, Ian Byatt, is currently engaged in a periodic review of water company price limits in England and Wales between April 2000 and March 2005. As part of the review, the Director General sought guidance from Ministers on the environmental and drinking water quality requirements to be placed on water companies during this period. This is an essential element in establishing the extent of companies' investment programmes and in turn enabling the Director General to fulfil his statutory duty to set price limits which enable the companies to finance the proper carrying out of their functions.

  In September 1998, the Government published "Raising the Quality", which set the strategic framework of environmental and quality standards for each of the main areas of investment. In March of this year, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate published material which had been endorsed by Ministers, setting out detailed requirements for each company at the level of individual investment schemes. In July, the Director General published draft price determinations and
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  set out the assumptions on which these were based, including the size of the investment programme in each company.

  One area which has been the subject of subsequent debate is the size and phasing of the environmental programme. I have looked again at the programmes of each of the nine large water and sewerage companies in England. In the case of seven of these companies (Anglian, Northumbrian, North West, Severn Trent, Thames, Wessex and Yorkshire Water) I have reconfirmed my original guidance that the entire agreed investment programme should be completed by March 2005. This encompasses work on improving rivers and unsatisfactory intermittent discharges and in upgrading coastal sewerage and sewage treatment systems. For Southern Water, I have again reconfirmed my earlier guidance that the agreed investment programme should be completed by March 2005, save for a small proportion of the programme to improve rivers.

  The size of the investment programme for South West Water deserves special consideration, given the level of water bills in comparison to the remainder of the country and the scale of the environmental requirements which are necessary or desirable, particularly for coastal sewerage discharges. I have considered carefully the investment package which underlay the draft determination proposed by the Director General and have concluded that this strikes the appropriate balance between the pace of environmental improvements and the burden on water bill payers. I have also accepted the Director General's advice that a large scheme proposed by Wessex Water, designed to address low flow problems in the Hampshire Avon area deserves further study to identify the most cost-effective solution. A scheme will need to go ahead in the pricing period to address the environmental problems, once the studies are complete.

  I have asked the Director General, in his final determinations, to phase the investment programmes sensibly, taking into account my stated environmental priorities, such as the early improvement of large continuous coastal sewage discharges, together with schemes to benefit key bathing and shellfish waters, within the constraints presented by the need to ensure efficient financing and practical delivery. Further discussions will be necessary between water companies and the Environ ment Agency before the timings of individual schemes are finalised.

  The Director General also identified 63 of over 550 schemes designed to improve the quality of rivers, which he recommended should receive further study in terms of their costs and benefits before they go ahead. The Environment Agency has advised that for 14 of these schemes, the evidence suggests that no investment is necessary during the pricing period, given the current performance of the treatment works involved, while a significantly less expensive option has already been identified for one more scheme. On this basis I plan to instruct the Agency to take these 15 schemes forward. I intend to ask the Environment Agency to explore in more detail the benefits of the remaining schemes and to set them out in a way which will allow Ministers to judge these against improved information on costs from Ofwat and the companies concerned.
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  Improvement of the water environment is an urgent priority. This package demonstrates the Government's firm commitment to protecting the environment and delivery the objectives of sustainable development, including recognising the burden placed on water bill payers. The focus now shifts to the Environment Agency and water companies as they work together to deliver these improvements.

  This programme confirms my intention to press ahead with an unprecedented water quality programme which will make England's water—whether for drinking, recreation or for the support of biodiversity—cleaner and purer than it was ever before.

  I have written to the Chairman of the Environment Agency today with further details of the agreed environmental improvement programme. A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  The Director General of Water Services will announce his final price determinations for the period 2000–05 on 25 November.

  External Consultants
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been spent by his Department on external consultants and advisers since May 1997 funded from (i) his Department's programme provision and (ii) his Department's running costs. [99483]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 24 November 1999]: Estimated expenditure on external consultants by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, funded from programme provisions and running costs since May 1997 to 30 October 1999:

  £ million

  Year

  DETR spend on external consultants

  Programme provision

  May 1997–March 1998

  2.65

  April 1998–March 1999

  2.37

  April 1999–October 1999

  0.01

  Running costs

  May 1997–March 1999

  7.19

  April 1998–March 1999

  8.2

  April 1999–October 1999

  3.03

  Waste Packaging
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of recent consultation on changes to the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997. [100179]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have considered the advice of the Advisory Committee on Packaging as set out in Sir Peter Parker's letter to me of 22 December 1998, in particular as this relates to changing the percentage activity obligations for each of the four main sectors of the packaging chain. Following consultation on these proposed changes and other matters, and subject to Parliamentary approval, I propose to make a number of changes to the Regulations as set out.170W
  (i) As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Elmet on 28 January 1999, Official Report, columns 335–37, I have accepted the advice of the Advisory Committee on Packaging to change the percentage activity obligations and I have now consulted on this recommendation more widely. I therefore propose to change the percentage activity obligations of three of the four main sectors in the packaging chain as follows:
  Reduction in the convertor obligation from 11 per cent. to 9 per cent.
  Increase in the packer/filler obligation from 36 per cent. to 37 per cent.
  Increase in the seller obligation from 47 per cent. to 48 per cent.
  The recent consultation paper discussed the option of requiring compliance plans from individually registered businesses. The Regulations currently require operational plans to be provided by compliance schemes to the relevant Agency showing how, over three years, they propose to meet the recovery and recycling obligations of their members. Earlier advice from the Advisory Committee on Packaging on this point recommended that, where there is a significant number of individually registered businesses, they, too should plan ahead and give thought to the steps that would need to be taken to meet the mandatory Directive in 2001. In 1998, there were some 890 individual registrations with the Agencies and some 800 in 1999.
  I am also aware that there has been concern among businesses who are members of compliance schemes that there would be a higher rate of non-compliance among businesses pursuing this individual route. For 1998 this proved to be true, with around 200 individually registered businesses failing to provide compliance certificates as required and a number of these failing to take steps to comply with the recovery and recycling obligations. I believe that it is important that all those obligated under the Regulations should have to consider what infrastructural development might be needed to enable the UK to meet the mandatory Directive targets in 2001. At the same time, I am concerned to ensure that smaller businesses should not be faced with disproportionate administrative burdens. I am therefore proposing that businesses registered individually with an Agency who have annual turnover of more than £5 million, should provide a compliance plan to the relevant Agency upon registration and update this annually. We will be looking carefully at the new requirement in its first year of implementation to assess its effectiveness in improving compliance and the associated administrative burdens.
  (iii) In my reply to the hon. Member on 28 January 1999, I announced that the financial turnover threshold test for 2000 would be "more than £2 million" thus excluding smaller businesses in the £1 million to £2 million turnover range from the scope of the Regulations. The recent consultation document discussed a number of threshold test scenarios to see whether it was going to be possible to exclude a further number of smaller businesses. However, the Government's view is that the optimum balance of costs and benefits is to be achieved by continuing with the proposed "over £2 million" financial turnover and "over 50 tonnes" packaging handled. I am glad to confirm that these are the two threshold tests that will apply from 1.1.2000 as this will exclude a number of smaller businesses from the scope of the Regulations.
  (iv) In my reply to the hon. Member referred to above I also noted that the fee charged by the Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency would rise to £900. Since that fee was calculated in mid-1998, the Agencies have had further experience of the monitoring that is required and have had feed-back from business as to the sort of monitoring programme that is wanted to ensure that free-riding does not provide some businesses with a competitive advantage and does not inhibit the achievement of the Directive targets in 2001. The Agencies fee will therefore rise to £950 with effect from 1.1.2000.
  The Competition Act 1998 comes into force on 1 March 2000. As a result, the Government is proposing to simplify the Regulations and remove the special competition scrutiny

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  regime to which those who propose to establish a compliance scheme are subject. All compliance schemes and individual businesses will, in any case, be subject to the Competition Act 1998 and the Office of Fair Trading can still investigate any compliance scheme which seems likely to have an anti-competitive effect.

  Aircraft Detritus
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the damage to Holy Trinity Primary School in Richmond caused by a block of ice falling from an aircraft on 19 November; and if he will make a statement on the action his Department takes to prevent such incidents [99647]

  Mr. Mullin
  My Department has not received any such representations. Nor has the incident been reported to the Civil Aviation Authority.

  Most icefalls from aircraft are due to ice which has formed on the outside of the aircraft detaching itself as it descends into warmer air. The accumulation of ice may be caused by atmospheric conditions, or it may occur due to leakage from a faulty seal on one of the hose sockets used to load or unload liquid to the aircraft. Incidents are rare in relation to the volume of air traffic. In the last 12 months, 24 incidents have been recorded of icefall and 16 of other falling objects; this level of occurrence has not risen in the last five years, despite significant increases in traffic over that period.

  The Government take seriously all occurrences of ice and debris falling from an aircraft. The primary way to tackle the problem is to ensure that regulations on the safe manufacture and operation of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) aircraft are adhered to. There are many such regulations: for example, before aircraft can be entered on national registers they must meet the appropriate standards for design and construction of aircraft, including resistance to leakage of on-board water or toilet systems which is cause of the build up of ice on the exterior of aircraft.

  The CAA will investigate icefall incidents if possible, but it is not an easy process and it is extremely rare to confirm the origin of an icefall. The main focus has to be on striving to reduce the number of icefalls by encouraging the aviation industry to improve the relevant systems and procedures.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the outcome of the consultation on the revaluation of non-domestic rates in April 2000. [100220]

  Ms Armstrong
  Businesses have overwhelmingly supported the need for a transitional relief scheme to phase in changes in business rate bills, as proposed in our recent consultation paper. Following that consultation, I am pleased that we can announce today limits on the size of annual increases over all five years of the new rating list.
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  Rate bills will fall for many properties, while others will see only modest increases. The transitional relief scheme will place maximum limits on any larger increases, with additional protection given to small properties.

  The largest possible increase in bills for small non-domestic properties will be 5 per cent. in real terms in 2000–01, rising to 7.5 per cent. in each of the following four years. The threshold for these small properties will be increased to a rateable value of less than £12,000 (or £18,000 in London). The equivalent limits on bill increases for all larger properties will be 12.5 per cent. in real terms in 2000–01, 15 per cent. in 2001–02 and 17.5 per cent. in each of the following three years.

  Small properties will also be given preferential treatment on the limits on the amount by which rate bills can fall in any year. Their bills will be allowed to decrease by up to 5 per cent. in real terms in the first two years, up to 10 per cent. in the third, 12.5 per cent. in the fourth and 25 per cent. in the last year. Decreases for all larger properties will be limited to 2.5 per cent. in real terms in the first two years, and 5 per cent. in the third, 7.5 per cent. in the fourth and 15 per cent. in the last year.

  Revaluation does not mean that more money will be raised from the rates, since the rates multiplier (or poundage) will be reduced next year to take account of the increase in rateable value across the country. What it does mean is that the rate burden will be distributed more fairly, reflecting changes in the property market since 1995.

  A number of responses to the consultation paper called on the Government to review the current system of business rate revaluation. We agree that such a review is needed. This will not be a fundamental review of the business rate, but it will look for ways of improving the approach to valuation in order to increase stability, certainty and simplicity in the system, including changes to the frequency of valuations. The details of the review will be announced in due course.

DEFENCE

  Defence Statistics
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment is included in table 1.13 of the UK Defence Statistics 1999. [98484]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The commodity breakdown in table 1.3 of "UK Defence Statistics 1999" is compiled from Customs and Excise data. Further details are given in the notes to the table and in Defence Statistics Bulletin 4, a copy of which is available in the House Library. A detailed breakdown of the equipment headings for each year in table 1.3 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Heavy Lift Aircraft
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Boeing C-17 airlifter as a potential solution to the heavy lift requirement of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.[98726]
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  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Boeing C-17 is one of several options being considered to meet the RAF's requirement for heavy lift for both the short and long-term needs. We have yet to complete our assessment and I would not wish to anticipate the outcome.

  I hope to be able to make an announcement in the new year.

  Procurement
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment is included in table 9 of the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. [98487]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The list of major equipments in Table 9 of the 1998 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls is taken from the UK's contribution to the UN Arms Register. The categories "Other Weapons including Small Arms" and "Total Value" are both taken from information collected by HM Customs and Excise. A list of the EU Customs Tariff Codes used in compiling the "Total Value" information is contained in Appendix B to the Report. The category of "Other Weapons including Small Arms" is made up of the goods listed under the three tariff codes 9301 0000 (military weapons, including artillery weapons, continuous rapid-fire weapons, rifles and carbines, and other projectile weapons), 9302 0010 (revolvers and pistols, 9mm calibre and higher) and 9302 0090 (revolvers and pistols below 9mm calibre).

  A more detailed breakdown of the equipment included could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Trigat Missiles
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost of the Medium-Range Trigat missiles to be delivered in 2003. [99417]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Our current estimate of the cost of Medium-Range Trigat missiles to be delivered in 2003 is £19 million.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current programme for the industrialisation and production phases of the Trigat-MR ATGW; what changes have been made to the programme since 1 January; and if the project is on schedule; [99440]

  (2) which countries have signed an agreement to participate in the industrialisation phase of the Trigat-MR ATGW programme; which countries he expects to sign; and on what date; [99438]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) the cost and (b) the delivery programme of the Trigat should (i) the Netherlands, (ii) Belgium and (iii) both these countries withdraw from the programme. [99439]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Germany, France and UK, as the major participants in the programme, have signed the MR Trigat Industrialisation and Production Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Netherlands and Belgium have still to sign and we expect decisions to be made by both nations by early 2000, once their Governmental and Parliamentary procedures are complete. We are not able to give precise dates for these signatures.
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  All the participating nations have planned on the basis of a five nation collaborative programme. As such any assessment of the impacts on cost and time of one or more nations withdrawing would be speculative and much would depend on the views of the remaining nations and of industry.

  The industrialisation phase of the MR Trigat is programmed to finish in late 2002. The production phase will begin shortly thereafter and is expected to complete in 2013. The UK expects to complete its acceptance trials by the summer of 2003 and the equipment's forecast in-service date is June 2005. Despite the delay in signing of the MOU by the Netherlands and Belgium, we are assured by industry that work is continuing at their own risk. This keeps the project on schedule to meet the UK's in-service date.

  As regards changes in the programme since 1 January 1999, the key events have been UK signature of the MOU on 10 June 1999 and completion of contract negotiations on 30 August 1999.

  Royal Navy (Women)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women members of the Royal Navy were serving at sea on 1 November. [99525]

  Mr. Spellar
  The number of women in the Naval Service serving at sea on 1 November 1999 was 784.

  Tornado Incident
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the loss of an RAF Tornado off the coast of East Lothian on 17 November; if he will ensure that the inquiry into this incident includes consideration of the extent of exclusion zones around nuclear installations; and if he will publish the inquiry report when it is completed. [99533]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  A Board of Inquiry is under way to establish the cause of this accident. The safety of nuclear power stations is a matter for the nuclear industry, which would approach us to review the extent of avoidances if they thought that insufficient safety margins existed. Once the Board of Inquiry is complete, a Military Aircraft Accident Summary of the Board's report will be produced and placed in the Library of the House in the normal way.

  Service Women
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which posts in the Infantry and Royal Armoured Corps women are excluded from; and by what criteria his Department makes decisions as to which posts are open only to men. [99326]

  Mr. Spellar
  All cap-badged posts in the Regular Infantry and Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps are presently closed to women, on the ground of combat effectiveness. Women can, however, serve in all deployable posts that are attached to Regular Infantry and Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps units (for example, as a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers cap-badged Light Aid Detachment). The Government are wholly committed to maximising employment opportunities for women in the Armed Forces,
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  and to this end the Army is currently conducting a study into the effects of gender upon combat effectiveness, which is due to report to Ministers in 2001.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Drug Producers
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made by her Department in implementing alternative development in drug-producing regions of drug-producing countries. [99249]

  Clare Short
  Our Strategy for alternative development drug producing areas is set out in "Illicit Drugs and the Development Assistance Programme", a copy of which is in the Library. My Department is currently funding alternative development in the lower Huallaga valley in Peru and in the Chapare region of Bolivia through the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP). We have also been funding a project in the Dir district of Pakistan.

  There have been substantial reductions of coca in the Chapare region during 1998 and farm plans for agricultural diversification and soil conservation have been developed with farmers and are now being implemented. The project also involves several micro-projects, including strengthening women's groups and providing micro-credit to help the women produce flowers, vegetables and honey. Work in the Lower Huallaga valley is still in the early planning stages. The opium poppy has been virtually eliminated in the Dir district, partly through the introduction of alternative crops and development infrastructure.

  Sudan
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what education projects her Department is supporting in Southern Sudan; and if she will make a statement. [99239]

  Clare Short
  We are not funding any education projects in Southern Sudan. Britain suspended bilateral aid to Sudan in 1991 following concern about the Government of Sudan's Policies on Human Rights, international issues and the continuing civil war. Substantial support for United Nations and NGO emergency programmes in Sudan continues. Sudan also benefits from DFID' s Civil Society Challenge (Global) Fund, which provides matching funding for a World University Service education initiative with the displaced of Sudan.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firefighters
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the terms of reference of the Inquiry which he is establishing into the machinery for determining firefighters' conditions of service; and who will be undertaking it. [100430]
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  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The terms of reference of the Inquiry are:"To consider whether, and if so, what changes need to be made to the present procedures for determining the conditions of service (other than pay) and the working practices of firefighters employed by local authorities' fire brigades so as to secure best value, fairness at work, and effective procedures for the settling of disputes, and to report to the Secretary of State."

  The Inquiry will be undertaken by Professor Frank Burchill, Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Keele

  Professor Burchill will shortly be writing to interested parties seeking written evidence by 31 January 2000. I have asked Professor Burchill to let me have his report and recommendations by 31 March 2000.

  Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to consult on the regulations which he plans to put in place under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. [100431]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today placed in the Library copies of a consultation paper which sets out our proposals for those regulations which we intend to put in place under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. We are also sending copies of the document direct to interested groups and will make it available on the internet. The consultation period will end on 14 January 2000.

  Police Grant
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce the allocations of police grant for individual police authorities in England and Wales for 2000–01. [100432]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today placed a copy of my proposals for the allocation of police grant for 2000–01 in the Library. I intend to implement these proposals subject to consideration of any representation I receive about them and to approval by the House.

  I am proposing to continue to allocate the greater part of police grant according to the police funding formula. I announced in my reply to the right hon. Member for East Devon (Sir P. Emery) on 2 November 1999, Official Report, column 118W, that I did not intend to make any changes to the funding formula in 2000–01.

  I am proposing that the Metropolitan Police Service should continue to receive additional funding in recognition of its distinct national and capital city functions. It has proved very difficult for the principal formula to take account of these special circumstances. As in previous years, a special payment of grant will be made to the Metropolitan Police Service over and above that available through the principal formula. I have set the amount of this special payment at £182 million.

  In addition, I am proposing to make special payments of grant to the following police authorities in 2000–01 in

  177W
  recognition of the additional costs which will be incurred as a result of the changes to the Metropolitan Police District boundaries:

  £ million

  Essex

  1.25

  Hertfordshire

  2.75

  Metropolitan Police

  0.50

  Surrey

  5.50

  Other police funding proposals within the local government finance system are being announced today by my right hon. Friend the Member for North-West Durham (Ms Armstrong) and by the National Assembly for Wales. These proposals and mine would increase Total Standard Spending on the police in England and Wales by 3 per cent. or around £212 million over 1999–2000.

  I have also announced that new money will be made available through the Crime Fighting Fund to recruit 5,000 more police officers over and above the number forces would otherwise have recruited over the next three years commencing in April 2000. £35 million will be ring-fenced for this purpose in year one, with further sums being made available in years two and three. This money will be ring-fenced for front-line policing.

  The settlement also takes account of my commitment to improve police efficiency. I have set a target of 2 per cent. efficiency gains year on year for the police service from 1999–2000. By achieving these targets in 2000–01, police authorities can reinvest the savings to help meet front-line policing priorities. Police grant allocations in 2001–02 will depend on police authorities meeting the 2 per cent. efficiency targets which have been set. Authorities which fail to achieve the efficiency gain sought may be subject to an appropriate deduction from their resources.

  I expect police authorities in England to exercise restraint and sound financial management by setting budgets that are responsible, prudent and reasonable. We shall be monitoring the position very carefully. The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for exercising reserve powers to limit council tax increases in Wales.

  The effect of my proposals for each police authority for 2000–01 is set out in the table. It also shows the allocations approved by Parliament for 1999–2000.

  £ million

  Allocation1

  Police authority

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  English Shire forces

  Avon and Somerset

  168.4

  173.7

  Bedfordshire

  61.4

  64.1

  Cambridgeshire

  74.8

  77.2

  Cheshire

  109.0

  111.9

  Cleveland

  81.7

  84.7

  Cumbria

  60.1

  62.2

  Derbyshire

  102.1

  105.4

  Devon and Cornwall

  174.3

  178.9

  Dorset

  70.1

  72.4

  Durham

  81.3

  83.9

  Essex4

  163.0

  174.8

  Gloucestershire

  62.4

  63.5

  Hampshire

  194.5

  202.7

  Hertfordshire4

  100.0

  117.3

  178W

  £ million

  Allocation1

  Police authority

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Humberside

  113.0

  116.9

  Kent

  183.1

  191.2

  Lancashire

  178.2

  185.3

  Leicestershire

  102.3

  105.6

  Lincolnshire

  63.4

  65.4

  Norfolk

  83.4

  86.5

  North Yorkshire

  77.6

  79.7

  Northamptonshire

  65.3

  67.7

  Nottinghamshire

  126.3

  130.0

  Staffordshire

  113.0

  116.7

  Suffolk

  68.6

  70.9

  Surrey4

  91.9

  112.9

  Sussex

  166.4

  172.5

  Thames Valley

  224.6

  231.8

  Warwickshire

  52.2

  54.3

  West Mercia

  113.0

  117.2

  Wiltshire

  64.9

  66.7

  English Metropolitan forces

  Greater Manchester

  375.7

  386.0

  Merseyside

  236.3

  242.2

  Northumbria

  213.0

  218.4

  South Yorkshire

  171.3

  177.2

  West Midlands

  380.6

  392.7

  West Yorkshire

  286.3

  297.1

  London forces

  Metropolitan Police2, 4

  1,743.9

  1,732.2

  City of London3

  55.4

  56.5

  English Total

  6,852.8

  7,046.2

  Welsh forces

  Dyfed-Powys

  51.7

  53.1

  Gwent

  69.7

  71.9

  North Wales

  75.5

  77.4

  South Wales

  163.8

  167.6

  Welsh Total

  360.8

  370.1

  Total

  7,213.6

  7,416.3

  1Rounded to the nearest £100,000. The Allocation is the sum of Police Grant, Transitional Grant, Police SSA, Capital Finance SSA, SSA Reduction Grant and Central Support Protection Grant.

  2Figures for the Metropolitan Police does not include funding allocated to the Receiver under the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services SSA for school crossing patrols. Magistrates' Courts and the Probation Service. It does include its Special Payment.

  3Figure for the City includes Police SSA, Grant and SSA Reduction Grant, but excludes other SSAs (e.g. Capital Financing) and Central Support Protection Grant. These are allocated to the Common Council of the City of London as a whole in respect of all its functions.

  4These authorities will be affected by the changes to police force boundaries around London on 1 April 2000. To provide comparison, indicative 1999–2000 totals for these authorities as on the new boundaries are Essex: £169.8 million, Hertfordshire: £114.3 million, Surrey: £113.6 million and Metropolitan Police: £1,701.9 million.

  4 These authorities will be affected by the changes to police force boundaries around London on 1 April 2000. To provide comparison, indicative 1999–2000 totals for these authorities as on the new boundaries are Essex: £169.8 million, Hertfordshire: £114.3 million, Surrey: £113.6 million and Metropolitan Police: £1,701.9 million.

  Asylum Applicants (Support)
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he will make for the payment of £50 per person for all asylum applicants who remain in the new support system for more than six months. [100433]

  Mr. Straw
  I announced during the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Bill that where asylum seekers remained on the main support system in part VI of the
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  Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (which is due to come into effect on 1 April) for more than six months through no fault of their own, they would be eligible for an additional payment of £50 per person in order to obtain replacement items such as clothes, shoes and other essentials. This payment will not be available to those who are on the statutory interim arrangements (in schedule 9 to the Act), nor will it apply to those who are in receipt of social security benefits. The six-month period will not begin until an asylum seeker has been accepted for support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

  Asylum seekers will need to apply for the additional provision setting out the length of time that they have been in the support system and indicating the items which they need to replace. This information will act as a prompt to the payment of the additional provision, but also as a survey to enable us to review the amount to be paid and the purposes for which it is to be used. Once an application has been received, due consideration will be given provided there is no evidence that the asylum applicant has failed to comply with the asylum support procedures or has actively sought to frustrate or delay progress on the asylum application.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to letters to the Asylum Directorate from Powell and Co., dated 17 May, 17 June, 8 July, 17 September and 19 October, concerning a constituent (Home Office reference D282723) of the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead; and if he will make a statement. [99771]

  Mrs. Roche
  Following receipt of Powell and Co. solicitor's letter of 17 May, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) replied in June. There is no trace of any further letters. IND have telephoned the solicitors in order to resolve the matter.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 4 August, 10 September and 14 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Cleveland Savory. [99768]

  Mrs. Roche
  I am very sorry my right hon. Friend has not received a reply to his letters. I will be writing to him shortly.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 15 July and 16 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Y. Belarbi. [99769]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend on 23 November.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 12 August, 16 September and 14 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms L. M. Mtato. [99767]

  Mrs. Roche
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend today. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the(a) target response time and (b) average response time for written inquiries to the Asylum Directorate. [99770]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) answer general written inquiries on a wide range of issues. The statistics available do not distinguish asylum-related inquiries from others. The IND does not keep statistics on the average response time for this correspondence.

  Eurodac Regulation
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the European Council to consider the Commission's proposals to transfer to the Commission competence for the implementing provisions of the Eurodac Regulation. [98732]

  Mrs. Roche
  It is understood that these proposals are to be considered at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 2 and 3 December 1999.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct a national review of the care of vulnerable young prison inmates in young offenders centres. [98673]

  Mr. Boateng
  A review was carried out of all forms of secure accommodation for young offenders and young people held on remand as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). As a result, a programme of reform of the current arrangements was announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Ms Hughes), now the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on 29 July 1998, Official Report, columns 255-56W. This included the provision of £51 million to improve accommodation and regimes for under-18-year-olds in prison custody. These resources will provide for a new distinct estate for 15 to 17-year-old boys and enhanced regime standards to operate within it. This will support the delivery, from April 2000, of the new custodial sentence for under-18-year-olds under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the Detention and Training Order. The new regime standards emphasise the importance of safeguarding the welfare of the young person, recognising the needs and vulnerability of this age group.

  In addition, three units are being created within Young Offender Institutions for young people sentenced under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to meet their special needs where relevant.

  The review also resulted in a new central co-ordinating role for the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. From April 2000, the Board will be responsible for the commissioning and purchasing of places in all forms of juvenile secure accommodation.

  Drug-related Crime
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what national initiatives have been introduced to reduce drug-related crime in each year since 1992. [98595]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  National initiatives to reduce drug-related crime introduced since 1997 include the piloting of the new Drug Treatment and Testing Order, for which around £60 million has been earmarked for national roll-out next year, an additional £76 million over the next three years for tackling drug misuse in prisons and up to £20 million over the next three years to promote the development of arrest referral schemes to get drug misusing offenders into treatment.

  No information is available on initiatives prior to that date.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the initiatives taken between 1992 and 1997 on Merseyside to reduce drug-related crime. [98592]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  A record of the initiatives that have been taken on Merseyside between 1992 and 1997 to reduce drug-related crime is not held centrally.

  Trial by Jury
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what percentage of cases where a defendant has opted for trial by jury the defendant has subsequently pleaded guilty before the case was heard for each year since 1980; [99403]

  (2) for each year since 1980, in respect of defendants who have opted for trial by jury and then changed their plea to guilty before the case was heard, what percentage of such defendants had no previous criminal conviction. [99405]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Statistics on pleas in the Crown Court are collected centrally, but they do not record whether the defendant elected for trial or was directed by magistrates. However, there is some information available from the baseline data collected by the Home Office in 1998 for the evaluation of the pilot schemes to reduce delay in the criminal justice system. In a sample of nearly 1,000 cases in the six pilot areas, about 60 per cent. of those who elected for the Crown Court pleaded guilty before the trial started.

  Separate Home Office research conducted in 1989-90 suggested that nearly 90 per cent. of those who elected for jury trial and were convicted had previous convictions.

  Right-wing Parades
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to take any action over the parading this year by extreme right-wing groups at the Cenotaph, and over the possibility of such parades in the future. [99276]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  It is the role of the Metropolitan police to control demonstrations and marches to preserve the peace, uphold the law and to prevent the commission of offences. Police tactics and decisions on how to achieve these objectives are a matter for the independent 182W
  operational judgment of the Commissioner. There is, of course, a balance to be struck between protecting the rights of those undertaking lawful activities and the rights of demonstrators and marchers. Violent activity or inciting racial hatred are not legitimate forms of protest and the police and the courts have the power to deal with these offences under the provisions of the Public Order Act 1986. The investigation of complaints about incitement of racial hatred or other public order offences rests with the police as part of their general duties in the enforcement of criminal law

  Any planned march for next year will be considered by the police, who have the power to impose conditions or, if they believe that conditions would be insufficient to prevent public disorder, to seek the Secretary of State's permission to ban the march.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for the sale of fireworks to children; and if he will make a statement; [99293]

  (2) how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for selling unsafe fireworks; and if he will make a statement. [99294]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information held centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not identify separately the offence of "selling of gunpowder to children" under section 31 of the Explosives Act 1875 from other summary offences under the Explosives Acts.

  The Database shows no defendants proceeded against for the triable either-way offence of selling unsafe fireworks (section 32 Explosives Act 1875—Sale of gunpowder to be in closed packages labelled) from 1994 to 1998 inclusive.

  Police Funding
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to implement the recommendations resulting from his Department' s research into the cost of policing in rural areas; and if he will make a statement; [99224]

  (2) when he intends to announce details of the police funding formula for 2000–01; [99227]

  (3) what was the cost of his Department's research into the sparsity element of the police funding formula; [99226]

  (4) what were the main conclusions of the recent research into the cost of policing in rural areas. [99225]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to the right hon. Member for East Devon (Sir Peter Emery) on 2 November 1999,Official Report, column 118W.

  The needs of police forces with sparsely populated rural areas are already taken into account in the current police funding formula. The research study found that there were additional costs involved in the policing of sparsely populated rural areas and recommended that the police funding formula should be changed to reflect these costs.
  183W
  The report's findings were considered by a Home Office-chaired Working Group, which included representatives of police forces and police authorities. There was no single view within the Working Group on the conclusions of the research report.

  There was general agreement that a sparsity factor had been detected, but less agreement about how to include it appropriately in the police funding formula.

  I understand the wishes of rural police forces to see the research findings implemented. Before doing so, the Government will need to be satisfied that the research has provided a final answer to this question which is beyond dispute or challenge.

  For 2000–01, we propose to set considerable store by stability in the grant system to help police authorities plan ahead. In the July 1998 White Paper, "Modern Local Government—In Touch With the People", my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions said we would not expect to make fresh changes to the method of calculation of Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs). This applies equally to the method of calculation of police grant, as a common formula is used for distribution of police grant and SSA.

  Our present intention is that, subject to consultation and approval by the House, we shall not make any changes to the method of police grant distribution, or revenue support grant distribution, generally for 2000–01. We do not therefore propose to make any substantive changes to the operation of the police funding formula for next year.

  We shall be announcing shortly the proposed funding allocations for police authorities in England and Wales for 2000–01.

  The cost of the research study was around £72,000.

  European Council (Judicial Decisions)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which bodies have been consulted concerning relevant draft legislative proposals on mutual recognition of judicial decisions; what will be the purpose of the measures in the programme proposed by the European Council relating to this subject; and if he will list the purpose of each measure of primary legislation, and its title, required to put the programme into effect. [99410]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office on 3 November 1999,Official Report, column 194W.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Millennium Compliance
  Ms Moran
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on progress in dealing with the Millennium bug. [99724]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I am pleased to update Members with the results of the November monthly review of progress in tackling the Millennium bug across Government. The completed questionnaires will all be placed in the Libraries of the House and published on the internet as 184W
  normal. This report follows on from my statement to the House on 28 October. I am also reporting on preparedness across the national infrastructure, including key services delivered by the wider public sector.

  Central Government

  I am delighted to report that work on business critical systems is now complete in all Government Departments and Agencies with one exception. This means that systems have been fixed, tested and successfully put back into operation.

  The MOD has completed over 99 per cent. of work on its critical systems. Although there has been a small slippage within part of MOD's complex programme, this has been offset by progress elsewhere, and its critical systems are now predicted to be completed by the end of November. In any event robust and tested contingency plans are in place to maintain defence capability.

  Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and Millennium Operating Regimes (MORs) are essential safeguards against the impact of unforseen bug failures and the other particular pressures of the Millennium holiday period. I am pleased to say that all Departments and Agencies now have robust and tested BCPs and MORs in place.

  I reported, in my last statement, that as part of the Central Government MOR, Government and the key infrastructure providers would be testing proposed information flows. Exercise Herald took place on 26 October and showed that the structures being put in place are robust. The exercise also identified some areas for further development. These lessons are being factored into the Central Government MOR.

  The Wider National Infrastructure

  Independent assessments of the readiness of the national infrastructure with respect to Y2K compliance and business continuity planning have been undertaken as part of the National Infrastructure assessment project run by Action 2000. Organisations within the programme are also required to have millennium operating regimes in place.

  In my last statement to the House, I reported that all but a very few areas of the national infrastructure were rated as 100 per cent. Blue—this means that independent assessors have not identified any risk of material disruption as a result of their full assessment, and that the public can expect a normal service. These sectors included utilities such as electricity and water, as well as police, fire, telecommunications and healthcare. I am pleased to report that those few organisations which were not then blue have now achieved blue status. This included various local authorities in Northern Ireland, gas shippers and suppliers, Scottish Islands transport, seven medium-impact financial institutions, Housing Associations in England, and Manchester Metrolink light railway. The UK infrastructure is therefore now 100 per cent. blue.

  International

  While the UK remains one of the world leaders in tackling the Millennium bug, the Government has also been proactive in offering financial and technical assistance to other countries, both bilaterally and through international organisations such as the World Bank Info Dev fund and the International Year 2000 Co-operation Centre (IY2KCC). The £10 million we gave to the Info Dev fund to assist Year 2000 work in-less developed

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  countries remains the largest single donation. The MOD has been proactive in raising awareness of defence aspects of the Year 2000 problem and exchanging relevant information.

  Conclusion

  Although almost all testing across government and the national infrastructure is now complete, the possibility of failures, however low, still remains. With less than 40 days to the Millennium, we cannot rest on our laurels. To address any remaining or unforeseen risks, we are asking all providers of key services—including government departments—to keep their business continuity plans under review so they can continue to deliver essential services come what may.

  There has been a vast amount of work in the UK to prepare for the Millennium bug—indeed the UK is generally acknowledged to be among the front rank in the world in terms of readiness. We have less information about other countries, so cannot be confident that the rest of the world will be ready. We can only prepare against potential disruption and make contingency plans to minimise any impact.

  The Government will continue to lead by example and be open and transparent. I will make a final report for 1999 to the House in December by way of an oral statement.

HEALTH

  Unethical Health Professionals
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve protection of the public from bogus, dangerous and unethical health professionals covered by the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine. [98493]

  Mr. Hutton
  We understand that the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) publishes the names of all practitioners who have been subject to disciplinary proceedings and notifies employers of any practitioner who has been struck off. We have emphasised to National Health Service employers their responsibility for verifying the registration of prospective employees.

  CS Spray
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to order a study to be made on the effect of CS spray on detained persons who are apparently mentally ill; and if the Government will ensure that the use of CS spray on detained persons in such circumstances is suspended pending such a study. [98450]

  Mr. Hutton
  The independent Committee on Toxicity recommended follow-up studies on persons sprayed with CS spray. This work is being taken forward by the Home Office and the Department and will aim to take into account any current use of neuroleptic medication. We have no other plans to order a study pending the outcome of this work.
  186W
  The use of CS spray is an approved police procedure and should be used in accordance with national guidelines. Chief Police Officers are encouraged to liaise with local health authorities and social services to ensure that there is a clear understanding of procedures to be used where persons are apparently mentally ill.

  Departmental Transport
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on civil servants transport in each of the last two years. [98695]

  Yvette Cooper
  The amount spent on civil servants transport in the Department was £6.369 million in 1997–98 and £5.670 million in 1998–99.

  Caesarians
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of births were delivered by Caesarian operation in each(a) maternity unit, (b) health trust and (c) health authority in England in the last year for which figures are available. [98499]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Nurses
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed at(a) York Health Services NHS Trust, (b) Northallerton Health Services NHS Trust and (c) Harrogate Health Care in (i) 1999, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1997. [99053]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is in the tables.

  Unvalidated figures for 1999 indicate a steady position in both Harrogate and Northallerton with an increase in both head count and whole-time equivalents of qualified nurses in York.

  The figures have fallen in Harrogate due to the completion of the new Harrogate District Hospital and the closure of Harrogate General Hospital.

  All three trusts are provided with pre-registration nurse education by the University of York. Commissions for training places at York University have increased as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1996–97

  174

  1997–98

  187

  1998–99

  202

  1999–2000

  222

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): nurses,

  qualified and unqualified, by specified trusts, as at 30 September

  each year

  1997

  1998

  Trusts

  hc1

  wte2

  hc1

  wte2

  Total

  3,850

  2,820

  3,400

  2,620

  Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust

  Total

  920

  730

  900

  690

  Qualified

  650

  530

  650

  520

  Unqualified

  270

  200

  250

  170

  187W

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): nurses,

  qualified and unqualified, by specified trusts, as at 30 September

  each year

  1997

  1998

  Trusts

  hc1

  wte2

  hc1

  wte2

  Northallerton Health Services NHS Trust

  Total

  590

  460

  590

  460

  Qualified

  430

  340

  530

  420

  Unqualified

  160

  120

  60

  40

  York Health Services NHS Trust

  Total

  2,340

  1,630

  1,910

  1,470

  Qualified

  1,740

  1,220

  1,400

  1,100

  Unqualified

  590

  410

  510

  370

  1hc—indicates number

  2wte—indicates whole time equivalent

  Notes:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts.

  Figures exclude learners and agency staff.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  European Health Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of the Health Council held in Brussels on 18 November; and if he will make a statement. [99515]

  Ms Stuart
  I attended the Health Council on 18 November in Brussels on behalf of the United Kingdom.

  The new Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, presented the Commission's fourth report on health protection in other Community policies and his ideas on the future Community public health strategy. This information was welcomed by Ministers and a Council Resolution on health protection in other Community policies was then adopted. The Commissioner reported on the adoption by the Commission of a proposed directive on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products, which includes changes to the labelling and tar content of tobacco products. Commission reports on progress achieved in relation to public health protection from the harmful effects of tobacco and on developments on the negotiations taking place on the World Health Organisation' s tobacco framework convention were presented. Following an open debate on the general policy of reduction of tobacco consumption, Council Conclusions were adopted on combating tobacco consumption. A Council Resolution was adopted on mental health promotion and progress was noted on a Resolution on antibiotic resistance to be adopted by the Agriculture Council in December. The Presidency reported on health issues beyond the present European Union borders, including: health in the applicant countries; health questions related to the Northern Dimension and the common strategy on Russia; and the euro-mediterranean conference of Health Ministers to be held in December. The Council noted that Conclusions had been adopted at a previous Council on the importance of co-operation with the applicant countries in the sphere of public health. The Commission reported on its plans for a new exchange of letters with WHO to encourage effective working relations. Commissioner Byrne reported on his wide-ranging plans to transform the Community's approach to food safety, including plans to establish a European food agency.
  188W
  The Council took note of progress reports on two pharmaceutical directives covering clinical trials and medical devices. Under any other business, the Netherlands raised its concerns about the impact on domestic health care systems of recent European Court of Justice cases about access to health benefits in other countries.

  Adoption Leave
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts concerning paid adoption leave for NHS staff. [99404]

  Mr. Denham
  Special Leave for domestic, personal and family reasons, including adoption situations, is covered in Section 12 of the General Whitley Council Handbook. This covers those staff on nationally negotiated contracts. Copies of the handbook are available in the Library.

  Continence Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the forthcoming guidance on continence services will seek to eliminate existing regional variations in standards of care and create a national minimum standard of continence care; [99305]

  (2) if the forthcoming guidance on continence services will remove the existing ambiguity over the rights of people in residential care to receive a full NHS continence service; [99304]

  (3) if the forthcoming guidance on continence services will ensure that health authorities (a) promote local continence services to the public and (b) receive funds to safeguard that promotion. [99307]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 1 November 1999,Official Report, column 50W.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances NHS policy determines whether an individual is entitled to continence services.[99306]

  Mr. Hutton
  Anyone with a continence problem will normally approach their general practitioner in the first instance. The GP will then decide what steps to take to treat their continence problem. This can include referral to a continence nurse specialist for appropriate treatment.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the accountability of general practitioners; and to whom they are accountable. [99275]

  Mr. Denham
  General practitioners provide medical services to patients under statutory arrangements with a health authority. They are accountable to the health authority for the proper discharge of their obligations under their National Health Service terms of service set out in the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992. General practitioners, like all other doctors, are also accountable to the General Medical Council.

  We have recently published for consultation "Supporting Doctors, Protecting Patients". This contains proposals for preventing, identifying and dealing with

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  poor performance of doctors. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library. In addition, the General Medical Council is working towards the introduction of revalidation, to ensure that the continued inclusion of a doctor's name on the Medical Register represents an assurance that the doctor has kept up to date in his or her chosen field of practice and remains fit to practice.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Gartner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a Minister in his Department will answer the letter of the hon. and learned Member for Harborough dated 29 September addressed to the right hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Ms Jowell) dealing with certain inquiries from a constituent, Mrs. Constance Foreman of Leicester. [99461]

  Yvette Cooper
  I replied to the hon. and learned Member on 22 November.

  Fuel Poverty
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of fuel poverty and cold-related illnesses on(a) overall NHS spending, (b) winter admission rates, (c) public health and (d) death rates. [99111]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 22 November 1999]: Fuel poverty and cold homes can exacerbate a number of illnesses such as asthma in children and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in older people. However, poor health can be influenced by a large number of causes other than cold housing. Poverty, unemployment and unhealthy life styles are examples of interacting factors that can have at least as great an effect. Therefore, while we clearly recognise that fuel poverty and cold homes undoubtedly contribute to ill health, it is not possible accurately to assess the direct impact on winter admissions, public health, death rates or the level of National Health Service expenditure incurred.

  Undertakers (Southampton)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payment is made by the Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust and the Southampton Community Hospitals NHS Trust to undertakers for the removal of bodies out of hours under the existing contractual arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [99103]

  Ms Stuart
  Southampton University Hospitals National Health Service Trust is forecasting payment of between £20,000 to £23,000 and Southampton Community Health Service NHS Trust an estimated £10,000 this year as part of their contracts with local undertakers.

  Uranium
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what concentrations of uranium have been measured in the tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes of people in(a) West Cumbria and (b) other regions of England in each of the last three years. [99284]

  Yvette Cooper
  No measurements of concentrations of uranium in tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes have been undertaken in the last three years.

  Sodium
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date the Food and Drink Federation has told him that it expects to complete its review of the purpose and usage of sodium; and what timetable the Government have set for the food and drink industries to achieve a considerable reduction in the salt content of processed food. [99460]

  Yvette Cooper
  We understand that the Food and Drink Federation is expected to complete its review by the end of the year. Once the report is available, we propose to explore with the FDF the scope for reducing the levels of salt in processed foods.

  "Fit for the Future?"
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many copies of the consultation document, "Fit for the Future?", have been(a) printed, (b) applied for, and (c) distributed; [99303]

  (2) if he will extend the period for consultation on the document, "Fit for the Future?". [99302]

  Mr. Hutton
  On 8 September the Department published the consultation document "Fit for the Future?". 5,000 copies were printed. The document was also placed on the Department's website on the internet where people can access it immediately.

  1,500 copies of "Fit for the Future?" were distributed to a wide range of representative organisations and individuals for consultation nationally. The circular which accompanied the distribution clearly stated that the consultation document could be freely reproduced by all to whom it was addressed.

  An additional 3,500 copies were sent to the Department's distributors to send to people who requested a printed copy of the consultation document.

  The high demand for printed copies of "Fit for the Future?" led to stocks being exhausted in mid November leaving a backlog of orders, currently approximately 1,000, with more being received.

  In the circumstances, an additional 5,000 copies of "Fit for the Future?" have been printed and these are now being issued. A letter is being sent with these copies giving recipients until 21 January 2000 to comment on the consultation document.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to combat tuberculosis. [99425]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 23 November 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 19 October 1999, Official Report, columns 468–69W.

  Human Cloning
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria were used to appoint members of the expert advisory group on human cloning. [99754]
  191W
  Yvette Cooper
  Individuals were invited to serve on the expert group in the light of their personal expertise in appropriate areas of science and medicine, including genetics, cell biology, reproductive biology, veterinary medicine, haematology, surgery and molecular biology. Three additional members were appointed for their expertise in ethics and law.

  Theatre Staff
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the supply of anaesthetists and theatre staff in cardiac surgery. [99328]

  Mr. Denham
  We do not plan centrally the numbers of anaesthetists in cardiac surgery nor the numbers of theatre staff generally. It is for individual National Health Service trusts and health authorities, who are accountable for the quality of the services they provide, to determine the number, grade and mix of staff they will require to deliver quality services in their area.

  Currently, there are enough specialists training in anaesthetics for there to be around 1,280 extra qualifying for consultant posts by 2005. At national level, numbers of higher specialist trainees in anaesthetics have been reviewed recently and we are satisfied there are sufficient to meet NHS demands for consultants over the next few years.

  The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease will be published shortly. This will reinforce the priority we attach to tackling coronary heart disease and set the service context within which health authorities and trusts will plan their staffing needs.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Transport
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to(a) Ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years. [98693]

  Mr. Hain
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office pays motor mileage allowance at three main rates in the United Kingdom.

  Public Transport rate of 24.8 pence per mile.

  Standard rate (paid when official or public transport is not readily available):

  up to 4,000 miles a year at 39.5 pence per mile.

  over 4,000 miles a year at 22.0 pence per mile.

  Ministers, when travelling on official business, may use a private car instead of an official car, and claim mileage allowance in the same circumstances and on the same terms as officials.

  Details of expenditure on mileage allowances are not held centrally and it would involve disproportionate cost to obtain this information.

  OSCE Summit (Istanbul)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit in Istanbul. [99591]

  Mr. Vaz
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary represented the United Kingdom at the Summit meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on 18-19 November in Istanbul. The meeting agreed a Charter for European Security, an adapted Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, and a revised Vienna Document on confidence and security building measures. Copies of these documents and the Summit Declaration will be placed in the Library of the House.

  The Charter for European Security sets out principles for future security co-operation in Europe and improves the operational capabilities of the Organisation, particularly in response to crises. It also reinforces the immediate and legitimate interest of all participating states in the implementation of their commitments undertaken within the Organisation.

  The Summit welcomed the signature of an adapted Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The adapted Treaty will provide a greater degree of military stability through strict limitations, increased transparency and lower permitted levels for conventional forces in its area of application. My right hon. Friend made it clear that UK ratification would depend on the level of compliance of all states within the agreed limits.

  The revised Vienna Document incorporates various decisions taken since 1994. The Forum for Security Co-operation also agreed to study the contribution that the Organisation might make to the international effort to curb the spread of small arms and light weapons.

  The situation in Chechnya was a key concern at the Summit. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the issue intensively in a range of meetings with other Ministers, including the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation. The Russian Delegation eventually accepted a passage in the Summit Declaration saying that a political solution to the situation in Chechnya was essential and that the assistance of the Organisation would contribute to achieving that goal. The Declaration also welcomed the agreement of the Russian Federation to a visit by the Chairman-in-Office to the region and reaffirmed the existing mandate of the Organisation's Assistance Group to Chechnya.

  The Summit also welcomed the separate bilateral agreements between the Russian Federation and the Republics of Georgia and Moldova under which all Russian forces will withdraw from Moldova by the end of 2002 and two of the four Russian bases in Georgia will be closed by 1 July 2001.

  The Summit Declaration draws attention to the Organisation's important role in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in its area, including particularly the work of the High Commissioner on National Minorities and the

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  Organisation's missions in the field. The Declaration confirms that the Organisation will continue to play an important part in the consolidation of peace in Kosovo.

  Austria will assume the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organisation in year 2000. The Summit agreed that Romania would succeed Austria in year 2001.

  East Timor
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will apply economic sanctions against Indonesia if its Government does not take immediate and effective steps to disarm the militia whose activities are preventing refugees from returning to East Timor. [99548]

  Mr. Battle
  We have made it clear to the Indonesian Government that swift action to accelerate the return of displaced East Timorese to their homes is essential for Indonesia to regain its international standing. We continue to urge them in this; our Ambassador in Indonesia pressed the point during his visit from 1-4 November when he met senior local political leaders and pro-integrationists. We understand that the TNI and INTERFET are now co-operating more closely. 92,000 refugees are now reported to have returned to East Timor.

TREASURY

  National Insurance
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has completed his review of National Insurance contributions for 2000–01. [100398]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have completed the annual review under section 141 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. In addition to the reforms to the National Insurance contributions announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his March 1999 Budget, I propose the following changes to take effect from 6 April 2000.

  Employers and Employees
  In line with the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, the Lower Earnings Limit for Class 1 contributions is to be raised to £67 a week. It is set at the level of the basic retirement pension rate for a single person from April 2000, rounded down to the nearest pound.

  Class 3 (Voluntary) Contributions
  The rate of Class 3 contributions will be increased by 10p to £6.55 a week.

  Treasury Grant
  Although benefit expenditure from the National Insurance Fund will broadly match income, I need to ensure that the Fund can maintain a prudent working balance throughout the coming year. In accordance with section 2(2) of the Social Security Act 1993, I propose to do so by prescribing that the maximum Treasury Grant which may be made available to the Fund in 2000–01 shall not exceed 2 per cent. of the estimated benefit expenditure from the Fund for that year.

  I shall be laying a draft re-rating Order before Parliament together with a report by the Government Actuary describing the effects of these re-rating proposals and previously announced reforms on the National Insurance Fund.
  194W
  The following table sets out the rates and thresholds for National Insurance contributions proposed for 2000–01.

  National insurance contributions proposed April 2000 re-rating

  Item

  2000–01

  Lower Earnings Limit

  £67

  Upper Earnings Limit

  £535

  Primary Threshold

  £76

  Secondary Threshold

  £84

  Employee's contributions

  10% of £76.01 to £535

  Employee's Contracted-out Rebate

  1.6%

  Married Women Reduced Rate

  3.85%

  Employer's Contribution Rates

  12.2%

  Employers Contracted-out Rebate

  3.0% COSR

  0.6% COMP

  Class 2 Self employed Contribution

  £2.00

  Small Earnings Exception

  £3,825

  Class 3 (voluntary) Contribution

  £6.55

  Class 4 Contributions—Upper Profits Limit

  £27,820

  Class 4 Contributions—Lower Profits Limit

  £4,385

  Class 4—Contribution Rate

  7.0%

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of increasing the earnings limit for invalid care allowance from £50 to(a) £75, (b) £100, (c) £125 and (d) £150; [98463]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of creating two levels of invalid care allowance, one at a lower rate, set at the level of short-term NI benefits and paid to all carers for the first three months and thereafter to carers giving fewer than 35 hours of care a week; and one at a higher level set at the level of the basic retirement pension available after three months to all carers giving more than 35 hours of care a week. [98461]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of continuing to pay invalid care allowance after care ends for(a) four weeks and (b) eight weeks. [98464]

  Mr. Bayley
  The estimated cost of continuing to pay Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) after entitlement ceases for four weeks is £10 million in 2000–01 with an estimated 50,000 gainers; and after entitlement ceases for eight weeks is £20 million in 2000–01 with an estimated 50,000 gainers.

  For those who are most vulnerable and in greatest need, income is already protected via the income-related benefits, despite the loss of ICA when caring ends.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the cost of extending the entitlement to invalid care allowance to all people of pensionable age who provide more than 35 hours a week of care(a) at its current level and (b) if it were set at the same level as the minimum income guarantee; [98465]
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  (2) if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of paying the carers' premium to pensioners who (a) provide at least 35 hours of care, and (b) provide care for a recipient of attendance allowance. [98462]

  Mr. Bayley
  If all other Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) conditions of entitlement are met, the estimated cost' of extending (ICA) new claims to over 65s is £5 million in 2000–01, with 35,000 gainers. In addition, and for pensioner recipients only, raising ICA to the level of the Minimum Income Guarantee (currently £75) is £105 million (after income related benefit offset) in 2000–01, with 250,000 gainers.

  It is estimated that the consequent extension of carer premium entitlement to those aged over 65 would cost £15 million in Income Support (IS) in the year 2000–012, with 20,000 gainers, together with a much smaller sum of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. About half of this cost will arise from individuals caring for Attendance Allowance recipients3.
  1 Source: Family Resources Survey 1997–98.
  2 Cash prices. Costs rounded to the nearest £5 million, gainers rounded to nearest five thousand.
  3 As survey based estimates the above is subject to sampling error. The accuracy of the costing is also affected by limitations of the data available on the time spent caring for a sick or disabled person. The answer depends on there being underlying entitlement to ICA and that all other ICA entitlement rules remain in place.

  Departmental Transport
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department has spent on civil servants transport in 1995–96 and 1996–97. [98716]

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

  All travel undertaken by DSS staff complies with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.

  Expenditure on civil service transport

  Year

  Expenditure (£)

  1995–96

  24,158,110

  1996–97

  21,147,786

  Note:

  These amounts exclude the cost of vehicles on the Department's fleet which are used exclusively for business journeys, hire cars and travel on training and boarding.

  Residential Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate(a) the current number of people in receipt of residential allowance and the projections for (i) 2005, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2015 and (b) the cost in each case, assuming uprating continues as before. [98458]

  Mr. Bayley
  At May 1999, the estimated number of Income Support claimants in receipt of Residential Allowance is 195,000. The estimated annual expenditure on the Income Support Residential Allowance is £612 million.
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  There are no caseload or expenditure projections available for the number of people in receipt of Residential Allowance at 2005, 2010 or 2015.

  Note:
  Figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample of Income Support claimants at May 1999 and is rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Source:
  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 1999.

  Income Support
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of households in Wales were in receipt of(a) income support and (b) family credit at the most recent date for which figures are available. [98497]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, it is estimated that as at May 1999, 9.8 per cent. of the adult population of Wales were in receipt of Income Support and an estimated 2.1 per cent. of the adult population of Wales were in receipt of Family Credit.

  Sources:
  1. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 1999
  2. Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 1999.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of increasing the capital threshold for income support entitlement from £8,000 to(a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000, (e) £50,000 and (f) £60,000. [98466]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Cost and number of beneficiaries of increasing the capital

  threshold for income support entitlement for people not living in

  residential care or nursing homes

  Income Support upper capital limit (£)

  Number of benefiaries

  Income Support costs (£ million)

  10,000

  10,000

  25

  20,000

  25,000

  50

  30,000

  25,000

  50

  40,000

  25,000

  50

  50,000

  25,000

  50

  60,000

  25,000

  50

  Notes:

  1. The costs are based on the 1999–2000 Policy Simulation Model derived from the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey adjusted using Income Support administrative data.

  2. All costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million and all numbers to the nearest 5,000.

  3. All figures exclude people living permanently in residential care and nursing homes.

  4. As the IS capital limits are increased above £20,000, the number of additional floaters-on is zero. This indicates that there are no potential IS cases that have capital greater than £20,000 and income (including tariff income) below the IS threshold.

  Spending Revisions
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his statement on page 157 of the pre-Budget report, if he will give figures for the effect on
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  social security spending in each of the years (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 as a result of (i) the revised assumption for unemployment, (ii) the reassessment of future rents and (iii) lower projected disability benefit caseloads. [99400]

  Mr. Darling
  The information is in the table. The figures are consistent with those published in the November 1999 Pre-Budget Report, and show expenditure in Great Britain.

  £ million

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2000–02

  Revised assumption of unemployment

  -1,170

  -2,200

  -2,380

  Reassessment of future rents

  -110

  -260

  -410

  Lower projected disability benefit caseloads1

  -250

  -585

  -920

  1This figure covers changes in projected caseloads for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, and Severe Disablement Allowance.

  Note:

  Figures rounded to the nearest –10 million

  War Pensions (Disregard)
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what sum will be expended on disregarding war pensions when calculating income-related benefits for each local authority in England and Wales in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement; [99384]

  (2) what sum was expended on disregarding war pensions when calculating income-related benefits for each local authority in England and Wales over each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement.[99386]

  Mr. Bayley
  Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available has been placed in the Library.

  The table shows the amounts expended by each local authority in England and Wales, within their own discretionary schemes, when disregarding war pensions in the calculation of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99, which is the latest information available. These amounts are funded from an authority's own resources.

  In addition to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit expenditure by local authorities on discretionary schemes, there is further central Government expenditure on statutory disregards in Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Details of this expenditure are not available for each individual authority and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what level of disregard is offered for claimants in receipt of war disablement or war widows pensions against income-related benefits for each local authority in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [99385]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Labour and Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Labour and Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 12 November; and if he will make a statement. [98507]

  Ms Jowell
  I represented the Secretary of State at this meeting of the Council.

  The Council discussed the employment package for the second time. Further discussion will take place at the Employment and Social Affairs Council and the Joint Council with ECOFIN on 29 November. A final version of the package is due for submission to the Helsinki European Council on 11–12 December.

  The majority of the Council supported the joint Opinion of the Employment and Labour Market Committee and the Economic Policy Committee which advocated minimum change to this year's Guidelines.

  The Presidency said that the text of the Joint Employment Report was now largely agreed. The Commission agreed to continue its efforts to address UK concerns over references which appear to misrepresent UK policy and were unacceptable to the UK in a text that was to be jointly agreed.

  The Presidency agreed to examine any requests of delegations for further changes to their recommendations, but would do so in a manner compatible with the principles contained in the joint Opinion of the Employment and Labour Market Committee and the Economic Policy Committee.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the proportion of(a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in class sizes of more than 30 in January 1993 and January 1994. [99580]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  The proportion of pupils in maintained primary and secondary

  schools in classes of size 31 or more taught by one teacher

  Primary

  Secondary

  19941

  28.2

  7.8

  19931

  26.5

  7.4

  1January each year

  Proprietorial Schools
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many proprietorial schools there are in England and Wales. [99837]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Under the Education Act 1996 all registered independent schools must have a person or body acting as proprietor. From information available on the 2,231 registered independent schools in England, about 16 per cent. appear to be owned and managed by one or a few individual persons or a family; some 57 per cent. have charitable status; and most of the
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  remainder have some form of non-charitable proprietorial company or other body. Figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the representatives and operators of proprietorial schools about the impact on them of the decisions of DETR not to issue permits under Section 19 of the Transport Act 1985. [99838]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Apart from the recent letter from my hon. Friend, the Department has received no approaches from individual independent schools or their representative organisations on this matter.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many people are(a) under investigation and (b) suspended from the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to professional misconduct; and if he will make a statement. [98874]

  The Solicitor-General
  No professionally qualified member of the Crown Prosecution Service is currently suspended in relation to professional misconduct, although two are the subject of investigation by the professional bodies to which they belong.

  It would not be appropriate to make any further statement while these investigations are continuing.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Solicitor-General what steps he is taking to monitor and improve the performance of the Crown Prosecution Service. [98875]

  The Solicitor-General
  Performance management and monitoring in relation to the Crown Prosecution Service operates at three levels. First, my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General has a statutory duty to superintend the work of the Crown Prosecution Service. He and I meet the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and his senior staff frequently to discuss all aspects of the performance of the CPS; and we receive full briefing on current significant issues. Secondly, the DPP and his Chief Executive have developed structured arrangements for on-going appraisal of the 42 new Chief Crown Prosecutors (CCPs) and their Areas which are thorough but compatible with the decentralised structure of the CPS post-Glidewell. Thirdly, the CPS Inspectorate has embarked on a 2-year cycle to inspect all 42 CPS Areas and this will be accompanied by a programme of thematic reviews. The Government have placed before Parliament a Bill to strengthen the role of the Inspectorate by placing it on an independent statutory basis.

CABINET OFFICE

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what was the total cost of providing all Government Car Service services in 1998–99; and what was the estimated cost of vehicles and drivers allocated to Ministers and their private offices in 1998–99. [99136]
  200W
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Nick Matheson to Mr. Norman Baker, dated November 1999:
  The Minister of State has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car Service to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the cost of the Government Car Service.
  The total cost of providing all Government Car Service services in 1998/99 was £8.06 million. The estimated cost of vehicles and drivers allocated to Ministers and their private offices as £4.32 million.

  Council of the Isles
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the constitution of the Council of the Isles. [98789]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Following devolution to Northern Ireland, the British-Irish Council will be established by the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Ireland done at Dublin on 8 March 1999 (Ireland No. 5 (1999) cm 4296). The Agreement states that the Council shall be constituted and shall operate in accordance with the provisions of the Multi-Party Agreement reached at Belfast on 10 April 1998 (Ireland No. 1 (1999) cm 4292).

  Impact Assessments
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the occasions in the last two years when Government Departments have pressed the European Commission to carry out impact assessments; and if she will list the directives, regulations and decisions concerned. [99626]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Government do not keep information in the form requested and could not do so without disproportionate cost.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office raised the general question of the importance of impact assessment when she met Commissioner Liikanen recently. This is part of our commitment to ensure that regulation is fair and that it has the minimum possible negative impact on prosperity and jobs. We want the European Commission to improve and extend its procedures for carrying out impact assessments. This is an on-going process and not confined to individual directives, regulations or decisions.

  My Department has also issued guidance aimed at UK Ministers and officials that reminds them of the importance of assessment from the earliest stage of proposal. Copies of this Guide to Better European Regulations and the accompanying checklist were put in the Libraries of the House on its publication last July.

  Guide to Better European Regulations
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Guide to Better European Regulations was compiled; and what guidance it replaced. [99625]
  201W
  Mr. Stringer
  The Guide to Better European Regulations was published on 21 July 1999 after wide consultation, both within and outside Government.

  The Guide replaced and superseded numerous forms of guidance.

  Prior to its publication, guidelines were available to Government Departments in various forms, but never before had all the information on drafting, negotiating, presenting and implementing European legislation been available in one document and in such an accessible form.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Name Change
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance the Lord Chancellor's Department issues to courts on whether a person who has legally changed his or her name by(a) statutory declaration and (b) deed poll is required to reveal any former name when appearing in court as a witness, defendant or civil litigant, or when standing surety for bail. [99393]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has not issued any guidance to the courts. Whether a person's previous name is relevant in criminal or civil proceedings and needs to be disclosed depends on the issues in dispute and the surrounding circumstances and is for the court to decide.

  Family Law Act 1996
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to implement Part II of the Family Law Act 1996. [98869]

  Jane Kennedy
  I refer the right hon. Member to the written Parliamentary answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate) on 17 June 1999,Official Report, column 213W. The position remains unchanged.

  Child Abduction
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to amend the law to enable the Official Solicitor, when acting as(a) guardian ad litem, to initiate applications to a court seeking an Order to prevent the removal of a child from the jurisdiction, and (b) to bring application in overseas courts under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. [99726]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Government has no plans to amend the law in this way.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which factors are considered by the Official Solicitor in considering whether or not to draw to a court's attention a possible risk that a child may be abducted and taken outside the jurisdiction of the UK courts. [99725]

  Jane Kennedy
  The responsibility for acting to prevent the unlawful removal of a child from the jurisdiction rests with the holder of parental responsibility for the child. If the Official Solicitor is involved in the case and in the 202W
  course of his inquiries discovers that there is a real and imminent danger of removal, he would advise the holder of parental responsibility so that appropriate action could be taken by that person.

  The factors which would create a real and imminent danger would vary with each case, but might include the absence of the child from his usual home, information received about the purchase of tickets, or the failure to surrender the child's passport as ordered by the court.

  Marriage Support
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Government intend to publish Sir Graham Hart's report on the funding of marriage support, and the Lord Chancellor's response. [100434]

  Jane Kennedy
  Copies of Sir Graham's report, and the Lord Chancellor's response to him of yesterday, have today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The Lord Chancellor agrees with Sir Graham's conclusion that public funding of marriage support agencies is highly appropriate and worth-while. The Lord Chancellor has considered Sir Graham's recommendations in detail, and accepts them.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent advice he has received from the Chief Medical Officer regarding the safety of eating beef on the bone. [98848]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I announced on 20 September that I and my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Health had accepted the Chief Medical Officer's advice that it is now possible to lift the ban on retail sales, but desirable to retain it for manufacturing uses.

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in enabling British farmers to sell their beef overseas. [98853]

  Ms Quin
  As part of the progressive lifting of the beef export ban, the Government secured the adoption of the Date-based Export Scheme in November 1998. After demonstrating that we had the procedures in place to run the Scheme, exports were permitted from 1 August 1999. So far, two establishments have sought and gained approval to operate under the Scheme, and have begun exporting British beef to several EU member states.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in respect of the export of beef(a) within the EU and (b) to the rest of the world. [98858]

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made on the resumption of British beef exports. [98859]

  Ms Quin
  So far, two establishments have sought and gained approval to export British beef under the Date-based Export Scheme. While details of their
  203W
  activities are commercial-in-confidence, I can say that these establishments have been exporting British beef to several EU member states. As yet, no consignments have been sent to non-EU countries, but the Government have approached countries with a view to ensuring that they will accept British beef. To date, we have agreed export certification with Cyprus, the Falklands, Hong Kong and Mauritius and are at different stages in concluding certification with other countries. Only Russia, Singapore and Malta have said that, at present, they will continue to not admit British beef.

  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in getting the beef export ban lifted for non-EU countries. [98860]

  Ms Quin
  We have approached the authorities in non-EU countries to lobby them to lift their import bans, where they exist, or to agree the necessary export certification. This is a concerted campaign which follows up, and builds upon, earlier approaches to key markets. So far, we have agreed export certification with Cyprus, the Falklands, Hong Kong and Mauritius, and are at different stages in concluding certification with other countries. Only Russia, Singapore and Malta have said that, at present, they will continue to not admit British beef.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the level of domestic consumption of home-produced beef since the BSE crisis. [98861]

  Ms Quin
  Domestic consumption of beef has recovered sharply from the depressed levels following the BSE crisis of 563 thousand tonnes in 1996 to 707 thousand tonnes in 1998.

  Mr Gray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what scientific analyses he has received on the presence of(a) human and (b) animal excrement traces in Franch beef; and if he will make a statement. [98865]

  Ms Quin
  The Summary of advice provided to Ministers included an analysis of the report prepared by the European Commission, which confirmed that all material was heat treated before use in animal feed. The advice was drawn up in consulation with the chairman of three scientific independent advisory committees and concluded that there is no immediate public health risk from the use of sewage sludge in French animal feed.

  Fur Farming
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from animal welfare organisations on the ending of fur farming in the UK. [98849]

  Mr. Morley
  The Ministry has received representations from five animal welfare organisatins.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much his Departement is spending on food safety and standards surveys in the current year. [98850]
  204W
  Ms Quin
  My Department has a wide-ranging food surveillance programme to protect consumer safety, food authenticity and nutritional quality of the UK diet. In 1998, MAFF spent more than £10.5 million on these surveys, carrying out over 190,000 analyses on more than 63,000 food samples. Similar figures are anticipated for the current year.

  EU Funds
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the level of the UK's allocation of EU funds under the rural development regulation. [98851]

  Mr. Morley
  The UK allocation of 154m euro a year for the Rural Development Regulation is very disappointing. This has been based on low spending levels on rural programmes in past years. We will be pressing the European Commission quickly and comprehensively to fulfil its commitment to review allocations.

  Labelling
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage all those involved in the United Kingdom food industry to label clearly food which originates in the UK. [98852]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Consumers have a right to clear and unambiguous labelling of all the food they buy in order to make an informed choice. This is why we are consulting all those involved in the food industry on the need to ensure that origin markings do not mislead consumers when such information is provided.

  Farm Incomes
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the trends in farm incomes in South-West Surrey. [98855]

  Mr. Morley
  While we have no specific farm income figures for South-West Surrey, I have little doubt that farmers there have been suffering from the same adverse economic conditions in agriculture as elsewhere in the country.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when was the last time the green pound was adjusted; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the weak euro on the incomes of farmers. [98856]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The last time the Green Pound was adjusted was on 11 October 1998.

  The present depressed state of farm incomes results from various factors, including the strength of sterling, the collapse of world prices and the loss of some key export markets. It is difficult to single out one factor in isolation and assess its impact when the factors are to an extent interlinked.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of the organic farming scheme. [98857]
  205W
  Mr. Morley
  On 4 October we announced a review of the Organic Farming Scheme, which provides aid to farmers converting to organic farming. The cost effectiveness of the scheme is an issue which will be considered in this review.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the change in the amount of land under organic conversion since the start of the Organic Farming Scheme. [99214]

  Mr. Morley
  To date, farmers have entered some 75,000 hectares into conversion under the Organic Farming Scheme since its launch in April 1999.

  Pig Farming
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's latest assessment of the financial strength of the pig industry. [98862]

  Ms Quin
  The market price for pigs has been below the cost of production since May 1998. At its present level of 77 p/kg, pig producers are, on average, losing around £9 on every pig sold.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he proposes to take to support the British pig industry. [98863]

  Ms Quin
  In discussions with the representatives of the British pig industry, we have developed an action programme aimed at helping pig producers through this very difficult period. This includes:

  (a) making available an extra £6 million for marketing and promotion from which the pig industry should benefit significantly;

  (b) promoting animal welfare and other standards of UK pigmeat.

  (c) writing to MPs and Local Authorities to emphasise importance of sourcing to British standards;

  (d) writing to Commissioner Fischler arguing the case for re-opening EU private storage aid scheme and restoring special refund on exports to Russia;

  (e) going back to next meeting of SEAC to consider whether current ban on use of MBM from pigs is still justified.

  (f) tackling misleading labelling. Revised guidelines on origin marking have gone out to public consultation;

  (g) better auditing of claims on welfare and other standards of imported products;

  (h) meeting individual retailers and caterers to insist they reaffirm their commitment last December in sourcing from stall and tether and MBM free production systems and on misleading labelling.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of farm incomes is derived from direct payments and price supports under the CAP. [98864]

  Ms Quin
  The overall value of direct payments and price supports received by UK producers under the Common Agricultural Policy in 1997–98 exceeded total income from farming across all sectors by around 70 per cent.
  206W
  This demonstrates the very considerable levels of financial assistance being provided to agricultural producers. It also demonstrates the inefficiency of the Common Agricultural Policy, as it currently operates, in securing rural objectives and promoting a sustainable agricultural industry.

  This figure was published on the Ministry's internet site in August 1999, as part of the consultation on the Agenda 2000 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

  Sand Eels
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has received from the Commission about a possible substantial reduction in the catch levels of sand eels. [98628]

  Mr. Morley
  The Commission has promised to make a proposal, in time for adoption by the Council in December, closing the sand eel fishery around the Isle of May. The effects of this closure on seabirds which are dependent on sand eels will then be studied.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions of(a) the Treaty of Rome and (b) World Trade Organisation rules govern the banning of imports of (i) beef, (ii) sheepmeat, (iii) pork, (iv) venison and (v) poultry on the basis of animal welfare standards. [99310]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 23 November 1999]: In each case the relevant provisions of the EC Treaty (Treaty of Rome) are Article 28 (ex Article 30) and Article 30 (ex Article 36).

  So far as the WTO is concerned, the relevant rules are contained in Articles XI and XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1947 (which forms part of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, which in turn is one of the Multilateral Trade Agreements which forms part of the WTO Agreement).

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the enforcement of animal welfare legislation for farm animals. [99289]

  Mr. Morley
  I have received such representations from individuals and organisations, including the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

  Target Setting
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997. [99480]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 24 November 1999]: The Department has nine published targets which relate to

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  the delivery of services or other objectives by local authorities, and nine for other bodies apart from agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are(a) the individual regional areas and (b) the management structures within these individual areas in relation to the zonal/regional fisheries management under the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement on the ability of those areas to comply with the principle of equal access. [99408]

  Mr. Morley
  As I made clear in my answer to the hon. Gentlemen on 2 November 1999,Official Report, column 164W, strengthening the regional dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) requires action on a regional specific fishery basis.

  This can be done, for example, through the organisation by the Commission of regional meetings bringing together fishermen and fisheries scientists and managers to consider the problems of particular stocks, as with the meeting on the Celtic Sea demersal fishery in March. Under the CFP, the principle of equal access is subject in practice to the application of relative stability shares. I expect this to continue after the review of the CFP in 2002.

  Fisheries Discards
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the 18 month study on fisheries discards which commenced in June was put out to tender. [99409]

  Mr. Morley
  The study was proposed by a consortium of researchers from the UK, France and the Netherlands as a response to an open call for research relating to the Common Fisheries Policy made by the European Commission in 1997. The project proposal competed for funding with other applications under this programme, and was successful in gaining grant from the EU for 50 per cent. of its cost. The remainder of the cost has subsequently been met by the Dutch and French Governments and by MAFF in the case of the UK element.

  Flood Defences
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on flood defences in Edgware and Burnt Oak, Hendon. [98854]

  Mr. Morley
  I understand that the Environment Agency is continuing to undertake relevant surveys and modelling work for the Silk Stream flood alleviation scheme. The Agency is still aiming to publish an Environmental Statement for formal consultation in August 2000.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Intergovernmental Conference
  Yugoslavia: Petroleum Supply Regulations
  Yugoslavia: Petroleum Supply Regulations
  Turkey: Outstanding ECHR Fines
  Turkey: Outstanding ECHR Fines
  DSS: Computer Contracts
  DSS: Computer Contracts
  Long-term Care Insurance Policies
  Long-term Care Insurance Policies
  Northern Ireland: Small Firms Capital Allowance
  Northern Ireland: Small Firms Capital Allowance
  EMU: Constitutional Issues
  EMU: Constitutional Issues
  A-Level Re-markings
  A-Level Re-markings
  Marriage Support: Funding
  Marriage Support: Funding
  Immigration and Asylum Act 1999: Regulations
  Immigration and Asylum Act 1999: Regulations
  Firefighters' Conditions of Service
  Firefighters' Conditions of Service
  Asylum Seekers: Support Payment
  Asylum Seekers: Support Payment
  Police Grant Allocations
  Police Grant Allocations