Written Answers of 30 November 1999

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Estate
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee (1) if he will estimate construction expenditure on the Parliamentary Estate in each of the past five years; [100032]

  (2) how much the refurbishment of the Parliamentary Estate has cost in each of the past five years; [100034]

  (3) if he will estimate expenditure on Portcullis House (a) during the next year and (b) before the next comprehensive spending review; [100025]

  (4) if he will provide a breakdown of expenditure on Portcullis House; [100024]

  (5) if he will list the intended expenditure on the refurbishment of the Parliamentary Estate (a) during the next year and (b) before the next comprehensive spending review. [100026]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  These are matters for the Director of Parliamentary Works; I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

PRIME MINISTER

  EU Fundamental Rights Charter
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has appointed a representative to serve on the body to draft a European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, as agreed at the European Council in Tampere; and what guidance he plans to issue to that person. [99444]

  The Prime Minister
  Lord Goldsmith will be my representative on the Charter drafting body. The Government's view is that the charter should make the fundamental rights which already exist, and which are applicable at Union level, more visible to the Union's citizens. It should take the form of a political statement, rather than a legal text to be incorporated into the Treaties.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with(a) France and (b) Russia on the operations of KFOR designed to protect the remaining Serb populations in Kosovo. [99436]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 24 November 1999]: NATO Allies and Russia discuss all aspects of KFOR operations on a regular basis and Kosovo was discussed at the Ministerial Anglo/French Summit on 25 November.
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  Protection of the Kosovo Serbs and other minorities is one of KFOR's top priorities, with around half of KFOR manpower currently involved in minority protection duties. Security for all communities remains our central objective.

DEFENCE

  Mental Incapacitants
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the review of the information available on the chemical warfare mental incapacitants known as Agent 15. [100910]

  Mr. Spellar
  In accordance with the undertakings given by the then Secretary of State for Defence on 9 February 1998 and by my predecessor on 22 April 1998, a review of the research on glycollates (of which Agent 15 is an example) and related compounds carried out at CBD Porton Down has been completed. A copy of the unclassified summary of this review has been placed in the Library of the House. The report explains that Agent 15 has been used in animal studies at Porton Down, but not in any work involving humans. Research on related compounds (glycollates and benzilates) involving human volunteers found that all the observed effects of the compounds were resolved within four days.

  A more extensive research programme involving human volunteers was undertaken at the time of the CBD research in the United States. Follow-up studies in 1980 led to the conclusion that subjects exposed to anticholinergic agents (glycollates) reported no differences in their current health status compared to control groups. However, the methods and the group sizes used were such that only large effects were likely to be uncovered.

  There is no evidence that UK troops were exposed to Agent 15, nor that Iraq used Agent 15. There are therefore no plans for further research into this agent at this time.

  Project Capital
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed on Project Capital. [100286]

  Mr. Spellar
  Following roll-out and proving of the Departmental Financial Management System, Project Capital was formally closed in October 1999. Accounting, in-year management and Planning and budgeting—using the Capital systems—are now largely integrated with teams working on cash management systems.

  Clyde Base
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made as a result of the management review of the Clyde Base. [100287]

  Mr. Spellar
  Following a scoping study at the Clyde Base in 1997, Ministers decided to retain work in-house through a joint Management/Trades Union proposal to establish Neptune Services Direct, which is successfully delivering hotel and related services increasingly efficiently. In addition, a rationalisation programme was set in hand to optimise the use of resources and skills in the Engineering and Facilities Support departments.
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  These changes are still being implemented but, in producing a more effective and efficient organisation, some 161 service and 182 MOD civilian posts have been lost. Through a policy of employing casual staff and fixed term appointees, the civilianisation of some service posts, and the fact that a number of posts had been held vacant, the changes are being achieved without redundancies.

  Departmental Land
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that his Department's land is not used by the US Government for purposes which breach international treaties signed by that Government. [99884]

  Mr. Spellar
  Her Majesty's Government retains legal possession of and control over all sites made available for use by the United States Visiting Forces. The interpretation of an international treaty is a matter for the parties to that treaty.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests were applied to clear each target engaged by British forces according to international law during the Kosovo conflict from March to June. [98563]

  Mr. Hoon
  UK air operations were conducted in strict compliance with the requirements of international law, including the UK's obligations under international humanitarian law, and targeting decisions took the legal considerations fully into account.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total replacement value of the ordnance expended by British forces during the Kosovo crisis to the end of August. [98566]

  Mr. Hoon
  The indicative cost of ordnance consumed during the period of offensive operations in Kosovo is some £45 million. This is an estimate, based on a set of average historical prices for the ordnance in question, and does not represent actual expenditure. Final decisions on the replenishment of ordnance consumed during the campaign have yet to be taken.

  Chinook HC2
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date DRA Boscombe Down carried out electron-magnetic interference testing during the airworthiness proving trials on Chinook HC2; and if recommendations were made as a result of that testing. [100144]

  Mr. Spellar
  A full electron-magnetic interference assessment of the Chinook Mk2 was completed by Boscombe Down in January 1994. Recommendations were made concerning the introduction and use in flight of UHF on-board transmitters and walk-on equipment, and High Intensity Radio Transmission Avoidance Areas (HIRTA) within the UK.

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalent MOD police officers were employed at AWE Aldermaston in each month from November 1998 to November 1999. [100682]
  84W
  Mr. Spellar
  I am withholding this information in accordance with exemption 1(a) (national security) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance he has issued to the MOD police in respect of overtime worked by officers at AWE Aldermaston. [100686]

  Mr. Spellar
  No specific guidance has been issued to the MOD police at AWE Aldermaston in respect of overtime. It is force policy to minimise the use of overtime commensurate with meeting the operational requirement. All overtime working is voluntary.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average number of days sickness leave taken among MOD police officers at AWE Aldermaston in each month from November 1998 to November 1999. [100685]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested is not collected in days, but rather in hours. The table records the average number of hours of sickness, per officer, per month at AWE Aldermaston.

  Month

  Average number of sickness hours, per officer, per day

  November 1998

  10.2

  December 1998

  9.6

  January 1999

  13.6

  February 1999

  10.4

  March 1999

  11.5

  April 1999

  10.4

  May 1999

  11.9

  June 1999

  12.5

  July 1999

  10.0

  August 1999

  10.5

  September 1999

  9.1

  October 1999

  11.6

  Note:

  The figures for November 1999 are not available at this time

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average amount of overtime worked by MOD police officers at AWE Aldermaston in each month from November 1998 to November 1999. [100683]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Month

  Overtime hours per officer/month

  November 1998

  38.0

  December 1998

  30.2

  January 1999

  31.7

  February 1999

  32.4

  March 1999

  40.4

  April 1999

  39.4

  May 1999

  38.0

  June 1999

  42.4

  July 1999

  38.9

  August 1999

  39.4

  September 1999

  42.9

  October 1999

  31.7

  Note:

  The figures for November 1999 are not available at this time
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  NATO
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions(a) the United Kingdom and (b) all other NATO countries have exercised a national veto on proposed actions during a NATO operation since 1989. [99466]

  Mr. Hoon
  Decisions at NATO are taken by consensus. During operations and deployments, procedures allow national commanders to satisfy themselves that a proposed course of action complies with the basis on which the operation was approved, consulting national authorities as required. Neither the UK nor NATO maintains records of how many times these procedures have been used since 1989.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Post Offices
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the principal activities of his Department and its agencies which provide business for(a) Crown post offices and (b) other post offices; if he will assess whether the level of business generated in each case is likely to increase or decrease over the next five years; and which new areas of business for post offices are likely to be developed by his Department and its agencies over the same period. [99551]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My Department and its agencies have no functions which directly provide business for(a) Crown post offices or (b) other post offices. It is not likely that this situation will change in the future. However, we have significant business with both Royal Mail and Parcelforce, who provide the bulk of our mail collection and delivery services.

  Digital Television
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what projections his Department has made of the number of households with digital television in 2006(a) with a digital licence fee supplement as proposed by the Independent Review Panel into the future funding of the BBC and (b) without such a supplement. [100046]

  Janet Anderson
  We do not have these specific figures at present. However, DCMS commissioned an independent report from Nera in 1998, which suggested between 13.8 million and 18.5 million households would have digital capability by 2008. The potential impact of a digital licence supplement on take up of digital television is something we are considering in reaching our conclusions on the independent review panel's recommendations. As part of that process, we will look at all the available evidence on this issue.

  Recognised Sports
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what sports are recognised by the Sports Councils within the United Kingdom. [100292]
  86W
  Kate Hoey
  The Sports Councils do not 'recognise' sports, but there are 112 sports that are eligible for funding and other support. These are:Aikido, American Football, Angling, Archery, Arm Wrestling, Association Football, Athletics, Australian Rules Football, Badminton, Ballooning, Baseball, Basketball, Baton Twirling, Biathlon, Bicycle Polo, Billiards and Snooker, Bobsleigh, Boccia, Bowls, Boxing, Camogie, Canoeing, Caving, Chinese Martial Arts, Cricket, Croquet, Crossbow, Curling, Cycling, Disability Sport, Dragon Boat Racing, Equestrian, Fencing, Fives, Flying, Gaelic Football, Gliding, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hang/Para Gliding, Highland Games, Hockey, Horse Racing, Hovering, Hurling, Ice Hockey, Ice Skating, Jet Skiing, Ju Jitsu, Judo, Kabaddi, Karate, Kendo, Korfball, Lacrosse, Lawn Tennis, Life Saving, Luge, Modem Pentathlon, Motor Cycling, Motor Sports, Mountaineering, Movement, Dance and Fitness, Netball, Orienteering, Parachuting, Pentaque, Polo, Pony Trekking, Pool, Quoits, Racketball, Rackets, Racquetball, Rambling, Real Tennis, Roller Hockey, Roller Skating, Rounders, Rowing, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Sailing, Sand/Land Yachting, Shinty, Shooting, Skateboarding, Skiing, Skipping, Snowboarding, Softball, Sombo Wrestling, Squash, Skater/Street Hockey, Sub-Aqua, Surf Life Saving, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Tenpin Bowling, Trampolining, Triathlon, Tug Of War, Unihoc, Volleyball, Water Skiing, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Yoga.

  Lottery Funding
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the amount of funding given by the National Lottery to disabled projects for disabled people in England and Wales during the last 12 months. [100443]

  Kate Hoey
  National Lottery projects are designed to benefit all sections of society, including people with disabilities. Since November 1998, around £280 million has been awarded to over 4,000 projects designed primarily to benefit people with disabilities.

  Royal Opera House
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Government financial grants have been made available to the Royal Opera House modernisation programme. [100441]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No grants have been made directly from Government to the Royal Opera House for its redevelopment. The Arts Council's National Lottery capital programme awarded the Royal Opera House £78.5 million for the restoration, refurbishment and extension of the Covent Garden site.

  Departmental Estate
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his estimate is of the value of land, property and heritage assets(a) in Scotland, (b) in England and (c) in total (i) owned by or (ii) under the responsibility of his Department. [99827]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The Department is at present implementing resource accounting and values have been derived from audited accounting information. The first year of published resource accounts will be in respect of 1999–2000.
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  The Net Book Value of assets held by the Department as at the end of March 1999 was £40.398 million (including the Royal Parks Agency). This figure relates to land, property and heritage assets in England only as my Department does not hold any such assets in Scotland.

  The Heritage Assets held by the Department are valued at nil. These assets include Trafalgar Square, Apsley House, part of Osborne House, Wellington Arch, Marble Arch and nine statues (and the Government Art Collection, which has some 11,500 items).

  Bournemouth Sinfonietta
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reasons the Bournemouth Sinfonietta's funding has been ended. [100791]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Arts Council announced on 13 October its plans for giving the subsidised orchestras a fresh start backed by at least £10 million to enable them to move to a more flexible way of working and to enable them to have scope to offer a more imaginative repertoire to audiences. The Council made it clear at the time of the announcement that they would be in immediate discussions with Bournemouth about a new model for their work. Out of those discussions has come the decision by the Bournemouth Orchestra's Board to close the Sinfonietta as a regrettable preliminary to securing the long-term future for orchestral provision in the South and South-West.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid Board
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the Legal Aid Board's policy is on seeking possession of vacant properties when an outstanding debt to the Board is secured against the property. [100123]

  Mr. Lock
  The Legal Aid Board secures debts against property in a number of circumstances.

  Where an assisted person wins his or her case but some costs are outstanding, section 16 of the Legal Aid Act 1988 allows the Board to recover them from the property that was in dispute, through the "statutory charge". Where the assisted person's home was in dispute, or the winnings in the case are to be used to purchase a home for the assisted person, enforcement can be postponed and the Board will register a charge against the home. In those circumstances the property in question is not vacant. Should it become vacant, the Board will expect the property to be sold and the statutory charge paid off immediately.

  The other circumstances are: where the court has made a costs order in favour of an assisted person, and the Board is seeking costs from the other side; where the assisted person has failed to make the required contributions towards the cost of their legal aid; where a legal aid certificate has been revoked, in which case the full cost of the help given has to be repaid; and where an assisted person has been granted an emergency certificate but has not been given a full certificate. In all these
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  circumstances the Board can secure debts owed to it on any property, including vacant property, and will be in the same position as any other secured creditor.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average length of time between debts to the Legal Aid Board being secured against domestic property and being settled. [100124]

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

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the value is of debts to the Legal Aid Board that are secured against(a) domestic property and (b) vacant domestic property. [100125]

  Mr. Lock
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. As at 31 March 1999, the principle value of all debts to the Legal Aid Board that are secured by way of the statutory charge was £206,792,000. The total value of other secured debts to the Board, in respect of liabilities such as unpaid contributions, costs owned under revoked certificates, or costs awards in favour of assisted persons, is not recorded centrally.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what statistics are collected(a) nationally and (b) by region, on the time it takes to process housing benefit; [99865]

  (2) which national organisation monitors and investigates performance in processing housing benefit claims within target periods. [99867]

  Angela Eagle
  The Audit Commission in England and Wales, and the Accounts Commission in Scotland, collect and publish data annually for all local authorities administering housing benefit. This includes data on the number of claims determined within 14 days. Data are also collected and monitored by this Department. The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate is responsible for reporting to the Secretary of State on the administration of housing benefit by local authorities.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to bring the housing benefit service within the Best Value Framework. [99868]

  Angela Eagle
  A comprehensive range of best value performance indicators for the delivery of housing benefit was included in the recent joint Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and Audit Commission consultation exercise ("Performance Indicators for 2000–01"). Indicators will be finalised by the end of 1999 and will cover the key aspects of local authorities' performance in delivering housing benefit. We are committed to driving forward improvements in the benefit services authorities provide so that they are faster, more accurate and more secure while also achieving value for money and taking account of the views and needs of local people.
  89W
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to introduce measures to reform housing benefit. [99011]

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the timetable for bringing forward his proposals for housing benefit reform. [99901]

  Angela Eagle
  We intend to publish a Housing Green Paper in due course. This will present proposals for housing benefit within the overall strategy for housing.

  Students (Benefits)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what benefits are available to students who are(a) pregnant and (b) single mothers; [100121]

  (2) what recent representations he has received on the incomes of students and their ineligibility to receive benefits; and if he will make a statement. [100036]

  Angela Eagle
  Most full time students are not eligible to claim income-related benefits—their primary source of financial support comes from the education system. However, certain students in vulnerable groups, for example lone parents or disabled students, can claim these benefits.

  A full time student is not eligible to claim an income-related benefit on the grounds of her pregnancy. However, students who are also working and earning at least £66 a week may qualify for Statutory Maternity pay from her employer, or Maternity Allowance from the Benefits Agency.

  If she or her partner were in receipt of Income Support, income based Jobseeker's Allowance, Working Families Tax Credit or the Disabled Person's Tax Credit she would be able to claim a Social Fund Maternity Grant payment.

  During the last three months we have received a small number of letters concerning students, their incomes and benefits.

  Departmental Estate
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what his estimate is of the value of land and property held by his core Department(a) in Scotland and (b) in total; [99820]

  (2) what his estimate is of the value of land and property (a) in Scotland and (b) in total held by (i) the Benefits Agency (including freehold, leasehold and historical leasehold offices), (ii) the Child Support Agency, (iii) the War Pensions Agency, (iv) the IT Services Agency and (v) the Independent Statutory Bodies; and what is the total value of assets for each of these bodies. [99819]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: In early 1998 all of the Department's land and property throughout the UK, both freehold and leasehold, was transferred to the private sector under two separate Private Finance Initiative contracts. We now no longer own nor hold any land or property. Instead serviced office accommodation is purchased from our two private sector partners, Trillium and the Newcastle Estate Partnership.
  90W
  Under the PRIME contract, assets related to the properties were transferred to Trillium. The Department, however, retains a relatively small amount of low value property related assets in the Newcastle Estate.

  The total net book value of all fixed assets held by the Department's Executive Agencies at 31 March 1999 is as follows:

  £

  Benefits Agency

  34,220,000

  Child Support Agency

  7,327,000

  War Pensions Agency

  1,035,000

  Information Technology Services Agency

  25,153,000

  For the Department's Independent Statutory Bodies, valuation information is being developed as part of the implementation of resource accounting. This information is currently being audited. The first set of resource accounts will be published in respect of 1999–2000.

  Inter-departmental Group (Poverty and Social Exclusion)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how frequently the inter-departmental group that met to advise on the report from his Department, "Opportunity for All, Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion" (Cm 4455), will meet in future, with representatives of which Departments, under what terms of reference, and with what involvement of representatives of voluntary and community organisations. [100724]

  Mr. Bayley
  In preparing "Opportunity for All", our first annual report on its strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion, all relevant Government Departments met frequently to discuss the report. We are currently considering the terms of reference and membership for the inter-departmental group that will steer the second report.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to allow people with severe and enduring mental illness, who have been discharged from hospital and whose circumstances remain unchanged, to claim Disability Living Allowance and severe disablement premium without having to complete any additional forms. [99877]

  Mr. Bayley
  Scope already exists for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants discharged from hospital on a long-term or indefinite basis to have their benefit reinstated on a weekly basis, providing they notify the DLA unit of their discharge, and providing there is no change to their care and mobility needs. Reinstatement cannot however be automatic; much will depend on the circumstances of the individual case. For example, a person who has been discharged from hospital may have greater or lesser care needs than they had before they were admitted and this could alter the rate of benefit to which they are entitled.

  We recognise the special problems that people with mental health problems face when dealing with the benefits system. We are currently looking at different ways of gathering information necessary to deal with claims for DLA that will place less reliance on lengthy

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  forms, allow more face to face contact with claimants, and develop a system which is more sensitive to the needs of individual disabled people. As part of this, we have been working with organisations representing people with mental health problems to address particular concerns about DLA periodic inquiries. Discussions have been constructive, and are being taken forward in a revised approach, which we believe should lead to an improved service for such people.

  Invalid Carer's Allowance
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of invalid carer's allowance are estimated to have earnings per week of(a) 0–£10, (b) £10–£20, (c) £20–£30, (d) £30–£40 and (e) £40–£50; and how many carers who would otherwise be entitled to invalid carer's allowance are estimated to have earnings per week of (i) £50–£60, (ii) £60–£70, (iii) £70–£80, (iv) £80–£90 and (v) £90–£100 or earnings in other ranges for which estimates are available. [99921]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available.

  Pension Scheme Trustee Boards
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to improve the representation of pensioners on the trustee boards of pension schemes. [99999]

  Mr. Rooker
  We believe that member trustees add value to pension schemes, and want to increase their coverage.

  Our priority is to ensure that schemes have member-nominated trustees, and that members have a fair say in determining the arrangements for appointing them.

  The consultation document, "Strengthening the Pensions Framework", which was issued in December 1998, made a number of proposals on member-nominated trustees, including a proposal that large mature schemes should be required to reserve a place on the trustee board for a pensioner member. Responses showed widespread support for the principle of member trustees, but concern about the practical implications of some of the proposals, including that for a reserved place for a pensioner member in large mature schemes.

  In the light of the concerns, we set up a working group with the pensions industry and other representative bodies to review the proposals. A further consultation document with revised proposals was issued on 7 October 1999.

  The changes we are proposing do not require schemes to have a pensioner trustee, but will ensure that pensioners are given a fair say in the procedures.

  Responses to the revised proposals were mostly very encouraging, and we plan to legislate in the forthcoming child support, pensions and social security Bill.

  Personal Pension Schemes
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to allow unmarried members of personal pension schemes to buy annuities where the rate is determined on the member's life only. [99891]
  92W
  Mr. Rooker
  All members of personal pension schemes are already able to choose to purchase a single life annuity with their entire fund, provided that the pension contains no element of protected rights.

  Members of appropriate personal pension schemes, which consist wholly or partly of protected rights, are required to purchase a joint life annuity with the protected rights element of the accumulated fund which accrued before 6 April 1997. Unmarried members may use all of the rights accrued from 6 April 1997 to purchase a single life annuity.

  We are considering whether a further change should be made to the legislation in respect of the requirement to purchase a joint life annuity for pre-6 April 1997 protected rights.

  National Benefit Fraud Hotline
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have called the National Benefit Fraud Hotline in each of the 12 weeks for which he has the most recent data. [100694]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  Numbers of people who have called the national benefit fraud hotline in the most recent 12 week period, 30 August-19 November 1999

  Week commencing

  Calls answered

  30 August

  2,311

  6 September

  2,902

  13 September

  2,669

  20 September

  2,619

  27 September

  2,470

  4 October

  2,371

  11 October

  2,445

  18 October

  2,336

  25 October

  2,139

  1 November

  2,749

  8 November

  3,060

  15 November

  4,367

  Total

  32,438

  Note:

  On occasion people call the hotline but ring off before the call has been answered. Over the 12 week period, 1,109 calls were lost in this way (3.3 per cent. of all calls made).

  Child Support White Paper
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to respond to the report of the Social Security Select Committee, the 1999 Child Support White Paper [HC 798]. [101124]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government's response to the Committee's report has been laid before Parliament today, Cm 4536.

WALES

  Birth Certificates
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what purposes his Department and its executive agencies require a birth certificate to be provided by(a) employees, (b) contractors and those applying for employment and contracts and (c) other persons. [99332]
  93W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My Department requires those applying for employment to provide either a birth certificate, passport, or driving licence in order to prove identify. Contractors, potential contractors, and other persons are not required to provide their birth certificates.

HEALTH

  Gender Reassignment Surgery
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department issues to health authorities who have a blanket policy not to offer gender reassignment surgery on the National Health Service. [98632]

  Mr. Denham
  Our advice is that each case should be considered on its individual merits.

  Alder Hey Hospital
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Chief Medical Officer's investigation into the post-mortem removal and retention of organs at children's hospitals, with particular reference to Alder Hey, will be completed; and if it will be made public. [98625]

  Mr. Denham
  The Chief Medical Officer's investigation will look at what has happened not only at the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital (Alder Hey) but in the country generally and at the implications for the National Health Service. He hopes to complete his investigation by summer 2000 and will publish the results.

  Nurses National Register
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a minimum time ban for registered nurses struck off the national register held by the UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. [98471]

  Mr. Hutton
  Decisions on the length of time before which a practitioner who has been removed from the register may reapply are a matter for the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  Emergency Services (Millennium Celebrations)
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the plans being made to cope with the expected extra demand placed on emergency services during the millennium celebrations. [99560]

  Ms Stuart
  Preparations for the millennium began well in advance. All National Health Service organisations, including Ambulance Trusts, were assessed as presenting no risk of material disruption to services due to the millennium bug. Ambulance services have detailed plans and robust contingency arrangements in place to cope with expected extra demand over this period.

  Transplants (Waiting List)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each health authority are awaiting(a) heart transplants and (b) other organ transplants; and if he will make a statement. [99763]
  94W
  Mr. Denham
  Copies of the information requested have been placed in the Library.

  We are concerned about the shortage of organs for transplantation and that was why we launched the organ donor publicity campaign in October 1998, reinforced in February by a campaign targeting the south Asian community. We shall continue to build on these campaigns to encourage people to join the National Health Service organ donor register, to carry the donor card at all times and most importantly make their wishes known to their family and friends.

  We shall be developing a further campaign to inform the medical profession about best practice in requesting organ donation.

  Additionally, in line with the drive to improve the quality of care for all users of the NHS, we shall seek to ensure that best practice is adopted in all units involved in donation and transplantation. We shall also support best practice in live donation, which has increased significantly over the last few years.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place in each health authority area to provide a specialised service to patients with epilepsy. [99759]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information is not available in the format requested. Regional specialised commissioning groups are accountable for ensuring that effective arrangements for commissioning specialised services are in place in each region, including those specialised services required for the treatment of complex epilepsy.

  Under the present system it is, of course, for health authorities and primary care groups to plan and arrange the services available to people in their care. They are closest to the patients and best placed to respond sensitively to their needs.

  The Clinical Standards Advisory Group (Epilepsy Committee) has undertaken a study to investigate standards of clinical care for, and access and availability of services to, patients with epilepsy. The aim of this research is to review the services that are currently available. We have recently received this report and are currently considering its conclusions and recommendations and the implications they have for epilepsy services and for the National Health Service as a whole. We hope to publish the report within the prescribed 90 days, together with the Government's response.

  "Fit for the Future?"
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the research on which the consultation document, "Fit for the Future?", was based. [99850]

  Mr. Hutton
  Details of the reference material used by the Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA) and the Advisory Group in formulating their proposals for national standards are set out in the consultation document, "Fit for the Future?", along with details of the CPA's consultation process and the membership of the Advisory Group.
  95W

  Social Services (SSAs)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the standard spending assessment for social services in each health authority area in(a) the last year for which figures are available and (b) 1997. [99913]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on standard spending assessments by health authority area are not available. Details of the standard spending assessment for social services in each local authority in 2000–01, the latest year for which figures are available, and 1997–98, are given in the table.

  Personal social services standard spending assessments 1997–98 and 2000–01

  £ million

  PSS SSA

  1997–98

  2000–01

  Inner London

  City of London

  1.561

  2.235

  Camden

  61.539

  65.514

  Greenwich

  53.365

  62.961

  Hackney

  75.700

  75.201

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  46.983

  49.839

  Islington

  61.641

  67.978

  Kensington and Chelsea

  40.373

  46.555

  Lambeth

  86.801

  90.889

  Lewisham

  69.408

  75.348

  Southwark

  73.657

  85.608

  Tower Hamlets

  59.032

  73.568

  Wandsworth

  66.987

  73.669

  Westminster

  57.804

  67.916

  Total Inner London

  754.851

  837.281

  Outer London

  Barking and Dagenham

  30.899

  42.402

  Barnet

  51.638

  60.393

  Bexley

  27.410

  36.592

  Brent

  57.553

  60.340

  Bromley

  39.743

  47.489

  Croydon

  51.948

  59.903

  Ealing

  57.287

  65.432

  Enfield

  43.305

  54.127

  Haringey

  58.229

  59.422

  Harrow

  30.748

  37.674

  Havering

  28.742

  36.345

  Hillingdon

  35.322

  42.248

  Hounslow

  38.979

  44.092

  Kingston Upon Thames

  19.135

  22.461

  Merton

  28.333

  34.075

  Newham

  60.752

  66.500

  Redbridge

  35.115

  43.807

  Richmond Upon Thames

  25.255

  29.178

  Sutton

  25.415

  30.160

  Waltham Forest

  48.411

  56.133

  Total Outer London

  794.220

  928.773

  Total London Boroughs

  1,549.071

  1,766.054

  Metropolitan Districts

  Barnsley

  36.429

  42.926

  Birmingham

  191.972

  225.012

  Bolton

  40.229

  49.321

  Bradford

  75.447

  87.681

  Bury

  24.157

  29.599

  Calderdale

  28.077

  32.336

  Coventry

  43.305

  57.366

  Doncaster

  42.686

  51.369

  Dudley

  40.206

  51.788

  Gateshead

  34.634

  41.824

  Kirklees

  56.626

  64.763

  96W

  Personal social services standard spending assessments 1997–98 and 2000–01

  £ million

  PSS SSA

  1997–98

  2000–01

  Knowsley

  25.670

  37.973

  Leeds

  114.303

  129.248

  Liverpool

  88.990

  117.144

  Manchester

  97.719

  110.582

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  51.633

  61.709

  North Tyneside

  32.743

  39.622

  Oldham

  34.744

  41.299

  Rochdale

  32.480

  39.794

  Rotherham

  38.936

  48.236

  Salford

  43.219

  52.505

  Sandwell

  52.882

  65.532

  Sefton

  43.411

  56.079

  Sheffield

  95.829

  111.761

  Solihull

  22.140

  29.077

  South Tyneside

  28.062

  35.478

  St. Helen

  25.361

  34.018

  Stockport

  34.842

  45.480

  Sunderland

  49.391

  60.395

  Tameside

  33.526

  41.735

  Trafford

  30.056

  35.724

  Wakefield

  45.645

  56.499

  Walsall

  43.629

  51.672

  Wigan

  42.069

  54.070

  Wirral

  50.170

  64.099

  Wolverhampton

  40.783

  51.322

  Total Districts

  1,812.001

  2,205.040

  Shire Counties

  Bedfordshire

  42.201

  49.329

  Berkshire1

  91.439

  n/a

  Buckinghamshire

  50.856

  57.694

  Cambridgeshire1

  82.510

  71.051

  Cheshire1

  117.590

  93.808

  Cornwall

  66.035

  80.833

  Cumbria

  62.999

  77.302

  Derbyshire

  93.704

  113.478

  Devon1

  150.872

  107.139

  Dorset

  49.460

  58.202

  Durham

  79.015

  93.748

  East Sussex

  76.306

  86.702

  Essex1

  206.992

  196.593

  Gloucestershire

  66.678

  78.881

  Hampshire

  137.052

  153.061

  Hereford and Worcester1

  84.392

  n/a

  Hertfordshire

  134.650

  154.619

  Kent1

  208.470

  207.259

  Lancashire1

  200.097

  182.804

  Leicestershire

  59.501

  72.569

  Lincolnshire

  80.602

  91.628

  Norfolk

  105.747

  121.769

  North Yorkshire

  70.297

  75.996

  Northamptonshire

  71.409

  85.391

  Northumberland

  43.653

  48.531

  Nottinghamshire1

  146.546

  110.286

  Oxfordshire

  70.860

  78.168

  Shropshire1

  52.074

  40.695

  Somerset

  62.493

  72.150

  Staffordshire

  91.191

  109.971

  Suffolk

  83.259

  97.914

  Surrey

  130.363

  143.522

  Warwickshire

  57.743

  70.602

  West Sussex

  102.060

  112.675

  Wiltshire

  48.547

  53.766

  Worcestershire

  n/a

  74.424

  Total Counties

  3,277.661

  3,322.562

  97W

  Personal social services standard spending assessments 1997–98 and 2000–01

  £ million

  PSS SSA

  1997–98

  2000–01

  Shire Unitary Authorities

  Isles of Scilly

  0.282

  0.249

  Isle of Wight

  18.798

  23.070

  Bath and North East Somerset

  21.229

  24.671

  Blackburn

  n/a

  26.184

  Blackpool

  n/a

  31.264

  Bournemouth

  29.672

  32.681

  Bracknell Forest

  n/a

  14.130

  Brighton and Hove

  47.223

  52.088

  Bristol

  63.766

  74.797

  Darlington

  14.800

  17.272

  Derby

  35.075

  41.732

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  35.546

  42.357

  Halton

  n/a

  22.517

  Hartlepool

  14.219

  17.661

  Herefordshire

  n/a

  24.383

  Kingston upon Hull

  49.478

  57.422

  Leicester

  54.311

  59.978

  Luton

  23.984

  29.898

  Medway Town

  n/a

  33.434

  Middlesbrough

  24.171

  29.166

  Milton Keynes

  22.638

  27.961

  North East Lincolnshire

  21.940

  26.857

  North Lincolnshire

  19.306

  23.024

  North Somerset

  23.346

  27.391

  Nottingham

  n/a

  62.419

  Peterbrough

  n/a

  24.682

  Plymouth

  n/a

  44.878

  Poole

  17.612

  22.060

  Portsmouth

  31.254

  35.662

  Reading

  n/a

  23.110

  Redcar and Cleveland

  21.095

  24.851

  Rutland

  3.377

  3.702

  Slough

  n/a

  21.683

  South Gloucestershire

  21.661

  27.605

  Southampton

  35.513

  40.959

  Southend-on-Sea

  n/a

  34.311

  Stockton-on-Tees

  23.313

  29.341

  Stoke-on-Trent

  38.102

  49.075

  Telford and the Wrekin

  n/a

  23.335

  Thamesdown

  20.113

  24.565

  Thurrock

  n/a

  22.689

  Torbay

  n/a

  26.333

  Warrington

  n/a

  27.880

  West Berkshire

  n/a

  15.583

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  n/a

  17.636

  Wokingham

  n/a

  12.170

  York

  21.562

  25.031

  Total Unitaries

  753.385

  1,399.745

  Total Shire Areas

  4,031.046

  4,722.307

  Total England

  7,392.117

  8,693.400

  1 These shire counties were reorganised on 1 April 1998 and therefore figures for the two years are not comparable

  National Care Homes
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he proposes to announce his response to the Consultation Document on National Care Homes Standards. [99989]

  Mr. Hutton
  The consultation document "Fit for the Future?—National Required Standards for Residential and Nursing Homes for Older People" was issued for formal consultation nationally on 8 September. The consultation period ends on 21 January 2000.
  98W
  We will carefully consider all the comments we receive before finalising any regulatory standards and the arrangements for implementing them.

  Physiotherapy
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many physiotherapist posts are unfilled in the NHS at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many physiotherapists(a) left and (b) joined the NHS during the latest full year for which figures are available. [99995]

  Mr. Denham
  The available information is given in the tables. The Department's Recruitment, Retention and Vacancies survey collected data on the numbers of unfilled posts in NHS trusts in England as a 31 March 1999. Information is not collected centrally on the numbers of physiotherapists joining and leaving the NHS, but the annual non-medical workforce census gives total numbers of physiotherapists at 30 September each year.

  Physiotherapist vacancies in NHS trusts in England at 31 March 1999

  Total vacancies (whole time equivalents)

  Physiotherapists

  990

  Source:

  Department of Health Recruitment, Retention and Vacancies Survey March 1999

  NHS hospital and community health services physiotherapists in England at 30 September each year

  Headcount

  1997

  18,180

  1998

  18,530

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

  Source:

  Department of Health non-medical workforce census

  Pharmaceutical Packaging
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact the EU directive on pharmaceutical packaging, which came into force on 1 January, has had on the availability and cost of generic drugs to the NHS. [99994]

  Ms Stuart
  Although it does not require them to do so, many manufacturers of generic medicines have decided in the light of European Community Directive 92/27, and other considerations, to change their production from bulk supplies to patient packs. It is likely that this change has contributed to recent problems in the availability of generic medicines and their increasing cost to the NHS. It is, however, only one factor and not, in our view, the most significant.

  NHS Magazine
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to public funds in the last year for which information is available of publishing NHS Magazine. [99894]
  99W
  Mr. Denham
  NHS Magazine was first published in June 1995. The net cost of publishing four issues of NHS Magazine in 1998 was £161,311.48. This averages a cost of £1.04 per copy.

  Health Care Spending
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government have a long-term target figure for the percentage of gross domestic product that it wishes to see devoted to health care spending. [100006]

  Mr. Denham
  No.

  Patients Association
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has provided to the Patients Association in each of the last five years. [99990]

  Ms Stuart
  The main source of Departmental funding for voluntary organisations is the Section 64 General Scheme of Grants. Over the last five years the Patients Association has received the following Section 64 funding:

  £

  1995–96

  14,000

  1996–97

  6,000

  1997–98

  25,000

  1998–99

  20,000

  1999–2000

  15,000

  NHS Consultants
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of serving NHS consultants intending to retire(a) before the age of 65 years and (b) before reaching the age of 60 years. [99888]

  Mr. Denham
  Information about the number of consultants in the National Health Service intending to retire is not collected centrally. For workforce planning purposes, we use data provided by the Medical Royal Colleges, where available.

  A and E Waiting Times
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a task force to monitor the number of patients who wait on trolleys for treatment in A and E departments. [99998]

  Ms Stuart
  Earlier this year we announced a £115 million programme to modernise, expand and update accident and emergency departments. At the same time we announced that we were setting up a team to spearhead improvements in services and to set standards of care in accident and emergency departments, including the care provided for people awaiting admission to hospital. The team is led by Mr. Mike Lambert, an experienced accident and emergency consultant, and draws upon the expertise of professionals in all relevant fields. Their report will be presented to Ministers next spring.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the(a) effect to date and (b) likely effect during the remainder of the current financial year of primary care group budget overspends on the prescribing patterns of those primary care groups. [99991]

  Mr. Denham
  Current pressures do not justify a reduction or withdrawal of services to patients. Primary Care Groups should monitor all aspects of their prescribing and continue their efforts to reduce wasteful and inappropriate prescribing.

  Hospital Waiting Times
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are waiting for(a) 12, (b) 18 and (c) 24 months for hospital treatment; and how many people were waiting for hospital treatment on 1 March in each year from 1990 to 1999 in the North Staffordshire Hospital Trust area. [99881]

  Mr. Denham
  The following table contains data for 31 March figures each year. Data are only available from March 1994 for North Staffordshire Hospital Trust as it exists today. However, the table supplies data for North Staffordshire District Health Authority before this time. Please note that this information will not be directly comparable with later years as it may not cover exactly the same area as the current trust.

  Total

  12 months plus

  18 months plus

  24 months plus

  31 March 1999

  7,051

  519

  0

  0

  31 March 1998

  9,877

  392

  0

  0

  31 March 1997

  6,988

  93

  0

  0

  31 March 1996

  7,307

  0

  0

  0

  31 March 1995

  8,486

  8

  0

  0

  31 March 1994

  9,170

  0

  0

  0

  31 March 1993

  8,206

  3

  0

  0

  31 March 1992

  7,254

  251

  5

  31 March 1991

  8,026

  952

  565

  31 March 1990

  10,019

  1,170

  1,282

  Voluntary Organisations
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the voluntary organisations which received section 64 financial support in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, indicating the amount of each award and the number of years each organisation has been funded through section 64. [100495]

  Mr. Hutton
  The available information has been placed in the Library.

  Dental Services
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many vacant posts there are for Community Dental Service dentists; [100501]

  (2) how many dentists have been employed in the Community Dental Service over each of the last five years; [100500]

  (3) what was the budget for the Community Dental Service for each of the past five years. [100502]
  101W
  Mr. Hutton
  There is no overall community dental service (CDS) budget. The level of investment in the CDS is a matter for individual health authorities to decide in the light of local need and priorities. Funding comes from health authority baseline allocations. Information about spending on CDS, recruitment and vacancies are matters for health authorities and data are not collected centrally. Overall CDS workforce statistics are given in the table.

  Staff in the community dental service (England): all figures as at 30 September

  Head count

  Year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Honorary

  Total

  Whole time equiv. (wte)

  1994

  740

  560

  0

  1,300

  1,030

  1995

  760

  560

  —

  1,320

  1,040

  1996

  750

  630

  0

  1,380

  1,060

  1997

  740

  630

  —

  1,380

  1,090

  1998

  690

  690

  0

  1,380

  1,030

  Note:

  All figures are rounded to nearest 10

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the new dental phone-and-go schemes will be based. [100503]

  Mr. Hutton
  Two phone-and-go dental access centres have already opened in Cornwall and Shropshire. A further six will begin to open from the autumn in Wolverhampton, Bromley, Gloucester, Swindon, Worcester, and Manchester. Expressions of interest for further dental access centres are currently being considered and an announcement will be made shortly. Those that are successful will be given financial support to help them work up a full business case.

  New Variant CJD
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died of new variant CJD in each month since 1 May 1997. [99467]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Year and month

  Number of deaths

  1997

  May

  2

  June

  1

  July

  1

  August

  0

  September

  0

  October

  1

  November

  0

  December

  1

  1998

  January

  1

  February

  0

  March

  1

  April

  1

  May

  1

  June

  0

  July

  0

  August

  2

  September

  0

  October

  5

  November

  3

  December

  3

  102W

  Year and month

  Number of deaths

  1999

  January

  1

  February

  3

  March

  0

  April

  0

  May

  0

  June

  0

  July

  1

  August

  2

  September

  1

  Barnet General Hospital
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when phase 1B of the redevelopment of Barnet General Hospital will be open. [100217]

  Mr. Denham
  Work on Phase 1B development at Barnet Hospital is progressing well. The private finance initiative agreement states that construction work should be completed within 38 months of its signing, that is, by April 2002.

  Health Trusts (Fundraising)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the advice he gave to health trusts on fundraising activities, indicating what controls he has put in place. [100138]

  Mr. Denham
  The Charity Commission, as the regulator of charities, is responsible for issuing guidance to trustees, including National Health Service trustees. It has issued specific guidance to NHS bodies in the form of a manual, "NHS Charities a Guide" which provides advice on fundraising.

  Electro-convulsive Treatment
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's latest advice on electro-convulsive treatment. [100797]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Royal College of Psychiatrists has issued guidance on the use of electro-convulsive therapy. A joint letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in September 1998 was sent to all consultant psychiatrists, health authorities and NHS trusts indicating that it was expected that clinical governance arrangements would ensure compliance with this guidance in ECT clinics.

  ECT is an effective treatment particularly for patients with very severe generally psychotic depression which is life threatening if left untreated. People who are this severely depressed may refuse or be unable to eat and drink, with a consequent high mortality, as well as being at very high risk of suicide. ECT produces a faster onset of therapeutic action in such cases than is the case with drug treatment.

  ECT also has a more limited place in the treatment of other disorders such as mania and schizophrenia. Its role in these latter conditions is generally when drug treatments have proved ineffective or for some reason inadvisable.
  103W

  Non-moulded Hearing Aids
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rules cover the sale of non-moulded hearing aids in retail outlets. [98619]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 19 November 1999]: I have been asked to reply as the Minister responsible for the Hearing Aid Council Act 1968, which regulates the supply of hearing aids, whether moulded or non-moulded. The Act requires that the dispensers of hearing aids must be registered as such with the Hearing Aid Council in order to supply hearing aids. The standard of competence for registration of dispensers is contained in the Hearing Aid Council's Code of Practice, copies of which will be placed shortly in the Library of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who has awarded the contract to conduct the research into stipendiary and lay magistrates by the Lord Chancellor's Department. [101120]

  Mr. Straw
  A contract was signed on 22 November on behalf of Professor Rod Morgan of the University of Bristol, who will lead a team consisting of colleagues in the Faculty of Law at the University of Bristol, researchers from Taylor Nelson Sofres (covering the fieldwork), and CRG Consultants (for the cost-benefit analysis).

  The team will undertake research commissioned jointly by the Hone Office and the Lord Chancellor's Department, to assess the relative costs, effectiveness and other benefits or disadvantages of stipendiary and lay magistrates, taking into account all related costs including those of other agencies. It will be used to assess whether the current balance between the use of lay magistrates and stipendiaries is satisfactory; whether each set of magistrates is deployed in the most effective way; and the weight of arguments that are heard for and against the use of lay and stipendiary magistrates in particular circumstances.

  The research is due to be completed in September 2000. The report will be published.

  Policing Objectives
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what objectives he will be determining for policing in 2000–01. [101121]

  Mr. Straw
  The Police Act 1996 allows me to set objectives, or ministerial priorities, for policing. The objectives for 2000–01 are:to reduce local problems of crime and disorder in partnership with local authorities, other local agencies and the public; and
  to increase trust and confidence in policing among minority ethnic communities.
  I have reduced the number of priorities from four to two as I believe this helps focus attention on two key areas of policing—reducing crime and rising to the challenges of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the achievements of staff in the immigration and nationality directorate over the past year. [101122]

  Mrs. Roche
  Staff in the immigration and nationality directorate (IND)—both at the ports and at headquarters—have faced greatly increased workloads during 1999 as a result of the large increase in the number of asylum applicants. Much has been achieved, but much more remains to be done and staff will face a continuing challenge next year. In addition, staff are now taking on new responsibilities to make asylum procedures operate more effectively.

  I have, therefore, authorised a special payment of £150 for all staff, except members of the IND board. This recognises the extra duties and responsibilities of IND staff in this period of change.

  Road Rage
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attacks by motorists against other motorists have been reported during 1999; how many people have been charged as a result of such reports; and how many such people have been(a) sent to prison, (b) fined and (c) acquitted. [99527]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Incapacitant Sprays
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions incapacitant sprays have been used in each month in each Metropolitan Police division in the past 12 months; and what records are maintained of each use of the spray. [99601]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has provided the following information on the use of CS spray by borough operational command units (OCUs) for each quarter of the last 12 months.

  1998

  1999

  Borough OCU

  4th Qtr

  1st Qtr

  2nd Qtr

  3rd Qtr

  City of Westminster

  4

  8

  1

  3

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  8

  0

  5

  1

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  3

  2

  1

  Barking and Dagenham

  5

  0

  5

  3

  Barnet

  0

  5

  2

  3

  Brent

  5

  5

  8

  5

  Camden

  6

  2

  6

  3

  Ealing

  9

  8

  6

  9

  Enfield

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Hackney

  2

  4

  2

  2

  Haringey

  2

  3

  3

  2

  Harrow

  3

  4

  2

  5

  Havering

  3

  2

  6

  7

  Hillingdon

  8

  6

  5

  9

  Islington

  5

  1

  0

  1

  Newham

  5

  3

  3

  3

  Redbridge

  2

  4

  2

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  3

  3

  4

  1

  Waltham Forest

  2

  5

  5

  1

  Bexley

  1

  2

  0

  1

  Bromley

  5

  4

  3

  2

  Croydon

  2

  3

  5

  6

  Greenwich

  5

  8

  5

  8

  Hounslow

  5

  2

  2

  5

  105W

  1998

  1999

  Borough OCU

  4th Qtr

  1st Qtr

  2nd Qtr

  3rd Qtr

  Kingston upon Thames

  6

  4

  3

  5

  Lambeth

  6

  4

  7

  11

  Lewisham

  6

  4

  3

  13

  Merton

  6

  0

  3

  2

  Richmond upon Thames

  0

  1

  1

  3

  Southwark

  7

  5

  6

  7

  Spelthorne

  1

  1

  2

  0

  Sutton

  4

  6

  4

  11

  Wandsworth

  0

  2

  2

  2

  Totals

  127

  112

  114

  135

  The Commissioner tells me that a monthly breakdown for each borough OCU is not readily available.

  Reasons for, and the circumstances of, each use of CS spray are recorded in the arresting officer's notes; if no arrest is made, a local record is kept. Each time CS spray is used, details are copied to the relevant Metropolitan Police policy branch and, in many cases, to OCU and area senior management.

  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules, guidelines or other instructions are given to officers of the Metropolitan Police concerning the circumstances in which they may use incapacitant sprays; and what precautions officers must take to avoid danger to(a) members of the public, (b) the person being targeted and (c) fellow officers. [99602]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that training in the use of CS spray for his officers is based on principles contained in the Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines on police use of incapacitant spray.

  Metropolitan Police officers are taught that CS spray is a tactical option when the use of force is justified, but it must be used lawfully. Where any use of force is contemplated, officers are trained to take full account of the circumstances and any likely dangers before deciding which tactical option to use. Their training explains the effects of CS spray on the person being sprayed and on others; they are also trained in aftercare procedures for persons sprayed. Custody officers have specific guidance on how to deal with those arrested following the use of CS spray.

  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received in the last year concerning the use of incapacitant sprays by the Metropolitan Police; on how many occasions disciplinary action has been taken against officers for misuse or other incidents involving an incapacitant spray; how many officers charged with such an offence were disciplined; and what sanctions were applied. [99603]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that between 1 November 1998 and 31 October 1999 there were 38 public complaints by members of the public concerning the use of incapacitant sprays. These complaints involved 41 specific allegations. Of these, 16 have been investigated and found to be unsubstantiated. The remaining 25 allegations are still being investigated.

  No disciplinary action relating to the use of CS spray has been taken against any Metropolitan Police officer during the same 12-month period.
  106W
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date divisions of the Metropolitan police were issued with incapacitant spray; what type of spray is available to them; how many canisters have been purchased and at what cost; how many officers have been trained in the use of spray; how many hours of such training are set as the minimum training for an officer; and how many officers routinely carry canisters. [99604]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan police Commissioner tells me that the date of issue of CS spray varies between divisions because of the lead-in time necessary to train officers. All officers receive four hours initial training before being issued with CS spray; competence in its use is checked at least once a year thereafter. By March 1998, most divisional officers had been issued with CS spray.

  The Metropolitan police do not record centrally the number of officers trained in the use of CS spray, nor the number who routinely carry it, but the Commissioner tells me that the majority of operational officers would routinely carry it.

  The CS incapacitant spray issued by the Metropolitan police is manufactured by SAE Alsetex in France and supplied in the United Kingdom by Primetake Ltd. This spray contains a 5 per cent. solution of CS in the solvent MIBK (Methyl iso butyl ketone) and the propellant used is nitrogen. Since September 1997, the Metropolitan police has purchased 30,200 canisters at the cost of £196,000.

  Euro 2000
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total costs were of policing the England v Scotland Euro 2000 play-offs match at Wembley on 17 November. [99528]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan Police advise that the total cost for policing around Wembley Stadium and in Central London was £525,777. Policing costs inside the stadium were met by Wembley plc.

  Officer Training
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to police officers on effecting an arrest on board a bus, and what factors must be taken into account by the arresting officers. [99605]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Police officer training is an operational matter for individual chief officers.

  The Commissioner tells me that during Metropolitan police officers probationer continuation training, they receive a session on public transport disputes and legislation. This covers assaults on bus crews and the conduct of passengers. This complements training on issues such as the handling of assaults in public places, powers of arrest and public order offences.

  Bus Routes (Crime)
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the past year and in what circumstances police have been called to deal with incidents on buses in the police district covering Hackney;
  107W
  on how many occasions police have made an arrest; and what offences were alleged to have been committed by those arrested. [99600]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that between 1 October 1998 and 1 October 1999, 283 allegations of crime on bus routes in Hackney borough were recorded. These break down as follows:

  Number

  Theft (from the person)

  116

  Theft (other)

  63

  Violence against the person

  51

  Robbery

  27

  Indecent Assault

  5

  Other offences

  21

  The Commissioner tells me that statistics on the number of occasions the police have been called to deal with incidents on buses in Hackney borough, and related arrests, are not recorded specifically.

  Human Fertilisation Act 1990
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been instigated under the Human Fertilisation Act 1990 on embryos experimented on in advance of 14 days. [99749]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  From 1991 to 1998 inclusive, the Home Office court proceedings database shows no defendants proceeded against under the Act for this offence.

  Marchioness Disaster
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and boats were available to the Metropolitan Police Thames Division(a) at the time of the Marchioness disaster and (b) in 1999. [99623]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that in 1989 there were 146 police officers attached to Thames Division, and 23 boats were deployed from five bases along the length of the River Thames. Today there are 89 police officers and 18 boats all operating out of central headquarters at Wapping, where activity is focused on river traffic monitoring, central London security patrol and emergency response. The fleet has been substantially modernised since 1989 and an additional two boats are due to be delivered before the end of the year. A more diverse range of specialist resources is also now available to Thames Division than in 1989, including digital marine radio, inflatable pathways and vessel tracking.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK in 1998. [98565]

  Mrs. Roche
  The number of nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia granted indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom in 1998 was 870. Other 108W
  information on nationals from the former Yugoslavia was published in Table 6.1 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom, 1998", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Police Numbers (Hillingdon)
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what staffing levels will be in operation in each of the police stations within the Metropolitan Police Service Hillingdon division on(a) 25 December, (b) 26 December, (c) 31 December, (d) 1 January 2000 and (e) 2 January 2000. [99610]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that planning is taking place to ensure there are sufficient officers on duty to meet the demands over the Millennium period. The planning process has taken into account the need to retain operational flexibility.

  Police Act 1997
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation of Part V of the Police Act 1997. [99597]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The project to set up the Criminal Records Bureau to implement Part V of the Police Act 1997 is being managed within the framework of a Public-Private Partnership. A business prospectus was issued on 8 October and a bidders conference was held on 14 October. Bids were received on 19 November and are under evaluation. I have been reviewing the timetable and delivery of the project and I shall announce the outcome shortly.

  Burglar Alarms
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers over the problems caused by rogue burglar alarms in commercial properties. [100796]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  None. I am not aware of any representations to the Home Office on that matter.

  Representation of the People Bill
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reason no regulatory impact study of the financial and other effects of the Representation of the People Bill has been issued by his Department in advance of the publication of the Bill; [100673]

  (2) when his Department intends to issue a regulatory impact study of the financial and other effects of the Representation of the People Bill; [100674]

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to(a) business and (b) other organisations of proposals in the Representation of the People Bill to limit the commercial availability of the electoral register; and for what reason no regulatory impact statement has been produced. [100399]
  109W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  A regulatory impact statement relating to the Representation of the People Bill was placed in the Library on 18 November to coincide with the Bill's introduction.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that use of the full electoral register by commercial and charitable groups should become a criminal offence. [100675]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Representation of the People Bill allows regulations to be made prescribing those persons who may purchase or be supplied with the full electoral register and for what purpose. Prohibitions or restrictions may be imposed as to the extent to which information from the full register may be used for purposes other than those for which it was supplied, and it can be made an offence to contravene those prohibitions or restrictions.

  Eurodac Regulations
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what position will be taken by the Government when the European Commission's proposal to transfer to the Commission competence over the implementing provisions of the Eurodac Regulations is discussed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 2 and 3 December. [100798]

  Mrs. Roche
  A copy of an explanatory memorandum has been sent to the scrutiny committees setting out the Government's position on the draft regulation. A copy will be available in the Library of the House. On implementing powers, we will judge at the Council itself what is in the United Kingdom's best interests in the light of all the proposals then under discussion.

  Passport Fees
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) of 24 November 1999,Official Report, column 125W, if he will place in the Library details of the options regarding passport fee levels which have been submitted for consideration. [100799]

  Mrs. Roche
  The options for the levels of passport fees are a matter for internal discussion and deliberation between Passport Agency officials and Ministers.

  Gurpal Virdi
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long was the last request by Gurpal Virdi for postponement of the Metropolitan Police discipline hearing; how long the postponement was; and whose availability caused the extra delay. [100031]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that solicitors representing Sergeant Virdi sought an adjournment of the Metropolitan Police discipline hearing on or around 31 August 1999. The adjournment was sought to allow expert witnesses, acting for the defence, sufficient time to examine the evidence in the case.
  110W
  Both parties have agreed the hearing should now start on 7 February 2000.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will authorise Gurpal Virdi to meet the police inspectorate before the resolution of the outstanding employment and discipline hearings involving the Metropolitan Police Service; [100029]

  (2) if he will authorise the police inspectorate to meet Gurpal Virdi before the resolution of the outstanding employment and discipline hearings involving the Metropolitan Police Service. [100028]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Whether Sergeant Virdi meets a member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) is a matter for them. I understand that HMIC, in order to avoid any suggestion of compromising proceedings, would not expect to meet a police officer engaged in disciplinary and employment tribunal proceedings until those proceedings, and any related appeals, were complete.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Metropolitan Police Service first received notice of the employment claim by Gurpal Virdi; and what the reasons have been for the delay in the tribunal hearing. [100030]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that the originating application for the employment tribunal in Sergeant Gurpal Virdi's case was presented on 28 June 1998. The Metropolitan Police Service served notice of its intention to contest the matter.

  The tribunal was made aware that there are outstanding disciplinary matters relating to Sergeant Virdi, which are linked to the employment claim. As evidence that will be used both by the defence and the prosecution in the disciplinary hearing will also be used at the employment tribunal, the tribunal cannot proceed until the disciplinary hearing is concluded.

  The employment tribunal has been made aware of the mutually agreed revised date to commence the disciplinary hearing on 7 February 2000. The employment tribunal has set the date of 5 May 2000 for a directions hearing with the full hearing due to commence on 14 June 2000.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work is being undertaken by his Department to assess the additional training and other costs if, as a result of the introduction of community treatment orders proposed in the consultation paper "Reform of the Mental Health Act 1983", the police are increasingly engaged in conveying people to hospital. [100720]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government's proposals for the review of the Mental Health Act 1983 were published for consultation in a Green Paper on 16 November. The proposals do not include any additional statutory responsibility for the police to convey people to hospital. However, we shall consider carefully any evidence the police service offers about the implications for them of any aspect of the proposals.
  111W

  Fuel Duty
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effect of the fuel duty escalator on the budgets of(a) the police, (b) the fire and rescue service and (c) the ambulance service. [100062]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Budgets for police forces and fire brigades are set locally by their respective police and fire authorities. These budgets reflect local decisions on the authorities' priorities and expenditure needs. It is not possible to discern whether or to what extent fuel price changes have been a factor in these decisions, but we have no evidence to suggest that they have been a consideration of any significance.

  The ambulance service is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. However, I understand that the increased costs in fuel duty for the ambulance service since 1996–97 are estimated at £3.73 million. This amounts to less than 0.075 per cent, of hospital and community health services spending over the two years since 1997.

  Pilot Election Schemes
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that local authorities are able successfully to run pilot election schemes, as set out in the Representation of the People Bill, by March 2000. [100658]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We hope that it will be possible for local authorities to run the first pilot schemes at the local elections in May 2000, though this will depend on when the Bill receives Royal Assent.

  The Home Office has issued a circular to all local authorities explaining how to apply to run a pilot scheme and has produced guidance on how to undertake an evaulation.

  Firearms Surrender Compensation
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reason the claim by Mr. R. Knappe of Ferndown, Dorset, for firearms surrender compensation in respect of firearms surrendered over two years ago has not yet been paid; [99455]

  (2) how many claims for firearms surrender compensation have been received by the Firearms Compensation Section from Dorset Constabulary; how many have been completed; how many are still outstanding; and how many have been closed in error; [99451]

  (3) how many claims for firearms surrender compensation are still outstanding; and on what date he expects all cases to be completed. [99456]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Office Firearms Compensation Section (FCS) received 1,428 compensation claims from the Dorset Police area, of which five were ineligible under the terms of the compensation schemes. As at 22 November, 1,403 claims had been completed and 20 remain outstanding, of which 18 are those where payment offers have been made to the claimants in question and are awaiting acceptance.
  112W
  As at 22 November, a total of 994 claims remain outstanding, of which 795 are those where payment offers have been made to the claimants in question and are awaiting acceptance. It is not possible to predict exactly when all claims will be completed as this will depend on a number of factors outside our control, including, for example, the receipt of suitable evidence from claimants as to the value of their surrendered property, the outcome of an independent valuation where this is necessary, and claimants acceptance of the payment offers that have been or will be made to them.

  The compensation claim made by Mr. Knappe of Ferndown, Dorset was received in the FCS on 26 August 1997. Payment of the Option A and B elements of the claim was made on 22 January 1998 and the case is recorded as having been completed at this point. The claim will be re-examined by the FCS in order to process the outstanding Option C element of the claim.

  It is not possible to say how many claims may have been closed in error. They will come to light only when a claimant inquires about progress on a claim which is recorded as completed. Once identified, any such cases are dealt with promptly.

  Serious Assault
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to magistrates on the criteria for releasing persons on bail charged with a serious assault rather than remanding them in custody; and if he has any plans to review this guidance. [100347]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 29 November 1999]: Within the statutory framework laid down by Parliament, in the Bail Act 1976, the decision to grant bail is a matter of independent judicial discretion. For this reason, the Government do not issue guidance to magistrates. However, magistrates are trained to adopt a structured approach to decision making, taking into account a range of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offence, the possible sentence and whether the defendant is likely to surrender to bail or commit offences while on bail.

  Reserve Budget (Police)
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent advice the Audit Commission has given to police authorities on the appropriate proportion of their budget to be held in reserve; [100669]

  (2) on the basis of the most recent information available, what proportion of total budget police authorities in the UK hold as reserves. [100668]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  An Audit Commission report published in July 1999 reported that the average police fund balance in England and Wales (including earmarked and general reserves) at 31 March 1998 was £7.6 million, which represents 6.2 per cent. of average net operating expenditure. However, the level of reserves varies greatly between authorities.

  The Audit Commission also reported that the level of general reserves—that is reserves other than earmarked reserves—is often a better indicator of the financial health of an authority. I attach information published by the

  113W
  Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), showing that at 31 March 1998 police authorities in England and Wales had general reserves totalling £181 million. This represents about 2.6 per cent, of net expenditure.

  The Audit Commission noted that general reserves, or balances, ranging from 2 per cent. to 5 per cent. of net operating expenditure are typically seen as reasonable by auditors. CIPFA has issued advice to police authorities recommending that general reserves or balances should be within that range, depending on local circumstances. According to CIPFA figures, 12 police authorities had general reserves below 2 per cent. of net expenditure as at 31 March 1998.

  Reserves as at 31 March 1998

  Net expenditure £000

  Reserves £000

  Percentages

  Avon and Somerset

  152,673

  2,539

  1.7

  Bedfordshire

  58,570

  1,549

  2.6

  Cambridgeshire

  68,681

  1,755

  2.6

  Cheshire

  104,005

  6,162

  5.9

  City of London

  57,893

  —

  0.0

  Cleveland

  75,426

  1,563

  2.1

  Cumbria

  61,709

  198

  0.3

  Derbyshire

  95,641

  2,423

  2.5

  Devon and Cornwall

  155,435

  6,064

  3.9

  Dorset

  69,727

  1,227

  1.8

  Durham

  75,166

  1,524

  2.0

  Dyfed-Powys

  50,952

  527

  1.0

  Essex

  157,487

  2,148

  1.4

  Gloucestershire

  58,633

  3,320

  5.7

  Greater Manchester

  353,319

  8,552

  2.4

  Gwent

  64,598

  2,123

  3.3

  Hampshire

  180,791

  7,835

  4.3

  Hertfordshire

  93,011

  3,514

  3.8

  Humberside

  106,220

  319

  0.3

  Kent

  174,211

  5,528

  3.2

  Lancashire

  169,275

  7,421

  4.4

  Leicestershire

  98,789

  3,054

  3.1

  Lincolnshire

  66,184

  522

  0.8

  Merseyside

  224,327

  7,452

  3.3

  Metropolitan Police

  1,676,617

  26,495

  1.6

  Norfolk

  80,222

  2,735

  3.4

  Northamptonshire

  64,605

  5,106

  7.9

  Northumbria

  195,092

  —

  0.0

  North Wales

  70,920

  2,036

  2.9

  North Yorkshire

  71,840

  2,873

  4.0

  Nottinghamshire

  120,556

  3,335

  2.8

  South Wales

  159,411

  3,600

  2.3

  South Yorkshire

  166,027

  6,123

  3.7

  Staffordshire

  110,264

  6,996

  6.3

  Suffolk

  63,676

  2,002

  3.1

  Surrey

  90,976

  3,975

  4.4

  Sussex

  157,631

  8,919

  5.7

  Thames Valley

  210,333

  5,130

  2.4

  Warwickshire

  51,003

  1,750

  3.4

  West Mercia

  107,788

  2,880

  2.7

  West Midlands

  360,129

  5,010

  1.4

  West Yorkshire

  281,745

  3,881

  1.4

  Wiltshire

  58,535

  10,907

  18.6

  England and Wales

  6,870,093

  181,082

  2.6

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Trade Agreements
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to review the effect of trade agreements to which the UK is a party on developing countries. [100423]
  114W
  Mr. Foulkes
  The EU is funding a Sustainability Impact Assessment by Manchester University of the next trade round currently underway in Seattle. The study is developing a methodology for sustainability impact assessment and will make a broad qualitative assessment of the next round. It will look at impacts for four groups of countries—the EU, developing countries, least developed countries and the world as a whole. The Government fully supports the EU's approach and will be consulting with the EU and the consultants as the work progresses. In addition, the UK is part funding a World Bank programme of research on trade and development, which will include some work on impact assessment.

  The EU is currently negotiating new trade arrangements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific developing countries as part of the successor agreement to the Lomé IV Convention. The EU funded a consultancy study to investigate the effects of the proposed new arrangements. The results of the study were shared with EU member states and the ACP countries.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received on the effect of trade agreements to which the UK is a party on developing countries. [100421]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received representations from a variety of UK based development agencies and NGO organisations over the past few months. In October, she met with representatives of the British Overseas Aid Group. She gave a speech hosted by the Commonwealth Business Council on 3 November to over 100 NGOs entitled "Making the Next Trade Round Work for the World's Poor". I addressed the United Nations Environment and Development Committee conference "Seattle: A Challenge for Sustainable Development" on 18 November, a conference attended by most of the interested parties within the UK. I represent the Department for International Development (DFID) at the Government's regular meetings with the UK NGO Trade network.

  In the preparatory process for the Seattle Ministerial Meeting which will be held this week all WTO members have had an opportunity to put their points across, including their concerns about existing agreements. We will be working to ensure that these comments are taken forward appropriately in the WTO.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid programmes her Department is supporting in Pakistan; and what criteria she is adopting in determining which aid programmes to support.[99895]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Direct development assistance to the Government of Pakistan remains frozen following my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's announcement of 15 October. Through civil society channels we are continuing programmes that directly help the poor.

  Our priorities include support for improved rural livelihoods, better basic education and health services and assistance to tackle child labour issues. We screen all proposed programmes to ensure they are poverty focused and take account of issues such as gender equality and environmental impact as a matter of course.
  115W

  Private Aid
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what annual assessment her Department makes of private aid and development assistance to the developing world from the United Kingdom. [100051]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Department for International Development reports annually, in our Departmental Report, on the progress of implementation of the Government's official development assistance strategy. Private or non-governmental development agencies are independent organisations, accountable to their own Boards, and to the public and others who provide their funds. We try to ensure, through regular meetings, consultations and monitoring, that there is synergy between the work undertaken by these organisations and the official development programme. We are also about to embark on Partnership Programme Agreements with major non-governmental development agencies which will set out shared objectives over a fixed time-period.

  South Africa
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates she has made of the effect of UK gold sales on employment in South Africa. [99609]

  Clare Short
  The world price of gold has been in decline for many years prior to the recent announcement of UK gold sales. The relatively modest size of UK gold sales is not sufficient to explain the fall in price of gold earlier this year. The price of gold has risen again since the second auction in September, and continues to fluctuate within a broad margin.

  Employment in the gold mining sector in South Africa has fallen from around 385,000 in June 1995, to around 210,000 at present. South African mines are comparatively high cost producers—the present industry average in South Africa is about $230 per ounce, compared to about ․100 in parts of South America—and their relative contribution to the South African economy has been in decline for decades. Our development co-operation supports South Africa's efforts at economic diversification and employment creation.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement concerning progress made on the extension of the jetty to form a breakwater in Jamestown Harbour, St. Helena. [100119]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The St. Helena Government is presently finalising proposals for a Wharf Improvement Project, including construction of a breakwater. The bulk of the project is expected to be financed from the European Development Fund (EDF). We have advised both the European Commission and the St. Helena Government that we will support the project when it is considered by the EDF Committee. We are also considering the Department for International Development's proposed contribution to the project.
  116W
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement concerning the breakdown of the RMS St. Helena and the future arrangements for transportation of goods and people to and from St. Helena, Ascension Island and the United Kingdom. [100118]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The RMS St. Helena suffered a failure of its starboard main engine on 5 November on its way from Cardiff to the south Atlantic. Technical investigation indicated major repairs were required. The ship is expected to be out of service until 10 February. The operators took immediate action to ensure RMS St. Helena's commitments could be met. Its cargo departed from Brest on 27 November and will arrive at St. Helena on 16 December. Parallel arrangements have been made for the delivery of cargo from Cape Town to arrive at St. Helena on 3 December. The schedule for an interim passenger service, with a first arrival date in St. Helena of 19 December, was published on 26 November.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate the costs of consultants' reports for proposed schemes on the Island of St. Helena in each year since 1995. [100117]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The total value of consultancy contracts entered into for the provision of advice to the Government of St. Helena for each year since 1995 is as follows:

  £

  1995

  88,104

  1996

  97,833

  1997

  400,490

  1998

  188,238

  1999

  46,522

  These figures do not include the value of contracts entered into for the provision of practical support or for the implementation of projects, eg medical personnel, nurse and teacher training, and construction design/supervision.

  Chechnya
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department has given in the past six months to Chechnya by way of humanitarian aid. [100052]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Government is deeply concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in the North Caucasus. We are in close touch with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN agencies about those displaced as a result of the conflict. We have contributed £0.5 million to the ICRC's appeal for the region. The UK has also contributed through its part of the 1.2 million euro earmarked by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO); of this 1 million euro has been disbursed to UNHCR.

  Background:

  1. Precise information on the numbers displaced in the North Caucasus is difficult to obtain. The region is dangerous for expatriates.

  2. But following western pressure a UN needs assessment team visited Dagestan and Ingushetia in early November. They reported that there are 185,000 IDPs from Chechnya in Ingushetia; 20,000 IDPs from Chechnya in other regions; and 18,000 IDPs within

  117W
  Dagestan. The team concluded "the humanitarian situation is very difficult and is likely to deteriorate unless humanitarian action is enhanced immediately".

  3. We received an appeal from ICRC to which we contributed £0.5 million. We have now also received a UN inter-agency appeal which we are considering.

  4. This reply is consistent with the draft reply to Lord Moynihan's question answered on 10 November.

  India
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Orissa. [99237]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The cyclone that hit Orissa on 29 August has caused widespread damage and suffering. Millions of people have been affected by the cyclone and its aftermath. Alongside the Government of India's own efforts, we have committed over £2.5 million for immediate relief. Much of this has been channelled through five UK-based non-governmental organisations (CARE, Christian Aid, Save the Children, Oxfam and Help Age International), which are working through Indian partner agencies to help the most seriously affected families. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has received funding to provide food, as have various United Nations agencies such as UNICEF. A team from our Department concluded an on-the-spot assessment to guide our decisions on targeting the most needy areas and supporting the most effective agencies.

  In the coming months we shall be looking at re-starting our development aid programme in Orissa, alongside the major rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts that will be required.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects the £10 million assistance to Sierra Leone announced by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to be available to improve health facilities in the Kambia region; and if she will make a statement. [100063]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Department for International Development (DFTD) is providing the Government of Sierra Leone with assistance for the implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process for ex-combatants (comprising £3 million for logistical support and a £3.5 million contribution to the World Bank managed Multi Donor Trust Fund); over £1 million towards the cost of the Commonwealth Police Development Task Force; support to the Sierra Leone Ministry of Defence for security sector reform projects to help create a civilian structure to manage the armed forces (£1.7 million); the provision of a ferry boat (£0.9 million) and around £2.4 million for a range of non-governmental organisation activities to help the country cope with its humanitarian needs. DFID has also provided £5 million worth of emergency budget support.
  118W
  A number of good governance projects, including assistance to help the country prepare for democratic elections in 2001, are presently under consideration. Also, a second trance of budget support to help Sierra Leone clear its debt arrears to the international finance institutions is likely to be approved before the end of the year.

  DFID does not have any plans at present for funding projects in the health sector. The European Commission is preparing a programme but its implementation will depend upon obtaining access to outlying districts, especially those such as Kambia which is controlled by rebel (RUF) forces who have not yet entered DDr.

  IT Projects
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the information technology projects currently being undertaken by her Department and by agencies responsible to her Department, including(a) the start date, (b) the planned completion date, (c) the current expected completion date, (d) the planned costs and (e) the current estimated cost; and if she will make a statement. [99671]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The only significant current project in the Department for International Development (DFID) is the roll-out of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to provide on-line access to our major offices overseas. Work commenced in July 1999 and is scheduled for completion on time and within budget (£400,000) in early 2001. DFID systems are small scale and low risk. Our technical architectural values ensure appropriate use is made of packaged software and bespoke solutions. Our total annual IT budget is around £5.5 million. All IT projects have been delivered within 10 per cent. of estimates and implementation schedules.

  DFID has a rolling programme for development of IT infrastructure and Corporate Business Systems. This will include two key corporate systems: a phased development of a Performance Reporting Information System for Management (PRISM), and a resource accounting and budgeting system (CODA). Development work will resume in early 2000.

  Our plans for major IT projects in the future will include: the upgrade of desktop operating systems and applications suite, the upgrade of desktop hardware, the replacement of the Management Information System, an electronic document management system, and contract administration.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how often she meets her French counterpart; and if she will make a statement. [100049]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State frequently meets the French Minister for Co-operation, both bilaterally and at international meetings such as the EU Development Council and World Bank/IMF Development Committee. Their last bilateral meeting was on 18 November and they plan to meet again on 9 December.
  119W

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Care Costs (Children)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of hotel accommodation for children in care in the North and West Belfast Trust in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [99266]

  Mr. George Howarth
  During the last 12 months North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust has used hotel accommodation for one young person in its care at a cost of £975.

  DNA Register
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are registered on the DNA Register in Northern Ireland. [100320]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 29 November 1999]: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Forensic Science Agency under its chief

  Greater London1

  Leaside ES District

  Number of lone parents who have received invitation letters

  84,840

  2—

  Number of lone parents attending an initial interview

  12,740

  552

  Number of lone parents agreeing to participate in NDLP

  11,090

  471

  Number lone parents gaining jobs

  2,280

  66

  As a proportion of the number agreeing to participate (percentage)

  21

  14

  1Greater London is defined as the following ES Districts: Thameside; Southwark; Lambeth; West End; Hackney and City; Crawley; Romford; Edgware; Wembley; West London; Ealing; Thames Gateway; Wandsworth; Sutton, Merton and Kingston; Ilford; Leaside; Croydon and Bromley; Lewisham.

  2Data on the number of lone parents contacted in Leaside ES District are not available. The combined figure for the number of NDLP letters issued in Leaside and Edgware ES Districts is 10,680.

  British Teachers (European Schools)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he plans to take to secure an extension of the length of contracts of British teachers working in the European Schools beyond the current nine-year maximum. [100064]

  Mr. Wicks
  None.

  FE Colleges
  Ms Jenny Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to receive the report from the National Audit Office concerning the funding of further education colleges. [100245]

  Mr. Wicks
  The timing of the presentation of National Audit Office reports to Parliament is decided by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

  Liabilities reported in the TECs' accounts for 1998–99

  £

  TEC

  Current liabilities

  Long term liabilities

  Total liabilities

  Isle of Wight

  989,081

  0

  989,081

  Milton Keynes and North Bucks

  2,476,037

  0

  2,476,037

  Sussex

  5,506,000

  0

  5,506,000

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  4,278,665

  354

  4,279,019

  Surrey

  2,077,688

  0

  2,077,688

  Heart of England

  2,152,156

  130,197

  2,282,353

  Hampshire

  4,502,000

  20,000

  4,522,000

  Kent

  7,636,526

  105,434

  7,741,960

  120W
  executive, Dr. Adams. I have asked him for a reply to be given.

  Letter from R. W. Adams to Mr. Jeffrey Donaldson, dated 29 November 1999:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on how many people are on the DNA Register. At the end of October 1999 the Northern Ireland DNA database held profiles of 11,137 people.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many lone parents have been contacted under the New Deal in(a) Greater London and (b) Leaside District; how many have attended an initial interview; and what proportion has been successfully placed in the employment option. [99634]

  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  TECs
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what level of provision each TEC has made for the severance packages of its chief executive. [100109]

  Mr. Wicks
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what level of liabilities are reported in the accounts of each of the 72 TECs for 1998–99. [100105]

  Mr. Wicks
  The following table gives the liabilities for each of the 72 TECs as reported in their 1998–99 audited statutory accounts.
  121W

  Liabilities reported in the TECs' accounts for 1998–99

  £

  TEC

  Current liabilities

  Long term liabilities

  Total liabilities

  FOCUS

  12,303,000

  0

  12,303,000

  AZTEC

  3,255,169

  0

  3,255,169

  North West London

  2,212,456

  356,871

  2,569,327

  LETEC

  7,024,701

  120,000

  7,144,701

  West London

  7,670,274

  2,313,248

  9,983,522

  South London

  6,188,000

  0

  6,188,000

  North London

  6,230,962

  0

  6,230,962

  Bedfordshire

  2,572,517

  374,195

  2,946,712

  Suffolk

  2,784,381

  0

  2,784,381

  Greater Peterborough

  2,451,339

  82,676

  2,534,015

  Norfolk and Waveney

  3,858,000

  0

  3,858,000

  Hertfordshire

  6,326,000

  454,000

  6,780,000

  Essex

  5,247,000

  0

  5,247,000

  Cambstec

  1,971,900

  67,103

  2,039,003

  The Link Group (Gloucester)

  1,955,155

  37,785

  1,992,940

  Wiltshire

  3,476,645

  0

  3,476,645

  Westec

  6,321,000

  0

  6,321,000

  Somerset

  1,923,021

  226,906

  2,149,927

  Dorset

  4,316,992

  0

  4,316,992

  Prosper

  6,811,000

  0

  6,811,000

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  5,350,802

  0

  5,350,802

  Dudley

  2,468,992

  148,265

  2,617,257

  Wolverhampton

  2,433,000

  0

  2,433,000

  Staffordshire

  3,938,000

  0

  3,938,000

  Shropshire

  3,036,069

  48,000

  3,084,069

  Walsall

  1,237,523

  0

  1,237,523

  Sandwell

  2,979,456

  33,814

  3,013,270

  HAWTEC

  5,979,665

  699,652

  6,679,317

  Birmingham

  9,712,000

  0

  9,712,000

  North Derbyshire

  1,657,758

  0

  1,657,758

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  1,953,000

  0

  1,953,000

  North Nottinghamshire

  2,219,611

  0

  2,219,611

  Leicestershire

  3,083,678

  0

  3,083,678

  Lincolnshire

  3,479,244

  0

  3,479,244

  Northamptonshire

  1,762,303

  0

  1,762,303

  South Derbyshire

  2,400,000

  0

  2,400,000

  Sheffield

  4,813,000

  0

  4,813,000

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  3,297,581

  0

  3,297,581

  Bradford and District

  2,399,946

  0

  2,399,946

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  4,400,000

  9,000

  4,409,000

  Wakefield

  2,113,181

  0

  2,113,181

  Leeds

  2,362,034

  0

  2,362,034

  Humberside

  4,156,021

  23,711

  4,179,732

  Rotherham

  2,898,837

  326,683

  3,225,520

  North Yorkshire

  2,429,000

  0

  2,429,000

  Rochdale

  1,327,936

  0

  1,327,936

  South and East Cheshire

  2,149,310

  221,009

  2,370,319

  Oldham

  1,423,500

  0

  1,423,500

  Stockport and High Peak

  1,835,083

  0

  1,835,083

  Bolton and Bury

  2,798,985

  1,291,376

  4,090,361

  Manchester

  11,415,200

  0

  11,415,200

  Wigan

  2,890,558

  3,924

  2,894,482

  CEWTEC

  3,735,570

  0

  3,735,570

  Cumbria

  2,299,592

  361,163

  2,660,755

  LAWTEC

  4,617,144

  0

  4,617,144

  Eltec

  6,954,928

  0

  6,954,928

  St. Helens

  1,773,686

  15,000

  1,788,686

  Normidtec

  4,642,854

  0

  4,642,854

  Merseyside

  7,088,309

  15,005

  7,103,314

  Sunderland City

  2,851,917

  6,496,080

  9,347,997

  Northumberland

  4,224,816

  5,819,136

  10,043,952

  County Durham

  4,496,169

  0

  4,496,169

  Tees Valley

  5,998,000

  245,000

  6,243,000

  Tyneside

  3,914,000

  762,000

  4,676,000

  Total Liabilities

  283,515,923

  20,807,587

  304,323,510

  Source:

  1998–99 TEC statutory accounts
  122W 123W
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what contingency plans he has prepared to deal with under-estimated liabilities in the same manner as reserves and assets upon the winding up of the TECs. [100107]

  Mr. Wicks
  As private companies, it is ultimately the responsibility of each TEC to ensure it assesses its liabilities accurately and that it has available sufficient funds to meet these. The Secretary of State has no obligation through the contract to meet any liabilities which cannot be met from a TEC's own resources. However, through its contract with the TEC, the Secretary of State has agreed to put in place arrangements to provide funds to meet the costs arising after 25 March 2001 in respect of those persons already participating under Work Based Training for Young People and Work Based Learning for Adults so that they can complete their individual training plans. Similar arrangements also exist for any non-discretionary activity directly funded by the Secretary of State.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that the level of liabilities reported in TEC accounts is accurate and based on a realistic appraisal of the future costs each is likely to incur. [100106]

  Mr. Wicks
  TEC statutory accounts are required under company law to be audited by the TECs' external auditors. As part of their work, the auditors will have to satisfy themselves that the level of liabilities reported are

  Expenditure by each TEC (1998–99)

  £

  TEC

  Direct expenditure

  Administration costs

  Total expenditure

  Isle of Wight

  2,708,738

  1,168,021

  3,876,759

  Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire

  9,790,633

  1,316,444

  11,107,077

  Sussex

  20,555,000

  5,205,000

  25,760,000

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  22,819,163

  3,122,054

  25,941,217

  Surrey

  12,889,884

  2,952,264

  15,842,148

  Heart of England

  10,175,917

  4,174,014

  14,349,931

  Hampshire

  28,245,000

  3,455,000

  31,700,000

  Kent

  26,551,139

  6,782,937

  33,334,076

  FOCUS

  38,353,000

  8,679,000

  47,032,000

  AZTEC

  13,496,011

  1,707,968

  15,203,979

  North West London

  9,835,424

  1,232,898

  11,068,325

  LETEC

  30,088,516

  3,459,854

  33,548,370

  West London

  22,113,840

  1,994,456

  24,108,296

  South London

  31,706,000

  4,956,000

  36,662,000

  North London

  16,661,216

  4,100,121

  20,761,337

  Bedfordshire

  11,933,191

  2,530,158

  14,463,349

  Suffolk

  14,030,940

  1,178,790

  15,209,730

  Greater Peterborough

  9,630,473

  1,935,513

  11,565,986

  Norfolk and Waveney

  15,503,000

  1,114,000

  16,617,000

  Hertfordshire

  21,081,000

  2,753,000

  23,834,000

  Essex

  25,277,000

  3,174,000

  28,451,000

  Cambstec

  7,850,029

  2,189,538

  10,039,567

  The Link Group (Gloucester)

  12,838,177

  2,112,791

  14,950,968

  Wiltshire

  10,006,885

  1,915,598

  11,922,483

  Westec

  18,635,000

  3,060,000

  21,695,000

  Somerset

  9,856,380

  3,488,627

  13,345,007

  Dorset

  13,497,468

  1,460,454

  14,957,922

  Prosper

  36,775,000

  6,138,000

  42,913,000

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  21,660,079

  4,163,847

  25,823,926

  Dudley

  9,238,486

  1,140,324

  10,378,810

  Wolverhampton

  8,910,000

  1,797,000

  10,707,000

  Staffordshire

  26,630,000

  2,500,000

  29,130,000

  Shropshire

  10,534,535

  2,228,184

  12,762,719

  Walsall

  8,152,595

  1,777,744

  9,930,339

  Sandwell

  11,295,422

  1,431,064

  12,726,486

  124W
  valid and that the accounts give a true and fair view of the finances of the TEC. Government Offices are also discussing transition plans with TECs which include a detailed assessment of the assets and liabilities of each TEC.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the moneys each of the TECs is contributing to the legal fund controlled by the TEC National Council is listed as liabilities in their audited statutory accounts 1998–99; and if they are liabilities upon the Secretary of State's funds. [100108]

  Mr. Wicks
  The latest available audited statutory accounts are for the year ended 28 March 1999 and as such precede the announcement of the White Paper "Learning to Succeed". They do not include any liabilities for contributions to a legal fund.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list expenditure by each TEC(a) since the publication of the White Paper, "Learning to Succeed-a New Framework for Post-16 Learning" in June 1999 and (b) in the 12 months preceding its publication. [99935]

  Mr. Wicks
  The following table shows a list of expenditure in the 12 months preceding the publication which has been taken from the audited statutory accounts for the year ended 28 March 1999. For the period since the publication (July to September 1999) the TECs management accounts, although not directly comparable, show total expenditure of £370 million.
  125W

  Expenditure by each TEC (1998–99)

  £

  TEC

  Direct expenditure

  Administration costs

  Total expenditure

  HAWTEC

  16,466,530

  4,009,831

  20,476,361

  Birmingham

  47,966,000

  4,131,000

  52,097,000

  North Derbyshire

  9,854,454

  2,447,470

  12,301,924

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  12,893,000

  2,988,000

  15,881,000

  North Nottinghamshire

  15,200,648

  521,202

  15,721,850

  Leicestershire

  18,721,539

  2,907,925

  21,629,464

  Lincolnshire

  22,773,538

  0

  22,773,538

  Northamptonshire

  11,038,330

  2,185,219

  13,223,549

  South Derbyshire

  12,189,000

  3,948,000

  16,137,000

  Sheffield

  20,924,000

  1,340,000

  22,264,000

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  17,531,845

  3,468,058

  20,999,903

  Bradford and District

  12,224,636

  1,703,641

  13,928,277

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  19,295,000

  3,006,000

  22,301,000

  Wakefield

  7,729,096

  976,419

  8,705,512

  Leeds

  10,832,047

  3,280,970

  14,113,017

  Humberside

  27,044,568

  0

  27,044,568

  Rotherham

  13,171,477

  2,520,521

  15,691,998

  North Yorkshire

  15,262,000

  3,309,000

  18,571,000

  Rochdale

  7,993,177

  1,025,051

  9,018,228

  South and East Cheshire

  14,024,226

  1,310,210

  15,334,436

  Oldham

  7,264,885

  1,852,299

  9,117,184

  Stockport and High Peak

  12,035,779

  755,228

  12,791,007

  Bolton and Bury

  10,858,737

  3,754,613

  14,613,350

  Manchester

  44,686,802

  2,317,647

  47,004,449

  Wigan

  8,043,574

  4,597,510

  12,641,084

  CEWTEC

  16,733,713

  2,578,851

  19,312,564

  Cumbria

  17,880,991

  2,181,318

  20,062,309

  LAWTEC

  26,370,221

  0

  26,370,221

  Eltec

  19,259,316

  0

  19,259,316

  St. Helens

  8,968,581

  1,264,213

  10,232,794

  Normidtec

  14,027,793

  1,221,016

  15,248,809

  Merseyside

  38,832,216

  6,630,355

  45,462,571

  Sunderland City

  13,651,950

  2,353,957

  16,005,907

  Northumberland

  14,736,728

  3,759,216

  18,495,944

  County Durham

  15,655,656

  2,887,453

  18,543,109

  Tees Valley

  28,103,000

  5,968,000

  34,071,000

  Tyneside

  30,584,000

  3,563,000

  34,147,000

  Total expenditure

  1,260,154,194

  193,157,856

  1,453,312,050

  Source:

  1998–99 TEC statutory accounts

  Students (Fees)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of the imposition of higher education tuition fees on student enrolments, broken down by(a) socio-economic class, (b) duration of course and (c) area of study. [99936]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Government believe the new arrangements for paying higher education tuition fees, in which students from lower income groups pay no fees, are fair and just. Students from the lower socio-economic groups have not been deterred from applying to enter higher education. Nor is there evidence that student choice, in terms of subject of study and length of course, has been affected.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of the statutory restrictions on charging full-time students for the setting of fees for modules of instruction in higher education institutions. [99937]

  Mr. Wicks
  Allowing higher education institutions to charge top-up fees would restrict access to students from 126W
  less well-off backgrounds and limit student choice. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that any institution which charges, or announces its intention to charge, top-up fees could incur financial penalties. He is not aware of any evidence that this has had a detrimental effect on the ability of higher education institutions to run the courses they wish to provide.

  Tennis Courts, Banstead Downs
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when his Department will inform Banstead Downs Lawn Tennis Club of its decision on the club's proposal to purchase land owned by Surrey County Council and lay new tennis courts. [99576]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Secretary of State has not yet made a final decision on Surrey County Council's application to sell an area of playing field to Banstead Downs Lawn Tennis Club. He has, however, indicated that he is minded to reject the application and the Council has been invited to comment. He will not make a final decision on this case until he has had the opportunity to consider further representations from the Council.
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ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Road Safety
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact on road safety of the introduction of 20 mph zones. [99026]

  Mr. Mullin
  Following their introduction in 1991, monitoring of the first 20 mph zones showed a significant reduction in accident casualties, particularly among cyclists and pedestrians. We legislated in the summer to allow local authorities to make 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones without the need to obtain the consent of the Secretary of State. It is too early to judge the effect of that on road safety.

  Traffic Congestion
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to alleviate traffic congestion problems in Dobwalls, south-east Cornwall. [99027]

  Mr. Hill
  Pending the outcome of the London to south Wales and south-west multi-modal study, the Highways Agency is looking at measures to relieve congestion and improve safety and has started a process of consultation to obtain local views on options.

  Regional Development
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the strategy for regional development in the north-west. [99028]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government are currently assessing the regional strategies of all eight regional development agencies following their handover to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 26 October. We aim to respond to the RDAs by the end of the year.

  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of the regional development agency in the north-west. [99044]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The North-West Development Agency has already made a good start. It has established itself as a significant regional body with the capability of improving skills and competitiveness and attracting inward investment in the north-west.

  Millennium Villages
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans for further millennium villages. [99030]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Deputy Prime Minister announced in October that a further five millennium communities competitions would take place. We are currently reviewing the lessons learnt from the first two schemes. English Partnerships jointly with the RDAs are being asked to come forward, with the support and active involvement of local communities, with options on 128W
  suitable sites/localities for the competitions by February 2000. We have also asked them to examine further the options for delivering the competitive process and to present proposals within the same timeframe. We aim to announce the next millennium communities site in the spring of 2000.

  We are also considering the findings of a research report commissioned by the Department earlier this year to create a framework to evaluate and measure millennium communities and other developments. This will be published in the new year.

  We plan to disseminate the research widely and to promote a debate on its findings, including its proposals for a sustainability framework. We will also be disseminating the lessons learnt from the first two millennium communities so far.

  Transatlantic Air Routes (Heathrow)
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make an announcement regarding increasing the number of transatlantic air routes from Heathrow airport. [99031]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK Government are keen to liberalise air services arrangements between the United Kingdom and the United States, but we need to ensure that we do this in a way which is balanced and which enables UK airlines to compete on fair terms.

  Clean Fuels
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the use of cleaner fuels. [99032]

  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to promote less polluting types of fuel. [99040]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have already introduced fiscal incentives to encourage the use of ultra-low-sulphur diesel, which now makes up the vast majority of diesel supplied in this country, and road fuel gases. We will continue to promote the use of cleaner alterative fuels through the Powershift Programme and, through active participation in European programmes, to improve the environmental performance of conventional fuels. We will continue to look for opportunities for cost-effective ways to promote all cleaner fuels.

  Rail Safety
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation on maximum passenger numbers in railway carriages for safety reasons. [99033]

  Mr. Hill
  I have no plans for such legislation.

  The Health and Safety Executive, which advises the Government on all rail safety matters, regard this issue as primarily one of passenger comfort, not safety.

  Train operators must meet overcrowding standards laid down by the shadow Strategic Rail Authority for passenger comfort.
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  Local Services
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of best value on the provision of local services to the public. [99034]

  Ms Armstrong
  An interim evaluation of the 40 best value pilot authorities, carried out by Warwick Business School, was published on 22 November. All the authorities found the best value framework more challenging than they had expected. After only 12 months work there have been real examples of improved services and cost savings, and real engagement with local people.

  A3 (Hindhead)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to visit the A3 at Hindhead to discuss environmental safety and economic issues. [99035]

  Ms Armstrong
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport met the right hon. Member on 13 September, when they discussed all the principal issues associated with the problems on A3 at Hindhead. He undertook to visit the area when his diary permitted.

  Ofwat
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what effect pricing levels set by Ofwat for 2000–05 will have on the cost of services to consumers. [99037]

  Mr. Mullin
  On 25 November the Director General of Water Services announced his decisions on price limits for water and sewerage services for the period 2000–05. I have arranged for my hon. Friend to receive a copy of the Director General's decision.

  Integrated Transport Strategy
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to proceed with his plans for an integrated transport strategy; and if he will make a statement. [99038]

  Mr. Hill
  Our integrated transport strategy is already delivering results, including 1,800 new or enhanced rural bus services in England, and significant growth in the number of people travelling by train. Our Transport Bill will contain measures that will enable us to build on these achievements, providing more choice and improving everyone's quality of life.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the Government plan to strengthen the protection of sites of special scientific interest. [99039]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government issued "A Framework for Action" in August, setting out proposals for improving the protection of SSSIs.

  It was announced in the Queen's Speech on 17 November 1999, Official Report, columns 4–7 that the Countryside Amenity and Conservation Bill would be included in the legislative programme for this Session.
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  Rail Stations
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to encourage the refurbishment of rail stations. [99041]

  Mr. Hill
  Railtrack is committed to completing its nationwide station regeneration programme by 2001. Station operators also have obligations under their franchise agreement to meet a number of basic standards, such as cleanliness and lighting, within 18 months of taking over the franchise; and within three years, further obligations in respect of public communications systems and waiting accommodation.

  Dumping
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to prevent the dumping in rural areas of worn-out tractors and other agricultural vehicles. [99042]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Secretary of State has no such powers.

  London Underground
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the operation of London Underground's current safety regime. [99043]

  Mr. Hill
  Safety is, and remains, the top priority for London Underground Ltd. (LUL). The Railway (Safety Case) Regulations 1994 require London Underground to prepare a safety case setting out its approach to safety management.

  The most recent version of this safety case was accepted by HM railway inspectorate on 14 September 1999 and LUL's performance against it will be subject to HMRI monitoring and review.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what central Government support the Tube will continue to receive in 2000–01 and 2001–02; and what continuing support he estimates will be required in subsequent years. [99571]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 24 November 1999]: London Transport (LT) have been allocated Government support of £248.7 million for 2000–01. This figure does not include money earmarked for residual expenditure on the Jubilee Line Extension.

  Some of this funding will be transferred to the Mayor in July next year, when Transport for London (TFL) assumes responsibility for LT activities other than the Underground.

  Levels of Government support for the Underground in 2001–02 and thereafter have not yet been determined. They will depend on whether and on what terms Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contracts are let; decisions on the level of Government funding to be taken following the 2000 spending review; and decisions on funding and fares made by the Mayor for London.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what performance targets have been set arising from projected
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  expenditure of £1,190 million on the Piccadilly line and (b) £900 million on the Victoria line of the London Underground over the next 15 years; and if he will make a statement. [99638]

  Mr. Hill
  The figures quoted were London Underground's indicative estimates of the likely cost of achieving the performance specification to be set out in the PPP contracts. In fact, it will be the responsibility of the Underground's private sector partners to determine the actual level of investment required to deliver the improved performance we want.

  Details of the performance targets have yet to be finalised, but they will require improvements in capability, availability, ambience and asset condition. This will enable London Underground to provide passengers with faster, more reliable and more comfortable journeys.

  New Deal for Communities
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the New Deal for Communities in Sheffield. [99045]

  Ms Armstrong
  I am delighted that Sheffield is one of the 22 areas eligible to put forward proposals for the transformation of a deprived neighbourhood under the second round of the New Deal for Communities. I will ensure that local people, businesses and organisations get the support they need to deliver real equality of opportunity and choice in that neighbourhood.

  Peat Working Group
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made by the Peat Working Group. [100993]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Peat Working Group, which has been reviewing the adequacy of existing planning policies and guidance on the extraction and use of peat since 1997, has published a report of its work today.

  I am grateful to the Peat Working Group for providing this factual assessment of the complex and wide-ranging issues surrounding peat extraction and the use of growing media in horticulture and gardening.

  This Government are committed to ensuring that there is adequate protection for our habitats and wildlife. We are already looking very carefully at the risk of damage caused by peat extraction to sites of national and international importance.

  The group considers that existing Government policy is sufficient to safeguard areas of existing conservation or archaeological value from future proposals for peat working sites. But a number of active sites granted planning permission before their conservation value was recognised continue to be worked, despite their designation or identification as sites of national or international importance.

  We are currently looking at options for bringing forward reviews of consents on Natura 2000 sites. In addition, we have also asked English Nature to look closely at the effects of all planning permissions, not just those affecting peat bogs, on sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs).
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  However, it is clear from the group's work that despite continuing improvements in the quality and marketing of alternatives, there continues to be a strong demand for peat as a growing medium, particularly by the amateur gardener and the professional horticulture sector. I welcome the suggestions made by the working group about how sales of alternative materials for growing plants could be increased, and we shall now be considering how to take this forward.

  A copy of the report has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Bellwin Scheme (Floods)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide financial assistance to Worcester City Council under the Bellwin scheme for costs incurred following the severe flooding in the area between 27 October and 3 November 1998. [101102]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified in the case of Worcester City Council given the exceptional nature of the floods and the damage caused. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant has generally been paid to authorities at a rate of 85 per cent. of their eligible expenditure above a threshold. However, a Bellwin scheme was activated for Worcester as a result of the 1998 Easter floods. Since Worcester have already spent over their threshold for 1998–99 in dealing with that emergency, it seems reasonable that they should not have to do so in dealing with a second incident in the same financial year. I therefore propose to waive the threshold.

  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide financial assistance to Herefordshire District Council under the Bellwin scheme for costs incurred following the severe flooding in the area on three occasions during 1998–99. [101103]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified in the case of Herefordshire District Council given the exceptional nature of the floods and the damage caused. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to the authority to cover 85 per cent. of the eligible costs above a threshold which have been incurred by the authority in dealing with the flooding.

  Aviation Safety
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish the Government's reply to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's report into aviation safety published on 21 July. [101123]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government have laid before the House today a Command Paper—4539—which is a consolidated response on behalf of the Government and of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's Fourteenth Report, titled "Aviation Safety", published on 21 July 1999.
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  The Government welcome the "Aviation Safety" report, which covered a wide-ranging and detailed examination of aviation safety issues by the Committee. We note that the evidence the Committee received showed that the United Kingdom has an excellent safety record, particularly in the commercial aviation sector. The Committee seeks reassurance that all necessary steps are being taken to maintain that record in the face of the challenges presented by a dynamic and growing industry, in which the UK is a world leader. The Government and the CAA agree that the current high standard of aviation safety in the United Kingdom must be maintained and, where possible, improved. We fully recognise that aviation safety requires constant vigilance by regulators and the regulated alike.

  The Committee makes 29 recommendations, some to the Government, some to the CAA, and others to both. Both we and the CAA have considered the recommendations fully and carefully and they are dealt with in turn, and in detail, in the Command Paper.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the current legislation relating to telecommunications masts. [99311]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 23 November 1999]: The installation of any telecommunications mast in a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a conservation area, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Broads, or a mast of more than 15 metres in height elsewhere, is subject to a full planning application. In other cases, licensed telecommunications code system operators are authorised under Part 24 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) to install masts of up to 15 metres in height. This is subject to a prior approval procedure, under which the local planning authority has the opportunity to say whether it wishes to approve details of the siting and appearance of the installation.

  These GPDO provisions were amended earlier this year by SI 1999 No. 1661. We have no current plans to make further changes to the GPDO in respect of telecommunication masts.

  The Government are aware of public concern about mobile phone systems and health and has set up an independent expert group to advise on possible risks to public health. The group, chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS, FRSE, is currently holding open meetings around the UK to take views.

  Dry Stone Walls
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what proposals he has to protect dry stone walls in areas of outstanding natural beauty and conservation; and if he will make a statement; [99531]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of dry stone walls which have been removed from upland country over the last (a) five and (b) 10 years. [99530]
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  Mr. Mullin
  This information is not available. However, the Countryside Survey 1990 estimated that the total length of dry stone walls in upland areas of Great Britain in 1990 was 99,710 km, which represented a reduction in length of 13 per cent. since 1984.

  The most appropriate way of tackling the loss of dry stone walls is by encouraging their restoration and maintenance. Grants are currently available in England under the Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas schemes operated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Before taking decisions on any legislative protection, we shall need to take account of the possible impact of any regulatory proposals, as well as the results of the Countryside Survey 2000, which will provide up-to-date estimates of the changes in length and condition of dry stone walls.

  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with(a) the Peak District and (b) the North Yorkshire national parks about the destruction of dry stone walls. [99532]

  Mr. Mullin
  The destruction of dry stone walls has not been raised in recent discussions held with the Peak District or North Yorkshire national parks.

  GM Oilseed Rape (Royston)
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when genetically modified winter oilseed rape was planted at Summerhouse Farm, Royston, Hertfordshire, under consent 98/R19/18; and if he will publish the opinion of the farm-scale evaluations scientific steering committee on the relevance of the planting to biodiversity. [99537]

  Mr. Mullin
  The genetically modified winter oilseed rape planted at Summerhouse Farm, Royston, Hertfordshire, under consent 98/R19/18, was planted between 19 August and 14 September 1999. The trial is for research and development purposes by the consent holder AgrEvo and consists of a number of small field plots each approximately 20 square metres. It is not a field scale release and is not subject to any consideration by the farm-scale evaluations scientific steering committee.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the principal activities of his Department and its agencies which provide business for(a) Crown post offices and (b) other post offices; if he will assess whether the level of business generated in each case is likely to increase or decrease over the next five years; and which new areas of business for post offices are likely to be developed by his Department and its agencies over the same period. [99558]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information is as follows:

  General activities
  My Department uses the Royal Mail for postal services. The level of business is likely to be affected by the increased use of the internet and e-mail.

  Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency
  The DVLA collects vehicle excise duty through 4,000 post offices in Great Britain—of these 584 are Crown Offices. All 18,500 post offices issue licence savings stamps, application forms and

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  information leaflets. Trials are to be introduced under the current contract with Post Office Counters Ltd. to improve service levels and DVLA and POCL are discussing the possibility of introducing an over the counter application form and identification checking service. POCL will be invited to bid when the contract is re-tendered in 2002.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  The Inspectorate, through the DVLA contract, uses the post office network for relicensing vehicles by checking the validity of MOT certificates. The Inspectorate is developing an MOT computerisation project and is exploring ways in which the post office can support the project. This may reduce the level of special deliveries made by the post office on behalf of the Inspectorate.

  Ward Boundaries
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria the Local Government Boundary Commission must follow in the creation of local authority ward boundaries. [99762]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Local Government Commission's statutory criteria for electoral reviews are to secure effective and convenient local government and to reflect the interests and identities of local communities. They must also take into account statutory rules which include that the number of local government electors shall be, as nearly as may be, the same in every ward of the district; that every ward of a parish with a parish council shall lie wholly within a single ward of the district; and have regard to the desirability of fixing boundaries which are and will remain easily identifiable.

  Red Routes
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend priority red routes(a) in London and (b) to other cities. [100070]

  Mr. Hill
  There are no plans to extend red routes in London. From July 2000, the red route network will be replaced by the GLA road network and will become the responsibility of the Mayor. Elsewhere, it is primarily for local authorities to use their existing traffic management powers to control parking effectively and give appropriate priority to buses. We look to them to so do, in the context of developing their local transport plans and bus strategies.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of priority red routes in London on carbon dioxide emissions; [100069]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of priority red routes on the number of accidents on (a) red routes and (b) other roads; [100071]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect of priority red routes on local air quality in each London borough; [100068]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the effect of priority red routes, in each London borough, on (a) the volume of motorised traffic and (b) traffic speeds on (i) red routes and (ii) other roads. [100067]

  Mr. Hill
  The Traffic Director for London monitors the effects of the traffic management measures on the red route network (the network) as a whole (not individually 136W
  by borough) to determine the performance of the network. Reports on these are published annually. His latest report shows:
  (a) traffic volumes have not changed on the network during the period of implementation;
  (b)(i) depending on time of day, average journey speeds on the network were between 17.0 and 22.9 mph in 1998. This is a considerable improvement on the journey speeds of between 14.3 and 18.4 mph in 1994 before red route implementation commenced;
  (b)(ii) The Traffic Director does not monitor journey speeds off the network.
  The Traffic Director for London maintains a record of traffic conditions on red routes from which it is possible to gain a better understanding of the changes in emissions from road vehicles. He does not directly monitor air quality but uses the collected data to model emissions. Between 1995–97 the model shows between 3 per cent. and 5 per cent. less carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons emissions on implemented sections of the red route compared with non-implemented sections.

  According to the model used by the Traffic Director for London between 1995–97, emissions of carbon dioxide on the network were approximately 2 per cent. less where red route measures had been implemented in comparison with those sections of the network that had not yet been implemented.

  The Traffic Director for London monitors accidents at the end of each year. His current data on accidents show that the number of personal injury accidents on the network has reduced by 8.8 per cent. compared with a 0.5 per cent. reduction on other roads in London.

  Railway Accidents
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the railway accidents in each year between 1989 and 1999, giving the numbers of fatalities and those injured in each accident. [100188]

  Mr. Hill
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Comprehensive statistics relating to all railway accidents in Great Britain can be found in the Health and Safety Executive's HM Chief Inspector of Railways' Annual Reports on Railway Safety. Latest statistics for 1998–99 are due to be published on 2 December. These figures include an analysis of the number of train accidents, by causation, and the total number of fatalities and injuries each year. The analysis of fatalities and injuries is by type of accident and identity of the person involved, e.g. passenger, member of railway staff. Arrangements are being made for copies of the Annual Report to be available in the House Libraries once published. Copies of previous Annual Reports are already in the House Libraries.

  Bus Services (Regulation)
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce regulation for bus services. [99866]
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  Mr. Hill
  We will be including measures in the forthcoming Transport Bill to fulfil our manifesto commitment to the proper regulation of buses at the local level. We expect to make a further announcement shortly.

  Railway Maintenance Staff
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year since 1979 for which figures are available the number of maintenance staff who were(a) killed and (b) injured on the railway network. [100058]

  Mr. Hill
  The information is not available in the detail requested, although there are statistics on the total number of railway staff killed and injured in the period in question, as set out in the table. "Railway staff" includes all rail workers (drivers, station staff etc.) as well as maintenance staff.

  Casualties to all railway staff in the last 20 years

  Year

  Fatalities

  Major injuries

  Minor injuries

  1979

  43

  16,122

  1980

  32

  611

  4,591

  1981

  27

  192

  4,591

  1982

  27

  137

  3,816

  1983

  28

  161

  3,010

  1984

  25

  127

  2,544

  1985

  25

  166

  2,551

  1986

  16

  175

  2,733

  1987

  16

  238

  2,672

  1988

  16

  273

  3,022

  1989

  18

  277

  2,858

  1990

  22

  306

  3,051

  1991–92

  17

  278

  3,226

  1992–93

  11

  284

  3,348

  1993–94

  8

  262

  3,590

  1994–95

  9

  252

  3,411

  1995–96

  5

  225

  4,144

  1996–97

  2

  310

  1,842

  1997–98

  3

  351

  2,088

  1998–99

  4

  376

  2,070

  1 Major and minor injuries combined in 1979

  Track Identification
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages in terms of rail safety of changing the system of track identification from the current up and down system to numbering each track. [100060]

  Mr. Hill
  The convention adopted for identifying railway tracks varies from location to location and is the result of historic custom and practice. While it may seem attractive to impose a rationalised uniform system of identification, the risks involved in the transition could outweigh the benefits of the change. Safe operation of the railway often depends on drivers, signallers and other workers correctly identifying tracks; acquiring the necessary knowledge of the geography and layout of the railway is an important part of ensuring their competence. Change to well-established names could well increase the probability of errors.

  Victorian Parks
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he 138W
  has to take action to improve the state of Victorian parks in Britain, in response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's report of Session 1998–99 on Town and Country Parks (HC 477). [100281]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We welcome the recent report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee on Town and Country Parks. We share the Committee's concern about the quality and future of Victorian parks. We will publish our full response to the report in the new year.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the Government's carbon dioxide emission targets for(a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2014, (d) 2016, (e) 2018 and (f) 2020. [100481]

  Mr. Hill
  Following Kyoto in 1997, the UK has a target to reduce a basket of 6 greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12. The Government also have a domestic goal to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent. by 2010. The Kyoto protocol requires international discussions about targets beyond 2012 to begin by 2005 at the latest.

  The Government will shortly be publishing a draft UK climate change programme for consultation. The draft programme will recognise that Kyoto is only the start of the process and that greater cuts in emissions will be needed over time. It will therefore set out our policies and measures directed at our current commitments, but also to help prepare the UK for more challenging targets in the future.

  Gipsy Caravans
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many gipsy caravans were counted in each local authority area in the January and July counts of(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; and how many of those caravans were parked on unauthorised sites; [100485]

  (2) what is his current estimate of the number of (a) gipsy caravans and (b) other travellers' vehicles in England. [100486]

  Mr. Mullin
  The figures for the latest five counts of gipsy caravans broken down by local authority are routinely placed in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as they become available. They include details of the numbers of gipsy caravans on authorised (public and private) sites and on unauthorised sites in every local authority area. Figures for January 1997 to January 1999 are included in the table which was published in May this year, and the figures for July 1997 to July 1999 are included in the table which was published in October this year.

  At the time of the count of gipsy caravans in July this year, there was a total of 13,399 gipsy caravans on authorised (public and private) sites and on unauthorised sites in England. Gipsies are defined in legislation as
  "persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin".

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  The Department does not keep records of the number of vehicles belonging to other travellers who do not fall within that definition.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will reply to the letter of 26 July from the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire on behalf of his constituent Mrs. Montgomery. [100400]

  Ms Armstrong
  We have no record of receiving the right hon. Members' letter dated 26 July. If he would like to forward a further copy it will be dealt with promptly.

  Westminster Underground
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when Westminster underground station will be open to Jubilee Line services. [100438]

  Mr. Hill
  London Transport aim to open the Jubilee Line station at Westminster shortly before Christmas. It is, however, a very deep and highly complex station, being constructed on an extremely constricted site. LT cannot therefore guarantee the opening date at present. By early December it should be possible to be more precise.

  Farm-based Tourism
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent guidance he has issued to planning authorities with regard to farm-based tourism and other farm diversification projects; and when such guidance was issued. [100274]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note 7 on the Countryside recognises the importance of farm-based diversification in a changing rural economy and gives guidance on development related to agriculture and to farm diversification, including tourism. The guidance takes account of the research report "Planning for Rural Diversification", published in 1995, which was accompanied by a good practice guide.

  Rating Revaluation
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that, during the revaluation of non-domestic properties from 1 April 2000, unqualified rating advisers are not able to conduct business. [100268]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Non-domestic ratepayers must remain free to engage the services of anyone they wish. However, they should be aware that unscrupulous operators are active in this field and may not offer a fully professional service.

  Members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers (ISVA) and the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV), are regulated by rules of professional conduct designed to protect the public from misconduct, and are required to hold adequate professional indemnity insurance.
  140W
  Before employing a rating adviser who is not a member of one of these bodies, ratepayers should satisfy themselves that he or she has the necessary knowledge and experience, as well as appropriate indemnity insurance.

  My Department will be strongly reinforcing this message in the run up to the revaluation. It will be included in the information that we intend should be sent to all ratepayers early next year.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how agreements entered into by trade associations with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for the purpose of securing 80 per cent. climate change levy discount will be enforced against members of such trade associations. [100460]

  Mr. Mullin
  The agreements are not intended to be legally binding upon members of trade associations or any other entities which the associations may represent. The agreements are a mechanism by which, if environmental targets are met, a reduction in the climate change levy will be made. It is this incentive which will deliver the necessary environmental outcome in the public interest.

  Local Government (Finance)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those local authorities which have negative housing subsidy; and if he will set out in respect of each authority the sum being transferred this year from the Housing Revenue Account to the General Fund and the value of the transfer as expressed in Band D Council Tax per taxpayer. [100318]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 29 November 1999]: The latest information we have on the authorities that are expected to be in "negative housing subsidy" for 1999–2000 is shown in the table.

  Authority

  Forecast of the amount transferring from the Housing Revenue Account to the authority's General Fund in 1999–2000 (£000)

  Value of the transfer expressed as Band D Council Tax per taxpayer (£)

  Allerdale

  73

  2

  Aylesbury

  2,549

  42

  Bath UA

  2,848

  47

  Bedford

  904

  18

  Bexley

  5,193

  64

  Blaby

  345

  12

  Bracknell Forest

  6,732

  164

  Bromley

  4,382

  34

  Bromsgrove

  432

  13

  Cherwell

  2,352

  53

  Corby

  22

  1

  Crawley

  4,991

  146

  Dacorum

  7,586

  141

  Dartford

  624

  21

  Daventry

  1,559

  63

  East Devon

  1,117

  22

  East Hertfordshire

  1,366

  26

  East Lindsey

  1,047

  25

  East Northamptonshire

  275

  11

  Eastleigh

  556

  14

  Eden

  634

  35

  Epping Forest

  658

  13

  141W

  Authority

  Forecast of the amount transferring from the Housing Revenue Account to the authority's General Fund in 1999–2000 (£000)

  Value of the transfer expressed as Band D Council Tax per taxpayer (£)

  Epsom and Ewell

  1,031

  35

  Forest Heath

  920

  62

  Harlow

  3,307

  125

  Hertsmere

  2,203

  57

  IOW Council

  1,039

  21

  Isles of Scilly

  42

  39

  Lichfield

  1,106

  33

  Mid Bedfordshire

  2,684

  61

  Mole Valley

  579

  15

  North Hertfordshire

  588

  13

  Reigate and Banstead

  1,289

  24

  Rother

  731

  20

  Runnymede

  862

  27

  South Bucks

  1,039

  34

  South Cambridgeshire

  1,685

  33

  South Hams

  1,309

  39

  South Lakeland

  70

  2

  South Northamptonshire

  1,469

  53

  South Oxfordshire

  3,880

  75

  South Somerset

  1,850

  35

  St. Albans

  848

  15

  St. Edmundsbury

  1,823

  54

  Staffs Moorlands

  182

  6

  Stevenage

  2,390

  90

  Suffolk Coastal

  1,026

  24

  Swale

  1,595

  39

  Tandridge

  1,083

  31

  Telford

  1,211

  27

  Tewkesbury

  591

  21

  Three Rivers

  462

  13

  Uttlesford

  1,490

  52

  Watford

  714

  24

  Waverley

  108

  2

  Welwyn Hatfield

  3,678

  97

  West Berkshire

  1,013

  18

  West Devon

  483

  28

  West Oxfordshire

  1,731

  47

  Worthing

  509

  14

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the local authority capping system in relation to housing benefit. [100093]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 29 November 1999]: My Department will be consulting shortly on the detail of the proposals for changes in the housing revenue account subsidy regime. Consideration of the outcome of that exercise will be required before any decisions are taken. It is too early to say what the impact of any changes will be.

  Local Government (Structure)
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he next plans to review the structure of local government in England; and if he will make a statement. [100787]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Woodward) on 1 November 1999,Official Report, column 12W.

  Agricultural Land
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to protect high-grade agricultural land from development; and if he will make a statement. [100578]
  142W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government's Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note 7 on the countryside gives detailed advice on development affecting agricultural land. Local planning authorities should take account of the quality of any agricultural land that would be lost through development proposals, both when preparing their development plans and when considering planning applications.

  Planning Policy Guidance
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the response to the consultation on the revised draft PPG 3 on Housing; and when he expects to publish the new guidance. [100577]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department received over 600 responses to the consultation on the draft new PPG3 on Housing, in addition to a report from the Environment, Transport and the Regional Affairs Committee. The final version of PPG3 will be published in the New Year.

  Council Housing
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change the rules and financial arrangements of the large-scale voluntary transfer scheme for council houses; and if he will make a statement. [100096]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 29 November 1999]: We have recently proposed several changes to the rules and financial arrangements of the large-scale voluntary transfer programme. Details are set out below:
  proposals to help authorities whose capital receipt after transfer would be insufficient to cover all of their housing debt;
  moving away from the current system of running an annual
  programme to one which gives authorities greater flexibility; changes to the way in which the LSVT levy is calculated.
  In addition, we recently announced that authorities may capitalise the cost of higher rent expenditure for up to three years after transfer, thereby reducing the cost to their general fund.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy on large-scale voluntary transfer of council houses; what assistance his Department gives to councils considering such a scheme; and if he will make a statement. [100094]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 29 November 1999]: We are keen for local authorities to pursue transfer where it is clearly part of their housing strategy and will improve the living conditions of tenants and the service they receive. However, authorities are under no compulsion to transfer their stock. My Department publishes guidance for local authorities which are considering transferring their stock.

  Out-of-town Shopping
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy on out-of-town shopping development. [99023]
  143W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government's policy on out-of-town shopping development was set out in our response to the House of Commons Environment Committee report on shopping centres in July 1997 [CMND 3729], in which we reaffirmed our commitment to planning policy guidance note 6 (PPG6) on town centres and retail developments, and was subsequently reiterated in the Opposition Day debate on 24 June 1999,Official Report, columns 1350–56, and in further evidence to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee on 27 October this year.

  Carbon Dioxide
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has had from the IEA Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Programme on the technology of carbon dioxide capture and sequestration. [99442]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government help to fund the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme under contract with the DTI. DETR receives all reports produced under this contract.

  DETR also commissioned the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme to contribute to a report on carbon sequestration submitted to the Panel on Sustainable Development.

  British Railways Board
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the British Railways Board concerning the planned disposal of the board's land holdings. [100679]

  Mr. Hill
  In July last year the Government announced a suspension of sales of British Rail property pending a review of it by the BR Board. Following the review, the Government have agreed with the Chairman of the BR Board (now part of the shadow Strategic Rail Authority) the lifting of the sales suspension and the introduction of new marketing procedures for the disposal of its land holdings which will give priority to transport use. BR's "Marketing Process" document which gives further details is available in the House Library.

  Railtrack (Advertising Revenue)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the arrangements whereby Railtrack receives revenue from advertising hoardings which were previously in the ownership of British Rail. [100680]

  Mr. Hill
  This is a commercial matter for Railtrack.

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the results of the current consultation upon the performance of the Environment Agency. [100142]

  Mr. Mullin
  My Department is not currently consulting upon the performance of the Environment Agency.
  144W
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals the Government have for the future of the Environment Agency. [100143]

  Mr. Mullin
  As part of the Government's programme of regular five-yearly financial management and policy reviews of non-departmental public bodies, my Department will be conducting a thorough review of the Environment Agency next year, in conjunction with MAFF and the National Assembly for Wales.

  Trains (Bicycle Facilities)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with the train operating companies about facilities for bicycles on trains. [100693]

  Mr. Hill
  The Secretary of State has not held discussions with the train operating companies about facilities for bicycles on trains. On 29 September he issued the Franchising Director with new Instructions and Guidance (copy in the House Library) which ask him to promote the use of bicycles by seeking the provision of reasonable facilities on board new rolling stock and at stations. The Franchising Director's staff hold discussions about bicycle provision with train operating companies whenever new rolling stock is ordered.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the(a) costs and (b) time scales of IT projects which are being undertaken by his Department; if he will list the (i) start date, (ii) planned completion date, (iii) expected completion date, (iv) planned cost and (v) current estimated cost of these projects; and if he will make a statement. [100795]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 November 1999,Official Report, column 21W. The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ferry Services (Passenger Registration)
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received in relation to the introduction of full passenger registration systems on small ferry services; [98659]

  (2) what assessment he has made of how small ferry services will meet full passenger registration regulations. [98660]

  Mr. Hill
  Following political agreement to the EC Directive 98/41, a working group was set up with representatives of all sectors of the passenger ship industry to discuss how the Directive could be implemented. The industry urged flexibility, and the UK regulations were accordingly drafted to allow operators the freedom to determine the particular arrangements to be used for counting and registration, provided that those arrangements comply with the terms of the Directive.
  145W
  My Department also formally consulted the industry on the draft regulations, which would transpose the Directive into UK law. Representations were received from the following in response to the consultation exercise, and were taken into account before the national regulations were made on 30 June 1999:

  British Ports Association

  Caledonian MacBrayne

  Central Scotland Passenger Vessel Association

  Chamber of Shipping

  Confederation of Passenger Transport

  NUMAST

  National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

  Orkney Islands Council

  Passenger Shipping Association

  Road Haulage Association

  Seafrance

  Shetland Islands Council

  South Coast Passenger Vessel Operators Association

  The UK Major Ports Group Ltd.

  Waverley Excursions Ltd.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the financial implications of the full passenger registration system for small ferry companies. [98661]

  Mr. Hill
  Most small ferry companies are unaffected because they do not operate in waters to which the directive applies the registration system. A compliance cost assessment was prepared while directive 98/41 was being negotiated. The estimated total cost to those British shipping lines and ports affected was around £6 million for the initial capital cost of implementation, with annual revenue of around £2.5 million. These estimates were based on information provided by the shipping industry. Copies of the compliance cost assessment are in the House Library.

  Capper Pass and Son Ltd.
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Health and Safety Executive has taken to ensure that the medical records of former employees of Capper Pass and Son Ltd., working at the Capper Pass smelting plant, were retained by their parent company Rio Tinto. [100104]

  Mr. Prescott
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not been able to identify any specific communication in its files with Capper Pass concerning the retention of medical records around the time when the Capper Pass smelter closed in 1991. The HSE doctor who dealt with Capper Pass at that time no longer works for HSE.

  Duties are placed on employers in specific legislation controlling the use of lead and ionising radiation to retain certain records, and to retain certain health-related information under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1989. HSE inspectors do not routinely follow up the retention of records every time premises close.

  In recent months, due to problems concerning release of the records to representatives of former employees of Capper Pass, HSE staff have communicated with Rio
  146W
  Tinto plc about the retention and ownership of the records. I have corresponded with Rio Tinto senior staff and have been assured that Rio Tinto's senior occupational physician is arranging for relevant medical files to be released to those acting for former employees as soon as practicable.

  Motor Vehicles (Pollution)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government are taking to limit pollution from motor vehicles. [99018]

  Mr. Hill
  The UK has played a central role in the development of tighter European vehicle emission and fuel quality standards. On a domestic level, we are encouraging the use of cleaner vehicles through fiscal incentives, the work of the cleaner vehicles task force and the Powershift programme. These measures are expected to reduce significantly the emissions from road vehicles over the next few years.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Representation of the People Bill
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the effects on e-commerce and user verification of the proposals restricting access to the electoral register contained in the Representation of the People Bill. [100672]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have been asked to reply.

  A regulatory impact statement relating to the Representation of the People Bill was placed in the Library on 18 November to coincide with the Bill's introduction.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many reports he has received in each of the last five years of accidents caused by unsafe fireworks; and if he will make a statement. [99296]

  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have sustained injuries as a result of accidents involving fireworks in 1999. [100604]

  Dr. Howells
  Figures on the numbers and types of injuries caused by fireworks and treated at hospital Accident and Emergency units in England, Scotland and Wales during the four week period covering the run-up to 5 November and a few days afterwards are as follows:

  Figures

  1998

  831

  1997

  908

  1996

  1,233

  1995

  1,530

  1994

  1,574

  The statistics do not indicate whether the injury was due to a firework malfunctioning or to misuse.
  147W
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many accidents involving fireworks have been recorded in the last 12 months. [99288]

  Dr. Howells
  Because injuries from fireworks are concentrated in the period around 5 November, the statistics of the Home Accident Surveillance System do not provide a reliable picture of injury levels. Accordingly, my Department conducts a census of injuries requiring treatment at a hospital A & E department in England, Scotland or Wales during the four week period covering the run-up to 5 November and a few days afterwards. The results for the census for the 1999 season are not yet available but I shall publish them before spring 2000.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received in the last 12 months on the sale of fireworks. [99287]

  Dr. Howells
  I have received a total of 224 representations on fireworks safety matters, comprised of 104 letters from Parliamentary colleagues, 13 Parliamentary questions and 107 letters from the public.

  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to prevent the display of fireworks for sale until 27 December. [100608]

  Dr. Howells
  Following discussions with my Department, the British Pyrotechnists' Association has agreed that it will advise retailers that fireworks should be displayed for sale only from 27 December. I welcome and support the agreement because I want to avoid the possibility of people buying fireworks and storing them over the Christmas period.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the applications made for licences to export(a) military explosives or additives and (b) equipment for the production of military explosives to (i) India, (ii) the Republic of Korea, (iii) Pakistan or (iv) Singapore, indicating their outcome in each case. [99744]

  Dr. Howells
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible, and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences for the sale of(a) BAe Hawks, (b) Alvis Scorpion vehicles and (c) Tactica water cannons have been issued in 1999. [99300]

  Dr. Howells
  The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating; the export of "aircraft", unmanned airborne vehicles, aero-engines and "aircraft" equipment, related "goods" and components, specially designed or modified for military use is controlled under ML10; the export of ground vehicles and components thereof specially designed or modified for military use is controlled under ML6, water cannon under PL5001 and other ground vehicles under PL5031. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 January 1999 and 12 November 1999, 1,850 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 84 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were 148W
  issued covering the export of goods with the relevant ratings. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings and where this is so the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

  Individual licences issued between 1 January 1999 and 12 November 1999 covering the export of goods with the relevant rating

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML6

  270

  19

  ML10

  1,527

  62

  PL5001

  44

  0

  PL5031

  9

  3

  It would entail disproportionate cost to establish which, if any of these licences covered the export of the particular types of equipment concerned, and make any subsequent inquiries necessary under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Information on export licensing decisions in 1999, including details of the military equipment licensed, will be set out in the 1999 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, which will be published in due course.

  This information should be considered in light of the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 27 July 1999, Official Report, columns 307W–08W.

  Copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

  Consumer Products (Environmental Impact)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) pursuant to the report by the Select Committee on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs on Reducing the Environmental Impact of Consumer Products (HC 149), what further regulatory measures he intends to take in respect of on-pack claims about the environmental impact of products; [100040]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the report by the National Consumer Council entitled, The Green Claims Code: Is it Working? (reference PD53/B2/99). [100039]

  Dr. Howells
  In the White Paper "Modern Markets: Confident Consumers" (Cm4410) published in July we said that we would explore the extent to which the Director General of Fair Trading's powers under the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations could be used more effectively to combat misleading on-pack environmental claims. My Department and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions are doing this with the trading standards service and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). OFT is currently investigating a range of claims with a view to taking appropriate action and is using, among other sources of information, the results of the NCC shopping survey.

  I was encouraged to note that the NCC report recognises that there have already been improvements in a number of sectors in the short period between

  149W
  publication of the Green Claims Code and the NCC's research and I understand that the OFT's initial work has revealed that there has been some further improvement since.

  Renewable Energy
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that renewable energy will not be disadvantaged under the new electricity trading arrangements. [100456]

  Mrs. Liddell
  DTI and Ofgem published jointly in October a Conclusions document on the New Electricity Trading Arrangements following wide consultation with the renewables generators and others. Significant steps have been taken to improve the ability of renewables generators to operate effectively and these are described in the document. The objective of the new arrangements is to establish a level playing field for all types of generation, including that from renewable sources.

  The Government remain strongly committed to encouraging generation of electricity from renewable sources. I expect to announce shortly how support for renewable generation will be managed in future.

  Corporate Assets
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the current value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the United Kingdom, (iii) overseas and (iv) in total within the responsibility of(a) the Design Council, (b) the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, (c) ACAS, (d) UKAEA, (e) the National Consumers Council, (f) the Gas Consumers Council and (g) other executive non-departmental public bodies. [99817]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The net book value of land and buildings held by the UKAEA as at 31 March 1999 was: (i) £2.6 million in Scotland, (ii) £83.5 million in the United Kingdom and (iii) nil overseas.

  The Design Council, the Competition Commission (previously the Monopolies and Mergers Commission), ACAS, the National Consumers Council, the Gas Consumers Council and other executive non-departmental public bodies (other than the Research Councils) do not own land or property but rent or lease accommodation to meet their requirements.

  Values for the land and property of the seven science Research councils are published in their Annual Accounts and the latest DTI Annual Expenditure Plans Report (Cm4211). As expenditure from the Science Budget is deemed to be for the benefit of the UK as a whole, data are not collected in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportion cost.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the United Kingdom, (iii) overseas and (iv) in total within the responsibility of(a) the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, (b) the Insolvency Service, (c) the Radiocommunications Agency, (d) the Employment Tribunals Service, (e) Companies House
  150W
  and (f) the Patent Office; and if he will further estimate the value of (1) plant and machinery, (2) vehicles, (3) office equipment and machinery, (4) telecommunications equipment, (5) computer equipment and systems, (6) furniture and fittings and (7) other assets for each of these bodies. [99818]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: Values for the assets of my Department's Executive Agencies, including land and property, can be found in their Annual Reports and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Assets are broken down into broad categories as appropriate for each Agency. The breakdown of this information into the categories requested could be done only at disproportionate cost. Land and property in the United Kingdom owned by these bodies as of 31 March 1999 had a net book value of £36,679,000, of which the value of land and property in Scotland was £824,000. No DTI Agency owns land or property overseas.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the value of land and property in (i) Scotland, (ii) the United Kingdom, (iii) overseas and (iv) total within the responsibility of(a) Magnox Electric plc, (b) British Nuclear Fuels plc, (c) the Post Office, (d) British Coal. [99814]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: Magnox Electric plc merged with BNFL plc in 1997–98. The net book value of land and buildings of the Group as at 31 March, as included in the 1998–99 Report and Accounts, was £2,072 million. The net book value of land and buildings held by the Post Office as at 28 March, as included in its 1998–99 Report and Accounts, was £1,579 million. The geographical analysis requested could be provided only for these bodies at disproportionate cost.

  British Coal has transferred its remaining land and property to the Coal authority, an executive non-departmental public body. The net book value of land and property owned by the Coal Authority as at 31 March 1999 was (i) £3.5 million in Scotland, (ii) £16.1 million in the United Kingdom and (iii) nil overseas.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate(a) the current value of land and buildings (including freehold, historic leasehold, and leasehold interests) in (i) Scotland, (ii) the UK, (iii) overseas and (iv) in total, and (b) the value of (1) office machinery and equipment, (2) telecommunications equipment, (3) computer equipment, (4) furniture and fittings, (5) scientific equipment, (6) heritage assets, (7) intangible assets, (8) long term debtors and (9) shareholdings held by his Department. [99659]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The estimate of the value of land and buildings held by this Department is:

  £

  (i) Scotland

  717,000

  (ii) UK

  25,657,000

  (iii) Overseas

  0

  (iv) Total

  25,657,000

  151W
  The value of the other categories of assets requested are:

  £

  (1) Office Machinery and Equipment

  236,000

  (2) Telecommunications Equipment

  89,000

  (3) Computer Equipment

  3,090,000

  (4) Furniture and Fittings

  3,127,000

  (5) Scientific Equipment

  14,767,000

  (6) Heritage Assets

  0

  (7) Intangible Assets

  0

  (8) Long-term debtors

  12,770,000

  (9) Shareholdings:

  Historic Cost

  32,668,000

  Market Value

  29,701,000

  The figures supplied for (i) to (iv), and (1) to (7) are based on current cost net book values as at 31 March 1999, after allowing for depreciation. The estimates for land and buildings include freehold and historic leasehold property but do not include buildings occupied under operating leases. Shareholdings for which no markets exists are shown at historic cost; other shareholdings are shown at market price as at 31 march 1999.

  Measurement Conversion
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the conversion of measurement from imperial to metric will be finally concluded; and if he will make a statement. [99853]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: Under legislation made in 1994, goods sold loose by weight—mainly fresh food—must be priced and weighed in grams and kilograms after 31 December 1999. This change will complete the metrication programme for units of measurement that are used for trade within the meaning of the Weights and Measures Act 1985.

  E-commerce
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he plans to accept the proposed Article 15 of the draft Brussels Regulation on e-commerce and Article 13 of the Regulation in their current form. [100303]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 29 November 1999]: The Commission's proposals seem to go further than member states envisaged when they reviewed the Brussels Convention on jurisdiction and enforcement of judgments. We are actively discussing the implications with the Commission and other member states and we are consulting business and consumer organisations. We aim to finalise our negotiating position shortly. It is vital to accelerate the contribution of e-commerce to economic growth in the EU by agreeing as soon as possible on a legislative framework which gives maximum confidence to everyone engaged in buying and selling on-line.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to change the home country principle contained in the draft e-commerce directive to amend private international law; and what plans he has to seek changes in the use of private international law to remove barriers to the completion of the EU internal market. [100304]
  152W
  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 29 November 1999]: We have no plans to seek to change the country of origin in the draft e-commerce directive. In a case where rules of private international law would adversely affect the freedom to provide information society services in the internal market, the country of origin principle would take precedence. We support this general approach and the proposed exceptions to it, such as for contractual obligations concerning certain consumer contracts. As regards rules of private international law, the Government are considering the Commission's proposals to convert the Brussels Convention, concerning choice of jurisdiction, into a Community Regulation. A revision of the Rome Convention, concerning applicable law, may begin next year.

  Private Recruitment Industry
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases have been reported to his Department of individuals who remain unemployed as a result of temp-to-perm arrangements operating within the private recruitment industry. [100302]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 29 November 1999]: There is no obligation to report such cases to my Department and we do not maintain a systematic record of those cases coming to our attention.

  National Health Service Patient Data
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on making National Health Service patient data available to industry for the purposes of research. [99757]

  Mr. Byers
  I have not had any discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on this matter.

  Maternity Leave
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many homes in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire will benefit from the increase in maternity leave under the Employment Relations Act 1999 and its associated regulations; and if he will make a statement. [100598]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  No information is available at this level of geographical detail. However, nationally 2.8 million female employees under 40 could benefit from the increase in statutory maternity leave should they become pregnant, and 1 million from the wider entitlement to additional maternity leave should they become pregnant. In the West Midlands there are 256,000 female employees under 40 who would benefit from the increase in statutory maternity leave should they become pregnant and 82,000 who would benefit from the wider entitlement to additional maternity leave should they become pregnant.

  Ice Cream Industry
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the Competition Commission's report into the ice cream industry; and if he will publish his Department's response. [100678]
  153W
  Mr. Byers
  The Competition Commission report on impulse ice cream was delivered on 21 September. The report, and any decisions made on it, will be published as soon as practicable.

  Carbon Emissions
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the potential of photovoltaics to reduce carbon emissions. [99029]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The technical potential for building integrated PV in the UK is currently estimated at 15 terrawatt hours (TWh), which represents less than 5 per cent. of current electricity consumption. The potential savings in CO2 emissions if all this resource could be utilised, which is unlikely for practical, economic and environmental reasons, would amount to some 7 million tonnes per year.

  The average cost of electricity from building integrated PV is currently around six times that of electricity generated from conventional fuels, and is unlikely to decrease sufficiently over the next ten years to make more than a small contribution to the carbon emission reductions necessary by 2012. The current annual generating capacity of installed PV in the UK is some 0.5 gigawatt hours (GWh).

  However, in the longer term, PV has the potential to make a significant contribution to carbon savings. The DTI has been supporting a programme of research, development and demonstration of the technology in the UK for several years and, together with support from the European Union, a number of major examples on building intergrated photovoltaics are now operating.

  Miners (Health Claims)
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the claims received from ex-miners in Scotland for chronic bronchitis and emphysema have been fully processed; and how many claimants have died before their claims were fully processed. [100270]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As at 22 November, the Department had made 133 full and final payments to Scottish ex-miners, totalling some £218,000. Prior to the signing of the Handling Agreement for England and Wales on 24 September, we had commenced discussions with Scottish solicitors to adapt the Agreement to take into consideration the differences between English and Welsh, and Scottish law. The Department expects to sign an agreement with Scottish solicitors shortly and this will enable the number of offers to increase.

  As at 24 November IRISC, the Department's claims handler, had been informed of 217 claims where the date of death recorded occurred since their date of claim.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) miners and (b) retired miners have died before receiving full compensation payments from public funds for chronic respiratory diseases in the last 12 months. [99856]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As at 24 November IRISC, the Department's claims handler, had been informed of 1,896 claims where the date of death recorded occurred in the last 12 months. One of these claims was in 154W
  respect of a currently employed minor. It is not known how many of these claims would have qualified for full compensation under the Handling Agreement concluded on 24 September 1999.

  The contract to carry out the medical assessments of live and deceased claims which will form the basis for paying full compensation where appropriate was let on 5 October. Where claims are progressed by an estate or dependant they will be assessed under the Handling Agreement.

  WTO Seattle Round
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on export subsidies to developing countries in relation to the forthcoming World Trade Organisation Round. [100422]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have received a large number of representations about this issue in the run up to the WTO Ministerial meeting in Seattle, particularly in relation to agricultural trade. I have made clear my support for a substantial reduction in these trade distorting subsidies as part of a new Trade Round.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to raise the issue of zero tariffs for developing countries at the World Trade Organisation Conference in Seattle. [100425]

  Mr. Caborn
  At Seattle, I shall be pressing for other industrialised countries to support the proposal agreed within the EU to provide duty-free access for essentially all products from the least developed countries no later than the end of the new Round of negotiations (2003). More generally, the Government will continue to call for zero tariffs to be applied to all goods from the least developed countries, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister promised in his speech at Mansion House on 22 November.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received relating to the position adopted by the European Union on the labelling of genetically modified foods in advance of the World Trade Organisation Conference in Seattle. [100424]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have received a number of representations on the subject of labelling of genetically modified food and on other aspects of labelling, both in writing and when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have met representatives of the civil society in person, in advance of the World Trade Organisation conference in Seattle on 29 November-3 December.

  The Government share the EU objective to seek clarification of the terms of the WTO Agreement as concerns labelling, so that it is clear that labelling requirements can be used as a means of responding to consumer demands for information, where appropriate and without placing excessive burdens on, and unfairly restricting, export opportunities for our trading partners. On the specific question of genetically modified food, the Government are committed to labelling where there are measurable differences between GM and non-GM products, to allow consumers to make informed choices.
  155W
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the Government will make at the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Seattle to other industrialised countries concerning the implementation of agreements to reduce trade barriers to developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [100813]

  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I will urge others to join the UK and EU in indicating strong support for the implementation of agreements to reduce trade barriers to developing countries, both in respect of those commitments entered into as part of the Uruguay Round, and in respect of new initiatives, such as the EU proposal that all industrialised countries should agree to provide duty-free access for essentially all goods from the Least Developed Countries no later than the end of the next round of negotiations (2003).

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will raise the matter of labour standards in developing countries at the Seattle Conference of the World Trade Organisation. [100426]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government are firmly committed to securing the EU proposals on trade and labour, including the creation of a Joint ILO/WTO Standing Working Forum on trade, globalisation and labour issues.

  Intellectual Property Agreement
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the World Trade Organisation's Trade-Related Intellectual Property Agreement. [100427]

  Mr. Caborn
  Ministers and officials have received many representations about the WTO's TRIPS agreement. Many of these have been supportive of that Agreement and its implementation in view of its importance to encourage investment. Some have questioned whether parts of the Agreement might be detrimental to development interests. We have given assurances that there is much flexibility in the TRIPS agreement to allow for development interests to be taken into account.

  Cause-related Marketing
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received in relation to cause-related marketing techniques; and if he will introduce legislative provisions to prevent the abuse of such techniques. [99391]

  Dr. Howells
  I have not received any representations about cause-related marketing and I have no plans to introduce additional regulation in this area, which is already subject to general legal controls on, for example, misleading advertisements, and to the codes of practice overseen by the Advertising Standards Authority and the broadcast regulators.

  Third World Debt
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by country the value of the outstanding debts on(a) United Kingdom aid loans and (b) loans guaranteed by the British Government through the Export Credits Guarantee Department, showing separately
  156W
  the amount that is classified as (i) pre-cut-off date and (ii) post-cut-off date, for each of the countries defined by the World Bank as developing countries. [100020]

  Mr. Caborn
  From the information available, Annexe A shows the value of outstanding amounts in respect of United Kingdom aid loans and Annexe B the outstanding value of unrecovered claims under guarantees issued through the Export Credits Guarantee Department to Developing Markets. The ECGD data are divided into amounts paid as claims which remain outstanding but which have been officially rescheduled, and claims paid that are not yet subject to a rescheduling agreement. All the amounts that have been rescheduled are in respect of pre-cut-off business, but amounts outstanding which are not subject to rescheduling are likely to include both pre and post cut off amounts. ECGD is not readily able to split these data on a pre and post cut off basis.

  Annexe A:

  Balance outstanding under Direct Bilateral Capital Aid agreements

  £

  Country

  Balance at 31 March 1999

  Afghanistan

  66,670.00

  Antigua and Barbuda 1991

  2,044,168.17

  Bangladesh

  292,451.32

  Barbados

  136,070.30

  Belize

  12,270,757.44

  Botswana

  153,769.08

  Brazil

  1,692,335.68

  Cameroon

  —

  Cayman Islands 1975/1

  174,037.49

  Columbia

  169,867.19

  Costa Rica

  765,798.46

  Cyprus

  130,774.00

  Dominica

  5,788,731.80

  Ecuador

  7,539,648.69

  Egypt

  3,363,360.81

  Ethiopia

  —

  Gambia

  —

  Ghana

  10,172,487.21

  Grenada

  1,429,108.50

  Guyana

  30,155,434.73

  Honduras

  1,911,143.04

  India

  2,432,000.00

  Indonesia

  —

  Ivory Coast

  2,115,892.38

  Jamaica

  32,994,877.44

  Jordan

  20,019,655.10

  Laos

  1,275.00

  Malawi

  396,000.00

  Malaysia

  2,879,159.31

  Mauritius

  438,250.22

  Mozambique 1976

  3,408,903.92

  Nicaragua

  398,200.00

  Nigeria

  4,233,084.04

  Pakistan

  750,664.58

  Paraguay

  1,759,500.00

  Peru

  5,170,602.44

  Philippines

  2,397,068.00

  Senegal

  272,329.67

  Seychelles

  7,885,673.72

  Sierra Leone

  —

  Solomon Islands 1981

  1,844,700.15

  Sri Lanka

  76,200.17

  St. Kitts

  2,734,970.00

  St. Lucia

  2,499,500.00

  St. Vincent

  3,289,200.00

  Sudan

  —

  Swaziland

  1,537,779.89

  Tonga

  240,202.80

  157W

  Balance outstanding under Direct Bilateral Capital Aid agreements

  £

  Country

  Balance at 31 March 1999

  Tunisia

  Turkey

  22,726,151.73

  TCI

  1,421,260.87

  Zambia

  33,309,320.27

  W. Samoa

  —

  Zimbabwe

  10,917,268.70

  Total Bilateral

  246,406,304.31

  Balance outstanding under aid laons made via ECGD

  ECGD

  £

  Liberia

  77,749.58

  Nigeria

  672,000.00

  Total

  749,749.58

  Balance outstanding under aid loans made via multilateral institutions

  Multilateral

  £

  Turkey

  15,107,325.62

  EEC/IDA

  57,190,198.17

  EEC/EIB

  336,099,288.37

  CDB

  834,817.19

  Total

  409,231,629.35

  Annexe B

  ECGD unrecovered claim to developing markets as at 31 March 1999

  £

  Claims paid:

  which have been rescheduled

  which have been rescheduled

  Total

  Highly Indebted Poor countries

  Angola

  4.52

  52.23

  56.75

  Burkina Faso

  0.00

  0.57

  0.57

  Burundi

  0.00

  0.00

  Cameroon

  2.73

  33.83

  36.56

  Central African Republic

  0.00

  0.25

  0.25

  Congo

  0.14

  58.08

  58.22

  Congo (Dr)

  9.92

  41.47

  51.39

  Cote d'Ivoire

  16.22

  11.83

  28.05

  Ethiopia

  3.03

  11.61

  14.64

  Ghana

  0.07

  2.09

  2.16

  Guinea

  0.00

  1.44

  1.44

  Guinea Bissau

  0.00

  0.00

  Guyana

  0.04

  13.95

  13.99

  Haiti

  0.00

  0.00

  Honduras

  0.00

  0.00

  Liberia

  2.50

  6.52

  9.02

  Madagascar

  0.00

  14.80

  14.80

  Malawi

  4.01

  0.69

  4.70

  Mali

  0.00

  3.87

  3.87

  Mauritania

  0.00

  4.61

  4.61

  Mozambique

  0.00

  35.93

  35.93

  Myanmar

  23.07

  23.07

  Nicaragua

  0.00

  0.40

  0.40

  Niger

  0.00

  5.41

  5.41

  158W

  ECGD unrecovered claim to developing markets as at 31 March 1999

  £

  Claims paid:

  which have been rescheduled

  which have been rescheduled

  Total

  Nigeria

  22.42

  1,843.10

  1,865.52

  Rwanda

  0.10

  0.10

  Sao Tome

  0.00

  0.00

  Sierra Leone

  0.00

  1.04

  1.04

  Somalia

  0.14

  12.18

  12.32

  Sudan

  3.41

  126.07

  129.48

  Tanzania

  0.03

  32.40

  32.43

  Uganda

  0.00

  2.49

  2.49

  Vietnam

  0.00

  5.84

  5.84

  Yemen Republic

  0.17

  3.08

  3.25

  Zambia

  0.16

  101.31

  101.47

  Moderately Indebted Low Income countries

  Bangladesh

  0.00

  0.00

  Benin

  0.08

  2.53

  2.61

  Cambodia

  0.00

  0.00

  Chad

  0.00

  0.00

  Comoras

  0.00

  0.00

  Gambia

  0.06

  0.06

  India

  2.50

  2.50

  Kenya

  2.02

  32.90

  34.92

  Lao PDR

  0.00

  0.00

  Pakistan

  0.26

  0.26

  Senegal

  0.02

  0.80

  0.82

  Togo

  0.37

  9.11

  9.48

  Zimbabwe

  0.32

  0.32

  Severely Indebted Middle Income countries

  Argentina

  6.87

  50.99

  57.86

  Bolivia

  0.02

  8.99

  9.01

  Brazil

  1.95

  380.58

  382.53

  Bulgaria

  0.02

  11.39

  11.41

  Cuba

  24.55

  27.96

  52.51

  Ecuador

  0.18

  31.96

  32.14

  Gabon

  0.00

  83.10

  83.10

  Indonesia

  86.85

  86.85

  Iraq

  625.05

  625.05

  Jamaica

  0.67

  2.23

  2.90

  Jordan

  19.37

  311.19

  330.56

  Peru

  0.14

  87.13

  87.27

  Syrian Arab Republic

  0.05

  0.05

  Moderately Indebted Low Income countries

  Algeria

  4.37

  166.49

  170.86

  Chile

  0.11

  0.11

  Colombia

  0.08

  0.08

  Georgia

  0.00

  0.00

  Hungary

  0.02

  0.02

  Macedonia

  0.00

  3.51

  3.51

  Malaysia

  0.02

  0.02

  Mexico

  24.68

  65.79

  90.47

  Morocco

  0.09

  48.70

  48.79

  Panama

  -0.11

  -0.11

  Philippines

  9.31

  20.07

  29.38

  St. Vincent

  0.00

  0.00

  Thailand

  0.26

  0.26

  Tunisia

  0.00

  0.00

  Turkey

  0.00

  0.00

  Uruguay

  0.00

  0.00

  Venezuela

  0.31

  0.31

  Severely Indebted Middle Income countries

  Afghanistan

  0.00

  0.00

  Burundi

  0.00

  0.00

  Laos

  0.00

  0.00

  Liberia

  0.00

  0.00

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Falklands
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request a contribution from Argentina towards the cost of clearing landmines in the Falkland Islands. [R] [100016]

  Mr. Battle
  In December 1993, the Argentine Government offered to meet the cost of clearing landmines in the Falkland Islands. We welcomed this offer and sought to explore it further.

  During President Menem's visit to the UK in October 1998, we agreed as a first step to work with Argentina to evaluate the feasibility and cost of clearing the landmines still present in the Falkland Islands. Work on a Memorandum of Understanding setting out how this feasibility study will be carried out is under way. Both Governments reaffirmed their commitment to co-operate on mine clearance in the Joint Statement of 14 July 1999.

  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the number of Argentine landmines remaining in the Falklands Islands. [R] [100015]

  Mr. Battle
  The Ministry of Defence estimate that around 16,600 mines remain in the Falkland Islands. The Argentine armed forces laid 127 minefields on the Falklands in 1982. MOD estimate that 18,000 mines of all types were laid, including 14,000 anti-personnel mines. British forces carried out some clearance immediately after the conflict, lifting about 1,400 mines, but stopped after several injuries to those involved. The remaining 101 minefields are marked and fenced, and therefore not an immediate hazard. The garrison conduct a public campaign to warn of the dangers. They make regular patrols and destroy mines which become exposed on the surface of the ground. The Argentines have given us their minefield records.

  The Argentine Government offered to assist with their clearance, and during President Menem's visit to the UK in October 1998 we agreed, as a first step, to work with Argentina to evaluate the feasibility and cost of clearing them. Work on a Memorandum of Understanding on how this study will be carried out is under way. Both Governments restated their commitment to co-operate on mine clearance in the Joint Statement of 14 July 1999.

  We are fully committed to the Ottawa Convention, which requires us to clear all anti-personnel mines from the Falkland Islands within 10 years of entry, unless we can show good reasons why an extension should be granted. Such reasons may include humanitarian, environmental and technical considerations. Mine clearance in the Falkland Islands is both difficult and dangerous and we shall be keeping these points in mind.

  Corporate Assets
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current estimated 160W
  value of assets relating to (a) Wilton Park Executive Agency and (b) the British Council (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the United Kingdom, (iii) overseas and (iv) in total. [99784]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The value of assets relating to the Wilton Park Executive Agency is £1,270,000. The current estimated values of the British Council's assets are £652,000 in Scotland, £8,170,000 in the rest of the United Kingdom (not including the figure for Scotland) and £83,633,000 overseas. The total value of the British Council's assets is £92,455,000.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the value of(a) vehicles, (b) equipment, (c) IT, (d) corporate systems, (e) departmental systems, (f) overseas systems, (g) communications, (h) technical security equipment and (i) heritable assets in (i) Scotland, (ii1) the United Kingdom, (iii) overseas and (iv) in total. [99786]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The FCO has no fixed assets in Scotland. Value information for the FCO's fixed assets is being developed as part of the implementation of resource accounting. This information is currently being audited. The first set of resource accounts will be published in respect of 1999–2000.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the planned date of publication of the proposed White Paper on the forthcoming intergovernmental conference; which departments are involved in drafting it; if it will identify the issues which the Government(a) does and (b) does not want included in the agenda for the IGC; and if it will guarantee that extensions of qualified majority voting in specified areas will not be approved by the Government. [100279]

  Mr. Vaz
  We intend to publish the White Paper early next year, before formal IGC negotiations begin. The paper will be drafted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in consultation with other Departments. It will set out our position on all major issues expected to be discussed at the intergovernmental conference, including the possible extension of qualified majority voting.

  Your Britain Your Europe
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out(a) the itinerary for his proposed five-day Your Britain Your Europe tour, (b) the aims of the tour, (c) the cost to the public of the tour and (d) what funds have been made available from the European Commission for the tour. [100280]

  Mr. Vaz
  The aim of the Your Britain Your Europe roadshow is to promote the benefits of the UK's membership of the EU to the people of Britain.

  The costs of the roadshow are estimated at £60,000, plus accommodation and travel. No funds have been made available from the European Commission for the roadshow.
  161W
  The itinerary is as follows:
  Your Britain Your Europe: Mr. Vaz's Regional Roadshow (Monday 29 November to Friday 3 December 1999)

  Monday 29 November—North East/Humberside

  St. Joseph's School, Hebburn, South Tyneside

  Tyneside Foyer—City Centre Youth, Newcastle upon Tyne

  Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK Limited), Sunderland

  University of Hull, Hull

  Tuesday 30 November—Yorkshire/North West/Paris

  CORUS Engineering Steels, Rotherham

  "Your Britain Your Europe" Seminar at Carlton Park Hotel, Rotherham

  Granada Studios Tour, Manchester

  Olympic House, Manchester Airport

  Wednesday 1 December—Paris/London

  British Embassy—Briefing with French/British Media

  Eurostar

  Waterloo Station

  House of Commons

  To Bristol

  Thursday 2 December—South West/West Midlands

  Kwik strip Eco Solutions, Bristol

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Bristol

  Bath Environment Centre, Bath

  Bath Hilton Hotel—South West Regional Euro forum Meeting

  Bath Spa Culture, Bath

  University of Bath

  Friday 3 December—Nuneaton/Leicester/Birmingham

  King Edward VI College, Nuneaton

  St. John's Primary School, Ladywood, Birmingham

  BBC Pebble Mill (Ed Doolan Show live)

  Richard Lawnhouse Retirement Home, Ladywood, Birmingham Birmingham

  Chamber of Commerce Event

  Leicester Mercury Building, Leicester

  De Montfort University, Leicester.

  Departmental Estate
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the current value of land and property(a) in Scotland, (b) in the United Kingdom and (c) overseas allocated to his core Department, including Chevening. [99836]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The FCO has no land or property in Scotland. Value information for the KO's estate in the UK and overseas is being developed as part of the implementation of resource accounting. This information is currently being audited. The first set of resource accounts will be published in respect of 1999–2000. Chevening is owned and administered by the Chevening Estate Trust. It does not form part of the FCO's estate.

  International Criminal Court
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what timetable he proposes for the publication of the draft legislation on the International Criminal Court. [100180]
  162W
  Mr. Hain
  Draft legislation to enable ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court will be published as soon as practicable in the course of this Parliamentary session.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which interested parties will be consulted about the draft legislation on the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement. [100181]

  Mr. Hain
  After publication of the draft legislation to ratify the International Criminal Court Statute, all Parliamentarians, organisations and individuals interested in the International Criminal Court will be given an opportunity to comment.

  Export Licence (ACORD)
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the approval of an export licence for the supply of one Bedford truck to ACORD. [100909]

  Mr. Hain
  Following consultations with this Department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently issued a licence for the export of one military rated, ex-MOD Bedford truck to ACORD, a relief organisation in the Sudan. The truck will be used to distribute seed and other humanitarian aid to help alleviate the suffering in Sudan. This decision does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU Common Position on the export of arms, munitions and military equipment to Sudan.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the decision was taken to withdraw the OSCE verifiers from Kosovo in March. [98558]

  Mr. Vaz
  The decision to withdraw the OSCE verifiers from Kosovo was made by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek, on 19 March.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when, and in what form, he received the application that the OSCE verifiers were unable to do their job owing to the escalating violence in Kosovo before 19 March. [98559]

  Mr. Vaz
  The decision to withdraw the OSCE verifiers was made in Vienna on 19 March by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office following a full meeting of the Contact Group plus the then OSCE Troika (Austria, Poland) under the chairmanship of Norway, as Chairman-in-Office.

  The decision to withdraw the OSCE verifiers was made in the light of the failed negotiations in Paris and, in particular, the deteriorating situation on the ground in Kosovo caused by the Serbian military offensive.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of Kosovo Serbs killed in Kosovo(a) since 11 June and (b) between 23 March and 10 June. [98567]
  163W
  Mr. Vaz
  There have been 124 reported murders of Kosovo Serbs between KFOR's deployment on 12 June and mid-October.

  There are no figures available for the number of Kosovo Serbs killed in Kosovo between 23 March 1999 and 11 June 1999, ie in the period prior to KFOR's deployment.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of Kosovo Albanians killed in Kosovo between(a) 23 March and 10 June, (b) 1 January and 22 March and (c) since 11 June. [98568]

  Mr. Vaz
  We estimate that at least 10,000 Kosovo Albanian civilians were killed between June 1998 and 12 June 1999. Of these, we estimate that around 500 were killed before 20 March 1999.

  There have been 135 reported murders of Kosovo Albanians between KFOR's deployment on 12 June and mid-October.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on improving access to Kosovo through the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. [100326]

  Mr. Vaz
  Significant delays continue to be encountered by traffic, including humanitarian aid convoys, at the major crossing point on the Kosovo/Macedonian border at Blace. The United Nations interim administration in Kosovo has set up a task force to take matters forward and negotiations continue with the Macedonian Government to relieve the bottleneck at the border.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what forum, and in what form, the Greek Government agreed there was a legal base for military action against Yugoslavia between March and June 1999. [98560]

  Mr. Vaz
  The then Secretary-General of NATO announced on 23 March that he had directed the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe to initiate air operations in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. The Secretary-General noted that his decision had been taken after extensive consultations with all the Allies, including Greece.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the legal basis for NATO's military action in Yugoslavia between March and June 1999. [98561]

  £ million

  Start date

  Planned completion date

  Current expected completion date

  Planned cost

  Current estimated cost

  FIRECREST

  July 1997

  December 2001

  December 2001

  66.2

  85

  GTP

  March 1997

  August 1998

  January 2000

  1.9

  1.9

  FORTRESS

  January 1998

  March 1999

  December 1999

  3.8

  3.8

  VIP

  December 1998

  December 2000

  December 2000

  3.7

  3.7

  164W
  Mr. Vaz
  The Government have set out the position on a number of occasions. This is that cases have arisen (as in Northern Iraq in 1991) when, in the light of all the circumstances, a limited use of force was justifiable in support of purposes laid down by the Security Council, but without the Council's express authorisation, when that was the only means to avert an immediate and overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe. Such cases would in the nature of things be exceptional and would depend on an objective assessment of the factual circumstances at the time, and on the terms of the relevant decisions of the Security Council bearing on the situation in question.

  In the case of Kosovo, NATO took the view in March of this year, given the circumstances at the time, that the use of force was the only route left to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.

  Policy Document No. 148 (1986)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the status of Foreign Office Policy Document No. 148 (1986). [98562]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) on 22 November 1999,Official Report, column 18W.

  IT Projects
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the information technology projects currently being undertaken by his Department and by agencies responsible to his Department, including(a) the start date, (b) the planned completion date, (c) the current expected completion date, (d) the planned costs and (e) the current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement. [99672]

  Mr. Battle
  The FCO has under way the following IT projects:FIRECREST—an infrastructure project to provide modern, easy to use office automation systems throughout the FCO, at home and overseas.
  GTP—an integrated and managed Global Telecommunications service, being procured under PFI principles. The costs shown cover procurement only. The projected costs of FCO communications over 10 years are estimated to be £238 million.
  FORTRESS—to provide desk officers with electronic delivery and access to intelligence material.
  VIP—to provide an integrated visa entry clearance for Posts. POAC—to provide a replacement accounting system for Posts.
  PASSPORTS—to provide modern machine readable passport systems at major consular Posts.
  PAY—to contract a replacement payroll bureau service.
  INTRANET—to provide Posts and FCO UK with an Intranet.
  CDB—to provide a database for Commercial Officers at Posts.
  DSP—to provide Diplomatic Service Procedures in electronic form to Posts and Home Departments.
  165W

  £ million

  Start date

  Planned completion date

  Current expected completion date

  Planned cost

  Current estimated cost

  POAC

  July 1997

  September 1999

  March 2000

  3.5

  4.5

  PASSPORTS

  January 1999

  December 2001

  December 2001

  1.2

  2.4

  PAY

  February 1997

  July 1998

  December 1999

  0.5

  0.6

  INTRANET

  March 1999

  March 2000

  March 2000

  0.7

  0.6

  CDB

  May 1998

  January 2000

  March 2000

  1.0

  1.0

  DSP

  January 1998

  August 1998

  December 1999

  0.1

  0.1

  Research Studies
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the title of research studies, audits and surveys(a) being undertaken and (b) commissioned by his Department for completion within (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000, stating in each case whether and when the results are due to be published. [99674]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is not centrally recorded and covers such a wide range of activity that a comprehensive list could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Research studies commissioned and published in 1999 or intended for publication in 2000 include:

  1999

  History Notes

  The Zinoviev Letter

  Women in Diplomacy

  Focus International Papers

  Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea

  Bosnia and Herzegovina: Progress Towards Democracy

  Progress Towards Gender Equality

  Iraq: Sanctions and the "Oil for Food" Agreement

  Enlargement of the European Union

  Burma: 10 Years of Repression

  The International Criminal Court, Questions and Answers

  Population and Development

  NATO's Fiftieth Anniversary Summit

  Gibraltar: Partnership for Prosperity

  Kosovo: Chronology, March 1998-March 1999

  The Cologne Debt Initiative

  Britain and China: A Growing Partnership

  The Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

  Money Laundering

  East Timor: A Historical Background

  Britain's Parliamentary Co-operation with Russia

  1998

  Wilton Park Papers

  The United Nations in The Twenty-First Century

  Building Political Stability in Sub-Saharan Africa

  Diplomacy for the Twenty-First Century: 'Re-Crafting The Old Guild'

  Building Bridges Between Islam and the West

  Nordic and Baltic Security and Prosperity

  Challenges to East Asian Security

  The Search for Peace in the Middle East

  166W

  Europe after Economic and Monetary Union

  The Continuing threat of Nuclear Proliferation

  Protecting the Environment and Sustaining Development towards a Green Millennium

  Current issues in International Diplomacy and Foreign Policy—Volume I: 1999

  Volume II: 2000

  2000

  Documents on British Policy Overseas

  Series III, Volume III.

  In addition, unclassified versions of some of the papers prepared by the FCO's Research Analysts in recent years will be placed on the FCO's website next year.

  Audits and surveys in 1999 include the regular series of internal audits conducted by the FCO's Internal Audit department in accordance with Treasury requirements. Reports of internal audits are sent to the National Audit Office, but the details are not routinely published because to do so could harm the effective management and operations of the public service.

  Departmental Reports
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the titles of departmental reports being prepared with a view to publication in(a) 1999 and (b) 2000, stating in each case the planned date of publication. [99673]

  Mr. Hain
  Consistent with current Whitehall-wide practice, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's annual Department reports are published 21 days after the spring Budget:(a) On 30 March 1999, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office published "Foreign and Commonwealth Office—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1999–2000 to 2001–02" (CM 4209)
  (b) In Spring 2000, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will publish "Foreign and Commonwealth Office—The Government's Expenditure Plans 2000–01 to 2001–02". It is not possible to specify the exact publication date until the date of the spring Budget has been decided.

  Strategic Export Control
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide quantification of exports in the next issue of the Strategic Export Control Annual Report. [100506]

  Mr. Hain
  We will consider the format and content of future reports in light of responses to the first two Annual Reports, taking into account in particular the eventual
  167W
  report of the Joint Inquiry being carried out by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs, Defence, Trade and Industry and International Development Committees.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications he has received from citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for visas to visit the United Kingdom in each of the past three years. [100323]

  Mr. Vaz
  The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the development of the United Kingdom's relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia since the conclusion of the war in Kosovo. [100325]

  Mr. Vaz
  We warmly welcomed the support given by the Macedonian Government and people during the Kosovo crisis, and we continue to work to strengthen our bilateral relations. We also welcome the opportunities provided for closer co-operation through the Stability Pact and look forward to an early start on negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Macedonia and the European Union. We have encouraged the Macedonian Government in their preparation of a NATO Membership Action Plan.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to allow the British Embassy in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to issue visitors visas for the United Kingdom. [100324]

  Mr. Vaz
  The British Embassy in Skopje will begin accepting applications for visitor visas as soon as new purpose-built premises are ready. On present plans this is likely to be around the middle of 2000.

  Diplomatic Missions (Visas)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British diplomatic missions in Europe are not allowed to issue visas to visit the United Kingdom. [100321]

  Country

  Post

  Service available

  Armenia

  Yerevan

  Only accepts applications from Armenian nationals, diplomats representatives of major international organisations in Armenia

  Azerbaijan

  Baku

  Accepts applications from Azeri nationals, diplomats, officials and resident third country nationals

  Estonia

  Tallinn

  Only accepts applications from residents of Estonia

  Georgia

  Tbilisi

  Accepts applications from Georgian nationals; diplomats; officials of international organisations; third country nationals resident in Georgia for longer than six months

  Latvia

  Riga

  Only accepts applications from residents of Latvia

  Lithuania

  Vilnius

  Only accepts applications from residents of Lithuania

  Macedonia

  Skopje

  Only accepts applications from diplomats; urgent medical applications; refugee cases accepted by either UNHCR or the Home Office

  168W
  Mr. Vaz
  The following British diplomatic posts in Europe do not offer an entry clearance service:

  Country

  Post

  France

  Bordeaux

  Lille

  Lyon

  Marseille

  Strasbourg

  Germany

  Frankfurt

  Hamburg

  Munich

  Stuttgart

  Greece

  Corfu

  Heraklion

  Italy

  Florence

  Milan

  Naples

  Portugal

  Oporto

  Slovenia

  Ljubljana

  Spain

  Alicante

  Barcelona

  Bilbao

  Ibiza

  Las Palmas

  Malaga

  Palma

  Santa Cruz de Tenerife

  Seville

  The following posts offer a limited service to resident members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps (including International Organisations) and officials of the host country. Other applicants for visit visas may apply at any post offering a full entry clearance service.

  Country

  Post

  Germany

  Berlin

  Morocco

  Rabat

  Netherlands

  The Hague

  Switzerland

  Berne

  Turkey

  Ankara

  The following posts offer a limited entry clearance service as indicated:
  169W
  No entry clearance service is -available in the following countries to which non-resident British diplomatic missions are accredited:

  Andorra

  Moldova

  Monaco

  San Marino.

  Angola
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in inhibiting the use of diamond sales for funding the war in Angola. [100671]

  Mr. Hain
  UN Security Council resolution 1173 of 12 June 1998 imposed a ban on the direct or indirect import from Angola of all diamonds not controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation of Angola (GURN). The aim was to cut off diamond revenues to UNITA, and so reduce their ability to fund continued fighting. Following the adoption of the resolution, the Government amended the Open General Import Licence to prohibit the import into the UK of diamonds exported from Angola not accompanied by a GURN Certificate or Origin. The ban is implemented in the Overseas Territories through the Angola (United Nations Sanctions) (Dependent Territories) Order 1998.

  This corrects information in a previous written answer to my hon. Friend on how the UK implements its obligations under resolution 1173 with regard to the import of diamonds—3 November 1999, Official Report, column 189W. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to my hon. Friend for that error.

  UN Security Council resolution 1237 of 7 May 1999 established a panel of experts to investigate alleged violations of the sanctions against UNITA, in support of the work on the UN Angola Sanctions Committee. Panel members are paying a series of visits to the region, and will report on how sanctions in relation to UNITA diamonds can be implemented and enforced more effectively.

  We welcomed the announcement by De Beers on 5 October that they will no longer purchase any Angolan diamonds, and will urge their clients to adopt a similar policy. In this task I want to see full co-operation from trading centres such as New York, Antwerp and Tel Aviv and also from other diamond companies to follow De Beers' lead. This is vital to disabling UNITA's murderous war effort.

TREASURY

  Annual Migration (South-East)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual net migration into the south-east region from each of the other regions of England. [99036]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
  170W
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Crispin Blunt, dated 30 November 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the estimated net annual migration into the South East Region from each of the other regions of England.
  The latest figures available relate to 1998. The attached table shows the inflow, outflow and balance for migration into and out of the South East with respect to each of the other regions of England.
  The estimates of internal population movements are based on the movement of NHS doctors' patients between the former Family Health Services Authority Areas. They should not be regarded as a perfect measure of migration as there is variation in the delay between a person moving and registering with a new doctor. Additionally, some moves may not result in a re-registration: for example, individuals may migrate again before registering with a doctor. Conversely, there may be others who move and re-register several times a year.

  Movements into and out of the South East Government Office Region for the Year ending December 1998 Crown copyright

  Thousand

  Region

  Inflow

  Outflow

  Balance

  England

  217.9

  198.7

  19.2

  North East

  5.2

  4.6

  0.6

  North West (including Merseyside)

  14.6

  12.9

  1.8

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  11.7

  11.3

  0.3

  East Midlands

  15.3

  18.6

  -3.3

  West Midlands

  15.1

  15.1

  —

  East

  30.6

  29.4

  1.2

  London

  89.5

  59.8

  29.7

  South West

  36.0

  47.1

  -11.1

  Winter Deaths
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths of(a) people aged 60 to 74 years, (b) people aged 75 to 84 years, (c) people aged over 85 years and (d) in total, in England and Wales, were attributed wholly or partly to hypothermia in 1998. [100478]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Eddie O'Hara, dated 30 November 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths were attributed wholly or partly to hypothermia in 1998.
  The information requested is given in the table below.

  Deaths attributed to Hypothermia, England and Wales, 1998

  60–74

  75–84

  85+

  All ages

  Hypothermia

  72

  115

  111

  352

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died in England and Wales in winter 1998–99(a) aged 60 to 74 years, (b) aged 75 to 84 years, (c) aged over 85 years and (d) in total; and what was the average number of deaths in winter in each category over the last 10-year period. [100479]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
  171W
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Eddie O'Hara, dated 30 November 1995:

  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died in England and Wales in winter 1998–99.

  The information requested is given in the table below, using the standard ONS definition of winter being December to March.

  Winter deaths, England and Wales

  Age

  Winter 1998–99

  Average 1993–94 to 1997–98

  60–74

  51,750

  55,759

  75–84

  72,557

  70,261

  85+

  69,888

  60,423

  All ages

  216,653

  209,171

  Figures for monthly deaths are only readily available from 1993 onwards. Deaths are only averaged therefore for the five winters from 1993–94 to 1997–98.

  Cigarette Consumption
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of family expenditure in each income decile of households is represented by cigarette consumption; [99908]

  (2) what proportion of expenditure of different types of households in the lowest income decile goes on cigarette consumption. [99910]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Willetts, dated 30 November 1999:

  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary questions on cigarette consumption.

  The Family Expenditure Survey shows the proportion of family expenditure in each income decile in 1998–99 as follows:

  Gross income decile group

  Percentage of total expenditure on cigarettes

  Lowest ten per cent.

  3

  Second decile group

  3

  Third decile group

  3

  Fourth decile group

  2

  Fifth decile group

  2

  Sixth decile group

  2

  Seventh decile group

  2

  Eighth decile group

  1

  Ninth decile group

  1

  Highest ten per cent.

  1

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Survey 1998–99

  The Family Expenditure Survey shows the proportion of expenditure of different types of households in the lowest income decile that goes on cigarette consumption in 1998–99 as follows:

  Household composition

  Percentage of total expenditure on cigarettes

  One or two persons retired

  2

  One person not retired

  3

  One adult with one or more children

  4

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Survey 1998–99
  172W
  There are few non-retired households with two or more adults in the lowest income decile, so sample numbers are too small to provide the percentage for such households.

  Like all estimates from sample surveys, these figures are subject to sampling variability.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect on the post-tax distribution of income, by decile, of the increases in tobacco duty in the budgets of 1997, 1998 and 1999 combined. [99909]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Information on tobacco expenditure by income decile is available in table 1.3 of the Office for National Statistics annual publication "Family Spending".

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) capital spending under the PFI in each year since 1997 and (b) planned spending for the next three years, for each Department; and if he will estimate the impact on revenue to the Government of these PFI projects for each of the next three years for each Government Department. [100848]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Treasury is currently updating the information sought as part of its normal bi-yearly reporting of information on PFI contracts. I expect this information to be published in the first half of December.

  Office for National Statistics
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to publish the new framework document for the Office for National Statistics. [100731]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  As stated in the recent White Paper, "Building Trust in Statistics" (Cm 4412), the Government intend to publish a Framework for National Statistics as soon as possible.

  House Prices
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policy options are available to him to dampen house price increases. [100575]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The abolition of MIRAS from next April, higher rates of stamp duty for properties over £250,000, and the Government's new macro-economic framework will contribute to stability in the housing market.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) inquiries have been received by the Working Families Tax Credit Inquiry Line and (b) successful claims for working families tax credit have been made by residents of Pendle. [100626]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The response line for the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Persons Tax Credit had handled 762,000 inquiries up to the 24 November. Reliable estimates for the numbers in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit in Pendle are not yet available.
  173W
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of recipients of the working families tax credit who are benefiting from the child care tax credit. [100670]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is estimated that 224,000 claims for Working Families Tax Credit were granted during October. Of these, it is provisionally estimated that about 26,000 are in receipt of the child care tax credit.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire will benefit from the working families tax credit; by how much; and if he will make a statement. [100590]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Reliable estimates for the numbers in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit in Shrewsbury and Atcham and in Shropshire county are not yet available. It is estimated that in 2000–01 for the UK as a whole, the first full year of the Working Families Tax Credit, about 1.4 million families will enjoy the more generous help provided by the new scheme. Families in receipt of the credit will receive on average £24 a week more than they would on Family Credit.

  Bio-diesel
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to give tax incentives to those producing bio-diesel from(a) rape seed oil and (b) recycled waste edible oils; and if he will make a statement. [100243]

  Mr. Timms
  There are no such plans. At this time, particularly with the success of the introduction of ultra low sulphur diesel to the UK market, the case for a tax incentive for bio-diesel remains uncertain.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce duty on bio-diesel produced through the recycling of waste edible oils to the same level as on other environmentally-friendly fuels; and if he will make a statement. [100242]

  Mr. Timms
  There are no such plans. There is little information available to support the case for a duty reduction to the same level as road fuel gas, the only other fuel that has a duty rate less than that on ultra low sulphur diesel.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to encourage production of bio-diesel; and if he will make a statement; [100244]

  (2) if he will maintain duty on bio-diesel at the same level as that on mineral diesel; and if he will make a statement. [100222]

  Mr. Timms
  There are no plans to change the current duty arrangements for bio-diesel. The environmental benefits of cleaner diesel fuel are well understood and the UK has taken a lead internationally by encouraging the production of ultra low sulphur diesel. It is not clear that encouraging the production of bio-diesel would add measurably to the benefits already enjoyed.

  Third World Debt
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to forgive the export credit guarantee debt of the world's poorest countries. [100053]
  174W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The terms of the deal agreed at the G7 Summit in Cologne and subsequently ratified by the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings provides for the forgiveness of 90 per cent. or more of the commercial debts of 41 of the world's poorest countries. Since the Annual Meetings, the Government have said that they are prepared, on a case-by-case basis, where necessary, to go beyond 90 per cent., possibly up to 100 per cent. debt forgiveness where debt relief will finance poverty reduction.

  IR35
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the responses to the Inland Revenue's consultation upon IR35, listing those(a) for and (b) against the proposals. [100141]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Many of those who have commented on our proposals have acknowledged that there is a real problem with avoidance of tax and National Insurance Contributions using personal service companies, and that the Government is right to tackle it.

  We did not issue a formal consultation document, and those who sent in responses would not have expected their views to be published, so we do not intend to do so. However, some of the representative bodies who did take part in consultation have published their own responses, for example, on the internet.

  Tax Avoidance
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the Government's strategy in respect of tax avoidance. [100140]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government's strategy for tackling tax avoidance is to target legislation at a range of avoidance schemes whose exploitation is reducing tax revenues. Each of the last three Finance Acts has contained important measures to close loopholes and reduce the opportunity for tax avoidance. Further legislation will be introduced in next year's Finance Bill to counter avoidance based on capital gains tax gifts relief. The Government are committed to creating a fairer tax system. Artificial and contrived tax avoidance schemes undermine fairness, at the expense of those who do not indulge in them.

CABINET OFFICE

  Equality
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the Government's approach to equality issues. [100810]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government are working to transform Britain into a society which is inclusive and prosperous. Eliminating unjustified discrimination wherever it exists and making equality of opportunity a reality for all is at the heart of the Government's agenda. Equality of opportunity is not only inherently right, it is also essential for Britain's future economic and social success. Much has been achieved in the last two years. But we are not complacent. A lot remains to be done. We will continue to act to stamp out discrimination, remove
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  barriers and improve the position of groups facing disadvantage and discrimination in employment, public life and public service delivery. We will ensure that the right legislative framework and institutional arrangements are in place and that information, guidance and other support is available to challenge discrimination and deliver fair treatment to allow everyone to develop and contribute to their full potential. That is to the benefit of all—individuals, communities, business—in a healthy, modern, diverse society.

  We will avoid unnecessary and burdensome regulation and will promote, encourage and support progress through non-legislative means. However, we will legislate where necessary or desirable when legislative time permits. In doing so, we will be governed by the principles of improving consistency between the protection afforded to different groups by different legislation, modernising enforcement powers, and by the need for the public sector to lead by example.

  As explained in our response to the Better Regulation Task Force Review of Anti-discrimination Legislation, we will where practicable harmonise the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and align the equality commissions' powers. This will significantly extend discrimination law coverage and strengthen the powers of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) to match those of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). We will legislate to remove barriers to the equality commissions working together on common issues and to enable them to produce joint guidance.

  We are modernising Government. Not only will we continue to tackle discrimination in all institutions, we will champion equality in every sense and at every level. Public bodies must take the lead in promoting equal opportunities and the Government will put this obligation in legislation as soon as Parliamentary time permits. Together with our commitment to implement the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry action plan, this will help ensure public institutions and services are free from discriminatory procedures and practices and should improve the position of disadvantaged groups, both as employees and users of public services. This will not in any way replace or supersede the existing statutory arrangements in Northern Ireland where there is already a duty on the public sector to promote equality of opportunity. We will be looking at, and learning from, the operation of the law in Northern Ireland. We will also build on existing mainstreaming and appraisal guidance to ensure that policies are inclusive, and take full account of the needs and experience of all those likely to be affected by them, and of the impact on particular groups in society.

  We will continue to take action to meet our commitment to remove the under-representation of women, members of minority ethnic groups and disabled people on public bodies; and to meet the challenging targets set for representation of these groups in the Civil Service.

  The Race Relations (Amendment) Bill announced in the Queen's speech, will extend the Race Relations Act to public functions not previously covered, such as law enforcement and immigration. It will implement, and go beyond, one of the Lawrence Inquiry Report
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  recommendations by making it unlawful for public authorities generally to discriminate in the exercise of their functions. This is an important step in the Government's efforts to ensure that the public sector sets the pace in the drive towards equality; and we will extend it to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 when legislative time permits.

  The gender pay gap is indefensible. We will support further action to address this and to achieve greater choice of career, of working patterns and a better balance between work and home responsibilities that will benefit both businesses and individuals.

  We intend to launch a campaign to promote employment policies which help people balance work and life delivered through partnership with employers. Fairness at Work measures are improving parental and maternity leave, and allowing time off for emergencies. The National Childcare Strategy, Working Families Tax Credit, Childcare Tax Credit and the National Minimum Wage are all bringing benefits and removing barriers for women and men. We will consult on changes to Tribunal procedures to speed up and simplify equal pay claims.

  The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 lags behind sex and race legislation in the protection it provides for disabled people. The establishment of a Disability Rights Commission, in April 2000, will address one of the Act's major weaknesses but there are other gaps in coverage. The Disability Rights Task Force, which has been looking at securing comprehensive rights for disabled people, will report shortly. The Government will carefully consider its recommendations. But we are committed to improving the rights of disabled people. Where appropriate legislative opportunities arise, we shall use them to pursue this commitment.

  Further legislation is not enough in itself. Changing negative attitudes towards disability, and indeed all forms of discrimination, is crucially important. We shall continue with our campaign to address the lack of knowledge of disability issues and raise awareness among service providers' of their duties to improve access for disabled people.

  We are certain that a great deal of progress can be made through the provision of information and guidance to ensure awareness of rights and responsibilities. The Government have already produced a Code of Practice on discrimination in employment based on age and proposes, in conjunction with the EOC, preparing a Code of Practice on discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Evaluation of the effectiveness of this Code and consideration of developments in other areas will inform any future decision on the need for legislation.

  The Government are alive to the concerns that have been expressed about the issue of religious discrimination, and to the case for it to be made subject to the law. However, this issue raises many difficult, sensitive and complex questions. We have commissioned research to try to assess the current scale and nature of religious discrimination, and the extent to which it overlaps with racial discrimination, in mainland Britain. The results, due in autumn 2000, will help to inform our thinking about the appropriate response.
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  Clarification of the law and advice will be provided in a number of areas to encourage the adoption of good practice. There will be a code of practice on discrimination against volunteers, guidance on positive action to tackle under-representation of women and ethnic minorities, and guidance on sexual harassment at work. In particular, we are looking at ways of giving small businesses better access to coherent information and advice about equality issues. We are planning to pilot a new joined-up service next year.

  Overall, therefore, we intend to combat discrimination across a broad front, using both legislative and non-legislative means as appropriate, and with the public sector taking the lead. To this end, the Government will introduce legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows, following a targeted consultation exercise in the first half of 2000; and will press ahead with the non-legislative measures outlined above. Our efforts to combat discrimination are already making an impact and will, in conjunction with new actions, continue to yield results making Britain a better place to live and work for all.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Feed
  Mr. Thompson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions have taken place between the Government and SEAC in relation to the use of pigmeat and bonemeal in the feed of other farm animals. [99260]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 25 November 1999]: At its meeting on 3 June 1999, SEAC considered a paper prepared by the Meat and Livestock Commission on this subject but concluded that this would not be the right time to relax the ban on feeding pig MBM to other farm animals. My right hon. Friend the Minister asked SEAC to look again at this matter at its meeting on 29 November.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the result of the Veterinary Products Committee's meeting of 18 November in respect of recommended policy towards the suspension of the authorisation of Zinc Bacitracin for use in animal feed. [98550]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 23 November 1999]: Alpharma SA submitted papers which included new evidence and an assessment of the public health implications of the EU suspension of the authorisation of zinc bacitracin as an antimicrobial growth promoter. The Veterinary Products Committee agreed to consider these papers at its December meeting and, if appropriate, to offer advice to Ministers which would assist in future discussions on whether or not the EU suspension should be withdrawn or made permanent.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed, including its effect on the use of therapeutic antibiotics used in human medicine in animals; and if he will make a statement. [98444]
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  Ms Quin
  Council Regulation (EC) No 2821/98 prohibited the use of bacitracin zinc and three other antibiotic growth promoters. The reasons underlying the Regulation were set out in full in the recitals and included an explanation that bacitracin zinc is used in human medicine and that it could be used for the treatment of vancomycin resistant enterococci in humans. The prohibition has been introduced as a protective measure taken as a precaution.

  The Government's support of the ban was guided by advice from the independent Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF). Reports from both Committees have been published. The advantage of the ban on bacitracin zinc is that it helps to minimise the risk of the development of resistant strains of bacteria, with the disadvantage that it may add to the costs of poultry production. Three other antibiotic growth promoters are authorised for use in poultry in the EU. Other antibiotics may be used therapeutically under veterinary supervision and their use will depend on the disease condition of a particular flock. There are no figures available on the quantities of therapeutic antibiotics used in farming since the introduction of the ban.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his assessment of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed on the use of therapeutic antibiotics of importance in human medicine in animals. [98447]

  Ms Quin
  The suspension of the use of bacitracin as a growth promoter is unlikely to have had a significant effect on the use of antimicrobials of importance in human medicine as other antimicrobial growth promoters are available for use in poultry production.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice the Government have received from the British Veterinary Poultry Association on consequences for public health of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed. [98446]

  Ms Quin
  The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has received a number of letters from the Chairman of the Medicines Working Group of the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) about the ban on four antibiotic growth promoters. The BVPA's Working Group supported moves to reduce reliance on these products, but sought time before the ban took effect to allow access to appropriate, properly evaluated alternative products. The Government successfully argued for a six-month delay in the imposition of a ban. Three substances—flavophospholipol, avilomycin, and salinomycin—are now authorised in the EU for use as growth promoters in poultry.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin on the use of amoxycillin and penicillin in poultry. [98443]

  Ms Quin
  Bacitracin zinc was permitted for use throughout the European Union as a growth promoter in poultry. Its use, and that of three other antibiotic growth promoters, was prohibited from 1 July this year by Council Regulation (EC) No. 2821/98. The Government supported the ban on the basis of advice from their independent scientific advisory committees. Producers
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  were allowed six months between the Council Regulation and the implementation of the ban to adapt their production systems. Four other antimicrobial growth promoters are still authorised for use in the EU.

  Amoxycillin and penicillin are not permitted for use as growth promoters but may be used, under veterinary supervision, for the treatment of poultry disease. There are no figures available to quantify whether there has been a change in the use of these therapeutic antimicrobials since the ban.

  Departmental Estate
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the current value of (i) plant and equipment, (ii) IT equipment, (iii) IT systems, (iv) office equipment, (v) scientific and laboratory equipment, (vi) furniture and fittings, (vii) vehicles, (viii) vessels and (ix) investments and the total for his Department. [99648]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The value of assets of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as at 31 March 1999 were:

  Assets

  £000

  Plant and Equipment

  0

  IT Equipment and Systems

  46,445

  Office Equipment

  3,336

  Scientific and Lab Equipment

  13,808

  Furniture and Fittings

  5,694

  Vehicles

  4,356

  Vessels

  4,907

  Investments

  1,080

  Total

  79,626

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the current estimated value of land and property in(a) Scotland, (b) the UK, (c) overseas and (d) in total held by his Department in the form of (i) headquarters and regional offices, (ii) laboratories, (iii) farms, (iv) buffer depots and (v) other offices, including breakdowns for historic leasehold properties and long leasehold properties. [99663]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The Ministry owns no land outside the United Kingdom. Capital valuations as at 31 March 1999 for Ministry land and property in Scotland and the United Kingdom are shown in the table. However, valuations for the separate categories of accommodation in Scotland are not given. The Ministry owns only three properties in Scotland, all of which are surplus to requirements and awaiting disposal. The individual valuations are, therefore, commercially sensitive.

  £ million

  Scotland

  United Kingdom

  Freehold

  Historic/long leasehold

  Freehold

  Historic/long leasehold

  HQ/Regional Offices

  0

  0

  34.6

  11.4

  Laboratories

  n/a

  0

  228.6

  4.6

  Farms

  0

  0

  26.4

  0

  Buffer Depots

  n/a

  0

  3.8

  0

  Other Properties

  0

  0

  8.9

  0.1

  Total

  1.9

  0

  302.3

  16.1

  Corporate Assets
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the current value of land and property(a) in Scotland, (b) in the United Kingdom, (c) overseas and (d) in total within the responsibility of (i) Covent Garden Market Authority, (ii) Food from Britain, (iii) Horticultural Research International, (iv) the Meat and Livestock Commission, (v) Sea Fish Industry Authority, (vi) Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew) and (vii) the Intervention Board; and what is the value of (1) plant and equipment, (2) IT equipment and systems, (3) office equipment, (4) scientific and laboratory equipment, (5) fittings and furniture and (6) vehicles for each of these bodies and for any other non-departmental public bodies within his responsibility. [99783]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The information requested is not held centrally in the form required and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  New Variant CJD
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the published references to the scientific, medical and agricultural research which indicate that new variant CJD in humans is caused by eating meat derived from BSE-infected cows. [99925]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 November 1999]: The association between BSE and variant CJD (vCJD) has been discussed in a number of published articles. Details of those of particular significance are as follows:

  1. Will R. G., Ironside-Zeidler M., Cousens S. N., Estibeiro K., Alperovitch A., Poser S., Pocchiari M., Hofman A., Smith P. G. "A new variant of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease in the UK". Lancet 1996, 347/9006, P921–925.

  2. Bruce M. E., Will R. G., Ironside J. W., McConnell I. D., Suttie A., McCardle L., Chree A., Hope J., Birkett C., Cousens S., Fraser H., Bostock C. J. "Transmissions to mice indicate that 'new variant' CJD is caused by the BSE agent". Nature 1997, 389 (6650), P498–501.

  3. Collinge J., Sidle K. C. L., Meads J., Ironside J., Hill A. F. "Molecular analysis of prion strain variation and the etiology of new variant CJD". Nature, 1996, 383, P685–690.

  4. Lasmezas C. I., Deslys J. P., Demaimay R., Adjou K., Lamoury F., Robain 0., Ironside J., Hauw J. J., Court L., Dormont D. "Experimental transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to macaques". Travaux Scientifiques Des Chercheurs Du Service De Sante Des Armees 0 (18), 1997, P123–124.

  5. Will R. "New variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease". Biomedicine-Pharmacotherapy, 1999, 53, NI, Feb, P9–13.

  The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), the independent expert group that advises the Government on all aspects of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, regularly reviews relevant published articles. The committee has concluded that the results of experiments reported in these articles provide convincing evidence that the agent which causes vCJD is the same as that which causes BSE.

  Industrial Fishing
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for the reduction of industrial fishing in the North Sea. [99746]
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  Mr. Morley
  I expect to see shortly Commission proposals reflecting the advice given in June by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas on the need for a closure of the sandeel fishery in the Firth of Forth.

  TACs
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what total allowable catches are recommended by ICES for(a) pout and (b) sand eels; and what were the catches of these fish in each of the last two years. [99755]

  Mr. Morley
  ICES has not made specific recommendations on the size of the total allowable catch for pout and sandeels in 2000, but has advised that the level of stocks can sustain the continuation of current fishing mortality. ICES estimates North Sea landings in the last two years as follows.

  Thousand tones

  Norway pout

  Sandeels

  1997

  201

  1,140

  1998

  75

  993

  Sea Defences (East Sussex)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to change the level of spending on sea defences in East Sussex. [99717]

  Mr. Morley
  I have no plans to change the level of spending on sea defences in East Sussex. This Government announced an increase of £23 million in Ministry funding for flood and coastal defence over this and the next two years as part of its Comprehensive Spending Review. Applications from operating authorities for Ministry funding will continue to be considered against established technical, economic and environmental criteria, and within a national priority scoring system.

  French Meat
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that the sale of meat produced by illegal means, with particular reference to the use of human sewage or animal sludge, is declared illegal and that such meat is unavailable for circulation throughout the European Union. [99506]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 24 November 1999]: We are advised that, on the basis of available information, there are no public health grounds for banning French or other meat with regard to human or animal sludge in animal feed. The UK fully supports the Commission actions to see that rules are commonly interpreted and properly enforced.

  Meat Labelling
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance his Department has issued to meat producers on the labelling of meat products for sale(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas. [99721]
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  Ms Quin
  We are currently consulting interested parties on guidance aimed at ensuring that country of origin markings on all food labels, including meat products, do not mislead consumers about the true origin of the ingredients that have been used. The guidance relates to UK food labelling requirements, which themselves derive from European rules. We would therefore expect a similar approach to that set out in the guidance to be adopted for the sale of meat products overseas.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will request that the European Commission allows the country of origin labelling required for British beef sold in Europe to contain a promotional message. [99747]

  Ms Quin
  Under Council Regulation 820/97, it is permissible but not obligatory for British beef sold in Europe to be labelled by country or region of origin. Operators are free to label beef with a promotional message (e.g. other indications as regards quality) if they so wish, subject to the provisions of that Regulation.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to increase consumer confidence over food safety. [99631]

  Ms Quin
  The Government has already taken a number of measures to improve consumer confidence in food safety though greater openness and transparency, putting consumers first and giving them the information to make informed judgments. Following the passage of the Food Standards Act 1999, this work will be carried forward by the Food Standards Agency, when it begins work next Spring.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pesticides have been banned from use in the United Kingdom by his Department since May 1997. [99524]

  Ms Quin
  Pesticide products may have their approvals revoked for a number of reasons. Since May 1997,929 pesticide products involving 229 active substances have had their approvals completely revoked. The reason for the vast majority of these revocations was as a result of a commercial decision by the approval holder not to continue marketing the products in question.

  Business Advice Service
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department' s Business Advice Service. [99212]

  Mr. Morley
  My Department currently operates a Business Advice Service for exporters in our sectors, in close liaison with British Trade International. This service is run directly by my Department through its International Relations and Export Promotion Division for agriculture and fisheries goods and services, while for processed food and drink it is entrusted to a non-Departmental Public Body, Food From Britain.
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  Both operations were recently subjected to separate external reviews of their efficiency and effectiveness. I am happy to say that in both cases over three-quarters of the business users surveyed expressed complete satisfaction with the service, and well over half the users surveyed confirmed that their export performance has already improved as a result.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many statutory notices have been issued under Article 18 of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997. [99290]

  Mr. Morley
  1,168 Notices were recorded between 1 October 1997 and 19 November 1999. These notices were served for infringements of the Order and to facilitate the legal transport of unfit animals for treatment or slaughter. It is not possible to split the figure between these two purposes.

  Covent Garden Market
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the disposal of Covent Garden market; and what plans he has to bring forward legislation to permit this disposal. [99462]

  Ms Quin
  We shall bring forward legislation concerning the disposal of New Covent Garden Market when Parliamentary time permits.

  Pig Farming
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what forecasts he has made for the economic prospects of the pig farming sector over the coming year. [98579]

  Ms Quin
  Despite being some 15 per cent. higher than at this time last year, UK market prices for pigs remain below break-even levels. Expected reductions in production in other Member States should help stabilise the market, although prices do not seem likely to improve significantly in the near future.

  Beef Bans
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what negotiations he has had with(a) Bulgaria, (b) Latvia, (c) Lithuania, (d) Malta, (e) Romania and (f) Slovakia over lifting their bans on British beef; and if he will make a statement. [98738]

  Ms Quin
  The UK has approached the authorities in the six listed countries as part of a concerted campaign to lobby non-EU countries to lift their import bans, where they exist, or to agree the necessary export certification. This follows up, and builds upon, earlier approaches to key potential markets, which included Malta and Slovakia. Malta has said that they are currently maintaining their ban on the import of British beef. The other five countries listed have not so far formally responded to our approaches.
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  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what negotiations he has had with(a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Estonia, (e) Slovenia and (f) Cyprus over lifting their bans on British beef; and if he will make a statement. [98737]

  Ms Quin
  The UK has approached the authorities in the six listed countries as part of a concerted campaign to lobby non-EU countries to lift their import bans, where they exist, or to agree the necessary export certification. This follows up, and builds upon, earlier approaches to key potential markets, which included Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Cyprus. Cyprus has said that it will permit the import of British beef. Estonia has said they are currently maintaining their ban on the import of British beef. The other four countries listed have not so far formally responded to our approaches.

  Turkey Imports
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the numbers of overseas produced turkeys that will be imported into the UK during the Christmas period. [98451]

  Ms Quin
  Forecasts of turkey imports for the Christmas period are not produced. However, imports of fresh and frozen whole turkeys into the United Kingdom totalled between 8,000 and 10,000 tonnes in the fourth quarters of the last three years. In addition, imports of turkey cuts, which are not subject to the same level of seasonality, totalled between 5,000 and 6,000 tonnes in the same quarters.

  Pig Industry
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in obtaining approval from(a) the European Union and (b) the Treasury for financial assistance to the pig industry with regard to the extra costs of offal disposal resulting from the BSE problem in cattle. [99047]

  Ms Quin
  In discussions with the European Commission, it was clear that there would be considerable difficulties in devising a scheme to meet the cost of pig offal disposal which complied with state aid rules. Until there is a proposal which could prove acceptable to the European Commission, there is no basis for seeking additional funding.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what recent representations he has made to(a) the European Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers on the subject of the British pig industry; [100689]

  (2) what recent discussions he has held with (a) the European Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers on support for the British pig industry in respect of costs of BSE. [100691]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Minister wrote to Commissioner Fischler on 20 October urging him to reopen the Aids to Private Storage scheme and reinstate the special refund on exports of fresh and frozen carcase meat and cuts to Russia. Officials in the Department have
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  also discussed with the European Commission the costs faced by British pig producers because of BSE and the possibility of introducing a pig offal disposal scheme. In addition, officials attend the monthly Pigmeat Management Committee meeting, chaired by the Commission, which looks at all aspects of the situation in the EU pigmeat market. The Council of Agriculture Ministers discussed the crisis in the pig sector at its meeting on 15 November.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the National Pig Association; and if he will publish the outcomes of those discussions. [100688]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Minister met representatives of the National Pig Association on 5 October and a joint communiqué was issued following the meeting. I will be meeting the National Pig Association on 6 December, when I hope to discuss issues surrounding the current state of the UK pig industry.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what meetings his Department has held with representatives of the European Parliament concerning the pig industry. [100692]

  Ms Quin
  Although no such meetings have been held we have kept interested MEPs informed of the situation in the pig sector by correspondence and telephone briefings.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has held with the Council of Ministers concerning pigmeat food aid exports to Russia. [100690]

  Ms Quin
  The subject of exports to Russia under the food aid programme was raised in the Pigmeat Management Committee meeting on 10 November. The European Commission made clear its aim of opening tendering procedures shortly for the 42,000 tonnes of pigmeat left outstanding from the earlier exercise. Discussions in the Agriculture Council have been on the Russian food aid programme as a whole rather than on specific commodities.
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  Badger Culling
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress in the Randomised Badger Culling trial. [98736]

  Ms Quin
  Five of the ten triplets proposed for the trial have been announced so far. Culling operations have taken place in two triplets. Survey work has been completed in one further triplet and has been started in the others. We expect to announce one more triplet before the end of 1999, and the remainder next year.

  Farm Woodland
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons there have been delays in payments under the farm woodland premium scheme; when he expects payments to resume; and if he will make a statement. [100695]

  Mr. Morley
  Claims for payments this year under the farm woodland premium scheme have been, and continue to be, processed. Up to Friday 26 November, in England, 4,038 payments have been made out of 5,061 claims received (nearly 80 per cent.). All outstanding claims are being processed as quickly as possible with the aim of clearing all acceptable claims before the end of the year.

  Farm-based Tourism
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies he has(a) initiated and (b) received concerning the obstacles to developing farm-based tourism; what action he is taking as a result of these studies; and what funds are available to him to support such action. [100271]

  Mr. Morley
  No such studies have been initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Government's Tourism Strategy, "Tomorrow's Tourism", launched earlier this year, recognises tourism's role in maintaining the viability of farm businesses. The European Council Rural Development Regulation (1257/1999), which applies from 2000, enables member states to support projects to encourage tourist and craft activities, among other things. A decision on the implementation of the Regulation will be made shortly.

  Stipendiary and Lay Magistrates
  Stipendiary and Lay Magistrates
  Channel Islands and Isle of Man: Civil Rights
  Channel Islands and Isle of Man: Civil Rights
  European Parliamentary Elections
  European Parliamentary Elections
  Tampere European Council: Presidency Paper
  Tampere European Council: Presidency Paper
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Investors in People Standard
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Investors in People Standard
  Retained Fire Service
  Retained Fire Service
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate Staff
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate Staff
  Water Fluoridation
  Water Fluoridation
  Carers Grant
  Carers Grant
  Pensioners: Minimum Income Guarantee
  Pensioners: Minimum Income Guarantee
  Women Entering Hostels: National Insurance Numbers
  Women Entering Hostels: National Insurance Numbers
  Companies Act Inspections
  Companies Act Inspections
  Chemical Warfare Mental Incapacitants: Agent 15
  Chemical Warfare Mental Incapacitants: Agent 15