Written Answers of 29 October 1999

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  A1 Western Bypass
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what date the Highways Agency agreed to postpone the widening of the A1 Western Bypass between North Gosforth and Ponteland Road interchanges consequent upon the development of the Northern Development Area, Newcastle; who were the parties to this agreement; and what size of development will be permitted prior to widening. [95862]

  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 29 October 1999:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question. You asked "on what date the Highways Agency agreed to postpone the widening of the A1 Western Bypass between North Gosforth and Ponteland Road interchanges consequent upon the development of the Northern Development Area; who were the parties to this agreement; and what size of development will now be permitted prior to widening".
  The only widening of the A1 between North Gosforth and Ponteland Road that the Highways Agency has considered is as a consequence of the development proposals for the Northern Development Area. If the development had been granted planning permission, the timing of the widening would have depended on the implementation of the development. No decision has been made on this; it would have been the subject of discussion and agreement with the developer had planning permission been granted.
  The application for the Northern Development Area was withdrawn on 3 September 1999. A new application was submitted on the same day for Newcastle Great Park that proposes similar improvements to the A1 Trunk Road.

  Traffic data for the A1 around Newcastle

  Projected figures

  Road

  Location

  AADT 1995

  AADT 1997 (%)

  AADT 1998 (%)

  AADT 1999

  AADT 2002

  AADT 2005

  AADT 2010

  A1

  Bowes PH, W of A1M Bifurcation

  89,600

  93,000(9)

  93,600(10)

  95,200

  100,100

  105,100

  113,200

  A1

  North of Smithy Lane Overbridge

  80,100

  83,800(−)

  84,600(9)

  86,100

  90,400

  95,000

  102,300

  A1

  Northwest of Lady Park

  79,700

  82,100(10)

  82,600(9)

  84,000

  88,300

  92,800

  99,900

  A1

  Northwest of Lobley Hill I/C

  97,700

  101,500(9)

  103,400(10)

  105,200

  110,500

  116,100

  125,000

  A1

  Northwest of Consett Route I/C

  92,400

  94,500(9)

  94,600

  96,200

  101,100

  106,200

  114,400

  A1

  Metro Centre, East of I/C

  79,800

  80,800(10)

  81,200

  82,600

  86,800

  91,200

  98,200

  A1

  North of Blaydon Bridge

  75,600

  81,700(9)

  83,000(9)

  84,400

  88,700

  93,200

  100,300

  A1

  North of A69 Interchange

  72,900

  79,200(8)

  81,000(8)

  82,400

  86,600

  91,000

  97,900

  A1

  South of Ponteland Road Interchange

  68,100

  73,400(9)

  76,000

  77,300

  81,300

  85,300

  91,900

  A1

  South of Brunton Lane Overbridge

  52,800

  57,000(8)

  59,100(8)

  60,100

  63,200

  66,400

  71,500

  A1

  North of Ponteland Road Interchange

  57,800

  61,200(−)

  63,300(6)

  64,400

  67,700

  71,100

  76,500

  996

  A new traffic impact assessment has been produced and is currently with the Agency for consideration. As part of those considerations, the size of the development that will be permitted prior to widening will be discussed.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the traffic flows along the A1 Western Bypass of Newcastle and Gateshead at(a) the Metrocentre interchange, (b) the Tyne River crossing, (c) the Ponteland Road interchange and (d) the North Gosforth interchange in (i) 1995, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998 and (iv) 1999; and what flows are projected for (1) 2002, (2) 2005 and (3) 2010 (x) with and (y) without, the development of the Northern Development Area, Newcastle. [95876]

  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 29 October 1999:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question. You asked for the traffic flows along the A1 Western Bypass of Newcastle and Gateshead from the Metro Centre to North Gosforth, including the Tyne Crossing.
  The attached table, Annex A, sets out the information you requested at the locations where we have traffic counters for the years 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999 together with projected flows for the years 2002, 2005 and 2010 without the development of Northern Development Area, Newcastle.
  A copy of the traffic flows with and without the development for Northern Development Area at assessment year 2013 at Annex B has been placed in the library. In considering planning applications, developers are only required to assess traffic flows for 15 years after the development is brought into use (the assessment year). We do not therefore have the figures for intermediate years. You will note that these are peak hour flows as these are the flows we have used in making our assessment.
  As you may be aware, the application for Northern Development Area was withdrawn on 3 September 1999 and a new application submitted on the same day for Newcastle Great Park that proposes similar improvements to the A1 Trunk Road.
  A new traffic impact assessment has been produced and is currently with the Highways Agency for consideration. We have asked for more traffic-forecast information from the developer with a revised date of opening of 2000 with the assessment year of 2015. Our initial impression is that the traffic impact will be different from the Northern Development Area application, but until we have this further information and have studied it, we cannot be sure. I am sorry therefore that we do not yet have the information that you have requested in relation to the Newcastle Great Park development.

  997

  Traffic data for the A1 around Newcastle

  Projected figures

  Road

  Location

  AADT 1995

  AADT 1997(%)

  AADT 1998(%)

  AADT 1999

  AADT 2002

  AADT 2005

  AADT 2010

  A1

  South of A19 Interchange, Hazelrigg

  41,900

  40,500(8)

  47,700

  48,500

  51,000

  53,600

  57,700

  A1

  North of Seaton Burn Interchange

  26,900

  28,400(6)

  27,800(10)

  28,300

  29,700

  31,200

  33,600

  A1

  North of A197, Morpeth

  17,000

  18,600(11)

  18,800(15)

  19,100

  20,100

  21,100

  22,700

  Key:

  AADT—Annual Average Daily Traffic

  Source of Percentage Increases:

  The COBA Manual Table 10/1 September 1996—LGNRTF

  Schoolchildren (Transport)
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to encourage the use of public transport by children travelling to and from school. [95766]

  Mr. Hill
  In December 1998 we established the School Travel Advisory Group (STAG) to promote best practice and develop a more coherent approach to school travel issues.

  STAG oversees a programme of research which includes a project, due for completion in Summer 2000, to identify good practice in increasing bus use for journeys to and from school. This will lead to the publication of a guide for local authorities and operators.

  STAG has also overseen the preparation of two guides published in June, one for local authorities and one for parents, teachers and school governors, which include guidance on increasing the use of public transport by children travelling to and from school. Both guides also include guidance on increasing levels of walking and cycling.

  I have arranged for a copy of both guides to be placed in the Library.

  Regional Planning
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given the panels inspecting draft regional planning guidance reports about consulting local authorities in the relevant areas. [96108]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Draft Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) is prepared by regional planning bodies made up of the local authorities in the region, working with other stakeholders. A Panel, appointed by the Secretary of State, then holds a Public Examination into the draft guidance. Draft Planning Policy Guidance note 11:Regional Planning advises the Panel to consult local planning authorities, through the regional planning body, in drawing up the list of participants and matters selected for examination by the Panel. The Guidance also advises that the regional planning body should be represented at the public examination. Individual local authorities may also participate at the examination (as they have done at the recent examinations into draft RPG for East Anglia and the South East). Once he has considered the Panel report, the Secretary of State will publish draft changes to the regional guidance for a further short public consultation.

  National Speed Policy Review
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends(a) to publish the findings of the National Speed Policy Review and (b) to begin wider public consultation on national speed policy; what representations he has already had with regard to the national speed policy; and if he will make a statement. [96037]

  Mr. Hill
  The Review of Speed Policy is nearing completion and the conclusions and recommendations will be published shortly. Recommendations requiring changes to legislation will be developed into proposals, and consultation on these will take place. A large number of representations covering wide ranging interests and views has been made about the review, including more than 100 replies in response to the discussion document which was circulated by my Department during the summer.

  Roads (Priority Lanes)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the introduction of bus and other priority lanes on(a) motorways and (b) trunk roads. [95999]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 27 October 1999]: There are no immediate plans for further bus or priority lanes on national motorways: on all purpose trunk roads they will continue to be considered as an option to address transport problems.

  Fuel Duty Rebate
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what would be the estimated cost of extending the current rebate on fuel duty to community transport schemes. [96170]

  Mr. Hill
  The term "community transport" covers a wide range of different services and organisations. The cost of extending the scope of the Fuel Duty Rebate scheme would depend on the precise definition of eligibility adopted.

  Changes to the scope of the scheme will shortly be considered by the Commission for Integrated Transport as part of its study of value for money for public support for bus services.

  South East of England Development Agency
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the cost to public funds of publishing the October 1999 issue of the
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  South East of England Development Agency's newsletter SEView; and how many copies were (a) published and (b) distributed. [96264]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: The first eight page edition of SEEDA—South East View was published on Friday 15 October 1999, and was bound into the centre of South East Business Magazine which had a print run of 13,650 copies. Despatch to readers was by First Class post, the cost of which was met by the South East Business Magazine. An additional 3,000 copies of South East View were delivered to SEEDA of which 1,100 have been distributed so far. The total cost was £8,206.22 plus VAT.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letter of 13 September on behalf of his constituent, Ms Pendray. [96291]

  Mr. Meacher
  My noble Friend the Minister for Transport replied to the right hon. Member on 26 October.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department plans to respond to the letter sent to him on 29 June by the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East addressed to the then Minister for the Regions on the subject of regional development agencies. [96485]

  Description

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  11998–99

  Local Transport2

  1,031

  1,242

  1,140

  1,088

  914

  842

  778

  Railways

  2,161

  1,547

  -351

  -1,269

  -928

  352

  568

  Office of Passenger Rail Franchising

  —

  2

  1,799

  1,703

  1,847

  1,438

  1,255

  London Transport

  883

  693

  784

  903

  942

  629

  391

  Other Transport

  197

  103

  221

  130

  76

  104

  94

  Total

  4,272

  3,587

  3,593

  2,555

  2,851

  3,365

  3,086

  1 Estimated outturn

  2 Figures provided for Local Transport may include expenditure on elements other than public transport

  Note:

  All figures exclude departmental running costs

  Sources:

  Year 92–93—DETR Annual Report 1998, Years 93–94 to 98–99—DETR Annual Report 1999

  The expenditure figures are for direct DETR spending in support of public transport, and do not include expenditure by local authorities (other than that financed by the Transport Supplementary Grant) or private sector finance. DETR does not analyse expenditure by region, or keep records of population by region.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the amount of funding provided by local authorities(a) to the arts, (b) to museums and galleries and (c) supporting the upkeep of listed buildings in the last year for which figures are available. [95491]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  English local authorities incurred a total net current expenditure of £137.7 million on museums and art galleries in 1997–98. Expenditure on
  1000
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The then Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn), replied to the hon. Member on the 13 July.

  Ministerial Duties
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many hours per week the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) spent on ministerial duties in(a) September, (b) October and (c) will spend in November. [96493]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I spend, and will continue to spend, as much time as required to fulfil my Ministerial responsibilities.

  Public Transport Expenditure
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much was spent per inhabitant on public transport(a) in the West Midlands and (b) in Greater London in each of the last seven years; and if he will make a statement. [96292]

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

  The latest figures available for DETR historic and planned expenditure, and planned spending, on all elements of Transport can be found in the Departmental Annual Report 1999. Expenditure by DETR on public transport over the last seven years is as follows:

  art activities and facilities and conservation of the historic environment was separately identified for the first time on the 1998–99 returns, and this information is not yet complete. However, budget information for the total net current expenditure on culture and heritage is available for 1999–2000, the figure for English local authorities being £278.5 million. This includes museums and galleries, art activities and facilities, conservation of the historic environment, and archives and records.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list by political party, the number of councillors who sit as board members of each of the Regional Development Agencies; [96012]
  1001
  (2) what is the total number of Regional Development Agency board members in England; and of those, how many are councillors. [96007]

  Ms Armstrong
  The eight Regional Development Agencies currently have 102 board members in all, including the Chairmen, and four vacant board positions. Four councillors were appointed to each board, affiliated as follows:

  Regional Development Agency

  Labour

  Liberal Democrat

  Conservative

  Independent

  Advantage West Midlands

  3

  0

  1

  0

  East of England

  2

  1

  1

  0

  East Midlands

  3

  1

  0

  0

  North West

  3

  1

  0

  0

  One NorthEast

  3

  0

  0

  1

  South East

  2

  1

  1

  0

  South West

  2

  1

  1

  0

  Yorkshire Forward

  13

  1

  0

  0

  1 Includes one former councillor who was not re-elected at the last election

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of his Department's non-departmental public body(a) employees and (b) expenditure is represented by the eight regional development agencies. [96003]

  Ms Armstrong
  (a) Approximately 5 per cent. (using available figures of RDAs' staffing on 1 April 1999 compared with NDPBs' staffing on 1 April 1998); and

  (b) 24 per cent. (planned expenditure for 1999–2000).

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what have been the set-up costs to date of regional development agencies. [96004]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Regional Development Agencies spent £5.138 million in the four months before they were established on 1 April 1999. In addition to inherited resources, RDAs have £17 million this financial year to spend on administration.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many meetings(a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with representatives of each of the regional development agencies. [96009]

  Ms Armstrong
  Ministers and officials have been involved in a regular, and ongoing, programme of meetings with the Regional Development Agencies.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many regional development agency strategies he has received; and when and by what method he intends to respond to them. [96011]

  Ms Armstrong
  Strategies for all eight Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were presented to Ministers on 26 October. We aim to formally respond to these by the end of the year. A decision on the appropriate method of response will be made after full consideration of the Strategies.

  Regional Chambers
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list, by political party, the number of councillors who are members of each regional chamber. [96010]

  Ms Armstrong
  The current breakdown, by political party, of the councillors who are members of the regional chambers is as follows:

  Conservative

  Labour

  Liberal Democrat

  Other

  East

  11

  10

  5

  1

  East Midlands

  17

  37

  6

  8

  North East

  2

  34

  4

  2

  North West

  15

  38

  10

  7

  South East

  33

  15

  20

  5

  South West

  23

  19

  30

  8

  West Midlands

  7

  27

  6

  2

  Yorkshire and Humber

  4

  13

  2

  3

  Oxford Traffic
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the Oxford Transport Strategy's impact on traffic congestion in the city. [96597]

  Mr. Hill
  The Oxford Transport Strategy has been implemented as a rolling programme since its adoption in 1993, supported by a specific central Government funding from 1994–95 onwards. Oxfordshire County Council has established a programme of continuous monitoring to assess the impact of the Oxford Transport Strategy. They estimate that car flows into the central area of Oxford have decreased by about 4.5 per cent. from 1991 to 1998. The Government will continue to assess the results of this monitoring as part of the Local Transport Plan funding regime.

  Council Tax
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the operation of the council tax benefit subsidy limitation scheme for 2000–01. [96951]

  Ms Armstrong
  The guideline for the 2000/01 scheme will be the same as last year: a 4.5 per cent. increase in council tax or such higher increase as is necessary to give the council an increase in its budget requirement equal to its full cash SSA increase. As indicated last year, the scheme will operate cumulatively. For each authority, we will use its previous year's council tax at guideline as the starting point.

  All other aspects of the scheme will operate on the same basis as last year.

  Revenue Support Grant
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements he intends to make for the distribution of revenue support grant to local authorities in England. [96952]
  1003
  Ms Armstrong
  I expect to be able to announce to the House full details of the proposed Revenue Support Grant distribution in late November. However it would be helpful both to hon. Members and local authorities to announce now what I am minded to do in terms of grant distribution, phasing in or changes, and consultation.

  This year, I propose to set considerable store by stability in the grant system, to help councils plan ahead. In our July 1998 White Paper, "Modern Local Government—In Touch With The People", we said that we would not expect to make fresh changes to the method of calculation of Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs,) except, for example, where there are changes in the functions of councils, or the financing of particular services. We said that the SSAs of individual councils would change to reflect changes in demand for their services as reflected in the data used to calculate the SSAs.

  The totals of SSAs will change this year to reflect the increased funding announced last July in the Comprehensive Spending Review. There will be changes to reflect new functions or financing arrangements. The £150 million from the Service Development Fund which we had put in the Education SSA total to help meet the costs of implementing the pay reforms proposed in the Teachers' Green Paper will now be paid as part of a special Grant for that purpose.

  Our present intention is that, subject to consultation, and approval by the House, we shall not make any changes to the method of grant distribution generally. We shall need to make some limited adjustments to SSAs to accommodate the establishment of the Greater London Authority (GLA) and related changes, most notably those arising from the alterations to the boundary of the Metropolitan Police area and the Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey police areas.

  We intend to adopt similar rules for Central Support Protection Grant and the SSA Reduction Grant as for this year. This would mean that no authority would receive less central support in 2000–01 than in 1999–2000, and every education authority would receive at least a 1.5 per cent. increase in central support. In both cases, the comparisons must make allowance for the changes connected with the creation of the GLA. The SSA Reduction Grant would operate in the same way as in 1999–2000 but with comparisons moved on a year as necessary.

  I am sure that this early indication of our intentions will be welcomed by most authorities for the extra certainty which it gives them in the early stages of their budget decisions for next year.

  Given the degree of stability that we propose this year, I do not intend to invite local authorities to hold meetings with Ministers during consultation on the settlement. I expect authorities to put any points in writing; they will all be considered before I finalise my proposals. I shall meet the local authority associations so that they can put any points directly to me. Individual local authorities of course can channel their comments through the associations.

  Rail Vehicle Accessibility
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there is an exemption order for the fleet of new trains to be introduced into service by Serco Metrolink in respect of any of the provisions of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998; if he will list all exemption orders from the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 since 27 July; and if he will make a statement. [96954]

  Mr. Hill
  As my predecessor explained in her answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty) on 9 March 1999,Official Report, column 167, we are expecting to receive a number of exemption applications from train and tram operating companies whose designs for new rail vehicles were well advanced prior to the 1998 Regulations coming into force.

  We have received an application from Serco Metrolink relating to the new trams they wish to introduce on the Manchester Metrolink extension to Eccles via Salford Quays. The exemptions, which are of a very minor nature, have been discussed with our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. An exemption Order relating to the exemption of these trams has been laid in Parliament today. Copies are available from the Library.

  Applications for exemption from certain aspects of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 have also been received from both South West Trains Ltd. for their Class 458 rail vehicles and ScotRail Railways Ltd. for their Class 170/4 rail vehicles. The exemptions sought were also discussed with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. Exemption Orders relating to the South West Trains vehicles and the ScotRail vehicles were laid before Parliament on 3 September and 13 September respectively. Copies are also available from the Library.

  The exemptions will not prevent disabled people from using the new trams or trains. Indeed, we believe that their introduction will make a significant contribution to improving mobility opportunities for disabled people.

DEFENCE

  Queen Victoria School
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for 1999–2000 for the Chief Executive of Queen Victoria School, Dunblane. [96908]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Chief Executive of Queen Victoria School has been set the following Key Targets for 1999–2000:Achieve a staying on rate at School for S4 to S5 of at least 70 per cent. based on a three year trend.
  Exceed by 2 per cent. the average percentage pass rate for all Scottish presentations obtaining five or more Credit awards at Standard Grade based on a three year trend.
  Achieve a percentage of the presentation at Higher Grade achieving A to C grade greater than or equal to the Scottish average based on a three year trend.
  To achieve a pupil per capital cost of no more than £17,415 (at 1998–99 prices) by March 2000.
  To generate income to the School of at least £240,000.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many referrals to the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme there have been; and what research into Gulf War syndrome the programme sponsors. [96063]

  Mr. Spellar
  At 27 October 1999 there had been 3,128 referrals to the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP). The GVMAP does not sponsor research into Gulf veterans' illnesses. Its two main purposes are:to investigate patients' medical complaints, make a diagnosis as far as is possible, and recommend appropriate management, or provide reassurance if no illness is found;
  to collate statistical information in an anonymised form as a resource for researchers.

  As part of this second role, a paper on the clinical findings from the first 1,000 patients seen by the GVMAP was published in the British Medical Journal on 30 January 1999. This was the first time that the results of clinical examinations of a large number of UK Gulf veterans had been published. A paper on the clinical findings from the second 1,000 patients is in preparation and will be submitted for publication later this year.

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if employees of DERA will remain members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme consequent upon his proposals for privatisation. [93705]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Any staff transferring out of the civil service as a result of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) transaction cease to be civil servants and, as such, are no longer eligible for membership of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). The Government Actuary's Department is responsible for certifying that any new scheme they join offers broadly comparable benefits to those offered by the PCSPS. Staff will be treated fairly and in line with the Government's Statement of Practice for Staff Transfers in the Public Sector which sets out comprehensive guidance for the treatment of staff in PPP deals, including new guidance on the protection of staff pensions.

  BRC Information System
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on(a) the current status and (b) the future of the biological, radiological and chemical information system. [95801]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Biological, Radiological and Chemical Information System (BRACIS) are a computer-based prediction system. If a Biological, Radiological or Chemical hazard were detected, the system would assist commanders in the field to understand the implications of the hazard, and take appropriate action.

  BRACIS was acquired in 1995 and is used by all three Services. An updated version of the software was acquired
  1006
  this year and this recently began to be used for training purposes at the Defence Nuclear, Biological & Chemical (NBC) School.

  A more capable system is being developed with a communications capability which will enable it to be integrated with other systems contributing towards digitisation of the battlespace.

  Under 18-year-olds
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel under 18 years of age have been killed in 1998 and 1999 [95630]

  Mr. Spellar
  Between 1 January 1998 and 26 October, 1999 five UK Service personnel under 18 years of age have been killed, two in 1998 (one drowning, one fall) and three in 1999 (two road traffic accidents, one alcohol poisoning).

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letters of 17 June and 1 September on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Allan. [96281]

  Mr. Hoon
  I replied to the right hon. Member on 23 October.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Minister's letter of 30 August, when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a substantive reply to his letter of 10 August on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Hall. [96280]

  Mr. Hoon
  I expect to be in a position to write to the right hon. Member soon.

  Departmental Estate
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the review of his Department's estate in London to be published. [95526]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Following on from the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) a detailed Strategic Development Plan for the Greater London area (SDP GL) is being prepared. Substantial progress has been made on this review of the Department's occupancy of its London-based estate and I expect to be able to make a statement early in the new year following our evaluation of its conclusions and recommendations.

  Departmental Contracts
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for the most recent financial year contracts valued in excess of £10,000 including the value of each for(a) London, (b) the South-East of England, (c) England, (d) Scotland, (e) Wales and (f) Northern Ireland. [95352]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost. In aggregate the number and value of prime contracts valued in excess of £10,000 extant in Financial Year 1998–99 by the following locations is listed:

  1007

  Location

  No. of contracts

  Value of contracts (£)

  London

  3,026

  3,460,927,447

  South-East England

  10,734

  13,130,333,195

  England

  34,894

  54,202,614,303

  Scotland

  2,297

  3,346,377,904

  Wales

  923

  517,423,851

  Northern Ireland

  226

  587,707,167

  Forces Married Quarters
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the use of armed forces married quarters by forces personnel, after the breakdown of a marriage, during subsequent relationships. [96432]

  Mr. Spellar
  MOD policy bans cohabitation in Family Quarters. Occupation is therefore restricted to Service personnel and their spouses, together with dependent children if applicable. While this policy is kept under review, there are currently no plans to change it.

  In the event of marital breakdown, the Marital Category of the Service person is changed from married to single. At this point, unless the Service person has custodial responsibilities for a child, they are no longer entitled to occupy a Family Quarter and are consequently required to move into single living accommodation. The estranged family is also required to vacate the Family Quarter, but is given a 93-day notice period in which to do so. However, individual circumstances are given consideration consistent with service requirements.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Education Spending
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the levels of spending on education per head of the population in each county of England in each year since 1995–96. [94313]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The information requested is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Accurate information per head of population is not available for each of the years requested. Information has, therefore, been provided on the basis of expenditure per pupil. The information contained in the tables shows for each county in England, (i) total spending in primary, secondary and special schools since 1995, (ii) the total number of pupils in those schools, and (iii) the total spending per pupil.

  Emotional Development (Children)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the ability of schools to provide conditions for formative emotional development. [95218]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Government is committed to fostering children's emotional well-being and to doing 1008
  everything they can to ensure that they have the emotional maturity and security necessary for effective learning. This is a key theme of the Government's booklet "Desirable Outcomes for Children's Learning" and the recently launched Early Learning Goals.

  We are making £21 million available through the Standards Fund for 2000–01 to support innovative work in Local Education Authorities on early identification and assessment of emotional and behavioural difficulties. A further £18 million of Standards Fund Grant is available to support implementation of the revised National Curriculum framework. Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) in the Curriculum contains provision for pupils to learn how to recognise the symptoms and address the causes of stress and depression.

  National Grid for Learning
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many additional personal computers there are in schools as a result of the National Grid for Learning Initiative. [95639]

  Jacqui Smith
  A Statistical First Release, published in August, indicated that in 1999 there was, on average, one computer for every 13 pupils in primary schools compared to every 18 pupils in 1998. Similarly in secondary schools, there was one computer for every eight pupils in 1999 compared to every nine pupils in 1998. These are the first signs of the effect of the Government's focused investment on ICT in schools through the National Grid for Learning programme and we expect to see further improvement over the next two years.

  School Security
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to assess the threat to security of school premises arising from adjacent public rights of way. [94945]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: We treat the issue of school security very seriously and support measures which make schools a safer and more secure environment for pupils and staff. The Department's Working Group on School Security, which includes a representative from the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), has specifically highlighted public rights of way across school premises an issue to be addressed, and is aware of some local cases. The recent DETR consultation paper, Improving Public Rights of Way in England and Wales, accordingly invited views on proposals to enable highway authorities to divert or close public highways where to do so would protect the safety of the public. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, will announce decisions in the light of the consultations on this in due course. The Department also continues to provide specific grant for school security measures under the Standards Fund: a total of £22 million per year is available specifically for school security improvements, which may include security fencing and other access control measures in order to prevent intrusion.

  A/S Levels
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects syllabuses for A/S level subjects to be available. [95868]

  Mr. Wicks
  Draft versions of the specifications for all the new Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced level qualifications to be introduced for teaching from September 2000 are now available on the awarding bodies' websites. Synopses of the draft specifications are also available on the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's website. The finalised specifications will be available to schools and colleges in January 2000.

  Franchising
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from the further education sector concerning the proposed changes to the funding arrangements for franchising; and if he will make a statement. [95873]

  Mr. Wicks
  Representations were invited by the Further Education Funding Council in February 1999 on proposals to tackle the serious problems which had arisen with franchising in some colleges. 153 representations were received of which 136 were from further education colleges. A large majority supported the proposed changes for 1999–2000 which were introduced in July.

  PE Teachers
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many PE teachers there were in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools; and what they were as a percentage of the total number of teachers in England, for each year since 1991. [95492]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information is as follows:

  PE teachers in secondary schools in England

  Academic year

  1991–92

  1996–97

  Number of Teachers1 teaching PE

  24,000

  20,000

  Teachers1 teaching PE as percentage of all teachers

  14

  12

  1 Includes teachers without a specific PE qualification

  Amount received (£)

  Amount drawn down (£)

  Percentage drawn down

  Balance available (£)

  Amount committed (£)

  Arts Council of England

  1,197,614,609

  920,492,229

  77

  277,122,380

  1,132,457,415

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  42,419,281

  16,607,723

  39

  25,811,558

  35,467,589

  Scottish Arts Council

  130,640,795

  79,801,991

  61

  50,838,804

  116,821,408

  Arts Council of Wales

  72,650,470

  48,852,619

  67

  23,797,851

  77,310,838

  National Lottery Charities Board

  1,479,051,437

  834,882,356

  56

  644,169,081

  1,384,382,465

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  1,497,290,954

  614,906,973

  41

  882,383,981

  1,223,222,820

  Millennium Commission

  1,662,106,529

  941,790,686

  57

  720,315,843

  1,744,220,362

  New Opportunities Fund

  428,058,277

  9,768,541

  2

  418,289,736

  12,984,543

  Sport England

  1,228,733,896

  760,081,000

  62

  468,652,896

  959,416,652

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  40,784,238

  25,640,265

  63

  15,143,973

  31,634,959

  Sport Scotland

  131,782,828

  58,540,070

  44

  73,242,758

  84,351,394

  UK Sport

  6,865,190

  1,839,362

  27

  5,025,828

  1,394,723

  Sports Council for Wales

  73,154,628

  44,518,258

  61

  28,636,370

  46,176,789

  Total

  7,991,153,132

  4,357,722,073

  55

  3,633,431,059

  6,849,841,957

  1010
  Information about PE teachers in secondary schools for other years, and PE teachers in primary schools is not available.

  These reductions took place under the previous administration.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1999,Official Report, columns 185–86, concerning class sizes (ref. 93239), when he plans to write to the hon. Member for Hertsmere. [96479]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I will be writing to the hon. Member next week.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  National Lottery
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what are, in respect of the revenue in the National Lottery Distributions Fund Reserve(a) the amount (1) received and (2) drawn down, (b) the percentage drawn down, (c) the balance available and (d) the amount committed for (i) the Arts Council of England, (ii) the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, (iii) the Scottish Arts Council, (iv) the Arts Council of Wales, (v) the National Lottery's Charities Board, (vi) the National Heritage Memorial Fund, (vii) the Millennium Commission, (viii) the New Opportunities Fund, (ix) Sport England, (x) the Sports Council of Northern Ireland, (xi) the Scottish Sports Council, (xii) the UK Sports Council and (xiii) the Sports Council for Wales and (xiv) the total of the above. [95486]

  Kate Hoey
  The following table shows the figures requested, as at 30 September 1999. In addition to the figures shown here, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts has received an endowment of £200 million from the National Lottery, all of which has been drawn down from the National Lottery Distribution Fund.

  Figures for the amount committed are taken from the National Lottery Awards Database using information supplied by the distributors. They do not include money set aside for a specific purpose but not committed to a particular project.
  1011
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the percentage drawn down for National Lottery expenditure allocations(a) in the UK and (b) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [95493]

  Kate Hoey
  56 per cent. of the money paid into the National Lottery Distribution Fund has been drawn down for use by the National Lottery distributing bodies. A further 31 per cent. has been firmly committed but not yet drawn down.

  I have made no assessment of the percentages drawn down by lotteries overseas. Given the different ways in which Lottery surpluses are used around the world, I do not believe such comparisons would be helpful. For example, the surplus of many state lotteries are paid straight to the national exchequers, so the question of draw down does not arise.

  I am keen to ensure that National Lottery money should be put to effective use as quickly as possible. Many of the reforms that the Government have introduced—such as moving the focus of the Lottery from buildings to people and allowing distributors to delegate their functions—should help to facilitate this.

  Sports Strategy
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in announcing his Department's sports strategy. [95485]

  Kate Hoey
  The sports policy paper will be published early next year. In order for the paper to be truly effective, it is important that there is the widest possible period in which to consult and canvass opinion.

  VAT (Listed Buildings)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received regarding VAT on work on listed buildings; and if he will make a statement. [95489]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In the year to 26 October 1999, this Department received 13 representations from organisations and individuals on the subject of VAT on work to listed buildings.

  Responsibility for VAT rests with HM Treasury. There is no provision in current EC law to apply a reduced rate to all listed buildings.

  New Opportunities Fund
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what will be the total sums for each of the next four years to be allocated to out-of-school-hours child care places from the New Opportunities Fund. [95487]

  Kate Hoey
  The New Opportunities Fund is required by the Policy Directions that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued to allocate £220 million in total to out-of-school hours child care places by 2002. There is no pre-determined annual profile for expenditure:1012
  the actual allocation of funding is a matter for the New Opportunities Fund taking into account the local child care plans drawn up by the local child care partnerships.

  Local Authority Funding
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions regarding the amount of funding provided by local authorities to(a) the arts, (b) museums and galleries and (c) supporting the upkeep of listed buildings. [95488]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on these subjects. Officials in the two departments keep in regular touch.

  Physical Education
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Education and Employment about the role of physical education and sport in the national curriculum. [95952]

  Kate Hoey
  Ministers and officials from DCMS and DfEE work closely together and share a common aim to improve the quality of Physical Education and sport provision in schools. DCMS was involved in the National Curriculum Review announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in September. We welcome the restoration of the PE programme of study for primary schools, to be re-introduced from September 2000.

  On 5 October, the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for Redditch (Jacqui Smith), and I both spoke at the Sport England Conference "Education and Sport". We are also working together to develop the Active Schools Sports Co-ordinators initiative in schools. I have met with, and will continue to meet, my hon. Friend to discuss Physical Education and sport in schools.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  RAF Menwith Hill
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Solicitor-General what was the cost to public funds of the prosecution of cases, subsequently discontinued, for contravention of bye-laws relating to RAF Menwith Hill; and if he will make a statement. [95745]

  The Solicitor-General
  The prosecution costs arising from these proceedings are estimated at £700, which includes the cost of case preparation, conferences, and court attendance by a senior Crown Prosecutor at the magistrates court. The figure does not include work undertaken for the test case at the Crown Court and subsequently in the Divisional Court, neither does it include the costs incurred by the Crown Prosecution Service in discussion with the Ministry of Defence police about prosecution policy in general.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Holocaust Survivors
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the banking industry concerning the amount of bank charges levied for the conversion to sterling from deutchmarks of sums awarded to holocaust survivors; what response he has received from the banking industry; and if he will make a statement. [94822]

  Mr. Byers
  I am pursuing this matter with the banking industry and will write to my hon. Friend in due course. I will place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Tunisia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences for military, security and police exports to Tunisia have been approved by his Department in the last five years; and if he will list the nature of the equipment, together with any current applications being considered. [95098]

  Dr. Howells
  The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer

  Standard Individual Export Licences issued for the export to Tunisia of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1 January 1997 to 1 May 1997

  1998

  1 January 1999 to 12 October 1999

  ML1

  1

  2

  2

  1

  0

  0

  ML2

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  ML3

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  ML4

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  0

  ML5

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  ML7

  0

  2

  0

  0

  1

  0

  ML9

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  ML10

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  ML11

  4

  2

  4

  1

  2

  1

  ML13

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  ML15

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  0

  PL5001

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  PL5006

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  PL5017

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  PL5027

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Open Individual Export Licences issued for the export to Tunisia of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1 January 1997 to 1 May 1997

  1998

  ML1

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  ML2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  ML3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  ML4

  5

  0

  0

  1

  0

  ML5

  4

  1

  2

  1

  0

  ML6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  ML8

  6

  1

  0

  1

  1

  ML9

  2

  0

  1

  1

  1

  ML10

  14

  3

  2

  3

  2

  ML11

  6

  2

  1

  1

  1

  ML13

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1

  ML14

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1

  ML15

  1

  0

  0

  2

  1

  1014
  databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 January 1994 and 12 October 1999, 57 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) were issued for the export to consignees or end-users in Tunisia of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List. Between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1998, 71 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued for the export to Tunisia of such goods; no OIELs were issued for the export of such goods to Tunisia between 1 January and 12 October 1999.

  Details of all SIELs and OIELs issued between 2 May and 31 December 1997 were set out in the Government's Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in March 1999. This Report gives details of the military equipment licensed for export during the period as well as the ratings of these goods. Similar details of the military equipment licensed in later years will be set out in the relevant Annual Reports.

  A breakdown of the licences issued between 1 January 1994 and 1 May 1997, and between 1 January 1998 and 12 October 1999 are set out in the table. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

  Open Individual Export Licences issued for the export to Tunisia of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1 January 1997 to 1 May 1997

  1998

  ML16

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  ML18

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  ML22

  3

  0

  0

  1

  0

  PL5001

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  PL5002

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  PL5018

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  PL5027

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  At 12 October 1999, decisions had not yet been taken on seven applications for OIELs to export such goods to Tunisia; there are no such applications pending for SIELs.
  1015

  Pending applications for OIELs covering the export of goods on the Military List to Tunisia

  Rating

  Number of applications pending

  ML9

  3

  ML10

  3

  ML18

  1

  ML22

  3

  PL5017

  1

  This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.

  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 307-08.

  In addition, Tunisia is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences, covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will assess the output of the resource allocation under the comprehensive spending review; and what sectors of the economy he plans to examine as part of this study. [95797]

  Mr. Byers
  The Department has monitoring processes in place to assess progress against the targets set in its Public Service Agreement on the basis of the CSR settlement for 1999–2001. This work covers the economy as a whole, for example through targets to narrow the productivity gap and improve performance against competitiveness indicators; there are also specific targets covering for example the small firms sector, exporters, uptake of e-commerce, energy and inward investment. Good progress is already being made; for example I have recently increased the target for the number of SMEs wired to the digital market place from 1 million to 1.5 million. Performance against all our targets will be considered in preparation for the next spending review, to set budgets to 2003–04.

  As my hon. Friend is aware, the Science Budget underpins all sectors of the economy and the social, health and environmental services. As a result of the science CSR settlement, successful proposals have been announced for the University Challenge and Science Enterprise Challenge initiatives, and for the first round of the now £750 million joint Infrastructure fund. As far as the additional allocations to the Research Councils are concerned, I have asked for a full report on the progress made so far as input to the current spending review.

  Trading Names
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to establish a statutory register of trading names. [95787]

  Dr. Howells
  There are no plans to establish a statutory register of trading names.

  Fraud
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce legislation to prevent trading and advertising of services by individuals who have been convicted for fraudulent behaviour in the provision of those services. [96470]

  Dr. Howells
  The Consumer White Paper "Modern Markets: Confident Consumers" sets out details of the proposals to amend the Fair Trading Act 1973 to provide powers for the courts to grant injunctions against specific practices carried out by specified traders and to ban from trading for a period traders with a history of disregarding their legal obligations.

  Timeshares
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the implementation of the EU Directive on Timeshares, which was adopted in United Kingdom law in April 1997. [R] [96318]

  Dr. Howells
  The EU Timeshare Directive was implemented in the United Kingdom by the Timeshare Regulations 1997, which amended the Timeshare Act 1992. The Timeshare Regulations were laid before Parliament on 25 March 1997 and came into force on 29 April 1997.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors underlay the granting of extensions to the period of validity of standard individual export and transhipment licences for transfer to Indonesia, for a period equivalent to the duration of the EU arms embargo; and what is his Department's policy towards the renewal of the embargo after 16 January 2000. [96114]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: By a Common Position, adopted on 16 September, EU member states decided to impose an arms embargo to Indonesia for four months. In accordance with this decision, the Government decided that all individual licences covering the export or transhipment to Indonesia of military goods or technology should be suspended for four months and that, because the embargo is time-limited, their period of validity should be extended by four months also. The UK and other EU member states are monitoring closely the situation in Indonesia and East Timor and will take whatever action becomes necessary.

  Belize
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Ministers in his Department visited Belize in each year between 1990 and 1997; and what support his Department gave Belize in each year. [96211]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: No DTI Ministers visited Belize in the period 1990–97.
  1017
  The full range of official trade promotion and support services is available to British companies who are interested in undertaking business in Belize. This included support for three trade missions, which visited Belize during the period in question:

  1991: CARITAG (Caribbean Trade Advisory Group) Investment Mission

  1996: CARITAG/LATAG (Latin America Trade Advisory Group) Mission

  1997: CABCC (Central America British Chamber of Commerce) Mission.

  With the exception of the CARITAG investment mission, all the trade missions were non-sector specific and included companies representing a wide cross sector of industries and services.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which countries have(a) signed and (b) ratified the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. [96422]

  Dr. Howells
  (a) Forty-four States have signed protocols additional to their existing safeguards agreements: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay and Uzbekistan. In addition, Cuba has concluded an Additional Protocol which it has not yet signed.

  (b) The Additional Protocols of seven States have entered into force: Australia, Holy See, Indonesia, Jordan, Monaco, New Zealand and Uzbekistan.

  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the voluntary arrangements by companies and institutions to fulfil the requirements of the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. [96416]

  Dr. Howells
  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was this week provided with voluntary declarations of information of the type which the UK will have to provide under Article 2 of the protocol additional to the UK/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement once the protocol enters into force. The declarations were provided with the full co-operation of the relevant companies and institutions.

  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for bringing forward ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. [96420]

  Dr. Howells
  In order for the Protocol additional to the 1976 safeguards agreement between the United Kingdom, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Atomic Energy Community to enter into force,1018
  primary legislation is required, the Government are considering how legislation for this purpose may best be brought forward at an early date.

  Small Business Service
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the Government schemes and programmes that will be delivered by the Small Business Service. [96563]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Small Business Service will provide access to a comprehensive range of information, advice, counselling and support from government, public, private and voluntary sectors.

  International Trade Strategy
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the national strategy for international trade development and promotion. [96906]

  Mr. Caborn
  I am pleased to announce today, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the publication of the national strategy for international trade development and promotion.

  I am arranging for copies of the strategy to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Regional Venture Capital Funds
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the consultation on the paper, "Addressing the SME Equity Gap-Support for Regional Venture Capital Funds". [96907]

  Mr. Byers
  I announced to the House on 6 July 1999,Official Report, columns 454-55, that the Government were seeking views on the design and form of the support for the creation of the Regional Venture Capital element of the Enterprise Fund.

  During the consultation exercise over 1,000 copies of the consultation document, "Addressing the SME Equity Gap—Support for Regional Venture Capital Funds" were distributed and over 100 replies have been received. The distribution and replies covered a wide range of interested groups and individuals; entrepreneurs, small firms, Regional Development Agencies, the venture capital and finance industries, business support organisations, local authorities, academics and other interested parties.

  The proposals for Regional Venture Capital Funds received a significant level of support from respondents. 100 per cent. of SMEs and entrepreneurs supported the outlined proposals as appropriate methods of motivating the creation of viable, regionally based venture capital funds to invest in the equity gap. And over 89 per cent. of all respondents expressed the same view. There was widespread agreement that the lack of small scale equity finance was an inhibitor to growth, especially for SMEs. A full summary of responses to the consultation document have been placed in the Library of the House.

  In November, the Government will issue bidding guidance, informed by the responses to the consultation

  1019
  exercise, to Regional Partnerships proposing to stimulate the creation of Regional Venture Capital Funds.

WALES

  Equal Opportunities
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he(a) has established and (b) published a baseline for policy appraisal against which to measure progress on equal treatment. [94857]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My Department has no executive responsibilities. For the staff of my Department, most of whom are on secondment from the National Assembly for Wales, my office has adopted the policies of the Assembly which are identical to those of the former Welsh Office.

  New Deal Environmental Task Force
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what projects are currently being undertaken under the New Deal Environmental Task Force within the Llanelli constituency. [95791]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The contract for the Environmental Task Force option in the Llanelli constituency area is held by Carmarthenshire County Council. The Council then sub contract to:

  Carmarthenshire Training—offer fencing/riverbank maintenance/stream improvement opportunities.

  Foothold Crochan—recycle white goods (cookers, fridges, etc.) and furniture at their centre in Trostre.

  Princes Trust—offer their 26 week national programme (team building/motivation/employer placement).

  National Trust—undertake fencing/planting/chainsaw/footpath maintenance providing an excellent grounding in rural and forestry skills.

  Jobforce Wales—is converting the disused Mynydd Mawr railway into a footpath and also operate a woodcraft centre.

  British Trust for Conservation Volunteers—are undertaking landscape improvement and nature conservation work at the Mynydd Mawr Woodland/Eco Park at Tumble.

  Consultants
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money the Welsh Office spent on consultants for each of the last three years up to 7 May. [96551]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The following figures detail Welsh Office expenditure on consultants in the relevant financial years, running from 1 April to the following 31 March.

  Persons1removed or departed voluntarily under port or enforcement procedures, 1996 to 1998

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Total number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the United Kingdom

  26,840

  31,150

  34,900

  Of whom asylum2,3 applicants

  4,840

  7,160

  6,890

  Total number of persons removed or made a voluntary departure as a result of deportation action being taken against them

  2,000

  2,070

  1,710

  Of whom asylum2,3 applicants

  400

  450

  350

  1 Does not include persons who may leave the United Kingdom without informing the Immigration and Nationality Directorate

  2 Asylum removals and voluntary departures excludes dependants

  3 1998 figures are provisional

  Note:

  All figures are rounded to 10
  1020

  Year

  £

  1995–97

  739,363

  1997–98

  1,311,459

  1998–99

  1,836,194

  This information is not readily available for periods beginning 8 May and running to the following 7 May, and could be provided in that format only at disproportionate cost.

  Welsh Office Contracts (PR)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contracts have been awarded by the Welsh Office in the last year to(a) the public relations company, Good Relations and (b) the public relations company, HHCL. [96553]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Howell Henry Chauldecott Lowry (HHCL) were the advertising agency appointed on behalf of the Welsh Office by the Central Office of Information to work on the Assembly Information Campaign. That is the only contract awarded to this company in the last year.

  Bell Pottinger Good Relations were sub-contracted by HHCL to work on "free media", which formed a part of the Assembly Information Campaign. They were also awarded a contract directly by the Welsh Office to assist with the establishment and maintenance of a web-site for National Assembly for Wales.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Deportations
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been deported from the UK in each of the last three years for which figures are available as(a) failed asylum seekers and (b) others whose appeals under immigration law have failed. [95444]

  Mrs. Roche
  The total number of people who have been removed or made a voluntary departure from the United Kingdom between 1996 and 1998 is shown in the table. The table also shows the number of asylum applicants who were removed or left voluntarily in each of the three years, the number who were removed or left the United Kingdom as a result of deportation action being taken against them, and the number of people in that group who had claimed asylum at some stage. Information about the number who had appealed unsuccessfully before removal is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ministerial Meetings (US)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times Ministers in his Department have met members and officials of the United States Government since 22 February, specifying the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers

  Name

  Date

  Location

  Minister: Paul Boateng

  George Dragnich, Labour Counsellor, American Embassy

  18 May 1999

  London

  Elizabeth Fine, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Policy Development, Department of Justice

  3 June 1999

  Washington DC

  Jeremy Travis, Director of National Institute for Justice

  3 June 1999

  Washington DC

  Jose Cerda, Domestic Policy Adviser to the President

  4 June 1999

  Washington DC

  Eric Holder, Deputy Attorney General

  4 June 1999

  Washington DC

  Jim Robinson, Assistant Attorney General (Criminal Division)

  4 June 1999

  Washington DC

  Mark Richard, Deputy Assistant Attorney General (Criminal Division)

  4 June 1999

  Washington DC

  General Barry McCaffrey, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy

  25 October 1999

  London

  Possible:

  Lynne Battiglia, United States Attorney, District of Maryland

  1 June 1999

  Baltimore

  Donnie Marshall, Acting Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration

  1 June 1999

  Washington DC

  Louis Freeh, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

  2 June 1999

  Washington DC

  Minister: Charles Clarke

  United States Attorney Journal, Ms Janet Reno

  25 October 1999

  United States Embassy Moscow

  Officials from United States Justice Department

  25 October 1999

  United States Embassy Moscow

  Embassy officials

  25 October 1999

  United States Embassy Moscow

  United States Drugs Tsar, General Barry McCaffrey

  25 October 1999

  London

  Bob Agresti—Policy Advisor

  25 October 1999

  London

  George Dragnich—United States Embassy

  25 October 1999

  London

  In addition, I keep in regular touch with Ms Reno both by letter and by telephone.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings he held with members and officials of the United States Government during his visits to the United States on 9-10 December 1997; and if he will list the date and location of each meeting, and the names of the members and officials of the United States Government at each meeting. [93952]

  Mr. Straw
  When I attended the G8 Ministerial meeting, in the United States of America, in February 1997, I held one meeting with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and one meeting with the Attorney General. I keep in close and regular touch with the Attorney General by memo, by letter, and by telephone.

  Suspended Sentences
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to widen the opportunities for the judiciary to impose suspended sentences of imprisonment. [95474]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Suspended sentences may be imposed only in "exceptional circumstances". Widening the opportunities for their use was one of the recommendations in the Home Affairs Committee's Report on Alternatives to Prison Sentences, published in 1998. As the Government's Reply to the Report noted, we are considering this issue, taking account of the Committee's views.
  1022
  involved at each meeting; and the names of the members and officials of the United States Government at each meeting. [93951]

  Mr. Straw
  Information on meetings between my Ministers and members and officials of the United States Government since 22 February are listed in the table.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 8 July regarding Mrs. Shani Green's application for British residency. [95763]

  Mrs. Roche
  Mrs. Green has been granted 12 months leave to remain on the basis of her marriage. I wrote to the hon. Gentleman to this effect on 28 October.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letter of 9 July on behalf of his constituent, Mrs. Newman. [96285]

  Mr. Straw
  I wrote to the right hon. Member on 28 October in response to his letter of 9 July on behalf of his constituent, Mrs. Newman. I am extremely sorry that I was unable to do so sooner, and would like, through the right hon. Member, to extend my apology to Mrs. Newman.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letter of 5 July on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Pottinger. [96286]

  Mr. Straw
  I wrote to the right hon. Member on 28 October in response to his letter of 5 July on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Pottinger. I am extremely sorry that I was unable to do so sooner, and, through the right hon. Member, would like to extend my apology to Mr. Pottinger.
  1023
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect replies to his letters of 6 July, 10 August, 7 September and 27 September on behalf of his constituent, Dr. N. of Stranground, Peterborough. [96284]

  Mrs. Roche
  I wrote to the right hon. Member on 28 October.

  Remembrance Sunday
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to rename Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. [96028]

  Mr. Straw
  We have no plans to rename Armistice Day (11 November) or Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday in November).

  Chinese President (State Visit)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions(a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department hold each year with (i) the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and (ii) other senior Metropolitan Police personnel on the policing of state visits to the capital; [96218]

  (2) what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department hold each year with (i) the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and (ii) other senior Metropolitan Police personnel on the maintenance of public order within (1) the royal parks and (2) the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster; [96214]

  (3) what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department had with (i) the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and (ii) other senior Metropolitan Police personnel on the plans for policing the recent visit of the President of the People's Republic of China. [96215]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary meets regularly with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to discuss policing issues in London, and there are regular contacts with the Metropolitan Police at both Ministerial and official level. There were no specific discussions of the issues specified at my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary's meetings, prior to the Chinese State Visit nor, as far as can be ascertained, at other meetings between Ministers and officials and the Metropolitan Police. At a regular meeting between my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the Commissioner on 27 October, the Commissioner told my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that the Metropolitan Police were conducting an internal review into the policing of the visit of the President of China.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance representatives from his 1024
  Department issued to the police responsible for the policing of the visit by the Chinese President pertaining to the treatment of demonstrators. [96581]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  None.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations were made by his Department to the Royal Parks Police about the policing of the state visit of the President of China. [96490]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  None.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings were held between his Department and the Royal Parks Police about the policing of the state visit of the President of China. [96489]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  None.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how may anti-social behaviour orders have been implemented in each police authority area. [96450]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on the number of Orders made is not held centrally, but we are aware of six Orders made since 1 April 1999, as follows:

  Avon and Somerset—1

  Derbyshire—2

  Merseyside—2

  West Mercia—1.

  Police
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of police officers who will leave the police service over the next three years. [95577]

  Mr. Straw
  Given the uncertainty surrounding the number of officers who take early retirement on medical grounds or who leave the service before normal retirement age for other reasons, it is not possible to project actual wastage in the future. However, the actual wastage over the last three years has been running at around five and a half thousand per year. The hon. Member will wish to be aware of papers and calculations, which I presented to the Home Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday 26 October, which had been prepared by the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate of my Department and by Professor Buck of Essex University. I am sending the hon. Member a copy, and copies are also available in the Library.

  Dangerous Driving
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the issue of deaths caused by negligent or dangerous driving. [95110]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: I have been asked to reply.

  Research is currently in progress to study the effect of the Road Traffic Act 1991 on prosecutions for dangerous driving. The project, which is being undertaken for the

  1025
  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by the Transport Research Laboratory, began in May 1998 and is due to be completed in October 2000.

  Issues covered by the study include: whether there is sufficiently clear guidance on the law and its purpose, and how this affects the choice of penalty; comparison of sentencing trends before and since the 1991 Act; and how the changes in the definition of "bad driving" offences have been implemented by police and courts.

  The aim is to obtain an understanding of what leads prosecutors and courts to select one offence or one penalty rather than another. By examining the whole procedure from charging to sentencing, it may be possible to identify ways of improving practice, so as to deter poor driving more effectively.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners (Benefits)
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners receive(a) Income Support, (b) Housing Benefit and (c) Council Tax Benefit in each region of the UK. [95659]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

  Pensioners in receipt of income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit by region, Great Britain, May 1998

  Thousand

  Income Support

  Housing Benefit

  Council Tax Benefit

  North East

  92

  115

  151

  North West

  234

  228

  349

  Yorks and Humberside

  160

  186

  261

  East Midlands

  111

  120

  180

  West Midlands

  172

  175

  270

  Eastern

  126

  146

  210

  London

  204

  231

  288

  South East

  168

  188

  257

  South West

  128

  124

  191

  Wales

  94

  88

  134

  Scotland

  169

  225

  303

  Great Britain

  1,659

  1,826

  2,593

  Notes:

  1. Pensioners are defined as benefit units where either the claimant and/or the partner is aged 60 or over.

  2. Figures are for benefit units which may be a single person or a couple.

  3. The Income Support figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of Income Support claimants, the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and as such figures are subject to a degree of sampling error.

  4. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  5. The data for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are provisional and may be subject to change.

  Sources:

  1. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 1998. Later Income Support data are held, the Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry May 1999 refers.

  2. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Annual 1 per cent. Sample for Great Britain as at 14 May 1998.

  1026

  Pensioners in Northern Ireland in receipt of income support as at 31 August 1999 and housing benefit as at 31 May 1999

  Number

  Income support August 1999

  71,308

  Housing benefit May 1999

  46,012

  Notes:

  1. Pensioners are defined as benefit units where either the claimant and/or the partner is aged 60.

  2. Figures are for benefit units which may be a single person or a couple.

  3. Figures are based on a 100 per cent. scan of Income Support claimants as at August 1999 and Housing Benefit Claimants as at May 1999, for Northern Ireland.

  Sources:

  1. Income Support—General Matching Service 100 per cent. scan, August 1999.

  2. Housing Benefit—Northern Ireland Housing Executive 100 per cent. scan, May 1999.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are not yet receiving their full benefit entitlement because of NIRSII computer problems. [96278]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer the then Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms), gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 22 July 1999,Official Report, columns 575–76.

  Benefit Fraud Hotline
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure on relaunching the Benefit Fraud Hotline; [96277]

  (2) what is the period of the Fraud Hotline advertising campaign covered by the expenditure announced on 25 October. [96279]

  Mr. Rooker
  The National Benefit Fraud Hotline has not been re-launched. It has been running continuously since August 1996. A further marketing campaign will run from 1 November 1999 to 24 March 2000.

  The campaign has a budget of £450,000. The breakdown of expenditure is as follows:

  £000

  Radio media costs

  360

  Press media costs

  54

  Production (including posters for BA offices)

  36

  Total

  450

HEALTH

  Merseyside Health Action Zone
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Merseyside Health Action Zone programme will tackle ill health, accidents and violence due to alcohol abuse. [94634]

  Mr. Hutton
  Merseyside Health Action Zone has recognised the effect of problem drinking on the health and quality of life for individuals, their families and the
  1027
  wider community. The HAZ has developed plans to address this issue, which include locally developed interventions whereby each district on Merseyside is developing their own schemes to deal with alcohol, linking to the Drug Action Team Plan and Health Improvement Programmes. The "Arrest Referral Scheme" is a Mersey-wide proposal that will work closely with Merseyside Police and the Safer Merseyside Partnership single regeneration budget to provide support to individuals who have been arrested and to put them in touch with relevant services relating to drugs, alcohol, housing, debt and benefit advice and health care services.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Merseyside Health Action Zone programme will empower people to manage common illnesses. [94632]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Merseyside Health Action Zone programme includes a number of interventions, which will empower people to manage common illnesses. These will complement other Government initiatives like NHS Direct and walk-in centres. An example of a HAZ scheme being developed allows pharmacists to dispense free over-the-counter medication to eligible patients for the treatment of colds and minor ailments without the need to visit their general practitioner.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Merseyside Health Action Zone will ensure equal access to quality services for cardio respiratory disease, cancer, infectious disease and mental health. [94631]

  Mr. Hutton
  Ensuring equal access to quality services is a main theme of the Merseyside Health Action Zone. Schemes are being developed and implemented to tackle these major causes of ill health. HAZ funding is being used in an innovative way to set up "Community Cardiology Teams" that will help optimise the care of the estimated 600,000 coronary heart disease sufferers on Merseyside. The HAZ has a further scheme to improve the uptake of influenza vaccination within vulnerable groups e.g. people with chronic heart or respiratory disease.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve and modernise health services on(a) Merseyside and (b) in Sefton. [94652]

  Mr. Hutton
  Merseyside Health Action Zone is already developing and implementing plans to improve and modernise health services across the whole of Merseyside, including Sefton. The current schemes include £550,000 to tackle coronary heart disease and a further £500,000 to invest in cancer services across Merseyside. The HAZ has also identified £250,000 to support the centralisation of hospital based infectious disease services for Merseyside.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the Merseyside Health Action Zone. [94650]

  Mr. Hutton
  Merseyside Health Action Zone is the largest and most complex in the country. Significant energy is being invested in building the partnership across the whole of Merseyside. The HAZ is already implementing schemes both to modernise services and tackle the underlying causes of ill health. Schemes include work to further tackle heart disease and cancer.

  Patient-controlled Analgesia
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress is being made in introducing patient-controlled analgesia(a) intravenously and (b) orally in NHS hospitals; [95080]

  (2) how many NHS hospitals or trusts have introduced patient-controlled analgesia (a) intravenously and (b) orally. [95081]

  Mr. Hutton
  Oral analgesia, taken regularly or as required, is available in all National Health Service hospitals where surgery takes place. Patient controlled analgesia administrated intravenously is a safe and effective method of delivering pain relief which is becoming the standard method of administering opioid analgesia in hospitals where major surgery takes place.

  Nursing Homes
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that elderly people in need of places in nursing homes can be transferred from NHS hospitals when they are declared ready to be discharged. [95559]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are working to modernise health and social services and are undertaking a number of relevant activities. Promoting independence is a joint priority for the National Health Service and social services and a key element of this is ensuring that people are not kept in hospital when they do not need to be there. The Health Act 1999 provides new opportunities for health and local authorities to work together in partnership to improve the health of individuals and communities.

  We are developing a National Service Framework for Older People to drive up quality and reduce variation in health care for older people. The National Service Framework is being developed with the assistance of an external reference group which, amongst other things, is considering transitions to, from and within hospitals.

  We have allocated £887 million over three years to local authorities to help them work with the NHS to develop services which prevent admission to hospital and facilitate early discharge, which help local authorities and NHS bodies to provide more seamless care and which help and support carers.

  NHS Research Scientists
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total establishment of research scientists within the NHS by salary grade; and how many are currently employed at the lowest grade. [95683]

  Mr. Hutton
  Research in the National Health Service is undertaken by a range of staff groups and grades. Workforce information relating to the number of research scientists employed by the NHS is not available.

  Wingrove Nurses Home
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the sale of the Wingrove Nurses Home, Westgate Road, Newcastle, has been completed; and what is the name of the purchaser. [95875]
  1029
  Mr. Hutton
  The property has been sold subject to contract to Angel Heights Developments Limited. However, contracts have not yet been exchanged, and therefore the sale has not been finalised.

  Junior Doctors (Overtime)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to alter the rules on overtime for junior doctors so that they are paid more for working overtime. [95539]

  Mr. Hutton
  Traditionally, junior doctors are contracted for duty hours in excess of the standard working week in order to provide continuity of patient care and also to meet their professional and career training needs. These additional duty hours reflect the hours for which the doctor is contracted to be available to work and not the number of hours actually worked.

  We have now reached agreement with the junior doctors' negotiators on the principles and structure of a new contract which will replace the old, over-complicated arrangements for next year. We propose a three-year deal to modernise junior doctors' pay, which promises greater rewards for those in the hardest working posts. This will mean that posts will be defined and rewarded according to agreed intensity criteria. Officials are currently negotiating these definitions with the junior doctor negotiators.

  Children's Homes
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when measures will be in place to regulate the operation of children's homes which cater for under four children; and if he will make a statement. [95663]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: We intend to extend regulation to children's homes which accommodate fewer than four children as soon as we have the legislative opportunity. In the meantime we are considering how we might introduce a voluntary accreditation scheme for such homes.

  Care Home Fees
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the category of persons who are admitted to(a) nursing homes and (b) residential care homes who are required to pay for their accommodation and care; and if he will make a statement. [95718]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: Where a person is provided with accommodation under Part III of the National Assistance Act 1948, section 22 of that Act provides for them to be charged for the accommodation. Part III places a duty on local authorities to provide accommodation:
  for persons aged 18 or over who, by reason of age, illness, disability or any other circumstances are in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to them;
  for expectant or nursing mothers who are in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to them.

  Section 22 requires the local authority to set a standard rate for the accommodation.
  1030
  The National Health Service may fund placements in nursing homes for people who are eligible for continuing NHS in-patient care.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that anyone who requires dentistry work can register with an NHS dentist and receive dentistry work under the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [95667]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: We are aware of the existence of problems in accessing National Health dental services in some parts of the country, particularly in some rural areas, which we inherited from the previous administration, and which we have taken positive steps to address through the Investing in Dentistry and Personal Dental Services initiatives.

  Schemes approved under the Investing in Dentistry initiative should enable nearly 800,000 patients to access NHS dental services. A first wave of 15 Personal Dental Service pilots began in October 1998, and a second wave of pilots will start later this year. Many of the pilots are in areas where patients have had difficulty finding a NHS dentist.

  On the 28 September, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced plans to introduce 30 NHS Dental Access Centres over the next two years and the use of NHS Direct to further improve patients' access to NHS dental care. Further measures to tackle the problem of access will be announced in the Government's Dental Strategy, which will be published later this year.

  Community Hospitals (Oxfordshire)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make an announcement on the future of community hospitals in Oxfordshire; and if he will make a statement. [95984]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 27 October 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State fully recognises the concerns of the local community on such an important issue.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is carefully considering all options before reaching a final decision on the future arrangements for community hospitals in Oxfordshire and the future of Bicester Community Hospital.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust is millennium compliant. [96005]

  Mr. Hutton
  On 30 September 1999, the Action 2000 Traffic Light Score, used to assess the readiness of organisations for the Year 2000, was Blue.

  A Blue score indicates that assessment of the organisation has not identified any risk of material disruption.

  Food Labelling (Nuts)
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to issue guidance on the labelling of nuts
  1031
  in food products following the report of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. [93554]

  Ms Quin
  I have been asked to reply.

  The European Commission is expected to bring forward a proposal by the end of the year, which will extend current labelling requirements for pre-packaged foods so that the presence of added allergens such as nuts will always be declared. Organisations representing UK manufacturers and retailers have already produced general guidance notes for their members on allergens and are preparing specific guidelines on labelling. We are continuing to urge industry to take action on so-called 'defensive labelling' such as 'may contain nuts' so that it is restricted to cases where it is absolutely essential.

SCOTLAND

  Timor Gap
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings were held by his(a) ministers and (b) officials to discuss Scottish investment in oil or gas developments in the Timor Gap; with whom these meetings were held; when they were set up; what the precise purpose of the meetings was; what involvement there was of Indonesian (i) Government ministers (ii) officials and (iii) businesses; and if he will make a statement. [95268]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have held any meetings to discuss Scottish investment in oil or gas developments in the Timor Gap. However, I hosted a dinner with an Australian delegation, led by Mr. Darryl Manzie, the Minister for Resource Development for the Northern Territories, on 3 September 1999. The delegation was visiting the UK to seek partnerships with British companies in relation to oil and gas developments in the Timor Gap and elsewhere. No Indonesian government ministers, officials or businesses were involved in this meeting.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants his Department employs in a research capacity(a) part-time and (b) full-time; and if he will list his Department's contracts for outside research since May. [96064]

  Dr. Reid
  There are no civil servants currently employed in my Department in a full-time or part-time research capacity. I will write to the hon. Member on the question of contracts for outside research since May.

TREASURY

  National Insurance Fund
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the surplus or deficit in the National Insurance Fund for each of the last five years; and what are the expected surpluses or deficits for each of the next five years; [94916]
  1032
  (2) what was the total amount of the National Insurance Fund for each of the last five financial years; and what is expected to be the total amount for each of the next five years. [94917]

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current surplus in the National Insurance Fund; and if he will estimate what the surplus will be for each of the next five years. [96056]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: The available figures for Great Britain are provided in the table.

  £ million

  Year

  1Surplus/Deficit

  2Fund Balance

  1993–94

  1,112

  4,549

  1994–95

  2,279

  6,828

  1995–96

  1,008

  7,836

  1996–97

  -98

  7,737

  1997–98

  1,871

  9,608

  1998–99

  2,565

  12,173

  1999–2000

  1,529

  13,702

  2000–01

  1,630

  15,330

  2001–02

  1,390

  16,730

  1 Excess of receipts over repayments

  2 At the end of the year

  National Insurance Contributions Holiday
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) companies and (b) individuals have benefited from the national insurance contributions holiday since its inception. [94693]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The NIC holiday scheme was introduced in April 1996. By October 1999, only 16,175 individual holidays had been awarded. No information is available on the number of different employers benefiting from the scheme. NIC holidays were available only for jobs starting before 1 April 1999. The New Deal now provides much better methods of encouraging employers to take on the long term unemployed.

  The New Deal for young unemployed people was introduced nationally on April 6 1998. It had already been operating since January 5 in 12 pathfinder areas. The New Deal for Long-Term Unemployed People aged 25+ was introduced nationally on 29 June 1998. By the end of August 1999, 58,200 employers had signed a New Deal employer agreement, and by the end of July 1999, 18,660 young people had obtained a subsidised job through the New Deal. A further 4,630 people had gone into subsidised employment from the New Deal for Long-Term Unemployed People aged 25+.

  Air Passenger Duty
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the present state of discussions with the European Commission regarding infraction proceedings relating to air passenger duty. [95149]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: The Government are considering their response and will make an announcement in due course.

  VAT (Church Repairs)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what power the Government have to reduce VAT on church repairs and maintenance. [95466]

  Dawn Primarolo
  European law does not offer a reduced VAT rate for church repairs and maintenance.

  Double Taxation Agreement (Georgia)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government of Georgia first approached the UK Government to agree a double taxation agreement; and when he estimates such an agreement will be concluded. [95469]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a draft agreement for consideration in June 1997. This is being studied carefully. The UK's programme of Double Taxation Agreement negotiations is planned well in advance and we have received no recent representations for an agreement with Georgia.

  Cigarette Import Prices
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Government policy towards implementation of Council Directive 1999/81/EC (OJ L211 of 11 August 1999); what was the vote of Her Majesty's Government on this issue; what assessment he has made of cigarette import prices consequential to this ruling, via accompanying tax-take effects; and if the matter was discussed with the Department of Health. [95499]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The provisions in Directive 99/81/EC, which was agreed unanimously in Council, do not require any change to UK legislation nor to Government policy. There are no practical implications for the UK tobacco market and, therefore, no effect on tobacco prices or on revenue receipts.

  Contributions Agency
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's staff were employed in the Contributions Agency a year before the passing of the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999; how many are currently so employed; and what the projection is one year hence following the transfer of functions to the Treasury. [95501]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The following information relates to staff in Contributions Agency/National Insurance Contributions Office at:

  31 March 1998, shortly after the Budget announcement of Contributions Agency/Inland Revenue merger;

  31 March 1999, date of merger;

  1 October 1999, latest position;

  31 March 2000, forecast 12 months after merger.

  Information from 1 April 1999 is for National Insurance Contributions Office only as former Contributions Agency staff in Field Operations are now included in Inland Revenue Regional Organisation and subject to their resource plans. The information for 31 March 2000 takes into account the re-organisation of National Insurance Contributions Office/Head Office from 1 November 1999.
  1034

  Contributions Agency including Field Operations

  National Insurance Contributions Office

  Grade

  31 March 1998

  31 March 1999

  1 October 1999

  31 March 2000

  E2

  2,362

  2,350

  1,333

  1,847

  E1

  3,145

  2,714

  2,264

  2,372

  D

  2,010

  2,187

  633

  598

  C2

  443

  455

  231

  193

  C1

  105

  115

  71

  72

  B

  49

  53

  48

  26

  SCS

  4

  6

  5

  4

  Total

  8,118

  7,880

  4,585

  5,112

  Company Accounts
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to the taxation of companies, what his policy is on the accounting treatment of provisions in company accounts and its effect on capital allowances; and if he will make a statement. [95920]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A provision made in the accounts of a company carrying on a trade will be allowable for tax purposes if:the provision is in respect of allowable revenue expenditure
  the making of the provision accords with UK generally accepted accounting practice
  the timing of the expenditure in question is not affected by any specific tax rule
  the provision is sufficiently accurate.

  Capital allowances, by contrast, give relief for capital expenditure. The tax treatment of provisions, which, as the hon. Member will know, is affected by recent judicial decisions, therefore has no effect on the availability of capital allowances. The Inland Revenue continues to monitor developments in the law in this area.

  Tax Starting Rate
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost to public funds of reducing the starting rate of tax on savings by half. [96184]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The starting rate of tax does not apply to savings.

  Care in the Community
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about the adequacy of the census data relating to the level of, and need for, care in the community; what guidance he has given to those answering census questions on care; what information he plans to collate with a view to submitting evidence to the Commission on Long-Term Care; and what discussions on the above matters he has held with the Department of Health. [96446]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The White Paper on the 2001 Census, published in March, announced the Government's proposals with respect to the questions to be asked in the next Census. This included, for the first time, a question on provision of care. This followed a lengthy and detailed consultation period including representations from both central and local government and others for a question on provision of care to be asked.
  1035
  The question on which the Department of Health has been fully consulted, and which has been successfully tested, focuses on the number of hours of care provided per week (defined as help or support to others with long-term physical or mental ill-health, with a disability, or with problems related to old age) in three bands for 1–19 hours, 20–49 hours and 50 or more hours.

  Final details will be announced in the Census Order and Regulations to be laid before Parliament shortly.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply (1) to his letter of 6 August on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Jackson; [96282]

  (2) his letter of 10 August on behalf of his constituent Mr. Field; [96513]

  (3) his letter of 8 September on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Gauvey; [96283]

  (4) his letter of 2 September on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Perkins. [96290]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman yesterday.

  VAT
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EU countries about EU proposals to enable a reduced rate of VAT to apply to(a) labour-intensive industries and (b) work on listed buildings. [95490]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The terms of a draft Directive to allow member states to apply a reduced rate of VAT to certain labour-intensive services have been discussed by the European Council of Finance Ministers on several occasions this year: final agreement was reached on 22 October.

  There have been no discussions specifically about a reduced rate for work on listed buildings.

  Debt Management Office
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the UK Debt Management Office's annual report and accounts for 1998–99. [96909]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The DMO's annual report and accounts for 1998–99, its first year of operation, are being published today. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Tax Law Rewrite
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there have been further developments on the Tax Law Rewrite project. [96953]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I am pleased to be able to tell the House that the Tax Law Rewrite project is continuing to make good progress. The Inland Revenue today published the project's eighth Exposure Draft, containing draft rewritten clauses on the savings and investment income of individuals. In due course, these clauses will be 1036
  included in a Bill, which will completely rewrite income tax legislation. Copies of the Exposure Draft will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Pensioners (Tax)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners will be paying tax at the higher rate in(a) 2010, (b) 2020, (c) 2030, (d) 2040 and (e) 2050, assuming that tax bands for pensioners are indexed to prices. [95537]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Reliable estimates cannot be given, due to uncertainty about levels of pensions and other income so many years ahead.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many, and what percentage of, pensioners paid income tax in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000; and if he will estimate the number who will pay tax in 2000–01. [95733]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The numbers and percentages of pensioners paying tax in 1997–98, and those estimated to pay tax in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, 2000–01, are as follows:

  Year

  Number of pensioner taxpayers (million)

  Percentage of all pensioners

  1997–98

  4.0

  37

  1998–99

  4.1

  39

  1999–2000

  3.8

  35

  2000–01

  4.0

  37

  Notes:

  1. The numbers are based on the 1997 Survey of Personal Incomes.

  2. Pensioners have been defined as women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what marginal tax rates are faced by pensioners in different income groups, taking into account the payment of tax and the loss of eligibility for means-tested assistance. [95518]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have been asked to reply.

  Average Marginal Reduction Rates across more than one benefit are not readily available. The information requested therefore could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Retraining Assistance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of providing retraining assistance by(a) tax allowances or rebates and (b) facilitating career development loans at lower than commercial rates of interest for individuals in employment but at risk of becoming unemployed; and if he will make a statement. [94811]

  Mr. Wicks
  I have been asked to reply.

  Vocational Training Relief (VTR) is currently available to individuals paying for their own training/retraining in certain circumstances. Individuals who undergo retraining provided by their employer or former employer around the time of redundancy are exempt from income tax on

  1037
  the benefit of that retraining. This is in addition to the general tax exception for employees on the benefit in kind of work-related training funded by their employer.

  A national framework for individual learning accounts will be launched in 2000. Under this framework, individuals will be able to obtain 20 per cent. discounts, rather than tax relief, on the first £500 a year of a wide range of learning which they pay for—with 80 per cent. discounts for certain key courses, including computer literacy. Contributions paid by employers towards eligible learning for employees who hold individual learning accounts will qualify for a deduction from taxable profits. They will also be tax and NICs free in the hands of their employees, provided employers contribute to the learning accounts of their lowest paid workers on similar terms. Individual learning accounts will promote lifelong learning and encourage individuals to take responsibility for their own training and development.

  The Chancellor announced in this year's budget that VTR is to be withdrawn sometime in 2000–01, when the national framework for individual learning accounts is launched. The incentives announced for individual learning accounts provide a better means of targeting support from public funds than VTR.

  There are no immediate plans to change the terms under which loans are offered by banks under the Career Development Loan (CDL) scheme. However, we are actively looking at what improvements can be made to the provision of support for learning, to help individuals to access training. As part of this, we are keeping under review the operation and terms of the CDL scheme, and consideration of the terms under which individual learning accounts should be introduced, in accordance with the proposals in "The Learning Age" Green Paper.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer on 25 June 1999,Official Report, column 483, on special advisers, how many meetings his Special Adviser David Clark held with members and officials of the United States Government during his visit to the USA on 19 to 24 April, indicating the date and location of each meeting, and the names of the members and officials of the US Government at each meeting and the name of the US department to which they belong. [93963]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  David Clark, Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, accompanied the Secretary of State to the NATO Summit in Washington from 19 to 24 April. He was a member of the Foreign Secretary's official delegation, and, in this capacity, he attended official meetings with the Foreign Secretary.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1999,Official Report, column 483, how many meetings his special adviser Andrew Hood held with members and officials of the United States Government during his visit to the USA on 20 to 23 June 1997; and what were the dates and locations of each
  1038
  meeting, the names of the members and officials of the US Government at each meeting and the name of the US department to which they belonged. [93912]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Andrew Hood, Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, accompanied the Foreign Secretary to the G7 Summit in Denver in June 1997. He was a member of the Foreign Secretary's official delegation, and, in this capacity, he attended official meetings with the Foreign Secretary.

  EC Directorate General
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the breakdown is by nationality of the senior grades in each EC Directorate General. [95408]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have obtained the information on the breakdown of nationality in each Directorate General from the European Commission. This information has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Georgia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the conduct of the general election in Georgia and on the activities of the Revival Party. [95815]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 28 October 1999]: Voting will take place in the Georgian parliamentary elections on 31 October. We have reports of some intimidation and obstruction of candidates and supporters on all sides during the campaign, as well as a single violent incident when a hand grenade was thrown into the garden of one of the candidates of the Socialist party, fortunately not resulting in any injuries. As well as observing the conduct of the election through the British Embassy in Tbilisi, the Government have committed £70,000 towards the OSCE monitoring mission for the elections, which will fund UK personnel in the management team and both long-term and short-term observers. We welcome the appointment of my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) as Special Representative of the Chairman in Office of the OSCE: he will co-present the findings of the monitors after the elections. We intend to wait until the official OSCE report on the elections is published before commenting more generally on the conduct of the elections.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sri Lanka concerning the treatment of the Tamil minority. [96418]

  Mr. Hain
  We maintain a dialogue with the Sri Lankan Government on a wide range of issues including human rights. We shall continue to monitor the situation and will raise our concerns whenever appropriate.

  Chinese President (State Visit)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what meetings took place between his Department and the Metropolitan
  1039
  Police at which the policing and public order implications of the state visit of the President of China were discussed; [96408]

  (2) what representations his Department made to the Royal Parks Police about the policing of the State Visit of the President of China; [96488]

  (3) what meetings were held between his Department and the Royal Parks Police about the state visit of the President of China. [96492]

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings took place between Foreign Office officials and the police to discuss the policing of protestors during the visit of the President of China; if he will publish the minutes of those meetings; and if he will make a statement. [96458]

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

  Immigration
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the waiting time for interviews for settlement purposes at posts in(a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Bangladesh. [95947]

  Mr. Vaz
  The waiting time figures as at the end of September were as follows:

  Waiting times for interviews for settlement purposes

  weeks

  Post

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  India

  Bombay

  0

  4

  4

  4

  New Delhi

  0

  16

  21

  25

  Pakistan

  Islamabad

  8

  40

  42

  50

  Bangladesh

  Dhaka

  17

  26

  11

  49

  Notes:

  Queue 1-4 System

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

  Queue 2—Spouses and Children under 18;

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

  Queue 4—Re-applicants.

  The visa sections at Calcutta, Madras and Karachi have a standard single queue for all settlement applications. Their current waiting times are:

  Calcutta: currently no queue

  Madras: 2 weeks

  Karachi: 8 weeks.

  European Union Programme
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for November and (b) the major European Union events for the next six months. [96950]
  1040
  Mr. Vaz
  The information is as follows:

  Monthly forecast of EU Business: November 1999

  November 1999

  2 November—Dubai—EU-Gulf Co-operation Council (EU-GCC 9th Joint Council)
  Opening Statement by the President of the Meeting (United Arab Emirates) and reply by the EU Presidency

  Adoption by the Agenda

  Implementation of the Co-operation Agreement

  Free trade agreement negotiations

  Exchange of views on developments in the two regions:

  European Union; Gulf Co-operation Council

  Exchange of views on political questions of common interest

  Approval of the Joint Communique and agreed minutes

  Any other business

  3-4 November—Brussels—European Parliamentary Plenary

  Consultation Procedure
  (possible) Proposal for a Council Decision concluding the Agreement for scientific and technological co-operation between the European Community and the People's Republic of China
  (possible) Proposal for a Council Decision concluding the Agreement on co-operation for science and technology between the European Community and the government of the Russia Federation
  (possible) Proposal for a Council Decision concluding the Agreement for scientific and technological co-operation between the European Community and the Argentine Republic

  Codecision Procedure

  Second Reading
  (possible) Common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive concerning the enforcement of seafarers' hours of work on board ships using Community ports
  (possible) Common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 93/104/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time to cover sectors and activities excluded from that Directive
  (possible) Common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars.

  8 November—Brussels—ECOFIN Council

  Adoption of the provisional agenda

  Approval of the list of "A" items

  The Tax Package

  (a) Taxation of Savings
  Key issues; reports on Dependent or Associated Territories

  (b) Code of Conduct on business taxation
  state of play

  (c) Interests and Royalties
  (possible) Energy Taxation
  Economic policy co-ordination
  Draft Council report to European Council
  EIB lending: Renewal of Community guarantee for projects in third countries
  (possible) HIPC-initiative
  The introduction of euro notes and coins Common statement
  Risk capital: Implementation of the Action Plan—Communication by the Commission
  (possible) Own Resources Decision

  1041
  The Employment package
  Revised Joint Employment Report
  Joint opinion of the EPC/ELC on the Employment Guidelines and Recommendations
  AOB (p.m.—Euro 11; Macroeconomic dialogue)

  8 November—Brussels—Consumer Affairs Council

  Adoption of the agenda
  (possible) Approval of the list of "A" items
  Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive concerning the distance marketing of consumer financial services and modifying Directives 97/7/EC and 98/27/EC (Legal basis proposed by Commission: Articles 47[2], 55 and 95) (Item on which a vote may be called for)
  Common position
  13097/98 CONSOM 76 ECOFIN 239 CODEC 622
  10505/99 CONSOM 46 ECOFIN 136 CODEC 456
  Implementation and application of consumer protection legislation
  Information from the Commission on the implementation and application in the member states of certain Directives, in particular Directives on time-sharing and package holidays

  Consumer access to justice

  (a) Information from the Commission on the follow-up to its recommendation on the principles applicable to the mechanisms responsible for out-of-court settlements of consumer disputes

  (b) Information from the Presidency on the European Council meeting in Tampere on 15 and 16 October 1999 as regards the item on citizen's access to justice

  Food Security

  (a) Information campaign on food security in the member states Progress report from the Commission

  (b) "European Food 2000" seminar (Helsinki, 23 and 24 September 1999) Presidency briefing on the outcome

  (c) Discussion (15.00-16.00: open debate)
  Consumer protection and services of general interest—Discussion 11682/99 CONSOM 49 MI 93
  Other business
  Transparency for the consumer in regard to civil liability for motor vehicles (automobile insurance)
  contribution by the Italian delegation

  November—Brussels—Industry Council

  Adoption of the agenda

  (possible) Approval of the list of "A" items

  Competitiveness and entrepreneurial policy of the European Union

  Debate and Council conclusions

  (a) Commission communication entitled "Structural change and adjustment in European manufacturing"
  11552/99 ECO 309
  11706/99 ECO 317

  (b) Competitiveness in the Information Society

  (c) Medium-term programme for the organisation of an ongoing debate on industrial competitiveness

  (d) SME

  SME forum: Rapid growth and competitiveness through technology

  Commission report on concerted action with the member states
  1042
  Integration of sustainable development into EU industrial policy
  Report to the Helsinki European Council
  State of the competitiveness of the EU forest-based and related industries
  Commission communication
  Council conclusions 11707/99 ECO 318

  Steel industry

  (a) State of the competitiveness of the steel industry in the EU
  Commission communication
  Commission presentation
  11708/99 SID 32 SOC 332 FIN 374 ECO 319

  (b) Commission report to the Council on the monitoring of aid for steel covered by Article 95 of the Treaty
  Information from the Commission
  Shipbuilding
  Commission report on the international shipbuilding situation
  Council conclusions 11919/99 RC 24

  (b) Fourth Commission report to the Council on the monitoring of aid to certain shipyards currently being restructured in Germany and Spain
  Commission presentation 11921/99 RC 26
  White Paper on the modernisation of the rules laid down by Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty—Commission briefing
  Other business—State aids
  Note from the Danish delegation
  11855/99 ECO 323 FIN 379 RC 23 EEE 99

  11 November—Brussels—Development Council

  No agenda yet available

  11 November—Brussels—Standing Committee on Employment

  Rules of procedure
  Confirmation of the Council's position
  Co-ordinated strategy for employment
  Commission Communication on Employment Guidelines for 2000
  Draft Joint Report on Employment for 1999
  Commission Recommendation for a Council Recommendation on the implementation of member states' employment policies
  The discussion will take account of the Community's economic and social objectives (i.e. the Broad Economic Guidelines).

  11–12 November—Helsinki—Ministerial Conference on the Northern Dimension

  No formal agenda

  12 November—Brussels—Accession Conference

  No formal agenda

  12 November—Brussels—Labour and Social Affairs Council

  Adoption of the provisional agenda

  (possible) Approval of the list of "A" items
  Employment
  Proposal for Guidelines for Member States' Employment Policies 2000
  doc. 10992/99/SOC 302 ECOFIN 159
  Draft Joint Employment Report 1999
  doc. 10993/99 SOC 303 ECOFIN 160 + COR1 (f)
  Commission Recommendation for Council Recommendations on the Implementation of Member States' Employment Policies doc. 10994/99 SOC 304 ECOFIN 161
  Any other business

  15–16 November—Brussels—Agriculture Council

  Adoption of the agenda

  Approval of the list of "A" items

  Strategy on environmental integration and sustainable development in the common agricultural policy (in preparation for the Helsinki European Council on 11 and 12 December 1999) 12082/99 AGRI 165 ENV 360

  1043
  Beef labelling

  (a) Report by the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council on the situation regarding the implementation of beef-labelling systems in the different Member States (Art. 19(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97) 12031/99 AGRILEG 163

  (b) Proposals for Regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council

  establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97
  amending Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products 12030/99 AGRILEG 162 CODEC 583
  Progress report

  Proposal for a Council Regulation on measures to promote and provide information on agricultural products in third countries (Item on which a vote may be requested)

  (Legal basis: Art. 37 of the Treaty) 5386/99 AGRI 7 AGRIFIN 7

  (possible) Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (non-food) (Item on which a vote may be requested)

  (Legal basis: Art. 36 and 37 of the Treaty) 11375/95 AGRIORG 249 AGRIFIN 220

  (possible) Cotton: Proposals for Council Regulations

  adjusting, for the sixth time, the system of aid for cotton introduced by Protocol 4 annexed to the Act of Accession of Greece

  relating to the production aid for cotton
  (possible) Commission information on the banana dossier
  Extension of State aid for small producers
  Austrian delegation's request for authorisation

  Items Within the Competence of the Permanent Representatives Committee
  Dioxin: Progress report
  (possible) Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine
  Other business

  Use of hormones as growth promoters (request by the Danish delegation)

  Equal opportunities for men and women and rural development (request by the Swedish delegation)

  Organisation of future work

  15–16 November—Brussels—General Affairs Council

  Adoption of the provisional agenda

  Approval of the list of "A" items

  Horizontal Issues
  Resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament at its part-sessions in Strasbourg on 417 and 25129 October 1999
  Electoral procedure
  European Security and Defence Policy: elements for the Presidency report on military and non-military aspects of crisis management
  Common Strategies

  1044
  External Relations

  Negotiations for a development partnership agreement with the ACP state
  preparation for the next Ministerial Conference

  Follow-up of the EU-Russia Summit

  Pakistan; Western Balkans; Indonesia

  Bananas

  WTO: Ministerial Conference in Seattle

  AOB

  Items Likely to Become "A" Points

  Adoption of the EU position for the 12th meeting of the EEA Council

  Adoption of the EU position for the Association Council with Tunisia (16 November 1999)

  Adoption of the EU position for the 5th Association Council with Bulgaria (16 November 1999)

  Adoption of the EU position for the second Co-operation Council with Moldova on 16 November 1999

  (possible) European armaments policy: adoption of the common position

  15–19 November—Strasbourg—European Parliament Plenary
  No agenda yet available

  16 November—Brussels—EEA Council
  No agenda yet available

  18 November—Brussels—Health Council
  No agenda yet available

  22 November—Brussels—Fisheries Council (possible)
  No agenda yet available

  23 November—Brussels—Culture/Audiovisual Council
  No agenda yet available

  23 November—Brussels—Youth Council
  No agenda yet available

  25–26 November—Brussels—Budget Council
  No agenda yet available

  26 November—Brussels—Education Council
  No agenda yet available

  29 November—Brussels—Labour and Social Affairs Council
  No agenda yet available

  29 November—Brussels—ECOFIN Council
  Preparation of the European Council in Helsinki

  Economic policy cooperation, report by the Council

  Employment

  Joint annual employment report of Council and Commission

  Employment Guidelines 2000
  Report on reinforced tax policy co-operation
  Effective fight against fraud
  Report by the Council

  Tax Package

  Code of Conduct (Business Taxation)

  Final report

  Taxation of Savings—Political agreement on Draft Directive

  Interest and Royalties—Political agreement on Draft Directive

  1045

  Implementation of Stability and Growth Pact

  Financial Services Policy Group

  Report by the Commission
  Amendment of the UCITS Directive
  Political agreement
  Annual Report of the Court of Auditors concerning financial year 1998
  EURO 11—Joint meeting with Labour and Social Affairs Council (Employment Guidelines 2000 and joint annual employment report)

  30 November—Brussels—Telecommunications Council
  No agenda yet available

  30 November-3 December—Seattle—WTO Ministerial Conference
  No formal agenda.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Hill Farmers
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the deadline for responses to the consultation paper on payments to hill farmers under Agenda 2000. [97030]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I intend to issue the consultation paper on payments to hill farmers in England next week. We will be seeking responses by 3 December.

  Veterinary Surgeons
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with(a) the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and (b) the British Veterinary Association concerning the English language skills of foreign-trained veterinary surgeons seeking employment in this country. [88294]

  Ms Quin
  I can confirm that the Minister and appropriate officials have regular contact with representatives of both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association.

  The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is obliged to register Veterinary Surgeons who have qualified from recognised establishments within the European Union. This is a reciprocal arrangement. Veterinary Surgeons who have qualified from non-European Union non-recognised establishments are required to pass a written examination (in English) before they can be registered with the college. Registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is a pre-requisite to practising veterinary surgery.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulatory powers he has over the level of fees charged by veterinary surgeons; and if he will make a statement. [89967]

  Ms Quin
  We have no regulatory powers over the level of fees charged by veterinary surgeons in private veterinary practice. There is a free market in the provision of private veterinary services and animal owners may choose the veterinary practice which treats their animals.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost in 1997 of 1046
  compensating farmers for (a) cattle compulsorily slaughtered after testing positive in the tuberculin skin test and (b) cattle which were found not to be infected on post-mortem and culture examination. [93738]

  Ms Quin
  A total of £2.38 million was paid out in 1997 in compensation for 3,298 reactors and 462 contact animals, of which £1.02 million was for reactors subsequently found in post mortem and culture examinations not to have been infected with TB.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research the Government is conducting on the pathogenesis and epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis in cattle. [93739]

  Ms Quin
  A wide range of research activity is in progress in this area, as set out in the reply given to the hon. Member on 20 July 1999,Official Report, column 495. In addition, the Independent Scientific Group has recently made recommendations on further research needs relating to the pathogenesis of M. bovis and MAFF will shortly be inviting applications for research proposals.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the development of a tuberculosis vaccine for cattle. [94922]

  Ms Quin
  The Government are funding expenditure of about £1.4 million a year on vaccine development. The main thrust of the programme in its first five-year phase is to identify vaccine candidates. The work is being carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Institute of Animal Health, drawing on work carried out internationally and in related fields, such as human vaccines, as appropriate. Emerging findings will be published as and when appropriate.

  Milk Imports (Stansted)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much milk was imported through Stansted airport from Holland in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [93733]

  Ms Quin
  No figures are available for imports of milk through individual airports.

  Discarding
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the publication date for the research study commissioned from Nautilus Consultants in June on economic aspects of discarding. [95404]

  Ms Quin
  The research study is jointly funded by MAFF, the Commission and the Dutch and French Governments and involves consultants from UK, France and Netherlands. Nautilus Consultants is the UK Contractor. The project commenced in June and is expected to take about 18 months to complete. It is intended that the results will be published but it is too early to give a precise date for publication.

  Cattle Passports
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the cost of cattle passports is calculated; and what is the cost of similar arrangements in each EU member state. [94289]
  1047
  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Minister announced on 20 September 1999 that the Government would not now be proceeding with their proposals to charge for cattle passports. In the current depressed state of the market this would be an additional burden on farmers. The Government will continue to meet the running costs of the Cattle Tracing System and will not impose charges before 2002–03 at the earliest.

  Regarding charges in other member states, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Steen) on 22 July 1999, Official Report, column 660.

  GM Crops
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from(a) retailers and (b) consumer representatives on the thresholds of genetically modified material in food currently subject to consultation by the European Commission; what advice his Department has given to the Commission; and if he will make a statement. [94872]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 21 October 1999]: MAFF received a number of responses from retailers and consumer representatives in response to the recent EC Commission proposal on thresholds for GM material in food. The vast majority of these supported the threshold of 1 per cent. contained in the proposal as being a practical upper limit taking into account the current situation with regard to analytical methods and supply chain. It was recognised that this threshold would apply to food ingredients so that the level in the final food would be much lower.

  The proposal was agreed in Brussels on 21 October with only minor changes.

  In agreeing to the 1 per cent. figure we made clear that actual levels of GM material in non GM soya and maize ingredients should be kept as low as possible and that the threshold itself should be reviewed within two years. The Commission will be drafting a statement to accompany the Regulation to cover this point.

  We shall be continuing to press strongly for clear EC rules to be agreed on GM free labelling and the labelling of animal foods containing GM material as quickly as possible.

  Animal and Food Exports
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans he has to make bilateral agreements with(a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Estonia, (e) Slovenia and (f) Slovakia to minimise regulation and to expedite veterinary inspection relating to the export of UK animal and food products; and if he will make a statement; [94609]

  (2) if the EU Commission is seeking to reach agreement with applicant countries for EU membership, in advance of their accession, to minimise regulation and to expedite veterinary inspection relating to the export of EU animal and food products; and if he will make a statement. [94610]

  Ms Quin
  There are already agreements between the European Union and the applicant countries. One of the objectives of these agreements is a free trade area to 1048
  establish progressively between the European Union and each of the applicant countries. In addition, Accession Partnerships offer applicant countries EU assistance in meeting priorities for adoption of the Community acquis, including trade rules which underpin the operation of the Single Market.

  In the case of the Czech Republic there is a specific Protocol to the Europe Agreement concerning sanitary, phytosanitary and animal welfare measures in relation to trade. Under the terms of the Protocol, there are reduced frequencies for physical checks on certain products traded between the parties. The European Commission has discussed the possibility of similar protocols for trade with Slovakia, Hungary and Poland but these have not yet been concluded.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letter of 1 September on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Doyle; [96287]

  (2) when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letter of 2 September on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Newman; [96289]

  (3) when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letter of 7 September on behalf of his constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. [96288]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I wrote to the right hon. Member on 28 October 1999 in response to the letters to which he refers.

  Portugal (BSE)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department is to provide assistance to the Portuguese Government for the incineration of carcases to combat BSE; and if any such carcases will be imported for destruction in the United Kingdom. [95298]

  Ms Quin
  Should the Portuguese Government ask for technical assistance on incineration of carcases, or on any other matter, we would endeavour to provide it. But we have not been asked to take any bovine carcases from Portugal for destruction and we have no plans to offer this facility.

  Departmental Twinning
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many requests there have been to his Department for placement of officials from Central, East European and CIS states as twins of his officials; how many such officials have been accepted as twins; and from which countries(a) those who were accepted and (b) those who were not accepted came. [94007]
  1049
  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 25 October 1999, Official Report, column 739.

  CAP
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a copy of the Coopers and Lybrand review of Common Agricultural Policy administration. [95454]

  Ms Quin
  A copy of the Coopers and Lybrand review of Common Agricultural Policy administration has been placed in the Library of the House. The review was completed in April 1998, and the Department is now developing an integrated IT system for administering CAP schemes, including a geographical information system (GIS) for the Integrated Administration and Control System.

  As part of the Ministry's programme for Modernising Government, and to meet its commitment to review at least 60 per cent. of services by March 2003, the Ministry has now embarked on a wide-ranging review of how aid schemes under the Common Agricultural Policy are administered in England, taking account of the opportunities for improving service delivery which the new IT system will offer. PricewaterhouseCoopers have been commissioned to help with this review. The review is currently under way and PricewaterhouseCoopers are due to report their findings before the end of the year.

  Poultry Imports
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the(a) veterinary drug policies and (b) farming practices used in countries from which the UK imports poultry; and if he will make a statement. [95713]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: Imports of fresh poultry meat must originate only from third countries on a list drawn up by the European Commission. In drawing up the list the Commission must take account of the state in that country of:

  the health of poultry, other domestic animals and wildlife;

  the supply of information relating to the existence of contagious animal diseases;

  rules and organisation on, and implementation of, disease prevention and control;

  the structure and powers of the veterinary service;

  legislation on the use of banned substances;

  the guarantees the country can give with regard to compliance with EU import rules.

  In addition, any third country wishing to export fresh meat to the European Union must submit veterinary drug residue testing plans to the Commission. These describe the residue testing programme to be undertaken in respect of their food production and must provide guarantees, which are at least equivalent to the requirements of the Community on EC producers. Commission inspectors verify compliance with residue testing plans when they carry out periodic checks on third country slaughterhouses authorised to produce meat for export to the Community.

  AIDS Vaccine Development
  AIDS Vaccine Development
  Population Control Programmes: Funding
  Population Control Programmes: Funding
  Population Control: Policy
  Population Control: Policy
  Seizures of Weapons and Ammunition
  Seizures of Weapons and Ammunition
  Northern Ireland: Arms Decommissioned
  Northern Ireland: Arms Decommissioned
  RCDS Exercise: "Enemy Forces"
  RCDS Exercise: "Enemy Forces"
  Immigration and Asylum Bill, Clause 20
  Immigration and Asylum Bill, Clause 20
  Amsterdam Treaty and Immigration and Asylum Measures
  Amsterdam Treaty and Immigration and Asylum Measures
  Work Permits
  Work Permits
  Regional Venture Capital
  Regional Venture Capital
  Farmers' Income Tax Relief
  Farmers' Income Tax Relief
  Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994: Amendment Proposals
  Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994: Amendment Proposals
  Foreign Affairs Committee Reports: Premature Disclosure
  Foreign Affairs Committee Reports: Premature Disclosure
  Rural Development Plans
  Rural Development Plans
  Seal Populations
  Seal Populations