Written Answers of 4 April 2000

CABINET OFFICE

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the Ministers responsible for regulatory reform; and if she will make a statement. [117920]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Ministers for Regulatory Reform in the key regulatory Departments are:HM Treasury—Paymaster General (Dawn Primarolo MP)
  Department of Trade and Industry—Minister of State (Patricia Hewitt MP)
  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Whitty)
  Department of Health—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Hunt)
  Home Office—Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Mike O'Brien MP)
  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—Minister of State (the right hon. Joyce Quin MP)
  Department for Education and Employment—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Margaret Hodge MP).

  Ministers for Regulatory Reform in other regulatory Departments are:
  Department for Culture, Media and Sport—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Janet Anderson MP)
  Department for Social Security—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Hugh Bayley MP)
  Ministry of Defence—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Dr. Lewis Moonie MP)
  Lord Chancellor's Department—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jane Kennedy MP).

  The Ministers were appointed to drive forward the better regulation agenda throughout Government. They are charged with:
  removing any regulations which are outdated or burdensome, and;
  ensuring that any necessary new regulations are introduced at the least cost to business.

  On 30 March the Prime Minister and I met Regulatory Reform Ministers at Downing Street to discuss progress.

  Works of Art
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on(a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in her Department for each financial year since 1992. [117469]
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  Mr. Stringer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts,Official Report, columns 392-93W.

  Knowledge Network Computer System
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) who will have access to the full Knowledge Network Computer system; [117033]

  (2) what information held on the Knowledge Network Computer system will not be placed on the internet; [117034]

  (3) if information relating to opposition parties will be held on the Knowledge Network Computer System. [117097]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Access to the full Knowledge Network will be restricted to Ministers and civil servants (including Special Advisers).

  On the question of availability of information from the Knowledge Network, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 23 March 2000, Official Report, column 691W and to the letter sent on 24 March from the Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service to the Chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee, a copy of which I am placing in the Library of both Houses.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Footballers
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 2000,Official Report, column 42W, if it is the Government's policy to (a) support or (b) oppose the exemptions from EU employment law which are being sought by UEFA in its negotiations with the European Commission. [117625]

  Ms Hodge
  No specific proposals have yet emerged from the EC. The Government expect that all member states would have the opportunity to discuss any possible changes to EU employment law. Consultation with national sporting bodies and other interested parties would be an important element of this.

  Disability Equipment and Services
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he has made to the Audit Commission's report, "Fully Equipped", on the provision of disability equipment and services. [117367]

  Ms Hodge
  I welcome the contribution to improving services for disabled people of the Audit Commission's report "Fully Equipped", which was addressed to the Department of Health.

  The hon. Gentleman may wish to refer to the response given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. McCabe) on 29 March 2000, Official Report, column 336, regarding the Government's intentions following publication of this report.

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117421]

  Ms Hodge
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitley (Mr. Quinn) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what studies he has made of the relative attractiveness and cost of study at United Kingdom higher education institutions compared with those in(a) developed anglophone countries and (b) other members of the European Union, for overseas students (i) in receipt of and (ii) without bursaries from public funds. [117363]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Government commissioned the British Council last year, as part of the initiative to bring more international students to the UK, to research the relative attractiveness and the actual and perceived costs of studying in the UK compared with other developed anglophone countries. No distinction was made between students with or without bursaries. The summary of this research, the Brand Report, is available on the EducationUK website at www.educationuk.org. We have made no similar studies on other European Union member countries.

  Young Children (Hearing Loss)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about the current responsibilities of his Department towards supporting the language and educational development of children under two years of age with a recognised hearing loss. [117364]

  Jacqui Smith
  It is for local education authorities to make educational provision for children of statutory school age, and those over the age of two with a statement of special educational needs, including those with a hearing-impairment. Where appropriate, local education authorities may also make special educational provision for children under two years of age.

  Teachers of the Deaf
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many teachers enrolled on mandatory courses leading to a qualification as a teacher of the deaf in each of the last five years; [117365]

  (2) how many teachers undertook a mandatory course to train as a teacher of the deaf on a self-funding basis in each of the past five years. [117366]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department does not collect this information.

  School Meals
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of extending free school meals to(a) all
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  families in receipt of working families tax credit and (b) families in receipt of working families tax credit with less than half the average family income; [117142]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the cost of extending free school meals to families where a parent is in receipt of the disabled person's tax credit. [117143]

  Jacqui Smith

  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The Department does not collect information on the cost of providing free school meals. We estimate that the annual cost in England of extending free school meals to children in full-time education (a) whose families are in receipt of working families tax credit would be over £400 million; (b) whose families are in receipt of working families tax credit with less than half the average family income would be slightly lower than £400 million; and (c) from families where a parent is in receipt of disabled person's tax credit could be in the region of £0.5 million.

  We have no current plans to extend eligibility for free school meals (which would require primary legislation), but we are working closely with Group on ways of increasing take-up by entitled pupils.

  Standard Assessment Testing
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will use the number of pupils eligible for free school meals as a criterion for determining in which group a school is placed for the purpose of evaluating SATs results. [117229]

  Jacqui Smith
  My officials already use eligibility for free school meals as a criterion in the presentation of the Autumn Package of pupil performance information to schools.

  The Autumn Package, in conjunction with the Performance and Assessment (PANDA) Report for schools produced by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), allows schools to compare their Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 SAT results with other schools with similar eligibility for free school meals.

  Early Years Education
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for(a) England and (b) each local education authority in Hampshire the number of additional free early years education places that would be required to meet the Government's target of free places being available for 66 per cent. of three-year-olds by 2002. [115965]

  Ms Hodge

  [holding answer 23 March 2000]: We shall have created 190,000 new free early years education places for three-year-olds by March 2002, at a cost of £390 million over three years. This will meet the national target of providing 66 per cent. of all three-year-olds in England with a free place.

  The following table shows the estimated number of new places required in the local education authorities in the county of Hampshire to take the number of free places available in their areas to the level of the national target.
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  The criteria for distributing places have not yet been decided for 2001–02. The distribution will take account of factors such as social need. As a result, individual authorities may have higher or lower proportions of free places than the national average.

  Number

  Hampshire

  9,174

  Southampton

  1,080

  Portsmouth

  828

PRIME MINISTER

  Interception of Communications
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to information derived from interception of communications of United Kingdom citizens where that has been undertaken by foreign powers, and where Her Majesty's Government's policy would not have allowed such an interception to have been initiated by any of the security and intelligence agencies. [116902]

  The Prime Minister

  [holding answer 30 March 2000]: The Interception of Communications Acts make clear that the interception of communications on a public telecommunications network in the United Kingdom may not lawfully be carried out without a warrant signed by a Secretary of State. These arrangements will be enhanced by the provisions in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill, now in Standing Committee.

  It would be unacceptable for our Security and Intelligence Agencies to ask foreign agencies to undertake on their behalf interception which our agencies could not lawfully carry out themselves. They do not do this.

  Paternity Leave
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Prime Minister what considerations underlie his policy on paternity leave; and if he will make a statement. [117292]

  The Prime Minister
  The Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999 give both employed parents of a child born or placed for adoption after 15 December 1999 a minimum entitlement of 13 weeks unpaid parental leave during the first five years of parenthood. These regulations implement the Parental Leave Directive and reflect the Government's wish to help the parents of young children strike a better balance between their work and family commitments. The Government encourage employers to improve on these minimum requirements where this accords with the needs of employees and is compatible with the efficient running of the business.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to publish the agenda of the Council of Ministers and make a statement to the House in advance of Council summit meetings. [116722]
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  The Prime Minister
  We give the House each month a forecast of EU business in the months ahead, including details of the agenda of Council of Ministers meetings when available. We will maintain established procedures for briefing Parliament before and after European Councils.

  BNFL
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the comments concerning the future of BNFL posted on the Speakers' Corner section of the Downing street interactive website. [116998]

  The Prime Minister
  The comments have been noted.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter of 13 March from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells regarding the Deputy Prime Minister. [117789]

  The Prime Minister
  My office has passed the hon. Member's letter to the office of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for reply. My right hon. Friend has asked for advice from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and will reply to the hon. Member when he has received that advice.

  European Council (Lisbon)
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the personnel who attended the European Council in Lisbon on 23 to 24 March, indicating their functions in each case. [117115]

  The Prime Minister

  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The composition of the United Kingdom Delegation was as follows:

  Myself

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer

  The Secretary of State for Foreign arid Commonwealth Affairs

  The Minister for Europe (Mr. Vaz).

  In addition to HM Ambassador to Lisbon and the UK Permanent Representative to the European Union, the delegation comprised five No. 10 officials and one Special Adviser, six Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials, five HM Treasury officials and a single official from each of the Cabinet Office, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security. An official from the Northern Ireland Office also travelled with the delegation for my bilateral meeting in the margins of the Council with the Taioseach. A further British official attended the European Council in his capacity as President of the Economic Policy Committee.

  Staff from the British Embassy. in Lisbon and UKREP Brussels provided further support to the Delegation. I, and my colleagues, were supported by the usual number of administrative, security and secure telecommunications staff associated with a visit abroad by the Prime Minister or a senior Cabinet Minister. This is in line with the practice adopted by previous Administrations.
  391W
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Prime Minister using what mode of travel, and when,(a) he, (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (c) the Foreign Secretary returned to the UK from the European Council in Lisbon on 24 and 25 March. [117141]

  The Prime Minister

  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: I returned to the UK by air on Friday 24 March 2000. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer returned to the UK by air on Thursday 23 March. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs accompanied his French counterpart on a French aircraft for a meeting in Paris on Friday 24 March and returned to London by air that evening.

  All travel was undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Library.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Websites
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of websites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each website (i) the topics that have been covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each website for each of the next three years. [116202]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Department's new website www.culture.gov.uk was launched on 28 February.

  It is designed to meet customer requirements—allowing new and regular visitors to discover more about the cultural assets of this country and the role of the Department within Government. It is a portal site which guides the browser through an array of governmental, public body and other cultural and sporting sites. The Department's news releases, publications, consultation papers and extensive contact information are all available on the site.

  The site cost £80,000 to redevelop. This included costs for:

  tendering the work;

  site redesign and development;

  the introduction of a text only version of the site to help users with visual disabilities;

  the introduction of a search engine; and

  the incorporation of a previously separate lottery site which allows browsers to have access to information about every lottery award made since the introduction of the National Lottery.

  The cost of the site redevelopment was met from the Department's 1999–2000 publicity budget—which was within budget for the year.

  The operation of the site was within the budgeted £40,000.
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  The new site averages 34,000 hits per day, or just under 1,000 visitors per day.

  Expenditure in future years to maintain the site is as given above. There are no current plans for further redevelopment of the site.

  Information on the costs of non-departmental public body sites could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Regional Cultural Distinctions
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to provide support for regional cultural distinctions. [116162]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  It is the policy of my Department to encourage greater devolution of responsibility and support to the regions. I therefore fully support, for example, the policy of the Arts Council for England to bring decisions on funding closer to those most affected by them by devolving many responsibilities to the regional arts boards. Furthermore, the Regional Cultural Consortiums have been given the task of producing regional cultural strategies which will set out how they can best support and promote each region's distinct cultural identity.

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117420]

  Janet Anderson
  1 refer the hon. Member to the written answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office, listing the Ministers for Regulatory Reform in the key regulatory departments.

  My Department is working with a wide range of other Government Departments to identify ways of easing regulatory burdens on industries and bodies which DCMS sponsors. My Department is also actively examining many of the regulations for which it is responsible. In particular, the independent Television Commission is currently conducting an audit of all its regulatory requirements with the aim of regulating with a lighter touch.

  Works of Art
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on(a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in his Department for each financial year since 1992. [117476]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Government Art Collection (GAC), part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, acquires and displays works of art by British artists in major Government buildings in the UK and around the world. In so doing it plays a significant role in promoting British art and culture across diverse and international environments.

  The cost of purchases, transport/installation and the conservation and framing of works of art in the Collection

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  are met from the GAC's Annual Programme Vote. Within this overall figure, the amounts spent on each of these elements varies from year to year:

  £

  Year

  Upkeep (Conservation and Framing)

  Purchase

  1992–93

  148,204

  137,843

  1993–94

  141,022

  122,542

  1994–95

  142,200

  127,155

  1995–96

  158,177

  82,471

  996–97

  123,285

  122,826

  1997–98

  104,100

  137,000

  1998–99

  108,300

  126,600

  1999–2000

  87,350

  184,672

  The GAC operates across Government, lending its works of art for display in a variety of Departments. Within any given year the number and disposition of its works of art within any given Department varies according to circumstances. It is therefore not possible to break down the figures for upkeep and purchase of works of art in the Collection in relation to the individual Departments in which they are displayed.

HEALTH

  Unused Drugs
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the quantity and value of unused drugs returned to pharmacists for disposal for each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [116365]

  Mr. Denham
  Information on the quantity and value of unused medicines is not collected centrally. It is important both that patients take the medicines they need, and that they are not prescribed more medicines than they need, since this wastes money which could otherwise be used to benefit other patients. We have put in place a number of initiatives to reduce the quantity of unused medicines, such as making regular review of patients' medication by general practitioners a condition for payment of the Sustained Quality Allowance and funding pilot schemes where pharmacists manage repeat prescriptions, including checking that patients are taking the medicines that they have been prescribed and actually need further supplies. We will consider extending this initiative if the results of the pilots show that this reduces waste.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was collected from prescription charges in the last year for which figures are available. [116876]

  Ms Stuart
  In 1998–99 prescription charge revenue in England, including fees from the sale of pre-payment certificates, was £341 million.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the income received from prescription charges by constituency in the last year for which figures are available. [116878]
  394W
  Ms Stuart
  Information about charge revenue is not collected in England in the form requested.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the administrative cost of changing prescription charges by 10 pence. [116877]

  Ms Stuart
  These costs are not identified separately within the administrative costs of the Department and National Health Service bodies in England.

  Pharmacy Strategy
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the preparation of the pharmacy strategy; and if he will make a statement. [116696]

  Ms Stuart
  We are considering how pharmacists can best contribute to our agenda for the modernisation of primary care, in the light of the National Priorities Guidance for the National Health Service we published last December and the key challenges set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement on NHS modernisation on 22 March 2000,Official Report, columns 982–83W.

  Antidepressant Drugs
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost in the last year for which figures are available to the National Health Service of the prescribing of drugs to combat depression. [116977]

  Ms Stuart
  The net ingredient of prescription items dispensed in the community for antidepressant drugs in England in 1998 was £279 million. Information on antidepressant drugs dispensed in hospitals is not available.

  The data are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed in England and exclude prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England.

  The net ingredient cost (NIC) is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.

  Antidepressant drugs are contained in the British National Formulary section 4.3—antidepressant drugs.

  The data do not include dispensing in hospital or private prescriptions.

  Clinical Negligence
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) clinical negligence cases and (b) clinical negligence cases related to radiotherapy treatment, have been settled out of court in the past two years by each health authority; what has been the cost to health authorities of settling (i) clinical negligence cases and (ii) clinical negligence cases related to radiotherapy treatment, out of court over the past two years; and if he will make a statement. [117269]

  Ms Stuart
  Historically, data on numbers of claims have not been collected centrally.
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  The total costs for all clinical negligence claims for the last available two years are:

  1996–97: £235 million

  1997–98: £144 million.

  Figures for 1998–99 are not yet available. It should also be noted that, due to changes to accounting practice required by the National Audit Office, these figures are not directly comparable.

  It is not possible to say what proportion of clinical negligence claims are settled out of court, or which relate to radiotherapy treatment.

  Meningitis Vaccinations
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of(a) the cost to the NHS of providing a nationwide meningitis vaccination programme and (b) the total number of people for whom such a programme would be clinically appropriate; and if he will make a statement. [116681]

  Yvette Cooper

  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: Meningococcal infection can affect anyone of any age. However, the greatest number of cases and deaths occur in the under 18s and hence the prioritisation within this age band. By the end of the year the new meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine will have been offered to all under 18s. The cost of the programme will include vaccine purchase, distribution and local implementation through schools and primary care. We will not know the full costs until the programme is completed later in the year.

  National ME Centre
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many beds are currently available at the National ME Centre; [117515]

  (2) how many people are currently waiting for a bed at the National ME Centre; and for what periods of time they have been waiting. [117516]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is not collected centrally. The National Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Centre and Centre for Fatigue syndromes is not a National Health Service organisation but a registered charity which is based at the Disablement Services Centre at Harold Wood Hospital.

DEFENCE

  Defence Agencies
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Defence Agency status of Military Survey and the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre. [117834]

  Mr. Spellar
  On 10 May 1999 I announced that the Military Survey and Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (JARIC) Defence Agencies were to be merged into a single combined Agency,Official Report, columns 19-20W. The Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency (DGIA) will be launched today.
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  DGIA will be based at four main UK sites: Feltham in West London, Brampton near Huntingdon, Tolworth in Surrey and Hermitage near Newbury. The Headquarters will be Feltham alongside its largest business unit, the Defence Geographic Centre. DGIA will have some 1,700 staff; over half will be civilians and all three Services will be represented.

  The Agency will act as the Department's centre of excellence for the production of imagery intelligence and geographic information in support of current military operations, defence planning, general intelligence requirements and wider Government interests.

  The Agency has the following Key Targets for the year 2000–01.

  Key Target 1
  To satisfy operational requirements for imagery intelligence and geographic support within timescales and to standards agreed between the Agency and its customers as follows:

  (a) For imagery intelligence, providing at least 95 per cent. of requirements overall, while delivering not less than 98 per cent. of Priority 1 tasks.

  (b) For geographic support, providing 100 per cent. of geographic products and services essential to support current operations, both from the Agency's UK based capabilities and its deployable units.

  Key Target 2
  To achieve the required level of operational readiness in line with Defence Planning Assumptions, while continuing to meet those deployable element outputs required under Key Target I.

  Key Target 3
  To satisfy strategic and contingency requirements for imagery intelligence and geographic support within timescales and to standards agreed between the Agency and its customers as follows:

  (a) For imagery intelligence providing at least 85 per cent. of requirements overall, while delivering not less than 92 per cent. of Priority I tasks.

  (b) For geographic support, completing at least 90 per cent of a customer endorsed programme of work for geographic products and services.

  Key Target 4
  To demonstrate a 1 per cent. improvement in the coverage of geographic information holdings and to maintain their quality for Defence use in comparison with the baseline established in 1999.

  Key Target 5
  To achieve a 2.5 per cent. improvement in efficiency.

  Copies of the DGIA Framework Document and the Agency's first Corporate Plan will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Reservists
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if reservists will continue to be called out to support military operations in the Balkans and the region of Iraq. [117835]

  Mr. Spellar
  A new call-out order has been made under section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 which allows the call out of members of the reserve forces to continue so that they may support operations in Yugoslavia and in the region of Iraq. The call-out order has effect until 31 March 2001. Since NATO operations commenced in the former Yugoslavia, the reserve forces have historically
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  provided some 10 per cent. of the total UK manpower in theatre. As in previous years, only volunteers for these duties will be called out.

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117413]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster today.

  Radiation (Chatham Dockyard)
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will provide the information promised in his answer to the hon. Member for Chatham and Aylesford of 27 July 1999,Official Report, column 205W, concerning the number of former Chatham Dockyard workers who have received compensation under the no-fault scheme. [117664]

  Dr. Moonie
  I have written to my hon. Friend today.

  Israel (Training Exercises)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans has he to send British forces to Israel for joint training exercises. [117562]

  Mr. Spellar

  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: There are no such plans at present.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings have been held with Israeli Government officials and his Department in the United Kingdom in the last year. [117563]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: During the past year there have been numerous meetings between MOD and Israeli officials in the UK and a wide range of issues were discussed. Similar meetings and contacts will continue this year.

  AGM-154C Joint Stand-off Weapon
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact which a US decision to outfit its AGM-154C Joint Stand-off Weapon with BAe Systems' Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge would have on the UK defence industry; and if he will make a statement. [116937]

  Dr. Moonie
  Although no decision has yet been made by the US authorities, the selection of BROACH as the preferred warhead for its Navy's Joint Stand-Off Weapon would be an important success for the UK defence industry. If successful, there would be new jobs created in both the UK and the US.

  DERA
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which overseas countries the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency has offices; and what are their functions. [117080]
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  Dr. Moonie
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 4 April 2000:
  I am replying to your parliamentary question about overseas offices of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
  DERA has offices in Brussels and Moscow. The Brussels offices was established to develop DERA's commercial business and status in mainland Europe. This includes support to the European Commission and NATO. The Moscow office was set up as part of the DERA Programme for Partnership in Technology (PPT). The programme establishes and develops contacts between DERA scientists and those in the Russian Federation working in related fields. In some cases this has led to joint research projects being set up to the benefit of both partners. More information about both these offices may be found on the DERA website (www.dera.gov.uk/dera) under "Who we are" and then "Organisation".
  I hope the above is helpful.

  Israeli Ballistic Missile System
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions(a) he and (b) his officials have had in the last year with his Israeli counterpart on ballistic missile defence; and if he will make a statement. [117559]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: Neither the Secretary of State nor officials have held discussions with the Israelis on ballistic missile defence within the last year.

  Craigiehall
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the area is of office space in the Craigiehall building to be occupied by Command HQ civilian and service personnel; and if the trade unions have been given this information; [116054]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the risk assessment relating to the Craigiehall building to be used for Army 2 Division Headquarters under Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992; [116045]

  (3) how many personnel and what volume of office equipment can be safely accommodated in the Craigiehall building; [116052]

  (4) how many (a) civilian and (b) service personnel are planned to occupy the Craigiehall building following the transfer there of Army 2 Division Headquarters; and if this information has been disclosed to the relevant trade unions; [116037]

  (5) if he will estimate the numbers of (a) civilian and (b) service personnel planned to occupy Craigiehall; [116051]

  (6) what investigation has been carried out in the Craigiehall building, which is to house the Army Headquarters 2 Division, to establish the extent of the use of asbestos in its fabric and whether it is safely inert; what alterations to the interior of the Craigiehall building are planned that could disturb existing asbestos installation; at what cost; and what are the health and safety implications for his Department's personnel being accommodated there; [116036]
  399W
  (7) what load-bearing tests have been carried out in the Craigiehall building to establish whether it can safely accommodate the personnel and equipment needed in the reorganised Army Headquarters 2 Division; when and by whom the tests were conducted; what the findings of the tests were; and whether the report of the tests was disclosed to the trade unions; [116039]

  (8) what representations he has received concerning the proposed accommodation to be provided for Army 2 Division HQ at Craigiehall; [116053]

  (9) what is the total office space in the Craigiehall building to be occupied by Army Command HQ civilian and service personnel; and when the trade unions were given this information. [116038]

  Mr. Spellar
  Following the move of the Headquarters 2 Division from York to Edinburgh, a total of up to some 262 staff posts are planned to be accommodated within Annandale Block, which is the Headquarters 2 Division HQ Building, Craigiehall. Of this total, some 204 are civilian and 58 military. Some 35 of the total number work for organisations other than Headquarters 2 Division. All these staff can be safely accommodated within the building.

  The gross floor office space of the building, excluding corridors, is approximately 4,000 sq m, some 3,475 sq m of which will be utilised by Headquarters 2 Division staff. It is not possible to provide a meaningful figure of the maximum number of personnel and amount of office equipment that could be safely accommodated within the building, as the occupation of each room would be dependent on individual circumstances. Planning for reorganisation of accommodation within the building has been undertaken with due regard to The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations and the Approved Code of Practice 1992, Regulation 10 (Room Dimension and Space).

  The presence of asbestos as an insulator behind convected heating panels and in ceiling tiles of the building was identified in December 1997. Although it was judged to be safely inert, it was nevertheless recorded as a potential hazard and brought to the attention of all staff. In line with the requirements of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, Regulation 3 (Risk Assessment), a reassessment was carried out on Annandale Block in early 1999, and the judgment was that it remains safely inert.

  In addition, a Legionellosis Risk Assessment relating to the building was carried out in February this year. The assessment made a number of minor recommendations to comply with statutory obligations, and implementation of these recommendations is now in hand.

  Currently, alterations relating to the reconfiguration of the reprographic room in Annandale Block are being carried out at an estimated cost of £3,400. Safe systems of work have been applied and all necessary precautions have been taken in accordance with the control of Asbestos at Work (Amendment) 1992. No further work is currently planned for the building.

  An intrusive structural survey has been carried out in March this year by Posford Duvivier Scotland Ltd., Edinburgh on behalf of the Estate Adviser Scotland and
  400W
  this confirmed that the structural integrity of the building and, in particular, the steelwork remained sound. The survey made a number of recommendations about the positioning of heavy objects such as filing cabinets on the upper floors with which the Headquarters is complying.

  The health and safety of personnel accommodated within the building, and indeed throughout the HQ 2 Division, Craigiehall remains a high priority. This will remain the case.

  No formal representations have been made concerning accommodation at Craigiehall. Prior to the move of the Headquarters 2 Division from York to Edinburgh, a formal consultation document associated with the restructuring, which included cost data, was given to the national and local trade unions in October 1998. Local trade unions have been kept informed of office moves within the headquarters of HQ Scotland, Craigiehall, including internal moves within Annandale Block, on an informal basis.

  National Missile Defence System
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence of agreeing to the use of facilities in the United Kingdom as part of the proposed national missile defence system. [116748]

  Mr. Spellar
  We have not received a request from the US regarding the use of facilities in the UK as part of the proposed US National Missile Defence system, nor would we expect any until after a US decision on whether or not to proceed with deployment of such a system. We would consider such a request carefully, taking account of any implications for UK defence.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates on which he has met representatives of the US Administration in connection with United States plans for their national missile defence system. [116862]

  Mr. Spellar
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has discussed the issue with representatives of the US Administration on a number of occasions, including during recent talks with US Defense Secretary Cohen and others in Washington between 24 and 27 January 2000, and with US Deputy Defense Secretary Harare in London on 21 March 2000.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what requests he has had from the US Government for the use of facilities in the United Kingdom as part of their proposed national missile defence system; [116747]

  (2) if the US Government have requested the upgrading of facilities at (a) Fylingdales, (b) Menwith and (c) other sites in the United Kingdom as part of proposals for their national missile defence system. [116749]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 30 March 2000,Official Report, column 209W.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117425]

  Jane Kennedy
  I am the Minister responsible for regulatory reform in the Lord Chancellor's Department. I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) today by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

  Walter Monckton Papers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Public Record Office held discussions with Oxford University with regard to the opening of the papers of Walter Monckton at the Bodleian Library on 1 March. [117072]

  Mr. Lock
  The Public Record Office held no discussions with Oxford University with regard to the opening of these papers. One inquiry has been received from Oxford University about the extent to which papers relating to the abdication of Edward VIII held by the PRO were open to the public.

  Appeals Tribunals
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the procedure for appointing members of an appeals tribunal for the hearing of applications on the granting of an incapacity benefit. [117095]

  Mr. Lock
  Vacancies are advertised in the national press and professional journals. Appointment is on the basis of interview and of consultation with the relevant professional community. The Lord Chancellor appoints the candidates who best demonstrate that they meet the appropriate published criteria.

  Asylum Seekers
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the cost of legal aid for asylum seekers and illegal immigrants in each of the last three years. [117048]

  Mr. Lock
  An estimate is not possible as the Legal Services Commission does not separately identify applications made for legal aid by asylum seekers and illegal immigrants. However, the amount paid out for Legal Advice and Assistance in respect of all Immigration and Nationality matters, over the last three years, was as follows:

  £ million

  1998–99

  48.8

  1997–98

  35.2

  1996–97

  26.1

SCOTLAND

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117417]

  Mr. Wilson
  I am the Minister with responsibility for regulatory reform within the Scotland Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Gas and Electricity Supplies
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the financial difficulties caused to public utility ETM customers when extra emergency credit is given to them without advanced notification; and what is being done to safeguard their interests in the future. [114627]

  Mrs. Liddell

  [holding answer 23 March 2000]: At the end of 1999 the Office of Gas and Electricity Management (Ofgem) asked energy suppliers to increase temporarily the amount of emergency credit (where this was available) to people using electronic token prepayment meters, so as to ensure that vulnerable customers would be protected from loss of gas or electricity supplies over the long Christmas/Millennium holiday period. For example, the amount of emergency credit available on Centrica (British Gas) after prepaid supplies had been used up was increased from £2 to £10. Ofgem decided that it would be unwise to publicise this measure—which would in some cases effectively increase consumers' level of debt because they would consume extra energy which would need to be repaid—and so the advance publicity before the holiday period merely encouraged customers to ensure that they had sufficient prepaid credit to get through the holiday, and advised them of the availability of charging points over the period.

  In the event, a relatively small number of customers used a significant amount of emergency credit, such that some of the money they spent after the holiday to recharge payment cards was taken up in repaying this emergency credit rather than providing new supply. This may have come as a surprise to some customers—although the information displays on the meters would have warned them of the increased emergency credit level; and they were not obliged to use it.

  The need to ensure continuing energy supplies to vulnerable consumers over the long Christmas 1999/ Millennium holiday period was very much a "one-off" problem, and the extension of emergency credit was designed to resolve any potential difficulties arising from it. The level of emergency credit has now reverted to the pre-holiday norm. Ofgem will ensure that if such a measure should be needed again, there will be a more proactive campaign of informing customers of the change.

  Insolvency
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made in his review of the law and practice relating to insolvency. [116705]

  Dr. Howells
  A consultation document setting out proposals to reform the law relating to personal insolvency will be published shortly. A report on the work of the joint DTI/Treasury Review of Company Rescue Mechanisms will be submitted to Ministers in April and there will be a further consultation on the subject as soon as possible after that.

  Ice Cream
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with ice cream manufacturers, other than Birds Eye Walls, concerning the decision of his Department not to implement the Competition Commission's recommendations against direct distribution; and for what reasons he rejected this recommendation. [116829]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 28 January that it was a drastic step to prevent a company from distributing its own products and he was not convinced that the Commission's remedy was necessary. He has not had discussions with any ice cream manufacturers concerning this decision.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the recommendations of the Competition Commission in relation to the Birds Eye Walls ice cream inquiry, which he(a) has rejected and (b) will only partially implement, indicating the reason in each case. [116755]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has accepted undertakings from Birds Eye Walls in line with the interim measures recommended by the Competition Commission. No other final decisions have been taken with regard to the remedies recommended by the Competition Commission.

  My right hon. Friend will announce his decisions as soon as possible.

  Nuclear Installations (Safety)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 24 March 2000,Official Report, column 720W, what information he has sought from the European Commission in respect of the prospective publication date of the report of the Commission's Euratom Safety team visit to Dounreay in March 1999. [116972]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The report of the Commission's verification visit in March last year to Caithness (Dounreay) is a matter for the Scottish Executive which has the lead for envionmental matters in Scotland. I understand from the Scottish Executive that finalisation of this report might be expected within the next three months.

  Atomic Energy Constabulary
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions the United 404W
  Kingdom Atomic Energy Constabulary has conducted investigations into alleged criminal malpractice in each year since 1990. [116999]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The UKAEA Constabulary is responsible for the policing of the nuclear licensed sites operated by BNFL, UKAEA and Urenco, including the protection on site and in transport of nuclear material. They therefore are responsible for investigating all the normal range of criminal offences on those sites, e.g. theft (the vast majority) and car crime. The figures are published in the UKAEA Constabulary's Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The total figures for 1999–2000 (to date), which are not yet published, are 206 offences of which some 155 are theft.

  Mixed Oxide Fuel
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to assess the merits of the report, Fundamental Deficiencies in the Quality Control of Mixed-Oxide Fuel, released by Green Peace International on 27 March. [116987]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have not received a copy of the report. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has independently investigated and reported on the MOX fuel quality assurance data falsification issue on 18 February. A copy of this detailed report is available in the Library of the House. The Government consider that BNFL should respond to HSE's recommendations constructively, fully and by the 18 April deadline set by HSE.

  BNFL
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet a delegation from the Socialist Environment Resources Association to discuss the future of British Nuclear Fuels. [117000]

  Mrs. Liddell
  If I receive a request from the Socialist Environment and Resources Association for a meeting I will give it due consideration.

  Car Pricing
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) e-mails, (b) letters and (c) other responses he has received on the issue of car pricing from members of the (i) public, (ii) consumer groups and (iii) industry since September 1999. [117713]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a large number of representations on the issue of car pricing, primarily from members of the public, but also from car manufacturers, car dealers and consumer groups.

  Retail Measures
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to issue a statement informing retailers of the legal requirements regarding the sale of goods in imperial and metric measures; and if he will make a statement. [117660]

  Dr. Howells
  Under legislation made in 1994, goods sold loose by weight—mainly fresh foods—have been required to be priced and weighed in grams and kilograms from I January 2000.
  405W
  The Government have publicised this in a number of ways:

  (i) holding roadshows for local authority trading standards officers and providing stocks of DTI leaflets for use in the local authority education programme for retailers

  (ii) a publicity campaign in the summer of 1999 consisting of the issue of free leaflets for traders and consumers and wall charts showing weight comparisons

  (iii) the placing of advertisements in the trade press in the period just before Christmas 1999 aimed largely at small retailers

  In total over 275,000 "selling metric" retailer leaflets (including over 6,000 in languages other than English), over 860,000 "shopping metric" consumer leaflets (including 30,000 in languages other than English) and over 140,000 wallcharts have been issued. In addition information is available in Braille and audio form.

  Company Accounting
  Mr. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he plans to take in the light of the recent consultations on the statutory audit requirements for smaller companies and other simplifications of small company accounting requirements. [117867]

  Mr. Byers
  The consultation on the statutory audit showed wide support for a significant increase in the threshold below which companies were not required to have a full statutory audit of their accounts.

  I intend to raise the audit exemption threshold to the maximum level allowed under EU law—£4.8 million turnover. This will be achieved in two stages.

  I shall lay an Order before both Houses as soon as possible which would raise the threshold to £1 million this year. This will bring the benefits to the majority of small companies as soon as possible. It has the potential of relieving up to 150,000 small companies from the burden of the statutory audit. We estimate the potential savings as up to £180 million a year.

  I intend at a later date to lay a further Order to raise the threshold to £4.8 million, in the light of the conclusions of the independent Company Law Review on small companies. The Review group is considering whether, for companies in the range of £ 1 million to £4.8 million turnover, the audit should be replaced by a lighter, less costly form of assurance. I shall take their final recommendations into account before proposing what, if any, statutory requirement should replace the full audit for companies in that size range.

  In addition, I have decided to simplify and reform the law on dormant companies, following a separate consultation. These proposals will relieve the regulatory burdens placed upon dormant companies. The key changes are to:

  remove the requirement for dormant companies to have to pass a special resolution not to appoint auditors;

  require dormant companies which act as agents for other companies to disclose that fact in their annual accounts;

  disregard the payment of certain statutory fees for the purposes of claiming dormancy.

  I have also decided that the current thresholds in the Companies Act which define small and medium companies for accounting purposes should be changed to the maxima allowed under EU law. However, this change
  406W
  will be made as part of the implementation of wide-ranging proposals on small companies which we expect to emerge from the Company Law Review.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has spent to promote British trade and investment in Sri Lanka annually since 1997. [117645]

  Mr. Caborn
  British Trade International (since 1999—previously the Department of Trade and Industry) has given financial support to British companies going on trade missions to Sri Lanka, as follows:

  Number of:

  Year

  Missions

  Companies participating

  Expenditure (£)

  1997

  5

  109

  70,200

  1998

  2

  42

  27,600

  1999

  4

  84

  54,000

  Other expenditure to encourage trade and investment in Sri Lanka is part of our regional programme for the markets of Southern Asia. The following indicates expenditure on promoting Sri Lanka as part of that programme:

  £

  year

  Expenditure on Southern Asia

  Of which expenditure on Sri Lanka

  1997–98

  214,916

  29,660

  1998–99

  177,086

  50,413

  1999–2000

  160,639

  39,017

  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will review the stricter consents policy on the construction of gas-fired power stations. [117227]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As the Government made clear in their October 1998 Energy Sources White Paper, the stricter consents policy is a temporary measure to protect diversity and security of supply while distortions in the electricity market are removed. The Director General of Electricity Supply is keeping my Department informed of progress in addressing the competition issues and the Government expect that the policy will be relaxed as soon as they conclude, on the basis of that advice, that the reform programme is under way and the distortions removed.

  Oil Fabrication (Scotland)
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to meet the work force of the Barmac oil fabrication yards in the north of Scotland. [101437]

  Mrs. Liddell

  [holding answer 6 December 19991: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to do so at this time.
  407W
  I, however, have met with interested constituency MPs and trade union representatives since the announcement of job losses by Barmac.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117419]

  Mr. Ingram
  During suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, I am responsible for regulatory reform.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Appointments Commission
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council how many applicants were identified as being suitable for appointment as Chairman of the Appointments Commission; when the appointment will be made; and if she will make a statement. [116125]

  Mrs. Beckett
  A short list of applicants to be interviewed for the position of Chairman of the independent and non-statutory Appointments Commission has now been drawn up.

  The plan is still that the appointment should be made around Easter although the priority will be to get the best person for the job.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Grimsby (Employment)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Minister of State for Europe's letter of 21 March on the threat to employment in Grimsby, if he will list the industries and firms in which the threatened workers are employed, and how many such jobs will be lost. [116832]

  Mr. Vaz
  Britain in Europe's research was based on a national estimate of British jobs dependent on servicing EU export markets. The figures were broken down by constituency based on share of national employment within that constituency and its industrial breakdown. This methodology makes it impossible to predict precisely which jobs would be lost.

  Britain in Europe
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the cost of his circulating hon. Members with material from Britain in Europe about the effect of withdrawal from the EU on jobs. [116728]

  Mr. Vaz
  It is standard parliamentary practice for Members of Parliament to circulate information in the House. There was no cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  EU Withdrawal
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he took to assess the reliability of the study by Professor lain Begg on jobs dependent on United Kingdom membership of the European Union, details of which he circulated to hon. Members. [116976]

  Mr. Vaz
  The European Institute of South Bank University is a highly respected academic institution. Professor Begg is a respected and well-known economist who has published widely on European economic issues. His methodology is described in the report, which is publicly available.

  US National Missile Defence System
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations his Department has had over the implications of the American proposals for a national missile defence system with the Governments of(a) Denmark, (b) Canada, (c) other EU member states, (d) Russia, (e) China and (f) other countries. [116727]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have discussed issues relating to the United States' proposals for National Missile Defence with a range of countries, including all those individually mentioned, in the course of regular consultations on security-related issues.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the implications for Britain of agreeing to the use of facilities in the United Kingdom as part of the US national missile defence system. [116726]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have received no request to this effect, nor would we expect any until after a US decision on whether or not to proceed with deployment of such a system. If the US were to ask for our assistance we would examine any such request carefully, taking account of the implications for the UK.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had, and when, with representatives of the US Government about American plans for a national missile defence system. [116724]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have discussed, and continue to discuss many aspects of National Missile Defence with the United States across a range of Government Departments, on many occasions. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the issue with Mrs. Albright when he visited Washington in February.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the implications for(a) arms control and (b) the forthcoming conference on review of the Non-Proliferation Treaty of the proposed US national missile defence system. [116725]

  Mr. Vaz
  The US made clear that the President will not decide on NMD deployment before the summer at the earliest, and that there is a range of complex issues, including the need to preserve strategic stability, that they need to consider beforehand.
  409W
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings Ministers in his Department have held with members and officials of the United States Government to discuss the proposed US plan to deploy a national missile defence system since 1 January 1999; when each meeting took place; where each meeting took place; which Ministers were involved at each meeting; which members and officials of the United States Government attended each meeting; and from which United States Government Department they were drawn. [117061]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, South-west (Dr. Starkey) today,Official Report, column 408W, in response to her question, ref. 116724.

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117423]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

  Ministerial Visit (Brazil)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was to diplomatic posts in Brazil of the recent visit by the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions. [117768]

  Mr. Battle
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister led a delegation of 13 business men representing a wide range of industry and sectors campaigning to increase the UK's market share in Brazil.

  The cost to our Diplomatic Posts in Brazil was £10,746. This figure includes accommodation costs, official reception, and the travel costs of the Ambassador and Embassy staff supporting the Deputy Prime Minister and the accompanying business delegation.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what modes of transport were used by the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions during his recent visit to Brazil. [117770]

  Mr. Battle
  Commercial flights were used to travel to and from Brazil and between Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Sao Paulo; and cars, people-carriers and coaches were used by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and accompanying business delegation in the cities.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role was played by diplomatic posts in Brazil in the recent visit by the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions. [117769]

  Mr. Battle
  The diplomatic posts in Brazil made the programme arrangements, and provided advice and administrative support.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State of 24 March 2000,Official Report, column 1293 on Iraq, how many Iraqis visited the UK in (a) 1989 and (b) 1999. [116884]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have been asked to reply.

  Total admissions of Iraqi visitors to the United Kingdom were 11,700 in 1989 and 2,900 (provisional) in 1999.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Parish and Town Councils
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of parish and town councils. [116163]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Our policy on parish and town councils was set out in the White Paper "Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People". Parish councils are an essential part of the structure of local democracy in this country and they will continue to play a key role in many of our towns and villages.

  Tramway and Light Railway Systems
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to fund new tramway and light railway systems. [116164]

  Mr. Hill
  We believe that light rail can have an important role to play in delivering integrated transport in major conurbations. Decisions on whether to provide Central Government support for light rail systems are taken on a case-by-case basis on the merits of the particular scheme. Where systems cannot be funded entirely from local sources or by the private sector, promoters must demonstrate that their scheme provides good value for money, forms an essential part of a local transport plan, and that the objectives of that plan cannot be met in better ways.

  Second Home Ownership
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he proposes to take to enable local authorities to mitigate the impact of second home ownership on the social, economic and environmental conditions of their areas. [116165]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are considering a number of proposals for tackling the problems raised by second homes in preparation for the forthcoming Rural White Paper.

  Housing Demand
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on variations of regional demand for housing. [116167]
  411W
  Mr. Raynsford
  The latest, 1996-based, household projections projected a net increase of 3.8 million households (19 per cent.) in England over the 25-year period from 1996 to 2021. The projected percentage increases by Government Office Region ranged from 8 per cent. for the North East up to 26 per cent. for the South East.

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to increase the funding for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. [116168]

  Mr. Meacher
  Funding for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) has already been increased. The Countryside Agency has an additional £2.5 million in the current financial year for their management and conservation, rising by a further £1 million in 2000–01, which will bring the Agency's budget for AONBs to almost £6 million.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to improve quality standards in the construction industry. [116169]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I am pleased to announce that this week the first pilot of the quality mark scheme—in Birmingham—is being opened to builders who want to join. A list of approved builders will be available to consumers in the city later in the summer. The pilots in Birmingham and, later, Somerset are a key stage in testing and developing the scheme. Once we have extracted the lessons from them we will review the quality mark and then roll it out across the country.

  Housing Development (North-west)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what encouragement he is giving for brownfield development in the north-west. [116170]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The North West Regional Assembly is looking at the scope for channelling future growth onto brownfield land in its review of Regional Planning Guidance. As part of this exercise, local planning authorities in the region have been asked to look at the potential of their built-up areas to accommodate additional households.

  Additionally, land reclamation is an essential task for the North West Development Agency, which expects to spend £11.5 million through its Land Reclamation Programme in 2000–01.

  Disabled Drivers (Seatbelts)
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding exemption certificates for the wearing of seatbelts for drivers with disabilities. [116171]
  412W
  Mr. Hill
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions does receive inquiries from members of the public and refers them to their general practitioners who are responsible for issuing Certificates of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing. However, a disabled person in a wheelchair who is wearing a disabled person's belt is exempt from the requirement to wear adult belts.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of the Regional Development Agencies in England in regenerating the business base in areas with low GDP. [116172]

  Ms Armstrong
  The main aim of the Regional Development Agencies is to improve the competitiveness of the English Regions within a framework of sustainable development. Their Regional Strategies and Action Plans take a co-ordinated approach and contain high level objectives to increase GDP relative to other EU regions as well as, where appropriate, to other English regions. The RDAs' own spending programmes contribute to regenerating the business base; these include the single regeneration budget, physical regeneration, rural development, inward investment, skills development and competitiveness development.

  Traffic Congestion
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of local rail strategies on traffic congestion in cities. [116173]

  Mr. Hill
  Local authorities should take account of the contribution rail can make to an integrated transport strategy. This is one of the criteria by which we judge the quality of local transport plans (LTPs). We took the impact of LTPs into account when preparing "Tackling Congestion and Pollution", but did not separately assess the effects of local rail strategies.

  Council Housing
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on investment in council housing. [116175]

  Mr. Mullin
  Our policies for housing are set out in the Housing Green Paper, "Quality and Choice—A Decent Home for All", which is being published today. Improving the quality of council housing is central to meeting our overarching housing objective of offering everyone the opportunity of a decent home and so promote social cohesion, well being and self-dependence. The Government are providing authorities with nearly £4.5 billion of extra resources for housing investment over the lifetime of this Parliament.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's review of the local government standard spending assessment system. [116176]
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  Ms Armstrong
  Central and local Government officials have been discussing a wide range of options for improving the method of revenue grant distribution. Their joint report of the issues raised in the review has now been discussed at the Central Local Partnership and published on the internet. Copies of the report are also available in the House Library.

  Decisions about the merits of the various options for reform will be made when we have responses to a consultation paper that we expect to publish in the summer.

  Housing Development (Transport Infrastructure)
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extra congestion which will be created by greenfield development in areas without developed transport links in the next 10 years. [116177]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In drawing up their regional transport strategies and local transport plans, local authorities will wish to take full account of the distribution of housing development. Planning Policy Guidance note 3, "Housing", provides that local planning authorities should seek to exploit opportunities to locate larger housing developments around major nodes along good quality public transport corridors.

  Authorities should also seek to ensure that all housing developments are accessible by a range of non-car modes, and draft PPG13, "Transport", proposes that all major development proposals should be supported by a transport assessment.

  Standard Spending Assessment (Stockport)
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received from Stockport metropolitan borough council concerning its standard spending assessment. [116178]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council wrote to the Department on 10 and 17 December with comments on the local government finance settlement 2000–01 during consultation on our proposals.

  Knowledge-based Economy (Regions)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to support the development of the knowledge-based economy in the English regions. [116179]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In the Budget, the Government announced a total of £210 million of new funding to encourage innovation, enterprise and the use of IT by businesses. This includes £50 million new funding over the next two financial years for the Regional Development Agencies to support their plans for developing clusters and business incubation. This is in addition to the £4 million RDAs will receive in 2000–01 from the Competitiveness Development Fund to spend on priorities they identify for increasing competitiveness in their regions.
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  The Chancellor also announced an extra £100 million of public funds, £83.7 million of which will go to the English regions, towards a £1 billion umbrella fund to give better access to venture capital for small, growth companies in the regions. An additional £60 million package will promote use of electronic commerce by small firms and a 100 per cent. tax allowance will be made available for small firms buying information and communications technology equipment. A new research and development tax credit will encourage R&D by small and medium sized companies.

  Bus Travel (London Commuters)
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to encourage more commuters to travel into London by bus. [116157]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government are firmly committed to improving the quality and reliability of bus services in London to make them a more attractive form of transport for commuter journeys.

  Private Landlords
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on anti-social behaviour in properties owned by private landlords. [116140]

  Mr. Mullin
  We fully recognise the devastating effect anti-social behaviour can have on people's lives and on whole communities. It needs to be tackled across all housing tenures.

  The Housing Green Paper, which my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is publishing today, sets out our strategy for promoting a healthier private rented sector.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary published the report of Policy Action Team 8 on 30 March 2000, setting out recommendations on tackling anti-social behaviour as part of our National Strategy for Neighbourhood renewal. This is being taken forward by the Home Office, working closely with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  New Houses (Surrey)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the number of new houses that can be accommodated on brownfield sites in Surrey. [116154]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I have made no estimate. I have asked the South East planning authorities—SERPLAN—to consider the distribution of additional housing within the region, taking full account of national planning policies which make development of brownfields the first priority.

  Local Government Employees (Pension Rights)
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what actions the Government are planning to take to protect the pension rights of employees who are transferred out of local government as a result of the termination of an agency
  415W
  agreement, with particular reference to employees currently being transferred to Severn Trent plc; if the Government will ensure that employees are offered a bulk transfer of past service rights from the Local Government Pension Scheme to the new employer's pension scheme; and if it will amend the LGPS Regulations urgently to permit an agreement enabling staff to remain in the LGPS. [117601]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997 allow bulk transfers of pension rights to be negotiated between local authority employers and private sector employers following any transfer of an undertaking. Within these provisions, the onus to ensure fairness and the protection of employees' pension rights rests with the appropriate employers involved in any transfer.

  The extent to which employees in local authorities work on the delivery of privatised water company services through agency agreements, and the availability of alternative broadly comparable pension arrangements to those employed under them, is being established with the co-operation of the Local Government Pension Committee of the Employers' Organisation. In the light of that survey, I will consider carefully the need for any amendments to the Scheme Regulations.

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117412]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

  Websites
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each website (i) the topics that have been covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each website for each of the next three years. [116200]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The following information covers the main DETR site, agency sites and major NDPB sites.

  DETR central site (www.detr.gov.uk)

  (a) £5,000

  (b) direct expenditure on web site operation in 1999–2000 was £90,000 (excluding staff costs); expenditure on coding and document conversion by policy divisions amounted to some £200,000; expenditure on new hardware and software was £4,000.

  (i) The core web site publishes information covering the full range of the Department's responsibilities—aviation, construction, drinking water, environmental protection, housing, local government, London, local transport, mobility, planning, railways, regeneration, roads, road safety, shipping, wildlife and the countryside. Recent additions to the DETR site include a schools sub-domain, press releases,

  416W

  searchable databases and webcasting of press conferences. The web site also includes the Air Accident Investigation Branch and the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch, as well as two related sites, one providing air quality information and one with information aimed at local government. In addition it hosts several NDPBs—the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards and the Disabled Person's Transport Advisory Committee.

  (ii) Average of c2million hits and 900,000 page impressions per month

  (iii) DETR is currently carrying out a major review of its new media strategy. Budgets for the website will depend on the outcome of this and of bids for resources from HM Treasury to support the Modernising Government agenda.

  DETR Executive Agencies

  Highways Agency

  (a) £32,370

  (b) 1998–99 £26,000; 1999–2000 £33,000

  (i) corporate information (e.g. Annual Report), information about individual schemes, planned road improvements, contacts, forward programme for contracts, press releases, links to other transport sites

  (ii) Average of 90,000 hits and 10,000 unique visitors per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £80,000; subsequent years—not yet finalised

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  DVLA Main site

  (a) £1,600

  (b) 1999–2000 £41,000 (including staff costs)

  (i) information on vehicle registration, driving licences, contacts, contracts and tenders, Annual Report, current consultation papers, answers to frequently asked questions, links to other DVO sites

  (ii) Average of 217,000 hits per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £45,000; 2001–02 £50,000; 2002–03 £55,000

  DVLA Sales of Marks site

  (a) £15,000

  (b) 1999–2000 £48,000

  (i) promotion of scheme for sale of personalised vehicle registration numbers; on-line search facility for checking availability and price of particular registrations

  (ii) Average of 250,000 hits per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £48,000; 2001–02 £55,000; 2002–03 £50,000

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  (a) £200 (excluding staff costs)

  (b) c£11,000 per annum (excluding staff costs)

  (i) all aspects of VI work, educational and advisory road safety information, on-line access to publications

  (ii) Average of 2,500 hits per month

  (iii)Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £11,000; 2001–02 £11,000; 2002–03 £11,000

  Driving Standards Agency

  (a) set-up costs in summer 1999 were nil (site set up under commercial partnership contract with private sector provider)

  (b) £50,000 per annum

  (i) work of DSA, its objectives and structure; information on contacts, driving tests (including guidance on the conduct of tests and the theory test), test centre locations and publications; answers to frequently asked questions, press releases, Annual Report.

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  (ii) 173,232 hits, 80,448 page visits and 13,584 unique visitors in February 2000

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £30,000; 2001–02 £30,000; 2002–03 £30,000

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  (a) £1,900

  (b) £3,500 per annum

  (i) information about VCA services to the automotive industry, contacts (for offices all over the world), VCA's role in DETR and DVO, publications, job vacancies

  (ii) average of 1,000 hits per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £12,000; 2001–02 £10,000; 2002–03 £10,000

  Maritime and Coastguard Agency

  (a) £3,000

  (b) £6,000 per annum

  (i) information about MCA's work and objectives, monthly list of vessels detained in UK ports for safety reasons, press releases

  (ii) average of 180,000 hits per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £6,000; 2001–02 £6,000; 2002–03 £6,000

  QE II Conference Centre

  (a) £11,000 (new site April 2000

  (b) £6,000 per annum (estimated for new site)

  (i) information for meeting planners and delegates on facilities at QEIICC: promotional material; image gallery for downloading by designers, floor plans, location maps

  (ii) new site to be launched in April 2000

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £6,000; 2001–02 £6,000; 2002–03 £6,000

  Planning Inspectorate

  (a) £1,300; new revised site to be launched April 2000 at cost of £35,000

  (b) £1,500 per annum for old site; £10,500 for revised site

  (i) Old site held information about PI's work and objectives, the work of a Planning Inspector and the Planning Inspectorate Journal. Revised site will also include Welsh language option, appeals guidance, performance information, Business and Corporate reports, forms, publications, information about working in PI, PI itself and its staff; feedback, help and search facilities; answers to frequently asked questions.

  (ii) 1,600 hits per month for old site

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £10,500; 2001–02 £10,500; 2002–03 £10,500

  Non-departmental public bodies

  Countryside Agency

  (a) £18,000 in April 1999 on merger of Rural Development Commission and Countryside Commission. Additional re-development cost of £75,000 to reduce running costs by enabling in-house management and development.

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  (b) 1999–2000 £60,000 (using external consultants)

  (i) Information on organisational structure, contacts, agency's role, events, meetings, initiatives and reports, answers to frequently asked questions

  (ii) Average of 500,000 hits and 24,000 unique visitors per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £60,000; 2001–02 £65,000; 2002–03 £70,000

  Audit Commission

  (a) £49,065

  (b) 1999–2000 £115,000

  (i) Corporate information (including Annual Report), press releases, information on publications (including subscription service for technical reviews) and on Audit appointments, information for local authorities (including performance indicators), search engine, job vacancies.

  (ii) Average of 243,691 page impressions and 28,669 visitor sessions per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £200,000; 2001–02 £75,0000; 2002–03 £75,000

  Health and Safety Executive

  HSE Open Government Website (www.house.gov.uk)

  (a) £10,000

  (b) c£15,000 per annum

  (i) Information about the work of HSC/E, including proceedings of HSC and its topic and advisory committees, contacts, press releases, statistics, information sheets, publications, research reports, progress and opportunities, on-line inquiry service.

  (ii) Average of 666,000 page impressions and 55,000 unique visits per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £20,000; 2001–02 £25,000; 2002–03 £30,000

  HSE e-commerce site (www.hsebooks.uk)

  (a) £10,000

  (b) £22,000 per annum

  (i) searchable abstracts of publications, on-line ordering, downloading of some publications, catalogue of all free and priced publications

  (ii) Average of 83,000 page impressions and 2,500 unique visits per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £80,000; 2001–02 £50,000; 2002–03 £50,000

  Environment Agency

  (a) £20,000

  (b) 1999–2000 £250,000

  (i) State of Environment Reports, guidance for business, information on flood defences, waste and water conservation, flood warnings, corporate information, educational resources, information on research and development programme, on-line data on pollution, bathing water, and river quality, information in Welsh.

  (ii) 340,000 page impressions and over 25,000 users in February 2000

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £1 million; 2001–02 £1.5 million; 2002–03 £2 million

  Housing Corporation

  (a) £45,000

  (b) 1999–2000 £4,500

  (i) Information on organisational structure, contacts and accessing social housing; all Corporation's free publications, including annual reports and circulars.

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  (ii) Average of 10,000 hits per month

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £5,000; 2001–02 £7,500; 2002–03 £5,500

  English Nature

  (a) £8,366

  (b) 1998–99 £34,691; 1999–2000 £49,966

  (i) Corporate information (e.g. Charter, facts and figures, teams, position statements, council meetings, grant schemes, partner organisations), job vacancies, feedback, register, press releases, information about walks and events, on National Nature Reserves and Biodiversity Action Plan.

  (ii) 463,639 hits, 93,076 page views and 19,404 user sessions in February 2000

  (iii) Estimated expenditure for 2000–01 £58,000; 2001–02 £40,000; 2002–03 £45,000.

  Radon
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department gives to local authority environmental health officers about dealing with householders whose homes have high levels of radon. [117155]

  Mr. Meacher
  My Department is in regular contact with local authority environmental health officers (EHOs) in the areas most affected by radon. We advise that they should encourage householders with high levels of radon in their homes to carry out remedial measures to reduce the concentration of radon to which those householders are exposed.

  In order to assist the EHOs and the householders, maps have been produced showing the areas most affected by radon. Three guidance booklets have been produced:

  A Householder's Guide

  A Guide to Reducing Levels in Your Home

  A Guide for Homebuyers and Sellers.

  These are provided free of charge for householders, and stocks are provided to local authorities for them to distribute. This guidance is supported by two telephone hotlines: one to the National Radiological Protection Board, who give advice on radon measurements and on the health effects of radon; and one to the Building Research Establishment, who give advice on radon remedial measures. These hotlines are provided for the benefit of EHOs as well as householders.

  For over a year, my Department has been working in partnership with three local authorities that have been piloting a new approach to encourage householders to carry out remedial action. A Good Practice Guide is in preparation, and proposals on how we shall work with other local authorities in a similar way in the future are being developed. I hope to make an announcement on these shortly.

  GM Crop Trials (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has(a) to hold a public meeting in Gloucestershire and (b) to inform the local parish council, about the GM crop trials being conducted in Laverton, Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement about these trials. [117663]
  420W
  Mr. Meacher
  There will be a public meeting in Worcester on Thursday 13 April. Representatives of all parish councils, in which GM crop trials, are proposed, in Worcestershire and J3loucestershire have been invited and the meeting has been advertised locally.

  The Government's Farm Scale Evaluations programme, which I announced on 17 March, is designed to allow independent researchers to see what effect the growing and management of certain herbicide tolerant GM crops might have on farmland wildlife, compared with equivalent non-GM crops. The programme this year will involve up to 80 field sites.

  Up to 12 public meetings will be held in towns near the trial sites, at which officials from my Department and representatives from the independent researchers, the industry body, SCIMAC, and a representative from an environmental group, will give presentations about the Farm Scale Evaluations programme and answer questions.

  Cowboy Builders
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision he intends to make to improve protection of householders against incompetent and dishonest builders; and if he will make a statement. [116166]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I am pleased to announce that this week the first pilot of the quality mark scheme—in Birmingham—is being opened to builders who want to join. A list of approved builders will be available to consumers in the city later in the summer. The pilots in Birmingham and, later, Somerset are a key stage in testing and developing the scheme. Once we have extracted the lessons from them we will review the quality mark and then roll it out across the country.

  Water Abstraction
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on the delegation of water abstraction appeal decisions to the Planning Inspectorate under the provisions of the Environment Act 1995. [117868]

  Mr. Mullin
  I have arranged for the Secretary of State's power to take decisions on water abstraction and impounding appeals, under section 43 of the Water Resources Act 1991, to be exercised by the Planning Inspectorate. This came into effect on 1 April 2000. All decisions will be taken by Inspectors on behalf of the Secretary of State, except in rare cases of major importance or difficulty where the Secretary of State may recover the case to determine himself. The Planning Inspectorate will shortly issue guidance for use by potential appellants.

  London Bodies
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements have been made for the transfer of the London Research Centre, the London Planning Advisory Committee and the London Ecology Committee to the Greater London Authority. [117919]
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  Mr. Hill
  As part of the establishment of the Greater London Authority under the GLA Act 1999, the London Research Centre (LRC), the London Planning Advisory Committee (LPAC) and London Ecology Committee (LEC) were abolished on 1 April 2000. At the same time, the appropriate property, rights and liabilities of the three bodies were transferred by means of transfer schemes to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The intention is that these will transfer to the Greater London Authority on 8 May 2000, with the exception of a small number of functions of the LRC which will transfer to Transport for London on 3 July 2000.

  I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the very valuable work which the LRC, LPAC and LEC have each undertaken on a wide range of cross-London subjects, since their establishment. I am confident that this tradition will be carried on by the Greater London Authority itself in the future.

  Turtle Shells
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the re-opening of trade in turtle shells. [116490]

  Mr. Mullin
  Cuba has submitted two proposals to the forthcoming Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The first seeks to transfer the Cuban part of the Caribbean population of Hawksbill turtles from Appendix I to Appendix II in order to allow the export of existing shell stocks and a subsequent quota of up to 500 turtle shells per year. The second seeks agreement to allow a one-off shipment of existing stocks of shell with no subsequent annual quota.

  Several organisations and scientific bodies have provided us with their views. Some believe that populations of Hawksbill turtles remain too vulnerable to allow any international trade. Others consider that carefully managed trade would contribute to species conservation. We have also received a large number of campaign postcards opposing the Cuban proposals.

  The European Union looks set to oppose the first proposal but to keep an open position on the second pending further consideration at the Conference. The United Kingdom will continue to argue that international trade quotas should be contemplated only in the context of wider action to secure the future of marine turtles by countering threats from fisheries by-catch and the destruction of nesting and breeding sites.

  Air Rage
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planes flying into and out of the UK had to be diverted from their scheduled destination airport as a consequence of air rage in each year since 1995; and what was the estimated cost to the NATS in each case. [116880]

  Mr. Mullin
  While comprehensive data on "air rage" incidents are not available for the whole of that period, data collected by the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting scheme are given in the table. Mandatory Occurrence Reports are required for all incidents which affect or could 422W
  affect the safety of a UK registered aircraft, but may not include diversions caused by incidents where safety was not at risk. There is no cost to NATS resulting from such diversions.

  UK registered aircraft flying into and out of the UK diverted as a consequence of "air rage"

  Year

  Number

  1995

  2

  1996

  1

  1997

  4

  1998

  8

  1999

  6

  Data in relation to non-UK registered aircraft are available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many incidents of air rage were reported in the last five years which involved passengers travelling(a) first-class, (b) business class and (c) by Concorde; [116687]

  (2) if he will list the airlines reporting cases classified as air rage in each year since 1995, indicating for each airline the number of incidents. [116685]

  Mr. Mullin
  Comprehensive data on disruptive incidents occurring on UK airlines have been collected only since April 1999. When initiating the reporting scheme my Department and the CAA undertook to respect the confidentiality of airlines submitting commercially sensitive information. The analysis published in February, therefore, does not include any data that could identify a specific carrier or aircraft type. The data collected show that, in the period April to October 1999, 47 incidents involved first or business class passengers.

  Affordable Housing
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of regeneration schemes on the numbers of new units of affordable housing provided since 1997. [116698]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  During 1997–98 and 1998–99 an estimated 36,160 new dwellings and housing units were completed or facilitated with support from my Department's regeneration programmes. Figures for affordable housing are not recorded separately and the full impact of regeneration schemes on new housing is not available.

  Early evaluation evidence suggests that, overall, the Single Regeneration Budget is cost effective, taking account of the severity of problems in partnership areas. Also an interim evaluation of English Partnerships acknowledged its significant achievements, often working closely with the Housing Corporation, in facilitating housing, predominantly on brownfield sites.

  The recent revision of Planning Policy Guidance note 3 (PPG3) on housing reaffirms our policy that a community's need for a mix of housing types, including affordable housing, is a material planning consideration which local planning authorities should take into account.
  423W
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by local authority area the numbers of new units of affordable housing that have been built in areas where

  Housebuilding completions of social housing1 England

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Authority

  Transfers made

  Dwellings RSL

  Completed LAs

  Transfers made

  Dwellings RSL

  Completed LAs

  Transfers made

  Dwellings RSL

  Completed LAs

  Allerdale BC

  —

  22

  0

  —

  161

  0

  —

  58

  0

  Basildon DC

  —

  281

  0

  —

  116

  0

  —

  210

  0

  Basingstoke and Deane BC

  —

  123

  0

  2—

  142

  0

  —

  130

  0

  Bath and NE Somerset C

  —

  3—

  3—

  —

  3—

  3—

  —

  3—

  3—

  Cherwell DC

  —

  37

  18

  2—

  50

  0

  —

  0

  0

  Congleton BC

  —

  28

  0

  —

  0

  0

  —

  0

  0

  Cotswold DC

  —

  61

  8

  —

  90

  23

  —

  91

  24

  E Hampshire BC

  —

  18

  0

  —

  23

  0

  2—

  56

  0

  East Lindsey DC

  —

  115

  2

  0

  20

  0

  —

  82

  0

  Eden C

  —

  24

  0

  —

  29

  7

  —

  10

  0

  Epson and Ewell BC

  2—

  18

  0

  —

  34

  0

  —

  51

  0

  Hambleton DC

  2—

  28

  16

  —

  41

  0

  —

  21

  0

  Hart DC

  2—

  1

  0

  —

  0

  0

  —

  34

  0

  Hastings BC

  —

  139

  0

  —

  32

  0

  2—

  72

  0

  Havant BC

  2—

  83

  0

  —

  99

  0

  —

  84

  0

  Hertsmere CC

  2—

  33

  0

  —

  45

  0

  —

  66

  0

  Kennet DC

  —

  70

  8

  —

  146

  0

  2—

  51

  12

  Kerrier DC

  —

  4

  0

  —

  4

  0

  —

  0

  0

  Leominster C

  2—

  38

  0

  —

  23

  0

  —

  85

  0

  Litchfield DC

  —

  23

  22

  —

  72

  29

  —

  33

  0

  Liverpool CC

  —

  704

  0

  —

  550

  0

  —

  513

  0

  LB Bexley

  —

  138

  0

  —

  173

  0

  —

  74

  0

  LB Brent

  —

  149

  0

  —

  132

  0

  —

  51

  0

  LB Enfield

  —

  218

  0

  —

  242

  0

  —

  138

  0

  LB Greenwich

  —

  185

  0

  —

  125

  0

  —

  145

  0

  LB Hackney

  —

  342

  0

  —

  203

  80

  —

  529

  0

  LB Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  73

  0

  —

  22

  0

  —

  19

  0

  LB Lambeth

  —

  220

  0

  —

  279

  0

  —

  380

  0

  LB Merton

  —

  278

  0

  —

  108

  0

  —

  358

  0

  LB Tower Hamlets

  —

  3—

  3—

  —

  3—

  3—

  —

  3—

  3—

  Maldon DC

  —

  18

  0

  2—

  0

  0

  —

  0

  0

  Malvern Hills DC

  —

  12

  6

  2—

  0

  14

  —

  0

  0

  Manchester CC

  —

  683

  0

  —

  935

  0

  2—

  1,202

  0

  Mid Bedfordshire

  —

  123

  0

  2—

  61

  0

  —

  111

  0

  N Dorset DC

  —

  68

  0

  2—

  4

  0

  —

  41

  0

  N Wiltshire DC

  —

  81

  0

  —

  49

  17

  2—

  25

  12

  Oldham BC

  —

  125

  0

  —

  55

  0

  —

  62

  0

  Penwith DC

  —

  18

  1

  2—

  13

  0

  —

  10

  0

  Preston BC

  —

  68

  0

  —

  89

  0

  —

  26

  0

  Rother DC

  —

  89

  0

  —

  17

  0

  —

  99

  0

  RB Windsor and Maidenhead

  —

  37

  25

  —

  0

  0

  2—

  0

  0

  Rushmoor BC

  —

  88

  0

  —

  93

  0

  2—

  38

  0

  South Hams DC

  —

  107

  8

  —

  48

  10

  —

  130

  0

  S Ribble

  2—

  0

  0

  —

  0

  0

  —

  46

  0

  S Shropshire DC

  2—

  27

  9

  —

  48

  6

  —

  42

  0

  S Somerset DC

  —

  127

  0

  —

  56

  0

  —

  71

  0

  S Staffs C

  —

  35

  0

  —

  45

  6

  —

  89

  0

  S Oxfordshire DC

  —

  198

  0

  —

  64

  0

  —

  86

  0

  Spelthorne BC

  —

  96

  0

  —

  74

  0

  2—

  59

  0

  Stoke-on-Trent CC

  —

  140

  1

  —

  94

  0

  —

  148

  0

  Stratford DC

  —

  16

  3

  —

  45

  6

  —

  55

  0

  Tameside

  —

  214

  0

  —

  55

  0

  —

  124

  0

  Telford and Wrekin C

  —

  3—

  3—

  —

  3—

  3—

  —

  3—

  3—

  Tewkesbury BC

  —

  5

  0

  —

  41

  0

  —

  0

  0

  Thanet DC

  —

  115

  9

  2—

  98

  0

  —

  70

  0

  Vale of Whitehorse DC

  —

  22

  0

  2—

  0

  0

  —

  0

  9

  Walsall MBC

  —

  201

  34

  —

  210

  0

  2—

  170

  0

  W Devon BC

  —

  0

  0

  —

  8

  0

  —

  36

  4

  W Dorset DC

  2—

  0

  0

  —

  37

  0

  —

  0

  0

  W Somerset DC

  —

  42

  0

  —

  11

  0

  —

  30

  0

  W Wiltshire DC

  —

  70

  0

  —

  135

  0

  —

  109

  0

  Wirral

  —

  143

  0

  —

  187

  0

  —

  134

  0

  Worthing

  —

  0

  0

  —

  0

  0

  —

  13

  0

  Wychavon DC

  —

  0

  0

  2—

  24

  0

  —

  16

  0

  Wyre BC

  —

  106

  0

  —

  86

  0

  2—

  38

  0

  1 For those districts in which local authority dwelling stock has been transferred to registered social landlords.

  2 Indicates transfer was carried out in this year. Some authorities have made transfers in more than one year.

  1 Denotes incomplete data for this period or the district became part of a unitary authority.

  424W
  housing stock has been transferred by local authorities to registered social landlords in England for each of the last five years. [116699]

  Mr. Mullin
  The information is in the table:
  425W

  Housebuilding completions of social housing1 England

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Authority

  Transfers made

  Dwellings RSL

  Completed LAs

  Transfers made

  Dwellings RSL

  Completed LAs

  Transfers made

  Dwellings RSL

  Completed LAs

  Allerdale BC

  —

  36

  0

  —

  74

  0

  2—

  113

  0

  Basildon DC

  —

  282

  0

  2—

  172

  0

  —

  333

  0

  Basingstoke and Deane BC

  —

  84

  0

  —

  213

  0

  —

  51

  0

  Bath and NE Somerset C

  —

  153

  0

  —

  12

  0

  2—

  0

  0

  Cherwell DC

  —

  36

  0

  —

  7

  0

  —

  26

  0

  Congleton BC

  —

  4

  0

  2—

  0

  0

  —

  0

  0

  Cotswold DC

  2—

  32

  3

  —

  54

  17

  —

  91

  17

  E Hampshire BC

  —

  49

  0

  —

  3—

  3—

  —

  3—

  3—

  East Lindsey DC

  —

  67

  0

  —

  26

  0

  2—

  19

  0

  Eden C

  —

  10

  0

  2—

  8

  0

  —

  0

  0

  Epson and Ewell BC

  —

  41

  0

  —

  28

  0

  —

  23

  0

  Hambleton DC

  —

  163

  16

  —

  20

  0

  —

  28

  0

  Hart DC

  —

  56

  0

  —

  38

  0

  —

  41

  0

  Hastings BC

  —

  71

  0

  —

  31

  0

  —

  0

  0

  Havant BC

  —

  132

  0

  —

  89

  0

  —

  20

  0

  Hertsmere CC

  —

  23

  0

  —

  93

  1

  —

  53

  0

  Kennet DC

  —

  83

  0

  —

  125

  0

  —

  26

  0

  Kerrier DC

  —

  63

  0

  2—

  0

  0

  —

  73

  0

  Leominster C

  —

  49

  0

  —

  28

  0

  —

  3—

  3—

  Litchfield DC

  2—

  0

  0

  —

  14

  0

  —

  9

  0

  Liverpool CC

  —

  61

  0

  2—

  259

  0

  2—

  390

  0

  LB Bexley

  —

  63

  0

  2—

  48

  0

  —

  19

  0

  LB Brent

  —

  0

  0

  2—

  1

  0

  —

  3—

  3—

  LB Enfield

  —

  258

  0

  —

  51

  0

  2—

  139

  0

  LB Greenwich

  —

  69

  0

  —

  226

  0

  2—

  133

  0

  LB Hackney

  —

  406

  22

  2—

  3—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  3—

  LB Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  14

  0

  —

  74

  0

  2—

  22

  0

  LB Lambeth

  —

  144

  0

  2—

  98

  0

  2—

  117

  0

  LB Merton

  —

  133

  0

  2—

  39

  0

  —

  129

  0

  LB Tower Hamlets

  —

  3—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  3—

  Maldon DC

  —

  47

  0

  —

  0

  0

  —

  48

  0

  Malvern Hills DC

  —

  83

  0

  —

  0

  0

  —

  3—

  3—

  Manchester CC

  —

  413

  0

  —

  689

  0

  2—

  341

  0

  Mid Bedfordshire

  —

  37

  0

  —

  217

  0

  —

  133

  0

  N Dorset DC

  —

  56

  0

  —

  17

  0

  —

  50

  0

  N Wiltshire DC

  —

  23

  0

  —

  97

  0

  —

  8

  0

  Oldham BC

  —

  15

  0

  2—

  114

  0

  —

  29

  0

  Penwith DC

  —

  69

  0

  —

  112

  0

  —

  52

  0

  Preston BC

  —

  49

  0

  —

  3

  0

  2—

  109

  0

  Rother DC

  —

  48

  0

  —

  32

  0

  2—

  45

  0

  RB Windsor and Maidenhead

  —

  41

  0

  —

  21

  0

  —

  3—

  3—

  Rushmoor BC

  —

  35

  0

  —

  99

  0

  —

  18

  0

  South Hams DC

  —

  4

  37

  —

  77

  16

  2—

  9

  0

  S Ribble

  —

  138

  0

  —

  32

  0

  —

  102

  0

  S Shropshire DC

  —

  47

  0

  —

  58

  0

  —

  29

  0

  S Somerset DC

  —

  20

  0

  —

  26

  0

  2—

  90

  0

  S Staffs C

  2—

  60

  0

  —

  44

  0

  —

  41

  0

  S Oxfordshire DC

  —

  108

  0

  2—

  105

  0

  —

  56

  0

  Spelthorne BC

  —

  71

  0

  —

  17

  0

  —

  62

  0

  Stoke-on-Trent CC

  —

  244

  0

  2—

  3—

  3—

  —

  3—

  3—

  Stratford DC

  2—

  64

  0

  —

  16

  0

  —

  33

  0

  Tameside

  —

  52

  0

  —

  47

  0

  2—

  62

  0

  Telford and Wrekin C

  —

  3—

  3—

  —

  3—

  3—

  2—

  59

  0

  Tewkesbury BC

  —

  7

  0

  —

  18

  0

  2—

  0

  0

  Thanet DC

  —

  0

  0

  —

  8

  0

  —

  36

  0

  Vale of Whitehorse DC

  —

  66

  0

  —

  41

  0

  —

  49

  0

  Walsall MBC

  —

  154

  0

  —

  109

  0

  —

  103

  0

  W Devon BC

  —

  17

  0

  —

  22

  0

  2—

  0

  0

  W Dorset DC

  —

  31

  0

  —

  0

  0

  —

  0

  0

  W Somerset DC

  —

  2

  0

  2—

  10

  0

  —

  9

  0

  W Wiltshire DC

  2—

  61

  0

  —

  69

  0

  —

  63

  0

  Wirral

  —

  151

  0

  —

  109

  0

  2—

  199

  0

  Worthing

  —

  85

  0

  —

  0

  0

  2—

  107

  0

  Wychavon DC

  —

  36

  0

  —

  13

  0

  —

  74

  0

  Wyre BC

  —

  15

  0

  —

  24

  0

  —

  23

  0

  1 For those districts in which local authority dwelling stock has been transferred to registered social landlords.

  2 Indicates transfer was carried out in this year. Some authorities have made transfers in more than one year.

  3 Denotes incomplete data for this period or the district became part of a unitary authority.

  426W

  Lorry Weights
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when EU legislation relating to the use of lorries weighing up to 44 tonnes came into force; and what studies have been undertaken by his Department into the effect of such legislation on the transport of freight by rail. [116860]

  Mr. Hill
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport recently announced the Government's decision to set a target date of 1 January 2001 for raising the maximum general lorry weight limit to 44 tonnes for lorries with six axles, a maximum drive axle weight of 10.5 tonnes and Euro II or better engines. This is not connected with EU legislation. The decision follows the publication of an interim report by the Commission for Integrated Transport (CflT) on permitting the general use of 44 tonne lorries. CflT commissioned independent work from Professor Alan McKinnon of Heriot-Watt University to assess the environmental effects including the possible effects on rail freight. This work showed a clear net environmental gain from allowing 44 tonne lorries.

  The Integrated Transport White Paper set out our aim to establish an integrated, sustainable freight distribution system to support economic growth and to bring social and environmental benefits. To that end we are keen to support rail freight where it is practicable and good value for money. We are equally keen on improvements to efficiency in other modes, including road transport, where these meet the same ends.

  The Government accept CfIT's view that allowing 44 tonne lorries for general use could have a negative effect upon rail freight traffic, both existing and predicted. The shadow SRA are considering proposals for rail freight and their strategy will include proposals to support rail freight.

  The CfIT report is available on the Internet at www.cfit.gov.uk

  Airport Slots
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2000,Official Report, column 544W, concerning airport slots, on what date decisions on slot allocation became the sole responsibility of an independent co-ordinator; what is the name of the co-ordinator; where his office is located; what European legislation governs his independence other than EEC Regulation 95/93; and if his decisions on slots apply to internal and international aircraft movements. [116834]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK Airports Slot Allocation Regulations 1993 came into force on 12 May 1993. Among other things, they provided for Airport Co-ordination Ltd. (ACL), which had been performing the co-ordination role at several airports including Heathrow on a non-statutory basis before that date, to be approved and appointed as co-ordinator in accordance with 428W
  EC Regulation 95–93. The appointment was subsequently reaffirmed following consultation with air carriers and other interested parties, as required by Article 4(1) of EC 95/93. ACL's Managing Director is Peter Morrisroe OBE; its principal office is in Bath Road, near Heathrow. There is no relevant legislation other than EC 95/93 that relates to the independence of the co-ordinator. His decisions apply to both internal and international traffic.

  Housing (South-east)
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on demand for housing as a result of the expected increase in the number of single parent families in the South-east; and what steps he is taking to help ensure this demand is met. [116752]

  Mr. Mullin
  The latest household projections indicate that around 2 per cent. of the net increase in the number of households likely to form in the South-east between 1996 and 2021 will be lone parent households. PPG3 encourages local authorities and housebuilders to ensure that the additional dwellings to be provided in the region offer greater choice and affordability for all households.

  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient affordable housing is available to meet the demand in the South East. [116753]

  Mr. Mullin
  Draft Regional Planning Guidance 9 (Proposed Changes) sets out a new approach to meeting housing needs in the South East. It emphasises the need for local authorities to undertake rigorous assessments of housing need to ensure that sufficient affordable homes are provided. Housing capital allocations to local authorities in the South East for 2000–01 total £187 million, over £50 million up on 1999–2000 and these increased resources will allow authorities to support the provision of more new affordable housing where this is a local priority. This is in addition to the resources for new affordable housing provided directly to registered social landlords by the Housing Corporation (£70 million in 2000–01).

  Urban-rural Compact
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the report, entitled "An Urban-rural Compact", published by the Local Government Association. [116982]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government welcome the Local Government Association's case studies report on the Urban-rural Compacts initiative. This gives a useful example of how local authorities are working together, and with other partners, to respond to the links between town and country. In discussions with the Local Government Association on the preparation of our Urban and Rural White Papers we have encouraged the Association to develop their initiative and I look forward to seeing the results of the evaluation of the pilots.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the land on which the Millennium Dome was built was decontaminated to a sufficient extent to allow houses with gardens to be built on the site. [116983]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The site of the Millennium Dome has been decontaminated for its current purpose. It is intended that the Dome remains and is not redeveloped for housing. However, while the standard of remediation would not necessarily be sufficient to allow houses with gardens to be built on the site, the exact nature of the remediation that would be necessary could be determined only once the exact details of any development were known. This has been the philosophy throughout the remediation of the whole of the Greenwich Peninsula.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations his Department has received in the last year in respect of planning applications and permissions granted for the erection of telecommunications masts; and what is his policy on the erection of such masts. [116970]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department has received centrally in the last year some 350 letters about amenity and health aspects of planning applications and permissions granted for telecommunications masts.

  The Government's general policy on telecommunications is to facilitate the growth of new and existing telecommunications systems while keeping environmental impact to a minimum. The planning system is the mechanism for achieving that balance. Government planning policy for telecommunications is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 8: Telecommunications and the Department's Circular 4/99 "Planning for Telecommunications". The draft joint DETR/DH circular on "Land Use Planning and Electromagnetic Fields" will be finalised as soon as practicable after the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones has published its report in May.

  Local Authorities (Freedom of Information)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessments he has made of the implications for freedom of information of the establishment of cabinets in local authorities. [117001]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The arrangements that we are proposing under Part II of the Local Government Bill would ensure more transparent and inclusive decision-making. These new arrangements involve:an inclusive process of formulating a council's framework and budget, which will be responsibility of the full council in public;
  publicly known individuals—the executive—being personally responsible for implementing this framework and budget;
  accurate recording of decisions and their reasons, and timely publication of these and of the background and factual papers available to the decision-maker(s); and
  powerful overview and scrutiny committees, meeting in public:
  to discuss and make recommendations on the development of policies; and
  to hold each executive member to account for what he or she has done and is planning to do.

  Call Centres
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure proper working conditions in call centres. [117002]

  Mr. Meacher
  The responsibility for ensuring proper working conditions in call centres rests with local authorities who enforce the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and other relevant statutory provisions made under it in these premises.

  Advantage West Midlands
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional resources will be made available to Advantage West Midlands in 2000–01 as a result of his latest Budget. [116706]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In his Budget, the Chancellor announced a new £50 million fund to provide support for business clusters and incubation in the English regions. The £50 million will go to the Regional Development Agencies to invest over the next two financial years; £15 million will be available in 2000–01 and £35 million in 2001–02. Advantage West Midlands will receive an allocation from the new fund of £1.5 million for financial year 2000–01.

  Legal Alcohol Limit
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the alcohol limits for road vehicle drivers in each member state of the European Union; and what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the harmonisation of such limits across the EU. [116861]

  Mr. Hill
  The alcohol limit for drivers in each member state is shown in the table.

  Member state

  Milligrammes of alcohol in 100 ml of blood

  Austria

  150

  Belgium

  50

  Denmark

  50

  Finland

  50

  France

  50

  Germany

  50

  Greece

  50

  Ireland

  80

  Italy

  80

  Luxembourg

  80

  Netherlands

  250

  Portugal

  50

  Spain

  350

  Sweden

  20

  United Kingdom

  80

  1 Austria: 10 mg/I00 ml for Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) and Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) drivers and learner drivers

  2 Netherlands: 20 mg/100 ml for learner drivers

  3 Spain: 30 mg/100 ml for HGV and PCV drivers and learner drivers

  431W
  On 17 March the Commission issued a Communication to member states setting out priorities for road safety. This referred to the intention to bring forward a Recommendation on harmonisation of the drink-drive limit. The Council of Ministers had a brief preliminary discussion of the Communication on Tuesday 28 March and is due to discuss it again in June.

  Aircraft Seats
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations govern the number of passenger seats that can be accommodated in a civil aircraft. [117228]

  Mr. Mullin
  The maximum seating capacity of any large passenger aircraft is determined by the aircraft certification standards. Annexe 8 to the Chicago Convention requires that an aircraft may be issued with a Certificate of Airworthiness only if it complies with a comprehensive and detailed airworthiness code established by the State of Registry. Within Europe, the Joint Aviation Authorities agree harmonised aviation safety standards, including airworthiness codes, for their 32 member states. The JAA airworthiness code for new types of large passenger aircraft is contained in Joint Airworthiness Requirement 25, which has also been adopted as the EC standard by Council Regulation 3922/92. JAR 25 requires that in an emergency an aircraft in maximum seating configuration must be capable of being evacuated within 90 seconds.

  The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also set minimum requirements relating to the spacing of passenger seats for aircraft on the UK register. This is because, in the event of an emergency, it is one of a number of factors which can have an effect upon the evacuation of an aircraft. The minimum requirements are contained in Airworthiness Notice 64.

  MOT Test
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend the list of items inspected in the annual motor vehicle MOT test. [117136]

  Mr. Hill
  We have no plans at present to introduce any additional items for inspection into the annual roadworthiness test although the whole issue of MOT testing is kept under review.

  Motor Vehicles
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many privately owned motor vehicles there were in the United Kingdom on 1 March. [117083]

  Mr. Hill
  At the end of June 1999, the latest date for which we have figures, there were 23.34 million motor vehicles registered to private individuals in Great Britain. Of these, 20.92 million were cars. Equivalent information for Northern Ireland is not readily available.

  Light Pollution
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will bring forward legislation to classify excessive light as a pollutant; [117085]

  (2) if he will give local authorities powers to curb excessive lighting. [117087]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  There are already some planning controls over external lighting. Where development proposals require a planning application, the local planning authority can control the lighting installations by imposing conditions to prevent or minimise light pollution. However, the courts have ruled that light itself is not development as understood in planning law, so the creation or use of light in itself does not require planning permission. In 1997, we issued "Lighting in the Countryside: Towards Good Practice" which is also applicable in towns. In our view, such guidance represents the best way forward and we are not proposing to introduce further legislation in this area.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will restrict the sale of domestic floodlight bulbs to a 150 watt maximum. [117088]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have no plans to restrict the sale of such goods.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what circumstances poorly aimed and over-bright lighting is classified as a statutory nuisance. [117086]

  Mr. Hill
  Although light is not a specified statutory nuisance it may be considered as a nuisance in cases where intrusive lighting is so severe as to be prejudicial to health. It is for a local authority environmental health officer to decide whether there is a "statutory nuisance" occurring in a particular situation.

  Thameslink 2000
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the report by Town and Country Strategies on the Thameslink 2000 project; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [117217]

  Mr. Hill
  Town and Country Strategies have made representations to the Secretary of State on Railtrack's Thameslink 2000 project, in the form of a report which expresses concerns about some aspects of the proposals. They have asked for this report to be treated as their statement of case for the purposes of the public inquiry which will start on 27 June 2000. The Department has forwarded this report to the Inspector who will conduct the inquiry. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the report at this stage. I have placed a copy of it in the Library.

  M3 Accident
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he has received from the Police and the Health and Safety Executive following their investigation into the accident
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  near Junction 7 on the M3 on 7 March involving a lorry carrying butane gas cylinders; and what implications they have for the amendment of safety regulations. [117223]

  Mr. Hill
  Investigations are still in progress.

  Lorries (VED)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the information he received concerning the effect on the environment of road haulage movements which gave rise to the increase in vehicle excise duty for 40-tonne trucks in the 1999 Budget; [116865]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) the environment and (b) the number of road haulage movements of the decrease in vehicle excise duty rates announced in the Budget; [116837]

  (3) if he will list the information he received between March 1999 and March 2000 concerning the effect on the environment of road haulage movements which gave rise to the decrease in vehicle excise duty by £1,800 for 40-tonne trucks in the Budget. [1168661]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 30 March 2000]: Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In his 1999 Budget, the Chancellor made clear that a high VED rate had been set for the new 40-tonne, 5-axle vehicle first allowed in the UK from 1 January 1999 in order to discourage its use on UK roads. This was in view of the significant extra road damage caused by lorries running these new 11.5 tonne axle weights.

  The Changes the Chancellor made to VED rates for goods vehicles in his recent Budget and the reasons for them are explained in paragraphs 6.69 to 6.72 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report, published on 21 March 2000. The VED rate of £5,750 set for the new, road-damaging 40-tonne lorry on 5-axles in Budget 99 has successfully discouraged its use by domestic hauliers. However, now that domestic hauliers who need the highest weight limits have the option to use the less damaging 6-axle 44-tonne lorry within the UK, the only UK hauliers who still need to use the 40-tonne lorry are international operators using continental roads with 40-tonne lorry weight limits.

  To boost the competitiveness of these international hauliers, the Government are cutting the VED rate for the 40-tonne lorry on 5-axles from £5,750 to £3,950. The rate for the less road-damaging 38-tonne lorry on 5-axles will be reduced by £500 to encourage its continued use, and there will also be a reduction of £500 for the lorry typically used to collect freight from UK ports to boost the competitiveness of hauliers in this sector.

  The Government will continue to monitor trends in vehicle purchasing and plating decisions and in volumes of road haulage movements, while a sub-group of the Road Haulage Forum will continue to review the costs which different lorry types impose on the environment and the roads. This work will inform the Chancellor's future decisions on VED rates for goods vehicles.

  Ballot Boxes (London)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the robustness and security of 434W
  the cardboard ballot boxes proposed for use with electronic vote counting in the forthcoming London elections; what assessment he has made of the risk of persons tampering with such ballot boxes; and if he will make a statement; [117239]

  (2) what checks there will be on the number of ballot boxes used in connection with electronic vote counting in the forthcoming London elections. [117240]

  Mr. Hill
  These are matters for the Greater London Returning Officer.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will describe the research being undertaken during farm-scale trials of genetically modified crops with particular respect to(a) potential cross-pollination with (i) other non-genetically modified crops and (ii) wild flora, (b) the viability of such cross-pollination, (c) the impact on insect life in areas adjacent to the trial, and (d) the duration of the study. [117301]

  Mr. Meacher
  Studies are being undertaken during farm-scale evaluations of the management associated with genetically modified crops to assess(a) potential cross-pollination between genetically modified crops with particular respect to (i) cross-pollination with other non-genetically modified crops and (ii) wild flora. In addition, studies are being undertaken during farm-scale trials to assess (b) the viability of such cross-pollination and (c) the impact on insect life in areas adjacent to the trial. Protocols are currently being finalised for these investigations with the contractors. These will be made public shortly and I will place a copy in the Library. (d) The study could last up to three years.

  PPG17
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish revisions to PPG17. [117346]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 21 March 2000,Official Report, column 469W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Travel Documents (Loss)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of travel documents lost by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in the last three years. [117653]

  Mrs. Roche
  The available information relates to the number of claims for compensation as a result of maladministration in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, the majority of which are as a result of passports lost within the Directorate. The number of claims dealt with is as follows:

  1997:45

  1998:62

  1999:78

  435W
  In addition to the figures given for 1999, there are a number of claims submitted in 1999 still to be considered.

  Freedom of Information Bill
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the draft code of practice to be made under clause 44 of the Freedom of Information Bill. [117968]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today placed a copy of a working draft of the code of practice in the Library and it will also be placed on the Home Office website.

  Clause 44 of the Freedom of Information Bill requires the Secretary of State to issue, and from time to time revise, a code of practice setting out practices which he considers public authorities should follow in the discharge of their duties in relation to Part I of the Bill. It specifies particular matters which must be included in the code such as the assistance that should be given to applicants and procedures for dealing with complaints.

  The matters to be included in the code are administrative ones that are an important part of good practice. They form an important part of the overall scheme for dealing with requests for information.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has conducted into the possible link between animal abuse and child abuse; and if he will make a statement. [116933]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Office is not currently conducting any research on the links between animal abuse and child abuse. However, we have recently become aware of some research in the United States of America on this subject and are considering that evidence with care.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 March 2000,Official Report, columns 566–68W, on animal experiments, how many of the nine project licences awarded in 1998 to allow procedures to be carried out on dogs were awarded in order to fulfil legislative requirements; and, for each project licence awarded for this reason, what was the legislative requirement in question. [116935]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My reply to the hon. Member on 7 March 2000,Official Report, columns 566–68W, reported that the procedures recorded in Table 11 of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures Great Britain 1998 were carried out under 39 separate project licences.

  Home Office records are not held in such a way to enable the specific legislative requirement that applied to each licence to be easily identified. My earlier reply provides examples of specific legislative requirements relevant to Table 11.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in(a) 1998 and (b) 1999 licences were awarded to allow procedures to be carried out on dogs to satisfy non-United Kingdom and non-European Union legislative requirements which
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  required (i) more dogs to be used and (ii) dogs to be used in procedures involving more pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm, than the corresponding UK/EU legislative requirements, identifying in each case the (1) non-EU and (2) UK or EU legislative requirements. [116934]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Comparing and contrasting the technical specifications of all of the possible test requirements will require a good deal of effort and it may not be possible to provide precise answers and would be very expensive.

  To be of some assistance, I could provide information on the number of licences issued in 1998 and 1999 that might generate data for regulatory requirements using dogs and explain how these are used to satisfy a number of regulators. It will, however, take time to gather the information and I will write to the hon. Member within the next two weeks.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if wild-caught monkeys destined for use in experiments are tested for(a) Ebola, (b) SIV and (c) Hepatitis; and if he will make a statement. [117019]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regulates the screening and quarantining of non-human primates entering the United Kingdom. All simians imported into the United Kingdom are required to undergo six months' quarantine against rabies in premises authorised by that Department.

  There are no specific Home Office requirements over and above those set by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many times Huntingdon Life Sciences has been inspected by his Department's inspectors in the last three years, broken down between(a) announced and (b) unannounced visits; and if he will make a statement; [117020]

  (2) how many wild-caught baboons Huntingdon Life Sciences have used to date; and if he will make a statement; [117021]

  (3) if he will list the establishments within the United Kingdom licensed to use wild-caught baboons since May 1 1997; and if he will make a statement. [117022]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prevents disclosure of detailed information about individual establishments licensed under the Act.

  We are taking further legal advice on this in respect of these matters and are reviewing section 24 in the light of Freedom of Information legislation.

  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals and of what species are held at the Huntingdon Life Sciences sites at(a) Huntingdon and (b) Occold; and if he will make a statement. [117023]
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  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Home Office records identify the number of project licences currently in force at each licensed establishment and also show the species of animal and the maximum number of animals that can be used under each licence. Our records do not show how many animals and of what species are being held at an establishment at any one time.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many laboratory rodents have been killed(a) this year and (b) in each of the last three years because they were surplus to requirements; and if he will make a statement. [117090]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Home Office does not collect this information centrally. The Animal Procedures Committee has a working group on overbreeding which is considering how this issue can be taken forward.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences have been granted for LD50 tests since 21 October 1999. [117076]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No new licences authorising the LD50 test (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development Guideline 401) have been issued since 21 October 1999. One licence issued after 5 September 1998 was varied on 21 October 1999 to remove authority for the test. Subsequently, a review of all existing licences identified a further 13 currently containing authority for the test. Of these, 11 have now been varied to remove that authority. A final decision has not yet been made on the two remaining licences pending consideration of representations from the licensees under section 12 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. We will no longer grant new licences for LD50.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for each month since January 1998,(a) the number of processed asylum applicants removed from the United Kingdom and (b) the number of processed asylum applicants whose claims have been rejected and who have not been traced. [117253]

  Mrs. Roche
  Provisional information, relating to removals and voluntary departures for January 1998 to February 2000 of persons who had applied for asylum at some stage, is given in the table.

  Asylum seekers whose applications have been considered and refused are removed only once all their rights of appeal in the United Kingdom have been exhausted. It should be noted that the figures may include some persons who withdrew their asylum application or appeal before a decision or determination had been reached. Cases dealt with on a safe third-country basis are also included.

  The latest figure for the number of known asylum absconders is 20,000. This is a snapshot, taken from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate port and enforcement databases at the end of November 1998, of those persons (excluding dependants) who had applied for asylum at some point and who had breached the conditions of their temporary admission, temporary release or restriction order, or were otherwise found to be out of contact with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. It should be noted that a person may become
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  an absconder at any stage of the asylum process and that some persons recorded as absconders may have left the United Kingdom without the knowledge of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Data recording problems mean that this figure cannot currently be updated.

  Removals and voluntary departures of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, by month, January 1998 to February 2000

  Month

  Removals and voluntary departures 1,2

  January 1998

  600

  February 1998

  525

  March 1998

  555

  April 1998

  465

  May 1998

  490

  June 1998

  485

  July 1998

  560

  August 1998

  610

  September 1998

  535

  October 1998

  670

  November 1998

  695

  December 1998

  720

  January 1999

  650

  February 1999

  585

  March 1999

  615

  April 1999

  600

  May 1999

  625

  June 1999

  610

  July 1999

  660

  August 1999

  625

  September 1999

  685

  October 1999

  710

  November 1999

  635

  December 1999

  645

  January 2000

  605

  February 2000

  680

  1 For port asylum applicants, the data include persons departing voluntarily up to and including the point of notification of the decision on the asylum application and those persons who have had their asylum application refused and leave the country before they have exhausted their rights of appeal. For in-country applicants, the data exclude persons departing voluntarily before the initiation of enforcement action.

  2 Figures are provisional, revised and rounded to the nearest five.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers had registered with each local authority in England and Wales at the most recent date for which figures are available. [117659]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make regulations to specify that no further asylum seekers may be placed in particular local authority areas; which local authority areas he intends to specify; and if he will make a statement. [117656]

  Mrs. Roche
  At present, there are no plans to exercise the relevant powers to make regulations that would permit no further asylum seekers to be placed in particular local authority areas.
  439W
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much accommodation each regional consortium has secured on behalf of the National Asylum Seekers Support Agency. [117654]

  Mrs. Roche
  We have been conducting extensive negotiations with the regional consortia and expect in the coming months to sign contracts with them.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set maximum limits to the number of asylum seekers which any individual local authority should be expected to support. [117657]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have no present plans to do so.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to deport from the United Kingdom asylum seekers who are convicted of aggressive begging; and if he will make a statement. [117655]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have made arrangements for details of foreign nationals arrested by the police for begging to be passed immediately to a central contact point in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. The Immigration Service will establish the person's immigration status, and if they make an asylum application or have an application outstanding about which they have not yet been interviewed, will conduct an asylum interview. The application will be fast-tracked for decision, as will any appeal.

  It is my policy to ensure that all asylum seekers, including those convicted of begging, whose applications are unfounded are removed from the United Kingdom as quickly as possible.

  The hon. Member will be aware that important changes to speed up appeals and the removal of unsuccessful applicants are contained in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and will come into force later this year.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target he has set for his Department to reply to letters from hon. Members about immigration, nationality and asylum cases; in how many cases his Department has met that target in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [117652]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 687W and to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 26 July 1999, Official Report, columns 63–64W.

  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) has a target of 15 working days for replying to letters from hon. Members. This includes correspondence addressed to Ministers and to the Secretary to the IND Board. I regret that, due to current updating of the Information Technology used to record and track the correspondence addressed to the Secretary to the IND Board, I am unable to give a figure for the number of cases that met the target during last year. As soon as it becomes available I will ensure that it is passed to the hon. Member. For the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000, replies to letters
  440W
  addressed to Ministers met the target in 9.7 per cent. of cases. Every effort is being made to improve on this figure.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the earliest date of a letter from an hon. Member which has yet to be dealt with by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's ministerial case-handling team. [117651]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Ministerial Correspondence Unit is currently dealing with letters from hon. Members received in December, the earliest being 17 December. We are aware, however, that there are some older cases within the system elsewhere in the Integrated Casework Directorate and our aim is to clear this backlog within the next few months.

  Portland Young Offenders Institution
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigation he has carried out into allegations of abuse at Portland Young Offenders Institution; and if he will make a statement. [117661]

  Mr. Boateng
  The allegations of abuse raised by the Howard League for Penal Reform give no details as to time, date or place of alleged incidents of abuse and do not identify victims, witnesses or alleged assailants. The Director General of the Prison Service has made it clear that he regards the allegations as serious, and he has twice asked the Howard League to provide this information, without which no investigation is possible. No further details have been received.

  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons carried out a full inspection of Portland between 24 October and 3 November 1999. He was aware of the allegations before starting his inspection. He has raised a number of serious criticisms which are being addressed, but he did not report any evidence of the abuse of prisoners.

  Visas
  Mr. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (1) nationals of(a) Bangladesh, (b) Belarus, (c) Benin, (d) Bhutan, (e) Bulgaria, (f) Burundi and (g) Cambodia applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116996]

  (2) nationals of (a) the Dominican Republic, (b) Ecuador, (c) Egypt, (d) Eritrea, (e) Fiji, (f) Gabon and (g) Gambia applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116994]
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  (3) nationals of (a) Morocco, (b) Mozambique, (c) Nepal, (d) Pakistan, (e) Peru, (f) the Phillippines and (g) Romania applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116991]

  (4) nationals of (a) Cameroon, (b) the Central African Republic, (c) Chad, (d) China, (e) Colombia, (f) the Congo and (g) Djibouti applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116995]

  (5) nationals of (a) Afghanistan, (b) Albania, (c) Algeria, (d) Angola, (e) Armenia, (f) Azerbaijan and (g) Bahrain applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116997]

  (6) nationals of (a) Russia, (b) Rwanda, (c) Saudi Arabia, (d) Senegal, (e) Sierra Leone, (f) Somalia, and (g) Sri Lanka applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116989]

  (7) nationals of (a) Yugoslavia, (b) Ukraine, (c) Vietnam and (d) Yemen, applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116980]

  (8) nationals of (a) Liberia, (b) Libya, (c) Macedonia, (d) Madagascar, (e) the Maldives, (f) Moldova and (g) Mongolia applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116990]
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  (9) nationals of (a) Georgia, (b) Ghana, (c) Guyana, (d) Haiti, (e) India, (f) Indonesia and (g) Iran applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116993]

  (10) Zambian nationals applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [116981]

  (11) nationals of (a) the Sudan, (b) Syria, (c) Taiwan, (d) Tanzania, (e) Thailand, (f) Tunisia and (g) Turkey applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum; [16979]

  (12) nationals of (a) Iraq, (b) Ivory Coast, (c) Jordan, (d) Kenya, (e) Kuwait, (f) Laos and (g) Lebanon applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired; and how many applied (a) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (b) for political asylum. [116992]

  Mrs. Roche
  The available information is given in the tables.

  Entry clearance data are available by country of application only, which is not necessarily the country of the applicant's nationality. There were no entry clearance issuing posts in Afghanistan, Benin, Bhutan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Gabon, Haiti, Iraq, Laos, Maldives, Moldova, Rwanda, Somalia and Sierra Leone in 1998 and 1999. Residents of these countries have to apply elsewhere. The entry clearance issuing post in Sudan was re-opened in 1999.

  No data are available on the numbers of persons who return to their country of nationality before their leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom expires.

  Information is not available on the number of holders of visas for temporary purposes who apply for asylum or for settlement. The information given in Table 2 on grants of settlement includes persons who entered the United

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  Kingdom with an entry clearance leading to settlement; and the data on asylum applications and those who entered by clandestine means include persons who held no entry clearance.

  Table 1: Applications for entry clearance for temporary purposes, and numbers issued 1998–99 1

  Applications received

  Entry clearances issued

  Country of application

  1998

  1999

  1998

  1999

  Albania

  200

  1,680

  240

  1,320

  Algeria

  3,500

  3,370

  3,500

  3,370

  Angola

  1,600

  1,740

  1,570

  1,440

  Armenia

  1,020

  960

  850

  940

  Azerbaijan

  3,190

  2,700

  3,170

  2,550

  Bahrain

  13,150

  11,000

  13,090

  11,720

  Bangladesh

  12,820

  14,980

  9,820

  11,140

  Belarus

  7,100

  7,100

  6,620

  6,950

  Bulgaria

  17,130

  21,000

  15,790

  19,390

  Cameroon

  2,050

  2,020

  1,540

  1,600

  China

  38,900

  47,230

  2—

  39,460

  Colombia

  20,550

  16,930

  19,470

  15,640

  Congo Democratic Republic4

  650

  2—

  470

  2—

  Dominican Republic

  1,110

  1,370

  1,010

  1,310

  Ecuador

  3,000

  1,980

  2,800

  1,710

  Egypt

  29,440

  30,410

  28,820

  29,970

  Ethiopia

  3,740

  3,730

  3,100

  2,890

  Fiji

  720

  2—

  700

  2—

  Gambia

  2,980

  3,630

  2,340

  2,680

  Georgia

  1,900

  2—

  1,880

  2—

  Ghana

  22,160

  27,460

  16,130

  20,980

  Guyana

  1,470

  1,450

  1,240

  1,220

  India

  142,800

  170,050

  129,560

  152,040

  Indonesia

  8,680

  18,370

  8,390

  17,540

  Iran

  23,740

  2—

  21,970

  2—

  Ivory Coast

  2,300

  2,110

  1,970

  2,210

  Jordan

  8,900

  8,450

  8,920

  8,240

  Kenya

  16,600

  17,380

  14,750

  13,740

  Kuwait

  42,740

  36,060

  42,500

  32,230

  Lebanon

  7,430

  7,380

  7,070

  7,070

  Libya

  820

  1,390

  770

  1,310

  Macedonia

  420

  720

  420

  720

  Madagascar

  290

  350

  280

  320

  Mongolia

  810

  900

  710

  740

  Morocco

  7,260

  6,870

  6,380

  6,160

  Mozambique

  790

  700

  750

  570

  Nepal

  3,780

  4,070

  2,920

  3,060

  Pakistan

  65,790

  70,260

  49,010

  47,970

  Peru

  3,840

  3,580

  3,680

  3,570

  Philippines

  17,010

  19,060

  14,540

  17,750

  Romania

  23,030

  21,860

  20,680

  19,840

  Russia

  94,180

  69,460

  89,630

  66,500

  Rwanda

  100

  110

  100

  110

  Saudi Arabia

  57,630

  56,680

  55,300

  53,440

  Senegal

  1,200

  1,380

  1,030

  1,130

  Sri Lanka

  14,000

  17,770

  12,710

  15,220

  Sudan

  3—

  1,470

  3—

  1,160

  Syria

  5,820

  2—

  5,320

  2—

  Taiwan

  41,060

  42,990

  41,060

  42,990

  Tanzania

  8,870

  9,460

  7,180

  6,860

  Thailand

  20,830

  28,090

  18,460

  25,650

  Tunisia

  7,250

  7,070

  5,880

  5,990

  Turkey

  66,850

  62,510

  61,280

  43,510

  Ukraine

  23,560

  22,520

  20,850

  18,890

  Vietnam

  2,080

  1,690

  1,840

  1,380

  Yemen

  3,720

  3,780

  3,300

  3,360

  Yugoslavia

  14,690

  2,660

  14,130

  2,540

  Zambia

  4,340

  4,620

  4,120

  4,390

  1 1999 data are provisional

  2 Not available

  3 Not applicable (no entry clearance facilities in that country)

  4 Formerly Zaire

  444W

  Table 2: Grants of settlement and applications for asylum 1998–99 5

  Grants of settlement 1,2

  Applications 4 for asylum

  Nationality

  1998

  1999

  1998

  1999

  Afghanistan

  190

  420

  2,395

  3,975

  Albania

  50

  110

  560

  1,310

  Algeria

  700

  990

  1,260

  1,385

  Angola

  70

  450

  150

  545

  Armenia

  6—

  30

  60

  95

  Azerbaijan

  6—

  10

  20

  50

  Bahrain

  10

  40

  5

  10

  Bangladesh

  3,580

  3,240

  460

  530

  Belarus

  20

  30

  110

  600

  Benin

  6—

  10

  5

  5

  Bhutan

  6—

  6—

  45

  60

  Bulgaria

  180

  270

  165

  80

  Burundi

  30

  60

  215

  780

  Cambodia

  6—

  10

  *

  5

  Cameroon

  90

  130

  95

  245

  Central African Republic

  0

  0

  *

  *

  Chad

  0

  6—

  10

  70

  China

  1,410

  1,400

  1,925

  2,625

  Colombia

  330

  530

  425

  1,000

  Congo

  10

  40

  150

  450

  Congo Democratic Republic8

  110

  2,010

  660

  1,240

  Djibouti

  6—

  30

  15

  5

  Dominican Republic

  40

  30

  7—

  7—

  Ecuador

  40

  80

  280

  610

  Egypt

  360

  380

  45

  55

  Eritrea

  30

  170

  345

  565

  Ethiopia

  180

  2,120

  345

  455

  Fiji

  30

  20

  *

  0

  Gabon

  6—

  6—

  *

  *

  Gambia

  140

  140

  45

  30

  Georgia

  10

  30

  15

  70

  Ghana

  1,420

  3,280

  225

  195

  Guyana

  170

  120

  5

  5

  Haiti

  10

  6—

  0

  0

  India

  5,130

  6,000

  1,030

  1,365

  Indonesia

  110

  200

  265

  575

  Iran

  850

  1,430

  745

  1,320

  Iraq

  1,490

  1,970

  1,295

  1,800

  Ivory Coast

  80

  290

  95

  190

  Jordan

  130

  120

  30

  20

  Kenya

  450

  580

  885

  485

  Kuwait

  60

  50

  20

  25

  Laos

  6—

  6—

  0

  0

  Lebanon

  590

  740

  155

  240

  Liberia

  80

  70

  70

  65

  Libya

  160

  150

  115

  115

  Macedonia

  10

  40

  50

  90

  Madagascar

  10

  6—

  *

  *

  Maldives

  6—

  6—

  5

  5

  Moldova

  6—

  10

  25

  180

  Mongolia

  10

  10

  50

  75

  Morocco

  420

  420

  25

  20

  Mozambique

  10

  20

  5

  0

  Nepal

  90

  80

  105

  230

  Pakistan

  7,220

  11,700

  1,975

  2,615

  Peru

  100

  130

  5

  20

  Philippines

  890

  1,140

  35

  10

  Romania

  240

  280

  1,015

  1,985

  Russia3

  850

  850

  185

  685

  Rwanda

  60

  70

  280

  820

  Saudi Arabia

  50

  50

  5

  10

  Senegal

  10

  20

  5

  5

  Sierra Leone

  510

  920

  565

  1,125

  Somalia

  2,740

  3,030

  4,685

  7,495

  Sri Lanka

  1,960

  5,100

  3,505

  5,130

  Sudan

  450

  510

  250

  280

  Syria

  110

  130

  65

  95

  Taiwan

  100

  120

  5

  5

  Tanzania

  200

  210

  80

  80

  Thailand

  500

  800

  20

  15

  Tunisia

  110

  150

  20

  20

  Turkey

  2,270

  4,850

  2,015

  2,850

  Ukraine

  140

  190

  370

  775

  Vietnam

  100

  120

  35

  105

  445W

  Table 2: Grants of settlement and applications for asylum 1998–99 5

  Grants of settlement 1.2

  Applications 4 for asylum

  Nationality

  1998

  1999

  1998

  1999

  Yemen

  190

  230

  35

  90

  Former Yugoslavia

  850

  4,050

  7,980

  14,180

  Zambia

  200

  230

  25

  20

  1 Excluding persons given indefinite leave to enter

  2 All settlement data are rounded to three significant figures or to the nearest 10 if less than 1,000

  3 Russia includes holders of Soviet Union passports

  4 Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2, and exclude dependants

  5 1999 data are provisional

  6 Negligible (i.e. five or fewer)

  7 Not available

  8 Formerly Zaire

  Police (Lancashire)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the latest data available to his Department in relation to Lancashire police force on the numbers of police officers who are(a) on the establishment of the force, (b) on sick leave, (c) undertaking light duties and (d) representing a full complement of officers for the force. [116975]

  Mr. Straw
  Under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, which was passed by the previous Government, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their force within the resources that are available. The Lancashire Constabulary does not have a target establishment. I understand from the Chief Constable that there were the full-time equivalent of 3,224 police officers available for ordinary duty in the Lancashire Constabulary on 31 March 2000.

  She has also told me that as at 30 March 2000, 178 police officers were recorded by the Constabulary as absent from duty through sickness and 34 officers had formal restrictions placed upon the range of duties they are physically or psychologically able to perform. This latter figure does not include temporary arrangements made locally within the force as and when required.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) number and (b) percentage of properties in his charge are empty; and what steps are being taken by his Department to reduce the number of such properties. [116915]

  Mr. Straw

  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: There are currently empty properties at nine sites on the non-prison Home Office estate. Central records are not kept of the numbers of individual properties on large sites, but this comprises 3.4 per cent. of my Department's non-prisons Property Holdings (i.e. freehold buildings and sites, leaseholds, and occupations of other Departments' properties). Further detail on these and the action being taken to reduce the number were given in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 19 January 2000, Official Report, columns 468–72W.

  My previous reply accurately reflects the current status of prison land, but the figures for Prison Service's residential properties are more volatile. The position as at
  446W
  30 March is that the Service owns some 983 residential properties of which 160 (16.3 per cent.) are vacant. Of these, 78 are retained on security/operational grounds, for occupation by future chaplains or for future development. The remaining 82 are being (49) or will be (33) offered for sale.

  Tagging
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been released on the tagging system since it was introduced; how many have reoffended while being tagged; and if he will list the crimes that they have committed. [117699]

  Mr. Boateng
  As of 29 March 2000, 18,938 offenders have been placed on the Home Detention Curfew scheme. The Prison Service has been notified of 190 offenders who have been charged with an offence committed while subject to the scheme. A breakdown of the types of offences committed is shown in the table. This breakdown has been prepared from information supplied by police forces and drawn from the police national computer. Further analysis of re-offending by those subject to the Home Detention Curfew scheme, including procedures for notification of further charges to the Prison Service by the police, is currently under way as part of a long-term evaluation of the scheme.

  Offence type

  Number

  Burglary, theft and theft from shops (including taking without consent/taking and driving away)

  67

  Assault

  31

  Driving and Traffic Offences

  19

  Drug Offences

  16

  Breach of the peace (including Drunk and Disorderly)

  14

  Handling Stolen Goods/Deception

  10

  Criminal Damage

  12

  Threatening Behaviour

  8

  Possession of an offensive weapon

  3

  Breach of court injunction or Restraining Order

  3

  Rape

  2

  Harassment

  1

  Going Equipped

  1

  False Imprisonment

  1

  Arson

  1

  Indecent Exposure

  1

  Total

  190

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Under-occupied Properties
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to address the problem of under-occupied properties in the social rented sector. [117974]

  Angela Eagle
  We have introduced a three-year pilot scheme in the London Boroughs of Croydon, Newham and Haringey. Its aim is to test whether financial incentives can encourage Housing Benefit recipients living in under-occupied social housing to move to smaller and cheaper accommodation.
  447W
  Under the scheme tenants who move will be entitled to a lump sum payment of about half of the Housing Benefit savings that would be expected over three years from the lower rent. This gives them a financial interest in their rents, and an incentive to move somewhere cheaper. The scheme is entirely voluntary.

  Benefit Overpayments
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2000,Official Report, column 471W, on benefit overpayments, if he will estimate, in relation to the overpayments which took place on 17 and 18 January, (a) the total value of the benefit overpayments considered too small to recover, (b) the total value of the benefits recovered so far and (c) the total number of customers who have repaid the overpayment in full. [116134]

  Angela Eagle

  [holding answer 27 March 2000]: Administration of benefits and recovery of overpayments is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 3 April 2000:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent question asking what estimate he has made, in relation to the ACT overpayments (which occurred on 17 and 18 January), of (a) the total value of the benefit overpayments considered too small to be recovered, (b) the total value of the benefit recovered so far and (c) the total number of customers who have repaid the overpayment in full.
  Repayment was not requested where the overpaid amount was less than £5. Overpayments falling into this category totalled £8,500.
  The benefit recovered to date is over £6.8m and approximately 68,000 customers have repaid their overpayments in full. In addition, it has been agreed with some customers that they can repay in instalments.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners will benefit from the minimum income guarantee in(a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster. [116080]

  Mr. Darling
  There are around 8,000 pensioners in Barnsley and 9,000 in Doncaster, receiving their minimum income guarantee (MIG) which is paid through Income Support.

  I have written to right hon. and hon. Members today advising them of our plans for a take-up campaign, to encourage pensioners to claim their entitlement to the MIG.

  Starting in the spring, the campaign will see intense activity on a number of fronts. This will include television advertising, writing to around two million pensioners who our records suggest are likely to have an underlying entitlement, and the introduction of a tele-claims centre with special trained operators who can advise on entitlement and help complete the paperwork to claim the MIG.
  448W
  Today we are also publishing a paper which shows what has happened to pensioner incomes over the past 40 years. It shows that average pensioner incomes as a whole are rising faster than average earnings and that some have done very well. But it also shows that a significant minority of pensioners have missed out. We are helping all pensioners, but the paper shows why we should focus particular help on those who need help most.

  The paper has been placed in the Library and copies are available from the Vote Office.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people over 65 years of age are receiving the minimum income guarantee in(a) the Crosby parliamentary constituency and (b) each constituency in the City of Liverpool. [116673]

  Mr. Bayley
  The administration of the minimum income guarantee is a matter for Peter Mathison the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mrs. Claire Curtis-Thomas, dated 3 April 2000:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many people over 65 years of age are receiving the minimum income guarantee in (a) the Crosby parliamentary constituency and (b) each constituency in the City of Liverpool.
  The table below lists the number of people aged 65 and over receiving minimum income guarantee by constituency:

  Thousand

  Constituency

  Claimants aged 65 and over

  Crosby

  1.9

  Liverpool, Garston

  3.0

  Liverpool, Riverside

  4.4

  Liverpool, Walton

  3.2

  Liverpool, Wavertree

  3.3

  Liverpool, West Derby

  3.7

  These figures are from the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry of November 1999. Please note the sample size is 5% and therefore, subject to sampling error. They have been rounded to the nearest hundred.I hope this reply is helpful.
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if hon. Members will receive details of his take-up campaign for the minimum income guarantee in addition to that contained in press releases. [117603]

  Mr. Bayley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to right hon. and hon. Members on 29 March, advising them of our plans for a take-up campaign, to encourage pensioners to claim their entitlement to the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG).

  Starting in the Spring, the campaign will see intense activity on a number of fronts. This will include television advertising, writing to around two million pensioners who our records suggest are likely to have an underlying entitlement, and the introduction of a tele-claims centre with special trained operators who can advise on entitlement and help complete the paperwork to claim the MIG.

  Child Support
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the estimated number of parents with care who have Child Support Agency assessments who are in receipt of working families tax credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit; [117402]

  (2) what is the estimated number of parents with care with Child Support Agency assessments who are in receipt of both working families tax credit and housing benefit. [117403]

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

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. David Stewart, dated 3 April 2000:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency.
  Some of the information requested is not available, but such information as is available is given below.
  As at November 1999 the latest statistics available are that there were 922,400 live cases where a full child maintenance assessment had been made. Of these 96,600 (10.5%) were in receipt of working family tax credit.
  Unfortunately, similar information relating to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit cannot be obtained.
  The Department's Analytical Services Division produces a CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics that is available in the House of Commons Library and you may find the information it contains of further interest.
  I am sorry to be only able to give you a partial answer, but I hope the information provided is helpful.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of disability living allowance have had their benefit increased on review since April 1999. [116714]

  Mr. Bayley
  From April to December 1999 (the latest month for which figures are available) 46,899 Disability Living Allowance recipients had their benefit increased on review.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for(a) England and (b) each English region, the number of children in households with income below half of the national average in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) each year from 1992 to 1998. [117237]

  Mr. Bayley
  We have pledged to halve the number of children living in poverty in 10 years and eradicate child poverty in 20 years and we have already made significant progress. The measures we have announced in successive Budgets will lift 1.2 million children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament.

  Estimates of the number of children living in households below half average income for England and for English regions are presented in the following tables. Regional figures are available only from 1994–95.
  450W

  Number of children living in households below half UK average income for England

  Million

  Before housing costs (BHC)

  After housing costs (AHC)

  1979

  1.0

  1.1

  1990–91

  2.5

  3.0

  1992–93

  2.8

  3.6

  1993–94

  2.7

  3.5

  Number of children living in households below half GB average income for England

  Million

  Before housing costs (BHC)

  After housing costs (AHC)

  1994–5

  2.5

  3.5

  1995–96

  2.3

  3.5

  1996–97

  2.8

  3.9

  1997–98

  2.8

  3.8

  Number of children living in households below half average income for English regions

  Million

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  BHC

  North East

  0.20

  0.15

  0.20

  0.20

  North West and Merseyside

  0.45

  0.40

  0.50

  0.45

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  0.35

  0.30

  0.35

  0.35

  East Midlands

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  0.25

  West Midlands

  0.25

  0.30

  0.40

  0.40

  Eastern

  0.25

  0.20

  0.25

  0.25

  London

  0.40

  0.25

  0.45

  0.45

  South East

  0.20

  0.25

  0.30

  0.30

  South West

  0.20

  0.20

  0.25

  0.25

  AHC

  North East

  0.20

  0.20

  0.25

  0.25

  North West and Merseyside

  0.55

  0.55

  0.60

  0.60

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  0.40

  0.35

  0.40

  0.35

  East Midlands

  0.30

  0.30

  0.30

  0.25

  West Midlands

  0.35

  0.40

  0.45

  0.45

  Eastern

  0.40

  0.30

  0.35

  0.35

  London

  0.60

  0.65

  0.70

  0.75

  South East

  0.40

  0.45

  0.50

  0.40

  South West

  0.30

  0.30

  0.35

  0.30

  Notes:

  1. The source is Households Below Average Income (HBAI). Estimates for 1979 to 1993–94 are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey and these estimates, including the value of half average income, relate to the United Kingdom. Results for 1990–91, 1992–93 and 1993–94 are for two years combined. Estimates for 1994–95 to 1997–98 are taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) and the estimates, including the value of half average income, relate to Great Britain. FRS-based estimates use a slightly different definition of income; results are therefore not precisely comparable with those for years before 1994–95, but the results presented here are broadly comparable.

  2. All estimates are subject to sampling error and response biases, and small changes apparent in these tables may be influenced by these. Results for individual years may be sensitive to the precise way in which household incomes are adjusted for household size and composition; the picture of changes over time is generally not sensitive to this.

  3. Estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC) in line with HBAI conventions.

  4. Results in the tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 100,000. Results in the table are rounded to the nearest 50,000.

  Mobility Scooters
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many requests for funding for mobility scooters were made in England and Wales during 1999. [117084]

  Mr. Bayley
  Information about the number of requests for scooters, as distinct from other Motability vehicles, is not held separately. However, during 1999 Motability supplied its UK customers with 3,641 powered wheelchairs and pavement scooters through its Hire Purchase Scheme, which is funded through the use of the customer's Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement.

  Motability run a UK wide powered wheelchair and scooter scheme and figures recorded are combined to include both powered wheelchairs and scooters, on a UK basis. Separate figures for England and Wales are therefore not available.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for(a) England and (b) each English region the number of pensioners in households with income below half of the national average in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) each year from 1992 to 1998. [117238]

  Mr. Rooker
  Estimates of the number of pensioners living in households below half average income for England and for English regions are presented in the following tables. Regional figures are available only from 1994–95.

  Number of pensioners living in households below half UK average income for England

  Million

  Before housing costs (BHC)

  After housing costs (AHC)

  1979

  1.2

  1.2

  1990–91

  2.7

  2.9

  1992–93

  2.0

  2.4

  1993–94

  1.8

  2.3

  Number of pensioners living in households below half GB average income for England

  Million

  Before housing costs (BHC)

  After housing costs (AHC)

  1994–95

  1.7

  2.2

  1995–96

  1.8

  2.2

  1996–97

  1.7

  2.3

  1997–98

  1.9

  2.4

  Number of pensioners living in households below half average income for English regions, BHC

  Million

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  North East

  0.10

  0.10

  0.10

  0.10

  North West and Merseyside

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  East Midlands

  0.15

  0.15

  0.15

  0.20

  452W

  Number of pensioners living in households below half average income for English regions, BHC

  Million

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  West Midlands

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  Eastern

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  London

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  South East

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  South West

  0.15

  0.20

  0.20

  0.25

  Number of pensioners living in households below half average income for English regions, AHC

  Million

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  North East

  0.15

  0.15

  0.15

  0.15

  North West and Merseyside

  0.30

  0.30

  0.30

  0.30

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  East Midlands

  0.15

  0.20

  0.20

  0.20

  West Midlands

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  Eastern

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  0.25

  London

  0.30

  0.30

  0.30

  0.30

  South East

  0.35

  0.35

  0.30

  0.30

  South West

  0.20

  0.25

  0.25

  0.30

  Notes:

  1. The source is Households Below Average Income (HBAI). Estimates for 1979 to 1993–94 are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey and these estimates, including the value of half average income, relate to the United Kingdom. Results for 1990–91, 1992–93 and 1993–94 are for two years combined. Estimates for 1994–95 to 1997–98 are taken from the Family Resources Survey and the estimates, including the value of half average income, relate to Great Britain. FRS-based estimates use a slightly different definition of income; results are therefore not precisely comparable with those for years before 1994–95, but the results presented here are broadly comparable.

  2. All estimates are subject to sampling error and response biases, and small changes apparent in these tables may be influenced by these. Results for individual years are sensitive to the precise way in which household incomes are adjusted for household size and composition; the picture of changes over time is generally not sensitive to this.

  3. Estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC) in line with HBAI conventions.

  4. Results in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 100,000. Results in table 2 and 3 are rounded to the nearest 50,000.

  Past changes in pensioner incomes reflect the fact that many pensioners have simply lost out on the opportunity to invest in a second pension. Our strategy for tomorrow's pensioners will provide the opportunity for all people of working age to build a second pension. We are also determined to provide security for all of today's pensioners. The minimum income guarantee provides that security for pensioners with low incomes and our national take-up programme will encourage those entitled to claim.

  Asylum Seekers
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of welfare benefits for asylum seekers who do not have permission to work in each of the last three years. [117052]

  Mr. Bayley
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 3 April 2000,Official Report, columns 612–13.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to extend the disregard of War Disablement and War Widows' Pensions for income related benefits; and if he will make a statement. [117209]

  Mr. Bayley
  Mandatory disregards for War Disablement and War Widow's Pensions already exist in income related benefits. The disregards strike the right balance between acknowledging the special reasons for these pensions and prudent use of public funds. We have no plans to extend the disregard of War Disablement and War Widows' Pension.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the local authorities which do not operate a total disregard of War Disablement and War Widows' Pensions, in relation to(a) housing and (b) council tax benefit. [117226]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information requested is not available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  £ million

  Income Support

  Housing Benefit

  Council Tax Benefit

  Total

  Expenditure on people newly entitled to benefit

  35

  1—

  1—

  35

  Expenditure on people who see benefit income increased (gainers)

  25

  50

  30

  105

  Total

  60

  50

  30

  140

  1 Negligible costs

  Notes:

  1. Income Support gainers are all those with capital between £3,000 and £8,000. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit gainers are all those with capital between £3,000 and £16,000.

  2. Tariff income is calculated in the same way as before, but starting from the £6,000 capital limit.

  3. Costs are given for benefits in 2001–02, and are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  4. The £140 million cost relates to Great Britain only.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of beneficiaries of the uprating of the lower and upper capital limits for income support; and on what assumptions. [117519]

  Mr. Bayley
  We expect around 500,000 pensioners to gain from increasing the lower and upper capital limits for Income Support.

  This estimate is based on figures obtained from the Policy Simulation Model (PSM) for Income Related benefits, based on 1997–98 Family Resources Survey data. This is uprated to reflect 2000–01 prices and benefit levels.

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117414]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for
  454W
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is(a) the cost of the current mandatory disregards, (b) the additional cost of a total disregard and (c) the overall cost if there were a total disregard, of the disregard of War Disablement and War Widows' Pensions in respect of income-related benefits. [117219]

  Mr. Bayley
  The cost to central Government of the current mandatory disregards of War Disablement and War Widow's Pensions is estimated to be £20 million a year. The extra cost to central Government if applying a total disregard would be around £140 million per year, giving the overall cost of £160 million a year.

  Income Support
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the £145 million for uprating lower and upper capital limits for income support is calculated; and if it includes any revision of the tariff income. [117518]

  Mr. Bayley
  We estimate that the cost for uprating lower and upper capital limits for benefits would be £140 million. This can be broken down as follows:

  Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

  Automated Credit Transfer
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent discussions he has had with the banking industry concerning the automated credit transfer of benefits. [116854]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have decided to move to automated credit transfer (ACT) from 2003 as a modern, more secure and efficient method of paying benefits.

  We have already begun discussions with the banking industry on issues surrounding benefit recipients, charges and other matters. Most of the discussions have been at official level—these will continue.

  Mortgage Payments
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to vary the rate of support for mortgage payments for income support claimants. [117602]

  Mr. Bayley
  The standard interest rate for Income Support claimants has risen from 6.66 per cent. to 6.92 per cent. and the regulations come into force on 16 April 2000.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cap Afrique
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his staff at the port of Dover initiated discussions about the weather conditions with the Master of the Cap Afrique on the evening of 2 March; and what the wind force was at Port Control when the Cap Afrique sailed on 3 March. [116643]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department's inspection staff did not initiate discussions with the master of the Cap Afrique on 2 March and I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 22 March 2000,Official Report, column 589W. This was a failure in internal procedures and action has been taken to rectify this.

  Dover Port Control logged the wind speed on 3 March at 04.04 as 40–50 knots (force 8-10) and at 06.54 as 35–44 knots (force 8-9). The Cap Afrique sailed at 05.30 hours.

  Dolphins
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of recent reports of large numbers of dolphins caught in pelagic fishing nets off the coast of Devon and Cornwall; [116662]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of dolphins caught in pelagic fishing nets off the coast of Devon and Cornwall in the last 12 months; [116663]

  (3) what plans he has to investigate the reported deaths of dolphins off the coast of Devon and Cornwall due to the use of pelagic fishing nets; [116664]

  (4) what recent research his Ministry has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effect of pelagic nets on dolphins; and what plans he has to monitor the use of such nets by trawlers in this area. [116665]

  Mr. Morley
  I was concerned to learn of the recent spate of dolphins washed up on south western coasts. It is important to establish which fishery is responsible for the problem and what is going wrong in that fishery. Once that is known my Department will then work with the industry and, if appropriate, with the European Commission to find practical remedial solutions. I have already met Brixham Seawatch to hear their views on the situation. They have estimated that 28 animals have been washed ashore in Cornwall and 14 in Devon since 1 January. I am also seeking information from others.

  The Sea Mammal Research Unit did some preliminary monitoring work in the pelagic trawl fishery in the last year. No cetacean bycatch was recorded. We have agreed to fund a new three-year programme with SMRU beginning in July 2000 which will include additional monitoring of the pelagic fisheries when they re-start in the Autumn.

  Treaty of Corfu
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what legislation of the European Commission(a) has been tabled, (b) has been agreed and
  456W

  (c) is due to come into force before 2003 in respect of the fishing permit system referred to in Articles 89 and 116 of the Treaty of Corfu, Cm 2606 of 1974; [116729]

  (2) what (a) discussions have been held and (b) provisional agreements have been entered into by Ministers concerning the implementation of Articles 89 and 116 of the Treaty of Corfu in any sea area since its ratification. [116730]

  Mr. Morley
  Council Regulation 779/97 established arrangements for the management of fishing effort in the Baltic Sea from 1 January 1998, based on the issue of special fishing permits by members states under the provisions of Council Regulation 1627/94 which lays down rules concerning special fishing permits. Similar arrangements for the management of fishing effort in Western waters have applied since 1 January 1996, in accordance with Council Regulations 685/95 and 2027/95. Extension of such arrangements to other areas of Community waters would require a specific proposal from the Commission and its adoption by the Council on the basis of a qualified majority. None has been made.

  Organic Conversion
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have(a) applied for and (b) been awarded financial support for organic conversion in each year since such support began. [117120]

  Mr. Morley
  The details are as follows:

  Applications

  Approvals

  1994–95

  72

  37

  1995–96

  64

  64

  1996–97

  117

  57

  1997–98

  216

  133

  1998–99

  222

  118

  1999–2000

  1,274

  1,021

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of resources allocated to organic conversion in(a) the current and (b) the next three financial years. [117119]

  Mr. Morley
  Support for organic conversion aid payments to farmers in England will be £11.35 million for 1999–2000 and £12 million, £18 million and £20 million respectively for the next three years.

  Websites
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of websites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each website (i) the topics which have been covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each website for each of the next three years. [115392]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  GM Foods
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received regarding commercial cultivation of Novartis genetically modified Bt maize in Germany; and if he will make a statement. [113618]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 March 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Minister for the Environment on 9 March 2000, Official Report, column 779W.

  Further to this reply, Ministers at MAFF received a press release issued by Novartis in Germany regarding the decision of the German Federal Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Environment to suspend approval of Novartis' genetically modified Bt maize. Novartis believes this decision is not supported by the scientific data. The Government will follow developments on this issue closely, but this does not affect the position stated by my colleague the Minister for the Environment, as there are no plans to cultivate this crop commercially in the UK for at least the next few years.

  Cross-compliance
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Government have to use the provision under the EU Rural Development Regulations to introduce cross-compliance, where direct payments in support of agricultural production are conditional on the carrying out of measures to protect wildlife, in cases where cross-compliance may have a detrimental effect on competitiveness. [117594]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 30 March 2000,Official Report, column 252W.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of United Kingdom demand for organic food was met by domestic production in each of the past 10 years. [117543]

  Mr. Morley

  [holding answer 3 March 2000]: Estimates of the volume of imported organic food since 1997 are between 60 and 70 per cent. per annum. We do not have statistics for the years preceding 1997.

  EU Rural Development Regulation
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make use of the provision under Article 13(b) of the EU Rural Development Regulation to introduce schemes of management for areas where environmental restrictions apply; and if he will make a statement. [116314]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government's proposed use of measures available under the EU Rural Development Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 is set out in the rural development plans for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland which have been submitted to the European Commission for approval. Those plans do not include use of Article 13(b) compensation payments for observing European Community environmental restrictions because the Government's policy is to encourage a positive approach to environmental 458W
  management through agri-environment measures under Article 22. In England, these include the Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Schemes.

WALES

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117416]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) by the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

  The executive functions of the Secretary of State for Wales transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on 1 July 1999. Section 65 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 requires the Assembly to make provision within its subordinate legislation procedures for regulatory appraisals before a draft of the relevant statutory instrument is laid before the Assembly.

  However, I also retain an interest in how UK Government regulatory reform affects Wales.

TREASURY

  City Centre Migration
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates his Department has made of net migration of inhabitants from city centres in each of the last five years. [116146]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Graham Brady, dated 4 April 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on estimated net migration from city centres.
  The information that you require is not available. At present it is not possible to produce annual migration estimates for small geographical areas such as city centres. Migration estimates are only available for former Family Health Service Authority areas. These are broadly consistent with shire counties, metropolitan districts and groups of London boroughs. This is because estimates of internal migration within the United Kingdom are based on the movement of NHS doctor's patients between the former Family Health Service Authorities.
  ONS have recently investigated the feasibility of using the postcoded information held on patient registers to better estimate migration at local level. It is possible that in the future we will be able to provide migration estimates for different geographies such as city centres.
  Moves for former Family Health Service Authority areas and between the individual Government Office Regions (GORs) and the rest of the United Kingdom are published in Key Population and Vital Statistics, which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Valuation Office Agency
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets will be set for the Valuation Office Agency for the year 2000–01. [117918]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have set the following key targets for the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in 2000–01:

  Operational
  to clear 80 per cent. of 1995 List rating appeals outstanding as at 31 March 2000 by 31 December 2000
  to publish by 31 October 2000 the first rolling two year forward programmes for clearance of 2000 list rating appeals
  to clear by 31 March 2001 council tax appeals equal to the number received in the 12 months to 30 September 2000. within a maximum of 52,000 appeals in England and 3,700 in Wales

  Customer service and quality
  to secure Charter Mark awards for 25 per cent. of the VOA's Groups by 31 March 2001
  to achieve specified standards for:

  valuation accuracy and

  timeliness

  in 90 per cent. of cases

  Finance and cost efficiency
  to break even after charging for the full cost of chargeable services including notional interest of 6 per cent. on the average working capital—measurement will be within a tolerance of the greater of 2 per cent. of relevant turnover or £1 million
  to achieve an increase in the VOA's efficiency index to 1.13 (1998–99 = 1.00).

  Further details are contained in the Valuation Office's Forward Plan, copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House on publication.

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number and volume of investments held in(a) Maxi ISA accounts and (b) Mini ISA accounts. [117236]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested can be found in Inland Revenue press release REV7.

  Aviation Fuel Tax
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a decision on the aviation fuel tax proposed by the European Commission will be made under qualified majority voting or unanimity procedure. [117299]

  Mr. Timms
  The Commission proposal for a Council Directive restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products, which was made in March 1997, is subject to unanimity.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his assessment of the cost implications for the United Kingdom aviation industry of the aviation fuel tax proposed by the European Commission. [117300]

  Mr. Timms
  I have made no such assessment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's policy in respect of the European Commission's proposed aviation fuel tax; and if he will make a statement. [117298]
  460W
  Mr. Timms
  The Government have no plans to take advantage of the Commission's proposal to allow member states to opt to tax aviation fuel used on domestic flights, and on flights within the EU by bilateral agreement. The Government support the removal of the international ban on the taxation of aviation fuel and will continue to pursue this in the forum of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further plans he has to introduce measures to assist small businesses. [117311]

  Mr. Timms
  We are seeking to make Britain the best competitive environment for business in the world. Budget 2000 sets out a substantial package of tax and spending measures that build on existing measures to help small businesses move up the ladder of opportunity. These measures are set out in more detail in Chapter 3 "Meeting the Productivity Challenge" of the EFSR.

  Haulage Industry
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he plans to introduce to assist the haulage industry. [117315]

  Mr. Timms
  In his recent Budget Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of measures that will further boost the competitiveness of the UK haulage industry: the introduction of 44 tonne lorries for general use on UK roads from a target date of 1 January 2001; £45 million of cuts to Vehicle Excise Duty, targeted particularly at those parts of the haulage industry facing competitive pressure; and tougher enforcement to tackle illegally-operating hauliers and protect the competitiveness of legitimate operators. These measures are set out in detail in paragraphs 6.68–6.74 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report, published on 21 March 2000.

  Third-world Debt
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress the Government have made to date with regard to relieving Third-World debt; and what further initiatives the UK plans to take to help tackle the remaining significant debt problem. [117685]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government are providing 100 per cent. relief on the debts of those countries (Bolivia, Mauritania and Uganda) that have already reached decision point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Mozambique is also receiving 100 per cent. relief on the debts it owes to ECGD, in advance of its reaching decision point under the HIPC initiative. This is to aid the country in its reconstruction efforts after the disastrous effects of the floods.

  The UK is pressing for swift and successful implementation of the existing debt relief package, which will reduce the debts of the poorest countries by $100 billion.

  Underweight Babies
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stockton, South (Ms Taylor) of 22 February 2000,Official Report, column 975W, if the figures for the number of low-birthweight babies in England and Wales born between 1990 and 1998 are derived from a consistent method of measurement. [117068]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 4 April 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking if the figures for the number of low birthweight babies between 1990 to 1998 are from a consistent method of measurement.
  The figures provided in the Answer to the honourable Member of Stockton South in 22nd February Official Report, column 975W were all based on a definition of low birthweight as a birth where the baby was stated to have weighed less than 2,500 grams. The figures were provided for health authorities between 1990 and 1998. These were subject to a number of boundary changes. For consistency the figures provided for all of these years related to boundaries as at 1st April 1999.

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117422]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

  Tax Rates
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in employment face a marginal income tax rate of 10 per cent; how many of those are(a)in part-time employment and (b)women; and if he will make a statement. [117411]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In 2000–01, there are estimated to be around 1.6 million employees who have a marginal income tax rate of 10 per cent. Of those, 1.4 million people are in part-time employment. 1.1 million women in employment have a 10 per cent. marginal rate of income tax (around 70 per cent. of the women will also be included in the part-time figure).

  These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and Family Expenditure Survey and consistent with the March 2000 Budget.

  Public Sector Finances
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the figures for the(a)total assets, (b)total liabilities, and (c) net worth of the public sector, referred to in paragraph 2.70 of the Red Book, HC 346, for each year from 1990–91 to 2004–05. [116851]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Outturn figures for total assets, total liabilities and net worth for the public sector at end-December of each year are available from the Office 462W
  for National Statistics. Outturns and forecasts of net worth as a per cent. of GDP were published in Tables C 1 and C22 of the March 2000 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Tobacco Smuggling
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) remuneration, (b) fee and (c) expenses were paid out of public funds to Mr. Martin Taylor for his report on the Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling. [117649]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Martin Taylor received no remuneration or fees for his work. No out-of-pocket expenses were paid directly to Martin Taylor. The cost of train tickets for travel to and from meetings outside London were met by Customs and Excise.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Martin Taylor received remuneration, a fee or out-of-pocket expenses paid out of public funds for his report on the Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling; and who owns the copyright of his report. [117504]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Martin Taylor received no remuneration or fees for his work. No out-of-pocket expenses were paid directly to Martin Taylor. The cost of train tickets for travel to and from meetings outside London were met by Customs and Excise.

  As Martin Taylor provided personal advice to the Chancellor there is no question of copyright.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the report by Martin Taylor on the Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling concluded about(a) the significance of the difference in the levels of tobacco taxation between the United Kingdom and other nations and (b) the likelihood, without a closer alignment of national tobacco tax levels, of other measures to combat smuggling having a substantial effect. [117505]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Martin Taylor's advice to the Chancellor was personal and confidential. It would therefore not be appropriate to disclose his advice.

  The Government paper "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" dated March 2000, sets out details of recommendations made by Martin Taylor on how to tackle tobacco smuggling. A copy of the paper has been placed in the Library. In this paper it was noted that a very substantial proportion of cigarettes smuggled into the UK come from places outside the EU where duty is negligible. Bringing cigarette duty rates closer to those of other EU member states would be unlikely to deter this smuggling.

  Alcohol Smuggling
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to combat the rise in smuggling of alcohol. [117348]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Following the March Budget, I announced a further £209 million for Customs to clamp down on excise smuggling. This will enable them to employ nearly 1,000 extra Customs officers, working at ports and inland, including additional special investigators and intelligence staff.
  463W
  Within this figure an amount of £23 million will be allocated for Customs to fund a national network of x-ray scanners designed to detect smuggling in freight.

  Imported Motor Vehicles
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct HM Customs and Excise to provide the same information on the relevant background 464W
  of imported motor vehicles to independent importers as it does to major car manufacturers and suppliers. [117568]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I can confirm that Customs do already provide the same information on importation procedures to both independent importers and major car manufacturers and suppliers alike. Full details are contained in their public notices and integrated Tariff. UK and EC law however precludes Customs from disclosing to third parties any confidential information which they hold in relation to a trader's business.

  Crown Prosecutors Code Review
  Crown Prosecutors Code Review
  Freedom of Information Bill Code of Practice
  Freedom of Information Bill Code of Practice
  Reserve Forces: Call Out for Balkans and Iraq Region
  Reserve Forces: Call Out for Balkans and Iraq Region
  Education Action Zones
  Education Action Zones
  CJD: DNA Samples
  CJD: DNA Samples
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Research
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Research
  Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Abortion Guidelines
  Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Abortion Guidelines
  Professor Collinge's Proposed Study: Involvement of Ethics Committee
  Professor Collinge's Proposed Study: Involvement of Ethics Committee
  CJD: Tests to Demonstrate Infection
  CJD: Tests to Demonstrate Infection
  Smoking and Food Preparation
  Smoking and Food Preparation
  NHS Specialised Services: Annual Reports
  NHS Specialised Services: Annual Reports
  Jobseeker's Allowance: Disallowed and Sanctioned Claimants
  Jobseeker's Allowance: Disallowed and Sanctioned Claimants
  Reduced Benefit Directions for Parents with Care
  Reduced Benefit Directions for Parents with Care
  Pensioners: Minimum Income Guarantee Increase
  Pensioners: Minimum Income Guarantee Increase
  Human Rights Convention: Compatibility of Legislation
  Human Rights Convention: Compatibility of Legislation
  Education Committees
  Education Committees
  Affordable Housing
  Affordable Housing
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Scrapie and BSE
  Scrapie and BSE
  Farmers: Retirement
  Farmers: Retirement