Written Answers of 5 April 2000

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Burma
  Mr.Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ban investment in Burma by United Kingdom-owned companies; and if he will make a statement. [117508]

  Mr. Battle
  We do not encourage trade with our investment in Burma and tell business enquirers so; we have also suspended all financial support for trade mission to Burma and for trade promotional activities there as was made plain in June 1997.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr.Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution Britain is making to support initiatives for peace in Sri Lanka. [117642]

  Mr. Hain
  We take every opportunity at bilateral meetings to stress the need for a political settlement to end the conflict in Sri Lanka. We have made it clear that we stand ready to help if both sides ask us to play a role. We welcome the Norwegian Government's efforts to bring the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam together for peace talks.

  Lisbon Summit
  Mr.Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the(a) total cost and (b) cost per passenger of the jets used to fly Ministers and officials to the Lisbon Summit; and if he will break down the cost by Government department. [117042]

  Mr.Robin Cook
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 30 March 2000, Official Report, column 248W.

  Mr.Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who took the decision that three separate jets would be used to fly Ministers and officials to the Lisbon Summit. [1170401]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: This was a collective decision, in the light of operational requirements. 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.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) officials and (b) political advisers accompanied Ministers to the Lisbon Summit. [117041]
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  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 4 April 2000, Official Report, column 390W.

  Geneva Summit
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to involve non-Governmental organisations in consultation as part of the preparation of the Government's position for the Social Summit in Geneva in June. [117326]

  Mr. Hain
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has provided £25,000 to help the United Nations Environment and Development UK Committee (UNED-UK) co-ordinate UK civil society's input to the Special Session. We have financed an internet website, the creation of a key stakeholders' group, and a conference for nongovernmental organisations. The Department for International Development has provided £270,000 for the International Council for Social Welfare to help it enhance the role of civil society groups worldwide (and especially those from developing countries) at the Special Session.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which department is the lead department for preparing for the Social Summit in Geneva in June; and which other departments are involved in the preparation. [117325]

  Mr. Hain
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the lead Department for preparations for the General Assembly Special Session on follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development. All other Whitehall Departments with responsibility for social development issues, both nationally and internationally, are fully involved in the preparatory process.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will represent Her Majesty's Government at the United Nations Social Summit in Geneva in June. [117324]

  Mr. Hain
  The full composition of the UK delegation is still being considered. The Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities, has plans to attend for some of the discussions.

  Middle East
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of recent negotiations between Israel and Syria. [117598]

  Mr. Hain
  The meeting between President Clinton and President Asad in Geneva on 26 March was a demonstration of the efforts being undertaken to achieve the resumption of negotiations between Israel and Syria and progress towards agreement. The Government support these efforts and believe that a settlement remains possible. Time is, however, short. The Government will spare no effort, in co-operation with the United States and our European partners, to help the parties reach agreement.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect the creation of the St. Helena Business Forum has had on unemployment levels. [117797]

  Mr. Battle
  The St. Helena Business Forum was formed in 1997 at the instigation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In 1998 it became the St. Helena Focus Group and is now run by the private sector. It is a voluntary organisation that was established to promote St. Helena to the private sector in the UK. One of its members has been appointed as a part-time Commercial Representative to the St. Helena Government. The Commercial Representative and Focus Group have greatly improved the service to potential inward investors and have taken a proactive role in inward investment promotion activities. In 1997 unemployment was 20 per cent., at the end of 1999 it was 15 per cent.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans has he to develop employment opportunities on St. Helena in non-governmental areas. [117799]

  Mr. Battle
  The St. Helena Government in its Strategic Review 2000–2010 and Country Policy Plan 2000–01, 2002–03 clearly sets out its commitment to promote employment opportunities. These include increasing contracting out of government services; the promotion of tourism and inward investment; and increased export promotion. Many of these activities are undertaken in conjunction with the St. Helena Development Agency (SHDA) which has been instrumental in creating or sustaining well over 120 jobs in 1998 in the private sector. The Department for International Development has funded a £1.386 million project to provide working capital for the SHDA. The SHDA provides grants and loans particularly for small and medium-scale enterprises as well as training and advice.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many St. Helenians are serving in the Armed Forces; and what percentage of the population that represents. [117801]

  Mr. Battle
  Thirty six St. Helenians have joined the UK Armed Forces since November 1997 which represents roughly 0.72 per cent. of the population. Several have returned to St. Helena since recruitment because they have either not completed basic training or for other, personal, reasons. Currently 29 are in the services.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans has he to assist St. Helena in developing the fishing industry. [117798]

  Mr. Battle
  Since 1996, the St. Helena Government (SHG) has been engaged in the establishment of a joint venture with Argos Ltd. On 29 February 2000 Argos Atlantic Cold Store was officially opened at Ruperts Bay in St. Helena. This increases fish freezing and cold storage capacity to 800 tonnes. Quotas placed on the local fishermen during times of high catches will now be eliminated. I understand Argos intend to take immediate steps to increase the volume of fish caught by importing bait and improving fishing expertise.
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  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to assist St. Helena in diversifying its economy. [117800]

  Mr. Battle
  The St. Helena Government set out their vision for the future and long-term development strategy in their Strategic Review 2000–10 and Country Policy Plan 2000–01 to 2002–03. This is clearly based on the need to continue to develop the island's private sector and attract inward investment. The St. Helena and British Governments agreed during this January's discussions on a new three-year aid agreement that progress towards a more sustainable economy will remain difficult until access to the island is radically improved. The outcome of the Department for International Development's proposed comparative costs study of future air access versus sea access will be relevant to future tourism development.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  NHS Computer Fraud
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many persons were prosecuted for involvement in fraud over the procurement of computer equipment in the NHS in each of the last six years. [116858]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records in respect of the number of persons prosecuted for involvement in fraud over the procurement of computer equipment in the NHS in each of the last six years. The information requested could be obtained only by examining each relevant file in every CPS office, at disproportionate cost. The Serious Fraud Office has not prosecuted any persons for involvement in fraud over the procurement of computer equipment in the NHS in each of the last six years.

  R. v. Doran
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Solicitor-General when the report of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the case, R.v. Doran & Others, is due to be handed to the Attorney-General; and if the report will be published. [117318]

  The Solicitor-General
  I have been informed by His Honour Gerald Butler QC that his report is close to completion, but I am not in a position to provide a specific date by which the finished report will be provided to the Attorney-General. The question of publication is a matter for the Attorney-General and the Chairman of HM Customs and Excise. As the previous Attorney-General, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberavon (Sir J. Morris) stated in his parliamentary answer of 22 July 1999,Official Report, column 607W, a summary of the report and its recommendations will be made available to the House.

  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Solicitor-General what factors led to the delay in the reporting of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the case, R.v. Doran & Others. [117319]

  The Solicitor-General
  I have been informed by His Honour Gerald Butler QC that the inquiry took longer than anticipated for three reasons: (1) there were delays in providing the inquiry with all the relevant
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  documentation; (2) the documentation was substantially more voluminous than anticipated when the inquiry was established; (3) there were far more witnesses to be interviewed than was thought to be the case at the outset. The inquiry has received evidence from, and interviewed, 37 witnesses.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  World Class Performance Programme
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when his Department will provide the projected funding figures for the World Class Performance Programme for 2000–01 in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [115329]

  Kate Hoey
  The World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) is administered by UK Sport for UK governing bodies and includes athletes from all parts of the United Kingdom. Sport England is responsible for the administration of the WCPP for English governing bodies and for the World Class Potential and World Class Start Programmes for English athletes. In addition, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland administer their own elite programmes for their national athletes below the level of World Class Performance.

  The Sport England projected budget for 2000–01 will be submitted to its Council for approval on 3 April and is not yet available. The projected funding figures for 2000–01 for the elite programmes for Scotland and Northern Ireland are as follows:

  £

  Sport Scotland—Talented Athlete Programme

  2,000,000

  Sport Scotland—Scotland Junior Groups Programme

  750,000

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland—Development of Talented Individuals Programme

  530,000

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the individual awards for the World Class Performance Programme specifying the sports to date. [115328]

  Kate Hoey
  The World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) is administered by UK Sport for UK governing bodies and by Sport England for English governing bodies. The awards made by UK Sport and accepted by governing bodies since the Council became a lottery distributor on 1 July 1999 are given in the table. Sport England is currently upgrading its grant management system and information prior to 1 July 1999 and on the Sport England WCPP. I will write to the hon. Member with this information shortly and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  £

  Sport

  Award1,2

  Athletics

  3,045,839

  Athletics (Disabled)

  2,315,009

  British Paralympic Association Games

  61,002

  Bobsleigh

  316,687

  Cycling

  444,267

  Diving3

  395,522

  Equestrian

  728,200

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  £

  Sport

  Award1,2

  Goalball (Disability Sport)

  110,220

  Gymnastics

  1,773,806

  Ice Skating

  94,252

  Judo

  425,636

  Modern Pentathlon

  100,000

  Orienteering

  449,743

  Powerlifting (Disabled)

  112,566

  Rowing

  2,754,621

  Sailing

  1,744,320

  Shooting (Paraplegic)

  65,000

  Swimming3

  2,522,836

  Swimming (Disabled)3

  1,356,912

  Table Tennis (Disabled)

  11,820

  Trampoline

  188,203

  Triathlon

  34,290

  Water Skiing

  31,300

  Wheelchair Rugby

  149,476

  1 The list comprises only those awards that have been accepted by the Governing Body and are hard commitments.

  2 The total awards committed may not necessarily equate to exact outtum expenditure. Athlete subsistence costs are a best estimate and may not be taken up in full. Performance costs are normally taken up in full but where an underspend does arise lottery funding may be recouped or withheld.

  3 Diving, Swimming and Disability Swimming include awards that have been backdated to cover extensions to earlier awards.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason there has been a reduction in funding of the World Class Performance Programme from 1998–99 to 1999–2000. [115330]

  Kate Hoey
  There has been no reduction in funding of the World Class Performance Programme. The information included in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed) of 22 February 2000,Official Report, columns 849-51W, provided details of the funding to elite sport by each of the Sports Councils and related to expenditure for the first 10 months of 1999–2000, not to the total value of awards.

  The expenditure figures for the financial year 1999–2000 remain incomplete since payments for March have still to be made. The expected outturn for 1999–2000 will be broadly in line with that for 1998–99. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the full year figures are available.

  Lottery Funding
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much National Lottery funding projects in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency have received since the National Lottery began. [117313]

  Kate Hoey
  The total value of National Lottery awards to projects in the constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale since the lottery began is £5,374,323. The data are taken from the National Lottery Awards database which uses information supplied by the distributing bodies.

  Historic Engineering Projects
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on National Lottery funding for historic engineering projects. [117595]
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  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Heritage Lottery Fund can support a wide variety of projects involving the acquisition, repair, conservation and restoration of buildings, sites and collections relating to industrial and technological history, which will include historic engineering projects. To date the Heritage Lottery Fund has committed over £104 million to projects in the industrial, maritime and transport sector, and expects to continue to allocate 9 per cent. of its income annually to this area within the period of the current Strategic Plan.

  Charleroi Stadium
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with(a) the Football Association, (b) UEFA, (c) the Official England Supporters Club and (d) the Belgian Police Federation regarding the suitability of the Charleroi Stadium for holding major international football matches; and if he will make a statement. [117243]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has raised concerns about the suitability of Charleroi as a venue for the England v. Germany match with the Belgian Government, who have provided assurances that the stadium complies with UEFA and Belgian safety standards. The Home Office is overseeing preparations for Euro 2000 and there is extensive liaison with the host countries and with UK agencies involved in the tournament.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had concerning safety issues at Charleroi Stadium. [117275]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: I recently discussed this matter with the Chief Executive of the Football Licensing Authority.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday, 5 April. [117370]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Burmese Refugees
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what provision her Department has made for assistance to members of Burmese ethnic minorities held in Thai refugee camps. [117288]
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  Clare Short
  My Department provides assistance to Burmese refugees in Thailand through a grouping of NGOs called the Burma Border Consortium. This Consortium supports around 106,000 Burmese refugees from the Karen and Karenni ethnic minorities in Thailand. Over the last two years, DFID has provided the Burma Border Consortium with £537,500 for its work.

  Debt Cancellation
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her policy in relation to cancellation of third world debt on discrimination in favour of aid recipients which have exercised good stewardship of aid received. [117405]

  Clare Short
  The purpose of giving debt relief is to benefit the poor. I welcome the international agreement that this should be the main criterion for debt relief. Under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, countries will produce poverty reduction strategies which set out policies and programmes to tackle poverty. The strategy will then provide a framework for all poverty reduction resources available to the country—Government revenue, debt relief savings and international development assistance.

  I welcome the IMF and the World bank commitments to use the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) as a basis for their programmes of support. In countries committed to poverty reduction, our bilateral country strategies will take their lead from the PRSP, and I encourage other bilateral donors to do likewise.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Works of Art
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much has been spent on(a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in the Lord Chancellor's Department for each financial year since 1992. [117480]

  Mr. Lock
  Current financial systems cannot provide a figure for expenditure on works of art without recourse to disproportionate time and expense. All major paintings in court buildings are either part of the Government Art Collection or are on loan from private museums or collections. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts, 4 April 2000,Official Report, columns 392-93W.

WALES

  Press Officers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press officers are employed by the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales. [116323]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales employs one press officer with an assistant. I am also advised on media matters by my Director of Information and Communications.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special advisers are employed by the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales. [116332]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Wales Office employs two special advisers.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in(a) the Basildon parliamentary constituency, (b) Basildon and (c) Thurrock are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee. [117054]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Angela Smith, dated 4 April 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many pensioners in (a) the Basildon parliamentary constituency, (b) Basildon and (c) Thurrock are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee.
  The minimum income guarantee relates to Income Support pensioners aged 60 and over. The figures provided in reply to parts b and c of your question relate to Local Authority areas. The figures provided are shown in the table attached.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Income Support pensioners, by parliamentary constituency and local authority area

  Thousand

  Area

  Pensioners on Income Support

  Basildon parliamentary constituency

  2.7

  Basildon local authority area

  4.4

  Thurrock local authority area

  2.8

  Notes:

  1. Sample size 5 per cent., therefore subject to sampling error.

  2. Pensioners are defined as benefit units where either the claimant and/or their partner are aged 60 years or over, (including those in residential care and nursing homes).

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.

  4. Data taken in November 1999.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 1999.

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will introduce legislation to ensure that a separated or divorced husband or wife is not liable for mortgage arrears on his or her former marital home which accrue after he or she has left that property. [117121]

  Angela Eagle
  This Department has no plans to introduce such legislation. This is a matter for those concerned to resolve.

  Family Credit
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the parliamentary 474W
  constituency of Basildon were in receipt of (a) Family Credit and (b) Child Care Allowance in each of the last five years. [117056]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

  Numbers of Family Credit recipients in Basildon parliamentary constituency—August 1995–99

  Thousand

  Number of Family Credit recipients

  August

  1995

  0.6

  1996

  0.9

  1997

  0.8

  1998

  0.9

  1999

  1.1

  Notes:

  1. Caseload figures are taken at a point in time for which the month is August.

  2. Sample size is 5 per cent. As the numbers are based on a relatively small number of sample cases the estimates are subject to a high degree of sampling error, i.e. for an estimate of 1 thousand the true value will lie somewhere in the range 700 to 1,300.

  3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

  4. Cases are allocated to each parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the 1999 version 2 of the postcode directory, and as such represent constituency boundaries as at May 1997.

  5. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

  6. Due to the relatively small numbers, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the number of cases with allowed help with child care costs by parliamentary constituency.

  Source:

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards

  Family Credit recipients benefiting from the Child Care Disregard, East Government Office Region—August 1995–99

  Thousand

  Number of recipients

  August

  1995

  1.3

  1996

  1.8

  1997

  2.0

  1998

  2.4

  1999

  3.1

  Notes:

  1. Caseload figures are taken at a point in time for which the month is August.

  2. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

  4. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in(a) Basildon and (b) Thurrock were in receipt of (i) Family Credit and (ii) child care allowance in each of the last five years. [117055]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.
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  Numbers of Family Credit recipients in Basildon and Thurrock local authorities, August 1995–99

  Thousand

  Basildon LA

  Thurrock LA

  August 1995

  1.3

  0.9

  August 1996

  1.5

  1.1

  August 1997

  1.4

  1.1

  August 1998

  1.7

  0.9

  August 1999

  1.8

  0.8

  Notes:

  1. Caseload figures are taken at a point in time for which the month is August.

  2. Sample size is 5 per cent. As the numbers are based on a relatively small number of sample cases the estimates are subject to a high degree of sampling error ie for an estimate of 2,000 the true value will lie somewhere in the range 1,628 to 2,382.

  3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

  4. Local Authorities are assigned by matching the postcode against the 1999 version 1 of the postcode directory.

  5. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

  6. Due to the relatively small numbers, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the number of cases with allowed help with child care costs by local authority or parliamentary constituency.

  Source:

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  Family Credit recipients benefiting from the child care disregard, East Government Office Region August 1995–99

  Thousand

  Number of recipients

  August 1995

  1.3

  August 1996

  1.8

  August 1997

  2.0

  August 1998

  2.4

  August 1999

  3.1

  Notes:

  1. Caseload figures are taken at a point in time for which the month is August.

  2. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he intends, under the draft stakeholder pension regulations, the no penalty requirement (exemptions from employer access, Part IV) to relate to the contributions made on behalf of the member by the employer; and if he will make a statement. [117599]

  Mr. Rooker
  The draft regulation seeks to ensure that a personal pension which is to provide exemption from the employer access requirement does not impose additional penalties on members because they transfer out of the scheme or stop paying into it. It will relate to the total amount in the fund at the time of transfer or cessation.

  Computers
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what effect 3COM's announcement that they are to quit the high-end networking market will have on his Department's existing and planned computer systems. [R][117622]
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  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: This Department has purchased 3COM products through a procurement channel and uses major Service Providers for their day by day support. The Department has been advised that existing products will have at least two years' ongoing support and 3COM are looking to other third parties to supply for a further three years. The Department will work with existing and future direct service providers to manage this and to plan for alternative supply through initiatives already under way.

  Pension Sharing
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will introduce pension sharing. [118217]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have decided that pension sharing will be available in respect of divorce and nullity proceedings that begin on or after 1 December 2000. The necessary regulations will be laid before Parliament shortly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Fujitsu Plant
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Government aid was given to the north-east to deal with the effects of job cuts at the Fujitsu plant; and how much this was per worker facing redundancy. [116285]

  Mr. Caborn
  £415,000 was made available through the rapid response fund to help those facing redundancy from Fujitsu quickly to take up new jobs or training, where no alternative provision is already available.

  The allocation of £415,000 was not on a per head basis but resulted from a bid by the Fujitsu Response Group to provide job search and training beyond that available through the Employment Service and Durham Training and Enterprise Council.

  The number of employees made redundant was 576.

  MOX Fuel Data Report
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received a copy of the Kansai Electric Interim report on the MOX fuel data published on 1 March; and if he has ordered a translation of the report. [116442]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Kansai Electric's interim report on its investigation into the falsification of quality assurance data for MOX manufactured by BNFL was made publicly available in Japan on 1 March 2000. The report is in Japanese. A formal English translation has not been produced by Kansai. For their own internal use, BNFL arranged for an unofficial English translation of the report. A copy of that English language text has been passed to officials in my Department.

  ECGD (Turkey)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2000,Official Report, column 49W, what types of goods are

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  covered, broken down by category of equipment, by the ECGD guarantees issued in respect of contracts with Turkey in 1999–2000. [117073]

  Mr. Caborn
  The ECGD cover for defence business with Turkey in 1999–2000 relates to the supply of air defence missiles.

  Atomic Energy Authority
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what basis he set the target for an increase in favourable media coverage of the activities of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority contained in the authority's corporate aims and objectives programme. [117071]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The UKAEA target for favourable media coverage is based on industry established monitoring methodologies. The target set for this year improves on what they achieved last year. It is at a level which is challenging and attainable. This measure is part of the framework to monitor UKAEA performance on safety, environment, value for money and public acceptability.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the combined heat and power capacity where planning consent has been given over the last 15 months is under construction. [117766]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Since the publication of the White Paper, "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation", in October 1998, 14 combined heat and power schemes have been approved. Implementation of those approvals is a commercial matter for the developers concerned and not a matter for my Department, although my Department has no information to suggest that any of the approved projects will not go ahead.

  Renewables
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on net metering from(a) business, (b) environmental groups and (c) others; and how he intends to enable domestic producers of renewable and clean energy to gain access to the grid. [117709]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government have received a number of representations on net metering from industry, particularly solar energy companies, environmental organisations and private individuals. Many of the issues in those representations have been debated in the House—most notably in the Standing Committee debate on Clause 30 of the Utilities Bill, held on 14 March 2000.

  The Government are keen to ensure that all renewable generation, including that produced by domestic customers, is treated in an equitable fashion and receives full and fair value for energy exported to the distribution system. To this end, the DTI last year mounted an internal review of a wide range of issues associated with embedded generation and a consultation paper which set out the outcome of this review was issued in December.

  Many informative and helpful responses to the consultation document were received from the renewable industry, distributors and other interested parties. A joint
  478W
  industry-OFGEM-Government working group has now been established to take the process forward, and this will report before the end of the year. The working group represents a major opportunity to resolve a number of long-standing issues relating to the treatment of renewable and other embedded generation and to ensure access to the distribution networks on an equitable and fair basis.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all those goods requiring export licences which have been licensed for export to Sri Lanka since 1 December 1999. [117646]

  Dr. Howells
  The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated. Between 1 December 1999 and 24 March 2000, 11 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and one Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Sri Lanka of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

  Individual Licences issued between 1 December 1999 and 24 March 2000 covering the export to Sri Lanka of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML2

  2

  0

  ML3

  1

  0

  ML4

  1

  0

  ML5

  0

  1

  ML6

  2

  0

  ML10

  1

  0

  ML11

  2

  0

  ML15

  1

  1

  ML22

  1

  0

  PL5017

  2

  0

  PL5031

  1

  0

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

  Information on export licensing decisions in 1999, including details of the military equipment licensed, will be set out in the 1999 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, which will be published later this year. Similar details of the military equipment licensed in later years will be set out in the relevant Annual Reports.

  This information should be considered in light of the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 27 July 1999, Official Report, columns 307-08W.
  479W
  In addition, Sri Lanka is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences are routinely placed in the Library of the House.

  Works of Art
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [117472]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts on 4 April 2000,Official Report, columns 392–93W.

  Utility Meters
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that low-income consumers using pre-payment meters are charged the same amount for their gas and electricity as those who pay by direct debit. [117509]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: Provision of a gas or electricity supply through a prepayment meter (PPM) is inherently more expensive than via a standard meter because the meter itself is more complex and because of the additional payment infrastructure that is necessary. We have, however, encouraged the regulator and the energy supply industry to bring PPM tariffs closer to the cost of standard credit, so as to reduce the burden on those PPM users who may be on a low income. As part of the new price controls on the Public Electricity suppliers, the Office of Gas and Electricity Management (Ofgem) has proposed a new licence condition limiting the maximum additional annual surcharge for a PPM to £15 above the standard credit tariff. For gas, Centrica, which has about 90 per cent. of gas PPMs, has already reduced its PPM prices so that they are the same as those paid by standard credit customers who have not paid promptly enough to receive a discount for quick payment.

  I should point out, however, that the use of PPMs should not be taken as a proxy for fuel poverty: a wide range of people use these meters because they like the control it gives them over payment. Many PPMs are in second homes or holiday lettings. About half of those reckoned to be fuel poor are pensioners; and yet less than 10 per cent. of pensioners use a PPM.

  BNFL
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what commitments he has been given by the management of BNFL regarding the reorganisation of management structure and methods at the company. [117616]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have asked the Chairman of BNFL to carry out a "root and branch" review of the company. I expect to receive his proposals shortly.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the deadlines for implementing the recommendations and requirements of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate reports published in February 480W
  regarding BNFL, will be met; and if he will list the (a) expected and (b) achieved completion date for each such requirement. [117618]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published three reports on 18 February. The report of the "team inspection of the control and supervision of operations at BNFL's Sellafield site" requires BNFL to produce a programme within two months to address HSE's recommendations. Their report "into the falsification of pellet diameter data in the MOX demonstration facility (MDF) at the BNFL Sellafield site and the effect of this on the safety of MOX fuel in use" says that the MDF will remain closed until BNFL have met all 15 of HSE's recommendations. The third report, which deals with the storage of liquid high level waste at Sellafield, requires BNFL to produce within six months a strategy to reduce stocks of such waste to a buffer volume by around 2015. Copies of all three reports were placed in the Library of the House on 18 February.

  I expect BNFL to respond positively, constructively and on time to all the recommendations in the HSE reports. However, it is for the company, in discussion with HSE, to produce detailed implementation plans.

  Artists' Resale Rights
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the proposed EU Directive on Artists' Resale Rights has recently been discussed by EU Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [117401]

  Dr. Howells
  The proposal for a Directive harmonising droit de suite went to four Internal Market Councils last year but, on each occasion, a decision was delayed to provide more time to explore ways of overcoming UK concerns. Negotiations have continued this year in the Committee of Permanent Representatives where a workable compromise was finally agreed unanimously on 15 March. This reflects an acceptable balance between the competitiveness of the art trade, the rights of artists and the need to complete the Single Market.

  The British Art Market Federation has paid tribute to the Government's achievement in securing a compromise which will greatly limit the damage to Britain's international competitiveness in the global art market. The Directive will now go forward to Council as an "A" point—i.e. for agreement without discussion—and, thereafter, for approval by the European Parliament.

  European Structural Funds
  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the European Commission's approval of the UK's proposed Objective 2 Structural Fund areas. [118218]

  Mr. Caborn
  I am pleased to say that the European Commission approved the UK's Objective 2 Structural Funds map on 30 March 2000. This is confirmation of their agreement in principle on 22 December 1999.

  This is good news for UK, and ensures that many of the most needy areas in the UK will benefit from £3 billion of European regional funding between 2000 and 2006.
  481W
  Regional partners can now finalise their draft programme plans, which will need to be submitted to the Commission for consideration by the end of April in order for funding to be backdated to 1 January 2000.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of cross-departmental co-operation on EU Objective 1 programmes. [116412]

  Mr. Caborn
  There has been a great deal of effective inter-departmental co-operation on the Objective 1 Programme, at both ministerial and official level.

  Business Regulations
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish an annual estimate of the costs of Government regulations to businesses which employ fewer than 100 people. [116403]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have no plans to publish such information.

  All Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) contain information on the costs associated with new regulations; copies of all RIAs are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  BMW/Rover
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library details of his contacts with BMW and Rover between 1 June 1999 and 16 March 2000. [118219]

  Mr. Byers
  I have placed copies of these in the Libraries of the House.

  Private sector1

  Local authority1

  Registered social landlords2

  Other public sector3

  of which: Government Departments

  (a) London

  1995

  109,500

  19,000

  7,400

  1,900

  1,600

  1996

  101,800

  20,800

  7,000

  1,900

  1,600

  1997

  94,800

  18,500

  6,600

  1,700

  1,400

  1998

  88,300

  15,700

  6,500

  2,200

  1,900

  1999

  89,300

  14,700

  8,100

  2,100

  1,800

  (b) England

  1995

  689,900

  71,800

  20,900

  20,000

  17,000

  1996

  667,400

  79,600

  23,600

  20,000

  17,000

  1997

  640,000

  81,200

  26,800

  19,000

  16,000

  1998

  623,200

  81,700

  29,300

  19,000

  16,000

  1999

  636,800

  83,900

  32,600

  19,000

  16,000

  1 Estimates from the annual HIP Operational Information return from local authorities.

  2 Housing Corporation RSR form from Registered Social Landlords.

  3 Government Departments and estimates from the annual HIP Operational Information return from local authorities.

  Note:

  A level of vacancy is a usual feature of housing management, reflecting turnover and movement within the stock.

  Bus Shelters
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what policy guidelines his Department has issued to authorities responsible for bus shelters regarding consultation prior

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Neighbourhood Regeneration
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for neighbourhood regeneration. [116174]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Government's policy responses to neighbourhood regeneration will be brought together through the Urban White Paper later in the year, and through the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, a consultation draft of which will be published shortly. We will ensure that programmes such as the New Deal for Communities, Single Regeneration Budget and Sure Start all play their part in delivering the coherent and co-ordinated response needed to deliver sustainable change.

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of empty properties in(a) London and (b) England owned by (i) private landlords, (ii) local authorities, (iii) housing associations, (iv) Government Departments and (v) other landlords for each of the last five years. [116697]

  Mr. Mullin
  Estimates of the numbers of vacant dwellings in(a) London and (b) England on 1 April are given in the table. Information is collected on the total private sector and it is not possible to distinguish between private landlord and owner occupied empty properties.

  to erecting new shelters; and what plans he has to re-issue such guidelines to require consultation with local residents; [117274]

  (2) what targets he has for building new bus shelters and upgrading existing bus shelters for each of the next three years. [117273]
  483W
  Mr. Hill
  Decisions on expenditure on bus shelters are a matter for each local authority taking account of the availability of resources and the assessment of needs in their area. In developing bus strategies as part of their local transport plans, authorities will need to consider what improvements to bus infrastructure are needed, and what targets are appropriate in this regard. Local partnerships with the private sector can make an important contribution to achieving these improvements.

  Bus operators and local authorities have permitted development rights under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to provide passenger shelters. The current guidance in DOE Circulars 15-92 and 9-95 makes it clear that there should be arrangements for advance notifications and publicity for individual proposals, wherever appropriate. We have no plans to re-issue this guidance.

  London Transport has separate powers to erect and maintain shelters in London; these powers will be transferred to Transport for London under the Greater London Authority in July.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of rail freight's share of the freight market following the introduction of 44 tonne lorries. [117082]

  Mr. Hill
  In its interim report "Permitting 44 tonne lorries for general use in the UK", the Commission for Integrated Transport considered carefully the impact of 44 tonne lorries on the rail freight market. They concluded that work to estimate the precise effect on rail freight's market share would be unlikely to produce reliable results in the light of the Rail Regulator's forthcoming review of track access charges and other factors.

  The Commission has invited the shadow Strategic Rail Authority (sSRA) to develop detailed recommendations on measures to promote the growth of rail freight. We expect to be able to take the sSRA's proposals into account in developing our Transport 10-year Plan, due to be published in July.

  Fuel Poverty
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many households in homes heated by community heating schemes are in fuel poverty; and if such households will be eligible to benefit from the Affordable Warmth Programme. [116676]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 30 March 2000]: The present estimates of the number of fuel poor households in England are based on data from the English House Condition Survey. Unfortunately it is not possible to identify the number of households heated by community heating schemes who are also suffering from fuel poverty.

  I can confirm that households heated through community heating schemes will be able to benefit from the Affordable Warmth Programme announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Capital allowances will be made available to lessors on de-mountable heat exchangers, radiators and heating controls installed inside dwellings under the Programme.
  484W
  Lessors will be able to write off 25 per cent. of the cost of this equipment each year on the reducing balance basis against their taxable income, provided their expenditure is incurred by 31 December 2007.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how frequently he intends to monitor the number of households in England which are in fuel poverty. [116677]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 30 March 2000]: The present estimates of the number of fuel poor households in England are based on data from the English House Condition Survey which is carried out quinquennially. The Ministerial Group on Fuel Poverty is looking at how progress in tackling fuel poverty should be monitored in the future, and will consider whether estimates can be made available more frequently. This will form part of the overall strategy which the group aims to publish later this year.

  Second Homes
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 March 2000,Official Report, column 624W, on second homes, what change there was in the number of second homes owned between January 1995 and January 2000 in the South East, excluding London. [116776]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 30 March 2000]: It is not possible to give a robust estimate of the change in the number of second homes in the South East between 1995 and 2000. The following table shows the latest available regional estimates, based on averages over the three years ending March 1999.

  Location of second homes in England

  Thousand

  Government Office Region

  All second homes1

  Owned second homes

  North West and North East2

  31

  27

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19

  16

  East and West Midlands3

  33

  28

  East and South East2

  70

  64

  London

  28

  21

  South West

  44

  40

  England

  225

  197

  1 Second homes in England owned or rented by households whose main residence is also in England. Excludes homes which are the main residence of another household, or which the owners are intending to sell.

  2 Cannot be separated as the regional definitions changed during the survey period. Neither is it possible to give separate estimates for the 'Rest of South East' region used for regional planning purposes.

  3 East and West Midlands combined due to small sample sizes.

  Note:

  Like all estimates from sample surveys, these figures are subject to a certain amount of sampling variation and are not absolutely precise.

  Source:

  Survey of English Housing, three-year average to March 1999.

  Works of Art
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [117483]
  485W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts on 4 April 2000,Official Report, columns 392-93W.

  Asset Sales
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list his targets for asset sales for each local authority in the next financial year, listed alphabetically by Government Office region. [117296]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government have not set targets for asset sales for individual local authorities.

  The Government wish to see local authorities make the best possible use of their land, buildings and other capital assets, including the identification and disposal of those surplus to requirements. My Department has recently issued guidance on good practice in strategic asset management as part of the move to a 'single pot' for capital allocations.

  Radioactive Discharges
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that the Government fulfil their commitments under the Ospar agreement in respect of radioactive discharges; and if he will make a statement. [117154]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: The Government are fully committed to the agreement reached at the Ospar Ministerial Meeting in 1998, on the reduction of radioactive discharges. The UK's intentions for implementing this agreement were submitted to the Ospar Secretariat in October 1999 and a copy is in the Library. The UK is developing a national strategy for radioactive discharges, to cover the period 2001 to 2020. It is planned to issue a draft of this document for consultation before the summer and to publish the final strategy by the end of the year.

  Disabled People (Transport Facilities)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has had on improving transport facilities for disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [117824]

  Mr. Hill
  There are frequent and regular discussions with representatives of disabled people, including our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), with the transport manufacturing and operating industries and with local authorities.

  We have already brought forward regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 setting detailed technical access standards for all new trains. This year we will be bringing forward similar regulations applying to buses and coaches and we will be consulting on proposed regulations for taxis. These regulations cover facilities for wheelchair users and for people with a wide range of other disabilities.

  Through the Local Transport Plans we are also ensuring that local authorities give due weight to the needs of disabled people across the whole spectrum of their
  486W
  responsibilities, including pedestrian facilities, transport infrastructure and voluntary and community transport services.

  British Transport Police
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will bring forward legislation to extend the jurisdiction of the British Transport Police to give them the same constabulary powers as Home Office police; and if he will make a statement. [117668]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government announced on 31 July 1998,Official Report, column 637W, their intention to seek to establish, when a suitable legislative opportunity arises, an independent national police authority for the British Transport Police (BTP). Following consultation with the police service, my Department is considering with the Home Office an extension to the BTP's jurisdiction in specific circumstances. If accepted this extension would be included within the legislation.

DEFENCE

  AWE
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation took place with regulatory authorities in relation to the appropriateness of BNFL as a partner in the consortium set up to bid for the contract to manage AWE. [113667]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 9 March 2000]: MOD has regular meetings with officials of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and of the Environment Agency on safety and environment at AWE, including the conduct and progress of the competition to appoint a new management and operating contractor. Both bodies were consulted on the suitability of all consortia member companies before RFQs (Requests for Quotation) were issued for the competition and both have been kept fully informed of developments. On 13 April 1999, the NII and EA made presentations to BNFL and all other parent companies of the competing consortia informing them of the standards that would be required of the successful contractors. Both regulators were given copies of each consortium's management prospectus and bid material relevant to environmental, safety and health matters. The NII has also given presentations and has taken part in syndicate discussions and assessment meetings with bidders. Finally, as detailed to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Mr. Salter) on 29 March 2000, Official Report, columns 159-60W, the most recent review found nothing which would cause them to oppose AWE ML's take over of the sites on 1 April.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the criteria against which the applications for the new contract to run AWE Aldermaston were assessed. [113668]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 9 March 2000]: In assessing bids to manage and operate the Atomic Weapons Establishment from 1 April 2000 information was required from all participating consortia to demonstrate that their parent companies met full compliance on safety performance. This was essential to

  487W
  qualify for further consideration of the bids. Once over this hurdle assessment was made against the following criteria:
  Safety (the risk of harm and potential harm to people, property and the environment to be as low as reasonably practicable).
  National Capability (the ability of AWE to underwrite safety and reliability of nuclear warheads without recourse to nuclear testing and to maintain minimum capability to design and produce a successor to Trident if this were to be deemed necessary).
  Security (the protection of assets, information and people).
  Management (including the provision of Directors, adequate management measurement criteria and public relations).
  Infrastructure (the maintenance of the capital asset base to support outputs and waste management and decommissioning).
  Material (the production and through life support of weapons).
  Commercial (including the costs of the contract).

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the areas of responsibility assigned to each of the three members of the AWE management consortium under the terms of the contract to manage the AWE Aldermaston site. [116344]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 27 March 2000]: It is intended that at the start of the contract responsibilities will be allocated to parent company nominees as follows:
  Serco—Chief Executive, Business Services, and Communications
  Lockheed Martin—Deputy Chief Executive, Research, and Production
  BNFL—Assurance. Infrastructure, and Human Resources and Strategic Development.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings Ministers in his Department have held with members and officials of the United States Government to discuss proposed US plan to deploy a national missile defence system since 1 January; when each meeting took place; which Ministers were involved; and which members and officials of the United States Government and from which departments attended each meeting. [117077]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 April 2000,Official Report, column 400W, to my hon. Friend for Milton Keynes, South-West, (Dr. Starkey).

  Nuclear Arsenal
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the 70 per cent. reduction in the explosive power of the UK's nuclear arsenal is matched by an equal reduction in the combined potential destructive power of each separately targetable warhead. [117094]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) announced that we need a stockpile of less than 200 operationally available warheads. Against levels at the end of the Cold War, this represents a reduction in the potential explosive power of the deterrent of more than 70 per cent. The SDR also made clear that the one Trident submarine on patrol would carry a reduced load of 48 warheads. The SDR did not refer to the potential explosive power of individual Trident warheads; such information remains classified.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and locations of the United Kingdom/United States Stocktake meetings to review the co-operation on nuclear weapons under the 1958 US/UK Mutual Defence Agreement which have taken place since 1 January, 1996; how many members of his Department and which United States Government departments took part in each of these stocktake meetings. [117079]

  Mr. Spellar
  Two UK/US Stocktake meetings have taken place since January 1996. The first was on 18 June 1997, in London, at which a total of nine officials from my Department were present. In addition, five AWE Aldermaston staff attended. The second meeting was held on 10 June 1998, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at which seven MOD officials and four AWE Aldermaston staff were present. At both meetings, US representation was from the Departments of Defense and Energy.

  Zinc Cadmium Sulphide Trials
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date Professor Peter Lachmann and his panel were appointed to conduct a review of the zinc cadmium sulphide trials; how many times he and his team visited the Porton Down chemical and biological defence establishment and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency during the course of their inquiry; and on what dates he and his team made each of their visits. [117059]

  Dr. Moonie
  Professor Lachmann was appointed on 23 August 1999 to lead the independent study of the zinc cadmium sulphide trials. Other members of the team, namely Dame Barbara Clayton, Professor Paul Elliot and Dr. Clive Philips, were selected by Professor Lachmann following his own appointment.

  Professor Lachmann and two of his team visited CBD Porton Down on 29 September 1999.

  Israeli Arrow Missile System
  Mr. DuncanSmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the Israeli Arrow missile system. [117561]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: A Pre-feasibility Programme (PFP) that was undertaken in 1994–1996 examined possible options, cost and timescales for ballistic missile defence of the UK and its deployed forces. This was carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Defence by a consortium led by what was then BAe. In considering potential system architectures, the PFP examined publicly available material on all government funded BMD capable weapons systems. The Arrow weapon system was assessed within this limited context.

  Service Personnel
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British military personnel(a) currently employed by his Department and (b) on the Reserve List have been on secondment to Sri Lanka (i) military training establishments and (ii) units since 1 January 1997. [117644]
  489W
  Mr. Spellar
  An Army officer has been loaned to the Sri Lankan Army Command and Staff College to advise on syllabus development and training since January 1998. No other British military personnel have been seconded to Sri Lanka since 1 January 1997.

  Lord Levy
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security clearance has been awarded to Lord Levy in respect of his meetings with the Chief of Defence staff. [117775]

  Mr. Hoon
  All personnel who have access to sensitive material are subject to security clearance procedures. It would not be appropriate to give details of the particular level of clearance held by individuals.

  Computers
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect the announcement by 3COM that they are to quit the high-end networking market will have on his Department's existing and planned computer systems. [R] [117623]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: None.

TREASURY

  Self-employment (Bogus Claims)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action(a) he is taking and (b) he plans to take to prevent bogus claims of self-employment, with particular reference to the construction industry; and what estimate he has made of the loss of revenue as a result of such claims. [116509]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Whether an individual is employed or self-employed depends upon the terms of the contract under which they are engaged. This is true for all industries including the construction industry.

  The Inland Revenue is, however, aware that workers in the construction industry in particular have been incorrectly categorised in the past. Following consultation with the industry, the Revenue increased its compliance activity in this area to ensure that there was a consistency of treatment across the industry. The Revenue continues to police the status of workers in all areas including those in construction to ensure that the rules are properly understood.

  The Inland Revenue has no information that can accurately provide an estimate of revenue, which may have been lost in cases where the contract has not been categorised correctly.

  Earnings Thresholds
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policy consideration led him to raise the threshold for earnings liable to 40 per cent. income tax by an amount less than the average growth of earnings; and if he will make a statement. [116879]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In 2000–01, the basic rate limit, above which the higher rate of income tax of 40 per cent. is payable on earnings, rises to £28,400 in accordance 490W
  with the provisions of Section 1 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. The legislation provides that, unless Parliament determines otherwise, the basic rate limit for a year should be increased in line with the rise in the Retail Prices Index in the year ended in September in the previous year of assessment, rounded up to the nearest £100.

  Budget Changes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect of Budget changes including the(a) abolition of the married person's tax allowance, (b) decrease in the standard rate of income tax, (c) establishment of the 10 per cent. rate of income tax and (d) indexation of tax allowances on a married woman earning £14,000 a year, who is the sole income earner for a family of a husband and two children, and who has no more than the basic tax allowances. [116831]

  Dawn Primarolo
  This Government have introduced a range of measures to make work pay and to improve work incentives, including the lop starting rate of income tax, basic rate cut, National Minimum Wage, National Insurance Contributions reform and the Working Families Tax Credit.

  The income tax and National Insurance Contributions liability for a married woman earning £14,000 a year, who is the sole income earner for a family of a husband and two children under 11 would be £2,728 less in 2001–02 compared with the 1998–1999 regime with all of the allowances and limits increased in line with inflation. That is over £52 per week better off.

  For 1998–99 it has been assumed that the woman claims the married couple's allowance and family credit.

  The family would also gain from Child Benefit which increased by £179.40 per year more than inflation.

  Tobacco Smuggling
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy with excisions of matters of operational sensitivity to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, of Martin Taylor's report on the Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling and any accompanying correspondence. [117680]

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy, with appropriate excisions of matters of operational sensitivity to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, of the Taylor report on the Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling and the accompanying correspondence. [117544]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No. Martin Taylor's advice to the Chancellor was personal and confidential. It would therefore not be appropriate to disclose his advice. However his recommendations on how to tackle tobacco smuggling were summarised in the Government paper "Tackling tobacco smuggling". A copy of this paper has been placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Martin Taylor's report on the Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling has been made available to the senior officers of HM Customs and Excise at policy and operational levels who are responsible for the control of tobacco smuggling. [117501]
  491W
  Dawn Primarolo
  Senior Customs and Excise officials are aware of the advice Martin Taylor gave to the Chancellor on how to combat tobacco smuggling.

  Petroleum Products Smuggling
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss to public revenues in each of the last three years and the current year to end of March consequent on the smuggling of(a) petrol, and (b) other fuel oils from the Irish Republic into Northern Ireland. [117677]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 20 March 2000,Official Report, column 442W.

  Vehicle Conversion (Disabled Access)
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will grant tax relief on the costs of conversion of minibuses and coaches to allow for wheelchair and disabled access. [117639]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The capital costs of providing wheelchair and disabled access to minibuses and coaches will normally qualify for capital allowances at 25 per cent. a year on the reducing balancing basis. Small and medium-sized businesses will qualify for first year capital allowances at 40 per cent. on these costs. This is increased to 100 per cent. if the costs are incurred between 12 May 1998 and 11 May 2002 by such businesses on the conversion of minibuses and coaches for use primarily in Northern Ireland.

  Married Persons Tax Allowance
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on people who will be of pensionable age in the next five years of the ending of the married persons tax allowance. [115896]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The Government will be spending an additional £6.5 billion on pensioners over the course of this Parliament.

  Pensioners who are taxpayers can benefit from the 10p starting rate of income tax on pensions and savings income and from the cut in the basic rate to 22p in the pound from April. Those aged 65 or more saw the age-related income tax personal allowances for 1999–2000 rise by up to £200 more than required by statutory indexation. In 2000–01, the allowances will rise to £5,790 for someone aged 65 to 74 and to £6,050 for someone aged 75 or more.

  The majority of pensioners have no income tax to pay. All households with someone aged 60 or more will benefit from the increase in the winter fuel allowance to £150, an increase of £50 on the fivefold increase to £100 announced in the Chancellor's 1999 Budget. The poorest pensioners will gain from the minimum income guarantee which will stand at £121.95 per week for a pensioner couple under 75. Pensioners aged 75 or more will also benefit from free Television Licences from this autumn.

  Exemption Certificates
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the benefits of introducing tax incentives 492W
  for new companies which operate below the threshold of turnover above which they would receive exemption certificates; and if he will make a statement. [117338]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: There are no plans to introduce tax incentives for companies (or other businesses) that carry out construction operations but whose construction turnover is insufficient to enable them to pass the turnover test for the new Construction Industry Scheme.

  However, a Joint Working Group comprising officials from the Inland Revenue, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and representatives from the Construction Industry, is being set up to review the scheme. This group will be considering the introduction of in-year repayments for companies that do not pass the turnover test, which will improve the cash flow position of those companies that receive payments under the scheme after deductions on account of tax and NIC.

  Alcohol and Tobacco Smuggling
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the smuggling of alcohol and tobacco on the retail sector, with particular reference to newsagents. [117551]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The Government recognise that smuggling damages legitimate businesses. They are responding with a strategy worth up to £209 million, which aims to put tobacco smuggling into decline within three years. This is described in detail in "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling". Constraining the growth of smuggling will help retailers by preventing them losing market share to criminals.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the amounts of alcohol and tobacco smuggled into the UK for each of the past 10 years; and what estimate he has made for the next three years; [117552]

  (2) what was the estimated tax lost to the Treasury in smuggled (a) cigarettes, (b) rolling tobacco and (c) alcohol in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [117547]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answers 3 April 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" paper published on 22 March 2000 by HM Customs and Excise and HM Treasury; to my answer given on 26 November 1999, Official Report, columns 254-55W; and to the technical report on cross-Channel smuggling placed in the Library of the House on 19 September 1998.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current penalties are for smuggling tobacco and alcohol; and what plans he has to revise them. [117550]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs have a range of penalties available including:Seizure of the goods and any vehicle carrying them;
  Payment of a compounded penalty;
  Prosecution in Court, including disqualification from driving, revocation of a liquor licence or haulier's licence, removal of lottery terminal, compensation or confiscation orders.

  The penalty regime is kept under constant review.
  493W
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many successful prosecutions there were for smuggling(a) tobacco products and (b) alcohol in each of the past 10 years. [117548]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: I regret that records are not kept in this format.

  Bootlegging Hotline
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to advertise the Bootlegging Hotline; and what the budget was for advertising it. [117554]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: In order to improve efficiency, HM Customs and Excise amalgamated all its hotlines into one number—Customs Confidential on 0800 59 5000. On 21 July 1999, I launched a public information campaign to highlight the hotline in relation to tobacco, alcohol and drugs smuggling.

  The publicity campaign included:
  an advan that travelled throughout England, Scotland and Wales, to ports, airports and summer tourist events
  leaflet distributed to all cross-channel operators as well as being inserted in ticket wallets
  limited amount of national press advertising
  a radio news tape distributed to all national and local radio stations
  wallet cards for distribution at Customs events and to cross channel haulage
  vehicle window stickers for cars and lorries
  flyers distributed via the DVLA with license renewals—the flyer will also be produced in Welsh.

  We will be expanding the public information campaign considerably to focus primarily on tobacco smuggling. The Customs Confidential hotline number will continue to feature widely as part of the campaign.

  The overall budget for the campaign was £145,000.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls the Bootlegging Hotline has received in each month since its introduction; and how many successful prosecutions have resulted from the Bootlegging Hotline. [117553]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The "Bootlegging"" hotline was consolidated into the Customs Confidential hotline on 21 July 1999. This hotline is for reporting of all information and suspicious activity which may be of interest to the Department.

  Since June 1999 the total number of calls by month relating to "Bootlegging" are:

  Month

  Number

  June

  788

  July

  846

  August

  944

  September

  851

  October

  742

  November

  912

  December

  966

  January

  680

  February

  774

  March

  924

  Total

  18,427

  494W
  It is not possible to state how many prosecutions are directly related to calls received on the hotline but it is estimated that 70 per cent. of the calls provide valuable intelligence which is having a major input into the middle and lower end of the tobacco smuggling problem.

  Annual Departmental Reports
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the 2000 Departmental reports will be published. [118094]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The publication dates for the 2000 Departmental Reports will be:

  Date

  Departmental report

  Thursday, 6 April

  Health

  DfID

  Friday, 7 April

  DfEE

  Treasury and Chancellor's smaller departments

  Monday, 10 April

  MAFF

  MoD

  FCO

  DCMS

  Home Office

  Inland Revenue

  C and E

  Cabinet Office

  Tuesday, 11 April

  Main Estimates

  Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses

  DTI

  DSS

  DETR

  LCD

  Law Officers Departments

  Wales Office

  Scotland Office

  Northern Ireland Office

  Personal Service Companies
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the basis for the revision of the figure for the expected revenue in 2000–01 from his changes to the tax and national insurance treatment of personal service companies between table 1.11 of the 1999 Budget report and table A2.1 of the 2000 Budget report. [117302]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimate of extra revenue generated in 2000–01 from the pre-announced measure to tackle avoidance of tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) through the use of personal service companies is based on new, more up-to-date information which has been collected by the Inland Revenue since Budget 1999.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlay his estimate of the fall in revenues resulting from his changes to the tax and national insurance treatment of personal services between 2001–02 and 2002–03, as shown in table A2.1 of the 2000 Budget report. [117303]

  Dawn Primarolo
  People using personal service companies are currently able to avoid National Insurance Contributions altogether and pay tax on their income much later than an employee would pay tax through PAYE. The new legislation will ensure that affected personal service companies will pay the correct amount of tax and NICs, at the right time, rather than delaying
  495W
  what they do pay until well after the end of the tax year. The large first year yield in 2000–01 arises because the payments of PAYE and NICs are scored as they accrue whereas the reduction in corporation tax occurs when it would have been paid, nine months after the end of the accounting period. Subsequently, the 2002–03 expected yield is lower than in 2001–02 because the full effect of the corporation tax reduction takes three years to build up.

  Revenue Statistics
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many(a) UK citizens and (b) UK-registered companies paid capital gains tax on (i) stock market investments and (ii) other investments in each of the last three years; [117232]

  (2) what was the annual revenue gained by the Treasury from (a) income tax and (b) capital gains tax on (i) stock market investments and (ii) other investments in each of the last three years; [117233]

  (3) what annual revenue the Treasury received from investments in stocks and shares held by (a) UK citizens and (b) UK-registered companies in each of the last three years. [117234]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Such information as is available for 1996–97 to 1998–99 on income tax, capital gains tax, corporation tax on capital gains and taxpayer numbers is given in the following tables. Tax is charged on the basis of UK tax residency or trading, and there is no information available to identify those who are UK citizens or UK registered companies.

  Income tax from UK dividends and other investment income

  Amount of tax: £ billion

  Income tax liability from UK dividened Income

  Income tax from other investment income

  Total income taxliablity from investment income

  1996–97

  3.6

  5.2

  7.8

  1997–98

  3.9

  5.1

  9.0

  1998–99

  3.3

  6.6

  9.9

  The figures are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and exclude income of trusts.

  The estimates are consistent with the March 2000 Budget.

  Capital gains tax (CGT) liabilities and taxpayer numbers

  It is not possible to directly attribute CGT liabilities to type of asset as certain reliefs eg Annual Exempt Amount are deducted from the aggregate gains of the taxpayer. However total CGT liabilities and taxpayer numbers (individuals and trusts) are as follows:

  CGT accruals (£ billion)

  CGT taxpayer numbers (Thousand)

  1996–97

  1.45

  119

  1997–98

  2.00

  172

  1998–99

  2.40

  185

  The latest available information on the distribution of not gains (before relief at tax payer level) by type of asset
  496W
  shows, for 1996–97, that 81 per cent. of gains were in respect of financial assets and 19 per cent. in respect of non-financial assets. Further details are available in Table 14.4 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1999.

  Corporation tax on capital gains

  Companies are charged to corporation tax on their total income including trading profits, net capital gains and other income. It is not possible to attribute part of the charge to investments in stocks and shares, but estimates of receipts from all capital gains are as follows:

  Receipts from corporation tax on gains (£ billion)

  Related corporation taxpayer numbers with gains (Thousand)

  1996–97

  1.03

  10

  1997–98

  1.06

  11

  1998–99

  1.35

  13

  Works of Art
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [117482]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 4 April 2000,Official Report, columns 393-94W.

  Excise Duties
  Mr.Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the chancellor of the Exchequer what inflation index and period of measurement was used to calculate the increases in exercise duties in budget. [117638]

  Mr. Timms
  As set out in Appendix Al of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, the index base for calculating changes in fuel, tobacco and alcohol duties in this Budget, as in previous Budgets, was the projected increase in the Retail Prices Index over 12 months to the September following the Budget.

  Business Taxes
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the changes in business taxes since May 1997. [117343]

  Mr. Timms
  This information is in the Financial Statement and Budget Reports, which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many operations were carried out by officers of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise concerning heroin imported from Pakistan in controlled deliveries; and how much heroin was imported in respect of each operation, in each year between 1 January 1990 and 1 January 2000; [117321]
  497W
  (2) how many operations involving controlled imports of illegal drugs by officers of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise there were in (a) each year between 1 January 1990 and 1 January 2000 broken down by quantities and types of illegal drugs and (b) between 1 January 1997 and 1 January 1998, involving heroin imported from Pakistan and if he will specify the quantities. [117345]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is not Customs policy to release information of this type which could compromise a key operational technique.

  Road Fuel Duty
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage increase in road fuel duty announced in the Budget, in relation to the rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement. [117576]

  Mr. Timms
  Nil. The main fuel duties were indexed in line with inflation. The methodology is set out in Appendix A1 in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Family Statistics
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households with children there were in(a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1999 where (i) both parents were married and the children were born to those parents and (ii) stepchildren formed part of the households. [117536]

  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 John Pullinger to Mr. Gerald Howarth, dated 5 April 2000:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on how many households were (a) both parents are married and the children were born to those parents and (b) stepchildren formed part of the household. I am replying in the Director's absence.
  The estimated number of married couples with only natural dependent children was around 5 million in Great Britain in 1991. There were about 500 thousand families, which included at least one dependent stepchild living in them in Great Britain in 1991. (There are no other official estimates of the numbers of these married couples and stepfamilies).

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of households with children where the parents are not married and are cohabiting. [117529]

  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 John Pullinger to Mr. Gerald Howarth, dated 5 April 2000:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on an estimate of the number of households with children where parents are not married and are cohabiting. I am replying in the Director's absence.
  The estimated number of households containing cohabiting couples with dependent children was 750 thousand in Great Britain in 1999.

  Source:

  1999 Spring Quarter Labour Force Survey
  498W
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many single mothers with dependent children in(a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1999 were (i) widows and (ii) divorcees. [117537]

  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 John Pullinger to Mr. Gerald Howarth, dated 5 April 2000:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on how many single mothers with dependant childern were (i) widows and (ii) divorcees in (a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1999 I am replying in the Director's absence.

  The estimated numbers of lone mothers in Great Britain were (in thousands):

  1971

  1981

  1999

  Divorced lone mothers

  120

  320

  460

  Widowed lone mothers

  120

  120

  60

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) single parent and (b) single mother households there were in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980 and (iii) 1999. [117546]

  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 John Pullinger to Mr. Gerald Howarth, dated 5 April 2000:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on how many (a) single parents and (b) single mother households there were in 1970, 1980 and 1999. I am replying in the Director's absence.

  The estimated numbers of lone mothers in Great Britain were (in thousands):

  1971

  1981

  1999

  Lone parents

  570

  900

  1,700

  Lone mothers

  500

  800

  1,500

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate for(a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1999 how many dependent children lived in households where the parents were not married and were cohabiting. [117535]

  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 John Pullinger to Mr. Gerald Howarth, dated 5 April 2000:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on the estimate for how many dependant children lived in households where the parents were not married and were cohabiting in (a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1999. I am replying in the Director's absence.
  The estimated numbers of dependent children living in cohabiting couple families in Great Britain were (in thousands):

  1989: 780

  1996: 1,100

  1999: 1,200.

  Computers
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect 3COM' s announcement that they are to quit the high-end networking market will have on his Department and the Inland Revenue's existing and planned computer systems. [R] [117621]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: The Office of Government Commerce and the Debt Management Office have purchased 3COM components through standard procurement channels. In the event of their failure alternatives from other suppliers are readily available. Neither the rest of the Treasury nor the Inland Revenue use high-end networking equipment from 3COM, and so their departure from this market will have no effect upon existing computer systems, or those that are being planned.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the revenue from rises in the rate of landfill tax announced since May 1997 will go to (i) the Exchequer and (ii) local environmental causes. [117762]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: The standard rate of tax, which applies to active waste, rose from £7 to £10 per tonne on 1 April 1999 and by a further £1 per tonne to £11 per tonne from 1 April 2000. Figures are not yet available for 1999–2000, but for the calendar year 1999 there was an increase in revenue for the Exchequer of £67 million. In the same period there was an increase of £20 million in tax credits claimed in respect of contributions made by operators to environmental projects.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to hypothecate the revenue from landfill tax to environmental protection measures. [117712]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: I have no such plans. Revenues from the landfill tax contribute to Government spending on their priorities.

  Tax Rates
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to Table 4.2 of the Red Book, HC346 p. 79, how many families experienced marginal deduction rates of(a) 55 per cent., (b) 50 per cent., (c) 45 per cent. and (d) 40 per cent. or more (i) before the 1998 Budget and (ii) after the 2000 Budget. [116853]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: The available information is contained in the table. It illustrates the combined effect of tax and benefit reforms in the last three Budgets. These will reduce the number of households facing marginal deduction rates of over 70 per cent. by two thirds, significantly relieving the poverty trap.

  The post Budget 2000 figures take into account all announced measures to be implemented by 2001–02, including the introduction of the Children's Tax Credit.
  500W

  Marginal deduction rate 1

  Before Budget 1998 1

  After Budget 2000 1

  100 per cent. or more

  5,000

  0

  90 per cent. or more

  130,000

  30,000

  80 per cent. or more

  300,000

  210,000

  70 per cent. or more

  740,000

  250,000

  60 per cent. or more

  760,000

  950,000

  55 per cent. or more

  760,000

  1,100,000

  50 per cent. or more

  760,000

  1,100,000

  45 per cent. or more

  780,000

  1,130,000

  40 per cent. or more

  800,000

  1,150,000

  1 Figures are for working households in receipt of income-related benefits or the WFTC where at least one person works 16 hours or more. The before and after figures are based on 1997–98 and 1999–2000 estimated caseload and take-up rates.

  The increased generosity of the working families tax credit (WFTC) compared with family credit will see an extension of in-work support for families with children. Even those whose marginal rate increases as a result of this change will be better off in cash terms and see an increased return to work compared to being on benefit. On average WFTC will give low earning families an extra £24 compared with family credit.

  Employment Records
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue National Contributions Office began charging a fee for the provision of their own employment details to members of the public. [117776]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue National Insurance Contributions office does not normally make a charge to individuals for the provision of information recorded on its National Insurance account. However, an employment history will normally be supplied in the following circumstances:Where a claim is being made against an employer or former employer for illness injury or disease sustained as a result of the employment.
  Medical Negligence claims.
  Serious road traffic accidents.

  A fee will be charged, and this service commenced 10 years ago.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Milk
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests are carried out on(a) raw and (b) UHT milk imported into the UK from (i) EU and (ii) non-EU countries. [116561]

  Ms Quin
  All milk for human consumption produced in the UK and other EU member states is subject to EC legislative production standards. Milk is therefore traded freely in accordance with single market provisions and is not required to be tested on entry into the UK. Raw cow's drinking milk cannot be imported from other member states or third countries and sold for human consumption in the UK.

  No testing is required on milk imported from third countries. However, EC rules require that milk imported for human consumption may come only from EU

  501W
  approved establishments in approved third countries and is accompanied by public health certification signed by an official inspector stating that it meets EU health standards. EC Regulations require Environmental Health Officers to carry out hygiene and quality tests on milk at the point of sale or manufacture.

  Dog Exports
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce a comprehensive record system for dog exports; and if he will make a statement. [117018]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: We have no plans to introduce a comprehensive record system for dog exports. This Department currently holds some information which is derive7/28/2006d from applications for export health certificates. This information does not, however, cover all exports of dogs since some countries allow dogs to be imported into their territories without an export health certificate.

  Genetically Modified Foods
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote scientific debate on the safety of genetically modified foods. [116398]

  Ms Stuart
  As responsibility for food safety and standards matters has now passed to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which reports to Parliament through Health Ministers, I have been asked to reply.

  The recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development conference in Edinburgh hosted by the United Kingdom brought together scientific experts from around the world to debate the safety assessment of genetically modified foods. We will be considering very carefully with our G8 partners the recommendation of the Chairman, Sir John Krebs, for an intergovernmental panel to be set up to continue this process.

  In the meantime, the FSA will promote and develop the ongoing programme of scientific research to consider the safety of genetically modified foods and encourage contractors to publish their findings in scientific journals. Final research reports will also be made publicly available by the agency. In addition, the FSA plans to hold regular workshops for research contractors and other scientists to allow the exchange of new ideas and data in this area. The results of these will also be published and further comments invited.

  Finally, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes now makes available, on its website, http//www.foodstandards.gov.uk, details of data submitted in support of applications it receives for approval of novel (including genetically modified) foods so that comments can be made on these before decisions are reached.

  Aventis T25 Maize
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what applications have been made to him for clearance of Aventis T25 maize for use as animal feed; and if he will place in the Library the details of all clearances granted. [117276]

  Ms Stuart
  As responsibility for food safety and standards matters has now passed to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which reports to Parliament through Health Ministers, I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that AgrEvo (now Aventis) submitted an application, to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for voluntary approval of food and feed safety clearance of glufosinate ammonium tolerant maize in 1995. In addition, an application to market AgrEvo's T25 maize for cultivation and importation for processing into food and animal feed was received, via the Department of the Environment, under Council Directive 90/220/EEC from the French competent authority in 1996. Details of the food safety clearance are contained in the annual report for 1996 of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. The marketing consent under Directive 90/220/EEC was issued by France in 1998 following publication of the Commission's Decision in the "Official Journal of the European Communities" (L131, 5.5.98). This consent, which authorises the marketing of T25 maize for use in food and animal feed, was agreed by the Member States taking into account the advice of the EC Scientific Committee for Plants. The committee's remit included the consideration of any adverse effects on human health or the environment arising from the placing on the market of this maize. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

HEALTH

  Birth Weights
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 2000,Official Report, column 139W, for each of the weight categories for the year 1997, what percentage of those (a) babies conceived by IVF and (b) other babies were single births. [105430]

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

  I regret that three incorrect figures were given in my previous answer. These were in the figures provided for 1997, in respect of babies born in Scotland and Northern Ireland and babies born by in vitro fertilisation in the United Kingdom. Revised tables with the correct figures have also been placed in the Library.

  NHS Finance
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the balance of income and expenditure of health authorities and NHS trusts in England for the financial year ending 31 March 2000. [116380]
  503W
  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 27 March 2000]: The audited annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2000 for all health authorities and National Health Survice trusts will be available in the autumn.

  NHS Staff
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how information on changes within the NHS is communicated to NHS staff, with particular reference to those working in the blood donor collection service. [116938]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department uses a wide range of media to communicate with National Health Service staff, including electronic communications via the internet and NHSnet; paper communications such as newsletters, magazines and circulars; and face to face briefings such as conferences, seminars and roadshows. The National Blood Authority uses a similar range of internal media to keep its staff informed about developments both within the blood service and in the wider NHS. This includes intranet technology, written material and face to face briefings.

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): nursing, midwifety and health visiting staff within the paediatric area of work, per 1,000 population in each health authority in England, as at 30 September 1998

  Number (headcount)

  Health authority

  Paediatric staff by health authority

  Census population

  Paediatric staff per 1,000 population

  England total

  20,030

  49,494,580

  0.40

  Hillingdon

  60

  251,160

  0.25

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  380

  390,770

  0.96

  Enfield and Haringey

  70

  486,440

  0.14

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  70

  453,320

  0.15

  Bedfordshire

  170

  556,630

  0.31

  Berkshire

  230

  800,180

  0.29

  Buckinghamshire

  200

  681,870

  0.29

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  150

  467,980

  0.32

  Bexley and Greenwich

  210

  432,930

  0.49

  Bromley

  30

  297,120

  0.10

  Croydon

  40

  338,220

  0.10

  East Kent

  290

  601,060

  0.48

  West Kent

  260

  973,500

  0.27

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  760

  745,240

  1.02

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  310

  626,990

  0.50

  East Surrey

  130

  419,940

  0.31

  West Surrey

  130

  640,600

  0.20

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  290

  747,180

  0.38

  West Sussex

  110

  751,840

  0.15

  Barking and Havering

  160

  383,890

  0.42

  Barnet

  40

  331,550

  0.12

  Brent and Harrow

  100

  464,450

  0.21

  Camden and Islington

  1,180

  367,570

  3.20

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  100

  671,170

  0.15

  East London and The City

  240

  612,420

  0.38

  North Essex

  240

  897,080

  0.27

  South Essex

  100

  708,540

  0.15

  South Lancashire

  30

  312,660

  0.11

  Liverpool

  980

  461,480

  2.11

  Manchester

  240

  429,810

  0.57

  Morecambe Bay

  110

  310.300

  0.34

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  70

  333,000

  0.22

  Salford and Trafford

  840

  446,220

  1.87

  Sefton

  40

  287,740

  0.15

  Stockport

  250

  292,810

  0.85

  West Pennine

  290

  472,040

  0.61

  East Norfolk

  100

  628,090

  0.16

  Northamptonshire

  220

  615,800

  0.37

  Job Evaluation
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there is standard nationwide process for awarding discretionary points for job evaluation for pay purposes in the NHS. [116949]

  Mr. Denham
  National agreements reached in the Nursing and Midwifery Negotiating Council and the Professions Allied to Medicine (PTA) Council set criteria for payment of discretionary points and the process by which they should be implemented at local level. These were issued to National Health Service employers under cover of Advance letters (NM)2/98 and PAM(PTA)2/98 on 11 September 1998, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Paediatric Nurses
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paediatric nurses there are per 1,000 of population in each health authority in England. [116721]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  505W

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff within the paediatric area of work, per 1,000 population in each health authority in England, as at 30 September 1998

  Number (headcount)

  Health authority

  Paediatric staff by health authority

  Census population

  Paediatric staff per 1,000 population

  North West Anglia

  160

  413,970

  0.38

  Oxfordshire

  220

  616,710

  0.36

  Suffolk

  110

  671,100

  0.17

  Barnsley

  70

  228,100

  0.29

  North Derbyshire

  110

  370,190

  0.30

  Southern Derbyshire

  170

  567,460

  0.30

  Doncaster

  90

  290,470

  0.32

  Leicestershire

  360

  928,720

  0.39

  Lincolnshire

  140

  623,130

  0.22

  North Nottinghamshire

  80

  388,890

  0.21

  Nottingham

  560

  642,700

  0.87

  Rotherham

  80

  254,420

  0.31

  Sheffield

  370

  531,140

  0.70

  Bury and Rochdale

  90

  391,010

  0.22

  North Cheshire

  80

  311,910

  0.25

  South Cheshire

  170

  672,370

  0.26

  East Lancashire

  220

  511,230

  0.43

  North West Lancashire

  190

  466,270

  0.41

  North and Mid Hampshire

  190

  556,940

  0.34

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  200

  544,680

  0.37

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  310

  542,340

  0.57

  Isle of Wight

  60

  126,990

  0.46

  Somerset

  100

  489,280

  0.20

  South and West Devon

  180

  589,120

  0.30

  Wiltshire

  160

  605,510

  0.27

  Avon

  410

  999,300

  0.41

  Birmingham

  1,150

  1,013,430

  1.14

  Wigan and Bolton

  70

  577,980

  0.13

  Wirral

  150

  327,140

  0.45

  Bradford

  240

  483,280

  0.50

  County Durham

  160

  607,770

  0.26

  East Riding

  120

  574,530

  0.20

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  90

  353,470

  0.26

  Leeds

  430

  727,390

  0.60

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  530

  470,070

  1.13

  North Cumbria

  40

  319,260

  0.12

  South Humber

  140

  308,580

  0.45

  Northumberland

  40

  309,640

  0.14

  Sunderland

  140

  292,310

  0.47

  Tees

  230

  556,340

  0.41

  Wakefield

  140

  318,800

  0.43

  North Yorkshire

  190

  742,400

  0.25

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  210

  583,770

  0.36

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  90

  490,370

  0.18

  Dorset

  210

  691,220

  0.30

  North and East Devon

  60

  479,260

  0.12

  Gloucestershire

  130

  557,260

  0.23

  Coventry

  90

  304,330

  0.29

  Dudley

  80

  311,470

  0.24

  Herefordshire

  40

  167,920

  0.22

  Sandwell

  80

  290,520

  0.28

  Shropshire

  130

  430,210

  0.30

  North Staffordshire

  250

  469,210

  0.54

  South Staffordshire

  90

  592,070

  0.15

  Walsall

  100

  261,170

  0.36

  Warwickshire

  60

  506,710

  0.11

  Wolverhampton

  130

  241,620

  0.53

  Worcestershire

  140

  538,200

  0.27

  East and North Hertfordshire

  90

  499,600

  0.18

  West Hertfordshire

  130

  534,020

  0.24

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 where appropriate.

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

  3. Figures do not include Special Health Authority and Other Statutory Health Authority staff.

  Sources

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Population figures from Estimates based on 1991 Census.
  506W

  Health Authority Finances
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) sums and (b) percentage increase in funding required, to achieve financial balance in each NHS health authority area by 2000–01; and what percentage of the additional NHS funding recently announced is required to achieve financial balance in each case. [117267]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available as health authorities and primary care groups have not finalised their commissioning and financial plans for 2000–01.

  Buckinghamshire Health Authority
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to fund Buckinghamshire health authority at its capitation level. [116954]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 30 March 2000]: Buckinghamshire health authority's share of the £660 million announced on 28 March 2000 is £8.1 million. Together with the allocation already announced, this brings their allocation for 2000–01 to £407.6 million, a total cash increase of 9.41 per cent. This is more than the average cash increase of 8.88 per cent.

  Dentists
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the demand for more NHS dentists in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [117291]

  Mr. Hutton
  National Health Service dentistry is accessible for much of the population of Shropshire, although we are aware of long-standing problems in some areas. Together with Shropshire health authority we have taken steps to deal with the problems through a dental access centre based in Shrewsbury and Donnington, where services are offered to non-registered patients.

  Number of general nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals and clinics within County Durham Health Authority

  Type of accommodation

  11994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  21998

  31999

  General nursing homes

  4—

  4—

  4—

  94

  92

  Mental nursing homes

  4—

  4—

  4—

  28

  26

  Private hospitals and clinics

  4—

  4—

  4—

  1

  0

  Total

  103

  113

  113

  123

  118

  1 Information for 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 relate to the period 1 October to 31 March.

  2 Information for 1998 and 1999 relates to 31 March.

  3 Information for 1999 is provisional.

  4 Not available.

  Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of alleged Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy there have been in parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [117140]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not collected centrally about the number of cases of alleged Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy there have been, in parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder.
  508W
  In addition, we awarded eleven "Investing in Dentistry" grants in Shropshire which generated promises of 24,750 extra patient registrations with dentists. We will publish further plans for modernising and improving access to NHS dentistry soon.

  Waiting Lists (Berkshire)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been waiting over 13 weeks for an outpatient appointment at Berkshire hospitals at the end of 1999; and what target had been set for outpatient waiting lists at Berkshire hospitals for 1999. [116756]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 30 March 2000]: The table shows the total number of people waiting over 13 weeks for an outpatient appointment by each National Health Service trust in Berkshire at December 1999. Trust targets are agreed locally with the relevant health authorities.

  Organisation

  Total number waiting 13 weeks or over (Q2)

  East Berkshire NHS Trust for People with Learning Disabilities

  0

  East Berkshire Community Health NHS Trust

  165

  Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust

  702

  Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,748

  West Berkshire Priority Care Services NHS Trust

  374

  Total

  3,989

  Nursing Homes (Durham)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many privately-run and owned nursing homes are registered with Durham Health Authority; and how many were so registered in each of the last five years. [117213]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information available is in the table.

  However, the Department recognises that suspected cases of Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) are among the most difficult and demanding areas of activity to undertake for paediatricians and other professional groups devoted to child care and protection.

  Whatever the circumstances of individual cases, it remains true that the professionals involved are best placed to decide on the most appropriate means of determining whether MSBP is at issue and, if so, how to act in the best interests of the child and the carer throughout any intervention.

  Nursing and Residential Care
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing care and residential care beds

  Local authority supported residents, by type of accommodation 1993 to 1999

  England as at 31March

  Year

  Total of supported all residents 1

  Local authority staffed homes

  Independent residential homes

  Independent nursing homes

  Other and unstaffed homes 1

  1993

  98,359

  77,596

  19,270

  2,3—

  1,493

  1994

  148,731

  70,444

  48,714

  25,154

  4,419

  1995

  185,865

  67,327

  70,153

  43,238

  5,147

  1996

  215,546

  61,943

  91,221

  57,246

  5,136

  1997

  242,139

  58,747

  111,530

  66,058

  5,804

  1998

  255,502

  54,611

  121,923

  72,904

  6,064

  1999

  260,727

  50,061

  131,159

  73,467

  6,040

  1 Figures for unstaffed homes (group homes) were not collected before 1994. The figure for "other" accommodation only.

  2 Prior to 1 April 1993, local authorities did not fund nursing care placements.

  3 Not available

  Live Animal Experiments
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2000,Official Report, column 760W, concerning animal testing and medicines, for what reasons the Government will not introduce a statutory requirement that labels on medicines include a statement providing information enabling those who oppose the use of animals in medical and veterinary research to make an informed judgment as to whether they should use these products on themselves and their pets. [116735]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: All medicines for human and veterinary use must be tested in animals to provide information about their safety before they can be granted a licence. The labelling of medicinal products is governed by European law and there is no requirement for the inclusion in the labelling of information that a product was tested on animals.

  Capital Modernisation Fund
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the £2 billion announced for the NHS is from the Capital Modernisation Fund. [116679]

  Mr. Denham
  None of the £2 billion announced for the National Health Service for 2000–01 is from the Capital Modernisation Fund.

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regulatory reform; and if he will make a statement. [117415]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 4 April 2000, Official Report, column 385W.

  Single-sex Hospital Wards (west Sussex)
  Mr.Loughton
  To ask the Seccretary of state for health what estiamte he has made of the cost of
  510W
  have been provided by local authorities in each of the past seven years; and if he will make a statement. [117270]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table provides details of the number of local authority supported residents for the years requested.

  converting all hospital wards in West Sussex to single sex wards; what funds he will make available for such purposes; and whether the funds will be in addition to general health authority funding levels already announced. [117716]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: We have reiterated our commitment to meeting our target to eliminate mixed sex accommodation, and arrangements for increased performance management and more regular monitoring of progress in this area have been set in place.

  We have set three specific objectives for the National Health Service in order to achieve the elimination of mixed sex accommodation:
  Ensure that appropriate organisational arrangements are in place to secure good standards of privacy and dignity for hospital patients;
  Achieve fully the standard for segregated washing and toilet facilities across the NHS;
  Provide safe facilities for patients in hospital who are mentally ill which safeguard their privacy and dignity.

  We aim to achieve these objectives fully in 95 per cent. of all health authorities by 2002.

  The results of a monitoring exercise published in August 1999, which are in the Library, showed that 93 per cent. of health authorities would achieve the objectives by 2002. Results of the most recent monitoring exercise will be published in spring 2000.

  In West Sussex there are a number of capital schemes under way through both private finance initiative and public sector finance which will mean that the health authority aims to meet our objective by 2002.

  From April 2000 we aim to invest a total of £2.6 billion in NHS buildings and equipment—part of which will be used to address on-going work to eliminate mixed sex accommodation.

  Beta-interferon
  Ms Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue a circular on the prescribing of beta-interferon following last year's consultation. [118095]
  511W
  Mr. Denham
  In light of the representations received during the consultation on the draft Health Service Circular on beta-interferon, the Department has concluded that a further circular should not be issued until the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has reported on this matter.

  NHS (Information Technology)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes in working practices have been introduced by health authorities following Her Majesty's Government's consultation exercise on the application and use of information technology in the NHS. [116855]

  Ms Stuart
  Our consultation exercise on the application and use of Information technology in the National Health Service resulted in the national information strategy "Information for Health" (published September 1998). This strategy introduced programmes of work to achieve:Lifelong electronic health records for every person in the country.
  Round the clock on-line access to patient records and information about best clinical practice for all NHS clinicians.
  Seamless care for patients through general practitioners, hospitals and community services sharing information across the information highway.
  Fast and convenient public access to information and care through on-line information services and telemedicine.
  The effective use of NHS resources by providing health planners and managers with the information that they need.

  This work is being carried forward by the NHS Information Authority established in April 1999. The timescale for completion of the work described in "Information for Health" is by 2005.

  Current changes in working practice at grass roots level, driven by changing approaches to information management and technology, are growing day by day. Some recent examples given by NHS professionals are:
  Health visitors being able to access and use information from GP systems and as a result improving approaches to monitoring and taking action in cases of eg child protection, high dependence families, mental health and post natal depression
  GPs using a computer programme (PRODIGY) to share information about specific conditions and the best ways of treatment with patients and concluding the consultation by printing off a patient information leaflet.
  A health authority provides advice about a more beneficial drug. The hospital incorporates the advice into its clinical information system so that when the old drug is prescribed, information about the more beneficial treatment is displayed. The system enables the clinician to change to the new prescription very easily. Patients leave hospital on the new drug and as a result GPs also change their practice, resulting in better care and a significant cost saving. The rate of this change has been shown to be significantly accelerated by the use of the computer system.
  Introduction of best practice guidelines into systems supporting clinical decision making result in changes to practice with resource and patient benefits eg less pre-operative chest x-rays, more appropriate use of contrast media and endoscopes.
  Pointing out trends in the utilization of clinical resources by named healthcare professionals brought about a reduction in the variation in practice. (eg ordering laboratory tests—those ordering least tests ordered slightly more but those ordering most tests reduced significantly.)
  512W
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of the Information Management Group in terms of advance guidance and direction in the application of information technology in the NHS. [116856]

  Ms Stuart
  The Information Management Group (IMG) was part of the National Health Service Executive responsible for the development and maintenance of our Information Management and Technology Strategy for the NHS. Its role was to maintain and develop the strategy in consultation with the NHS, professional groups and industry, and to manage national strategic projects.

  It was disbanded in April 1999 in line with the recommendations of "Information for Health" and was superseded by two bodies.

  One is the NHS Information Authority, which was formally established as a special health authority in April 1999. The role of the NHS Information Authority is to manage an agreed and focused work programme to develop those products and standards which can best be developed at national level, in order to support local implementation.

  The other is the Information Policy Unit, a small group within the NHS Executive with overall responsibility for delivery of the strategy. The role of the unit is to review and develop the strategy in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, and to contribute to the NHS Executive's wider policy development and management functions. Part of the IPU role is to support the National Information Partnership and the Information Policy Board, and to commission and monitor national work programmes and projects on information and IT in healthcare (in particular from the NHS Information Authority). The Policy Unit also provides advice and guidance to the NHS on strategic issues, for example guidance on local implementation strategies published as Health Service Circular 1999/200.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been introduced in the last three years by Her Majesty's Government to reduce(a) the level of bureaucratic duplication, (b) burdens on professional staff and (c) administrative difficulties in the application and use of information technology at a local level. [116857]

  Ms Stuart
  Our consultation on information management and technology in the National Health Service resulted in the publication of the national Information Strategy "Information for Health", which describes a number of national measures that are intended to reduce the administrative burden on NHS staff.

  "Information for Health" is a national strategy for local implementation. Each health community is responsible for developing its own Local Implementation Strategy (LIS). The purpose of the LIS is to describe how each local community will develop its own information systems to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of care, including reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and administrative duplication.

  The national initiatives that are intended to support LISs and local health organisations are wide ranging and include:
  A reduction in the number of central communications and changing the style of communications to electronic format. Since February 2000 the Department has been issuing weekly chief

  513W
  executive bulletins by e-mail to NHS organisations and local authorities. The number of circulars is being greatly reduced and used only for urgent and high priority messages. The full circulars are published on the Department's website and the e-mailed bulletin provides an immediate notification and summary of what has been published with a link to the full document.
  "Project Connect" will provide 24 hour, 7 day a week, desktop access for general practitioners and primary care teams to an improved service covering e-mail, online information and knowledge, appointment booking, referrals, discharge summaries, radiology and laboratory test results. The costs of connecting primary care to NHSnet are being met centrally. After considerable work on this project over the last two years, a significant watershed is now being reached with critical mass of infrastructure and connection of GPs being achieved in many places.
  "NHS Direct" was launched two years ago. Researchers have found evidence to suggest that the introduction of "NHS Direct" has been associated with halting an upward trend in demand for out of hours services. The "NHS Direct" on-line website service launched last year provides the public with a direct gateway to the best of health information on the internet.
  A national procurement review has been undertaken to identify what can be done to ensure that local health organisations do not have to undergo unnecessarily burdensome bureaucratic processes when purchasing information systems. The aim is to ensure that work undertaken by local organisations will ensure the best possible solution for local healthcare delivery, keeping administrative overheads to a minimum. To achieve this communities are expected to implement nationally agreed standards, and make use of national call-off contracts and supporting documentation.
  The NHS Information Authority is in the process of developing, agreeing and implementing a range of national information and information technology standards that will then be implemented as part of LISs. The standards will facilitate a reduction in the number of times patient information is collected; improve the quality of communication between healthcare professionals and the quality/consistency of information available across the health service. Electronic access to this information throughout the NHS will multiply the benefits already experienced by more advanced sites locally and have a significant impact upon the administrative burden.
  "Information for Health" is underpinned by an education, training and development strategy "Working Together with Health Information". This strategy, published in December 1999, builds upon previous work to develop NHS-wide standards for information proficiency, and will make use of virtual technologies to provide local NHS staff with the access to learning resource that they need. The initiative will ensure that the lessons learned in one health organisation are available to other organisations and thereby allow more informed decision-making about the kinds of intervention required. At the same time the approach will help prevent duplication of effort where effective solutions have been identified.

  NHS Complaints Procedure
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) complaints proceeded to a hearing before the Professional Conduct Committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and (b) such cases led to a removal from the register in the last five years. [117156]

  Mr. Denham
  The number of complaints which proceeded to a hearing before the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) of the United Kingdom Central Council 514W
  for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and which led to a removal from the register, in the last five years, is as follows:

  Year

  Cases considered by the PCC

  Number of removals ordered by the PCC

  1995–96

  127

  73

  1996–97

  118

  96

  1997–98

  109

  84

  1998–99

  144

  93

  1999–2000

  128

  91

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each of the last five years, the total number of complaints referred to the Preliminary Proceedings Committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. [117157]

  Mr. Denham
  The total number of complaints considered by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for the last five years are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1995–96

  871

  1996–97

  941

  1997–98

  997

  1998–99

  973

  1999–2000

  1,219

  NHS Appointments
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to implement recommendations from the report by the Commissioner for Public Appointments on Appointments to NHS Trusts and Health Authorities. [116406]

  Mr. Denham
  We have already announced consideration of fundamental changes to the National Health Service appointments process which would delegate to the chairs of health authorities the responsibility for around 2,000 appointments to NHS trusts and primary care trusts. Further consideration to the 28 recommendations from the Report by the Commissioner for Public Appointments will be given in due course.

  Adverse Clinical Incidents Report
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government response to the Sixth report of the Health Committee of Session 1998–99 on "Procedures Related to Adverse Clinical Incidents and Outcomes in Medical Care (HC 549)" will be published; and what factors underlie the delay in its issue. [117627]

  Ms Stuart
  We expect to publish our response to the Select Committee's report tomorrow. The report contains 35 recommendations, which address a broad range of issues, and we felt that it was important to address each of these with due seriousness in order to ensure that the
  515W
  response is properly considered and as positive as possible. The impact of the Shipman trial also needed to be taken into account and for these reasons the response has taken longer to prepare than would normally be the case.

  Health Authorities and Trusts (Liabilities)
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the estimated liabilities of health authorities and NHS trusts in England on 31 March; and of those, how much is due for payment prior to 30 June. [116383]

  Mr. Denham
  The 1998–99 annual accounts combined balance sheets of health authority and National Health Service trusts show net current liabilities of £767 million, which represents 2.13 per cent. of overall NHS funding (£36 billion).

  Information on the timing of payment of individual NHS bodies liabilities is not collected centrally.

  Rank

  Number of individual officers against whom complaints have been made 1

  Substantiated 2

  Other completed complaints 3

  Pending

  Total

  1995

  Chief Superintendent

  2

  0

  4

  0

  4

  Superintendent

  7

  0

  18

  0

  18

  Chief Inspector

  4

  0

  5

  0

  5

  Inspector

  57

  3

  174

  0

  177

  Sergeant

  286

  11

  871

  2

  884

  Constable

  1,215

  50

  3,558

  7

  3,615

  FT Reserve Constable

  475

  16

  1,185

  0

  1,201

  PT Reserve Constable

  33

  0

  59

  0

  59

  Total

  2,079

  80

  5,874

  9

  5,963

  1996

  Chief Superintendent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Superintendent

  4

  0

  10

  0

  1

  Chief Inspector

  7

  1

  8

  0

  9

  Inspector

  62

  4

  145

  0

  149

  Sergeant

  282

  11

  853

  1

  865

  Constable

  1,223

  44

  3,459

  11

  3,514

  FT Reserve Constable

  413

  11

  1,099

  2

  1,112

  PT Reserve Constable

  32

  0

  70

  0

  70

  Total

  2,023

  71

  5,644

  14

  5,729

  1997

  Chief Superintendent

  2

  0

  4

  0

  4

  Superintendent

  7

  0

  20

  0

  20

  Chief Inspector

  6

  0

  7

  0

  7

  Inspector

  62

  0

  112

  2

  114

  Sergeant

  265

  6

  739

  8

  753

  Constable

  1,218

  36

  3,111

  31

  3,178

  FT Reserve Constable

  428

  13

  1,013

  15

  1,041

  PT Reserve Constable

  16

  0

  19

  0

  19

  Total

  2,004

  55

  5,025

  56

  5,136

  1998

  Chief Superintendent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Superintendent

  4

  0

  6

  0

  6

  Chief Inspector

  7

  0

  6

  2

  8

  Inspector

  55

  2

  105

  13

  120

  Sergeant

  268

  9

  597

  85

  691

  Constable

  1,137

  22

  2,340

  330

  2,692

  FT Reserve Constable

  404

  6

  770

  111

  887

  PT Reserve Constable

  16

  0

  40

  2

  42

  Total

  1,891

  39

  3,864

  543

  4,446

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC Officers (Complaints)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many RUC officers in each rank have had complaints made against them in each of the last five years and in the current year; for each rank, and year, how many complaints have been(a) dismissed and (b) upheld; and what action has been taken against complainants for (i) frivolous complaints and (ii) wasting police time. [115571]

  Mr. Ingram
  The following table shows the number of RUC officers by rank against which complaints have been made in the last five years and the number of substantiated and completed complaints. Figures for the current year are not yet available. No action has been taken against anyone making frivolous complaints or wasting police time doing so.
  517W

  Rank

  Number of individual officers against whom complaints have been made 1

  Substantiated 2

  Other completed complaints3

  Pending

  Total

  1999

  Chief Superintendent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Superintendent

  5

  0

  7

  2

  9

  Chief Inspector

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Inspector

  35

  0

  39

  21

  60

  Sergeant

  155

  0

  170

  128

  298

  Constable

  762

  3

  774

  635

  1,412

  FT Reserve Constable

  278

  1

  256

  251

  508

  PT Reserve Constable

  8

  0

  6

  5

  11

  Total

  1,244

  4

  1,253

  1,042

  2,299

  1 Where more than one officer is involved in a complaint, the complaint has been recorded against each individual officer.

  2 Substantiated figures refer to the year the complaint was registered.

  3 Only covers cases where an investigation has been carried out and officers identified. Excludes complaints that have been informally resolved or initially withdrawn.

  Fair Employment Tribunal
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in reducing the backlog of cases waiting to be heard by the Fair Employment Tribunal. [117353]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The number of Fair Employment cases waiting to be heard has remained broadly the same for a number of years. In order to improve the situation, the number of FET panel members was increased from 30 to 90 in 1999, three more tribunal rooms were made available at the end of 1999 and the number of cases listed for hearing was increased by 25 per cent. Work is in hand to appoint three additional part-time FE Tribunal Chairmen. It is hoped that the number of cases outstanding will soon begin to be reduced as a result of these changes.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure adequacy of funding and resources for the Fair Employment Tribunal. [117352]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The resource needs of the Fair Employment Tribunal are considered as part of the public expenditure survey process each year and the allocations made are in line with the Tribunals' needs.

  Civil Service (Roman Catholics)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to increase the representation of Roman Catholics in the Senior Civil Service. [117355]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The Northern Ireland Civil Service has had a robust and proactive policy on equality of opportunity since 1984 and has consistently sought to tackle under-representation at all levels of the organisation through programmes of affirmative action. This has delivered significant improvement in the levels of representation of Roman Catholics throughout the workforce and both the extent of change and the measures taken have been reported in the public domain through the regular reports of the Service's Equal Opportunities Unit, copies of which are in the Library of the House.
  518W
  Under-representation of Roman Catholics among the most senior levels of the Service remains evident and is openly acknowledged. Past trends indicate that a significant contribution to changing the compositional profile among the Senior Civil Service (SCS) can be made by drawing upon the more representative pools of staff at the grade levels below the SCS.

  Affirmative action measures to tackle under-representation of Roman Catholics, have been developed in close consultation with the former Fair Employment Commission, and continue to be developed in concert with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Measures more specifically targeted at tackling under-representation among the SCS include setting goals and timetables in consultation with the former Fair Employment Commission which will be reviewed this year with the new Equality Commission, the dropping of seniority and grade level requirements as eligibility criterion in internal promotion competitions and more extensive use of open recruitment for SCS posts.

  Employment Equality
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to establish an Equality Unit within the Northern Ireland Office. [117356]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The Office of the First and Deputy First Minister has an Equality Unit which continues to advise the Government on equality issues.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to utilise contract compliance and public procurement as a mechanism for promoting greater employment equality. [117354]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: Public contracts already require that contractors comply with Northern Ireland and anti-discrimination law on religious and political opinion, sex, race and disability. There are additional provisions under the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 whereby individual employers can be excluded from Government contracts if they have not adhered to specified requirements of fair employment legislation. There are no further plans at this time to extend these requirements.
  519W
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in reducing community differentials in unemployment; what targets he has set for reducing community differentials; and what initiatives are planned to remedy community differentials. [117351]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The Government are committed to reducing unemployment in Northern Ireland and regard continuing differentials between Catholics and Protestants in unemployment as unacceptable. The most recent Labour Force Survey data for 1998 indicate that the ratio of the Catholic unemployment rate to the Protestant rate is 1.9 (2.3 for males and 1.4 for females). The Government are addressing unemployment and continuing differentials through:
  the New Deal;
  recent legislation changes to facilitate employers in recruiting the unemployed and to permit religion specific training; and
  the new Targeting Social Need policy.

  The Equality Commission will shortly consult on its plans to establish benchmarks and monitoring systems to measure future reductions in community differentials among the unemployed.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to monitor the effectiveness of the New Deal programme in Northern Ireland in terms of religious affiliation. [117358]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: Participation in New Deal is monitored in terms of community background/religious affiliation by the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment. Statistics on the numbers of Catholic and Protestant participants on the New Deals for Unemployed People, and their progress through the programme, have been published regularly by the Department. These statistics are also regularly reviewed by the Training and Employment Agency Board's Equality Sub-Group.

  Specific Equality and New Targeting Social Needs criteria, including consideration of the impact of New Deal on Protestants and Catholics, have also been built into the various projects covering the evaluation of New Deal which is currently under way. This will ensure that reliable conclusions can be drawn about the impact of the programme on both the Protestant and Catholic communities.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Schools Funding
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the breakdown is of the £837 million extra spending on schools in England announced in the Budget. [117512]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: Of the £837 million for education in England in 2000–01, the allocation of £812 million has now been announced. This breaks down as follows:
  £286 million for special grants to schools.
  £20 million for catch-up classes in primary schools.
  £53 million for Education Maintenance Allowances and a campaign to encourage young people to stay on in education.
  520W
  £33 million to extend Excellence in Cities to more areas and
  £25 million for primary schools in Excellence in Cities areas.
  £70 million to fund training salaries for postgraduates entering teacher training.
  £250 million in grants through the New Deal for Schools and
  £60 million in capital support for City Academies and to transform failing schools through the Fresh Start programme.
  £15 million for capital projects benefiting 16-19 year olds.

  The allocation of the remaining £25 million will be announced in the coming weeks.

  Student Support
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to redress the remaining differences in student support for 2000–01 between the component parts of the UK following the Government's response to the Quigley report. [117626]

  Mr. Wicks
  The differences in student support between Scotland and the remainder of the United Kingdom arise from the decisions of the devolved Scottish Parliament. In England and Wales, the student support arrangements are working well and there is no case for fundamental change.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  European Community Treaty
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 November 1999,Official Report, columns 238-39W, on Title IV of the Treaty of the European Community, what (a) further measures have been brought forward and (b) decisions have been taken by the United Kingdom concerning opting into measures brought forward under Title IV since 26 November 1999. [117484]

  Mrs. Roche
  The following measures have been brought forward under Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community since 26 November 1999:Initiative of the Republic of Finland with a view to the adoption of a Council Regulation determining obligations as between the Member States for the readmission of Third-Country Nationals;
  Commission proposal for a Council Directive on the Right to Family Reunification;
  Presidency Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Voluntary Return;
  Initiative of the Republic of Finland for a Council Regulation relating to the updating of the Common Consular Instructions;
  Proposal by the Commission for a Council Regulation on the list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement;
  Proposal for a Council Decision creating a European Refugee Fund.

  The Presidency has suspended consideration of the first of these measures. The United Kingdom has not yet opted into any of the other measures.

  Asylum Seekers
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make a decision on the recommendations made to him by the Home Office
  521W
  Consultative Group on the setting up of an independent documentation centre for information on countries of origin of asylum seekers. [117069]

  Mrs. Roche
  Since the Consultative Group reported in December 1998, our priority has been to support the recovery of asylum decision output through the expansion and improvement of advice to caseworkers on country situations. This has included taking account of the Consultative Group's recommendations about the format and content of the published assessments. Once we are satisfied with the progress that has been made on these immediate priorities, we shall turn to considering other possible initiatives for developing country of origin assessments, including the idea of a documentation centre which was examined by the Consultative Group.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of (1) the number of jobs the dispersal process for asylum seekers will create in local authorities; [117065]

  (2) the total administrative cost to local government of the dispersal of asylum seekers; [117064]

  (3) the ratio of staff support to asylum seekers in local government; and if he will make a statement. [117066]

  Mrs. Roche
  None, either as regards the existing voluntary dispersal scheme or as regards the new centrally administered one.

  Since 1 April 1999, the Home Office has been responsible for reimbursing local authorities for the costs of supporting asylum seekers. Local authorities may claim the costs incurred in supporting asylum seekers up to a limit of £140 a week for a single adult and of £240 a week for a family. However, how they allocate these resources, the number of staff they employ and the ratio of staff support to asylum seekers is a matter for the local authorities.

  Under the new national asylum support scheme, the Home Office will pay for accommodation and essential living needs.

  Police Jurisdiction
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which department has responsibility for bringing forward legislation to extend the jurisdiction of(a) the Ministry of Defence Police and (b) British Transport Police to give them constabulary powers; and if he will make a statement. [117670]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Office, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), keeps under review all matters concerning the role, powers and jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) and the British Transport Police (BTP).

  The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill currently before Parliament proposes an amendment to the Police Act 1997 to enable the Chief Constable of the MDP and the Chief Constable of the BTP to authorise interference with property and wireless telegraphy within their force's existing jurisdiction under Part III of that Act. Part II of the Bill will also allow them, along with other chief constables, to authorise intrusive surveillance.
  522W
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, the then Minister of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, announced in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Mr. Shaw) on 31 July 1998, Official Report, columns 637-638, the Government's intention to establish, when a suitable legislative opportunity arises, an independent national police authority for the British Transport Police. Following consultation with the police service, the Home Office is also considering with the DETR an extension to the BTP's jurisdiction in specific circumstances. If accepted, this extension would be included in the legislation.

CABINET OFFICE

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when her Department will publish statistics on the time it takes Ministers in each Government Department to answer hon. Members' letters; and if she will make a statement. [116390]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government are committed to reducing the time taken to reply to correspondence from hon. Members.

  Clearly this is an important matter for Members on all sides of the House, and for their constituents, and we must continue to aim for higher standards.

  I intend to publish information on the time taken by individual Departments and agencies to reply to hon. Members very shortly, and before the Easter recess, which will be earlier than previous years.

  Regulations
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she has taken to reduce the number of regulations issued by Government Departments. [116391]

  Mr. Stringer
  Any regulatory proposal likely to have an impact on business, charities or the voluntary sector is subject to assessment. These assessments, which are placed in the Libraries of the House, are designed to test the need for every proposed regulation. In addition the Ministerial Panel, which the Prime Minister asked my right hon. Friend to establish last December, has now begun its programme of departmental reviews. In the first of these reviews, DTI and DETR agreed to a package of specific regulatory reforms.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the total salary bill for special advisers in the financial year 2000–01. [116392]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  It is estimated that the total salary bill for Special Advisers in the year 2000–01 will be £4.3 million.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she last met the Commissioner for Public Appointments to discuss the political balance of councillors being appointed to local health authorities and NHS trusts. [116393]

  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings she has had with the Commissioner for Public Appointments to discuss her report entitled, "Public Appointments to NHS Trusts and Health Authorities". [116395]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she last met the Commissioner for Public Appointments to discuss appointments to public bodies. [116407]

  Mr. Stringer
  I met the Commissioner for Public Appointments on 15 March 2000. My right hon. Friend and I meet the Commissioner from time to time.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proposals she has to amend the system of public appointments. [116397]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Government have no immediate plans to alter the system of public appointments.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her policy is in respect of the appointment of local councillors to non-departmental public bodies. [116401]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Government believe that appointments should be made on merit and we agree with the Commissioner for Public Appointments that political activity should not be a bar on taking up a public appointment.

  Disability Awareness
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to encourage disability awareness within the civil service. [116394]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  This is something we take extremely seriously: all managers in the Civil Service will be trained in diversity awareness (including disability issues) within two years; all managers will have diversity objectives in their personal plans; and we have recently produced a video for use in Departments to raise awareness.

  Social Exclusion
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement about the role of the social exclusion unit. [116396]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Social Exclusion Unit was established in December 1997. Since then it has produced five reports and action plans on subjects as diverse as rough sleeping and teenage pregnancy.
  524W
  The role of the unit is to help Government action to reduce social exclusion by producing joined-up solutions to joined-up problems.

  Digital Television
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the role of digital television in helping Government meet its targets for the electronic delivery of public services. [116400]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  There is scope for digital television (DTV) to play an important role in delivering Government services electronically. The Central Information Technology Unit (CITU) published initial guidelines on DTV last December.

  Magistrates (Duchy of Lancaster)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes she proposes to make in the system for appointing magistrates in the Duchy of Lancaster area. [116402]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 28 January 2000,Official Report, column 163W.

  US International Trade Commission
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when her officials last met analysts from the United States International Trade Commission to discuss the current US Senate Finance Committee inquiry into possible UK membership of NAFTA; and if she will make a statement. [116404]

  Mr. Stringer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer he received from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 3 April 2000,Official Report, column 285W.

  Modernising Government Programme
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her objectives are for the Civil Service in the modernising government programme. [116405]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Government objective is to create a modern, diverse Civil Service, which has the skills and competences to meet the challenges it will face in the 21st century. Sir Richard Wilson published his report to the Prime Minister on Civil Service Reform in December last year.

  Mr. White
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment she has made of progress towards the Government targets for Internet access set out in the Modernising Government White Paper. [116409]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  There was no specific internet access target in the Modernising Government White Paper. However, on 7 March, the Prime Minister announced that the UK would aim for universal access to
  525W
  the Internet by 2005. The e-Minister and e-Envoy will be reporting on progress towards this target in their first annual report in July.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions she has had with(a) trade union representatives and (b) others on the modernising government programme. [116410]

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions she has had with trade union representatives and (b) others on the modernising government programme. [116411]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Head of the Home Civil Service, the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office, and I met the unions on 30 March for the official signing of the National Partnership Agreement. The Agreement sets out how the Cabinet Office and the unions will work together on matters that require corporate leadership. It outlines a shared commitment to strive for improvement and efficiency in the Civil Service.

  I have regular meetings with the unions at which developments in modernising government are discussed, among other topics.

  I have many other meetings and modernisation usually features positively.

  Civil Service (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures she is taking to tackle the under-representation of ethnic minorities in the civil service. [116408]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government are committed to redressing under-representation and we are actively working to recruit and retain ethnic minorities at all levels in the civil service. Some key measures include the recent appointment of the Senior Adviser to help drive forward our efforts to tackle the under-representation of ethnic minorities particularly at senior levels of the civil service, and the recently launched new video of successful ethnic minority civil servants showing how fulfilling a career in the civil service can be to potential recruits.

  Government Services (Delivery)
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her Department is doing to promote the delivery of Government services through information and other new communication technologies. [116413]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) on 3 April 2000,Official Report, column 360W.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what dates special advisers from her Department have travelled abroad on official business since 8 June 1999; which countries were visited on each occasion; and what were the names of the special advisers who travelled on each occasion. [117062]
  526W
  Marjorie Mowlam
  Between 8 June 1999 and 11 October 1999, my predecessor was accompanied by one of his Special Advisers on a visit to France which took place on 8 June.

  Between 11 October and 31 March 2000 I was accompanied by one of my Special Advisers on visits to Belgium, between 17 and 18 October 1999; Portugal, between 20 and 21 December 1999; and the USA on 13 March 2000.

  In addition, over the same period, the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator visited Austria and Turkey between 30 October and 7 November 1999; Belgium between 27 and 29 February 2000 and Austria between 13 and 14 March 2000. The Deputy UK anti-drugs co-ordinator visited Portugal twice on 16 July 1999 and between 20 and 21 January 2000.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 28 March 2000,Official Report, column 76W, concerning distribution of news releases by courier, whether her answer covered distribution of news releases by the Central Office of Information. [117224]

  Mr. Stringer
  Yes, but only the news releases distributed by the COI on behalf of my Department. For information on news releases distributed by the COI by courier for other Departments, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on 10 March 2000 by my right hon. and hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Wales,Official Report, column 825W, the President of the Council, Official Report, column 826W, the Secretary of State for Defence, Official Report, column 827W, Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Official Report, columns 832-33W, the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, Official Report, column 836W, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Official Report, column 838W, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Official Report, column 840W, the Secretary of State for Social Security, Official Report, column 846W, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Official Report, column 862W, the Secretary of State for Health, Official Report, column 866W, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Official Report, column 873W; on 13 March 2000 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Official Report, column 3W; and on 15 March 2000 by my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Official Report, columns 189-90W, and the Secretary of State for International Development, Official Report, column 200W; on 17 March 2000 from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, Official Report, column 350W, and on 20 March 2000 from my right hon. Friends the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Official Report, column 385W, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, Official Report, column 403W.

  Better Government for Older People
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2000,Official Report, column 76W, if he will list the issues discussed at the meeting of the Inter-ministerial Group for Older People and the Advisory Group of the Better Government for Older People Programme on 27 March, indicating what further meetings are planned. [117702]

  Mr. Stringer
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 March 2000, c. 76W]: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Social Security, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Group on Older People planned to meet representatives of the Programme's Older People's Advisory Group on 27 March 2000. This meeting did not take place. A meeting has been arranged for 11 April 2000.

  Better Regulation Task Force
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the progress of the Better Regulation Task Force in reducing the regulatory burden on businesses. [116399]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Better Regulation Task Force advises the Government on action to improve the effectiveness and credibility of regulation, particularly regulation which affects businesses.

  Earlier this month the Task Force published a review of payroll regulations, and in the next three months they will produce further reviews on topics including the hotel and restaurant industry, methods of helping small firms cope with regulations, and alternatives to state regulation.

  Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings
  Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings
  NHS Trusts: Audit Commission Fees
  NHS Trusts: Audit Commission Fees
  Hotel Registration
  Hotel Registration
  Blind People: TV Licence Fee
  Blind People: TV Licence Fee
  Irish Republic: Commemorative Celebrations
  Irish Republic: Commemorative Celebrations
  Chechnya
  Chechnya
  FCO Staff Seconded to EU Member States
  FCO Staff Seconded to EU Member States
  EU Member States Officials Seconded to FCO
  EU Member States Officials Seconded to FCO
  CFSP Working Groups
  CFSP Working Groups
  CFSP Working Group Meetings: UK Representation
  CFSP Working Group Meetings: UK Representation
  Nuclear Disarmament
  Nuclear Disarmament
  United Nations: Modernisation
  United Nations: Modernisation
  WEU Parliamentary Assembly
  WEU Parliamentary Assembly
  Zimbabwe: Human Rights
  Zimbabwe: Human Rights
  Yugoslavia: Flight Ban Suspension
  Yugoslavia: Flight Ban Suspension
  European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
  European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
  UN Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
  UN Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
  UN Millennium NGO Forum
  UN Millennium NGO Forum
  Kosovo: KFOR Peacekeeping
  Kosovo: KFOR Peacekeeping
  Sudan: Bombing
  Sudan: Bombing
  Kosovo: Rule of Law
  Kosovo: Rule of Law
  Religious Discrimination in EU and Commonwealth States
  Religious Discrimination in EU and Commonwealth States
  Roadworks: Code Power Licence-holders
  Roadworks: Code Power Licence-holders